Shamwari Bayethe

The best experience ever. We were greeted on arrival by Prudance & Buli and shown to our accommodation, quite honestly one of the most fabulous suites we have ever stayed in. We loved the peace & tranquility of relaxing on the deck after the early morning drives. The food is delicious, great breakfast & dinner. All the staff go above & beyond with all the personal touches & kindness shown to all of us, we were 2 couples. Now to the main event……..the game drives, wow, wow, wow. My friends had been on safari before, for me it was my 1st time. Our evening drive took place upon arrival & we were blessed to see so much wildlife, we even saw the lioness & her cubs, cheetahs, white & black rhino, elephants plus so much more. Every single drive was brilliant, could not have wished for better! Ruan was our guide, he was absolutely brilliant, his knowledge & the information he gave up was incredible. We loved his ‘pop up’ bar on the evening drives & coffee stop in the mornings. We had lots of laughs en route. Ruan is also a talented photographer, he is a great asset to Bayete & Shamwari & we feel honoured to have been guided by him. Thank to everyone at Bayete you are amazing. Amanda, Jason, Sal & Guy xxx

Just home from the most amazing 3 days at Shamwari Bayethe. Our experience was just breath taking and everyone was so welcoming. Nina and her team are so accommodating and we felt so at home in the gorgeous lodge. Our room had the biggest and comfiest bed, the bath overlooking the incredible scenery was gorgeous and the daily treats were all fabulous. Food was plentiful, prepared with such care and absolutely delicious. Top credit to the chef and we're sorry we couldn't eat more, but the portions were massive! The highlight of our time was the game drives we did with Benedict (Benny) who was the BEST ranger. He was such great company and his ability to find all the animals was brilliant. Benny shared his knowledge in a really considerate way, never over loading us with too much info and he educated us in such a fun way. For the first day / night of our stay we were the only guests so had really individual attention but this didn't change when other guests arrived over our next 2 days. We saw absolutely everything we hoped to at such close proximity to the truck and each of our 6 game drives were totally different. Loved how Benny had the truck set up with hot water bottles on chilly mornings and the ponchos / blankets were really welcome. Much to my daughter's embarrassment I cried saying goodbye to Benny as the three days we spent with him on game drives were just magical. I cannot recommend Shamwari Bayethe more highly. It was a trip of a lifetime!

I'm not sure where to start, because we were completely blown away by our wonderful experience at Shamwari. It's in an amazing setting, the staff were all wonderful, the luxurious lodge went way beyond our expectations, and the food was superb. But of course, the real highlights were our game drives with the incredibly knowledgeable Benedict and his trainee Trueman. I never imagined we'd get so close to so many animals - we saw lions, cheetahs, elephants, hippos, rhinos, water buffalo, giraffes, zebra, impala, and so much more. The only thing that wasn't perfect was the weather but even the rain and cold couldn't spoil this experience - it was just magical. We've stayed at lots of amazing places but this has to be one of the very best - if you ever get the chance to visit, just grab it and go.

Our stay at Bayethe exceeded all of our expectations . From the time you arrive to when you leave everything is taken care of . The level of customer service and attention to detail is first class . The lodges are stunning , we were both completely blown away when we first walked in . They are spacious , beautifully furnished with great outdoor space . The food is fantastic, a full breakfast with great choices that change each day . Lunch is tapas style with really interesting dishes . We had 2 a’la carte evening meals and one barbecue ( I should say braii ) . I don’t know where to start when talking about our ranger , Morne . We have had the best 3 days ever . Every drive was an adventure . We were so lucky to see so much . Morne is so knowledgeable, we learnt a lot about the animals ways and habits . The respect shown to these beautiful creatures mean that they carry on their daily life allowing you to share some incredible experiences . We were lucky enough to see 2 cheetah out looking for lunch . Everyone at Bayethe work so hard to ensure you have the best experiences . I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone . Thank you Shamwari , I hope to return soon .

My wife and I stayed at Shamwari Beyethe Lodge for 3 nights as part of our Honeymoon trip. We are both keen flora and fauna enthusiasts and joining a sustainable and ethical safari was top of the list to build our Honeymoon around. All I can say is we were both blown away with the experience we had at Shamwari Bayethe Lodge and would live there if we could! We were welcomed by Buli who made us instantly feel welcome and very relaxed and took us through the check in process. The lodge was absolutely amazing and whilst I could put up a ton of photos, I do not want to spoil the experience and wow factor for those who are considering going. All I can say is the facilities are amazing and you have a balcony overlooking areas of the reserve. You will not be disappointed! The food in the main lodge is equally amazing with breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner being served daily. The quality of the food was outstanding the the service from all staff could not be rivalled. There was no cocktails on the beverage menu, however Nina (very helpful Lodge Manager) made us aware that Anele (Barista) was a keen cocktail enthusiast and would make us something if we asked. We took up this offer and asked Anele if he would make us a cocktail and he was delighted at being asked. He made the most amazing Pina Colada which had us hooked and we enjoyed Aneles 'daily recommendation' during out trip. Last but by no means least, the game drives. We were paired up with a ranger called Raymond Simmons who could not do enough for my wife and I which included remaining very enthusiastic as we seeked out the lions in the pouring rain. Raymond helped make our safari experience one that we will remember for the rest of our lives and we keep regularly talking about when we will go back. I could go on all day about how amazing Shamwari is but I do not want to reveal everything and leave it as one big surprise for those considering visiting. All I can say is go for it, its an amazing place and I know you will not regret it.

What a fantastic 3 night stay at the newly refurbished Bayethe Lodge. 9 spectacular Lodge bungalows and a central Lodge for dining. From the moment we arrived we were looked after so very well. The staff are all super friendly and efficient, nothing was too much trouble. Our bungalow had a big and comfy bed, lounge area and modern bathroom. Bush views and very private. Just excellent. Two game drives morning and evening. Great vehicles, fantastic guide Josh comes in for special mention. The reserve is beautiful, the animals simply wonderful. Over 5 drives we saw so much. Food is good but falls below the very high standards of everythingelse, breakfast especially was excellent. We would revisit anytime, so should you.