Home of the definitive private sustainable safari experience in South Africa’s most celebrated wildlife area, the Sabi Sand. Cheetah Plains offers multiple award-winning exclusive-use villas that epitomise the ultimate in luxury safari travel.

Perfect for an exclusive family vacation or a luxurious safari sojourn with friends, the private villas each accommodate a maximum of eight guests per villa. The location and unique appointment of each is a respectful homage to their secluded, tranquil environment. Here, your exclusive safari hideaway provides you and your party a private bushveld retreat unlike any other.

Each villa essentially takes the same form, comprising two parts: A shared living space and private guest accommodation. Your shared space houses both a formal and entertainment lounge, living and dining room areas, swimming pool deck, outdoor boma for fireside dining, fine wine gallery and fully equipped chef’s kitchen.

Our architectural design and interiors redefine convention by sensitively translating urban sophistication in the bush.
The villas are named Mapogo, Karula and Mvula after famous wild cats that have been a significant part of the history of the area, blend respectfully into the surrounding environment through their modern design and use of natural materials.

Our singular approach to sustainability, within our footprint on the Sabi Sand, delivers an eco-safari of unrivalled quality. We have partnered with some of the world’s pre-eminent minds in the renewable energy field to provide clean energy solutions that drive both our hospitality and safari experiences.

A complete hospitality team consisting of an accomplished host, private chef, sommelier, spa therapist, as well as, an expert field guide and tracker team are dedicated to you for the duration of your stay. Together, this talented group of professionals delivers a luxury safari experience of the highest standard, tailored to your individual preferences.

A bold departure from its humble safari lodge beginnings, Cheetah Plains has undergone a complete metamorphosis. Today, it is a beacon to the eco-luxe safari set and a collaborative expression of South Africa’s rich heritage.

Cheetah Plains is a pioneer in its class and the undisputed home of the definitive upscale eco-safari in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Our guest accommodation is ‘off the grid’, harnessing the power of solar to provide us with a reliable, renewable energy source. Creating local employment and supporting the local Early Childhood Development Center, in our neighbouring community of Utah, are additional tangible ways in which our holistic approach towards sustainability is being lived out.

Activities during your stay include safaris, guided bush walks, in-house wellness, fitness gym and Cubs Club that make for the ultimate in a connected, immersive experience. This goes hand in hand with our contemporary art selection and curated programme worthy of viewing together with wine tasting and food pairings, sundowners and bush gastronomy that delivers imaginative, soulful meals set fireside and under the stars for the perfect pleasure of outdoor dining.

Inspired Safari Drives

A Personal Journey of Discovery amid an idyllic Bushveld Landscape

The best time of day to explore the bush is in the early morning and late afternoon. Our twice-daily game drives are led by best-in-class safari guide and tracker teams and taken in our innovative Land Cruiser Electric Safari Vehicles. This bold advance toward zero-emission game viewing is what drives our sustainable safari experience at Cheetah Plains.

The quiet, smooth gait of our Land Cruiser Electric Vehicles deliver the highest quality wildlife sightings. Their unobtrusive nature facilitates the most silent approach by vehicle, resulting in an unparalleled safari experience.

Each Land Cruiser Electric Vehicle that ranges our vast traverse has eight comfortable bucket seats, USB ports and heated seats.

Our 4×4 electric game viewers do not require cumbersome gear changes, thus ensuring a smooth, quiet driving experience, getting you closer to sightings in the most unobtrusive way. Onboard bird books, binoculars and a professional level camera, fitted with a telephoto lens, are provided for guests’ enjoyment while out on the drive.

Cheetah Plains sets the standard in South Africa for the safest zero-emission, sustainable 4×4 luxury safari experience, led by our highly skilled guiding team.

Bushveld Dining

Safari-style soul food

Dining al fresco, out in the wide-open peace and tranquility of the prolific bushveld expanse, is one of our most popular safari experiences at Cheetah Plains and we love to treat our guests to this special dining experience during their stay with us.

Brunch in the bush after your morning game drive is our version of fine dining, with fresh locally sourced produce as our preference.

Bush Walks

A profound appreciation of one’s place within the eco-system

For the most immersive safari experience, we invite our guests to embark on guided, interpretive bush walks. Accompanied by your certified and experienced walking-trails field guide, the opportunity to explore certain parts of The Sabi Sand Game Reserve on foot, is one not to be missed.

