Tracking Cheetah on Foot in South Africa

By: Scott Dubois, Fauna Travel Designer

Samara Karoo is one of our favorite hidden gem safaris in Africa. The 67,000-acre reserve lies in the arid interior of South Africa’s Eastern Cape but comprises five vegetation biomes and is home to over 60 mammal species, including the Big Five. Samara is also widely regarded as one of the best places in the world to view wild cheetahs. This year, they are launching a 3-night, 4-day hiking adventure highlighting these endangered cats at their Plains Camp called the Samara Cheetah Trail.

Samara is widely regarded as one of the best places in the world to view wild cheetahs.

Plains Camp is an off-grid safari experience that focuses on walking safaris and reconnecting with nature in elegant simplicity. Guests embarking on the Cheetah Trail will spend their stay walking 6-9 miles per day across the reserve with trained guides, tracking cheetahs, and immersing themselves in the flora and fauna of the region. On the second night of the trip, guests can stay at a mobile tented camp in a remote part of the reserve. The walks aren’t strenuous and will appeal to anyone wanting to go deeper on their next safari. Game drives, conservation activities, and bush picnics are also available to diversify the experience.

Samara is a three-hour drive from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) or can be accessed by private charters to the reserve or the nearby town of Graaff-Reinet. We love including this as part of an extended Garden Route Road Trip – contact us for details.