Shamwari Bayethe Lodge

Lodge · Shamwari

Shamwari Bayethe Lodge

From

R 18 100 pps · per night

Display in

Where

Garden Route

Live availability

Shamwari Bayethe Lodge

About the lodge

An overview of Shamwari Bayethe Lodge.

The prestigious Shamwari Private Game Reserve covers 20 000 hectares of verdant bush along the Bushmans River in the Eastern Cape. The malaria-free reserve is home to five of the seven habitats found in South Africa, and its location close to the Garden Route, making a safari at Shamwari a perfect choice for those seeking to combine a tour of the Garden Route with a luxury Big Five safari.

Highlights

  • Whereabouts: Shamwari Private Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa
  • Experiences: Big 5 game drives, guided bush walks, bird watching, bush dining, spa treatments, a visit to the Ian Player Rhino Awareness Centre, the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, and the Born Free Big Cat Sanctuary

You Should Know

Child Policy

Children under the age of 12 years are not permitted at the lodge.

Children over the age of 12 years pay the applicable adult rate.

Persons under the age of 16 years are not permitted on any walking safaris.

The Detail

Bayethe, which translates to "I salute you," is a luxury tented retreat that blends seamlessly with the surrounding bushveld. It offers opulent accommodation, outstanding cuisine, and personalized service.

Bayethe features twelve luxurious tents positioned on the banks of the river and hidden among the trees. These en-suite tents have wooden floors and canvas sides, with sliding doors that open onto a viewing deck and private plunge pool. Other features include minibars, air conditioning, tea and coffee-making facilities, in-room safes, electric blankets, hairdryers, international adaptors, and telephones.

Three of the tents have indoor baths and showers, while the remaining nine offer guests the opportunity to shower outdoors. Selected rooms feature additional luxuries such as a fireplace and hammocks on the private deck.

The thatched main lodge includes a large viewing deck that overlooks the river, a sparkling swimming pool, a lounge area, a dining room, an outdoor boma, a business desk with internet access, a gift boutique, and the Bush Spa, which overlooks the waterhole.

Enjoy early morning and evening game drives led by professional guides, and guided game walks that afford up-close encounters with the smaller wondrous creatures of the African bush. Visits can also be arranged to Shamwari's Born Free Foundation Animal Rescue Centre, Ian Player Rhino Awareness Centre, and the Shamwari Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.

Shamwari is home to a variety of plants, birds, and animals. Guests frequently spot the Big Five during their stay, along with cheetah, caracal, wild dog, and a variety of antelope. Evening game drives often reveal more rarely seen nocturnal creatures, such as the hopping springhare, aardwolf, and brown hyena.

Shamwari Game Reserve is the perfect destination for bird lovers, boasting over 250 bird species. Raptor species include Black Harriers, Pale Chanting Goshawks, Black-shouldered Kites, Booted Eagles, and Secretary Birds. The Bushman’s River meanders through the reserve, providing a great refuge for species such as kingfishers, darters, the African Shelduck, finfoots, and the iconic African Fish Eagle.

Shamwari Bayethe Lodge is ideal for solo explorers, couples, and families looking for a unique safari experience.

Price Includes

  • Accommodation, all meals, high tea, tea and coffee, bottled water, guided bush walks, and twice daily game drives with local beverages included

Rate Exclusions

All additional beverages, gratuities, guest conservation levy, and all other items of a personal nature are excluded.

The purpose of the guest conservation levy is to support conservation efforts, particularly anti-rhino-poaching and other anti-poaching initiatives.

The same as booking direct

Rates and pricing.

Show prices in

Per person sharing, per night. Final pricing depends on dates, room category and party size.

Valid until 31 Mar 2027

Why book through us

You pay the lodge's rate, never a markup. What you get on top is a specialist who knows Shamwari Bayethe Lodge personally, looks after every detail of the trip, and stays reachable on WhatsApp from the moment you enquire to the day you come home.

By season

Green season

1 Apr 2026 – 30 Sept 2026

Full Board - All meals, selected local beverages, game drives and guided walks

R 18 100

Shoulder

1 Oct 2026 – 31 Mar 2027

Full Board - All meals, selected local beverages, game drives and guided walks

R 21 110

Rates are per person sharing, per night. A single supplement may apply for solo travellers. We offer a price match guarantee, just ask your safari specialist.

Family policies

Travelling with children.

What our safari specialists know about bringing children to Shamwari Bayethe Lodge: minimum ages, activities, family rooms and child rates, current as of May 2026. They plan family trips here all the time, so anything below that needs arranging, they will sort. For the bigger picture, see our guide to safari with children .

Minimum ages

Stay
12+
Game drives
12+
Walking safari
16+

Programmes & care

No dedicated kids' programme.

Babysitting available

Accommodation

No dedicated family unit.

Child rates

No child rate applies at Bayethe — the lodge is 12+ and child rates show as n/a on the rate sheet. (Group-wide Shamwari policy: ages 4–11 pay 50% of adult sharing rate, 0–3 free, but only at child-friendly lodges such as Long Lee Manor and Riverdene.)

Notable exceptions

  • Bayethe Tented Lodge has a strict minimum age of 12 across stay and game drives, and 16 for walking safaris. The Luxury Tented Suites have a maximum occupancy of 2, so there is no family unit on-property. Although Shamwari's group-wide policy allows children 4–11 at 50% and 0–3 free at "child friendly lodges", this does not apply at Bayethe — child rates show as n/a on the rate sheet. Families travelling with younger children are directed to other Shamwari lodges: Riverdene (all ages) and Long Lee Manor (6+) are the child-friendly properties and host the "Kids on Safari" programme; Eagles Crag is 12+ and Sindile is 16+. Private safari vehicles are available on request at additional cost at Bayethe, but they do not unlock under-12 access — children under 3 are not permitted on any game drive, including private vehicles, and the 12+ minimum still applies. Babysitting is available on request group-wide but is most relevant at the family-oriented sister lodges.

Walking safari

Built for walking.

Documented walking safari options at Shamwari Bayethe Tented Lodge. Distinguishes short bush walks from dedicated walking trails and overnight wilderness journeys.

Walking

Guided Walking Safari

Shamwari Bayethe Tented Lodge offers guided walking safaris on the reserve. Participants must be 16 years or older, and guests over 65 require a medical clearance certificate confirming fitness for a strenuous walk of up to 4 hours. Pregnant women are not permitted.

Duration: up to 4 hours; minimum age: 16 years; guests 65+ require medical clearance certificate; pregnant women not permitted.

Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Prices and availability subject to change. Your specialist confirms at booking.

Speak to a safari specialist

Plan your dream safari at Shamwari Bayethe Lodge.

From your first enquiry to the day you come home, one named safari specialist looks after every detail. We can handle the whole trip, not just the stay at Shamwari Bayethe Lodge: multi-country itineraries, internal flights, road transfers, tipping guidance, travel insurance, the lot. A safari specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours.

Example: 14–21 Nov 2027 · 2 adults · departing NYC · Big Five focus.

A safari specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours. Your details stay private. View our privacy policy.

Ready when you are

Let's design your stay.

Your specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours with availability, exact pricing, and suggestions for what to combine it with.

Plan a safari

Begin your adventure with us.

Five short steps. A safari specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours.

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