Independent hotels in Shamwari Game Reserve, Eastern Cape

"This was a fabulous safari park, with superb rangers and game drives!!! Fodd and service was top class! Saw the big 5 and many more each day Would recommend this with top points"

"Nice staff. Well managed. Rooms clean, but not perfect "

"The game drives was excelkent!!"

"Extremely well taken care of by the attentive staff; game drive guide ensured excellent sightings of key wildlife; delicious food. Lovely facilities and magical experience. "

"Our stay was incredible. Desmond, our guide, gave us some incredible sights and we were really lucky to see 4 out of the big 5 alongside various other interesting animals. The reserve is vast and there is plenty to see, the fact that there are various lodges across the reserve means even if you have a fairly quiet hotel, there are plenty of rangers out doing drives which helps your chances of animals being spotted and your ranger making their way there. The accomodation is lovely, a perfect room with comfortable bed and a view of a watering hole from your private plunge pool. This includes a free mini-bar which is perfect for dipping in to to spend time on the patio. The food was fantastic, very generous and well cooked portions and the service at dinner from Sheldon and Thambo was perfect. We weren't renting a car so got a private transfer from Martin who gave us some great info on the drive from PE and it felt like our trip started early! All in, a perfect stay and I wouldn't hesitate to return. My only regret was only booking two night. All in all, a faultless stay"

"The highlight of our holiday to South Africa! A beautiful lodge with comfortable air con and tranquility (and yes a few necessary spiders) but providing the most incredible authentic experience of the wildlife, animals, birds, flora and fauna of this game reserve. Food and wine were excellent and plentiful, the service was superb, including gin and tonics during our afternoon game drive! We had an excellent guide, Greg, with such a knowledge and passion for his work as a guide, and he led us to observe over 60 species over the course of 2 days and 4 game drives, starting with a wake up call at 5.30am for the pre-dawn game drive til 9.30am, then a second at 4pm lasting til nearly 8pm. He drove us through a fantastic storm, thunder and lightning and an impressive downpour which had us soaked but we saw so much! Listening to him explaining the habits of turtles, giraffes, buffalo and rhinos was an education, and will stay with us for life.The memories of elephants, cheetahs, giraffes, lions, ostriches fighting a jackal, a spotted eagle owl capturing a frog at night, secretary birds stalking their prey, a brown hyena and a family of bat-eared foxes… and the white rhinos and hippo, it was all simply wonderful! Many many thanks for the best experience ever. We hope very much to return one day."

"Excellent stay with great staff always ready to provide an excellent service "