OVERVIEW:
Cheetah Plains offers three exclusive-use bush homes in the wildlife-rich Sabi Sands! Each is luxurious in style, and guests enjoy a great range of activities too.
Formerly Cheetah Plains Lodge, Cheetah Plains recently rebuilt (2018) and re-opened on 15th December 2018. The property is privately owned and run. Each house sleeps a minimum of four and a maximum of eight travellers, and every party is looked after by a private host and chef. Accommodation is booked on an all-inclusive basis, featuring all meals, a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, all activities, spa treatments, access to the property’s central gym, and a laundry service. Cheetah Plains is open throughout the year.
ACCESS & LOCATION:
The property can be accessed via road transfer from Arathusa Airstrip, Hoedspruit Airport, or Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. The site is approached through the Gowrie Gate of the Sabi Sands.
ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT CHEETAH PLAINS:
Guest accommodation consists of three bush homes, each booked on an exclusive basis and offering four private suites that sleep up to two guests apiece. The homes are named ‘Mvula’, ‘Karula’, and ‘Mapogo’, after two of the reserve’s most famous leopards and a local lion pride. Designed by ARRCC, every home has been constructed using combinations of timber and metal, with the aim of merging perfectly with the bushscape. This attention to detail is in evidence throughout the interiors too, which feature elegant linens and chunky wool rugs. The overall effect is modern and minimalist. Guests enjoy king-size beds, dressing rooms, double rain showers, and baths overlooking the bushveld! One of the homes is accessible for disabled travellers – please contact a member of YZ for further details.
The communal areas at Cheetah Plains include spacious lounges and dining areas. These flow out on to verandas that provide additional spaces for relaxing and tucking in to delicious meals. The palette features neutrals, greys, and occasional blues. One dining area is beautifully lit by an overhead scattering of raindrops, and some cushion patterns are slightly reminiscent of zebra print. There’s a small bar and a well-stocked wine cellar. Each home has a boma too, as well as indigenous gardens and a lovely heated swimming pool. All meals are prepared and served by a private chef and private butler respectively, while a private spa therapist is on hand for treatments such as massages. Guests have access to a central gym.
ACTIVITIES AT CHEETAH PLAINS
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Private game drives
- Vehicle safaris are available daily, during early morning and late afternoon into evening. The earlier drives include a sunrise stop, while the later excursion features sundowners and stargazers in the Sabi Sands. This wildlife-rich reserve is located next to Kruger National Park’s south-west corner, and it benefits from an unfenced boundary that allows an amazing range of game to pass through, attracted to the two rivers from which the reserve derives its name. Among the mammal species you can look out for all of the Big Five – lion, rhino, leopard, elephant, and buffalo – in addition to numerous smaller predators and herbivores, such as cheetah, hyenas, jackals, serval, caracal, wild dog, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, and ample antelopes! The game vehicles offer individually controlled heated seats and access to a digital single-lens reflex camera with 500mm zoom lens. -
Bush walks
- This activity is also enjoyed in the presence of a knowledgeable and experienced private guide. Walks provide opportunities to take a closer look at the smaller lives of the Sabi Sands – the plants, insects, and approximately 500 bird species! -
Village visits
- Guests are invited to take a trip to Utah village, where many of Cheetah Plains’ staff members and their families reside. This is an excellent experience for anyone interested in becoming acquainted with the local Shangan culture. -
Cub club
- Offered to children aged 12 years and under, Cub Club provides lots of thrilling things to do for young safarists! These include special bush drives known as ‘bumbles’ and nature walks in the houses’ gardens.
*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.