&Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve covers 23 000 hectares of pristine African wilderness in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Experience the wonders of the Big 5 – lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and buffalo, as well as cheetah, black rhino and roughly 415 bird species.
Blessed with seven distinct habitats ranging from vast grasslands to magnificent mountains, &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve offers a choice of six luxurious safari game lodges, each blended harmoniously with their unique surroundings.
&Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve is part of the Open Africa Safari Collection, a selection of hand-picked safari lodges that are committed to the conservation of African wildlife, the environment and the development of local communities while offering authentic big game safari experiences. All our partners share revenue with Open Africa (at no extra cost to the traveller) thereby empowering you to be a responsible tourist. For enquiries and bookings please e-mail bronwen@openafrica.org.
The KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa offers magnificent ecological wonders, cosmopolitan cities, sunny beaches, and a warm Indian Ocean current. It is also a province with a rich culture and long history in hospitality and adventure travel.
Durban offers fine-dining, first class chopping outlets, and a bustling nightlife. Alternatively indulge in dolphin spotting, scuba diving or visiting traditional markets. In surrounding areas, travellers can visit historic battlefields where Shaka Zulu and Winston Churchill showed their might. The province is also known for its two World Heritage sites – the iSimangaliso/Greater St Lucia Wetland Park and the uKhahlamba-Drakensburg Park.
Safari and other activities:
&Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve has a wide range of magnificent African wildlife ranging from large, high profile game, to the smallest and most graceful antelope. Cheetah has been reintroduced to the area after an a long absence of around 50 years, and Phinda has since established itself as one of the best places to view these fast and agile cats.
Lion and leopard are also frequently spotted, as too are the critically endangered white and black rhino. The reserve boasts a high density of nyala – a beautiful, elegant antelope species.
A wide variety of activities can be arranged for additional cost. These include specialist tracking, walking, rhino, endangered cats, bush skills and family safaris, bird-watching, beach trips, horse riding and scuba diving.
&Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve offers guests various ways to view and enjoy African wildlife. Twice daily game drives, with a knowledgable ranger and Zulu tracker, in an open safari vehicle are a great way to start and end the day. Visitors can enjoy guided bush walks accompanied by a game ranger and canoeing slowly down the Mzinene River, a particularly good way to see water birds and animals coming down to drink. All these activities are included in the cost of your safari.
&Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve has a wide range of magnificent African wildlife ranging from large, high profile game, to the smallest and most graceful antelope. Cheetah has been reintroduced to the area after an a long absence of around 50 years, and Phinda has since established itself as one of the best places to view these fast and agile cats.
In its northern regions, Phinda is blessed with sand forest, a rare ecosystem growing on ancient sand dunes and characterised by dry, broad leafed trees. The sand forests are perfect for smaller and often rare species. The shy red duiker is often spotted here, as well as one of the smallest antelope species, the suni.
Twice daily game drives are included in the rates, and guests are accompanied by experienced rangers and trackers. One can also explore the bush on foot, or enjoy the rivers of the Mzinene. A myriad of other wildlife.
Hyena research:
In July 2012 andBeyond launched a spotted hyena research programme in order to gain a better understanding of the species’ ecology on the reserve. Research is focused on the population and feeding ecology toward the goal of conservation and improved management of hyena at andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve.
The hyena population in the area is precarious – high human and livestock densities mean that hyena’s suffer habitat loss and illegal persecution, including for their use in traditional medicine. They are able to move through borders and fences by digging underneath and are thus more susceptible to poisoning and snares. Hyenas are also legally hunted in the area as they are considered trophy game.
In order to maintain a healthy population, as well as to adapt hunting legislation to ensure the sustainability of trophy hunting, much more data and knowledge is needed on this species which is what the andBeyond Phinda Hyena Research Project seeks to address.
Rhino Conservation:
Over the past 20 years andBeyond has been involved in the conservation of endangered rhino. andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve has been largely successful in this endeavour, and is rated by the African Rhino Secialist Group as one of the most important private white rhino reserves in the country. The most current project (July 2012) has been to raise funds for the relocation of rhino from andBeyond to the Okavango Delta in Botswana – a successful relocation habitat with strong security and monitoring.
&Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve has also made the largest private contribution to the RHODIS DNA – a database project at the University of Pretoria which assists authorities in identifying illegally traded horn.
Other rhino conservation projects supported by andBeyond include Rhino Force bracelets, Skydive for Rhinos, Put Foot Rally, and Footprints of Hope.
Black Rhino Range Expansion Project (WWF and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife):
&Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve was the first reserve chosen to be part of the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project – 16 black rhino were relocated to andBeyond Phinda in 2004. The aim of the project is to increase the population of black rhino in the KwaZulu-Natal area, and since the relocation to the Reserve, the population has continued to flourish and grow.
Conservation experiences:
The reserve offers conservation opportunities to work alongside the research team in a variety of projects including monitoring white and black rhinos, predator behavioural and population studies – particularly cheetah, leopard and lion, helping with elephant population monitoring and contraception research and marking and re-capturing of serval cats. The cost of the conservation opportunities vary depending on the length of stay.
Mduku Community:
Since 1995 people living near andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in the Mduku Community have access to the 24-hour Mduku Clinic. The clinic serves around 12 000 community members, and has a maternity ward as well as a link to Mseleni Hospital for those who are seriously ill.
Also in the Mduku community is the digital Eco-Village Centre (DevCentre) established in 2004, running computer training lessons with the help of the University of Zululand. The DevCentre is not only a place where people can come to learn about using technology, it is also a place of inspiration, and somewhere that entrepreneurs come to seek advice on and develop their business plans.
Responsible Travel:
Every effort is made to ensure that the andBeyond Phinda experience is as green and eco-friendly as possible. Various methods are employed and among them is the use of biofuel which is made from recycled oil (from the kitchen and workshops) for use in lanterns and pilot vehicles.
Sand Forest Conservation:
&Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve is home to seven biomes or distinct ecological zones, one of which is the extremely rare Sand Forest. This dry, tropical forest is only found in north-eastern KwaZulu Natal and Mozambique, and is home to a unique set of fauna including suni antelope, Neergaards sunbirds, pink-throated twinspot as well as rare giant trees including Zulu Podberry and Lebombo Wattle.
At the turn of the century changes were noted in the Sand Forest and were thought to be caused by the foraging habits of elephant and nyala. The Sand Forest Research Project was thus launched in 2005 in collaboration with the University of KwaZulu Natal and included an exclosure experiment whereby electric fences and exclosures were erected to deter elephants and nyala. Fences went up in 2005 and then again in 2007 and 2012. Thus far research has shown that both the elephant and nyala contributed to the change in the Sand Forest, however this conservation research will be conducted for the long-term to ensure that wildlife managers are able to make confident and evident-based choices.
Accommodation:
Phinda Forest Lodge:
Forest Lodge is set in a rare sand forest ecosystem, and is beautifully integrated with the environment in a minimalist combination of glass, wood, rich fabrics and Zulu artefacts. Architectural design is complemented by sensitivity to conservation and the ecosystem, so guests can truly feel a sense of harmony with the natural world.
The &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge is comprised of 16 luxurious suites with ensuite bathrooms and private viewing decks where guests can watch nyala and duiker grazing amidst the green shade of the forest. Each suite is nestled in privacy, but cascading glass walls invite the forest indoors, providing guests with an intimate view of forest life.
Lodge facilities include a sparkling infinity pool, sitting areas, panoramic viewing decks, and beautiful indoor and outdoor dining facilities including an authentic African boma where guests can enjoy traditional African cuisine around a roaring fire.
Rates from R5500 per person per night sharing.
Rates include:
Luxury, air conditioned suite, Private viewing deck, En-suite bathroom with slate hand basins, Transfers to and from the airstrip, Three meals daily, Soft drinks, local brand beers and spirits, house wines, Scheduled safari activities including game drives, Guided nature walks (1 hour) subject to availability, Tea and coffee, Refreshments on game drives, Laundry, Emergency medical evacuation insurance.
