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SALT is situated at SAAO, the South African Astronomical Observatory field station close to Sutherland in the Northern Cape province.
This Southern African Large Telescope is the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere and among the largest in the world. Tours can be booked as fully guided tours or basic tours by day and our night tours include the viewing of interesting objects in the sky.
Welcome to a unique BIG5 African safari experience 55 km from Graaff-Reinet in South Africa's Great Karoo semi-desert. Samara Karoo Reserve is an award-winning conservation journey in a heart-stoppingly beautiful setting. Born in 1997 of a desire to restore the Great Karoo to its former glory, this private game reserve has pioneered the rewilding of a landscape that had been turned over to agriculture for the best part of three centuries.
Assembling 11 farms totalling 67,000 acres, Samara’s founders vowed to restore the magic of this place, embarking on an ambitious programme of land restoration and wildlife reintroduction. Today, thousands of wild animals roam this born-again wilderness and Samara is working with local stakeholders to extend the conservation ethic to over 3 million acres. 26 guests at a time are invited to join Samara’s conservation journey and help to shape it for the future.
Whether you want to go on safari with the whole family or on foot, you are looking for a romantic retreat and want to sleep under the stars, have a bush picnic or would like to celebrate a special occasion or even experience the game reserve on a mountain bike, Samara is a BIG 5 game reserve where guests get their own private piece of Africa to play in.
Two intimate, five-star and owner-run lodges, with a true sense of place and sleeping 26 people, offer a quintessentially warm Karoo welcome, with myriad activities on offer to explore, entertain and educate. Whilst on safari at Samara you will bask in the exclusivity of being one of few people in a vast wilderness of the African bushveld.
Encircled by a natural amphitheatre of mountains, the lovingly renovated farmhouse sits in perfect harmony with its wild surrounds and lies on the first property bought by the Tompkins family when they started Samara in 1997. Combining modern day comforts with a rustic and welcoming feel, Karoo Lodge is the perfect place to relax and allow the tranquillity of the Karoo to envelop you – on the wide verandah in summer or by the cosy fire in winter. With 9 double rooms of varying sizes, it caters for individual travellers, couples and families.
Contemporary style meets Karoo living in the Manor House which can also be booked exclusively. This luxury villa offers a contemporary take on Karoo living, sleeping up to 8 guests in comfort and style. The villa opens up into two living areas and two smaller breakaway lounging alcoves. In summer large glass doors are cast wide open to the patio, with a large infinity pool, and in the winter months you can unwind by the fireplace where a crackling fire burns. Dining takes places in a well-appointed dining room adjacent to the comfortable bar area. There is also a small breakfast room next to the kitchen, which can double up as a study.
When the weather is fair, candlelit dinners are set up on the verandah, on the lawn under the purple-flowered Jacaranda tree or out in the bush beneath a star-studded sky. A Karoo-style boma, fashioned out of an old water reservoir, is the perfect place for pre-dinner drinks around the fire.
Regenerating South Africa's Great Karoo region through rewilding and responsible tourism - In staying at Samara, every guest plays a role in safeguarding the landscape in perpetuity. Yet for those who visit, Samara’s magic extends beyond its conservation importance. To immerse oneself in this soulful landscape of infinite horizons is to experience a recalibration of the frantic modern mindset and a deep reconnection with nature.
Our aim is for every guest to leave Samara Karoo Reserve empowered by the healing energy of nature, having reconnected with what's truly important.
Welcome to your home in the bush. Nestled amongst the rolling mountains of the Lowveld in the heart of Mpumalanga, lies Tomjachu Bush Retreat - Once a family home, it is now an award-winning, owner-run retreat, situated within its own private nature reserve, 15km outside Nelspruit. It is the perfect destination for anyone looking for accommodation in Nelspruit to unwind and relax in nature, with plenty of activities on offer to those looking for a touch of adventure. Our retreat’s location within a private reserve allows you to explore the abundant natural wonders that flourish in the surrounding 550 hectare property, whilst immersing yourself in elegant comfort.
Our hidden Lowveld gem is often praised for its breathtaking views of the towering Bekker Mountains, and endless bushveld vistas running unbroken all the way to the southern boundary of the Kruger National Park.
Stay in the classically styled Homestead in one of our 3 individual bedrooms or in one of three private cottages accommodating 2 to 4 guests.
Alternatively choose our 5-star self-catering Valbonne Villa which sleeps groups of 6-12.
All accommodation options are surrounded by beautiful gardens sharing spectacular mountain bushveld views. Some have private pools, some have self-catering facilities and everyone is welcome to enjoy our dining room menus which embody home-style cooking with elegant flair using home-grown, locally sourced ingredients.
Immerse yourself in the marvels of nature with an array of activities to keep you entertained throughout your stay.
All our accommodation includes access to the 15 Kilometres of hiking and biking trails on the nature reserve.
Also enjoy an adventurous game drive with our knowledgeable guide, hike up to the majestic Zebra Heights and meander amongst the bounteous plains game which roams around the property. Or simply sit back with a glass of award-winning wine on our extensive verandas and indulge yourself in the natural orchestra of over 275 bird species.
Adjoining the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa, our casual Torgos Lodge is situated alongside the C15 route, just 7 km from the Mata-Mata border post in Namibia, and located within a 11000 hectar game camp hosting a wide variety of game, notably gemsbok, blue wildebeest, springbuck, eland and kudu to name a few. There is also abundant bird life for the avid bird watchers, including a breeding vulture colony. The surroundings are typical of the Kalahari region with the dry Auob River bed lined by large camelthorn trees, red sand dunes and sparse vegetation. This makes our safari lodge the ideal stop over on your travel route to and from the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and an ideal destination for a few days of relaxation in the Kalahari.
We offer 10 en-suite units sleeping two people each on twin beds. There are eight standard tented or stone chalets and two luxury, air-conditioned stone chalets. Four units have basic self-catering facilities. Our accommodation can be booked either as bed and breakfast, on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis or as self-catering.
Set at the dry Auob River bed, our stylish, stone and thatched Lapa main building houses a lounge, bar and dining area where breakfast and dinner are served. Lunches or lunch packs can be provided on request. Outside the Lapa is a large stone terrace, a group barbeque area (braai Boma) and a swimming pool overlooking a waterhole in the riverbed where a variety of game can be seen.
Book a sundowner game drive to the top of a red Kalahari dune while searching for wild animals, mostly small and large antilopes. Refreshments and light snacks are included.
Perfect for general photography. Take an unguided walk into the veld from the lodge, either into the dunes or along the river bed and experience first-hand every detail of nature, from the birds and animals, to plants, seeds, animal tracks and smaller forms of life.
Back at the lodge, sit outside in the evenings, look up and touch the stars! With its clear skies, no pollution or any artificial light, the Kalahari is one of the best places for stargazing.
