Next Level Private & Sustainable Safari
100% Solar Powered Exclusive-Use Villas and Land Cruiser Electric Vehicles
Cheetah Plains is home to the exclusive-use luxury villa and sustainable safari experience nestled in South Africa’s most celebrated wildlife area, the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. A sophisticated, innovative eco-luxe safari run entirely on solar power, Cheetah Plains provides guests with a personalized, and flexible experience giving you the option to plan your safari on your terms.
Perfect for an exclusive family vacation or a luxurious safari sojourn with friends, Cheetah Plains’ three private villas each accommodate a maximum of eight guests and boast award-winning architectural design and interiors that redefine convention by sensitively translating urban sophistication in the bush. The villas, Mapogo, Karula, and Mvula are named after famous wild cats that have been a significant part of the history of the area, and blend respectfully into the surrounding environment through their modern design and use of natural materials. The location and unique appointment of each is a respectful homage to their secluded, tranquil environment and each safari hideaway provides groups with a unique bushveld retreat unlike any other. Each villa boasts four stand-alone private guest suites and a shared living space that houses an entertaining lounge, living and dining room areas, expansive swimming pool with deck, outdoor boma for fireside dining, fine wine gallery, and fully equipped chef’s kitchen.
“Cheetah Plains indulges guests in a truly unique and personalized sustainable safari experience. The level of flexibility and privacy affords the opportunity for a truly memorable adventure for families and friends. From prime wildlife sightings from (almost) silent Land Cruiser electric game viewing vehicles
(that are Tesla battery-powered) to the incredible natural surroundings from the comfort of your designer villa to immersive gastronomical dining under the African skies. It’s simply unbeatable,” shares Peter Dros, Head of Sales and Marketing for Cheetah Plains.
Eco-Luxe Safari Experience: During a stay at Cheetah Plains each villa is provided with a dedicated hospitality team including an accomplished host, culinary team, lodge sommelier, spa therapist, and even childcare for the duration of their stay. Together, this talented group of professionals and your own dedicated guide and tracker, with a private safari, vehicle deliver a luxury experience of the highest standard and can create a tailored stay to accommodate individual preferences.
Activities during a visit also include guided bush walks, wellness offerings, a fitness gym, and ‘Cubs Club‘ for kids. Each villa provides a platform to showcase Africa’s artistic talent, not unlike a contemporary gallery space, and has been personally and passionately curated by Cheetah Plains owner, Japie van Niekerk. Pieces by acclaimed masters are thoughtfully placed alongside current and emerging talent. Brunch in the bush after a morning game drive includes fresh locally sourced produce. Wine tastings from the 300 bottle wine cellar in each villa and meals are carefully prepared and offered fireside and under the stars, as well as, in the comfort of each villa.
A Commitment to Sustainability: Cheetah Plains sets the standard in South Africa for a zero-emission, sustainable 4×4 luxury safari experience traversing over 20,200+ acres, led by a highly skilled guiding team. Taking a singular approach to sustainability, within their footprint on the Sabi Sand, Cheetah Plains delivers a next-level eco-safari. They have partnered with some of the world’s pre-eminent minds in the renewable energy field to provide clean energy solutions that drive both their hospitality and safari experiences.
The Cheetah Plains experience is ‘off the grid’, harnessing the power of solar to provide a reliable, renewable energy source. Meanwhile, their twice-daily game drives are taken in innovative Toyota Land Cruiser Electric Safari Vehicles powered by Tesla batteries. This bold advance toward zero-emission game viewing is what drives the sustainable safari experience at Cheetah Plains. The quiet, smooth gait of the Land Cruiser Electric Vehicles deliver the highest quality wildlife sightings and include eight comfortable bucket seats, individually set at the optimal recline of 11 degrees, USB ports, and heated seats. Their unobtrusive nature facilitates the most silent approach by vehicle, resulting in an unparalleled safari experience. Onboard, bird books, binoculars, and a professional level camera fitted with a telephoto lens are provided for guests’ enjoyment while out on a game drive.
Bush Walks: For the most captivating safari experience, guests are invited to embark on guided, interpretive bush walks. Accompanied by certified and experienced walking-trail field guides, the opportunity to explore parts of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve on foot is one not to be missed. There is no more tangible way than this to surround yourself with nature where visitors will surely find that a profound appreciation of one’s place within the ecosystem is deeply felt. The duration of walks are easily customized to guest requirements, taking the number of guests, fitness levels, ages, weather conditions, and the preferred game drive schedules into account.
Kids on Safari: Cheetah Plains welcomes families and children of all ages. 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 their indigenous gardens facilitate a child’s connection with Africa’s wilderness and love of nature. Other kid-friendly activities include baking, arts and crafts, tracking and shooting targets with pellet guns. The villas have child-friendly features such as interconnecting suites and entertainment lounges with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment, a selection of games, and Netflix. The lodge also provides reliable childcare onsite for when parents are away on safari.
Wellness: The restorative quality of your safari is luxuriously enhanced by personal pampering. Guests are invited to enjoy a selection of massage therapies and beauty treatments in the privacy and comfort of your private guest suite. With Africology as the wellness amenity brand partner, a spa therapist expertly imparts the healing, restorative properties of select African botanicals, offering guests a remedying, calming wellness experience.
Sporting beautiful views out over our rolling lawns and the Tamboti grove beyond, the climate-controlled gym is outfitted 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.
Cheetah Plains is conveniently accessible by a 1.5-hour flight from Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport on a commercial or private charter with a 20-minute private vehicle transfer from the Arathusa airstrip to your villa. A safari at Cheetah Plains is best paired with Cape Town, the Cape Winelands, Kruger National Park, and Victoria Falls. Daily scheduled flights are available on Federal Air from Johannesburg to Arathusa and on Airlink from Johannesburg and Cape Town to KMIA and Skukuza. Charter jets can be arranged by Cheetah Plains to Arathusa, or helicopter transfers directly to its private helipad. Rates begin at $2,000 per person per day, all-inclusive, based on four adults with a 2-night minimum and $1,550 per additional guest, or $770 per child 3-12 years of age, or $150 under three years of age. Reservations can be made online HERE.
About Cheetah Plains:
Opened in 2018, Cheetah Plains is home to the exclusive-use luxury villa and sustainable safari experience nestled in South Africa’s most celebrated wildlife area, the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. The eco-luxe experience includes three private villas with four guest bush suites that accommodate up to eight guests each with its own formal lounge, living and dining areas, expansive swimming pool, and outdoor deck that operates off-grid. Each villa comes with a complete hospitality team consisting of an accomplished host, culinary team, and spa therapist, as well as an expert field guide and tracker dedicated to you for the duration of your stay. Families and children of all ages are welcome to experience their own personalized safari, guided bush walks, wellness offerings, fitness gym, and ‘Cubs Club‘ for kids. Cheetah Plains sets the standard in South Africa for zero-emission game-viewing utilizing its own fleet of solar-charged Land Cruiser Electric Safari vehicles. A luxury sustainable safari that is beyond expectations.
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