About this hotel
General information
Phinda Rock is the most intimate lodge in Phinda Private Game Reserve: six stone suites built into a cliff face, so that they seem to hang above the valley below. The lodge takes no more than 12 guests, and because of its cliffside position children are welcome only from the age of 12, which keeps it quiet and well suited to couples, honeymoons and milestone trips.
Interiors set contoured stone, raw timber and honed granite against woven linen, hand-embroidered cotton, Zulu baskets, carved wooden cattle and mounted horns, drawing on the craft of Zululand. The reserve itself, 29,866 hectares across seven distinct habitats, was created in 1991 from former farmland that has since been returned to the wild; Phinda means “the return” in Zulu. The Big Five are all here, though Phinda is best known for its cheetah and black rhino, while the sand forest shelters the tiny suni and red duiker antelope.
Location
The lodge sits on a rock face above a valley in Phinda Private Game Reserve, in Zululand in northern KwaZulu-Natal. 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 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
There is no spa at the lodge itself: massages with natural Healing Earth products are given in the suites, and guests who want a full spa setting can visit the wellness spa at nearby Phinda Mountain Lodge.
Sports & leisure
Game drives in open vehicles 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. 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.
Every suite has a complimentary gym-in-a-basket with a yoga mat, and the lodge hosts weddings and blessings.
Restaurants & bars
French doors open from the guest area onto a long outdoor deck for morning coffee and meals in the open, and the rooftop terrace is set up for sundowners and dinner under the stars when the weather allows. There is a bar, butler service and the option of private dining, and on fine evenings bush dinners of pan-African dishes are laid out on the reserve. Three meals a day, soft drinks, house wines, local spirits and beers are included in the stay.
Swimming
There is no shared pool: each suite has its own plunge pool on the deck, looking out over the valley.
Rooms
Six identical stone suites of 72 m² stand about 10 m apart; solid wooden shutters and doors open onto a private deck and plunge pool, and four of the suites add an outdoor shower.
Air conditioning and heating, ceiling fans, a stocked personal bar and coffee station, a bath, a separate WC, telephone, safe, hairdryer and Wi-Fi.
Suite
A bedroom with a double or twin set-up (the twin beds share one frame), a lounge and a spacious bathroom with a bath, an indoor shower (plus an outdoor one in four suites) and a separate WC; the deck has a daybed and a private plunge pool facing the valley. Sleeps up to two.
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.