Four thatched ensuite cottages cluster around a central guest area with an open, interactive kitchen, a large wooden dining table for friends and family, and a cosy fireplace for evening gatherings.
African hospitality means treating each guest as though your house were his own. At the sole-use Phinda Zuka Lodge we have taken this concept a step further, giving you your own private holiday home in Africa! With four bush cottages and a team of welcoming staff completely at your disposal, feel free to create your own African experience.
Everything you need is right within reach - your personal game ranger and game drive vehicle, an interactive kitchen with a dedicated chef, a butler to see to your daily needs, a comfortable library with Internet access and TV for the children, a sitting room with a fireplace for evening chats, your own swimming pool and even a private watering hole for your own exclusive wildlife encounters.
With no set timetable or routine, savour the wonders of the bush at your own pace and leisure.
- Prestigious local/international awards
- Unique Sand Forest
- Lodge built into rock face
- Conference centre at Mountain Lodge
- Seven different ecosystems
- Approximately 400 bird species
- "Big five" plus dolphin and turtles
- Marine diversity rivals Great Barrier Reef
- Twice daily game drives
- "Flight of the Fish Eagle" air safari
- Zulu Cultural Village visit
- A multitude of nearby African safari attractions and activities
Savour the luxury of choice at this relaxed lodge - choose an early morning game drive or sleep a little late. With a dedicated ranger and vehicle on standby, game drives are tailored just for you.
Your personal chef awaits in the interactive kitchen, so choose your own menu or opt to be surprised. Join in the cooking or give instructions and watch your favourite recipes take shape! Indulge in banter at the large dining table or enjoy an al fresco meal in the garden.
- Sole-use villa for groups of up to eight
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle, butler, chef, and ranger and tracker team, with the lodge's own watering hole thrown in for good measure
- Excellent Big Five game viewing, with exceptional sightings of the elusive cheetah and rare black rhino
Should you want a little privacy, each bush cottage has its own private sitting area and ensuite bathroom. At the end of the day, revel in the relaxation of an oversized bathtub set in a circular stone bath chamber.
Round off the evening with a nightcap in the generous sitting room overlooking the watering hole, where herds of antelope may be settling in for the night or an opportunistic owl may be making a meal of the insects attracted to the light shining on the water.
Morning Game Drive - As dawn breaks over the African bush, a gentle tap on your door will wake you to the delights of a new day. Your ranger will discuss what you hope to see that day over fragrant tea or coffee and morning biscuits or rusks.
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.
Breakfast - Return to your lodge for a delicious breakfast, with platters of fruit and cheese followed by a selection of hot breakfast dishes. Choose from eggs, oats, waffles or a number of other options.
Lunch - If you wish, you can walk off your breakfast near your lodge, accompanied by your ranger, who will share his insight into the smaller animals and vegetation in the area, before returning in time for lunch.
SAFARI ACTIVITIES AT PHINDA ZUKA LODGE SOUTH AFRICA
Twice-daily game-drives Enjoy exceptional Big Five game viewing in open 4x4 safari vehicles with experienced rangers and Zulu trackers.
Interpretive Bush Walks Learn more about the traditional uses and the legends surrounding indigenous trees and shrubs, as well as how to identify tracks and see rare birds on walks led by armed rangers and trackers.
Mzinene River Canoeing Catch sight of some of Phinda's incredible birdlife while paddling along the river - flanked by lush riverine forest with huge fever and sycamore fig trees in a sturdy canoe.
Mzinene Riverboat Cruise Watch a magnificent sunrise or sunset while enjoying a leisurely cruise along the Mzinene River in Phinda's riverboat. See some of the 200 or more water birds, as well as crocodiles and hippos lazing about.
White Rhino Tracking Set off with your professional armed ranger and tracker in a 4x4 safari vehicle, searching for fresh signs of white rhino activity. When tracks are found, experience the quiet thrill of tracking white rhino on foot.
Flight of the Fish Eagle Experience a breathtaking 60-minute flight over the diverse Maputoland wilderness of scenic pans, coastal lakes, bushveld, densely vegetated dunes and wildlife.
Scuba Safaris A 15-minute flight and short drive takes you to one of the top 10 dive sites in the world. Diving the reefs of Sodwana Bay allows you to experience a portrait of marine diversity, with approximately 1200 species of fish and spectacular coral formations. (Can be combined with Maputoland Beach Adventures)
Deep-sea Fishing Fly to Sodwana Bay "a fisherman's paradise" where a short drive takes you to your 25-foot sport fishing boat rigged for bill (marlin and sailfish), game (barracuda, yellowfin tuna and kingfish ) and shark fishing. Phinda supports "tag and release" procedures for deep-sea fishing.
Maputoland Beach Adventures A 15-minute flight and a short drive in a specially designed 4x4 beach vehicle takes you to the beautiful beaches of Sodwana Bay . Depending on the tides, you will be driven to a secluded spot where you can enjoy snorkeling, swimming, or simply sunning on the endless beach, as well as a delicious picnic.
Beach Horse Riding A 45-minute drive from Phinda takes you to the beach for an exhilarating one-hour ride followed by a scrumptious picnic snack. (Can be combined with Maputoland Beach Adventures)
False Bay Horse Riding Enjoy the unmatched delight of riding well-schooled horses through False Bay Nature Reserve. A 1.5 hour ride takes you through the rare Dry Sand Forest habitat and along the picturesque False Bay lakeside. After the ride, relax and enjoy a delightful picnic snack while the horses rest at the water's edge.
Night Turtle Drives A 45-minute drive from Phinda takes you to meet your beach ranger who will show you the wonders of the beach at night. In season, loggerhead turtles and gigantic leatherback turtles make the strenuous trail up the beach to lay their eggs - a humbling experience. Enjoy a delicious surfside supper. Isikolethu
("Our Culture") Community Experience Experience the wonders and diversity of the Zulu culture while exploring the Mduku, Mnqobokazi and Nibela rural communities surrounding the Reserve. Guests will depart after breakfast at 10h00, enjoying visits to Macebo crèche, the Sangoma (witch doctor), Ngubane Homestead and Mdluli Ancestral Home to name a few. After an action-packed morning, guests will return to Phinda in time for a late lunch and their afternoon game-drive.