Phinda Private Game Reserve

Mountain Lodge

With wraparound views of the bushveld below, punctuated by the undulating profile of the Umbombo mountain range, Mountain Lodge is a dramatic and exciting safari destination. Twenty five spacious suites crest the mountain, with raptor’s-eye view of the Reserve. Exchange stories of the day’s game viewing in the sitting room with its great vaulted ceiling and enormous fireplace, or birdwatch from the loungers on the pooldeck. Enjoy a delicious array of lunch dishes, or sample sumptuous Pan-African cuisine in the dramatic stone- and-reed boma with an umbrella of stars arching above.

Rock Lodge

Set into a cliff-face overlooking spectacular Leopard Rock, Rock Lodge is an architectural fascination combining Malian influences with pueblo panache. Six contoured stone and adobe suites are seemingly suspended over the deep valley below, with solid wooden shutters and doors opening onto a private plunge pool at eye level with the soaring eagles. Outdoor showers provide some of the most scenic al fresco bathing on the African continent, and private sitting areas are a comfortable vantage point for viewing the abundant birdlife in the trees surrounding the lodge, and the animals in the valley below.

At the intimate Rock Lodge, delicious meals are shared with fellow safari adventurers who rapidly becoming friends, and staff treat you like treasured members of their family.

Forest Lodge

The creation of Phinda Forest Lodge was an exemplary exercise in building eco-sensitive structures in the fragile ecology of the rare Dry Sand Forest. Hand-built by local artisans, the 16 stilted suites have a minimal footprint on the forest floor (not one tree was felled during construction) Inventively designed in what is often called “Zulu-Zen” style, the suites, illuminated at twilight, resemble exquisite Oriental jewel-boxes with African accents. Decorated in minimal style with maximum flair, they feature richly tactile fabrics. High-gloss wooden floors and colourful Zulu artifacts. Slate hand-basins, candles in matte-black pyramidal holders and fragrant joss sticks add to the ambience. Curl up in the hammock on your expansive private deck, and watch the graceful Nyala and nimble Duiker browsing in the foliage, while a Peachy-Yellow Forest Weaver calls from a tree growing through the wooden deck. Or soak in a sensuous bubble bath as you observe the drama of the bush unfolding in the forest framed by the floor-to-ceiling picture window.

Between thrilling game-drives, cool off in the sparkling rim-flow pool with its panoramic view of game-filled plains, as you idly wonder what sumptuous Pan – African fare will be served for dinner in the boma, illuminated by dozens of candles and lanterns and attended by friendly and hospitable Forest Lodge staff.

Vlei Lodge

Fringing Phinda’s unique vlei (wetland) system at the edge of the Sand Forest, Vlei Lodge is a study in intimacy and integration with the environment. Six elegant and exclusive thatched suites overlook the Vlei, where you’re likely to see herds of grazing antelope, Zebra and dazzling variety of birdlife. Relax in your private plunge pool and watch the drama of the wilderness unfold on your very doorstep as the primeval pulse of Africa provides the impetus for the daily cycle of the wild.

Savour delicious and innovative meals on the expansive viewing decks, or in a dramatic bush setting near the Lodge. When not enjoying an action-packed game-drive or guided nature walk, immerse yourself in one of the fascinating books on the region, which can be found in the guest areas. As the sun sets on another perfect bushveld day, sip a sherry while watching the stars appear in the Southern African skies.