Last year, we covered the launch of Plains Camp in Eastern Cape’s Samara Karoo Reserve, and now, there is further news that cements the reserve as a leading venue for walking safaris in the Karoo with the launch of a trail experience that combines Plains Camp with a night of even more wilderness immersion at a fly-camp. The Cheetah Trail launched in September 2024, and runs for the summer from September to May, the ideal time for walking in the Great Karoo climate. The early feedback from guests is very psitive and Samara’s Isabelle Tompkins says “with the veld blossoming after recent spring rains and a family of cheetahs making their home in the southern part of the reserve, now is the best time to explore Samara’s vast landscapes on foot.”
Samara has 27,000 ha of Great Karoo veld and, alongside the animal life, what makes it fascinating to explore on foot is its variety of habitats. The terrain is undulating, and walkers will pass through grasslands, thickets and Nama Karoo biomes as well as savannah. As well as the cheetah, there are gemsbok, eland, lion, buffalo and giraffe and to be spotted.
Designed to run over three nights, guests sleep the first and last night in Plains Camp and walk to and from the fly-camp in slack-packing style, while their overnight bags are transferred by vehicle. Bookings are for a minimum of four guests and a maximum of eight, and the fly-camp has the full ‘under the stars’ experience – no tents are used, just stretcher beds with mattresses under mosquito nets (in the event of very bad weather, the fall back plan is to stay at Plains Camp and do walks from there). Ablutions are fly-camp style: a warm bucket shower, canvas washbasin and a composting short drop toilet.
And what about the walking? The idea is to wander to the fly-camp on the afternoon of the second day, taking five to six hours depending on the route taken and number of stops for interesting things. As the trail name suggests, the prime ‘interesting thing’ is tracking and trailing the reserve’s cheetah, a very special experience. Samara has a strong pedigree in their conservation, and was the first to reintroduce the cat to the Karoo after some 130 years of absence. The guides can demonstrate traditional tracking skills and also avail of modern technology: with several cheetah collared, they can reliably be found. Unlike other big cats, cheetah become easily habituated to humans on foot and can be approached ethically without causing disturbance to their natural behaviour. Guests should be 16 or older and ‘walking fit’ – overall about 30km is walked.
Images courtesy Samara Karoo Reserve.
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