&Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge

Phinda Reserve is cradled in the arms of the Ubombo Mountains and flanked to the east by golden beaches and the Indian Ocean, in KwaZulu-Natal This is one of Africa’s most diverse wilderness areas, boasting seven ecosystems and an extraordinary range of wildlife.

Phinda Rock Lodge is nestled into the side of a mountain, its roughly hewn stone, adobe walls and ochre packed wooden roofs seem to cling to the very rock on which it is built. The décor is subtly ethnic with an emphasis on space and interaction with the unrivalled views.

Its six suites are seemingly suspended over the deep valley below, providing breathtaking views. Each romantic suite, constructed from contoured stone and adobe, boasts solid wooden shutters and doors, opening onto a private plunge pool and viewing deck. Complete with spacious en-suite bathrooms, three of these suites also feature outdoor showers, providing some of the most scenic al fresco bathing on the African continent.

Comfortable sitting areas provide the perfect vantage point for viewing the abundant birdlife in the surrounding trees, and the wildlife roaming the bushveld below. The private Phinda Game Reserve is home to a staggering 415 bird species thanks to diverse ecosystems, rare dry sand forests and unique waterways.