An Elegant Hilltop Safari Lodge in South Africa

Wed Jul 09 2025 10:19:35 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Bizzygal28

This was just a magical place and experience for our family. Totally spoiled! We stayed in a family cottage for 4 nights which meant our own tracker/ranger and private drives 2 x day. The food was excellent. Service exceeded our expectations! We saw all the animals (except for the elusive leopard) and really got to spend time and watch their behaviors. Our ranger/guide Elan and our tracker Maliki were amazing and had a lot of knowledge to share and tailored the experience for our interests. We also went on a Zulu village experience which was really interesting as well. It was a splurge for us to do this but I think for what you get here it is a real value!

Mon Jun 16 2025 06:08:22 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by John R

The first of three game reserves we visited on this trip. Phinda exceeded expectations particularly on Cheetah sightings. The room and food were exceptional and the people were lovely. The only negative was nature inflicted after a very wet autumn the terrain was often impenetrable and the ‘roads/tracks’ very tough to navigate.

Fri Jun 06 2025 23:20:42 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by janeclough1

It's breathtaking flying over the safari reserve. Stunning landscape! We arrived and had our first experience of the open air game vehicles as we drove from the airstrip to the lodge. Exceptional and so exciting. What can I say other than this was an experience which will always be remembered as adventure, awe and wonder at the beauty of animals in the wild, the grandeur of nature as the sun rises and sets, respect and admiration for the rangers, trackers and all the staff. I can see why Ernest Hemingway said "all I want to do is get back to Africa"..... me too !!!

Fri May 23 2025 15:05:50 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by John B

Phinda private game reserve offers guests the opportunity to experience South African wildlife "up close and personal". Wildlife are free to roam over 79,000 acres of preserved landscape ( which has several unique areas - sand forest, marshlands, mountain, forest, and others), and guests are driven on trails to watch the daily drama unfold. The quintessential "safari" experience. A two hour drive from Umhlanga makes the reserve accessible, and from the moment we passed through the entry gate we encountered buffalo, giraffes, rhinoceros, impala, zebras, and wildebeest on the roadside. Arriving at the Mountain Lodge (one of several that Andbeyond has on this reserve) it was apparent that the facility was as advertised - welcoming staff, stunning views, and first class accommodation. Lunch confirmed the food and service would not be a disappointment! The daily routine was awake at 5:30 am, off for the morning dawn game drive at 6 am, return at 9:30 am for breakfast with a cold buffet and custom orders for hot dishes. Lounge by the common pool, have a drink on the main lodge deck / bar, or rest on the deck attached to your private cottage nestled in the forest below the main lodge. Lunch at your convenience. Afternoon dusk game drive leaves at 4 pm and returns after dark around 7 pm. Temperature will drop with the sun and dressing in layers is recommended. Your group will be assigned to a guide and tracker who collaborate with guests to confirm the next game drive's itinerary - very responsive to specific requests. On each drive there is a break at a scenic spot, many of which are spectacular, particularly at sunset. Morning breaks featured coffee and snacks (and the signature mochachocamula), and in the evening drinks and snacks - a welcome touch. Our team, the guide was Steve and the tracker was Lwazi, was engaging, more than willing to share their knowledge, and were great ambassadors for the Mountain Lodge team. Cottages are well appointed, large, and have an expansive bathroom, windows everywhere, a comfortable king bed, and an open bar at your disposal. Guests are accompanied by staff after dark to their cottage as animals occasionally make their way into the area. All meals provided tempting options, and were well prepared and presented. Some meals were elaborate settings in the bush, and another in a fire pit area at the lodge, while others were at the main lodge. Expect long days to lead to early nights. It is difficult to capture the full experience in words. Rest assured you will not be disappointed with this wilderness experience.

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Wed May 07 2025 07:10:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by DLBTH

Cheyenne Jordan Your tracker—so sorry, I forgot his name….we felt like we were at home Yes, there was a little🫣 rain but The serenity, the graciousness of staff Whatever u want, u get Wow So, leopards, cheetahs, lions, giraffes, rhino’s hyenas, The list goes on and on It was an unforgettable experience enhanced by your sincerity and true friendliness Thank you and the rest of the staff Hope they survived my lamb preparation Thank you Thank you For those of you considering this lodge Just go! U will be well pleased!