Overview–southafrica

Shamwari Private Game Reserve

Shamwari is the best-known of the Eastern Cape’s private reserves. It offers excellent wildlife viewing with a good variety of animals including all the Big Five. The very exclusive experience includes open-vehicle game drives with high-quality guiding and luxury accommodations with first-rate food and service. Some lodges in Shamwari are family-friendly and run a 'Kids on Safari' program

Best Time to Visit

Wildlife viewing in Shamwari is good throughout the year, as its arid to semi-arid climate draws animals to water sources at any time. The best wildlife viewing is during the driest winter months of June to September. However, it can be very cold during this time of the year, and warm winter clothing is essential, particularly for taking part in nighttime and early morning game drives in open vehicles.

May to September –Winter

Lack of water in the bush drives animals to water sources, making them slightly easier to spot
Discounted low-season rates
Blue, cloudless skies
Warm clothes are necessary for chilly game drives in open vehicles

October to April –Summer

Lots of newborn animals
The park's landscape is transformed by abundant greenery and flowers
Migratory birds have arrived, and birding is excellent
It is more expensive during the high season

Scenery

Shamwari’s main feature is the Bushman’s River, which flows through the reserve. It has a very diverse ecosystem, with five of South Africa’s eight biomes (main vegetation regions) represented: subtropical thicket, fynbos (fine-leaved plants), grassland, Nama Karoo (low rainfall area of shrubland) and savanna). The area is rich with endemic plant species.

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Rates

From: $204 to $1,223 pp/day

Best Time to Go

From: January to December (All year)

High Season

From: Oct to Apr (High season rates)

Size

From: 250km² / 97mi²

Wildlife & Animals

Shamwari is home to all big safari animals, including the Big Five. Both black and white rhino can be seen. Lion sightings are quite common, but leopard and cheetah are more difficult to spot. A good variety of antelope has been re-introduced, including red-hartebeest and springbok. The unusual black morph of the springbok is a rare sighting.

Wildlife Highlights

Most visitors will see four of the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino) and leopards are also present, but quite shy. The northern half of Shamwari ranks among the best places in South Africa to see the endangered black rhino. A visit to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre can get you up close to some orphaned or sick animals, which are nursed here to be released back into the wild when ready.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Although wildlife viewing is generally good throughout the year, it might be marginally better during the drier months of June to September as animals tend to congregate around water sources at this time. Drives in open vehicles are however very cold in winter and the warmer summer months (October to April) are altogether more pleasant.

General Wheather

Shamwari Game Reserve has a classification of semi-arid to arid and receives an average annual rainfall of less than 450mm/18in. Here, the winter and summer seasons occur opposite to Europe and North America. Rain is fairly evenly distributed all year long. However, it peaks at two times during the year: February–March and October–November. During the midwinter, temperatures can reach freezing point.

Winter –May to September

The winter months consist of cold nights and mornings. Warm clothes are essential, especially for game drives in open vehicles at night and in the morning. There is less rain than in the summer, and the skies are generally clear.

May – Winter is beginning. Temperatures cool to 9°C/48°F in the morning with an average temperature of 22°C/72°F in the afternoon.
June & July – These months are the coldest. Morning temperatures average 7°C/45°F, but it isn’t unusual to reach freezing point at night. Afternoons are around 19°C/66°F.
August & September – It gradually warms to a typical afternoon temperature of 21°C/70°F. Mornings are less cold, with temperatures around 9°C/48°F.

Summer –October to April

Summer is characterized by comfortable temperatures and slightly more rainfall. Some days might be cloudy with drizzle, but it is sunny for the most part.

October & November – It is warmer, with temperatures around 13°C/55°F in the morning and 24°C/75°F in the afternoon. Rain peaks in October.
December, January & February – These months are the warmest of the year. Afternoon temperatures average 28°C/82°F. Mornings are comfortable at around 16°C/61°F. There is less rain in December and January, but it increases slightly in February.
March & April – The wettest month is March, although it still doesn't rain a lot and rarely for days on end. The weather begins to cool with afternoon averages of 26°C/79°F and mornings typically around 14°C/57°F.

Prons

Excellent wildlife viewing
Open-vehicle game drives with knowledgeable guides
Night drives and walking safaris are available
Some lodge caters specifically to kids
Great volunteering options
Malaria-free

Cons

Only fully inclusive expensive packages, no self-drive or budget accommodation

How To Get There

When visiting Shamwari Game Reserve, most people first fly into O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg or Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. An organized tour may be started in either of these cities but self-drive packages are also popular. Shamwari is located 820km/510mi from Cape Town and the direct drive takes more than 9 hours*. A visit to Shamwari is easily incorporated in a one- or two-week holiday in the Winelands and Garden Route area.

Alternatively, the closest airport to Shamwari is in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), 70km/43mi from the reserve. You can rent a car at Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ) but a private transfer is also available. The drive takes approximately 1½ hours*.

*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) or Cape Town International Airport (CPT), and what tickets would cost.