Phinda Mountain Lodge:
&Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge is comprised of 25 split-level suites at the mountains edge, offering spectacular views of the Ubombo mountain range and the Zululand bushveld. The lodge design is focused on light and space, and careful planning means uninterrupted vistas from each viewing deck. Each suite is furnished with a romantic en-suite bathroom, private lounge, viewing deck, plunge pool and outdoor shower.
The guest area at Mountain Lodge is a beautiful, open-plan u-shaped building with a central courtyard – perfect for relaxing in the sun after game drives and meals. Sunny and spacious sitting areas are complemented by magnificent outdoor dining areas overlooking the mountains. Alternatively, guests can enjoy outdoor dining in the boma, a romantic and festive setting characterised by candles, lanterns, and a roaring fire under the African stars. Phinda Game Reserve is also known for surprising its guests with delicious meals in unexpected locations.
Families are most welcome at Phinda Mountain Lodge, the lodge having two suites equipped with inter leading rooms and an option for an extra bed in each room.
Rates from R5,500 per person per night sharing.
Rates include:
Luxury safari lodge accommodation, En-suite bathroom, Private viewing deck and plunge pool, Outdoor shower, Transfers to and from the airstrip, Three meals daily, Soft drinks, local brand beers and spirits, house wines, Scheduled safari activities including game drives, Guided nature walks (1 hour) subject to availability, Tea and coffee, Refreshments on game drives, Laundry, Emergency medical evacuation insurance.
Rock Lodge:
Rock Lodge is characterised by contoured stone and adobe structures nestled into the cliff face and overlooking the spectacular Leopard Rock. Ochre walls and wooden shutters give the impression of a Mexican hacienda or desert pueblo, but lush surrounding thickets and wildlife are evidence of the pristine African safari location.
Rock Lodge is made up of six suites suspended dramatically over the valley, offering breathtaking views of Leopard Rock as well as the waterhole in the valley below. Each suite boasts a private viewing deck and plunge pool, private sitting area, and spacious en-suite bathroom. Three of the suites feature outdoor showers sheltered deeply in leafy bushes for the feeling of showering in your own private waterfall.
Common facilities at Rock Lodge include comfortable sitting areas where guests can enjoy abundant birdlife in the surrounding trees, and roaming wildlife in the valley below. An intimate and romantic setting awaits in the dining room with a warm fire and sumptuous meal. Above, a wooden shutter opens out onto the roof where guests can enjoy evening sundowners against an unrivalled panorama.
Rates from R6,500 per person per night sharing.
Rates include:
Luxury safari lodge accommodation, Private viewing deck and plunge pool, Private sitting area, Spacious en-suite bathroom (some with outdoor showers), Transfers to and from the airstrip, Three meals daily, Soft drinks, local brand beers and spirits, house wines, Scheduled safari activities including game drives, Guided nature walks (1 hour) subject to availability, Tea and coffee, Refreshments on game drives, Laundry, Emergency medical evacuation insurance.
The Homestead:
The Homestead is a sole-use villa with four luxurious suites, perfect for families and friends. Situated in the north of andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, the Homestead blends seamlessly into the surrounding wilderness and is characterised by its great use of space – drawing the outside in, maximising central living areas, and creating interactive guest areas.
The Homestead celebrates the atmosphere of Zululand, and the Reserve itself. Thatch, gumpole and stone tile are traditional materials set against chic, luxurious furnishings. All the suites feature sliding panel windows allowing for stunning views of the African landscape. At the heart of The Homestead is the outdoor sitting area, and an interactive kitchen allows for informal and intimate dining. For respite from the African sun, guests can enjoy the beautiful infinity swimming pool overlooking the surrounding trees and bush.
As a private villa, guests have the luxury of determining their own schedules, including game drives and meals. Game drives may be as frequent or as long as desired and guests are more than welcome to request their favourite meals. Meals can be taken in the dining room, out on a game drive picnic or by the light of lanterns in the private outdoor boma.
Rates from R50 000 per night for up to 4 guests.
