Hi! Has anyone visited Phinda game reserve? Is it worth Rand 14000 i.e about 2000 dollars for two ppl for 5 nights. 2 nights at a lodge and 3 nights for their walking safaris?

Thanks

We were at Phinda last year and really loved it. It's quite different in some respects from other reserves, in that it is somehwat younger, and the wildlife was brought in -- although that was well more than 10 years ago now I believe.

Phinda has a wonderful atmosphere, strong emphasis on conservation and education and an absolutely superb staff. Its luxurious without being glitzy, professionally managed in every way, and a delight to visit. If this is the part of south africa you wanto to be in, Phinda is a joy.

I spent four nights at Phinda Vlei in March of '04 and loved it. The diversity of their ecosystems is wonderful as is the diversity of things to do while there.
I included an afternoon of horsebackriding on Sodwana Bay beach, did the flight of the fish-eagle one morning, and did a few bush walks in between the game drives.(I'm not one to sit still during the mid-day breaks if I can find other things to do.)

I am trying to get back to Phinda for a few nights at the end of March (of this year) if things work out.

The staff, food, and lodges are great. I would imagine the walking safaris would be a lot of fun.
You will be well taken care of.

Hello,

I second the other recommendations of Phinda which have been posted. I'd also recommend Forest or Vlei Lodges as they have particulalry nice environmental settings (though I haven't stayed at either Getty or Zuka, so I can't comment on them).

The walking safaris at Phinda get rave reviews from those who have done them -- as does the rhino tracking.

Cheers,
Julian

Mike, divewop, jasher:

Can you do a brief summary of your wildlife sighting highlights at Phinda?

Happy to post some wildlife sightings at Phinda, with appologies for delay in response:

* Coalition of three male cheetas roughhousing

* Breeding heard of elephant crossing the road from thick forest into thick forest in complete silence

* Fabulous lion tracking as two males toyed with a small herd of zeebra, then chllenged two females rhinos with youngesters for a water hole (guess who won!)

* Many crocs and hippose on evening river cruise

* Pride of six or seven lions reclining by water hole in the moonlight during night drive

* Amazing sighting of three elephants browinsing river side trees in silhouette aginast a full moon during evening boat ride.

And many, many others including Nyala, impala, zeebras, giraffe...all the usual suspects! Plus a civet, african wildcat, a bush baby and amazing leopard, up a tree with a freshly killed impala.

Phinda is amazing, but pretty pricey. For a cheaper option, bordering on Phina is the Weaver's Nature Park, a newly developed park of over 150 hectars in an indigenous forest. There are a number of game lodges there - may I recommend iZungla Lodge (www.izungla.co.za) which has an African theme.

Has anybody visited Thanda Private Game Reserve near Phinda? We are planning to visit in March, unsure if Thanda in Kwazulu-Natal better than Lion Sands Ivory Lodge in Kruger. Thank u much!

Thanks for the information.

Phinda is great and if you stay at Phinda Forest lodge, I highly recommend asking for Walter as your ranger. Below is a link to my shots taken there..

http://www.pbase.com/mytmoss/phonda_2005

Phinda Private Game Reserve is definitely a very special place because of its location: you'll find different eco-systems all in one place.

Also, there are not too many attractive private game reserves located so close to a superb beach if you want something different for a day.

Had one of my most amazing wildlife experiences with lions in Phinda. Awesome!

Regarding your wondering between Thanda and Lion Sands: Lion Sands is definitely the better place!