Why Phinda | Phinda game reserve, South Africa

PHINDA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE, SO MUCH MORE THAN THE BIG FIVE

&Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve is a premier Big Five safari destination situated in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A pioneer in conservation, Phinda’s pristine wilderness was restored and restocked with wildlife and the Reserve has earned itself numerous prestigious awards in conservation and ecotourism. With world-class scuba diving and a World Heritage Site nearby, this is a remarkable safari destination with the perfect mix of beach and bush.

At Phinda, the days are designed to thrill you with intimate wildlife encounters and the nights to delight you with the indulgence and romance of Africa.

Morning Game Drive - As dawn breaks over the African bush, a gentle tap on your door will wake you to the delights of a new day. Your ranger will discuss what you hope to see that day over fragrant tea or coffee and morning biscuits or rusks. Phinda is renowned for its exceptional sightings of the elusive cheetah and the rare black rhino. There is also a number of resident lion prides and rangers will do their best to provides guests with a glimpse of all of these animals.
Breakfast - Return to your lodge for a delicious breakfast, with platters of fruit and cheese followed by a selection of hot breakfast dishes. Choose from eggs, oats, waffles or a number of other options.
Lunch - If you wish, you can walk off your breakfast on a short walk near your lodge, accompanied by your ranger, who will share his insight into the smaller animals and vegetation in the area, before returning in time for lunch.
Afternoon Tea - Cool off with a refreshing dip in the pool, indulge in an afternoon siesta or simply watch the wildlife from your private veranda. Over a late afternoon tea, your ranger will discuss what you hope to see during the afternoon game drive.
Evening Game Drive - This game begins in the late afternoon and lasts until after dark, when spotlights are used for a glimpse into the nocturnal bush life. Listen to lions roar in the dark or admire the small nocturnal animals. Enjoy sundowners in a scenic location as the sun slowly sinks beneath the horizon. If you prefer, you may be able to go on a boat cruise or canoe down the Mzinene River, watching the wildlife come down to drink.
Dinner - A mouthwatering dinner is waiting for you at your lodge's boma or in a surprising bush location.

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED AT PHINDA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

More information about the Mzinene River in Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Nature walk at Ngala Private Game Reserve

At Phinda, it is our passion to share our knowledge and understanding of the bush and its inhabitants with our guests. How we do this is up to you - choose whether you prefer to do your game viewing from the comfort of a safari vehicle, close up on foot or even from a boat or canoe. Our highly trained rangers and trackers will do their utmost to delight guests with a selection of the following activities:

Twice daily game drives - conducted in an open air safari vehicle in the early morning and late afternoon / evening and accompanied by an armed ranger and Zulu tracker

Interpretive bush walks - a leisurely walk within easy reach of your lodge to take in the sights, smells and sounds of the African bush, accompanied by an armed ranger

Mzinene River canoeing - coast smoothly down the Mzinene River in a sturdy canoe disturbed only by the dipping of your oars and the occasional splash of a water bird. Take in the riverine vegetation and the local bird life, and, if you’re lucky, your quiet approach might earn you a choice wildlife sighting as the animals come down to drink

Mzinene River boat cruise - glide down the river at sunrise or sunset, watching the smaller denizens of the bush perform their morning or evening rituals. Listen to birdsong chiming from the surrounding trees and watch the lazy splashes of hippo or crocodile as they wake from their slumber or settle down at the end of a busy day

Flight of the Fish Eagle Maputoland Adventure near Phinda Private Game Reserve

From $ 243 Per Person Sharing

This hour-long scenic flight provides a bird's-eye view of Phinda's varying habitats. Watch mountains fade into rivers, marshland give way to savanna and forest roll gently towards the coastal dunes. Spot the massive grey bulk of elephant and the black silhouettes of whales and dolphins in the waters of the Indian Ocean.

From $ 60 Per Person

Necessary for those who need a refresher course or who haven't gone diving in a little while. Take part in this fantastic Scuba Refresher course before enjoying a spectacular diving session.

Scuba Diving Adventure Activity at Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa

From $ 80 Per Person, Per Dive

Fancy another spectacular diving session? Enjoy the wonders of the ocean with an additional diving session.

