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The results of the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2024 are out, and we are immensely proud that Samara Karoo Reserve has been named as a winner on both the United States list (#15 in South Africa) and the United Kingdom list (#6 in South Africa). The Readers’ Choice Awards represent the epitome of … Continued
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Driving into the sleepy town of Graaff-Reinet is like taking a step back in time. Nestled in a horseshoe bend of the Sundays River, the “gem of the Karoo” was established in 1786. This makes it the 4th oldest magisterial district in the country. Lined with small businesses, coffee shops and art galleries, the streets … Continued
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Africa, being a vast continent of 54 countries, cannot easily be generalised, and neither can African safaris. There are a host of exciting destinations to visit across the continent, each offering vastly different experiences, and the seasonality of each varies by region and country. South Africa, located at the very tip of Africa, is undoubtedly … Continued
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Condé Nast Traveler today announced the results of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards. Samara Karoo Reserve, near Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape’s Great Karoo region and home to the Big Five, over 60 mammal species and 225 bird species, was recognised in the Top 15 Resorts in South Africa. The Readers’ Choice Awards, with their … Continued
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A vast semi-desert stretching across four provinces, the Karoo is South Africa’s answer to the Australian Outback or North America’s Chihuahan Desert. Characterised by extensive open plains bordered by dolerite-capped mountains, the infinite horizons of the Karoo have a unique, humbling kind of magic – yet they are right on the doorstep of metropolitan South … Continued
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Knowledge is power, so to ensure you don’t forget the essentials when planning your trip to Samara, we’ve put together a handy Karoo safari packlist with the help of some of South Africa’s top travel bloggers and safari enthusiasts. 1. Light, casual clothing Leave the heels and glad rags behind – when you’re out in … Continued
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In today’s search for holidays with purpose, ‘responsible and ethical tourism’ has become something of a buzzword. The concept that one’s mode of transport, accommodation and sightseeing should have no negative impact on local people, wildlife and land – indeed, that it should positively affect them – is gaining traction among socially- and environmentally-aware world-wanderers. … Continued
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We present our list of Samara’s top romantic settings – the perfect getaway for a proposal, honeymoon, anniversary, or even just to treat that special someone.
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Most travellers are familiar with the irksome high-pitched hum of a mosquito on the prowl – a serious nuisance guaranteed to ruin a good night’s sleep. If mosquitoes – Spanish for ‘little fly’ – were just an annoyance with no potential for serious harm, we might be more tolerant of them. But in some areas, … Continued
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Throughout Samara’s 21 year-journey, our conservation focus has been on taking things slowly. As philosopher Lao Tzu once said – ‘Adopt the pace of Nature. Her secret is patience.’ Portions of the land on the 11 former livestock farms making up the reserve were badly degraded, and after removing the sheep and goats, the next … Continued
