Phinda Private Game Reserve

If you want to witness the grace of a cheetah crossing the African plains while on safari, Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is the perfect choice. This lush wildlife haven is famous for its regular sightings of cheetahs during their exclusive game-driving experiences. Phinda is owned and operated by &Beyond, a pioneer in sustainable tourism.

Must-Visit Areas in Phinda Private Game Reserve

Phinda encompasses a range of distinct habitats, making for exciting safari adventures. Go from woodlands, grasslands, and forests to wetlands, rivers, and mountain ranges. During your stay, don’t miss out on:

Dry Sand Forest: Rare Environment

Phinda is home to 1,000 hectares of Africa’s remaining rare dry sand forest, an environment where trees grow from sand dunes. A distinctive and delicate habitat, during explorations here on foot you’ll find unique plant species and wildlife, including the shy red duiker, a small antelope species.

Mzinene River: Big Five Sightings

This river runs through Phinda and offers the chance to see the Big Five and other animals from a different perspective. Imagine canoeing down the river and seeing buffaloes in the shallows or elephants dipping their trunks for a drink – a magical experience.

Zulu Communities: Cultural Excursions

During a stay at Phinda, you can visit nearby Zulu communities. This cultural experience is a must-do, as you’ll gain insight into their daily lives and learn more about their history, traditional rituals, and customs. You’ll also get to experience the various projects run by the Africa Foundation and &Beyond Phinda that assist the local communities.

When’s the Best Time to Go to Phinda Private Game Reserve?

May to September is the best time of the year to go on a safari at Phinda. This is the dry winter season; rainfall is minimal, making wildlife easier to spot as they gather around waterholes and walk through thin vegetation. From October, rainfall increases, which leads to lush vegetation and an increase in migratory bird species.

Wildlife Found in Phinda Private Game Reserve

The game reserve has an impressive population of cheetahs, so sightings of these big cats are reliable. Lions are also common sightings, while leopards, due to their elusive nature, can be more of a challenge to spot.

All the Big Five are present, including plentiful white rhino. The reserve is also home to the black rhino, but it’s more of a rare sighting.

During boat safaris, you’ll spot hippos and Nile crocodiles gliding across the water. On the banks you may see hyena packs drinking, while on the plains you’ll come across herds of wildebeests and zebras.

Phinda offers birding safaris to see the 435 species of birds that are found around the habitats here, including the black-bellied bustard, crowned hornbill, African finfoot, and pink-throated twinspot.

How to Get to Phinda Private Game Reserve

Phinda has an airstrip for charter flights; FedAir has regular scheduled flights from South Africa’s main hubs. You can also fly to Richards Bay Airport from Johannesburg; the road transfer to the reserve is one to two hours.