&Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge
Hluhluwe
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Can support Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Inside park
Where to stay in and near Phinda Private Game Reserve
Diverse private game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal with seven distinct ecosystems.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Big Five
About Phinda Private Game Reserve
Phinda is a 30,000-hectare Big Five reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal between iSimangaliso and Mkhuze, run by andBeyond since the early 1990s and known for its seven distinct habitats, including one of the last large stands of dry sand forest in the world. It is a cheetah and black rhino stronghold as well as a leopard reserve, lodge-only with guided drives, and it offers rhino-notching and pangolin research experiences that few reserves can. It is a malaria-risk area in summer. Half its land is owned by the neighbouring communities, which is part of its story.
Things to do: Game drives · Safaris · Scenic drives · Hiking · Diving
Where you can stay: Luxury lodges · All-inclusive
Wildlife near Phinda Private Game Reserve
What people record most across KwaZulu-Natal. Past sightings, never a guarantee.
From iNaturalist records across KwaZulu-Natal, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
Stay in & near Phinda Private Game Reserve
Inside-park stays and nearby lodges, sorted by distance.
&Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge
Hluhluwe
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Can support Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Inside park
&Beyond Phinda Homestead
Hluhluwe
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Can support Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Inside park
&Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge
Hluhluwe
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Can support Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Inside park
&Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge
Hluhluwe
Forest biome · Leopard · Lion
Can support Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Inside park
&Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge
Hluhluwe
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Can support Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Inside park
When to visit Phinda Private Game Reserve
Most of the rain at Phinda Private Game Reserve falls from October to March, peaking in January at about 96 mm. July is the driest month, with little or no rain. January is the hottest month, with average highs of about 31°C, and June the coolest, with average lows of about 14°C.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 96 | 31 | 22 |
| February | 79 | 31 | 22 |
| March | 91 | 30 | 22 |
| April | 53 | 28 | 19 |
| May | 25 | 27 | 17 |
| June | 20 | 26 | 14 |
| July | 12 | 25 | 14 |
| August | 20 | 26 | 15 |
| September | 38 | 28 | 17 |
| October | 69 | 27 | 18 |
| November | 74 | 29 | 20 |
| December | 86 | 30 | 21 |
Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 39 m above sea level. Weather data from Open-Meteo.com (opens in a new tab) (ERA5), CC BY 4.0.
Getting there
6 stays we sell in Phinda Private Game Reserve. Tap a pin for the listing.
27.8500° S, 32.3000° E800 km from Cape TownOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
Why book here
Your stay helps keep Phinda Private Game Reserve wild
Wild places survive when the communities around them earn more from protecting wildlife than from anything that would replace it. Every stay you book through Spekboom carries a conservation contribution built into the price, never added on top, so choosing where you sleep becomes a way to fund the people and projects keeping this landscape intact.
- Built into every booking
- A conservation share
- Where it goes
- Local causes & communities
Phinda Private Game Reserve: your questions
Where is Phinda Private Game Reserve?
Phinda Private Game Reserve is in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Does Phinda Private Game Reserve have the Big Five?
Yes. Phinda Private Game Reserve is a Big Five area, home to lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.
What wildlife can you see near Phinda Private Game Reserve?
In KwaZulu-Natal, commonly recorded species include animals such as Suni, Red Duiker, Blue Duiker, Leatherback Turtle and birds including Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Woodward's Batis, Rosy-throated Longclaw, based on iNaturalist occurrence data. These reflect the wider province, not confirmed sightings inside the reserve.
When is the rainy season at Phinda Private Game Reserve?
Most of the rain at Phinda Private Game Reserve falls from October to March, peaking in January at about 96 mm. July is the driest month, with little or no rain. January is the hottest month, with average highs of about 31°C, and June the coolest, with average lows of about 14°C. Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 39 m above sea level.
When is the best time to visit Phinda Private Game Reserve?
The best time to visit Phinda Private Game Reserve is Year-round (dry season May-Sep).
What is there to do at Phinda Private Game Reserve?
Popular activities at Phinda Private Game Reserve include game drives, safaris, scenic drives, hiking, diving.
Where can you stay in Phinda Private Game Reserve?
Places to stay inside Phinda Private Game Reserve include &Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge, &Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge, &Beyond Phinda Homestead, &Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge and &Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge. Request them on Spekboom and pay once your dates are confirmed. Every booking funds conservation.
Parks near Phinda Private Game Reserve
The closest parks and reserves. Distances run centre to centre, as the crow flies.
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi ParkGame Reserve · 55 km
White rhino conservation success
Big Five
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
iSimangaliso Wetland ParkWorld Heritage Site · 58 km
Marine and coastal biodiversity
World Heritage
Ndumo Game Reserve
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Ndumo Game ReserveGame Reserve · 106 km
Wetland bird paradise
Part of
Other parks and reserves that share something with Phinda Private Game Reserve.
Big Five parks and reservesPrivate game reservesNational parks and reserves in South AfricaNature reserves and parks in KwaZulu-NatalAll protected areas