Cheetah Plains Lodge

Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve

  • Safari Lodge

  • Fully Inclusive

  • Personal Butler

  • 3 4-Bedroom Villas

  • Up To 24 Guests

  • Electric Vehicles

Sleep in the lap of luxury amidst the glorious untamed landscape. The area is home to many of the world’s most iconic creatures. Expect to cross paths with everything from lions to buffaloes and elephants to rhinos in a chic accommodation in the South African wilderness. 

The gorgeous villas offer guests an award-winning, personalized and bespoke experience for those wanting to go on luxury African safari tours.

Cheetah Plains Lodge offers a sustainably luxury safari experience like no other. The three exclusive-use villas lie within one of South Africa’s most sensational wildlife viewing areas, the Sabi Sand. With an award-winning architectural design, the lodges are entirely solar-powered and offer a touch of style and glamor amidst the wild bushveld surroundings. 

Why our  Travel Designers like it…

“Cheetah Plains has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Every aspect of this private safari lodge was exquisite. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an unforgettable experience.”

-Julia

The Ultimate Safari 

Experience

Cheetah Plains is a luxury safari lodge located in the Sabi Sand Reserve, one of the most prestigious game parks in South Africa. The lodge shares an unfenced border with the world-renowned Kruger National Park, and is home to an abundance of wildlife, including the Big Five. Cheetah Plains is particularly renowned for its leopard sightings. The lodge's experienced guides are experts at tracking these elusive cats, and guests are almost guaranteed to see one during their stay. In addition to its stunning wildlife, Cheetah Plains is also committed to sustainability. The lodge is solar-powered, and its villas are built using sustainable materials. Cheetah Plains is the perfect place for travelers who want to experience the best of Africa's natural beauty while also doing their part to protect the environment. With near unrivaled wildlife viewing: Cheetah Plains is home to an abundance of wildlife, including the Big Five. The lodge's experienced guides are experts at tracking these animals, and guests are almost guaranteed to see them during their stay. The staff is dedicated to providing guests with an unforgettable safari experience. The staff is knowledgeable about the local wildlife and culture, and they are always willing to go the extra mile to make guests' stay enjoyable.

Key Features  of Cheetah Plains

Each stand-alone villa is 100% solar-powered and comprises four stand-alone private guest suites that sleep up to eight lucky guests along with an additional shared living space.  

  • Enjoy the luxury of having an expert field guide and tracker leading you through the glorious surrounding landscape to see all of its most incredible animal residents. You'll have the opportunity to learn about the animals' natural behaviors and habitats from your expert guide.

  • Each villa comes with its own dedicated team of staff who are available to cater to your every need during your stay. This includes a culinary team, lodge sommelier and bartender. The culinary team will prepare all of your meals, from breakfasts, lunch, snack, to elaborate dinners. They will also take into account any dietary restrictions that you may have.

  • There is always a spa therapist on-hand to offer guests a touch of personal pampering, whether that be a hot stone massage, facial or pedicure. In-room private massages are also available, so you can relax and unwind in the comfort of your own villa.

  • Every villa boasts its own 300-bottle wine cellar. Each one has been carefully selected and will be available for consumption during your stay. A dedicated wine sommelier is on hand to help you choose the perfect wine to pair with your meal.

  • Lose yourself amidst the masterpieces of local artists that line the walls of the lodge. Each and every piece has been handpicked and personally curated by the owner of the property.

  • After a long day of exploring the African bush, come together with your fellow travelers in the entertainment lounge to watch a movie on the flat-screen TV. With all the latest streaming apps and plenty of Wi-Fi, you can choose from a wide variety of movies to watch. Relax and unwind with a cold drink and some popcorn while you enjoy a movie night in the bush.

  • There is nothing quite like taking a refreshing dip in your private pool after a long day of exploring the reserve. Especially when you can watch a hippopotamus bathe in the pond next to you. It is an amazing experience to be able to see the African bush from the water.

  • Sit down for a fireside meal by the boma as the sounds of the bush reverberate in the background. Outdoor boma at Cheetah Plains is a large, open-air area with a thatched roof. It is located in the middle of the lodge's gardens, and it offers stunning views of the surrounding savanna. The boma is a great place to relax and enjoy a meal or a drink after a long day of game drives. It is also a great place to stargaze at night.

  • Guests can keep fit during their stay at the climate-controlled and fully-equipped gym. The gym is a great place for guests to stay fit during their stay at Cheetah Plains. It is also a great place to relax after a long day of game drives.

  • Those traveling with children will be pleased to hear of the ‘Cubs Club’. Highly qualified field guides and trackers share exciting stories with little explorers and take them on age-appropriate game drives, and interpretive walks in indigenous gardens along with other fun activities such as baking, tracking and arts.

Things to Do at Cheetah Plains

There are so many spectacular things to see and do while staying in this luxury safari accommodation in South Africa.

  • Game Drive

    Continue the luxury African safari experience with a bush drive. The twice-daily excursions are completed in Tesla-powered Toyota Land Cruiser Electric Safari Vehicles to ensure each exciting adventure is as eco-friendly as the next.
    An additional benefit to this zero-emission cruiser is that it is almost completely silent and offers a smooth ride. This leaves you able to immerse yourself in the experience without any disturbances.

