In-Depth Review of Cheetah Plains Lodge in South Africa - AFAR
"Opened in 2018 inside the Sabi Sands private reserve, this ultra-luxurious, eco-focused safari lodge offers three exclusive-use villas (each four-room and named Mvulua, Karula, and Mapogo) that sleep up to eight and come with dedicated guides, vehicles, and private staff. The villas feature interconnecting suites for families, king beds with motorized mosquito nets, lounges with fireplaces, complimentary minibars and coffee stations, walk-through wardrobes, and bathrooms with dual sinks, twin rainfall showers and soaking tubs set before floor-to-ceiling windows for open-air bathing and close wildlife views; each villa also has a main house with indoor and outdoor dining, a wine cellar and a heated pool. Service is high-touch—personal teams of chefs, servers, bartenders, room attendants, a masseuse and a host attend to guests while seasoned guides and trackers excel at finding wildlife. Dining is bespoke, from multicourse tasting menus to fireside South African braais and elaborate bushveld game-drive breakfasts (smoked salmon, cheeses, warm croissants, made-to-order eggs, and even mimosas or Amarula-spiked coffee), with locally produced wines and an on-site sommelier. Sustainability is central: the property runs entirely on renewable energy via a solar plant of more than 1,000 panels (offsetting roughly 530 tons of carbon annually) and uses retrofitted electric Toyota Land Cruisers (Tesla batteries) that are quiet, unobtrusive and fitted with heated bucket seats, USB ports and removable rooftops for less intrusive wildlife viewing. Located in Sabi Sands—a private reserve sharing an unfenced 31-mile border with Kruger National Park and known for exceptional biodiversity and especially spectacular leopard encounters—this is ideal for ultra-private groups and adventurous families (no minimum child age), though boarding safari vehicles may be tricky for guests with mobility challenges. Art by contemporary South African artists and outdoor sculptures add cultural touches throughout the property." - Bailey Berg
