Set in the ancient Sand Forest, Phinda Forest Lodge is found in the north of Phinda Private Game Reserve and although the facilities are not as extensive as some of &Beyond's other lodges here, the luxurious room and exquisite setting certainly make up for this.
Phinda Forest- The Details
Set in the ancient and incredibly rare Sand Forest, this lodge has a completely different feel to any other safari lodge you will find in Africa. The lodge has a fairly modern feel to it with a very open main area with a large breakfast bar and dining room that leads straight onto the deck. Dinners and lunches are often served overlooking a small grassy plain where bushbuck, nyala and kudu are often found throughout the day. The lodge also maintains a cozy, homely feel with a beautiful fireplace that is surrounded by comfy sofas. The modern feel is tasteful and really exemplifies a very different accommodation experience here in Phinda.
The sixteen rooms at forest lodge also have a modern feel to them and are spaced far enough apart to give you a completely private and isolated feel. They are all tucked back into the forest, surrounded by indigenous trees and instead of bricks and mortar, the walls are made of glass allowing you to look into the forest from every angle. There’s a real zen feel at this lodge and the views and open spaces only add to this feeling of being in the complete wilderness, yet luxury is certainly not compromised. There is a plethora of bird life in the forest and with over four-hundred and fifty bird species in the area, this is a must-visit destination for birders. The glass paneled walls and open decking in front of the rooms mean that bird watching can take place no matter where you are in the lodge.
Although the rooms do not have individual plunge pools, there is a nice communal pool in an open grassland only a short walk away. Spa treatments can be completed in the room itself or on the private deck and a curio shop allows guests to purchase souvenirs for those unfortunate enough not to have travelled. There is a boma at Forest too which makes for a fine evening of sitting around the campfire exchanging stories of the days excitements.
Game drives take place in a completely different habitat than when staying in the South, here there are the thick forested areas but also plenty of open grass lands which lends itself to some wonderful cheetah sightings.
What sets Phinda apart from other reserves however is their willingness to get guests involved in contributing to conservation. A number of different conservation experiences including chipping rhino and collaring elephant are available for guests to take part in when staying at Forest. These extra activities do come at an extra cost, but they are certainly worth it and they must be pre-booked. Pre-booking is vital as the activities are dependent on the availability of a private vehicle and vet, so please enquire with us beforehand if this is something you would be interested in.
