By ffc_content
Sarah and Mark Tompkins, founders of Samara Private Game Reserve, explain that when they first established the reserve in 1997, their aim was to restore the area to the wildlife haven it had been before species like cheetah, rhino, Cape lion, springbok and elephant were eradicated by early farmers and settlers. “This is an extremely … Continued
By ffc_content
It has a certain beauty, yes, but it is a stark and desolate beauty, with few trees, animals or other signs of life. At Samara, however, this could not be further from the truth. Nestled at the foot of the Sneeuberg – Snow Mountains – Samara is uniquely situated at the meeting point of five … Continued
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In 1997, a restoration project began in one of South Africa’s most breathtaking landscapes – Samara Private Game Reserve near Graaff-Reinet in the Great Karoo. Eleven degraded and overgrazed livestock farms were purchased, internal fencing torn down and the land allowed to rest. As time went by, indigenous wildlife was slowly reintroduced, from the first … Continued
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We recently celebrated an important birthday. Wednesday 9th November marked 19 years since the Tompkins family bought the first farm that would form the nucleus of Samara, and 11 years since our flagship Karoo Lodge welcomed its first guests. The Samara project has advanced in leaps and bounds since then, so to celebrate, here are … Continued
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It is with great sadness that we share with you the devastating news of the passing of Sibella, a cheetah whose story and legacy had captured hearts and minds throughout the world. As the first wild cheetah reintroduced into South Africa’s Great Karoo region in 125 years, and contributing 2.4% to the wild cheetah population … Continued
