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 Face-to-face
with lions and rhino after breakfast, up close to a Whale Shark
or battling sailfish after lunch. That's the Phinda experience,
one of the most exciting safari destinations in Africa. Located
between the azure waters of the Indian Ocean and the lush waterways
of the World Heritage Greater Saint Lucia Wetland Park, Phinda's
17 000 hectares span seven unique ecosystems. Nestled below
the Lebombo Mountains of Northern KwaZulu-Natal, Phinda is a
Zulu word meaning "the return". In one of the biggest
reintroductions of game in Africa, Phinda was restocked with
lion, rhino, buffalo, elephant, leopard, giraffe and other big
game in an operation dubbed "Phinda izilwane", return
of the wild animals.
Game drives are only one aspect of the Phinda experience. There
is little that can compete with our "Flight of the Fish
Eagle" air safari - soaring over a bay where the diversity
of species rivals Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Or floating
past pods of hippo in a canoe or river boat. Scuba diving, snorkelling
and deep-sea fishing are just a hop away. And in the evenings,
immerse yourself in the ancient culture of Southern Africa's
warrior tribe, the Zulu.
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 Game
Drives
Twice a day, you may take a game drive in an open Land Rover.
An experienced ranger will reveal the sights and sounds of wild
Zululand.
Adventures
You could stay at Phinda for a month and still find new things
to do:
- Moonlit bush dinners
- Visit to local community school and clinic
- Zulu cultural lectures from 2001
- Private bush breakfasts
- Bird-watching and birding safaris
 Canoeing
and river boat cruises
- White rhino tracking
- Optional activies at Phinda are:
- Deep-sea fishing off the Maputaland coast
- Turtle viewing (November/December/January) on Maputaland
beaches
- A visit to the Zulu Cultural Village
- Horse riding
- "Flight of the Fish Eagle" air safari - where
you soar over the Maputaland wilderness
- Scuba diving (bring your certificate along) beach adventures
including snorkelling at Maputaland coastline
Experience the quiet thrill of tracking white rhino on foot,
(advanced booking is required.) Our armed trackers are familiar
with the favoured haunts of the resident rhino and chances of
sightings are good. Dunghills, fresh browsing sites and evidence
around drinking points or wallows are among the clues assisting
in the search.
During your "Flight of the Fish Eagle" air safari,
experience the magic of floating weightlessly over the fragile
dunes in a light aircraft. As if from nowhere, the Indian
Ocean appears before you.
Interpretive Walks
Guided bush walks allow for closer exploration of the shadowy
forest canopies. On bush walks, you will hear about traditional
legends and the medicinal benefits of a wide variety of plants.
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The Phinda Story in the Vision section examines
the background, achievements and community projects of
this remarkable reserve.
- Chosen as Best Hotel for Wildlife Enthusiasts by
Town & Country, January 2001
- Listed among the 101 best hotels in the world in
UK Tatler's Travel Guide 2001
- All four lodges are members of Small Luxury Hotels
of the World
- Voted by Association of Southern African Travel
Agents (Asata) as "Best Game Lodge in Southern
Africa" (1998)
- Winner of British Airways' "Tourism for Tomorrow"
Award (S.Hemisphere) (1998)
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| Phinda Forest Lodge |
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Chalets
Forest Lodge's 16 raised glass-encased chalets have a
bedroom, lounge and spacious en suite bathroom with a
bath and separate shower. Outside, wooden decks have been
erected around the growing trees. Although surrounded
on three sides by glass, the fertile forest floor and
towering torchwood trees ensure privacy in each of the
chalets. Constructed to minimise impact on the unique
Sand Forest, the air-conditioned rooms are raised off
the ground to allow smaller animals complete freedom of
movement along the forest floor below.
At Forest Lodge, the glass walls display the sea-green
canopy with wide-screen effect. A few short paces outside,
birds and animals such as the tiny red duiker, suni antelope
and rare red squirrel move quietly through the forest.
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Interiors
The chalets evoke the luxurious minimalism of classic
Japanese architecture. This is offset by the verdant forest
scene beyond the glass walls, creating a sensuous African
delight. The chalets have polished beechwood and slate
floors.
