The 20 000 hectares Shamwari Game Reserve is a private game reserve situated in a malaria free area in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, has received numerous international awards, including the World's Leading Conservation Company and Game Reserve for five consecutive years. It is situated in verdant bush along the Bushmans River, halfway between Port Elizabeth (45 minutes drive outside the city) and Grahamstown forming a natural extension to the famous Garden Route.
Seven five star quality lodges offers a unique wildlife experience to visitors. Far more important than the luxury accommodation is the management, development and rehabilitation of an ecosystem almost destroyed by centuries of farming. The reserve is home to the famous Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino).
The Born Free Foundation jointly funds a sanctuary at Shamwari which gives lifetime care to several lions and leopards which have been discovered in poor conditions in circuses or zoos around the world. They have 2 centres on the reserve, one in the north and one in the south; both are accessible to all the guests that visit the reserve. These centres serve only has a place for these animals to live out their lives in the comfort of good clean facilities in natural environs. They can sadly never be released back into the wild with the 10's of thousands of other animals that free roam in the 25 000 ha Shamwari Game Reserve, but it's a wonderful compromise and a safe home for them to live out their lives under the African sky - their rightful home.
The British TV series of Safari School was filmed at Shamwari and the Animal Planet’s series titled "Shamwari: A wild life" was also filmed at the game reserve. Presented by Lyndal Davies, who also lives on the reserve, this unique series takes us behind the scenes of this incredible place and gives us an insight into the hard work that goes into caring for the animals and maintaining the land. Shamwari: A Wild Life kicks off with the birth of a baby giraffe, followed by the release of a white rhino which doesn’t quite go to plan. Then it’s a race against time when the wild dogs escape and ecologist John O’Brien has to work against the clock to get them back. Lyndal and her team must also make preparations for a very special new arrival: one of the most elusive animals - a baby leopard. Every day is different and as we will quickly realise, working with wild animals is anything but predictable.
Shamwari was also hosts to famous guests like Brad Pitt, Nicolas Cage, Neve Campbell and John Travolta. The World’s Number one golfer, Tiger Woods got engaged at Shamwari. |
