Plan your stay at Samara

The height of summer in the Karoo is the period December–February, with temperatures reaching over 35ºC/95ºF. Expect hot sunny days with the occasional afternoon thunderstorm, which makes for spectacular sunsets and cloud formations – perfect for photography. As the Karoo is a semi-arid region, the temperature tends to drop off once the sun goes down.

The veld is alive with activity in summer, from powerful predators to purposeful pollinators. Migratory birds like the Jacobin cuckoo, European roller and booted eagle add to the birding opportunities.

Summer is the best time of year to sleep out in the star bed and enjoy Samara’s fly camping experience. If the spring rains have been good, the opportunity may arise for a picnic in the river with water gently flowing past your toes – bliss!

The Karoo experiences winter from late May through August. Temperatures fall and it is not unusual for there to be snow on the highest mountain peaks. Daytime temperatures are mostly mild and balmy (20ºC/68ºF) whilst evenings and early mornings are cold.

Game-viewing is at its peak – herds of zebra, springbok and buffalo intermingle on the plains, while cheetah, giraffe and lion roam the savannah and flocks of blue crane take to the skies. You may also catch a glimpse of the reserve’s most sought-after inhabitant – the usually-nocturnal aardvark out foraging in broad daylight.

Fresh sunny days are perfect for walking, hiking and long, leisurely picnics. The landscape is full of colour too, with the rooigrass on the Samara Mara turning a gorgeous shade of pink, and orange-red flowering aloes on every hill. Soft winter light casts an ethereal haze over the kapokbos plants dotted with white blooms resembling cotton-wool.

The transition months of March–May and September–November are some of the most underrated, in terms of both weather and wildlife-viewing.

Springtime heralds the rebirth of the Karoo after a winter slumber. The veld turns progressively greener, its thirst quenched by the occasional thunderstorm. The scent of petrichor mingles with the invigorating aromas of endemic flowering bossies, taking on a distinct Karoo flavour. New life abounds – herds of antelope swell in number with the birth of dozens of calves, bat-eared-fox pups emerge from their dens and tortoises make the most of the milder weather. Carpets of colourful vygies and dramatic sunsets set the scene for a spectacular season for photography.

Autumn days are similarly warm and temperate, although the mercury begins to drop at sunset.