Long Lee Manor – Shamwari

At Long Lee Manor, the clipped lawns of an Edwardian garden stop at the fence line and the Shamwari plains take over. The game viewing can start from your veranda.

At the heart of the lodge is the original manor house, dating back to 1910 and lovingly restored to honour the area’s heritage. Days begin and end with game drives across this malaria-free Big Five reserve in the Eastern Cape, with Swarovski binoculars on hand to bring distant rhino and elephant up close. In between, there is a large rim-flow pool with its own bar, a fitness centre and the Relaxation Retreat, where three treatment rooms make the most of a lazy afternoon after an early start.

Meals move between the indoor and outdoor dining areas and the boma, which looks out over the waterhole. Conference facilities make the manor a good fit for small groups and celebrations, and the rangers can arrange visits to Shamwari’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and the Born Free big cat sanctuary.

ACCOMMODATION

Every room pairs Edwardian character with modern comforts, from air conditioning and a Nespresso machine to an en-suite bathroom with bath and shower. Plains Rooms face the open grassland and have private verandas and outdoor showers, with a wheelchair-friendly option. Garden Rooms have private verandas and interconnecting doors, which suits families and friends travelling together. For more space, the Family Suite has two en-suite bedrooms, a lounge and a heated private plunge pool, sleeping up to four adults and two children aged six to 11, plus its own butler service.