Phinda Forest Lodge

They say that people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones and that is certainly true at Phinda Forest Lodge! 

Our designers have created a calming atmosphere of Zulu Zen. And there’s no need to worry about the privacy of your retreat - in spite of the floor to ceiling glass walls, the towering torchwood trees and fertile forest floor that surround your suite ensure a sense of seclusion.

Set in rare and beautiful sand forest, the glass walls of Phinda Forest Lodge offer a sweeping view of one of the most unique ecosystems on the planet. Phinda Forest Lodge is one of the world’s first eco-designed luxury lodges. Floor to ceiling windows invite the forest in but the dense canopy provides privacy.The dainty forms of dwarf forest antelope dart among and below the suites, raised on stilts to float between the sandy forest floor and the leafy canopy above. Waking up to rustling forest sounds and bird song, surrounded by delicate leaf-filtered light, a pervading sense of peace and calm will set the tone for your entire day."

At the heart of &Beyond Phinda Forest lodge lies a sparkling rim-flow swimming pool, as well as expansive decks in a spacious seating area, which look out onto panoramic views of an open meadow where animals frequently graze.
Daytime meals on the open air dining deck bring about their own distractions, as monkeys frolic in the branches and an ever-changing assortment of wildlife grazes on the open plain in the distance.

In the evenings, when warm firelight welcomes you to the traditional African boma, wide-eyed bush babies watch inquisitively from the dense foliage above as you in indulge in a mouth-watering, lantern-lit feast beneath a canvas of stars.

Suites (16 rooms)
Air-conditioned glass suites built on stilts and appear to float between the rare Sand Forest foor and the towering torchwood trees. The suites are situated to ensure absolute privacy and each suite has a personal bar on their private veranda.

Game Drives (included)
Enjoy early morning and late afternoon game drives that continue after nightfall. andBeyond’s professionally trained guides will ask you about your favourite wildlife and will do their best to ensure that your preferences are met, whether it is tracking a particular species or spending more time enjoying each sighting and getting to know the habits of the animals. They will also tell you about the vegetation of the region and will explain the behaviour of the animals that you come across. In some cases, the guides will be able to identify individual animals and let you know about their history and habits.

andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve is renowned for its exceptional sightings of the elusive cheetah and the rare black rhino, as well as the Big Five. There is also a number of resident lion prides and rangers will do their best to provide you with an exceptional sighting of all of these animals.

Interpretive Nature Walks and Big Game Viewing Walk (included)
Accompanied by your ranger, enjoy an interpretive nature walk, around the lodge, where you learn more about the intricacies of the African bush, from discovering fascinating flora and reading animal tracks with your guide to meeting smaller wildlife up-close. Experience the thrill of tracking animals on foot, accompanied by an armed specialist ranger and tracker team. Engage all your sense as you discover a world where each sound, scent and bent blade of grass has a meaning.

Maputaland Beach Adventure (additional cost)
The vast sandy beaches of the Maputaland coastline provide a beautiful setting for a half-day beach outing. Soak up the sun, splash in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, relax with a good book, play beach games, take leisurely walks along the shoreline or snorkel alongside Jesser Point, a protected marine reserve.

Indian Ocean Scuba Safari (additional cost)
Recognised as one of the top ten dive sites in the world, Sodwana Bay offers an abundance of fish and marine life throughout the year. The gullies, ledges and pinnacles of the coral reef are home to more than 1 200 fascinating fish species.

Black Rhino Tracking On Foot (additional cost)
Slip on a pair of walking shoes and spend the morning with an expert ranger and tracker to find the rare and endangered black rhino on foot. Follow rhino tracks, recognise rhino middens and scratching posts, and read the signs of the bush in search of your quarry.

Turtle Nesting Adventure (additional cost)
For four months during the southern hemisphere summer, the enormous leatherback and loggerhead turtles emerge from the Indian Ocean at Sodwana Bay to lay their precious eggs in the sand. As the moon rises over the ocean, excitement grows as you drive along the deserted coastline in search of fresh turtle tracks that emerge from the ocean and travel along the beach in search of a suitable nesting site. Watch as the female turtle digs her nest and lays her clutch of up to a hundred eggs.
SEASONAL: Available November to February.

Zulu Village Tour (additional cost)
Visit a Zulu community just outside andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve and interact with the friendly Zulu people. An expert andBeyond guide will escort you through the community and share interesting insight into the Zulu culture and its fascinating customs, beliefs and traditions. You will be invited into a traditional homestead and given the rare opportunity to witness the daily routines and lifestyle of a rural Zulu family. Learn about the family structures, how the homes are built, why cattle are so highly revered, and much more. Later, you will spend time with the highly respected local sangoma (witch doctor/traditional healer) who will explain the wonders of Zulu ancestry and their spiritual beliefs. The adventure ends with a quick stop at the Mbhedula Craft Market, where the beautiful handiwork of 43 Zulu crafters is showcased. It’s a great place to find that perfect souvenir of your time spent with the Zulu people.

