샴와리 롱 리 매너

Just back from our South Africa tour and adventure. People ask what was the most memorable moment and I have no hesitation. It was during our stay at this superb game reserve and our encounter with elephants. My dearest wish had been to see them and by day 3, I'd almost given up hope. But just 15 minutes into our morning drive and we stopped at a watering hole when one elephant came down the slope; quickly followed by at least 30 others. And don't believe it when people suggest a herd of elephants are noisy. They're not. They crept upon us. We saw so many incredible animals - cheetah brothers, a family of lions, giraffes, hippos, zebra. springbok and rhinos. Our guide Karien was amazing. She told us that safari was a game of hide and seek that demanded patience. Karien was undoubtedly modest as her knowledge and skills played a key role. She was amazing and so thoughtful. On a day-drive, we were at risk of sunburn so she detoured to a neighbouring lodge to collect sunscreen and repellent. She also packed the most amazing lunch that we enjoyed under an old tree. Within the 25k reserve, there is a rehabilitation centre where we met the orphaned baby rhino who had been 'fostered' by a sheep plus the famous Born Free conservation centre. Words cannot describe the Manor. Our room was enormous with an external patio, the most comfy beds, well stocked bar, decadent bathroom and even an outside shower. Food was five star+, prepared with care and served with joy by beautiful people. We were even treated to an impromptu performance of South African music and dance. This wasn't a holiday. It was the experience of a lifetime.

There’s no question that the accommodations at Long Lee Manor are impeccable but it’s the hospitality that makes it a truly memorable destination. From the warmth of Obi and LizeMarie at reception to the culinary delights of Richard’s staff both in the dining room as well as in the bush, they don’t miss a mark. The true gem, however, is the Rangers. Our group of 15 was deftly led by Odie and Mino on 6 thrilling, educational and diverse game drives. Individually their expertise can not be overstated but their cohesion working as a team (you too Abel!) allowed our family to have unforgettable experiences that created life long memories for all three generations. Their knowledge isn’t just of flora and fauna but also biology, geology, astronomy and ecology. The conservation aspect at Shamwari permeates the experience. Visiting Glen at Born Free and Thaba at the rehabilitation center were unexpected bonuses that showed us how each of us can continue to be a part of supporting their efforts in eradicating animal cruelty and understanding the cycle of life in the bush. From 8-80 years old we were not only catered to but offered unique insights and views appropriate for each of us. This includes physical accommodations as well as educational…there’s nothing they don’t consider when it comes to meeting the needs of their guests. 10/10 will be back again!

We stayed here at the recommendation of friends who visited many years prior. And we came here and stayed for three nights before going to Chobe in Botswana. And Shamwari spoiled us!!! What I will say is that the game experience at Shamwari compared to a national park is entirely different and I absolutely recommend everyone have the experience of both. One cannot replace the other. They are very complementary and different. At Shamwari, we were up close and personal with most of the animals, even though it was their natural habitat. I read some reviews, comparing it to a large zoo and this is absolutely the farthest thing from the truth. I love that the rangers know the area well and they collaborate well on sightings. We saw many raw animal behaviors that you only see in the wild, lions eating the kill, two male lions fighting, giraffes in a herd crossing a ridge at sunset, buffalos in large herd, free roaming rhinos. It is big five, but we only saw big four but never for a moment felt disappointed because we saw other things we were never able to see in a national park. Shamwari’s land is enormous. We barely scraped the surface over the course of three days. It just is enormous and the Rangers work very hard to find the animals just like they do at the national parks. What we loved about this place and we felt made it so different to the national park experience is that it was absolutely phenomenal service, beautiful setting, and all around luxurious. The food was fantastic and we met several people who had made return trips and said it was the best large food they’ve ever had. We completely agree compared to what we experienced in Botswana, even though where we stayed in Botswana was also luxury. There is absolutely nothing that will be disappointing about coming here. But I do recommend coupling it with a national park visit. They are entirely different. When we were in the national parks, the close encounters were few and far between. And truly, no lodge compared to Shamwari., As for Rangers, I’m not sure if you can request one, but if you do, Abel was spectacular. And all of the other rangers were radioing him asking for help and information so I got the impression he was one of the leads. He said he had worked there for more than 25 years at his experience pays off. He was such a kind, knowledgeable gentleman and he went above and beyond every single day to make our experience the best. Regarding food, as I mentioned, it was fantastic. They will absolutely cater to preferences and allergies. As soon as I let them know what I wanted, they went so far above and beyond to accommodate me and all of my special requests. I’ve never seen any service quite like it. Rooms were lovely. In summary, just go, you will not be disappointed. There’s a reason Tiger Woods was engaged here and John Travolta is rumored to be a regular visitor.

