&Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge
A secluded, plantation-style, hideaway on the edge of a rare sand forest
INTIMATE SECLUDED LODGE
An intimate and charming lodge with just six suites on the edge of the rare sand forest
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 a 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 Vlei Lodge can be downloaded at the bottom of this webpage.
LUXURIOUS SUITES
Six air conditioned suites, each with a spacious bedroom, luxurious ensuite bathroom, and dressing room
PRIVATE LAP POOLS
EACH SUITE FEATURES A PRIVATE LAP POOL THAT OVERLOOKS A TRANQUIL WETLAND
OUTDOOR SHOWERS
ENJOY REFRESHING OUTDOOR SHOWERS WHILE WATCHING NEARBY WILDLIDE PASS THROUGH
FAMILY FRIENDLY
CHILDREN OF ALL AGES ARE WELCOME. OFFERS A WONDERFUL INTERACTIVE WILDCHILD PROGRAMME
SWAROVSKI BINOCULARS
STATE OF THE ART SWAROVSKI COMPANIONS, COMPLIMENTARY FOR THE DURATION OF YOUR STAY
WIFI AVAILABLE
FULL WIFI COVERAGE IN ALL SUITES AND GUESTS AREAS THROUGHOUT THE LODGE
FITNESS & WELLNESS
GYM-IN-A-BASKET AVAILABLE IN YOUR SUITE AS WELL AS IN-ROOM MASSAGE TREATMENTS
LAUNDRY INCLUDED
COMPLIMENTARY LAUNDRY SERVICE IS AVAILABLE SHOULD YOU NEED IT
SUITE
From ZAR 21,750 per person per night
Welcome to Phinda Vlei Lodge
Phinda Vlei Lodge is an intimate and romantic safari lodge, overlooking a unique vlei (wetland system) on the edge of Phinda Private Game Reserve’s rare sand forest.
Phinda Private Game Reserve showcases one of the continent’s finest Big Five game viewing experiences and displays a magnificent tapestry of seven unique landscapes across an impressive 29 866 ha (73 800 acres) of protected wildlife terrain. Guests at Phinda experience unforgettable interpretive game drives in open 4×4 safari vehicles, led by professionally trained &Beyond rangers and Zulu trackers, as well as a wide range of optional adventures in the bush and on the beach.
Phinda Vlei Lodge’s unique location offers ever-changing game viewing from the comfort of your suite. Set on the edge of a sand forest, and overlooking a vast grassy meadow, each of the six thatched suites ensure exclusivity and incredible wildlife sightings. The air-conditioned suites each feature a beautiful, plantation-style bedroom, with a luxuriously spacious ensuite bathroom and dressing room that effortlessly blends a sense of old-world luxury with quirky, contemporary features. The suite’s interiors showcase a mix of curated antiques and collectables combined with bold fabrics. Take advantage of a private lap pool and game viewing deck that overlooks lush plains and observe antelope and other curious wildlife grazing nearby, as well as a variety of birdlife. Unwind in the beautiful surrounds of the main guest area, which also includes a handsome library, as well as a fire pit setting, ideal for pre-dinner drinks.
Choose from a range of exciting Phinda Adventures such as a specialist walking and tracking safaris, a sleep out under the stars, and other participative conservation experiences such rhino notching or pangolin tagging. Also 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) ha 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 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.
INTIMATE AND PEACEFUL
Situated in the ideal location between two habitats, the forest and grasslands, this lodge consists of just six intimate suites. You can look forward to an incredibly secluded, quiet and peaceful African bush experience overlooking a magnificent landscape.
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 Vlei Lodge
Visiting Phinda Vlei 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 Vlei 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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