Rates

Rates include, depending on guest interests:

• Access to 67,000 acres of exclusive born-again wilderness
• Luxury en-suite accommodation as specified
• Daily game drives with experienced guide & tracker
• Night drives to spot nocturnal species
• Spekboom planting experience
• Guided bush walks
• Wildlife tracking including tracking cheetah on foot
• Medicinal plant interpretive walks
• San rock art
• Conservation and community storytelling
• Contribution to the cost of conservation
• Stargazing
• All meals including picnics
• All beverages
• Children’s activities
• Internal transfer from/to Samara’s airstrip
• Laundry
• Wifi

Rates exclude:

• Transfers to/from the Samara property
• Star bed experience
• Fly camping experience
• Spa treatments
• Gift shop purchases
• Donations to The Friends of Samara Trust non-profit organisation
• Gratuities

Rates include, depending on guest interests:

• Access to 67,000 acres of exclusive born-again wilderness
• Luxury en-suite accommodation as specified
• Use of a private vehicle
• Daily game drives with experienced guide & tracker
• Night drives to spot nocturnal species
• Spekboom planting experience
• Guided bush walks
• Wildlife tracking including tracking cheetah on foot
• Medicinal plant interpretive walks
• San rock art
• Conservation and community storytelling
• Contribution to the cost of conservation
• Stargazing
• All meals including picnics
• All beverages
• Children’s activities
• Internal transfer from/to Samara’s airstrip
• Laundry
• Wifi

Rates exclude:

• Transfers to/from the Samara property
• Star bed experience
• Fly camping experience
• Spa treatments
• Gift shop purchases
• Donations to The Friends of Samara Trust non-profit organisation
• Gratuities

Rates include, depending on guest interests:

• Access to 67,000 acres of exclusive born-again wilderness
• Luxury en-suite accommodation as specified
• 1 daily game drive with experienced guide & tracker
• 1 daily bush walk with experienced guide & tracker
• Night drives to spot nocturnal species
• Spekboom planting experience
• Wildlife tracking including tracking cheetah on foot
• Medicinal plant interpretive walks
• Conservation and community storytelling
• Contribution to the cost of conservation
• Stargazing
• All meals including picnics
• All beverages
• Internal transfer from/to Samara’s airstrip
• Wifi, accessible in public areas

Rates exclude:

• Transfers to/from the Samara property
• Gift shop purchases
• Donations to The Friends of Samara Trust non-profit organisation
• Gratuities

Due to the nature and location of the camp, the following activities are not available at Plains Camp:

• San rock art
• Spa treatments
• Laundry
• Star bed experience
• Fly camping experience

• Children of all ages are welcome at Karoo Lodge.
• Children under 8 years are not permitted on scheduled game drives with other guests. Shorter “bumble” drives are on offer to families with young children mid-morning once the scheduled game drive has returned to the lodge.
• Children’s activities and use of the Cubs’ Den are available to children of all ages.
• In a limited number of Karoo Suites, two extra beds/cots may be accommodated for use by up to 2 children aged 0-12 years, sharing with 2 adults.
• In a Karoo Family Suite, the quoted rate applies to 1-4 guests irrespective of age. The maximum capacity of the Karoo Family Suite is 4 guests in the two bedrooms plus 1 child aged 0-12 years on an extra bed in the shared living area.
• Children aged 3-12 years are charged according to the above rates table.
• Children aged 0-3 years stay free of charge.
• Guests booked into a Karoo Family Suite for a minimum of 3 nights enjoy the complimentary use of a private vehicle.

• Children of all ages are welcome at The Manor.
• The quoted exclusive-use rate applies to the stated number of guests irrespective of age.
• Any children aged 0-12 years, over and above the 8-guest capacity, limited to two such children, can be accommodated on extra beds/cots in the suites. If aged 3-12 years, these children are charged according to the above rates table. If aged 0-3 years, these children stay free of charge.
• All bookings at The Manor enjoy the complimentary use of a private vehicle.

• Due to the nature of Plains Camp as an unfenced tented camp with a focus on walking safaris, a minimum age requirement of 16 years applies.

