PHINDA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE Abundant wildlife populations, including the Big Five Threatened African wildlife species such as rhino and cheetah Over 380 bird species – three endemic to the region Rare Sand Forest contains numerous rare and endemic species Highly endangered sea turtles breed on the beaches nearby (Nov-Jan) Home to Southern Africa’s only member of the cactus family Exposed fossil sites reveal former seabed Dynamic model in wise land management and profitable conservation

ACCOMMODATION AT PHINDA MOUNTAIN LODGE:

Superior views of the beautiful mountain scenery are the special feature of this ethnically inspired bush lodge. 20 private suites feature spacious en suite bathrooms, sitting areas and spectacular viewing decks. Between exciting game-drives, birdwatch from the pooldeck, or simply relax in the Lodge’s comfortable sitting area with its great vaulted ceiling and enormous fireplace.

With wrap-around views of the spectacular Ubombo Mountains and the South African bushveld below, Mountain Lodge is set apart from other safari lodges due to its dramatic location.
* 20 air-conditioned suites
* Private sitting room and en suite bathroom
* Great family safari destination
* Shaded swimming pool with spectacular game-viewing deck
* African craft gallery
* A well-equipped conference room (maximum of 70 guests)

Observe the serenity of the South African wilderness from your private deck, surrounded by the indigenous trees and shrubbery of the pristine Zululand bushveld. Each suite features a comfortable sitting area below the large beds. Paved pathways lead down the mountainside from the main guest areas to the spacious suites – a subtly executed blend of avant-garde and ethnic design.

Delicious Pan-African cuisine is enjoyed in the dramatic boma (outdoor dining area) illuminated by dozens of candles and lanterns, or served to you in a spectacular clearing in the bush under a star-studded sky. Phinda is renowned for wonderful bush banqueting in surprising settings.

ACCOMMODATION AT PHINDA GETTY LODGE:

An intimate family lodge, perfect for family celebrations and special occasion safaris. An interactive kitchen allows for intimate, informal dining, and a rim-flow infinity pool provides for respite from the heat of the day.

Sophisticated new sole-use villa: Phinda Getty Lodge is a new sole-use villa on Phinda Private Game Reserve and a residence to Tara and Jessica Getty. In a spectacular, innovative new direction for the area, an entire Free State stone farmhouse was dismantled and transported hundreds of miles to Phinda where it is to be transformed into a world-class, cutting-edge private home which will be available for guests at certain times of the year.

* Exclusive use lodge
* Private ranger/host
* Private butler and chef
* Sole use of your 4x4 safari vehicle

Situated in the western region of Phinda, in a newly created conservation area of a further 3 500 hectares, Phinda Getty Lodge overlooks an extinct volcano now covered in vegetation and ringed by gently rolling hills.

The Lodge is a combination of Eastern Free State sandstone with timber, thatch and screeded cement, airy free flowing spaces and hues of grey, slate and celadon are breathtakingly stylish and sophisticated yet refreshingly simple. Natural fibres and textures characterize the interiors.

Accommodation is in four spacious suites featuring unique sliding panel windows with beautiful views. An interactive kitchen allows for intimate and informal dining.

ACCOMMODATION AT PHINDA FOREST LODGE:

Exquisite architectural design meets conservation in these luxurious hand-crafted suites. Set deep in the heart of a rare Dry Sand Forest, the Lodge comprises 16 private stilted suites, a sparkling rim-flow swimming pool, luxurious dining and sitting areas, and an expansive viewing deck with panoramic views of the game-filled plains. Set deep in the heart of the rare Dry Sand Forest, the spectacular stilted suites of this award-winning safari lodge are an exemplary exercise in building eco-sensitive structures with a light footprint.

* 16 spacious, hand-built glass-encased suites
* All with air-conditioning
* Private viewing decks
* Luxurious en suite bathrooms
* Sparkling rim-flow swimming pool
* Crafts gallery with a range of local Zulu artefacts

Wake up to the sight of graceful nyala and duiker browsing in the foliage of the Sand Forest right outside the glass walls of your private suite. Inventively designed in what is often called "Zulu-Zen", each suite is a combination of glass, wood and minimalist design incorporating high-gloss wooden floors and crimson Zulu artefacts.

