Eagles Crag

Eagles Crag is a small lodge, nine suites in all, tucked up against a line of rock faces inside Shamwari. Shamwari covers about 250 square kilometres of the Eastern Cape, roughly 75 km from Gqeberha, and holds the Big Five without the malaria risk you get further north. The draw here is the setting: cliffs on one side, bush below, and eagles riding the updrafts off the rock.

What to expect

The suites are built from thatch, stone and glass and take two adults each. Each has a private deck with a plunge pool, a bath and shower inside, an outdoor shower and air-conditioning. Butler service is part of the stay.

The shared spaces are where Eagles Crag differs from the other lodges. There’s a deck with raised viewing pods and a fire pit, a lounge and bar with a fireplace, and a downstairs lounge with a TV and a billiard table for wet afternoons. A relaxation retreat with a steam room and sauna sits alongside the gym.

Practical details

• Activities are game drives, bush walks and birding.
• The lodge is fenced and has WiFi.
• You check in at Shamwari’s Northern Welcome Lounge, reached off the N10 and the Alicedale road, and are driven about 30 minutes to the lodge.
• Binoculars are supplied.
• Suites are for adults sharing, so ask Shamwari about children before you book.

Good to know

Book a visit to one of the two Born Free big cat sanctuaries on the reserve, which care for lions and leopards rescued from poor captive conditions around the world. The rehabilitation centre and the Vulpro vulture experience are also on offer. If a sauna, a steam room and a billiard table matter to you, this suits better than Shamwari’s tented Bayethe.

Last updated 7 October 2026. Sources: Shamwari Private Game Reserve, Wikipedia, Shamwari, location and directions, Shamwari, Born Free big cats experience.