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, snorkeling 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.
Phinda Forest Lodge
 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.
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.
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.
Phinda Mountain Lodge
 The
subtle combination of avant garde and ethnic décor at Phinda
Mountain Lodge is inspiring... but nothing surpasses the view of the
ash-blue Lebombo Mountains as they sweep down to the coastal plains.
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.
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.
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.
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.
 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.
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.
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