Thursday, 21 August 2025

A Samara Culinary Experience: Tasting the Soul of the Karoo

Conceived as a love letter to the Karoo, Samara Karoo Reserve near Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape offers more than just a safari, it’s a celebration of the land, its wildlife, and its flavours. Here, slow and meaningful journeys invite guests to pause, breathe in the wide-open beauty, and discover the biodiversity of this unique semi-arid region. From lions, rhinos, and cheetahs to tiny medicinal plants and the endangered Cape mountain zebra, every encounter speaks to the magic of the Karoo.

But the experience at Samara isn’t limited to wildlife, it extends beautifully to the dining table. Every meal at Samara tells a story of place, season, and community.

Dining with a Sense of Place

At Samara, food is as much a part of the safari as the wildlife. Guests can expect anything from a private picnic in the bush, to a boma dinner beneath a sky heavy with stars, to refined dining on the lodge patio. No two meals are ever the same, but all are thoughtfully crafted to reflect the Karoo’s honest and soulful character.

Samara’s General Manager, Marnus Ochse, sums it up best:
“Dining at Samara is all about flexibility, flavour and diversity. Our menus change seasonally; they are inspired by what’s fresh and they showcase the honest flavours of the Greater Karoo. We often incorporate local foraged plants into our dishes – for example in our Spekboom cake.”

Local Ingredients, Global Inspiration

Rooted in sustainability and community, Samara’s culinary team works hand-in-hand with nearby producers, incorporating regeneratively farmed, locally grown ingredients, including those from Samara’s own farming project. Dishes highlight freshness, seasonality, and integrity. Guests also enjoy the freedom of tailor-made dining experiences, with menus adapted to their preferences and meal times flexible to the rhythm of their safaris.

Ochse explains: “We’re very flexible in fitting in with the rhythms of their tailor-made safari.”

A Taste of the Karoo

Whether it’s a leisurely bush brunch or an elegant lodge dinner, the food at Samara is best described as simple elegance, honest ingredients prepared with care. This winter, expect comforting favourites like Karoo Eggs Benedict at brunch, or Samara’s signature Karoo lamb burger for all-day dining. Come evening, dinner might begin with springbok carpaccio, continue with a hearty ostrich pot pie, and end with a sweet potato malva pudding.

It’s unpretentious, generous, and full of soul, Karoo cuisine at its very best.

More than a Safari

Since 1997, Samara Karoo Reserve has pioneered the rewilding of the Great Karoo, creating a conservation-driven luxury safari experience unlike any other. Staying here means more than indulgence—it’s an active contribution to preserving the biodiversity of this extraordinary region for generations to come.

Just 270 km from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and 53 km from Graaff-Reinet, Samara is easily accessible yet feels worlds away. With three authentic lodges offering luxury accommodation, every stay combines world-class comfort with the traditions and soulfulness of the Karoo.