Cheetah Ridge Lodge

The ultimate luxury safari awaits just hours from big city Johannesburg and Durban…Reconnect with nature at Cheetah Ridge Lodge.

Whether it is a family bush retreat, romantic getaway, weekend escape, or photo safari, this is the destination for those seeking primal and pristine African wilderness. Situated in the southern section of the Nambiti Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu Natal, Cheetah Ridge Lodge is an unrivalled bush retreat; offering fully catered accommodation in 10 luxury suites, as well as a beautifully appointed family suite, which sleeps up to six people. Overlooking a private watering hole, each suite allows guests the opportunity to observe a vast array of congregating African wildlife from the privacy of a personal viewing deck.

Whether enjoying al fresco dining under the stars beneath a 111-year-old Natal Fig tree, savouring a private bush dinner in a secluded corner of the reserve, or indulging in a rejuvenating spa treatment at the on-site spa, Cheetah Ridge Lodge is an unforgettable safari experience.

Accommodation

Balancing sublime luxury with the simplicity of nature, 12 suites dot the landscape here – 10 Luxury Suites, a Family Suite Suite, as well as a Self-Catering Suite. All are freestanding, secluded and serviced daily. Each feature private decks and large windows to ensure the game viewing does not end after the safari drive.

Luxury Suites

10 king luxury suites overlook a private watering-hole, enabling guests to observe a vast array of African wildlife from the privacy of their viewing deck.
Sumptuously decorated, each suite features a pod-hanging chair to take in the unfolding majesty of the surroundings.

• • King or twin beds
  • Bath, shower and en-suite toilet
  • Air-conditioning and ceiling fans bring comfort on balmy summer evenings, while a fireplace warms chilly nights
  • A Nespresso coffee machine completes picture-perfect mornings.

Family Suite

Consisting of two en-suite bedrooms, joined by an interleading private lounge area, with a private balcony overlooking the beautiful Nambiti Game Reserve, the family suite is the perfect option for families with children.

Taking up the top floor of the main lodge, the family suite can accommodate up to six guests

• • The main room has a four-poster king-size bed, while the adjacent room has a king-size bed with two single beds in an adjoining nook
  • Each room has its own en-suite bathroom
  • For those seeking more flexible sleeping options, this room can also be made up with four single beds
  • Rooms are air-conditioned
  • Nespresso machine provided.

Self-Catering Suite

Enjoy affordable self-catering accommodation in the Cheetah Ridge Bush Lodge. Set apart from the Lodge, this suite is a fantastic family getaway and can accommodate 10 people comfortably. The private boma is the perfect setting for family or friends to gather around the fire to chat about the day’s happenings while enjoying a traditional South African braai.

• • Five spacious rooms, one of which is an en-suite bathroom
  • An open garden allows guests the opportunity to do some mid-morning bird-watching while keeping a watchful eye for any passing wildlife
  • Dinners may be served in the dining room, on the veranda
  • Two bathrooms, one of which has a shower and the other a bath as well as toilets
  • A farm-style kitchen and scullery are fully equipped with all the essentials
  • Private pool
  • Fireplace
  • TV with DSTV channels
  • The Bush Lodge caters for all seasons.

Facilities

At the Main Lodge, guests experience magnificent panoramas from the expansive wooden deck and its sparkling swimming pool.
Sipping cocktails after a tennis match is a wonderful way to wind down. Hit the entertainment room for another kind of competition using the full-size billiard table.
Evenings often mean congregating in the enclosed boma as a blazing fire and twinkling stars provide the soundtrack while fellow adventurers recount the events of the day.

Named after the Zulu word for “cheetah”, Ingulule Spa allows guests to pamper themselves with a variety of indulgent spa treatments. Two qualified therapists use safe, natural, and environmentally friendly products from Esse – a Proudly South African skincare collection – to rejuvenate and invigorate the senses.

Dining

A superb culinary experience awaits as the Lodge’s chef masterfully conjures up dishes to delight every palate.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are complemented by the historical charm of the original manor house. A magnificent 111-year-old Ficus natalensis, that has lived through two world wars, is a remarkable centerpiece.
More commonly known as the Natal Fig tree, or “Mutuba” to Zulu locals, on the hottest summer day, the dense shade of Weather permitting, guests savour the unique ambience of dining alfresco under its dense canopy.
On hot summer days, dine under the cool shade of this gentle giant; on balmy summer nights, soak up the atmosphere by candlelight beneath its majestic boughs.
And even during crisp winter nights, when guests seek the comforting warmth of an indoor dining room, its commanding presence, bathed in light, still casts an immortal spell.

Activities

There is no end to the daily activities one can enjoy at Cheetah Ridge. Action-packed game drives, visits to the Battlefields and the Drakensberg Mountains, or a spectacular photography course… These are just a few of the ways one can take advantage of the area.

Game Drive Experience

Two three-hour (morning and evening) game drives are offered daily and cover 10 000 hectares of untouched wilderness with an expert Cheetah Ridge rangers.
Sprawling across pristine wilderness, the Nambiti Private Game Reserve teems with diverse game and birdlife, offering an unrivalled opportunity to view the richest biodiversity up close.
From a mounted seat in an open game drive vehicle, view the wide array of bird and wildlife in their unspoiled habitat.
Morning and evening drives include a drinks stop, usually at a prominent vantage point, where snacks are provided as guests take in the Reserve’s spectacular scenery.

Birding Experience

With 374 recorded species, the nest is feathered for bird-lovers. With each guided game drive, get a bird’s eye-view of this natural paradise.

Battlefields Experience

The area surrounding Nambiti is steeped in history. Originally occupied by San Bushmen, Zulu tribes and European settlers later moved into the area where the future path of South Africa would subsequently be forged in fire and written in blood.
Three great nations came to blows here in the Anglo-Boer, Anglo-Zulu and Zulu-Boer Wars and the surrounding area has the largest concentration of battlefields in South Africa.
It is here that the military engagements that were to shape the course of South African and world history, and rock the pedestal of the British Empire, raged over thorny hills and sweeping grasslands.
Tour the areas where well-known battles occurred including Spioenkop, Blood River, Thukela Heights, Colenso, Vaalkrantz and the Siege of Ladysmith.

Berg Experience

Covering over 250,000 hectares of KwaZulu-Natal’s landscape, the imposing Drakensberg Mountains are the province’s most iconic landmark and a must-see destination for avid hikers, climbers, campers, birdwatchers, mountain bikers, and fly-fishermen.
With Cheetah Ridge Lodge’s close proximity to the 12 of South Africa’s most spectacular peaks, including its five highest, a visit here will not disappoint.

Photography Experience

The Lodge is proud to play host to wildlife photography students four times a year, through a course that taps the Nambiti Reserve’s epic landscape.
Nestled in untouched wilderness, Cheetah Ridge Lodge is the premier destination of choice for wildlife photographers, both amateur and professionals alike, who find the picture-perfect setting for capturing elusive shots of wildlife in their natural habitat.
Facilitated by Wild Eye, an independent training operator, the wildlife photography course combines practical elements with a solid theoretical base.