Katrine Anker-Nilssen visits Cheetah Ridge Lodge and chats to owner Wayne Scholes.
Nambiti Private Game Reserve was founded by Rob Le Sueur in 2000 and opened to the public in late 2005. Captivated by the beauty of the land he had explored on horseback, Rob had a vision to bring a big five game reserve to life and to have conservation at the heart of it, right here in KZN.
“Rob built a lasting legacy – a thriving game reserve with a biodiversity that is so unique that it brings people from all over the world,” says Wayne Scholes, owner of Cheetah Ridge Lodge. “Cheetah Ridge was the original farmhouse on the reserve, Rob lived here with his family and I think that is why there is such a beautiful family vibe here. It’s a place born from family, and we welcome families here to this day.”
Wayne and his family, based in the US, purchased Cheetah Ridge from Rob in 2020, and have been operating it with the same staff ever since. “We have invested in the lodge and begun refurbishment of the lodge and amenities. We have built a beautiful tennis court and upgraded the spa. The kitchen has seen a refit, as has the bar. There are bigger plans already drawn up, which we are implementing as we speak, to enhance the guest experience. A new restaurant, spa, boma, and completely renewed suites. This should all be complete by the end of 2023.”
Wayne first came to Cheetah Ridge as a guest over a decade ago. “I’ve always loved the vibe. The home and family feel, as well as the staff, is what always captured me and kept me coming back,” he says. “I love the history of Cheetah Ridge – so much good has been done for conservation here. Being a part of this is a blessing in my life, and a privilege.”
Wayne is passionate about the conservation mission of Nambiti.
“Cheetah Ridge is where that all started, and I believe it’s important that we continue that legacy. We sponsor critical activities, like rhino dehorning, which are so important to the protection of endangered species,” he explains.
“We also partner with the University of Central Florida, and each year they fly from the US to come to stay here and get involved with all the conservation efforts of Nambiti – such as gathering valuable data through their involvement, research and donations,” continues Wayne. “Having global partnerships is important. The reality of conservation is that it costs money, and the dollar and pound go further than the rand. So building these partnerships is critical to the long-term success of conservation efforts.”
The lodge’s spa is incredible – the full body massage was easily one of the best I have ever had. “Oh gosh, the spa! Now you have hit on one of my favourite places,” smiles Wayne. “There are so many health benefits to a spa, and we have such a wonderful set of treatments. We are fortunate to have great staff who love what they do and are passionate about finding ways to make every guest’s stay better. And about helping people relax – which is ultimately what it’s all about.”
Wayne admits they are very particular when hiring staff. “We are fortunate to have a lot of staff here who have been at Cheetah Ridge for many years; that really helps with the family feel. We have guests who come back just to see certain staff members,” says Wayne. “We look for people who really understand the value of hard work, fun and loyalty. We spend a lot of time building the culture of the team, and we spend a lot of time laughing and doing random, silly things – and really just enjoying each other’s company.”
The history of Cheetah Ridge is definitely something you can’t find anywhere else. “That connection to Nambiti, where the family lived as it was built. It has left a family vibe that you can’t find somewhere else, in my opinion,” says Wayne – who wants each guest to get out of their visit what they were personally looking for, as each guest comes looking for something different. “Be that fun, peace, relaxation, excitement, meditation, or a mixture of all these things. That’s our job, to help people achieve what they wanted to get from the time they spend with us.”