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Write a User ReviewMuch more than just a superb Big Five reserve
This famous private reserve reserve encompasses a supremely rich variety of habitats including vivid subtropical woodlands, grasslands, mountains and wetlands, and it lies close to the Indian Ocean coast, making it every bit as interesting to the tree and plant enthusiast in me as to the wildlife enthusiast. Another feature which, to me, makes Phinda stand out is the fact that it’s a great place to see cheetahs and rare antelopes such as nyalas and red duikers.
It’s also a tremendous bonus that it’s owned and managed by &Beyond, a company that is wholeheartedly committed to sustainable tourism and community responsibility.
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Its lodges, though pricey and, in the case of Rock Lodge, a little eccentric (its “hacienda-style” rooms remind me a bit of children’s sandcastles), are comfortable and sympathetic to the environment, and there’s a host of activities on offer.
Big Five viewing in Zululand
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here, such as African broadbill, Narina trogon, Neergard’s sunbird and green twinspot pink-throated twinspot. Birders keen to make the most of this opportunity should book into Forest Lodge. All these species can be seen along the network of footpaths that connect the rooms to the main dining area.Big cat country
KwaZulu-Natal’s top spot for game viewing is without a doubt Phinda Private Game Reserve. For a relatively small park it harbours a huge diversity of wildlife and sightings are virtually guaranteed. It’s also one of the best places to see Africa’s big cats. Lion and leopard are plentiful and thanks to the careful reintroduction of cheetah into the area after 50 years of absence, you can now watch these magnificent cats play and hunt in the wild. During my last trip I had an incredible up-close night encounter with a leopard and the next day spied a cheetah hiding with her cubs in the long grass. What an amazing experience! But it’s not just the cats that make Phinda so special. Herds of elephants, buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest, giraffe and zebra roam the reserve along with thousands of antelope, black and white rhinos and hippos.
Phinda Game Reserve: From Big Cats to Tiny Antelopes
The quality of guiding at Phinda is exceptional. Guides are knowledgeable, passionate and skilled at finding both the large mammals and the smaller, often-overlooked species. Bird enthusiasts are also well catered for, as the diverse habitats – from grasslands to wetlands and rare sand forest – attract a wide variety of species.
Phinda offers six independently operated &Beyond lodges, each with its own unique style and setting. All provide
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the highest standard of service, gourmet meals and comfortable accommodations. My personal favorite is Forest Lodge, nestled in a rare sand forest. This intimate lodge feels secluded and special, and it is home to unusual wildlife, including the diminutive suni antelope darting through the undergrowth. Birdlife is abundant here, with many rare and interesting species to spot for dedicated birders.Wildlife Wonderland
The exclusive 23,000 hectare Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal is the setting for one of South Africa’s finest wildlife-viewing experiences. What the reserve lacks in terms of true wilderness appeal is more than compensated for by its reliable and diverse wildlife sightings and quality nature-guiding experience.
Home to all of the Big Five (as well as the endangered black rhino and cheetah), quality wildlife viewing is all but guaranteed at Phinda, while the professional &Beyond guides enhance the interpretive safari experience with their vast bush knowledge and enthusiasm for the natural environment.
Comprising woodland, grassland, wetland and forest, interspersed with mountain ranges, river courses, marshes and pans, Phinda is a small but scenically diverse wildlife sanctuary and birding hot spot (415 bird species have been recorded to date) that offers a genuinely luxurious bush escape to safari goers looking to notch up some quality wildlife encounters without having to sacrifice on any of their creature comforts.
Lush and Green
Things didn’t end well for the poor impala, and as the ‘Circle of Life’ Lion King movie song played through my mind, the diminutive antelope took its last breath.
For the rest of that morning, we watched this beautiful cat, and her three little cubs, dine heartily. I felt like I was in a David Attenborough documentary, with a front-row seat.
Phinda is a privately owned nature reserve in KZN, situated in the lush green bush that typifies this province of South Africa. Some might bemoan the restricted views that the tropical vegetation can cause, but the guides who work out of the six lodges on the reserve all know exactly where to find all the most exciting creatures.
The Big Five are pretty much guaranteed, but you will also see plenty of other animals, including the typically hard-to-find
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pangolin if you sign up for one of their ‘Pangolin Conservation Experiences’.Walking with a researcher into the bush, tracking these weird and wonderful scaly creatures, was definitely a highlight for me.