Living Spaces
The central dining area, lounge and shaded swimming pool
of this secluded camp overlook a tranquil open grassy
vlei (wetland pan). The elevated lookout deck is a prime
bird-watching spot for the approximately 400 species at
Phinda. Our range of souvenirs in the curio shop at main
reception area is worth exploring. |
Cuisine
We invite you to savour flamboyant cuisine infused with
Pan-African flair. You may dine on the deck viewing the
grassy plains. Or indulge in the romance of al fresco
dining beneath a starlit sky around the forest boma (enclosed
reeded area). Large tables for eight glow in the light
of the central boma fire.
Bush Banquets
Dinners are served in a clearing in the bush under a star-studded
sky. The incredible effort, the spectacular settings,
visual impact and fairytale atmosphere of dining under
the stars make for a truly appetising experience. Phinda
is renowned for its elegant bush breakfasts. |
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Phinda Mountain Lodge |
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Chalets
Mountain Lodge has 20 air-conditioned chalets with private
decks and en suite bathrooms with bath and shower. Paved
pathways lead down the mountainside from the main lodge
to the chalets.
Conference
Phinda's conference facility is situated at Mountain Lodge.
The well-equipped conference room holds 70 people and
is air-conditioned. It is ideal for small management seminars
and think tanks. You can also make use of our executive
meeting room. |
Interiors
A subtly executed blend of avant-garde and ethnic dÈcor
captures the alluring bushveld spirit in each room.
Living Spaces
The bar, shaded terrace and main lounge open onto cool
verandahs with serene views of the Lebombo Mountains.
You will be treated to authentic African hospitality at
the reception area and curio shop. Or you may choose to
take a refreshing dip in the shaded swimming pool. You
can linger on the lookout deck, built for relaxation,
bird and game watching. |
Cuisine
Lunch is served on the shaded terrace, patio or dining
room. Dinners in the dramatic open-air boma (enclosed
reeded area) can be relished under starlit African skies.
Bush Banquet
Dinners are served in a clearing in the bush under a star-studded
sky. The incredible effort, the spectacular settings,
visual impact and fairytale atmosphere of dining under
the stars make for a truly appetising experience. Phinda
is renowned for its elegant bush breakfasts. |
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Phinda Rock Lodge |
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Suites
Each of the six suites has a large bedroom and an en suite
bathroom with bath and shower. Each suite, suspended from
the edge of the rocky cliff, has its own private lounge,
deck and plunge pool, all offering unrivalled views. Three
suites have both indoor and outdoor showers.
Overlooking scenic Leopard Rock, the lodge's rough-hewn
sandstone and adobe walls and ochre-packed roofs cling
to the rock face. A beautiful extension of the natural
environment, the rock foundations blend seamlessly into
the mountain's contours.
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Interiors
The suites are decorated with artwork from Spain and
Mexico. The colour scheme is warm and inviting, blending
beautifully with the ochre mud-packed walls ("adobe"
style).
Expanses of windows frame views of impressive rock formations,
and fill the rooms with light. In the private lounge,
a beautiful sisal rug is complemented by comfortable
lounge chairs, perfect for relaxing and admiring the
view.
Cuisine
Dinner at Phinda Rock Lodge is a Pan-African banquet
spread under hand-wrought chandeliers. There is an open
fireplace in the dining room.
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Living Space
Savannah grasslands and the majestic Lebombo Mountains
can be seen clearly from the central areas. An open fireplace
in the lounge draws winter guests. Fiery sunsets are captured
on the west-facing outside deck, which is suspended over
the bushveld.
You are welcome to visit the curio shop at Mountain Lodge.
Bush Banquets
Dinners are served in a clearing in the bush under a star-studded
sky. The incredible effort, the spectacular settings,
visual impact and fairytale atmosphere of dining under
the stars makes for a truly appetising experience. Phinda
is renowned for its elegant bush breakfasts.
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Phinda Vlei Lodge |
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Suites
Six suites, crafted from local materials of thatch, teak
and glass, are suspended above the Sand Forest floor.
The air-conditioned suites overlook a natural vlei system.
