&Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge
The ideal family safari destination, offering uninterrupted mountain views
FAMILY FRIENDLY
Family cottages, family safaris, and fun, interactive activities for kids
SAFARI GAME DRIVES
Day and night safaris with expert guides in search of Big Five and other rare iconic wildlife encounters
BUSH WALKING ADVENTURES
Explore the African bush and it's quaint fauna and flora on foot with an experienced guide
IMPACT EXPERIENCES
Assist our conservation team with a scheduled rhino, elephant or pangolin research experience
COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES
Visit nearby Zulu communities and gain insight into their daily lives with Africa Foundation
Location:
Phinda Private Game Reserve is situated in the lush Zululand region of Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, intimately wedged between Mkuze Game Reserve and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (previously St Lucia Wetland Park), a World Heritage Site. The reserve is also situated in very close proximity to the unspoiled beaches and spectacular coral reefs of the Indian Ocean, offering an unmatched combination of bush and beach adventures at nearby Sodwana Bay.
Getting to Phinda:
- Airlink offers daily flights from Johannesburg to Nelspruit.
Federal Air offers daily scheduled flights directly from Nelspruit to Phinda Private Game Reserve. - Connect Phinda Private Game Reserve to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Ngala Private Game Reserve, Kirkman’s Kamp, northern Sabi Sand
Nature Reserve (Londolozi and Ulusaba) in South Africa or to Vilanculos in Mozambique and Livingstone in Zambia via Airlink. All flights route through either Johannesburg, Nelspruit, or Skukuza in South Africa, where layovers may vary. - Private charters from anywhere in South Africa can be arranged to Phinda Private Game Reserve’s airstrip
- It is seven-hour drive from Johannesburg on good roads in a two-wheel drive vehicle
- It is a three and a half-hour drive from Durban on good roads in a two-wheel drive vehicle
- Self-drive directions to Phinda Mountain Lodge can be downloaded at the bottom of this webpage.
LUXURIOUS SUITES
16 suites, 6 cottages (or 3 adjoined family cottages) and 1 family suite
OUTDOOR SHOWERS
All rooms feature refreshing alfresco showers
PRIVATE PLUNGE POOLS
Each room features a private plunge pool in addition to the lodge swimming pool
FAMILY SUITE & COTTAGES
1 Family Suite and 2 Family Cottages available with an interconnecting door and included private vehicle
FAMILY OPTIONS
Qualified childminders available. Fun interactive WILDchild programme
LAUNDRY INCLUDED
COMPLIMENTARY LAUNDRY SERVICE IS AVAILABLE SHOULD YOU NEED IT
SWAROVSKI BINOCULARS
State of the art Swarovski Companions, complimentary for the duration of your stay
SIGNATURE SAFARI SHOP
Features a wide range of authentic, handcrafted items sourced from local artisans
SPARKLING LODGE POOL
large rim-flow swimming pool overlooking the magnificent reserve
WIFI
AVAILABLE
Full WIFI coverage in all suites and guests areas throughout the lodge
FITNESS CENTRE
Fully equipped gym with state-of-the art equipment, with beautiful reserve views
WELLNESS TREATMENTS
Wellness center with range of massage treatments on offer
SUITE
2024: From ZAR 15,680 per person per night
COTTAGE
2024: From ZAR 14,350 per person per night
FAMILY COTTAGE
2024: From ZAR 52,500 per family per cottage
FAMILY SUITE
2024: From ZAR 62,720 per family suite per night
Welcome to Phinda Mountain Lodge
Perched on a hilltop, with wraparound views of the lush Lebombo foothills, Phinda Mountain Lodge is the ultimate family safari destination in Phinda Private Game Reserve.
The iconic &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve encompasses an impressive 29 866 ha (73 800 acres) of protected wildlife land in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Showcasing one of the continent’s finest game viewing experiences, the reserve is home to Africa’s Big Five, as well as 436 bird species.
Phinda Mountain Lodge features three room types, with 16 suites, six cottages (that can be turned into three adjoining family cottages), and one family suite. Natural light streams through the expansive glass windows of the suites and cottages, while private decks provide breathtaking views of natural beauty. Each accommodation option features an outdoor shower, well-stocked personal bars and private plunge pools.
In the main area, guests can swap safari stories around the inviting bar and enjoy meals in the interactive kitchen, complete with a pizza oven (ideal fun for the kids to create their own dinner). A traditional stone and reed boma is illuminated by dozens of candles, and lanterns, and provides the ultimate setting for al fresco dinners. A sparkling lodge rim flow pool follows the natural curves of the mountain, while a new state-of-the-art gym is ideal for fitness fanatics, and a massage sala is available for those wanting to indulge in tranquil treatments.
Choose from a range of exciting Phinda Adventures such as a specialist walking and tracking safaris, a sleepout under the stars, and other participative conservation experiences such rhino notching, elephant collaring or pangolin tagging. Also on offer outside of the reserve, within easy access of the reserve are Zulu village tours, Africa Foundation community visits, a Maputaland exploration, Maputaland beach trip, night turtle drives (seasonal), scuba safaris, or an incredible ocean safari that offers you a host of marine life sightings. Specialist safaris can be arranged in advance and focus on special interests such as birding, photographic, family and private safaris.
Why we love it
IMPRESSIVE GAME VIEWING
29 866 ha (73 800 acres) of private traversing across seven distinct habitats allows for a great diversity of landscapes and exclusive game viewing. Limited number of vehicles at sightings and sensitive off-roading practices affords close-up sightings of Big Five and other rare and iconic wildlife.
ICONIC WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
Phinda is home to a magnificent variety of wildlife, including the Big Five, but is best known for its large population of cheetah and black rhino. The sand forest is home to the shy suni and the rare red duiker, two tiny antelope that are seldom encountered elsewhere.
EXCITING FAMILY SAFARIS
Phinda Mountain is the ideal family lodge, with three family cottages, a Family Suite, and a dedicated WILDChild programme which is filled with fun, interactive activities that offer kids the opportunity to leave with treasured memories of the African bush.
LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES
A variety of incredible adventures are available, including twice-daily game drives, nature walks, conservation and community experiences, sleep outs, village tours, specialist safaris, as well as nearby ocean activities.
Rates & Offers
Tailormake your stay
Talk to one of our travel specialists to tailormake your stay to any of our destinations
Experience Phinda Mountain Lodge
Visiting Phinda Mountain Lodge allows access to a range of unique included and excluded experiences
Explore Phinda sightings
Our guides and guests' best safari moments
LEAVING OUR WORLD A BETTER PLACE
It was at Phinda that &Beyond’s Care of the Land, Wildlife and People impact vision
was tested and shaped. Here, 29 866 hectares of farming land was reclaimed for wildlife, including
790 hectares of critically endangered ancient sand forest. Cheetah, rhino and pangolin are actively
protected, with more than 30 years of pioneering wildlife victories behind us.
Along with Africa Foundation, the reserve works closely with neighbouring communities,
employing locally and investing in community education and welfare.
Sustainability practices are a daily priority and include the elimination of plastic bottles
and a focus on energy-saving initiatives.
Tailormade tours
Choose Phinda Mountain Lodge on one of these inspirational journeys
Care of the Land, Wildlife & People
&Beyond Phinda's impact in conservation & community
Frequently asked questions
Awards and acknowledgements
Feed your wanderlust
Travel inspiration from from &Beyond Connect
Download useful documents
Keep connected
Read more about Phinda
Phinda’s six unique luxury lodges
AS FEATURED ON
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