While spotting any animal on safari is a magical experience, there’s something of an extra thrill about spotting the elusive cheetah. Maybe it’s speed at which they travel or the fact that daytime tends to find them napping, but cheetahs are notoriously hard to track down! Which is why, when you visit the right spot and have a little patience, there’s nothing quite so rewarding as your first glimpse of a cheetah. Do it in style with a stay at a luxury safari lodge – read on for our guide to the Top 10 Luxury Safari Lodges in Africa to spot Cheetahs…
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Cottar’s 1920’s Safari Camp, Kenya
The amazing Cottar’s 1920’s Safari Camp lies right next to the Maasai Mara game reserve in Kenya in an unspoiled setting of its own 7,000-acre private Olderkesi Conservancy. Here, sunset views stretch to distant horizons of the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti plains. Cottar’s was one of the first permanent luxury tented camps to take guests out on safaris in Kenya and little has changed since the glory days of the 1920’s. It’s still a magnificent place to spot cheetah and they are common around the camp. As well as cheetahs you can regularly see lions, leopards, elephant and, of course, the annual Migration. Camp guides are highly qualified and knowledgeable of the area, they share an amazing insight into the Masai culture and the flora and fauna in the reserve.
Stay in one of 10 luxurious and private tents (one gorgeous honeymoon tent, five double tents and four family suites) which are spacious, luxuriously furnished and incorporate original safari antiques from the ’20’s. You’ll also love the exciting recent addition of an amazing swimming pool and spa area; the perfect place to relax after an exciting game drive.
This multi award-winning camp continues to collect allocates and has been recently nominated for the 24th Annual World Travel Awards™ for: ‘Africa’s Leading Luxury Private Villa – Cottar’s Bush Villa’ & ‘Kenya’s Leading Tented Safari Camp – Cottar’s 1920’s Safari Camp’!
Namiri Plains, Tanzania
The elegant Namiri Plains camp is located in the remote eastern corner of the Serengeti which was closed for 20 years to encourage the cheetah to breed, it’s now a great place to spot them. Stay in one of eight tented suites and meet up with the local cheetah researcher to learn all about these wonderful animals.
Linkwasha Camp, Zimbabwe
Linkwasha Camp is located in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park and is undoubtedly the most luxurious safari camp in the park. As well as cheetahs, the park is home to lion, leopard, giraffe, zebra and wildebeest. Accommodation consists of seven luxury double tents and two family tents. There is a swimming pool, several communal areas and even a very popular pizza oven!
Sandibe Okavango Delta Lodge, Botswana
The beautiful thatched Sandibe Okavango Delta Lodge lies in the Okavango Delta next to the Moremi Game Reserve. There are 12 air-conditioned suites with private plunge pools, a gym and a spa and you can enjoy game drives as well as scenic helicopter flights. The lodge is regularly visited by cheetah as well as wild dog, lion, leopard, red lechwe antelope and elephant.
Sanctuary Retreats’ Kichakani Serengeti Camp, Tanzania
A slightly different proposition, Kichakani Serengeti Camp is designed to pack up and move with the animals! The collection of 10 luxury tents follow the migration paths of the zebra and wildebeest across Tanzania. They also often spot cheetah and it’s a fabulous way to see the animals, on the move just as they are.
Singita Lebombo Lodge, South Africa
The all-inclusive Singita Lebombo Lodge is part of a larger resort in Kruger National Park. The lodge is perched on a hillside overlooking the Nwanedzi River in South Africa. Facilities include a spa, outdoor pool and a wine studio with a rooftop viewing area. The 13 luxurious suites have glass walls and balconies with river views; opt for the chic villa for an extra dose of luxury and a private pool. As well as cheetahs, elephants, leopards and lions are frequently sighted here.
Mahali Mzuri, Kenya
An altogether slick safari experience awaits at Sir Richard Branson’s Mahali Mzuri Kenyan safari retreat. The 12 luxurious tents are located in the grasslands of the Maasai Mar. As well as cheetah, you can expect to spot elephants, zebra, wildebeest, lion, leopard and giraffe and well as the Migration. Relax in the 12-metre outdoor infinity pool and enjoy a spa treatment to wash away the dust after your game drive.
Okonjima Lodge, Namibia
The family-run Okonjima Lodge is tucked at the foot of the sandstone Omboroko Mountains on the Okonjima Nature Reserve. The reserve is home to The AfriCat Foundation and is also renowned for frequent cheetah and leopard sightings. There’s a range of accommodation choices but discerning travellers should opt for the award-winning, chic Okonjima African Villa with its infinity pool or the beautiful Private Bush Suite with its 13-metre private swimming pool.
Tswalu, South Africa
The Tswalu Kalahari Reserve is South Africa’s largest private game reserve and is home to the luxury camp The Motse with 9 secluded suites and the stunning former home, Tarkuni with five suites, its own spa, library, fand full staff. With just 30 people staying on the entire reserve, it’s intimate and exclusive and offers the chance to experience the wildlife of the region in private. Take game drives in the 4×4 or on horseback and you’ll see lion, meerkat colonies, as well as cheetahs and possibly the rare black rhino too.
Ndutu Safari Lodge, Tanzania
Ndutu Safari Lodge is located in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the southern Serengeti eco-system. Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park is ideal for spotting cheetahs due to the sparse savanna grass and open plain. The lodge consists of 34 stone cottages, each with their own verandah and ensuite facilities. Staying here is a simple and authentic experience but it gets you right up close and personal with the wildlife.
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