Shamwari Bayethe

I hope my words do Shawari justice because this place is amazing. The staff were all incredible and I have to say, was some of the best hospitality I've experienced: nothing seemed to be too much trouble for them. All the staff we came across seemed to really enjoy their work. You were always greeted with a smile. The Lodge (#5), when we walked in was another wow-moment. It was very well appointed with a deck with great views for some R&R between game drives. The food was top notch from breakfast to dinner and lunch in between. On to the Game Drives. This was my first safari so I didn't know what to expect. On every drive I was a continually astounded by how close you get to the animals. This was possible in no small part to our excellent Ranger, Sicle. His knowledge of the animals and skill in tracking them down made for an unbelievable experience (and some great photos). We were very lucky to see a Lion kill and again this was down to Sicle spotting some tell-tale signs that something was happening early on (pre-hunt). I have some great videos (from a smartphone) or the elephants, giraffes and lions which is again down to how close you get thanks to the ranger.

The best experience ever. We were greeted on arrival by Prudance & Buli and shown to our accommodation, quite honestly one of the most fabulous suites we have ever stayed in. We loved the peace & tranquility of relaxing on the deck after the early morning drives. The food is delicious, great breakfast & dinner. All the staff go above & beyond with all the personal touches & kindness shown to all of us, we were 2 couples. Now to the main event……..the game drives, wow, wow, wow. My friends had been on safari before, for me it was my 1st time. Our evening drive took place upon arrival & we were blessed to see so much wildlife, we even saw the lioness & her cubs, cheetahs, white & black rhino, elephants plus so much more. Every single drive was brilliant, could not have wished for better! Ruan was our guide, he was absolutely brilliant, his knowledge & the information he gave up was incredible. We loved his ‘pop up’ bar on the evening drives & coffee stop in the mornings. We had lots of laughs en route. Ruan is also a talented photographer, he is a great asset to Bayete & Shamwari & we feel honoured to have been guided by him. Thank to everyone at Bayete you are amazing. Amanda, Jason, Sal & Guy xxx

My wife and I stayed at Shamwari Beyethe Lodge for 3 nights as part of our Honeymoon trip. We are both keen flora and fauna enthusiasts and joining a sustainable and ethical safari was top of the list to build our Honeymoon around. All I can say is we were both blown away with the experience we had at Shamwari Bayethe Lodge and would live there if we could! We were welcomed by Buli who made us instantly feel welcome and very relaxed and took us through the check in process. The lodge was absolutely amazing and whilst I could put up a ton of photos, I do not want to spoil the experience and wow factor for those who are considering going. All I can say is the facilities are amazing and you have a balcony overlooking areas of the reserve. You will not be disappointed! The food in the main lodge is equally amazing with breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner being served daily. The quality of the food was outstanding the the service from all staff could not be rivalled. There was no cocktails on the beverage menu, however Nina (very helpful Lodge Manager) made us aware that Anele (Barista) was a keen cocktail enthusiast and would make us something if we asked. We took up this offer and asked Anele if he would make us a cocktail and he was delighted at being asked. He made the most amazing Pina Colada which had us hooked and we enjoyed Aneles 'daily recommendation' during out trip. Last but by no means least, the game drives. We were paired up with a ranger called Raymond Simmons who could not do enough for my wife and I which included remaining very enthusiastic as we seeked out the lions in the pouring rain. Raymond helped make our safari experience one that we will remember for the rest of our lives and we keep regularly talking about when we will go back. I could go on all day about how amazing Shamwari is but I do not want to reveal everything and leave it as one big surprise for those considering visiting. All I can say is go for it, its an amazing place and I know you will not regret it.

Simply exceeds expectations. The quality of the property is beyond luxury. The small touches are all there - it’s simply the best place I have ever stayed. The room was immaculate and beautifully designed with modern and traditional decor blended together with stunning views. Privacy is maintained by clever situation of the lodges-cant see anyone from your bed, the bath or outdoor shower. The game reserve is enormous-way bigger than anything I could have expected which meant each game reserve was different. The rangers are friendly, knowledgeable and really open to anything you want to see. Because there are many rangers, they all communicate with you so that you get unbelievable access to lots of the animals. We had one experience where our van was surrounded by 5 sleepy lions who all began roaring together and we were within 10ft of them. If you are considering a safari… go here. From what we heard about other couples experiences elsewhere, this is unparalleled. Also go and visit the animal rehabilitation centre, it epitomises their ethos on safari and the animals in their reserve.

What a fantastic 3 night stay at the newly refurbished Bayethe Lodge. 9 spectacular Lodge bungalows and a central Lodge for dining. From the moment we arrived we were looked after so very well. The staff are all super friendly and efficient, nothing was too much trouble. Our bungalow had a big and comfy bed, lounge area and modern bathroom. Bush views and very private. Just excellent. Two game drives morning and evening. Great vehicles, fantastic guide Josh comes in for special mention. The reserve is beautiful, the animals simply wonderful. Over 5 drives we saw so much. Food is good but falls below the very high standards of everythingelse, breakfast especially was excellent. We would revisit anytime, so should you.

Shamwari Bayethe exceeded our high expectation. Patrick, our guide, created an unforgettable experience for us. The menu was diverse and of a very high standard, served by a professional and personable hospitality team. We will return!

Our lodge - number 6 - was a bit of a trek from the main lodge, but worth it - a huge suite and very luxurious. The food was fantastic (although service a little slow at lunch & dinner). The game drives were spectacular. Josh (also known as Jeff), our ranger, was a rockstar - enthusiastic, energetic, knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, and really helped make the experience. I think he’s living the dream, and it showed. Everything was amazing. My only suggestion to Shamwari would be to provide self-drive guests with a simple map of the reserve on arrival at the main gate. Bayethe is at the far end of the reserve and the directions we were given by the chap on the gate were not particularly clear. Otherwise, perfection.

There aren’t enough words to describe our trip to Shamwari. From the moment we arrived we felt like VIP’s. From the personal drinks bottles in the room, the hot water bottles on the early morning game drives and everything in between. It’s clearly a place of luxury but at no point does it feel pretentious. Our ranger Josh was fantastic and made sure we saw everything possible. He would get a call on the radio telling him where a lion was or something we hadn’t seen and he would get his ‘Josh’ on and we had to hold tight while he raced to get there. Knowledgeable, warm, friendly and funny. We enjoyed getting back each morning and sharing our morning with the others and loved that Josh joined us too. On our last night we requested that Josh join us for dinner, it was great to hear his stories about his life in SA.