CHEETAH PLAINS’ ICONIC SAFARI VILLAS UNRIVALLED LUXURY IN A SPECTACULAR AFRICAN SETTING

Placed in Condé Nast reader’s choice awards 2024 ‘top 10 world’s resorts’

It may have been around for only half a decade, but Cheetah Plains, with its three iconic safari villas, has already redefined the concept of what constitutes an unrivalled, luxury African safari experience in a truly spectacular setting.

The narrative is inspirational. It is not simply a story of a very special place, but it reimagines how visitors engage with, indulge in and appreciate wide open spaces and getting as close as possible to Africa’s wild and diverse fauna and flora. It is the epitome of eco-conscious travel without sacrificing comfort and style. And yet it still feels like a home away from home, catering for the whole family and with every need and desire considered.

Located inside South Africa’s eco-conscious Sabi Sand Nature Reserve and bordering on the renowned Kruger National Park, Cheetah Plains is not only home to the “Big 5” (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, buffalo and elephant), but also to a vast range of wildlife, including (of course) cheetah, zebra, giraffe, hyena and several endangered species such as honey badgers, pangolins and African wild dogs.

Founder and owners Japie and Shari van Niekerk have been widely lauded for bringing their vision to life and proving that sustainable luxury can be achieved through responsible tourism and ingenuity. Named Africa’s Leading Green Hotel by the World Travel Awards in 2023, Cheetah Plains is also the first carbon-negative safari lodge in the area.

Japie and Shari are also responsible for conceptualising the lodge’s three deluxe exclusive-use safari villas, each one a perfect haven for families or a group of close friends and each a fundamental departure from traditional lodges with thatched roofs or tented accommodation with communal spaces to an ultra modern design with all the trim that is secluded and most of all private.

For them it was a no-brainer to break new ground when it came to sustainable but luxurious hospitality in the wild. “We are talking about the last of one of the world’s great open spaces, so we had to embrace and ensure sustainability on every level – from our carefully considered architecture and furninshings to our all-electric fleet of solar-powered 4×4 vehicles for a 100% off-grid silent safari experience,” says Japie.

“We are committed to preserving the environment and leaving a positive and enduring impact for future
generations. Our sustainability initiatives include everything from nature and wildlife conservation, energy efficiency, water stewardship, waste reduction, empowerment and education to purchasing practices.

“Ultimately we want Cheetah Plains to provide a new style of African safari, offering something that has never been done before. It is about our guests having their very own private space in the limitlessness of the wild; being completely immersed and yet totally secluded. We want to complement nature and do this without interference,” he says.

The result is the three magnificent villas, each one exceeding the highest of expectations of comfort, décor and luxury and all sitiuated in a vast 8500 hectare traversing expanse.

For Shari, it was of utmost importance that the villas become the ultimate getaway for families with children of all ages or the perfect vacation for a friends on safari takeover.

“While many luxury safari lodges only permit children over the age of 12, we wanted to make Cheetah Plains, accessible for all ages,” says Shari. “More and more travellers are opting to take their families with them when they vacation, sharing the magical experiences and seeing the wildlife through the eyes of their children.

“We also want our guests to pick and choose their own adventures; what time they want to go on game drives rather than have everyone bundled into noisy landrovers at 5am in the morning. At Cheetah Plains, everything is bespoke and tailored to what guests prefer.

Japie and Shari entrusted the celebrated architect Stefan Antoni from SAOTA to bring their vision to life.
Says Japie:

“Our overarching brief to Stefan was to ensure that the architectural and interior design of Cheetah Plains served as a platform for profound encounters with nature while merging the boundaries between modernity and the wilderness. Hence the floor to ceiling glass in the villas that allows guests to experience the bush and its inhabitants while remaining safe and secure within.”

The villas cantilever over a landscape entirely untouched by man with uninterrupted views in all directions and sheltered by indigenous trees. All are completely self-contained with a generous dining area, indoor and outdoor relaxation areas, swimming pool and chilled wine room stocked with some of South Africa’s most acclaimed wines. Four satellite bedroom suites in each villa offer an added layer of privacy and intimacy and all feature a comfortable lounge, secluded outdoor area, bar, kitchenette, rain showers, bath and separate bathrooms. All 12 bedrooms have their own unique fabrics and finishes and nothing is standardised or repeated. However, there isan intentional and overall sense of continuity contrasted with individuality in the details.

Each villa comes with a complete hospitality team consisting of a host, a butler, a culinary team (including sommelier) and a spa therapist. The food and beverage programme is unmatched with the staff tailoring menus according to guests preferred schedule and tastes and meals can be served inside or outside the villas. Executive chef Charlaine-Lee Fouche is continually raising the bar to create the ultimate gastronomic experience and all allergies and dietary requirements are taken into account including Kosher and Halaal.

The villas also come with their own dedicated expert field guide and tracker on call for the duration of the guests’ stay.

The three villas are named after a legendary big cats in the reserve and each has its own character, responding to the subtle variances in setting and concept.

• Mapogo – overlooking a large waterhole which offers remarkable game viewing – is named after a pride of legendary male lions. Its furnishings echo the power and strength of the lions with powerful dark tones evoking their fabled black manes.
• Mvula, named after an impressive male leopard famed for his hunting prowess, is set among luxuriant trees and the animal’s impressive masculinity comes through in the raw textures and tones of its décor.
• Karula is named after a magnificent queen of leopards and is distinctly feminine with lighter tones, dialled up opulence and added softness.

Explains Stefan: “Cheetah Plains inspired a design aesthetic rooted in integration that brings the outdoors in, creating a memorable presence through a series of elegantly simplified edifices that are at one with the landscape. The architecture and décor exist to enhance the experience of the outdoors – not to mimic it but to complement it and to ensure that guests experience the bush more directly and more immediately. It is architecture and nature in perfect balance.”

Final word to Japie: “Originally, I imagined Cheetah Plains as a place for close friends and family, but the more time I spent in this incredible location, the more I realised I could not keep it all to myself. I became inspired to share the privilege and splendour with others. But it was essential to somehow maintain that exhilarating sense of isolation, of being in the remote bush. This idealistic vision was ultimately to inspire a new style of safari offering that has never been done before. It is about having your own space in the limitlessness of the wild; being completely immersed and yet totally private. I have made this rare freedom available to those like-minded enough to appreciate it.”

Latest News: Cheetah Plains has placed in the Top 10 of Condé Nast Reader’s Choice Awards 2024 in the World’s Resorts category. Now in its 37th iteration, the annual survey – completed by over 500,000 – captures the experiences that travellers love best, with 75% taking longer, more immersive trips. Cheetah Plains came in at number nine.

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 Nature Reserve. The eco-luxe experience includes three private villas with four guest 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, butler, 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 tailored activities for kids. Cheetah Plains sets the standard in South Africa for zero-emission game viewing utilizing its fleet of solar-charged Land Cruiser Electric Safari vehicles. A luxury sustainable safari that is beyond expectations.