Cheetah Plains, a luxury safari lodge located in the Sabi Sands Nature Reserve near Kruger National Park in South Africa, has introduced a new policy to attract families. Children under 12 can now stay free with their parents in the property’s private villas. This offer is valid until May for eligible stays.
The move marks a change for luxury safari trips where age restrictions are common. “Safari is one of the most enriching experiences for children. … We wanted to create an opportunity for families to share this transformative journey together,” said NJ van der Merwe, general manager of Cheetah Plains.
South African lodges have redesigned their programs to accommodate families, introducing a Junior Ranger program where children can trace footsteps, identify bird sounds and engage in hands-on bush activities. Game drives in the property’s solar-powered Land Cruiser Electric Safari vehicle can be shortened or modified depending on children’s attention spans.
Additional family activities include stargazing, wildlife photography workshops, catch-and-release fishing, and interactive cooking sessions with the villa’s personal chef. Each villa features interleaved suites to accommodate multiple traveling generations, a private pool and dedicated staff.
The lodge offers free childcare and provides children’s hampers with safari-themed snacks during the night. Meals can be customized to suit allergies, dietary restrictions and young palates, with options including wood-fired pizza and mini biltong platters (biltong is a dried, cured meat snack, not unlike jerky).
Cheetah Plains offers 2 private villas in the 65,000 hectare Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, adjacent to Kruger National Park.
Reservations can be made at www.cheetahplains.com or reservations@cheetahplains.com.
