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

We spent 6 days at the Phinda Rock Lodge. ||Lodge: The service at the lodge from the staff is beyond 5 star. It is a very different designed lodge. It's small and intimate and the rooms are huge. You walk in and there is a small entry area with a couple and a huge bar with all different named brand liquors, wine, beer and soft drinks and snacks. The bedroom is huge with a door that leads out to your own pool and lounge chairs and beautiful view of the mountain. The bathroom is lovely with a large sunk in tub, a lot of amenities, a separate shower, and large two sink area. There are robes, slippers, and a ton of lotions and salts if you want a nice soak. If you are looking for a traditional "African designed" lodge this is probably not a design you would like as it is a little like being in your own cave, but we thought the size and comfort of the room was top shelf and the bed was very large and plenty of storage space. I would request rooms at the bottom of the lodge (there are only 6) as one of the guests had elephants come and drink out of her pool. The common areas are lovely. Very comfortable couches, the option to eat your meals outside on the deck that is covered with an amazing view, or inside in a lovely dining area. They also surprised us with dinner on the roof top so we could see the stars. The food is plentiful and they cater to what you like. The chef came over to us every day to make sure the meals being prepared were what we'd like to eat. ||Game drives: We had our own private vehicle and we left every morning at 6:00 AM and saw a lot of amazing animals. The morning usually ended around 10:30 when we'd head back for a refreshing drink and breakfast. The afternoon game drive started at 3:00 and we usually were back at the lodge around 6:30. It was plenty of time to see rhinos, elephants, lions, crocs, giraffes, zebra, cheetah, etc. We saw one leopard from a distance with its cub. The guides are very knowledgeable and the spotters work together to find what you want to see. It's not by any means a guarantee but we did see a lot of animals in those 6 days. ||In all, this lodge is great for people who want to come and see a wide range of animals and have a very private experience and stay away from the crowds. ||I would just say to those who are very much into photography, that the guides we met are really not well versed in the challenges of taking photographers out. We had to offer a lot of suggestions on where to park the vehicle for the best angles, etc. ||Overall, I would highly recommend this lodge. &Beyond takes good care of all its guests as this is our 2nd...

My mom and I recently celebrated her 75th birthday with a memorable trip to South Africa, and we couldn't have asked for a more hospitable experience. The standout feature of our journey was undoubtedly the phenomenal hospitality and service provided by the incredible team, particularly Justice, Z, Sibu, and Bongo. They went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed and ensured our every need was met.

The setting of the rock lodge was nothing short of breathtaking. The attention to detail and the thoughtfulness in tailoring our experience was evident in every aspect of our stay.

One of the highlights of our trip was the opportunity to meet other kind and like-minded travelers who were also exploring South Africa.

However, we did encounter a few minor challenges during our stay. While the game drives were an incredible experience, there were limited animal sightings – the &Beyond team is doing great work re-introducing wildlife to the area (the meaning of the word 'Phinda') so in future years, viewing may be more plentiful.

We also faced a hiccup with our flight arrangements; &Beyond forgot to book one of our flights several months in advance, resulting in an unexpectedly long journey one day. However, it's worth noting that the staff went to great lengths to rectify the situation and ensure our comfort, which we genuinely appreciated. Not a reason to not stay with &Beyond, but it may be worth re-confirming that all is booked in advance instead of trusting that it is.

In summary, our South African adventure for my mom's 75th birthday was a truly unforgettable experience. The warmth of the staff, the stunning lodge setting, and the camaraderie of fellow travelers made this journey exceptional. Thank you for the memories that will...

We enjoyed a splendid couple of nights at Phinda Rock lodge. The lodge itself is superb, the setting sublime, the decor is classic and the rooms are amazing each with their own plunge pool, bar indoor and outdoor shower. The food was incredible and what made it more so was the personal introduction of each dish by the chef, who had a real sense of humour. Our butler who looked after us for our stay, Justice did everything to make our stay a happy and comfortable one. I fell ill on one of the days and the head of the lodge, Siza, arranged a call with the park doctor, who prescribed antibiotics, Siza arranged for the antibiotics to be collected from the pharmacy some 50km away and delivers to the lodge within a couple of hours. Incredible service. The game viewing was excellent, Sibu as guide and Bongo as tracker made a great couple; we saw the big 5 with spectacular leopard siting. The highlight was witnessing the birth of a baby Zebra and watching it take its first wobbly steps 14 minutes after birth. Thank you &beyond you did it again and lived up to your slogan of...