The airy double bedrooms have en suite bathrooms with
a bath and shower. You can enjoy a romantic candlelit
dinner on your outdoor viewing deck or cool down in your
private plunge pool. |
Interiors
The suites feature ethnic fabrics, hand-crafted cane
and timber-framed panels. The dÈcor is a subtle
blend of North and West African styles with hints of
Balinese influences. The unique architectural design
creates the illusion that no man-made structure exists
between you and the African wilderness.
Cuisine
The guest dining area overlooks the expanse of grassy
vlei. Delicious Pan-African cuisine is served in sumptuous
surroundings.
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Living Space
The reception, lounge and bar areas of this secluded lodge
overlook a tranquil vlei (wetland pan). The shaded terrace
is a superb vantage point for bird-watching. The lounge
has a fireplace, books and a well-stocked drinks cabinet.
Bush Banquets
Dinners are served in a clearing in the bush under a star-studded
sky. The incredible effort, the spectacular settings,
visual impact and fairytale atmosphere of dining under
the stars makes for a truly appetising experience. Phinda
is renowned for its elegant bush breakfasts. |
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Landscape
Phenomenally diverse landscapes lie within Phinda's borders.
The reserve spans rocky hillsides, mountainous regions,
verdant wetland "vleis", perennial and seasonal
rivers, marshland, pans and distinctive wooded Sand Forest.
Game
The plains of Phinda are the roaming grounds of buffalo,
white rhino, elephant, giraffe, impala, zebra and wildebeest.
Predators such as lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena wait
their turn in the shadows. In pools and lakes, hippo lounge
the day away, while along the Mzinene River, African Elephant
and impala wander past.
The forest and vlei zones of Phinda are home to red duiker,
nyala, suni antelope, bushpig or red squirrel. Phinda
has the largest privately owned population of nyala in
the world. Spotted genet, porcupines and bush babies appear
after dark. In the mountain and rocky zones, you may spot
mountain reedbuck and chacma baboon.
To the east of Phinda lies the warm, inviting waters of
the Indian Ocean. On the reefs of Sodwana, Whale Shark,
Moray Eel, Leatherback and Loggerhead Turtle, crab, starfish
and iridescent nudibranch sway with the rhythm of the
tides.
Birds
An incredible array of about 400 species of birds fly
through the skies over Phinda - Pied and Pygmy Kingfishers,
Goliath Herons, Great White Egrets, the elusive Purple
Gallinule, Pygmy Goose, African Fish Eagle and White-faced
"Whistling" Duck. Giant Eagle Owls and Nightjars
come alive at night.
Forest birds include the striking Purple-crested Lourie
(Turaco) and the Bluemantled Flycatcher. In the mountains,
look out for White-bellied Sunbird and Scarlet-chested
Sunbird.
Reptiles and Insects
You can drift past prehistoric-looking Nile Crocodiles
on a river cruise. On rocky hillsides, you may chance
upon lizards, geckos and other small reptiles. Beautiful
butterflies include the Mamba Swordtail, Forest King Charaxes
and the Dwarf Blue.
Flora
Towering trees include the giant Lebombo Wattle and the
tall Torchwood. Groves of ghostly, yellow Fever Trees
dominate the floodplains on both banks of the Mzinene
River. You can visit the Sand Forest and see the only
member of the cactus family in Southern Africa, plus numerous
epiphytic orchids and lichen species.
On the rocky slopes, Broadleaved Camphor and Rock Cabbage
are distinctive, while fig trees grow in rock crevices.
Large Mountain Aloes and Common Coral Trees brighten up
the winter landscape.
Habitats
Phinda's location, a combination of true African bushveld
with the close-by Maputaland coastline, means you are
offered a unique "bush-beach" adventure. A variety
of habitats ensures a wonderfully diverse wildlife experience.
What differentiates Phinda from other safari destinations
is the reserve's seven different ecosystems. These are
very obvious and unusual. Inside the borders of a single
reserve lies a mosaic of varied habitats such as ilala
palm, savannah, montane grasslands, riverine forest, acacia
thornveld, Sand Forest, open grassland and natural pan
systems.
The botanically unique Sand Forest, which is found only
in Maputaland and Southern MoÁambique, is of major
significance. The wetland habitats, including the Mzinene
River and Mziki Marsh add to this exceptional diversity.
Conservation
Phinda is a dynamic working model in wise land management
and creative wildlife conservation. |
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