andBeyond Phinda Mountain Lodge — Hotel in The Big Five False Bay Local Municipality

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...

After a 21-day cruise from South America to South Africa aboard a small ship (just 184 passengers), I was eagerly anticipating the start of our safari. I had left all arrangements in the hands of the cruise company and their South African agents, so I didn’t know what to expect when they informed us we’d be staying at Phinda Mountain Lodge, a private game reserve. The experience turned out to be beyond belief.||Getting to Phinda requires a short flight on a small plane, followed by a pickup at a dirt airstrip and a 15-minute drive with a Safari Ranger. Just five minutes after leaving the Phinda airstrip in an open jeep, we encountered a female giraffe standing regally in the road, lazily chewing leaves. She wasn’t the only one to greet us—we soon saw warthogs, white rhinos, nyala, and more.||Our accommodation was a standalone villa with both indoor and outdoor showers, a private plunge pool and deck, a very comfortable king-sized bed, a cozy sitting area, ample closet space, and a fully stocked bar and coffee/tea station. Beverages and laundry were included—an appreciated luxury after weeks of travel.||Despite the 5:30 AM wake-up call for morning safari, I slept well each night. The early rise was worth it, as animals are most active in the early morning and late afternoon. The generous midday break provided ample time to relax and enjoy the beautiful room.||As an all-inclusive lodge, Phinda provided meals and snacks throughout the day. Early-morning nibbles and coffee were available before the first game drive. Near the end of each drive, our Ranger and Spotter would set up a small table with refreshments out in the bush. After the morning drive, a full breakfast was served, followed by lunch, and then a fabulous dinner after the evening safari. Every meal was excellent.||Phinda Mountain Lodge has no fences, so walking from our villa to the dining area sometimes meant encountering monkeys or antelope. After sunset, a staff escort was required for safety—just in case any carnivores or snakes wandered near. We never saw any, but I welcomed the precaution.||Our Ranger and Spotter were top-notch. We saw the “Big Five” and so much more. Personally, I love seeing the prey animals as much as the predators—and the birds were spectacular.||Phinda offers far more than luxury lodging. It’s an immersive, unforgettable experience, made even better by the welcoming, attentive staff. You’ll leave infatuated with the...

4.5 stars

Overall, we had an excellent stay at Phinda. The lodge is beautiful and the rooms were great. If this had been the only &Beyond lodge that we stayed at on our trip, it would have absolutely received 5 stars. However, this was our second stop after 3 nights at Ngala which exceeded all of our expectations, whereas Phinda met them. The attention to detail, food, and atmosphere for couples (vs families) are what brings this review down to 4.5 stars.

We were here on our honeymoon, so the atmosphere at Phinda didn’t feel quite as romantic or intimate as we had hoped, but the staff did a nice job making the experience special nonetheless. Phinda Mountain Lodge is excellent for families or small groups traveling together, but couples may be better suited at a different &Beyond lodge.

As someone with a lot of dietary restrictions, the food was good, but not great. (Again, if this had been our only stop, I might feel differently). I was well fed, and overall I really can’t complain given the remoteness of our stay, but I wasn’t blown away by the attention to detail or thoughtfulness that went into my meals the way that I had been at &Beyond’s Ngala Safari Lodge.

Our guide and tracker were wonderful. We cannot rave enough about our drives. They did a great job in adapting the game drives to fit the wants/needs of guests. Hanke was particularly great with the kids on our drives. When the family departed and it was just us, he adapted the drives to fit our interests, which we were very impressed with. The lodge manager was also incredibly friendly and hospitable.

All in all, we had a great stay and would recommend for families but not for couples looking for a...