Press Articles
Inner Peace
Publication: Conde Nast Traveller: March 2010 IssueDate: February 3, 2010
Author: Peter Browne
A drive through the Karoo takes in grand and dignified Victorian architecture in the houses and churches of Cradock, Nieu Bethesda and Graff-Reinet. Literary figures such as Olive Schreiner and Athol Fugard hail from Cradock and Nieu-Bethesda respectively and that great 20th Century South African businessman, Anton Rupert, was born in Graff-Reinet and is responsible for much of its restoration. And, not surprisingly with Graff-Reinet as the start of the 1834 Great Trek and many of the towns occupied by the British in the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902, the history of South Africa's last 150 years lurks only just below the surface.
As a complete contrast after many hours on the open road, the 28000 hectares which makes up Samara Private Game Reserve could not be more welcome and more different. One of cazenove+loyd's favourite wildlife experiences, the lodge and recently built private villa have been an amazing conservation success. Sarah Tompkins' energy and vision have joined up 11 different farms and the wide vistas of savannah grassland host herds of re-introduced eland, blesbok, zebra and wildebeest. For Peter Browne the highlight was approaching cheetah on foot and his abiding memory was Sibella (one of the 12 resident cheetah) lying free and proud atop Kondoa Mountain with the sight of Candemboo Mountains laid out before her.
THIS IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE ARTICLE. FOR THE COMPLETE PIECE BY PETER BROWNE PLEASE BUY CONDE NAST TRAVELLER MAGAZINE- MARCH 2010 ISSUE