From $ 846 Per Day

Learn the art of tracking wildlife on foot in the wilderness, accompanied throughout by an armed specialist ranger and tracker team in a private open 4x4 safari vehicle. Exceptional comfort, service and delicious Pan African cuisine is also enjoyed. Subject to availability of specialist ranger and tracker.

From $ 846 Per Safari

The leopard training, guiding, tracking and research done at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, has been the most conclusive study of these predators to date. You will be able to experience a behind the scenes look into the project on a three-day leopard research specialist safari. Look for leopards with an experienced specialist ranger and telemetry system as part of the study.

From $ 846 Per Safari

Set out in a private 4x4 safari vehicle with a specialist birding ranger to enjoy the varied bird species found in Phinda Private Game Reserve. With over 480 bird species in Maputaland, this safari is led by &Beyond expert birding guides and is the ultimate experience for avid birders.

From $ 846 Per Safari

This safari is for families wishing to introduce their children to the marvels of the wild. This tailormade family adventure is both educational and fun-filled and includes a private safari vehicle as well as a dedicated ranger specialising in guiding trips with children. The ranger will spend time with you on arrival, and plan a thrilling day according to your children's ages and interests.

From $ 2,539 Per Safari

If you want to learn game ranging skills from &Beyond's top rangers, this 4-day/3-night adventure is for you. Learn to track rhino through the bush, drive a 4x4 safari vehicle, do rifle skills training in a remote riverbed and recognise the sounds of the wild.

From $ 8,793 Per safari

Discover &Beyond Phinda's seven distinct habitats with one of Phinda's expert guides. Walk with rhino, track leopard and cheetah. Soar over Zululand and dive the Indian Ocean. Sleep out under the stars and visit local communities. A world of adventure awaits at Phinda. This safari is a specialist safari.

From $ 846 Per Day

Enjoy this private, luxury tailormade specialist walking safaris available for a maximum of six guests at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve. Choose how far and how often you want to walk with an expertly trained and qualified &Beyond guide. Subject to availability of specialist ranger and tracker.

Black rhino at Kwandwe Private Game Reserve

From $ 41 Per Person Sharing

For a close encounter of a rather unusual kind, dispense with your early morning game drive and spend a morning tracking one of Phinda’s rarer and larger mammals on foot. Learn how to follow rhino tracks, and follow the signs of the trees and grasses searching for rhino in the company of a specialist ranger and tracker team.

Horse Riding in the bush with Phinda Adventures

From $ 184 Per Person Sharing

Enjoy a horse riding trail on sleepy rural roads over the Hluhluwe floodplains. With only the sound of your horse's hooves to distract you listen to your guide as he provides interesting information about the area's ecology, birds, trees and culture.

From $ 289 Per Person Sharing

The breeding habits of the leatherhead and loggerback turtles are one of nature's most enduring secrets. From the end of November to the middle of January a 45-minute drive from Phinda lie the silvery sands where you can watch the wonders of the beach as gigantic turtles make their strenuous way up the beach to lay their eggs.

Zulu communities surrounding Phinda Private Game Reserve

From $ 131 Minimum 2, Maximum 28 Guests

Witness ancient tradition mix with modern life in the Zulu communities surrounding Phinda. Visit a traditional homestead for a glimpse of daily life at the Mduli ancestral home. Watch the integration of tradition with modern medicine as you encounter a sangoma, or witch doctor, and visit an ancestral home or watch children at play at a modern creche. This activity is a Phinda Adventure.

Beach Romance at Phinda Private Game Reserve

From $ 301 Per Person, Travel By Road

Take in the unspoilt beaches of Maputaland at leisure. Only a 20-minute flight from Phinda, followed by a 10-minute drive, revel in the golden sands of Sodwana Bay and spend a day swimming, snorkelling or simply soaking up the beach and sun. Sodwana Bay boasts some of the world's best dive sites, with more than 1 200 species of fish.

From $ 330 Maximum 8 Guests

Diving the reefs of Sodwana Bay allows you the opportunity to experience a portrait of marine diversity, with approximately 1200 species of fish and spectacular coral formations. A PADI qualification is a must for this activity.