The Shamwari Game Reserve near Port Elizabeth is the southernmost, big game, private reserve in Africa - and MALARIA FREE.

This ultimate African adventure stretches along the Bushman's River, halfway between Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown, and forms a natural extension to the famous Garden Route and Cape Town.

The 14 000ha game reserve is steeped in settler history, and dates back to the time when game roamed freely in the Eastern Cape.

Shamwari is about conserving a vanishing way of life, and has been awarded a number of international awards for its efforts in conservation, coupled with tourism.

Shamwari is an African dream. A game reserve in which a multitude of plant, animal and birdlife unfold the very soul of an untamed continent, along with the most luxurious means of experiencing your safari holiday.

Shamwari's highly trained game rangers, with skilled service staff, will ensure a memorable adventure, personalised to your needs. In keeping with its conservation policy, Shamwari has a complete wildlife research team as well as its own anti-poaching unit, ensuring that an ecological balance prevails on this reclaimed piece of wilderness.

When you've spent all morning "roughing it" in an open Land Rover, you want to know you're coming back to a room or suite that offers you all the luxury and comfort you've come to expect, and gourmet food that will inspire and delight.

Choose from five different types of accommodation to suit your style - or move from one to the other, and experience them all!

The Shamwari - Born Free Conservation and Education Centre offers day visitors to the Port Elizabeth region a complete wildlife experience. The new centre is located in the southern area of Shamwari, next to Kaya Lendaba, an African arts and culture village.

In partnership with actress/conservationist Virginia McKenna's Born Free Foundation, Shamwari Game Reserve designed the Conservation and Education Centre to incorporate a museum and educational facility whose goal is to create an awareness of the horrific way in which wildlife is exploited in captivity around the world.

The Centre has already become an international sanctuary for African species found in such situations. Animals such as Raffi and Anthea are now kept in huge enclosures, living an almost free and natural life, in an environment as close to their original one as possible.

The Conservation Centre programme starts daily at noon. Visitors take lunch on the game-viewing deck, overlooking the Bushman's River, or in the dining room, after which they visit Kaya Lendaba, where they are introduced to ancient African traditions. This is a traditional African arts and culture village, and the only one of its kind in South Africa.

Founded by author, historian and faith-healer Credo Mutwa, it is a practising centre where locals come to resolve differences, cleanse their souls, learn about the future, or have an undertaking blessed.

When you visit Shamwari Game Reserve, you should experience the "safari of a lifetime" -- something you'll look back on in years to come, long after the video has been lost and the photos have faded. At Shamwari you will experience, learn and enjoy the ultimate in African wildlife viewing.

To achieve this goal, the staff at Shamwari have brought together the best the area has to offer. There is great game viewing, of course, but Shamwari also provides modern Land Rovers converted into open game-viewing vehicles.

Each vehicle has a trained ranger who will increase your enjoyment with his knowledge of both the flora and fauna.

As the rangers have radio contact at all times, they can inform one another about the whereabouts of elusive species, in particular the rare black rhino.

Game drives are conducted in the mornings and evenings. If you wish to see a particular species, please mention it to your ranger - he will be happy to be of assistance. In the early morning (if you are keen) you will leave before dawn, spending up to 3-4 hours spotting game before returning to your lodge for a hearty breakfast. Blankets are supplied for those cold morning starts!

The hottest time of the day is usually spent in the shade, playing tennis, swimming, reading and, of course, enjoying a large buffet lunch. Between 4:00 and 5:00pm, guests assemble again for the evening drive. As the animals emerge from their midday cover, you may see elephants browsing, rhino drinking at a waterhole, or perhaps the shy bushbuck motionless in the dense bushveld. At dusk, the Land Rover will stop at some panoramic spot for a sundowner (from the cool bag) and snacks.

Then, as the light fades, your ranger will switch on a hand-held spotlight, enabling you to scan the veld, seeing first the eyes and then the forms of a variety of nocturnal animals. By 8pm you will be back at your lodge where a drink in the bar with your ranger, amid cheerful recollections of the day's discoveries, is followed either by another great meal expertly prepared by our chefs, or a barbecue at the river next to a roaring fire.

Finally, a hot shower and off to bed for a well-earned rest - before repeating it again the next day!

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