Northern KwaZulu-Natal Camps & Lodges
The province of KwaZulu-Natal is located on its eastern seaboard. The northern section is a remote region of many rivers which attract an exceptional number of birds and animals. There are few people here, making it an ideal safari location. The Phinda Private Game Reserve is one of the premiere safari destinations and an award-winning model of eco-tourism. Rocktail Bay Lodge offers an outstanding beach safari and is situated in a World Heritage Site.
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Situated in the lush Maputaland region bordering the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park - a World Heritage Site - Phinda has 45,711 acres of prime conservation land. Seven distinct habitats shelter an abundance of wildlife including Africa's Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, black and white rhino, buffalo) and over 380 bird species, while the marine diversity off the nearby coast of Sodwana is said to rival the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. This area is an example of successful land rehabilitation, wildlife restocking and the creation of eco-tourism opportunities. Today, Phinda is one of the most exciting safari destinations in Africa.
Guests enjoy interpretive bush walks, game-drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles led by experienced rangers and Zulu trackers, as well as canoeing, riverboat cruising. Optional activities and adventures in the Indian Ocean include scuba diving and deep-sea fishing. Air safaris are also offered. Phinda's seven splendid safari lodges offer sophistication and style in pristine African bush surrounds.
2010 – Ranked #2 in all of Africa & the Middle East in the “Best by Design” category of Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List of the World’s Best Places to Stay.
2009 –Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List of the World’s Best Places to Stay
2008 - World’s Saver Award for best in wildlife conservation; named one of the top 50 eco-lodges by National Geographic Adventure; a corporate award for making an exceptional contribution to the advancement of zoology in Southern Africa.
Phinda Forest Lodge
Phinda Private Reserve
Exquisite architectural design meets conservation in these luxurious hand-crafted suites. Set deep in the heart of a rare dry sand forest, the lodge comprises 16 private stilted suites which were hand-build and encased in glass. The "Zulu-Zen" decor combines nature with minimalist sensibility and Zulu artifacts. There is a sparkling rim-flow swimming pool, luxurious dining and sitting areas, and an expansive viewing deck with panoramic views of the game-filled plains. During the building of this lodge, not a single tree was uprooted. Phinda Forest is an exemplary exercise in building eco-sensitive structures with a light footprint.
Phinda Mountain Lodge
Phinda Private Reserve
The dramatic setting of this lodge offers wrap-around views of the spectacular Ubombo Mountains and the bushveld below. Each of the 25 private suites feature spacious en-suite bathrooms, sitting areas and spectacular viewing decks. Paved pathways lead down the mountainside from the main lodge areas to the guest suites which are a blend of avant-garde and ethnic design. This is a good family safari destination with a shaded swimming pool and African craft gallery. There is also a well-equipped conference room (maximum 70 guests).
Phinda Rock Lodge
Phinda Private Reserve
This safari lodge was built into a cliff-face overlooking the beautiful Leopard Rock. The six stone and adobe suites with en-suite bathrooms, private sitting areas, decks and plunge pools offer unrivaled views of the valley below. All rooms are air conditioned and three of the suites feature outdoor showers. This romantic lodge offers Pan-African cuisine served under the hand-wrought chandeliers on the deck or in the privacy of your suite.
Phinda Vlei Lodge
Phinda Private Reserve
Intimate and elegant, this exquisite lodge comprises six thatched suites with en-suite bathrooms, dressing rooms, private plunge pools and decks which overlook the vlei (wetland system) where you're likely to observe herds of grazing antelope, zebra and a dazzling variety of bird life. Each suite decorated in a subtle blend of North and West African styles with hints of Balinese influences. The atmosphere is exclusive and personal, a mixture of understated sophistication and sheer luxury.
Phinda Zuka Lodge
Phinda Private Reserve 
Phinda Zuka Lodge is reserved for exclusive use making it perfect for family gatherings and special occasions for groups of up to eight people. There are just four thatched thatched Zululand bush cottages with verandas overlooking a busy waterhole where where a diversity of wildlife is regularly seen. Sitting areas feature built-in sofas which double as beds for children 5 years and younger. Bedrooms have air-conditioning and fans and are en-suite, with a circular stone bath chamber, double showers, separate toilet and twin hand basins. Groups can tailor their activities each day. There is a private ranger/host, tracker, butler and chef. Lodge area includes an interactive café-style kitchen, indoor lounge and dining areas, an intimate library with internet access and a swimming pool.
The Homestead
Phinda Private Reserve
This sole-use, safari villa (formerly Getty House) re-opened in August, 2009. The Homestead is an ideal place for families or small groups of up to eight persons traveling together. This exclusive private residence overlooks an extinct volcano now covered in lush green vegetation and ringed by gently rolling hills. An interactive kitchen allows for intimate, informal dining, and a rim-flow infinity pool provides for respite from the heat of the day. Four spacious and luxurious suites feature unique sliding panel windows with sweeping views of the surrounding bushveld. Natural fibers and textures characterize the elegant interiors. The Homestead comes complete with private ranger/host, tracker, butler and chef, as well as the ability to tailor your daily activities.
Rocktail Bay Lodge
Maputaland Coastal Forest Reserve
Rocktail Bay Lodge is tucked away just inland from the warm Indian Ocean and some of the most incredible beaches in South Africa. The entire region has been declared a World Heritage Site. Outside Magazine voted Rocktail Bay's beach as one of the best in the world! Here the waves meet endless and diverse beaches where it is possible to walk for hours without meeting another soul or seeing a building. Just offshore is the Maputaland Marine Reserve, which offers additional sanctuary for wildlife, engendering extraordinary diving and snorkeling with exciting encounters with huge shoals of fish, dolphins and whales.
There are 11 tree-house chalets each with its own balcony, an en-suite bathroom with flush toilet and hot and cold running water and an additional outdoor shower in the forest. The main area of the lodge has an inviting lounge, pub and pool. Wholesome home-cooked meals are enjoyed either in the main dining room, at the poolside or outdoors under a huge Natal mahogany tree. This is ideal for people who want to truly relax and unwind on one of the best coastlines anywhere in the world. There is a fully-accredited dive-center just south of camp for those interested in exploring the pristine coral reefs.
Other activities include fly-fishing, snorkeling, swimming, horse riding and drives to Black Rock, the nearby hippo pools and to the surrounding community in open 4x4 Land Rovers. There is a bird hide in the forest for those who enjoy great birding. During the summer months Rocktail Bay Lodge is integrally involved in the ongoing loggerhead and leatherback turtle research that has been going on since the 1960s. Guests are able to accompany the resident turtle expert on research drives at low tide at night helping to monitor the turtles' nesting numbers and their behavior.
August, 2009 Update: The lodge is currently closed for refurbishment, but its sister camp, Rocktail Beach Camp is open. The camp consists of 17 rooms (9 standard rooms plus 8 suites), all featuring en-suite bathrooms, open-feel indoor shower and overhead fans. Seven of these are family suites with a shared bathroom and two bedrooms for two adults and two children. The honeymoon suite has wonderful views over the ocean and dune forest.
