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The curve of the fireplace at Mapogo House softens the otherwise harsh, graphic lines of the formal lounge. Gail Catlin’s cheetah sculpture and a painting from her “Happy Tree” series are complemented by Angus Taylor’s bronze and aluminium piece, Grounded. -
The floor-to-ceiling sliding doors in the bedrooms can be opened fully, stacking out of sight so guests can immerse themselves in nature. -
Taking the “bath with a view” concept to a new level, this bathroom in one of the Karula House guest suites opens up to welcome the outside in. -
Another guest suite at Karula House is dominated by Greatjoy Ndlovu’s bright painting, Woke Up Feeling Yellow. Each individual guest suite at Cheetah Plains features a private lounge and outside daybed, while the shared common space of each House includes an expansive formal lounge, living room, sun deck, lap pool, loggia, wine gallery and dining room. -
Overlooking the Mapogo dam, the shared pool deck at Mapogo House is the ideal place for guests to gather for sundowners. The sculpture is Exposed Banking Eagle by Malcolm Solomon. -
Each House has its own boma and outdoor dining space – this one at Mvula House features a cheetah sculpture by Arend Eloff. -
Mapogo House sits on the edge of a wildlife-attracting, hippo-filled dam. -
Pray by Loyiso Mkize hangs in the Mvula House entertainment lounge. -
One of the guest suites at Karula House, known as the Mccreedy Suite, features the artist’s Blue Double Abstract as well as Loyiso Mkize’s Veiled Lady. -
The Tamboti branch installation takes pride of place at the Mapogo House wine gallery. -
Keeping to theme, a Martin Doller chandelier hangs above the solid Pierre Cronje table in the Mvula House indoor dining room. -
Overlooked by Azael Langa’s After The Rush Hour, the formal lounge at Mvula House also features a wild dog sculpture by Gail Catlin at the entrance. -
The communal gym at the centre of the accommodation complex is guarded by another Gail Catlin sculpture. -
The entrance to Karula House is framed in metal. -
Sibongile by Sanusi Olatunji injects a spark of colour to the open-plan main living area of Karula House, which is also decorated with a commissioned assembly of framed photographs, displayed with permission from the artist, Gail Catlin. -
Even the guest bathrooms are filled with artworks – this one at Karula House is an untitled piece by Gail Catlin. -
At Mapogo House, Conor Mccreedy’s Blue Mapogo Brothers is a moody contrast to the playful golden bubbles of the Martin Doller chandelier above the solid Pierre Cronje leadwood dining table. -
Welcoming guests at the entrance to Mapogo House, one of the four-bedroom accommodation structures at Cheetah Plains.
WORDS Leana Clunies-Ross IMAGES Dook PRODUCTION Annemarie Meintjes
Not your traditional luxury lodge, Cheetah Plains redefines the conventional, translating urban sophistication into the bush.
With his work well known for its modern clean lines, celebrated architect and ARRCC director Stefan Antoni may not be the first name that springs to mind when looking for someone to design a game lodge in the famous Sabi Sands Game Reserve. It’s a choice that has nonetheless translated impressively well, creating sophisticated structures that manage the difficult trick of being different enough to stand out, yet still blending into the surrounding environment. Natural materials complement the shuttered cement with feature walls of hand-packed mica, panels of rusted Corten steel, stone and wood, helping it sit comfortably amid the scenery.
To create separation and to help preserve the large trees on the site, Stefan fractured the buildings to better fit into the landscape. From the small gym, three main structures fan out, each containing a generous wine cellar, a library, and an open-plan lounge, dining and bar area that overlooks a pool and boma. Named Mapogo, Karula and Mvula after famous wild cats that have been a significant part of the history of this area, each structure has four bedrooms evenly split either side of these main areas, all placed far enough apart to be private but close enough to have family and friends. To enhance the experience of being in the wild, the voluminous roofs are cantilevered so that the massive glass doors can glide fully open, giving the guests a seamless interaction with the bush that surrounds them.
The long lines in the lounge are softened by the sweeping bend of a substantial fireplace, with ample use of organic materials evident in the furniture and fittings. Apart from the stunning array of South African art on the walls and sculptures that are carefully placed in and out of the buildings, some of the decor pieces could be individual artworks themselves. Many were handcrafted by local artisans in collaboration with interior designers ARRCC and Okha.
Pierre Cronje made each impressive dark dining table from a single slice of heavy leadwood, keeping the natural shape of the tree, inserting brass inlays in the cracks and placing it on curved golden plinths. Over this hangs a playful chandelier of a cascading rise of glass, hand-blown bronzed bubbles by Martin Doller, making you feel as if you’ve dived into champagne. The beautiful drinks bars were carved from solid travertine blocks by skilled hands.
“Ecoluxe” is the key marketing buzzword here, and the entire high-end village is solar-powered – this includes the game-drive vehicles, which glide along in almost complete silence. The grey-water treatment plant recycles this precious resource for the gardens.
Stefan sensibly decided not to blend in with more “traditional” safari lodges, but rather to stand out with a bush home. It’s maybe not unique in itself, but where it is situated makes it so, like a cut diamond on a plain pebble beach.
Regardless of its slick splendour, and with the help of the welcoming warmth from the staff, it feels like a wealthy relative’s house – which, for a short time, can become your home from home.
For more information, visit cheetahplains.com.
Looking for more architectural or travel inspiration? Take a look at the Khwai Leadwood Lodge in Botswana.