We stayed at Long Lee Manor for 3 nights in August as part of our honeymoon and it was the most incredible experience we have ever had. Firstly the Manor. It is absolutely stunning and had amazing views of the reserve. You are immediately immersed in the safari experience. We were fortunate to see a herd of over 35 elephants from our room shortly after checking in which was unbelievable. The rooms are spacious and absolutely spotless. The staff went above and beyond for you. From the moment we arrived until we left, we felt like royalty at this hotel. Every single staff member was welcoming, friendly and helpful. They provided a very personal service, where the staff very quickly learnt who you were and even remembered that I followed a gluten free diet and provided me with separate menus at breakfast and dinner. They even made me a special carrot cake at the afternoon tea without being asked! The food was outstanding. Every meal was unique and some days had a choice and others were a tasting menu. The only problem was that there was too much food! The gluten free food was the best I have ever had. The chefs made sure they could make a gluten free version of everything they were offering which should be admired. I had gluten free pancakes for breakfast one morning and they were absolutely outstanding. Every single game drive was incredible. It is obvious that Shamwari are focused on conservation and a visit to their born free foundation and wildlife rehabilitation centre emphasises this. Our ranger was Jaques and he was phenomenal. His passion for his job shines through and his enthusiasm makes the whole experience more thrilling for the guests. He makes every animal encounter feel exciting and special and he is extremely knowledgable. He has endless amounts of interesting stories and created a lovely atmosphere within the group. We became one team rather than just 3 separate couples and even had breakfast together with Jaques which was lovely. We also did a bush walk with Jaques and Klaus and it was amazing. We can't thank Jaques enough for making our experience so memorable! The extra little touches make this place so special. From the hot drinks after the game drives, to the personalised water bottles. Thank you Shamwari!

What a treat it was and every single member of staff at Long Lee Manor was wonderful and welcoming and so friendly. The accessible room was superb and the accessibility of the whole place was outstanding (I'm quadriplegic). Long Lee Manor is beautiful and the height of luxury. The rim pool overlooking the waterhole and the plains beyond is just gorgeous, the rooms are huge, with everything your heart desires and more. The food was superb. Most importantly, Mino, our guide was amazing and the array of game we saw was just flabbergasting, a true five star safari experience. Superb.

Not many luxury game reserves accommodate children/ families - Long Lee and the Shamwari group have got it all figured out. Excellent childcare/ kids entertainment options are available and those that go on game drives and very well looked after. Patrick, our ranger was so great with our kid on the drives. The game drives are just spectacular - the dramatic and varied scenery of the beautiful Eastern Cape is perfectly showcased and the spectrum of animals is bewildering. Patrick was excellent at deciphering the symphony of sounds we were constantly surrounded by on the drives - never a dull moment. All the staff, from the hosts to the waiters were outstanding. The food is probably the best we've had in any game reserve - the evening braai in the outside dining area was phenomenal. We will certainly be back at Long Lee or perhaps one of the others - Riverdene which wasn't open at the time, looks particularly brilliant for kids - already looking forward to it.