Hello,
I'm planning a last minute trip and Phinda looks like it might be available... I've read all of the posts I can find about Phinda Rock - just wondering if anyone had any more info to share. It looks fantastic! We've been to Botswana, never to Kruger/Sabi Sands. Would 4 nights be a good amount of time? How is the transfer from Joburg - tiny plane? (I'm not a fan of small planes but I'll happily deal-with meds in hand-if I know the safari experience will be great!) We love seeing big cats -does Phinda Rock fit that bill? We are somewhat concerned about the fencing at Phinda, especially when our only other point of reference is the wide open feeling of Botswana.
Thanks!

Chalk and cheese.....I was disappointed with Phinda for the reasons you just described......fencing, crowded vehicles and short sightings.....

Phinda Rock although a beautiful lodge IMHO was more out of a SouthWestern USA design vs something African...

If it's cheetah viewing you are looking for, you won't be disappointed.

Hari

Lily,

Our first safari experience anywhere was at Phinda Forest last September for four nights.

I knew before I went that Phinda's attractions were about their conservation model and the game reserve.

I loved our guide and Phinda Forest and the whole staff. We had good sightings of lions and cheetah, and a late night leopard sighting. The different ecosystems at Phinda are interesting, and we did spend a morning at Sodwana Bay.

It's not Botswana, but nothing in SA is. As long as you go there knowing what you will be experienceing, I'm sure you will enjoy it.

Our plane from JNB to Phinda was a 12-seater Federal Air flight. It was the largest plane we were in for inter-camp transfers.

I want to go to Botswana or Zambia for our next trip because I want more wilderness. But I would return to Phinda in a heartbeat because of its wonderful staff, guides, and trackers. It is special.

CW

Hari, if you can spare a moment from your packing, what is chalk and cheese?

Or anyone else who cares to enlighten me. Interesting expression.

Hari-
It's too bad you didn't enjoy Phinda.

We had the totally opposite experience.
Our vehicle was never crowded, (only 4 of us for 2 days and then we had it to ourselves for 2 days) our sightings were great and our overall experience was wonderful.

It just goes to show you, how each of us can have a totally different experience at the same place.

And although we didn't stay at Phinda Rock, it looked like a totally cool place and even our guide said it was one of his favs.

Lynn,

Chalk and cheese.....just a figure of speech i guess.......to say two completely diffent comparisons like Apples and oranges!!!

I figure Phinda is not for everybody....i apologize if i sound negative about it and was not my "CUP OF TEA".

Hari

Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts. We are having an agent check on availability of other camps, but it looks like Phinda would be a good, different experience.