10th – 16th MARCH 2024
The journey sees you tracking lions, engaging firsthand with the cheetah reintroduction programme and learning from the greatest conservation pioneers of South Africa.
What to expect
A breathtakingly beautiful semi-desert region that until the 18th century had been home to the largest land-based migration on Earth: the springbok migration. It remains an awe-inspiring place where, immersed in a luxury lodge in the great savannah, you will discover the innovative rewilding programme undertaken by this steadfast mother-daughter team, to bring the wild back to the Great Karoo. The reserve comprises five of South Africa’s nine vegetation biomes and is located in one of 36 Global Biodiversity Hotspots, which is why the Camdeboo region is loosely translated from San language as Place of the Green Hills. In talks and workshops with South Africa’s leading wildlife biologists and scientists you will gain greater knowledge of the ecological significance of the land and the species that inhabit it. Combining habitat restoration, species reintroduction and community programmes, they are tackling three integral areas of the climate crisis; biodiversity, carbon and education. A truly exemplary destination where a thriving, self-sustained ecosystem is possible. You can view the full itinerary here.
Conservation Impact
Once a thriving, biodiverse ecosystem of grasslands, South Africa's Great Karoo was roamed by epic herds of migrating Springbok and the mighty Cape Lion, before losing most of its wildlife to farming, fences and firearms. In 1997, Joburg-born Sarah and husband Mark Tompkins began their mission to restore the land to its former glory and magic and founded private game reserve, Samara Karoo. The Tompkins have since regenerated 67,000 acres of wilderness, and engaged in an ambitious programme of animal reintroduction, including the first wild cheetah back in the region in 125 years, the first elephants in over a century and, most recently, the first lions in 180 years. Samara's guests not only play a vital role in safeguarding the extraordinary landscape, but will leave truly empowered by the healing energy of nature.
Your Hosts
Mother-daughter team, Sarah and Isabelle Tompkins, are dedicated to protecting the Great Karoo and reintroducing species to their 67,000 acres of restored and protected land, with the aim to expand this to 3 million acres in the near future.
YOUR HOSTS
MEET YOUR HOSTS:
SARAH AND ISABELLE TOMPKINS
Two generations of Tompkins family running Samara
Bought the first of now 11 farms in 1997, Monkey Valley
Donated their land to Africa’s first ‘Tracker Academy’
Mother-daughter team, Sarah and Isabelle Tompkins, are dedicated to protecting the Great Karoo, South Africa and reintroducing species to their 67,000 acres of restored and protected land, with the aim to expand this to 3 million acres in the near future.
Originally from Johannesburg, Sarah and husband Mark Tompkins had known the Great Karoo as a desolate place that had lost all its wild beauty and abundant wildlife. In 1997, the Tompkins visited Monkey Valley farm and fell in love with its green and lush landscape following the recent rains. The couple decided to buy it, removed fencing and livestock and let the land recover for a few years before turning it into their rewilding passion project.
Today, 24 years later, Sarah runs the reserve with daughter Isabelle, who has inherited her parents’ drive to expand and protect the beautiful, semi-arid lands of the Great Karoo and holds the belief that humans should be “a part of nature, not apart from it”.
US $28,450 PER ROOM
US $16,500 SINGLE ROOM
Small group experience
Limited to SIXTEEN guests
OVERNIGHT IN CAPE TOWN
AIRPORT TRANSFERS
DOMESTIC CHARTER FLIGHTS
FULL BOARD THROUGHOUT
PRIVATE LODGE ON THE RESERVE
DAILY GAME DRIVES
EXTRAORDINARY TALKS BY LOCAL CONSERVATIONISTS
ENGAGEMENT WITH WILDLIFE SCIENTISTS
10 – 16th march 2024
Limited availability
subject to application