As private residences have become essential elements of ultra-luxury holidays, especially in the safari world, friendmoons are seeing something of a resurgence and spin-offs are coming in thick and fast, too. Although their genesis may have been in friends accompanying newlyweds on their honeymoons, friendmoons now don’t only have to involve newlyweds, instead, they can simply be a vacation with a like-minded tribe.
Often, these getaways are themed around similarities in the holidaying party – gender- specific trips, single friends only or even intergenerational groups, all tapping into and adapting the friendmoon concept and Cheetah Plains is the perfect setting.
Celebrating with a group of friends in a meaningful way, in the ideal location and with service par excellence, is likely to be a truly memorable occasion and a once in a lifetime experience.
The perfect location and setup
Location – and the type of escape – is central to its success. Many hotels and resorts around the world have started to focus on facilitating friendmoons, but at Cheetah Plains, this type of trip is baked into the experience we intentionally craft for our guests.
Set in the heart of the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, immersing yourself in nature is essential to the experience. The highlight is spotting the famous Big Five or the Magnificent Seven (if you include Cheetah and Africa wild dog) together with vast fauna and flora. Climb aboard our silent electric game viewers for a wilderness experience hosted by our expert guiding Sipps, Civ, Sabelo and Andrew together with master trackers Viktor, Edwell, Vusi and Mpho or take an interpretive bush walk on foot into the savannah.
Whether you feel like being alone or together, active or sedate, and surrounded by the African wilderness, our villas offer the ultimate spaces with luxurious comforts every step of the way.
Hosting a celebration is par for the course on a friendmoon and each of the 3 main houses Mapogo, Karula or Mvula anchor our exclusive-use villas and secure privacy accessible only to your party.
The main houses offer everything you could wish for, from an expansive swimming pool deck with views into the bushveld, ample indoor and outdoor lounges that include intimate and private spaces, specifically designed for up to eight guests and ensure the desired flow to connect with those you want to or escape with a good book.
The bar and walk-in wine cellar provide the ultimate places for wine, bubbly, whisky, gin or tequila tastings and the outdoor boma is the perfect setting for fireside chats late into the night under the African skies. If you are yet to experience this it is a bucket list marker and one we highly recommend – listening to the night sounds of crickets, frogs and lion roars while you watch the flames and share the days stories or hear the occasional hyena or Night Jar breaking the night is the reminder that there is privilege of being able to be here in the rawness of the wild.
The large dining room table is perfect for a memorable feast prepared by your private culinary team, and the swimming pool is also a great gathering point beforehand for an apéritif.
If you feel like some quiet time alone? Retreat to your suite to a secluded outdoor deck or comfortable lounge. Our in-room spa treatments are also the ultimate indulgence, and our experienced team will pamper you with touch therapies and wellness treatments in the privacy of your own suite.
Activities and excursions
It’s hard to imagine a better spot for a gathering of like-minded friends or family, particularly when celebrating a special occasion. Unlike a resort-based buddymoon, one at a safari destination like Cheetah Plains won’t involve moving between public sun loungers and busy restaurants. Experiences here private and exclusive and are never shared with any other guests. They can be also be tailored to your group’s interests and preferences. What happens at Cheetah Plains, stays at Cheetah Plains.
Each villa has a dedicated guide and tracker duo that take you into the wilderness aboard our zero emission silent safari vehicles, allowing your group to bond with natures creatures and surroundings. The more intrepid can head out for walking safaris, while the sedate will relish joining the group for classic sunset drinks at an idyllic location watching the red hues of the African sun set over the bushveld.
Our Diamond Safari, led by a gemologist and jewellery maker, is an ideal friendmoon activity. View top quality ethical diamonds and gem stones, as well as our very own Cheetah Plains Signature Diamond Collection. Hosted at the boutique, SHARI’S with sparkling wine on arrival provides a one-of-a-kind immersive experience.
Similarly, our Art Experience includes access to a private gallery space and Goodman Gallery experts to consider a wide range of works from leading African and international artists, all of which are available for purchase.
If you’d like your friendmoon to include a social or cultural component, we can arrange creche or cultural village visits initiatives supported by the Cheetah Plains Foundation. Our foundation is dedicated to building a sustainable legacy of environmental stewardship and community upliftment through projects in the communities surrounding the lodge.
Crafted with sustainability as a core focus, we’ll also invite you and your interested friends a tour of the various cutting-edge environmental initiatives we have implemented throughout the lodge. Our carbon negative, environment-first approach and solar plant enables our lodge to operate off-the-grid.
Ultimately, any experience at Cheetah Plains brings out soul fulfilling moments with your nearest and dearest – Nothing will quite compare to the shared moments on safari from the conversations around the fire or over the dinner table, on the back of the game vehicle or watching the sunset over the savannah with a refreshing gin in hand as the nightjars start to welcome the evening stars. If a heartwarming bonding time is what you are looking to curate, you’ll be hard pressed to find a friendmoon location better than the bush.
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