Safaris in South Africa: Samara Private Game Reserve Opens New Retreat
December 22, 2009 By: Mary Winston Nicklin
Visitors to the Samara Private Game Reserve, 70,000 acres of Karoo Bushveld in South Africa's Western Cape, are awed by the setting: open plains flanked by an amphitheater of mountains where 60 mammal species can be sighted, including the Cape Mountain Zebra, Giraffe, Rhino, and Cheetah. Owned by the Tompkins family, the reserve's two elegant lodges specialize in attentive service, relaxing spa treatments, and Karoo cuisine.
Now Open: The Mountain Retreat, formerly the Tompkins's personal family hideaway. The latest addition to the Samara Collection, the secluded Mountain Retreat has limited electricity, allowing guests to reconnect with nature and have "the experience of yesteryear." The Barn and Victorian homestead features five suites, a Jacuzzi with views over the valley, and myriad indoor and outdoor settings for Karoo-style meals prepared by a personal chef. There's also a housekeeper and ranger available for guided walks to see the ancient rock art paintings nearby.