The duration of walks is easily customised to your requirements, taking the number of guests, fitness levels, ages, weather conditions and your preferred game drive schedules into account. There is no more tangible way than this to surround yourself with nature. There is no more tangible way than this to surround yourself with nature; senses are sharpened and a profound appreciation of one’s place within the ecosystem is deeply felt.

Spa Treatments

An invigorating wellness experience

The restorative quality of your safari is luxuriously enhanced by personal pampering. We invite you to enjoy a selection of our touch therapies and beauty treatments, in the privacy and comfort of your Private Guest Suite.

With Africology as our wellness amenity brand partner, your private spa therapist expertly imparts the healing, restorative properties of select African botanicals, offering guests an immersive, calming wellness experience.

Fitness Gym

Modern equipment for your training pleasure

Sporting beautiful views out over our rolling lawns and Tamboti grove beyond, the climate-controlled gym is fitted with a variety of high-quality, professional fitness equipment, in partnership with Technogym.

A short stroll from your villa and private suite, the communal-use gym facility at Cheetah Plains is a tranquil environment for weight training sessions, cardio work-outs or yoga, stretching and core training.

Village Visits

Experience local Shangaan culture

Visit the nearby village of Utah, where many of our Cheetah Plains staff live with their families. A village trip also affords guests the opportunity to experience the ways in which Cheetah Plains passionately contributes to transformation in this area, including our work with the Lezagwa Utah Creche.

Your guided visit will introduce you to some local traditions and customs, with the aim of leaving guests with a deeper understanding of South Africa as a beautifully diverse, creative and hopeful nation.

Cubs Club

An individualistic approach to family safaris

We love families and children of all ages are most welcome at Cheetah Plains. Our highly qualified, relatable field guides and trackers are eager to share their bush lore with young, inquisitive minds. Bush bumbles (game drives of age-appropriate duration) and interpretive walks in our indigenous gardens facilitate a child’s connection with Africa’s wilderness and love of nature.

Our villas have ideal child-friendly features such as interleading Private Guest Suites and entertainment lounges with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment, a games selection and Netflix.

Featured Artists

An interpretive journey through some of Africa’s most celebrated artistic talent

Each villa, not unlike a contemporary gallery space, has been personally and passionately curated by Cheetah Plains owner, Japie van Niekerk. Pieces by acclaimed masters are often thoughtfully placed alongside current and emerging talent.

We are proud to have our property provide a platform to showcase Africa’s artistic talent, and love to share these visionary creations in the Cheetah Plains collection with guests from all over the world.

Getting There

Cheetah Plains is easily accessible by air or self drive

Fly directly to Cheetah Plains on one of the daily scheduled flights from Johannesburg or Nelspruit.

Daily scheduled flights are available on SA Airlink and Federal Air (If flying with Federal Air, storage facilities for extra or large luggage is available at their OR Tambo departure lounge)

Airports are located within easy driving distance to Cheetah Plains:

• Arathusa Airstrip: 20 Minute drive within the reserve
• Hoedspruit Airport: 1.5 Hour drive
• Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport: 3 Hour drive

Private jets can travel directly into Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and stamp into South Africa with timeous ease and transfer directly to Arathusa Airstrip via charter.
Self-drive from Johannesburg, Nelspruit, Kruger or surrounds makes it easy to access.

Reviews

“Ultimate service and luxury without losing the African experience”

“An experience never to be found anywhere else”

“The reception, service, villa, culture, safari, all of it is out of anything you can imagine.

Truly a lifetime experience for all the family.

We had great safari lodging, impressive service, and an amazing gastronomical experience with hundreds of wines at our disposal.

All of this is surrounded by beautiful nature embraced by a true eco-friendly culture, from exclusive electric safari cars to solar energy panels.

Truly a must do experience in one’s lifetime.”

“Where do you go from here? Nirvana won’t cut it.

Cheetah plains spoil everything. Absolutely everything for the average traveller. Even when back in the normal world it takes time to adjust. No matter how nice a smile is – it’s not quite what you get at CP. No matter now nice a steak, or a cocktail, it will fall short. Lovely building – yeah, not quite Cheetah Plains.”

“We appreciated and felt appreciated at every turn of the way. We know everyone by name and can’t thank anyone in particular without going through the whole list. Not empty praise – Everyone was just phenomenal. Cheetah Plains, whatever you intended here landed and then some. Everything is just perfect there.”