Delicious Pan-African cuisine is served to you on the deck overlooking the grassy plains or in the boma (outdoor dining area) illuminated by dozens of candles and lanterns. Enjoy adventurous breakfasts and romantic dinners in spectacular African safari locations.

ACCOMMODATION AT PHINDA ZUKA LODGE:
Overlooking a busy waterhole, this exclusive-use Lodge is perfect for family gatherings and special occasion safaris. Comprising just four thatched Zululand bush cottages, Phinda Zuka Lodge features a private ranger/host, tracker, butler and chef and sole use of a 4x4 safari vehicle – allowing guests to tailormake every minute of their day.

Surrounded by densely wooded hills and lush valleys, Phinda Zuka Lodge is situated in the western region of Phinda where, in what was a triumph for CC Africa’s conservation endeavours, fences were dropped after protracted negotiations with neighbours, increasing the Reserve by 3 500 hectares (8 650 acres).

* Just four thatched Zululand bush cottages
* Overlooking a busy waterhole
* Private ranger/host, tracker, butler and chef
* Sole use of an open 4x4 safari vehicle
* Perfect for family gatherings and special occasion safaris
* Tailormake every minute of your day

Meaning sixpence in Zulu, Zuka Lodge offers guests a new experience of Phinda’s pristine wilderness. The Lodge’s four intimate cottages are set 15 metres (50 feet) apart, featuring verandas overlooking a busy waterhole where a diversity of wildlife is regularly seen. Sitting areas feature built-in sofas which double as beds for parents travelling with children 5 years and younger. Bedrooms have air-conditioning and fans and are en suite, with a circular stone bath chamber, double showers, separate w.c and twin hand basins.

The exclusive-use Phinda Zuka Lodge is perfect for families or groups of up to eight people. Guest areas include an interactive café-style kitchen, indoor sitting and dining areas, an intimate library with Internet access and a swimming pool with extended wooden decking overlooking the waterhole. Comfortable cushions and suspended wicker chairs on the veranda allow for contemplation of the beautiful surroundings. Characterised by hues of blue and stone, emphasising shape and texture, the overall effect of the Lodge is that of cool, coastal bush style – the sophistication of simplicity.

ACCOMMODATION AT PHINDA VLEI LODGE:

A sophisticated blend of teak, timber, Eastern and African influences, Vlei Lodge offers discerning travellers an elegant lodge of understated luxury. It comprises six thatched suites with en suite bathrooms, dressing rooms, private plunge pools and decks which overlook the vlei (wetland system) where you’re likely to observe herds of grazing antelope, zebra and a dazzling variety of birdlife.

Fringing Phinda’s unique vlei (wetland) system, this gracious safari lodge is a study of intimacy and integration with the African bush.
* Six elegant thatched, air-conditioned suites
* Private game-viewing decks and plunge pools
* Dressing room and en suite bathroom
* Dining area overlooking the grassy vlei
* Sitting area with open fireplace

Watch the drama of South Africa’s wilderness unfold while relaxing in your private plunge pool. Each suite – decorated in a subtle blend of North and West African styles with hints of Balinese influences – overlooks the grassy vlei, where you’re likely to see a dazzling variety of wildlife including herds of zebra and grazing antelope. The atmosphere is exclusive and personal, a mixture of understated sophistication and sheer luxury.

Delicious Pan-African cuisine is served to you on the game-viewing decks, or in a dramatic bush setting near the lodge. Phinda is renowned for its unforgettable bush banquets in beautiful, remote settings.

ACCOMMODATION AT PHINDA ROCK LODGE:

An air of romance and intimacy characterises this superb lodge, which is tucked away in an unrivalled location between rocks, mountains and the bush. This unique lodge comprises six stone and adobe suites with en suite bathrooms, private sitting areas, decks and plunge pools offering unrivalled views of the valley below.

