Bayethe Safari Lodge

James Skinner

We stayed at Shamwari for 2 nights in December 2024 and it was nothing short of a fantastic experience. The staff were absolutely incredible and always happy to make our stay as wonderful as possible. For the safari tours, nothing else can compare. Shamwari, by far, offers the best experience. During our tours, we were able to see incredible wildlife - from lions and cheetahs, to an obese elephant named Cillian. The rangers were also incredibly knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor on our drives (special shout outs to Ray, Leon and Dale!). If you are looking for a true safari experience in the Eastern Cape, look no further than Shamwari - you will not be disappointed. 5*.

Victoria P

This was the best short vacation of my life. Everything was perfect from the moment of arrival, the transfer from the airport to the safari lodge, and back to the airport. We stayed at Bayethe Safari Lodge for 4 nights. The tent, interior details, bed, pillows, and linens were all of the highest quality. The food was excellent, even exquisite. The lodge is surrounded by greenery with a beautiful view of the river. There are 12 tents in the lodge, each situated at a considerable distance from the others. This means that your privacy is not disturbed, even by sounds. It’s a marvelous place for those who want to recharge and escape the hustle and bustle of the city. If you love silence and the sounds of nature, this is the place for you! And, of course, the game drives. We stayed at the hotel for 4 nights, and initially, I wondered if that might be too long. That’s 8 game drives, each lasting 3 hours. Would such an activity become monotonous? How mistaken I was! If it were possible to extend our stay at the lodge, I would have done so. We went on game drives every morning and afternoon with our wonderful ranger, Ruan. We were incredibly lucky to have Ruan with us, as our interests and temperaments matched perfectly. It was fascinating to listen to him talk about the animals and, of course, to observe them. We saw all of the Big Five except for the leopard. However, we were fortunate to see two cheetahs at once. We were amazed at how the rangers managed to find the animals. It seemed as though they were deeply hidden in the bushes, and mountains, far from the road, yet the rangers managed to locate them each time. This was our first time in South Africa and on a game drive, so every new animal we saw brought a lot of emotions and admiration. Our ranger always repeated: "Sit quietly and nicely." We were impressed by the immense respect for nature, flora, and fauna. It was remarkable how knowledgeable the ranger was about all the birds, plants, flowers, and even insects. This was our first trip, but we know it won’t be our last. It was amazing and unforgettable; such a journey stays with you for a lifetime!

Liam McDowell

One of the best Game Reserves in SA. Top quality accommodation and food with excellent and friendly staff. Two 3 hour game drives a day lead by very experienced and knowledgeable rangers

stephen de beer

It was an amazing experience everyone was truly excited 😊 and very friendly to be with us , the staff are so eager to be of acitance and very friendly. We emediatly felt at home arriving at Mantis Founders Lodge, I would highly 😀 recommend 👌 a visit to this fine establishment, 🙂 and discover, Where it all began. 🐘🦒🦏

Beth Meany

We had the most magic three days in Bayethe at shamwari on our Honeymoon. Hands down the best experience of our lives ,thanks to our incredible ranger Sihle! His enthusiasm, knowledge , passion, warmth and great humour made every drive unforgettable, so enjoyable and exciting ! It is hard to explain how incredible our stay was …The service was exceptional. All of the staff in particular Mauveen, Sedonia and Sino went above and beyond to make our stay a trip of a lifetime. The food, staff , game drives and accommodation was 10/10 . Couldn’t recommend enough !!