One of South Africa’s most diverse safari locations is Samara Karoo Reserve, a landscape of space, stars, and solitude brought back to life by a trailblazing rewilding effort, located close to Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape’s Great Karoo region. The Big Five, 60 mammal species, and 225 bird species may all be found in Samara, which offers discerning visitors a truly soulful safari.
With a focus on offering grounding experiences in nature for up to eight guests, Samara’s newest ecotourism venture, explorer-style Plains Camp, harkens back to the age of mobile safaris.
The camp enjoys undisturbed peace and minimal light pollution thanks to its location in the southern part of the reserve on the Plains of Camdeboo and tucked against a low hill with magnificent mountain vistas. The camp was created with sustainability in mind.
There is a wide variety of fauna in the area. Along with giraffes, blue cranes, and smaller animals like bat-eared foxes, the plains are home to large resident herds of zebra, black wildebeest, springbok, gemsbok, and red hartebeest. Elephants, white rhinoceroses, and black rhinoceroses can all be located around waterholes and thickets. Lions and cheetahs are frequently seen in the region.
Every morning, guided bush walks leave, concentrating on the small details frequently missed by the safari vehicle. The skilled guide and tracker team identifies tracks, flowering plants, ostrich eggs, and insects, bringing to life the semi-arid countryside. The trip concludes with sundowners, stargazing, and afternoon game drives with wildlife tracking.
Back at the camp, visitors can enjoy home comforts like fully catered meals prepared over the fire, a well-stocked bar, a wonderfully cool plunge pool, and relaxing areas that are all furnished in traditional Karoo style by regional artists. Each of the four guest tents has a large sleeping area that connects to an outdoor “bucket” shower and bathroom with an indoor loo. Hot water is available upon request. A small fireplace is used to heat tents in the winter and a fan to cool them in the summer.
Samara’s goal with Plains Camp was to develop an environmentally conscious camp that sits lightly on the Earth and captures the essence of the distinctive Karoo experience. Samara is a purpose-driven company dedicated to sustainability across all of its operations.
The majority of the furnishings were sourced from the Eastern Cape Karoo, and efforts have been made to minimize carbon emissions and use of environmentally friendly resources.
With no Wifi or electricity, Samara’s Plains Camp is a space to switch off from modern life and reconnect with Nature in elegant
simplicity.
For more information go to www.samara.co.za
