Phinda Forest Lodge is situated within a rare and fertile sand forest in the acclaimed Phinda Private Game Reserve.

The Phinda Reserve was established in 1991 by CC Africa (&Beyond's prior name) when 52 square miles (135 sq kms) of prime wildlife habitat, as well as areas that had been badly degraded by cattle grazing and farming, was purchased between what was then the Mkuzi Game Reserve and the Sodwana State Forest Reserve, just northwest of Lake St. Lucia. Over the next decade, the degraded land was repaired and restored to its natural state and wildlife that had occurred in this area before the farming was re-introduced.

The name "Phinda" means "Return" in the local Zulu language, in reference to the land being returned to its natural state.

"Phinda was born out of a belief that the beauty of Maputaland was worth saving from the spiral of destruction into which it has been drawn. Its first target was to repair habitat damaged by almost a century of cattle farming, to return the wildlife which had once roamed the Maputaland plain, and to build luxury, world-class destinations for visitors, without whom there would not be a viable plan. The second task was to reconnect the rural communities with the land by giving people the opportunity to participate at every level in sustainable conservation development by providing employment, training and the infrastructure for small business development." - Dave Varty, Founder of CC Africa, from "The Return - The Story of Phinda Game Reserve"

Today, Phinda is arguably the most diverse wildlife destination in South Africa, with seven distinct habitats and a huge diversity of wild animals and birds. The reserve is home to all of Africa's Big Five animals (lion, leopard, rhino - both black and white rhino, elephant, and buffalo), as well a great diversity of antelopes and other plains game. Phinda has become especially well known for having the best cheetah viewing in the country.

Other wildlife commonly seen at Phinda include giraffe, zebra, blue wildebeest, nyala, impala, waterbuck, suni antelope, duiker, and more. Besides lion, leopard, and cheetah, other predators include spotted hyena, jackal, and sometimes African wild dog spend time in the reserve. Hippo and crocodile are seen in the permanent waterways. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded in the reserve.

There are a variety of lodges and camps for guests in Phinda, all of which are operated by &Beyond and all of which offer an assortment of activities. Twice daily game drives in open 4x4 vehicles, as well as one-hour nature walks are the mainstay activities.

Other activities offered include Zulu village tours, Maputaland beach adventures, sea turtle nesting adventures, SCUBA diving, Indian Ocean excursions, black rhino tracking on foot, specialist walking safaris, conservation experiences, and under-the-stars sleepouts.

Phinda Forest Lodge offers 16 spacious, temperature-controlled guest suites constructed on stilts, giving them an appearance of floating amongst the maze of tall trees in the forest. Large floor-to-ceiling glass panels and the outdoor viewing deck offer a chance to observe some of the forest antelopes and birds in this unique ecosystem.

The main lodge is constructed on a raised deck and has contemporary décor, with natural creme and earth colors accented by dark wood. A large outdoor deck offers views over a grassy plain and the rim-flow swimming pool and sundeck are just a short stroll away. Not a single tree was damaged during the construction of Phinda Forest Lodge. Families with children are welcome.

AndBeyond are one of Africa's leading safari operators and they strive to minimize energy consumption at all their camps. Phinda Forest Lodge is connected to the national grid with a backup generator available. Strict eco-friendly environmental standards are maintained so that no harmful chemicals or waste is allowed to enter the pristine ecosystem of the Phinda Reserve.

About Phinda Game Reserve

The Phinda Private Game Reserve was established by &Beyond in 1991 with the goal of rehabilitating what was then disused and overgrazed farmland to its natural state. The idea was to return the land to its natural state, reintroduce naturally occurring wildlife, and integrate the local Zulu communities into the project by establishing eco-tourism lodges.

The property was completely fenced and the indigenous Zulu people living around the new reserve were employed, which invests these communities in the project. Over time the reintroduced wildlife thrived and safari tourism was introduced. The project continues to be a tremendous success and the more land has been added to the reserve over the years, with surrounding communities seeing the benefits of being involved.

The name 'Phinda' (pronounced "pin-dah") means "return" in the Zulu language, which refers to the return of this land from farming to its natural state and the return of the local Zulu people to being directly involved in what happens to their own land.

The original reserve in 1991 covered just over 50 square miles (131 sq kms) and today, Phinda covers 155 square miles (299 sq kms) and borders the uMkhuze section of the iSimangaliso Park to its north.

The reserve contains an incredible diversity of ecosystems, with seven distinct habitats ranging from savanna, woodland, wetland, dry sand forest, open bush, and mountain bush. There are are also dramatic rock outcroppings rivers, marshes, and rain pans. Phinda protects 3.9 square miles (10 sq kms) of South Africa's dwindling dry sand forest.

All of Africa's Big Five animals (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and both species of rhino) are found here, as well as abundant cheetah, spotted hyena, giraffe, impala, zebra, greater kudu, warthog, baboon, and more. Crocodiles and hippos are resident in the Mzinene River, which forms the reserve's southern border. Bird life is also abundant owing to the diverse habitats, with a species list over 400.

Phinda is involved with multiple ongoing research and conservation projects in the reserve, including efforts to study and conserve elephant, black rhino, white rhino, lion, cheetah, leopard, suni antelope, pangolin, red duiker, and others. Guests are offered a chance to participate when the researchers are available.

The reserve offers several safari camps, all operated by the same company, which makes for an exclusive game viewing experience, and similar to that of the private reserves bordering Kruger National Park. The guiding is superb and game drives are conducted in open 4WD vehicles, with wildlife sightings well controlled to minimize vehicle numbers.

Visitors to Phinda will have a diversity of options for activities, including safari drives and bush walks in the reserve, as well as day trips to the unspoiled beaches and rich coral reefs of the Indian Ocean, located a short drive to the east. Sea turtle nesting on the beaches takes place between November and January.