Specialist Walking Safari (additional cost)
For those looking for an active thrill beyond the excitement of Big Five sightings on a game drive vehicle, andBeyond’s Specialist Walking Safaris offer an opportunity to connect with the African bush, interacting with all its inhabitants, from largest to smallest. Embark on a full day adventure in your private vehicle where your feet tread in the tracks of zebra and buffalo, your nostrils fill with the scent of crushed wild grasses as you push through the bush and all six senses re-awaken as Africa touches you and you touch Africa.

Photographic Safari (additional cost)
Photographic enthusiasts, from beginners to advanced, can now capture the wondrous landscapes and magical creatures of andBeyond’s Phinda Private Game Reserves, by taking advantage of a fully-equipped photographic safari vehicle. The vehicle has been fitted with state-of-the-art camera mounts and cater for a maximum of four guests, ensuring exclusivity during your safari experience.

Guests can choose from the following two options:
1. Specialist Photographic Safari
• Have an expert photographic guide accompany you. Our expert guides will use their extensive experience in wildlife, birding and landscape photography to help you get the shot of a lifetime!
• A maximum of four guests.

2. Photographic Safari Vehicle
• Book the photographic safari vehicle only – maximum of four guests.
• Photographic enthusiasts will be driven and guided by an andBeyond safari guide.

A Night Under the Stars (additional cost)
Spend the night sleeping directly beneath the stars in the heart of the bush on this thrilling overnight adventure. As the sun sets at the end of your afternoon game drive, you will arrive at a beautiful clearing in the midst of the bush, where com¬fortable beds with warm duvets and blankets, as well as billowing mosquito nets, are set up for you. Pull your chair up to the blazing campfire and toast the sunset as darkness deepens. Enjoy a delicious meal prepared on the open fire and fall asleep in utter tranquility, surrounded by Africa’s night sounds and kept safe by an armed guard.

Ocean safari (additional cost)
Whilst enjoying the exceptional Big Five andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, why not treat yourself to an Ocean Safari that offers a wonderful opportunity to encounter some of South Africa’s beautiful marine life. This exciting adventure, aboard an inflatable vessel and in the company of a certified dive master, offers the prospect of encountering and swimming with wild dolphins, snorkelling amidst flourishing reefs and the chance to view humpback and southern right whales (seasonal).

Elephant Conservation Experience (additional cost)
Be among four groups, of up to eight guests each, who will have the once in a lifetime opportunity to participate in andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve’s elephant conservation project. Here, you will have the opportunity to witness an elephant darting, and assist in the changing of the sleeping pachyderm’s radio collar. Four of the elephant collars utilised in Phinda’s research programme are in need of replacing and guests are being invited to participate in this extraordinary experience. Guests will be required to spend a minimum of three nights at andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve and the exact dates during your stay will be dependent on the availability of the veterinarian and helicopter pilot.

Private Vehicle (additional cost)
With a dedicated game ranger and tracker, as well as a private game drive vehicle, guests have the luxury of tailor-making their own safari experience; choosing their own game drive times and spending as much time as they want at sightings.

Rhino Conservation Experience (additional cost)
Enjoy a once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with a rhino at andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve while assisting in the conservation of this rare species. This adventure allows guests to witness the capture and darting of a rhino and assist the veterinary team in notching the sleeping animals ear for research and security monitoring. Ear notches, as well as microchips placed in the horn, enable researchers to correctly identify different rhino on the reserve. Groups of up to eight guests each (sharing the same vehicle) can participate in the entire process, from locating and darting the rhino by helicopter to the never to be repeated opportunity to touch the anaesthetised giant during the notching procedure. Guests will need to spend a minimum of three nights at andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve.

WILDchild programme
andBeyond’s WILDchild programme, designed especially for children visiting our safari lodges and camps in Africa, is filled with fun, interactive activities that offer opportunities to learn and discover new experiences and cultures. Deeply rooted in the love for the African bush, it not only creates a series of unforgettable moments for the whole family but forges strong bonds between our young guests, our planet and its people.

Massage: A variety to choose from (additional cost)
You are required to create a personal affirmation to reclaim an unconditional acceptance and love for yourself and reconnect with your soul to release all negative energy from deep within.  There are a variety of massage options to choose from which can be decided at the time of service.

Airlink operates daily scheduled flights directly from Johannesburg or Cape Town to Phinda Private Game Reserve‘s private airstrip. This convenient network of flights connects Phinda to many of Southern Africa’s iconic destinations including the Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sand, Victoria Falls, Mozambique, Vilanculos and Livingstone.

&Beyond guests flying via Airlink on this route have complimentary access to the VIP lounge at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport in Nelspruit during their layovers to and from Phinda. This allows our guests all the creature comforts of home including a place to refresh and revitalize using the Executive Lounge shower facility. It also includes complimentary snacks and select beverages, VIP concierge service, complimentary newspapers, magazines, Wi-Fi, as well as access to premium beers wines and spirits, hot meals to orders and even private meeting rooms.
 

Scheduled domestic flights are available from Johannesburg to Durban International Airport or Richards Bay Airport. A seven-hour drive from Johannesburg on good roads in a two-wheel drive vehicle Three and a half-hour drive from Durban on good roads in a two-wheel drive vehicle. Private charters from anywhere in South Africa can be arranged to &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve’s airstrip

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