  • Bush Walk

    Naturally, guests can embark on Bush Walks into the Sabi Sand landscape while staying in the luxury safari lodge of Cheetah Plains. The guided expeditions are hosted by certified and experienced field guides who can read the tracks, sounds and smells of the area to lead you to the best wildlife viewing spots each day. The walks can be completely customized and tailored to suit the individual needs of our guests, taking into account factors such as fitness levels, age, and weather conditions. This means that no one needs to miss out on the adventure. So, if you’re wondering where to stay in Sabi Sands, you will not find a more sensational accommodation than Cheetah Plains.

  • Wine Tasting

    Spend days embarking on luxury African safari tours before returning home to a tasting from the 300-bottle wine cellar that lies within each of the villas. You may wish to take the tasting under the stars and by the flame of the outdoor boma.

  • Massage Therapy

    While staying at one of the villas in Cheetah Plains game reserve, make the most of the wellness therapists by attending to some personal pampering. Choose between an array of massage therapies and beauty treatments, all of which can be completed from the privacy of your suite. Specially-selected African botanicals are incorporated into the treatments to offer guests the most relaxing and restorative of experiences.

Cheetah Plains FAQs

  • Sabi Sands Private Reserve is considered by many to be the premier wildlife reserve in all of Africa. Game drives are central to the experience of any Sabi Sands lodge. At Cheetah Plains, you will go out on drives in your fully electric open vehicle with your private ranger and tracker. These two expertly trained and highly experienced guides will help you to locate lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, and other animals.

  • Cheetah Plains is located within Sabi Sands, a private game reserve in South Africa that is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Some of the game animals that you may see on safari at Cheetah Plains include:

    The “Big Five”: lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, and Cape buffalo

    Other mammals: cheetah, wild dog, hyena, hippopotamus, zebra, wildebeest, impala, kudu, waterbuck, and many more

    Birds: over 500 species of birds have been recorded in the reserve, including eagles, vultures, hawks, owls, and a variety of songbirds

    Reptiles: crocodiles, snakes, lizards, and tortoises

    Cheetah Plains is a great place to go on safari if you are looking to see a variety of wildlife in their natural habitat. The reserve is home to a healthy population of all of the Big Five, as well as a wide variety of other animals. The staff at Cheetah Plains are experienced and knowledgeable and will help you make the most of your safari experience.

  • Yes! Included in your rate at Cheetah Plains is a spa therapist who can provide a variety of treatments including massage, facials, body treatments, manicures and pedicures. The spa therapist will perform the treatment of your choosing in whichever area of your villa you prefer: your room, private terrace or private pool. Simply let your villa concierge manager know what you're looking for, and they'll be happy to arrange a service for you at the time best suited to your safari schedule.

  • Yes, Cheetah Plains has a dedicated photography safari vehicle. The vehicle is a custom-built Land Cruiser that has been fitted with a variety of features that make it ideal for photography, such as a raised roof, a large windscreen, and a sturdy platform for mounting cameras. The vehicle is also equipped with a variety of camera accessories, such as a tripod, a flash, and a telephoto lens.

    The photography safari vehicle is available for all guests of Cheetah Plains, and it is a great way to capture the beauty of the African bushveld. The vehicle is driven by an experienced guide who knows the best spots for photography, and he or she will be happy to help you get the perfect shot.

    If you are a serious photographer, then the photography safari vehicle is a must-have for your stay at Cheetah Plains. It is the perfect way to capture the beauty of the African bushveld and to create memories that will last a lifetime.

  • Yes, guests can rent photography equipment at Cheetah Plains. The lodge has a variety of cameras and lenses available for rent, including DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, and telephoto lenses. The cost of renting equipment varies depending on the type of equipment and the length of time it is rented.

    To rent photography equipment, guests should contact the lodge in advance. The lodge will need to know what type of equipment is needed and how long it will be needed for. The lodge will then be able to provide a quote for the rental.

    Renting photography equipment from Cheetah Plains is a great way to ensure that you have the right equipment for your safari. The lodge has a variety of high-quality equipment available for rent, and the staff is knowledgeable and helpful.

  • There are several different ways to get to Cheetah Plains.

    Private Charter: If you are flying in by private charter or jet, you can land at Arathusa Airstrip, which is located roughly 20 minutes from the lodge via game drive. The flight is just over an hour from Johannesburg, and closer to three hours if coming from Cape Town. Private charters can also be arranged from other safari lodges like Tswalu Kalahari, Kwandwe in the Eastern Cape, Phinda in Kwa-zulu Natal or Madikwe National Park.

    Scheduled Charter: Federal Airlines runs several chartered bush flights that connect Cheetah Plains to Johannesburg, as well as other safari lodges within Kruger and Madikwe National Parks.

    Commercial Air: There are a number of daily nonstop flights from both Cape Town and Johannesburg to Skukuza Airport (SZK), conveniently located within the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA/MQP), is located roughly 3 hours from Cheetah Plains by vehicle. This is a convenient option for those traveling onward to either Victoria Falls or Mozambique. Craft Travel can arrange a transfer or a short bush flight to the lodge from Kruger Airport.

    By road: You can also drive to Cheetah Plains from Johannesburg or Nelspruit. The drive takes about 5 hours from Johannesburg and about 3 hours from Nelspruit.

    Once you arrive at Cheetah Plains, you will be greeted by a member of the staff and taken to your villa. The staff will be happy to answer any questions you have and to help you get settled in.

Contact us today to book your

exclusive stay at Cheetah Plains.