Set into a cliff-face overlooking the beautiful Leopard Rock, this safari lodge is an absolute delight. Its intimate suites are seemingly suspended over the deep valley below, providing breathtaking views.
* Six romantic, air-conditioned suites
* Private plunge pools and game-viewing decks
* En suite bathroom
* Three suites feature outdoor showers
* Adventurous bush banqueting
* Exceptional warm and friendly service

Capture fiery sunsets from the game viewing deck suspended over South Africa’s bushveld, or relax in your private sitting room while observing an abundance of birdlife in the trees surrounding this safari lodge and animals in the valley below.

Delicious Pan-African cuisine is served to you in the dining area under hand-wrought chandeliers, on the Lodge's exclusive deck or enjoyed in the privacy of your suite. Phinda is renowned for excellent cuisine served in adventurous bush clearings under the African night sky.

Phinda Private Game Reserve wildlife habitats:
The unique dry Sand Forest is characterised by newtonia, umzithi, pteliopsis and Zulu podberry trees with abundant epiphytic orchids and Africa’s only cactus species (Rhipsalis). Mixed bushveld savanna is dominated by acacia trees, with different species thriving on clay or sandy soils. Open woodland of tall marula, bushwillow and terminalia occurs on sandy soils. Palmveld is characterised by open grassland dotted with lala palm and waterberry thickets. Evergreen forest and thickets fringe the Mzinene and Munyawana Rivers, with tamboti, sycamore fig and weeping boerbean among typical trees. Groves of sulphur-barked fever trees occur on floodplains. Seasonal marshes and pans are inundated after heavy summer rains. Rocky hillsides are cloaked with trees such as common wild-pear, red bushwillow and galpinia.

Mammals at Phinda Private Game Reserve:
Phinda Private Game Reserve is home to an incredible diversity of mammals. Predators like cheetah, leopard and lion are tracked on a daily basis and visitors stand extremely good chances of seeing them. The territorial white rhino favour waterholes and wallows. Herds of elephant and buffalo move throughout the reserve and are easily spotted. Impressive nyala antelope feed alongside impala and warthog. Nocturnal aardvark, bushpig and greater bushbaby may be encountered on exciting night game-drives. Mountain reedbuck dwell on rocky slopes, while common reedbuck favour palmveld and wetlands. Tonga red squirrel are restricted to Sand Forest where tiny suni and red duiker are most abundant. The extraordinary four-toed elephant-shrew forages among leaf-litter in forest and thickets.

Birds at Phinda Private Game Reserve:
An impressive 378 species are recorded. Rudd’s apalis, Neergaard’s sunbird and pink-throated twinspot are endemic to the Maputaland region. Lemon-breasted canary, southern banded snake-eagle and grey waxbill are characteristic of the coastal plain. Among resident birds in the Sand Forest are Narina trogon, African broadbill and square-tailed drongo. Trumpeter hornbill, white-eared barbet and golden-rumped tinkerbird gather at ripe figs. Crested guineafowl, purple-crested turaco and gorgeous bushshrike are among species which favour woodland and thickets. African finfoot, African purple swamphen (gallinule), white-backed night-heron and malachite kingfisher are resident on the Mzinene River. Mocking cliff-chat, red-winged starling and cinnamon-breasted bunting favour rocky outcrops. Great concentrations of waterfowl assemble seasonally at the Nibela Peninsula of nearby Lake St Lucia.

Other African wildlife:
More than 80 species of butterfly have been recorded with mamba swordtail, forest king charaxes and gold-banded forester (opposite) among the more impressive. Marshlands beat to the sound of calling frogs after summer downpours with Argus reed-frog, red-legged kassina and sharp-nosed grass-frog among the 37 recorded species. Dazzling rainbow skink and giant plated lizard live among boulders where African rock python find refuge. Nile crocodile inhabit the Mzinene River and some waterholes. Phinda’s close proximity to the Indian Ocean offers guests the opportunity to explore an underwater kaleidoscope that rivals Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Over 1000 species of fish are found in these subtropical waters and you may glide past moray eel, leatherback and loggerhead turtles and huge whale sharks.

