Shamwari Eagles Crag Lodge

Reviews

"Eagle's crag, situated in the Shamwari game reserve, is definitely somewhere I'd recommend. As it only has 9 suites, the lodge has an intimate feel and the staff were all attentive and very pleasant. Our game ranger, Mino, ensured that we had a great time and we really couldn't have asked for a better guide."

- Ellie

---

"Eagles crag lodge is meeting African wildlife with a touch of luxury, the accommodation and catering is of a high standard and the staff brilliant. It's not nature in the raw, more raw nature from a luxury perspective. Shamwari is in a malaria free zone, just of the N2 and eagles Crag Lodge offers twice a day wildlife experiences with 3/4 hour jeep adventures. The rangers are very knowledgeable and will cover many aspects of African wildlife apart from the " big 5". In addition to the ranger services the staff at the lodge and standard of catering are excellent- we thoroughly enjoyed!"

- Stephen

---

"Our experience at Shamwari was unlike anything we had thought. The facility is absolutely first class. The bungalow style rooms are perfectly appointed and very private. Your own pool and private deck with window walls that open up completely. The staff is so accommodating and attentive. Juice (or hot chocolate) and hot towels greet you each time you arrive. The meals are top notch. And great wines. However the absolute best part of the stay was our ranger - Jan. He was so amazingly knowledgeable and shared his expertise on every drive. We learned so much. Not just about the game but about the plant life, the diets of the animals, feeding habits, the terrain, tracking and driving a Land Cruiser over just about anything you can imagine. That said when it comes down to seeing the good stuff he delivered. We saw four of the big five on our first drive. Not a usual experience but amazing. Loved how he kept saying "guys, I have another surprise for you" and he always did! It would absolutely not have been the same trip without him and we were incredibly lucky to have him. Add to his expertise that he has a passion for the bush that is infectious, is just plain fun to be around and made me excited to get up each morning at 5:30am for a drive and you have the recipe for a perfect experience. Thank you Jan for making our trip!"

- David

---

"I was not sure I had made right choice by preferring a private reserve to the Kruger Park, but Eagles Crag went well beyond my highest expectations. Close to Port Elizabeth (1,5 h), this lodge is very easy to reach and the right place to have a fantastic safari experience. By entering this reserve, you forget the rest of the world even if you stay for just two nights. We crossed an elephant from our own car just after passing the gate. The rooms are breathtaking, very far one from another and each with a private pool. The location is really great but what made our stay exceptional was our ranger Jan: outstanding knowledge of the animals and great fun to be with. Even in front of roaring lions you feel safe with him. Thank you Jan, from myself, Luca, Memy and Matteo! The food could have been better, but the service was great. I definitely recommend this lodge."

- Chrisitina

---

"This was my first time on safari and Shamwari and the accommodation at Eagles Crag lived up to our high expectations. We spent 3 nights there and went on 6 game drives. The game drives had a maximum of 6 plus guide in the vehicle with a maximum of 3 vehicles allowed near any particular animals at any time so the whole feeling was of space and exclusivity. The guide we had (Frans) was very knowledgeable, clearly loves what he does and had a real knack of being able to spot the animals. The hot chocolate and hot towels awaiting us on our return on the cold drives was really welcome. The food and accommodation at Eagles Crag was first class. There was plenty of storage in the room, there was both an inside and outside shower which were both very powerful as well as a great bath. The rooms were cleaned whilst we were out on the game drives and so there were no interruptions when we were in our room which was great. All in all thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended."

