Phinda Private Game Reserve
Face-to-face with lions and rhino after breakfast, up close to a Whale Shark or battling sailfish after lunch. That´s the Phinda experience, one of the most exciting safari destinations in Africa. Located between the azure waters of the Indian Ocean and the lush waterways of the World Heritage Greater Saint Lucia Wetland Park, Phinda´s 17 000 ha span seven unique ecosystems.

Nestled below the Lebombo Mountains of Northern KwaZulu-Natal, Phinda is a Zulu word meaning "the return". In one of the biggest reintroductions of game in Africa, Phinda was restocked with lion, rhino, buffalo, elephant, leopard, giraffe and other big game in an operation dubbed "phinda izilwane", return of the wild animals.

Game drives are only one aspect of the Phinda experience. There is little that can compete with our "Flight of the Fish Eagle" air safari - soaring over a bay where the diversity of species rivals Australia´s Great Barrier Reef. Or floating past pods of hippo in a canoe or river boat. Scuba diving, snorkelling and deep-sea fishing are just a hop away. And in the evenings, immerse yourself in the ancient culture of Southern Africa´s warrior tribe, the Zulu.

Accommodation at Phinda is unique. We offer four diverse lodges within one reserve. Forest, Vlei, Rock and Mountain Lodge. Phinda is not only a luxury destination, it is also a dynamic working model in wise land management and creative wildlife conservation.