Shamwari Riverdene Lodge
Shamwari Riverdene Lodge sits within the Shamwari Private Game Reserve, built specifically around families rather than adapted for them. Just four rooms make up the lodge: one three-bedroom Family Room and three two-bedroom Family Rooms, each sleeping a maximum of two adults and one child. As a result, Riverdene stays genuinely intimate, despite its family focus, rather than running as a larger resort-style property.
Family Programme
The Kids on Safari programme runs through every part of a stay here. A dedicated kids’ club and adventure centre keep younger guests occupied between game drives. Visits to the reserve’s wildlife rehabilitation centre add an educational dimension too. Game drives welcome children from age four, though children under eight aren’t permitted on the standard drives. This distinction matters when planning a stay with younger children, since it shapes which activities a family can do together.
Rooms include air conditioning, satellite television and private facilities throughout. A child-friendly dining room, swimming pool and relaxed lounge areas round out the lodge’s own spaces. Accommodation runs on a full-board basis, including all meals and selected local beverages. Game drives and visits to the Education Centre, the Animal Rehabilitation Centre, Vulpro and the Born Free Foundation sanctuaries are all included too.
Conservation and Setting
Shamwari’s broader conservation programme runs through a Riverdene stay just as it does elsewhere on the reserve. The property has held the World’s Leading Conservation Company title since 1998. It operates Born Free Foundation big cat sanctuaries, rescuing lions and leopards from zoos, circuses and private ownership elsewhere in the world. Traditional African boma dinners, in addition, give families a memorable evening setting beyond the standard dining room.
Game drives run in open 4×4 vehicles with an experienced ranger, covering the reserve’s full range of Big Five terrain. Guided walks extend the experience for older children and adults wanting time on foot. Riverdene’s position within the wider 25,000-hectare reserve gives it the same access to game viewing as Shamwari’s other lodges, with the added benefit of facilities built specifically around younger guests.
Why Stay Here
- Just four rooms, keeping the lodge genuinely intimate despite its family-first design
- A comprehensive Kids on Safari programme, including a dedicated club, adventure centre and wildlife centre visits
- Game drives welcoming children from age four, with full-board rates including meals and activities
- Access to the same Born Free Foundation conservation programme found across the wider Shamwari reserve
- A child-friendly dining room and pool, alongside traditional boma dinners under the stars
Accommodation
Four rooms make up the lodge: one three-bedroom Family Room and three two-bedroom Family Rooms, each sleeping a maximum of two adults and one child. All rooms include air conditioning, satellite television and private en-suite facilities.
Dining
Meals are served on a full-board basis, including selected local beverages, with a dedicated child-friendly dining room and traditional African boma dinners served under the stars.
Experiences
The Kids on Safari programme includes a dedicated kids’ club, an adventure centre and visits to the wildlife rehabilitation centre. Game drives welcome children from age four, with guided walks available for older children and adults. Guests can also visit Shamwari’s Born Free Foundation big cat sanctuaries.
Best For
Families with young children wanting a safari lodge genuinely built around them, rather than simply tolerant of them.