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For other destinations and types of holiday, visit Kuoni
For other destinations and types of holiday, visit Kuoni 

Things to do in South Africa

Game drives and bush walks at Shamwari Private Game Reserve

We have gradually reintroduced animals that had previously been eradicated through hunting. Now we have a reserve teeming with wildlife…

By Jacques Human
Senior Field Guide - Shamwari Private Game Reserve

I love being outdoors and amongst nature, therefore it’s a privilege to take guests for a game drive or on a bush walk at Shamwari’s Private Game Reserve where I have been guiding since 2010.

Shamwari is a conservation success story. Over the past 25 years, we have gradually reintroduced animals that had previously been eradicated through hunting. Now we have a thriving reserve, teeming with wildlife. South Africa has seven biomes and we have five of them on our reserve so we offer our guests the chance to see the diversity of our animals including lion, leopard, elephant, hippos and giraffe, sustained by our healthy population of antelope.

Ornithologists will not be disappointed as our birdlife is prolific with over 275 species recorded, including the speckled mouse bird and the gracious secretary bird that has long feathers that look like writing quills.

Early each morning we take guests out on a game drive as this is when the animals are most active and before the heat of the sun moves them into shady areas. We do our best to accommodate guest’s requests if there is a particular animal or bird they would like to see.  We leave late afternoon for our second drive of the day and, as it starts to get dark, the nocturnal animals, including the big cats, start to prowl.

For a closer look at some of our smaller species, I recommend guests take one of our guided bush walks. This gives me the chance to share the intricacies of our ecosystems and explain how each creature, such as the endemic flightless dung beetle, plays an intrinsic role to the success of our flora and fauna.

As we are in a malaria-free area, we are popular with families and have a dedicated ‘Kids on Safari’ programme from Riverdene Safari Lodge. Our drives for families are educational and also a lot of fun as we are able to show them animals in their natural environment.

It’s an honour to work in such a special place as Shamwari Private Game Reserve.

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  • Trips to take
  • Wildlife

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Alfred & Jacques Human

Jacques grew up in the heart of the Great Karoo and loves being in the bush and working outdoors. He completed his professional field guide training at Shamwari where he has worked for over 11 years. Jacques is also a qualified full trails guide and loves teaching his guests the intricacies of nature. In his free time he enjoys CrossFit and travelling.

Plan your holiday withAlfred&

Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like Laura, who's travelled extensively in South Africa. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it alone. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember - ex banker who can show you the hottest foodie spots in Cape Town, the award-winning young sommelier who can introduce you to Stellenbosch's finest wines and the walking safari ranger who can guide you to the best game.

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