Cheetah Plains

In the northeast corner of the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, Cheetah Plains comprises three private, exclusive villas and is ultra-luxury safari on your own terms. The unscripted days here are spent at your own pace and can begin with a lion sighting in the morning and end with an outdoor braai (or barbecue) with your loved ones around the fire—with an in-suite massage or a private consultation with a gemologist somewhere in between.

• The conservation prioritization: having developed its own solar plant, Cheetah Plains operates entirely off-grid
• The bespoke game drive and dining schedule
• The entertainment lounge for bonding over movie or game nights
• The in-villa Spa therapist and on-site expert Sommelier

Cheetah Plains

Opened in 2018 and operating as a carbon negative lodge, Cheetah Plains comprises three private, exclusive villas that can accommodate up to eight guests each: Karula Villa, Mapogo Villa and Mvula Villa. Each contemporary art-centric villa has its own shared dining, living, lounge and outdoor space and four, stand-alone, private guest accommodations (two of which are interconnected). The shared outdoor spaces contain their own boma for outdoor braai (South African barbecue), a large pool that can be heated if requested and several sunbeds and lounges for a blissful midday doze. Each villa also comes with its own dedicated staff, including a host, butler, chef team and spa therapist who are on call 24 hours a day via the in-suite iPhone. The meals feel special and personal and are presented in prideful detail by your private chef team. It’s also possible to peel back the curtain a bit and visit the villa kitchen while meals are being prepared, which makes it feel even more like your home away from home.

The large, warm and attentive staff fusses over you without feeling overly fussy, and no request feels too extravagant or too simple. It’s important to highlight that the property is very family-friendly and children of all ages are welcome. The staff is available to entertain and watch children if the parents would like to go on game drives by themselves or enjoy a spa treatment.

No luxury is spared—from the heated safari vehicle seats and in-villa wine cellars to the art gallery and hair salon coming at the end of 2023. The game drives in quiet, electric Land Cruisers feel effortless and extravagant, and the reserve is teeming with game including elephants, lions, leopards and buffalo. Both the game drive and dining schedule is customizable to fit your group’s desires.

This is one of few safari experiences where there really is never a moment where you’d encounter other guests: you can visit the gym privately, and stopping by the art and jewelry-focused boutique, SHARI’s (named for the owner’s wife), is prearranged and private for your villa. Indicative of the glamorous nature of your stay is the “Art and Diamond Safari” experience, where private appointments with an expert South African gemologist and jewelry maker can be arranged at the boutique for assistance in designing one-of-a-kind pieces you can have shipped home.

Art is a core component of Cheetah Plains, which partners with the esteemed Goodman gallery that has a presence in both New York and London. The always-rotating art onsite is available for purchase and can be shipped to your home as well, making for a timeless souvenir of your sojourn.

Small groups of travelers, families or friends seeking a private, effortless, flexible, indulgent safari experience with all the bells and whistles