Phinda Private Game Reserve | Seven Habitats
Phinda Private Game Reserve is a private game reserve in South Africa situated in KwaZulu – Natal, between the Mkuze Game Reserve and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. The reserve’s 70,000 – acre is home to a magnificent tapestry of dappled woodland, grassland, wetland, dense forest, it is no surprise that this bold multifariousness is beloved by Africa’s Big Five as well.
Phinda has a plethora of habitats, a magnificent tapestry of woodland, grassland, wetland, and rare sand forest interspersed with mountain ranges, river courses, marshes and pans. Furthermore, its proximity to the stunning coastal reserves makes the reserve the perfect place to mix beach and bush.
Wildlife and Birdlife in Phinda Private Game Reserve
Phinda Private Game Reserve’s unique blend of riverine and rare sand forest habitats support abundant wildlife including lions, giraffes, white and black rhinos, antelopes, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, cheetahs, wildebeests and over 415 bird species.
Birds in Phinda Private Game Reserve include African broadbill, African cuckoo hawk, African finfoot, Black coucal, Collared pratincole, Dwarf bittern, Eastern nicator, Gorgeous bush-shrike, Green twinspot, Lemon-breasted canary, Narina trogon, Neergaard’s sunbird, Palm-nut vulture, Pel’s fishing-owl, Pink-throated twinspot, Rudd’s apalis, Southern banded snake eagle, Stierling’s wren-warbler and Swamp nightjar among others.
Safari Activities to do in Phinda Private Game Reserve
Sleep under the stars
Enjoy a leisurely afternoon game drive in a romantic and magical setting in the middle of the bush, comfortable beds with full duvets and warm blankets draped with billowing mosquito nets, inviting chairs surrounding a blazing campfire and twinkling lanterns hanging from the trees.
On this experience, you will be welcomed with sundowner drinks that toast the sunset and your ranger will prepare a delicious meal on the fire. Fall asleep under an impossibly starry sky to the sound of hyena calling in the distance with an armed guard patrolling the site throughout the night.
Walking Adventure
For visitors looking for an active thrill beyond the excitement of Big Five sightings on a game drive vehicle, a walking safari offers an opportunity to connect with the African bush, interacting with all its inhabitants, from largest to smallest.
Embark on an adventure where your feet tread in the tracks of zebra and buffalo, your nostrils will be filled with the scent of crushed wild grasses and you push through the brush and all six senses re-awake.
Game Viewing Safari
Private game drives in Phinda Private Game Reserve allows you to explore the bushveld with your own dedicated ranger, tracker and vehicle. Game drives can be as long or as short as you wish.
In your private vehicle you will visit specific areas of interest, from insect kingdom to great herds of buffalo and pride of lion.
Rhino Tracking on Foot
Put on some comfortable walking shoes, grab a pair of binoculars and camera, and spend the morning on foot with a qualified ranger and tracker team in search of the rare and highly endangered black rhinos.
Without the hum of the safari vehicle, you will hear, smell, feel and see with heightened awareness. Learn how to follow rhino tracks, recognize rhino middens and scratching post, and follow the signs of the trees and grasses searching for rhino in the company of Phinda’s experts.
On this experience, you are in company of Phinda’s experts for your safety.
Tracking Wildlife
Experience the thrill of tracking animals on foot, accompanied by an armed specialist ranger and tracker team. Engage all your sense as you discover a world where each sound, scent and bent bland of grass has a meaning.
How to get to Phinda Private Game Reserve
The easiest and most convenient way to visit Phinda Private Game Reserve is by air. Daily scheduled flights fly from either Johannesburg or Cape Town into Durban’s King Shaka International Airport. From here, it is a stunning there-hour drive or road transfer to the lodge. You will drive alongside fields of sugarcane which thrives in the humid and warm climate, with glimpses of the coast as you make your way along the renowned Dolphin Coast towards the wetlands of St. Lucia.
If you are not interested in spending so much time on the road, there are also scheduled flights into Phinda’s private airstrip. These flights can be arranged from either Cape Town or Johannesburg and may have a stop along the way, but it is definitely the most direct way to get you on safari and put a gin and tonic in your hand.
It is also possible to do self-drive to Phinda Private Game Reserve, through the province of KwaZulu – Natal, one of the most scenic places you will ever explore.
When is the best time to visit Phinda Private Game Reserve?
South Africa is known for being a diverse country, not only for its people and cultures but also for its diversity between the different regions throughout the year. The seasons remain constant, but some parts experience cold, wet winters while other areas have dry, warmer winters.
In contrast, where some regions experience hot, sunny summers, other areas experience frequent summer thunderstorms, a fascinating sight to see
If you are visiting South Africa for a diverse holiday combining some time in Cape Town along with your safari, or perhaps opting for a safari and beach combination, knowing the best times of the year to travel is important.
Typically, the South African winter falls between June and August, and the summer takes centre stage between December and February. Sub-tropical KwaZulu – Natal – home to Phinda Private Game Reserve, also covers a diverse range of temperatures, but wildlife takes the centre stage between December and February. Sub-tropical KwaZulu-Natal, home to Phinda Private Game Reserve, also covers a diverse range of temperatures, but wildlife shine when it’s winter and the bush is dry not as lush as after the annual rainfall the bush is green and thick. For your best chances of seeing wildlife at Phinda, aim to travel between July and September, touching on the cusp of the end of autumn, a dry winter and the beginning of spring.
If you are interested in escaping the crowds, then traveling to Phinda during the low season (the summer months) will gift you the reserve in an Eden-like state with the new green shoots and trees pushing through, as well as the young wildlife emerging as this is the birthing season. Not to mention that travelling in the green season is the best light of the year for photography, so pack your camera.
Accommodation in Phinda Private Game Reserve
There are many incredible accommodations options in Phinda Private Game Reserve and these include
- Phinda Vlei Lodge
- Phinda Rock Lodge
- Phinda Zuka Lodge
- Phinda Forest Lodge
- Phinda Mountain Lodge