- Lesley

---

"Eagles Crag was simply fantastic from start to finish! The staff were brilliant and had thought of everything from welcome drinks, to warm drinks on your arrival back from a cold game drive. The lodges were beautiful and secluded so you had complete privacy, an outdoor shower and plunge pool and on your turn down on the first night we even had a bath run with candles and rose petals! We were so lucky to have Bethuel as our ranger for our 3 day stay. He was so knowledgeable and could track the animals so well. We managed to see all the Big 5 and plenty of animals across the reserve. We had 5 game drives across our 3 days and each day the drive was different and we saw something different. A herd of elephants chasing impala away. A pride of lions attempting to take down an Eland. And a rhino and baby joining us for sundown drinks! But what was particularly lovely about Bethuel was his genuine care for the well being of the animals within the reserve and also for that of his clients. After your morning game drive you have about 4-5 hour before your afternoon drive so you can enjoy retreating from the world in your lodge or take advantage of the fabulous spa. Amy was excellent, I particularly recommend the signature ceremony! Just a quick one to note... every other night you sit down to dinner with your ranger and the rest of the people from your game drive, I wasn't expecting this so just one to be aware of. My husband and I loved our experience at Eagle's Crag so much we shall definitely be returning!"

- Tamsyn

---

"We started our honeymoon with a four day stay at Eagles Crag and we had the most fantastic time! The lodge itself is just lovely - beautifully furnished and spacious, just like the rooms, which are comprised of nine separate chalets, each with their own private rear decking and plunge pool. The staff are attentive, welcoming and always accommodating of any requests. The little touches like hot towels and drinks on arrival (and every time you return from safari) make all the difference and the food is of a very high standard, with the menu changing daily. The most important thing though of course is the safari drives, and we were most certainly not disappointed. Our ranger was Franz, and we felt very lucky to have such a fantastic guide. He is a lovely person and you can't help but like him straight away. His knowledge is unbelievable - I don't think there was a question asked by any member of our group over the entire duration of our trip that he didn't know the answer to, and he was always able to offer some interesting information or insight. Franz is clearly very intelligent, but unassuming and humble at the same time - very endearing qualities. We went on seven drives in total, all very different and memorable in their own ways. Franz had a good understanding of the animals' behaviours and excellent tracking skills, so we managed to get very up close and personal with all of the big 5, as well as numerous other wonderful animals (we saw leopards in the Born Free sanctuary not the wild, but we got up close nonetheless!) Shamwari is a beautiful reserve and we wouldn't hesitate to go back there. There seems to be a higher concentration of animal sightings in the south, but the north of the reserve offers stunning scenery, with a fantastic mountainous landscape and valleys. I cannot recommend Eagles Crag, the staff and of course Franz highly enough (I did speak to a couple of the other rangers during our stay and they too seemed very friendly and were no doubt also excellent guides). I would like to thank the Eagles Crag and Shamwari team for helping us get our honeymoon off to the perfect start."

- Chris

---

"We stayed in several places across a 3 week break and this was the highlight for us. The welcome, the staff, the room, the spa, the game drives were all out of this world. Our game ranger was Franz who was exceptional and made every game drive very special."

- Rachael

---

"Shamwari is an incredible game reserve and Eagles Crag is definitely the jewel in its crown. The Lodge is set in a stunning location. The rooms are the height of luxury with private plunge pools, indoor and outdoor showers and private views of the crag. The staff are excellent, they provide the highest level of service without feeling obtrusive. The spa was perfect and great after a day of game drives. The restaurant produced delicious food each day and varied the menu each evening. The game drives where unforgettable and our game ranger Mino really went that extra mile to make our stay memorable. We had an incredible time at Eagles Crag, Shamwari."

- Adam

---

"What a fabulous lodge!! Should we ever return to SA again, I would make our trip to Shamwari the last stop before returning home. Should you decide to book into this lodge - you won't be disappointed as it is a very luxurious lodge. A huge Thank You to Game ranger Mino. Not only is he a knowledgeable ranger, but we also felt very safe in his hands. Mino also ensured that the well being of all our family which was above and beyond what we had ever expected from Shamwari staff. Thank you MIino for going out of your way to ensure that the cook prepared special dishes for our family. Needless to say that the food was also great!! We had a lot of laughs and a fun time. A huge thank you to You Mino and all your staff!!"

- Ann