Rates include:
Luxury safari villa, Dedicated ranger, tracker, butler, and chef, Exclusive use of a safari vehicle, Private gym with a view, Transfers to and from the airstrip, Three meals daily, Soft drinks, local brand beers and spirits, house wines, Scheduled safari activities including game drives, Guided nature walks (1 hour) subject to availability, Tea and coffee, Refreshments on game drives, Laundry, Emergency medical evacuation insurance.
Phinda Vlei Lodge:
The Vlei Lodge is situated along the edge of a unique vlei (wetland) system and each of the six thatched suites has a unique view over the vlei where gentle herds of antelope and zebra can be spotted having a quiet drink. Vlei Lodge suites are tucked away in the bush in prime game viewing locations, allowing guests a truly tranquil and secluded environment to relax and absorb the wonders of the African wilderness.
The lodge is intimately integrated with its surroundings, and the atmosphere is an elegant blend of sophistication, luxury and a subtle flavour of North and West Africa. The suites are intimate and romantic, each comprising a luxurious en-suite bathroom, dressing room, sitting room, private plunge pool and viewing deck. At Vlei Lodge, guests are on a constant safari; one can even view game from the comfort of your bathtub or shower.
Vlei Lodge guest area includes a comfortable lounge where guests can unwind, and enjoy a warm fire on wintery nights. Meals can be taken in the privacy of your suite, or on the dining deck, or even on the edge of the vlei.
Rates from R6 500 per person per night sharing.
Rates include:
Luxury safari lodge accommodation, Ensuite bathroom and dressing room, Sitting area, Private plunge pool and viewing deck, Transfers to and from the airstrip, Three meals daily, Soft drinks, local brand beers and spirits, house wines, Scheduled safari activities including game drives, Guided nature walks (1 hour) subject to availability, Tea and coffee, Refreshments on game drives, Laundry, Emergency medical evacuation insurance.
Zuka Lodge:
With just four bush cottages tucked into the lush and densely wooded hills, Zuka Lodge is the perfect safari destination for larger travelling groups of up to eight. It is an exclusive-use lodge – a home away from home – allowing guests the luxury of a tailor made safari experience. Groups are provided with a private host/ranger, tracker, butler, chef, and private safari vehicle.
In a simple blend of textures and cool colours, the lodge offers sophistication and luxury. The guest area includes an interactive kitchen, indoor sitting and dining area, an intimate library with internet connection and television, swimming pool, and viewing deck.
Zuka Lodge cottages are placed 15m apart, all overlooking a waterhole rich with birdlife, and where an abundance of wild game regularly gather to drink. Each cottage includes a luxurious and spacious en-suite bathroom with circular stone bath chamber, double shower and twin hand basins. Private verandas are equipped with comfy lounging chairs, perfect for an afternoon siesta.
As a private lodge with a dedicated game ranger and chef, guests have the luxury of setting their own schedule. Game drives can be as frequent or as long as desired, and guests are welcome to request their favourite dishes and participate in the preparation if they so choose.
Rates Zuka Lodge from R5 800 per person per night sharing.
Rates include:
Luxury safari lodge cottage, Private veranda, Luxurious en-suite bathroom, Dedicated safari vehicle, Dedicated ranger, tracker, butler and chef, Transfers to and from the airstrip, Three meals daily, Soft drinks, local brand beers and spirits, house wines, Game drives and guided walking safaris, Tea and coffee, Refreshments on game drives, Laundry, Emergency medical evacuation insurance, television, internet, pool and viewing deck (in common guest areas).
Rates Zuka Lodge Villa from R17 175 per villa per night (up to 4 guests).
Rates include:
Luxury safari lodge cottage, Private veranda, Luxurious en-suite bathroom, Dedicated safari vehicle, Dedicated ranger, tracker, butler and chef, Transfers to and from the airstrip, Three meals daily, Soft drinks, local brand beers and spirits, house wines, Game drives and guided walking safaris, Tea and coffee, Refreshments on game drives, laundry.
*Images courtesy of &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve.
