Phinda was once farmland and has been restored over decades into a Big Five reserve within the Munywana Conservancy. Cheetah cross the grassland, black rhino browse in the Tamboti thicket, and the reserve is a short drive from the beaches and coral reefs of the Indian Ocean. More than 400 bird species are recorded here.
The lodge has 16 standalone Suites of 117 square metres, each a retreat for two with an en-suite bathroom, indoor and outdoor showers and a plunge pool. Six Cottages of 65 square metres are semi-detached, with a veranda and a plunge pool. For families there are three interleading Family Cottages of 130 square metres, with a shared deck and a plunge pool, and one 250 square metre Family Suite with two bedrooms, a lounge and direct access to the main pool, which comes with a private vehicle, tracker and guide. Floor-to-ceiling glass and wide verandas face the bush.
Evenings end around a fire on the lodge deck or in the boma, with pan-African dishes. The lodge has a rim-flow swimming pool, a gym and an open-air massage sala that uses Healing Earth products, and a meeting room that seats twelve.
Twice-daily game drives leave in open 4x4 vehicles, and guided walks go out on foot. Guests can track black rhino on foot, help with rhino notching and watch turtles nest on nearby shores, and visit Zulu communities. The WILDchild programme runs supervised nature-based days for children, from bug collecting to baking with the chefs.
It suits families across several generations, and couples who want a plunge pool on a hill.