ACTIVITIES:

Twice-daily game-drives:
Enjoy exceptional Big Five game viewing in open 4x4 safari vehicles with experienced rangers and Zulu trackers.

Interpretive Bush Walks:
Learn more about the traditional uses and the legends surrounding indigenous trees and shrubs, as well as how to identify tracks and see rare birds on walks led by armed rangers and trackers.

Mzinene River Canoeing:
Catch sight of some of Phinda’s incredible birdlife while paddling along the river - flanked by lush riverine forest with huge fever and sycamore fig trees – in a sturdy canoe.

Mzinene Riverboat Cruise:
Watch a magnificent sunrise or sunset while enjoying a leisurely cruise along the Mzinene River in Phinda’s riverboat. See some of the 200 or more waterbirds, as well as crocodiles and hippos lazing about.

White Rhino Tracking:
Set off with your professional armed ranger and tracker in a 4x4 safari vehicle, searching for fresh signs of white rhino activity. When tracks are found, experience the quiet thrill of tracking white rhino on foot.

BEACH AND BUSH ADVENTURES:
At an additional cost

Flight of the Fish Eagle:
Experience a breathtaking 60-minute flight over the diverse Maputaland wilderness of scenic pans, coastal lakes, bushveld, densely vegetated dunes and wildlife, and spot whales, whalesharks, dolphins and turtles in the magnificent Indian Ocean.

Scuba Safaris:
A 15-minute flight and short drive takes you to one of the top 10 dive sites in the world. Diving the reefs of Sodwana Bay allows you to experience a portrait of marine diversity, with approximately 1200 species of fish and spectacular coral formations. (Can be combined with Maputaland Beach Adventures)

Deep-sea Fishing:
Fly to Sodwana Bay – a fisherman’s paradise inside a Marine Reserve – where a short drive takes you to your 25-foot sport fishing boat rigged for bill (marlin and sailfish), game (barracuda, yellowfin tuna and kingfish) and shark fishing. Phinda supports ‘catch-and-release’ procedures for deep-sea fishing.

Maputaland Beach Adventures:
A 15-minute flight and a short drive in a specially designed 4x4 beach vehicle takes you to the beautiful beach at Jesser Point. Depending on the tides, you will be driven to a secluded spot where you can enjoy snorkelling, swimming, or simply sunning on the endless beach, as well as a delicious picnic.

Beach Horse Riding:
A 45-minute drive from Phinda takes you to the beach for an exhilarating one-hour ride followed by a scrumptious picnic snack. (Can be combined with Maputaland Beach Adventures)

False Bay Horse Riding:
Enjoy the unmatched delight of riding well-schooled horses through False Bay Nature Reserve. A 1.5 hour ride takes you through the rare Dry Sand Forest habitat and along the picturesque False Bay lakeside. After the ride, relax and enjoy a delightful picnic snack while the horses rest at the water’s edge.

Night Turtle Drives (seasonal):
A 45-minute drive from Phinda takes you to meet your beach ranger who will show you the wonders of the beach at night. In season, loggerhead turtles and gigantic leatherback turtles make the strenuous trail up the beach to lay their eggs - a humbling experience. Depending on the tides, you will either enjoy snacks, drinks and hot toddies on the beach or a delicious surfside supper.

Isikolethu (“Our Culture”) Community Experience:
Experience the wonders and diversity of the Zulu culture while exploring the Mduku, Mnqobokazi and Nibela rural communities surrounding the Reserve. Guests will depart after breakfast at 10h00, enjoying visits to Macebo crèche, the Sangoma (witch doctor), Ngubane Homestead and Mdluli Ancestoral Home. After an action-packed morning, guests will return to Phinda in time for a late lunch and their afternoon game-drive.