• Rates are quoted and payable in ZAR (South African Rand).
• Rates include Value-Added Tax (VAT) at 15%. Should the applicable VAT rate in South Africa change, Samara reserves the right to amend its rates accordingly.
• Rates are nightly rates and are applicable to guests aged 12 years and above unless otherwise indicated.
• Guests are advised to take out comprehensive travel insurance covering trip cancellation and curtailment, personal accidents, medical and emergency expenses and loss, theft or damage to personal effects.
• Samara reserves the right to alter its terms and conditions at any time. If any changes are made, the revised terms and conditions will be shared on the Samara website.
• A minimum stay of 2 nights is applicable to all lodges year-round.
• A minimum stay of 3 nights is applicable to Karoo Lodge and The Manor during the period 20 December – 10 January inclusive annually.

Reservations remain provisional until the required deposit has been paid. Booking confirmation is required within 14 days of making the provisional reservation.

Confirmation of booking: 20% non-refundable deposit

A non-refundable deposit consisting of 20% of the total accommodation amount is payable to confirm the reservation.

The non-refundable deposit plays a vital role in supporting Samara’s ongoing conservation and regeneration efforts. These funds help protect wildlife, restore natural habitats, and promote sustainable practices that ensure the preservation of Africa’s remarkable ecosystems for future generations. By contributing, you are making a meaningful impact on the environment and local communities.

60 days prior to arrival: Full balance of payment

The balance of payment is due in full no later than 60 days prior to the guest’s arrival.

Samara reserves the right to release the reservation without notice should payment of the deposit or full balance not be received.

Full prepayment is required to confirm reservations made within 60 days of arrival date.

61+ days prior to arrival: 20% cancellation fee

Reservations cancelled 61+ days prior to arrival will incur a cancellation fee of 20% of the total accommodation amount (non-refundable deposit applied).

60 days or less prior to arrival: 100% cancellation fee

Reservations cancelled within 60 days of arrival will be charged at 100% of the total accommodation amount.

PLEASE NOTE: The above cancellation policy applies to all reservations, regardless of whether payment has yet been received by Samara. Guests are advised to take out comprehensive travel insurance.

Karoo Lodge/The Manor      Check-in from 14:00        Check-out by 11:00
Plains Camp                           Check-in from 13:00        Check-out by 11:00

PLEASE NOTE: The Plains Camp check-in and check-out location is Karoo Lodge.

• Samara is located in an area free from malaria and tropical diseases.
• Full hospital, consultant and general medical services are available in Graaff-Reinet (45min drive) and Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha – 2h30min drive or 30min helicopter medical evacuation flight).

• Mastercard, Visa, Diners Card and American Express are accepted.
• Credit card payments can be made using the link on the invoice.
• Internet banking/EFT is accepted. Proof of payment must be sent to Reservations before arrival.

• Samara is situated in the Great Karoo region of the Eastern Cape province, 250km from Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha). Samara is easily accessible by road or by air yet retains a true wilderness feel.
• The nearest major airport is in Port Elizabeth, serviced with daily commercial flights from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.
• Once in Port Elizabeth, guests may either hire a car, take a road transfer or book a private charter flight onto Samara’s gravel airstrip.
• Contact details of accredited air and road charter companies can be provided on request.
• Road access from Port Elizabeth to Samara’s front gate is an easy 2h30min drive on decent tarred roads through dramatic scenery. Samara’s lodges are situated a further ± 30min down a scenic dirt road that winds through the reserve.
• Guests wishing to fly directly to Samara can book a private air charter onto Samara’s gravel airstrip from any major airfield or private airstrip.
• Samara offers two complimentary flights on a commercial airline between Cape Town or Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth, and a complimentary return road transfer from Port Elizabeth Airport to Samara, when a guest books one of the following exclusive offers:
  • STAY 4 NIGHTS INCLUDING FLIGHTS & TRANSFERS
  • STAY 7, PAY 6 INCLUDING FLIGHTS & TRANSFERS

Gratuities are discretionary. Any gratuity for general staff is divided equally amongst all staff excluding guide and tracker. We encourage guests to add gratuities onto their final account to avoid travelling with cash. Suggested guidelines are as follows:

• General staff: R500 per couple per day
• Guide: R500 per couple per day
• Tracker: R300 per couple per day
• Child-minder: R300 per family per day