About this hotel
General information
Phinda Forest Lodge sits not on the edge of the forest but inside it: a dry sand forest, one of Africa’s rarest habitats, surviving only in small pockets across northern KwaZulu-Natal and southern Mozambique. Its glass suites stand on stilts between the trees, and not a single tree was felled to build them, so the forest closes in around every pavilion. Under the dense canopy live the tiny suni and red duiker antelope, while birdsong drifts down from the upper storeys all day.
There are 15 suites and one Family Suite, for up to 34 guests. Interiors pair a Zen-like simplicity with Zulu craft: natural textures, weaving and handmade pieces. Around the lodge lies Phinda Private Game Reserve, 29,866 hectares created in 1991 from worn-out farmland that has since been returned to the wild; Phinda means “the return” in Zulu. The Big Five are all here, though the reserve is best known for its cheetah and black rhino.
Location
The lodge is tucked into the sand forest of Phinda Private Game Reserve in Zululand, northern KwaZulu-Natal, with its pool and deck facing an open vlei, or seasonal marsh. Federal Air runs daily scheduled flights to the reserve’s airstrip from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, which Airlink serves daily from Johannesburg, and private charters can fly in from anywhere in South Africa; transfers between the airstrip and the lodge are included. Alternatively, fly to Richards Bay for a scheduled road transfer of about two hours, or to Durban for one of about three and a half; the drive from Johannesburg takes around seven hours.
Spa
The lodge’s small wellness spa works with natural Healing Earth products; its signature Quiet Mind Journey suits the hours after a morning game drive. Treatments are charged separately.
Sports & leisure
Game drives in open vehicles, with no more than six guests in each, set out twice a day, early in the morning and late in the afternoon, carrying on after dark; one-hour guided nature walks and a visit to community projects around the reserve are also included. The lodge has a well-equipped gym with treadmills, kettlebells and yoga mats, open from sunrise to sunset. At additional cost the reserve offers:
- black rhino tracking on foot, big game walks and specialist walking safaris;
- birding safaris (more than 400 species are recorded at Phinda), photographic safaris with an equipped vehicle and private drives with a dedicated guide;
- hands-on conservation experiences with rhino, pangolin and elephant;
- e-bike rides through the sand forest on four routes of 5–22 km (from 12 years) and boat trips on the Mzinene River;
- a night’s sleepout under the stars;
- ocean safaris for dolphins and, in season, humpback whales, scuba diving on the Sodwana Bay reefs, a half-day on the Maputaland beaches and seasonal night outings to see leatherback and loggerhead turtles nesting;
- visits to a Zulu village.
The lodge hosts weddings and blessings, and has a Safari Shop of Zulu handicrafts and an Ardmore gallery of ceramics and textiles.
For children
Children aged 3–12 join the WILDchild programme, included in the stay: each receives a backpack of age-appropriate gifts, and guides and lodge staff run seasonal activities such as bark rubbing, bug collecting, frog safaris and baking with the chef. There are children’s menus, and childminding is available at extra cost.
Restaurants & bars
The lodge’s centrepiece is a firepit woven from invasive wattle in the shape of a weaver bird’s nest, where guests gather for drinks before dinner with views across the reserve. Beyond it:
- the bar — a 6 m faceted counter with Zulu-inspired woven stools and a cocktail of the day;
- an interactive kitchen where meals are prepared in full view;
- the boma — a traditional open-air enclosure for pan-African dinners around the fire after the evening drive;
- the lodge deck — for quieter breakfasts, lunches and dinners;
- a wine cellar of South African and international labels, with daily pairings arranged through the butler;
- lantern-lit bush dinners in a secluded corner of the reserve, weather permitting.
Butler service and private dining are available, and kosher and halal meals can be prepared at extra cost with at least four weeks’ notice. Three meals a day, soft drinks, house wines, local spirits and beers are included in the stay.
Swimming
A large rim-flow pool and sundeck look out over an open vlei where animals often come to graze. The suites have no private pools.
Rooms
Fifteen glass suites and a two-bedroom Family Suite stand on stilts about 15 m apart, reached by raised walkways through the trees, with floor-to-ceiling glass that brings the forest indoors.
Air conditioning and heating, ceiling fans, a stocked personal bar and coffee station, a bath, a separate WC, telephone, safe, hairdryer, Wi-Fi and a deck with a daybed.
Suite
A glass pavilion on stilts among the trees, with a spacious bedroom (double, or twin beds within one frame), a separate dressing area, a bathroom with a forest-view bath and an indoor shower whose door opens to the outside, and a deck with a daybed. Sleeps up to two.
Family Suite
Two interleading suites joined by a passage with a door: the main one has a king-size bed, a sitting area, a bathroom with a freestanding bath and a deck with a daybed; the children’s suite has a king-size bed that converts to twins and its own bathroom with a shower. Sleeps two adults and two children.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.