Luxury Safaris in Phinda made for you

When it comes to wildlife right at your front door, Phinda Vlei Lodge is incredible. From its location on the edge of a thick forest, overlooking a grassy vlei (meadow), guests at the lodge can spot game visiting the nearby watering hole every morning and evening. The lodge offers plenty of bush walks and game drives to spot the animals throughout the day, too. Wildlife spotters barely have to leave their suite to see zebra, flocks of birds, monkeys and warthog families that visit the vlei on a daily basis. Each of the suites has a private game viewing deck, so you can sip a good South African wine while you take in this amazing environment. Whether you prefer to dine solo or shooting the breeze with fellow guests, there’s an option for all at Phinda Vlei Lodge: private dining on your terrace can be arranged, or you can join others on the communal dining deck, and for evening drinks while swapping safari stories on colder nights, there’s an open fire in the sitting room to keep out the chill.

A delightful Mali-styled lodge of stone and adobe, Phinda’s Rock Lodge is poised on the edge of the valley for spectacular views of Leopard Rock. Its six suites seem suspended over the wild valley below, and three of the rooms offer one of the most scenic shower experiences you’ll ever have, allowing you to gaze into the horizon or under the ever-bright African stars. Each en-suite private bungalow has been designed with solid wooden shutters opening out onto your own private viewing deck and plunge pool. Rock lodge also has a central dining room and inviting lounge that takes full advantage of the bird’s eye view of the many animals below in the bushveld, not to mention prime position for some captivating African sunsets over the Lebombo Mountains. Sunrise is reserved for an outing up Leopards Rock, which should definitely inquire about.

In the west of the Phinda reserve, Zuka Lodge has only four thatched cottages, which can be privately booked, making it an excellent lodge for families or groups of up to eight. The cottages can be booked separately, too, which still allows for an intimate experience of the Phinda reserve. Set right next to a watering hole, the lodge is the perfect place from which to spot the wildlife of the reserve, which includes cheetahs (recently reintroduced to the region), lions, leopards, rhinos (black and white), and nyala antelopes. The benefits of hiring Zuka Lodge privately are the range of personalised, flexible services that are offered to guests. A private chef and butler will see to your needs onsite, while rangers can take you on the trips you want to do, when you want to do them. Back at the lodge, after a day exploring the reserve on foot or in a 4WD vehicle, you can soak up the sunshine by the pool, or head back to your cottage to relax in your private sitting area. If you’re feeling sociable, there is a communal area with an open fire pit for dining and sun-downers.

Nestled in one of Phinda’s very special dry sand forests are 16 eco-sensitive, stilted suites. Fusing ethnic Zulu style and Zen concepts, each suite is a minimalist combination of glass, glossy wood floors, rich tactile fabrics and Zulu artwork. Every suite has its own viewing deck for spying on the local wildlife or kicking back with a book. The lodge also boasts a rim flow swimming pool to escape to in the heat and humidity of the day, whilst enjoying its panoramic views over the surrounding plains. Along with cheetah, lion and leopard are tracked on the reserve on a daily basis and guests have a high likelihood of encountering these magnificent animals. Another success story at &Beyond Phinda is that of both the white and the more endangered black rhino. Brought back from the brink of extinction, both the grass easting white rhino and the shrub grazing black rhino are doing well at the reserve. While the white rhino favours water holes and wallows, the black rhino indulges its inquisitive nature in constant solitary rambles.

Wonderfully balanced on the mountainside of the ancient Ubombo hills, Phinda’s Mountain Lodge enjoys phenomenal views of Zululand bushveld amidst some stellar styling and design. Centred around an al-fresco courtyard, its 25 split-level suites all have their own sitting area, spacious veranda with plunge pool and outdoor shower, all for a pleasing degree of seclusion. The style is a chic and modern one with traditional twists and throwbacks, which effectively play out the spectacular vistas and a warm feeling of exclusiveness. Enjoy the company and stories of the other guests in the comfort of the communal lounge or in the light of its authentic outdoor boma (where this particular lodge is known to serve its incredible bush banquets). The Mountain Lodge is the best place for families at Phinda, and all guests are greeted by a warm contingent of welcoming staff.