Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
- Seven diverse habitats
- Seven intimate safari lodges
- Exhilarating Walking Safaris
- Exceptional African Big Five game viewing
- Game-drives in open 4x4 vehicles
- Excellent Birdwatching and Leopard Research Safaris
- Thrilling beach and bush adventures
- Winner of prestigious ecotourism awards
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. Read more...
Phinda Mountain Lodge:
Each of the 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. Read more...
Phinda Vlei Lodge:
Intimate and elegant, this exquisite lodge 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. Read more...
Phinda Rock Lodge:
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. Read more...
Phinda Zuka Lodge:
The intimate, exclusive-use Phinda Zuka Lodge comprises just four thatched Zululand bush cottages with verandas overlooking a busy waterhole – perfect for family gatherings and special occasion safaris. Read more...
Phinda Getty House:
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.
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Phinda’s seven distinct habitats are home to an incredible diversity of South African wildlife:
- 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
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.
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