Cape Town, Franschhoek and the Sabi Sand in ten nights
Three nights above the Atlantic in Cape Town, three among the vineyards of Franschhoek, then four in the Sabi Sand for leopard. Little jet lag from the UK and a good first safari for couples.
&Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge
Six suites between sand forest and a wetland in Zululand, with rhino tracking, the Indian Ocean coast and turtle nesting within reach.
Why we love it
Phinda Vlei is one of the most personal places to stay in the Phinda reserve: six suites looking over a grassy seasonal wetland, with rare sand forest behind. The vlei draws antelope, elephant and birds through the day, so the deck and private pool are part of the safari. Inside, the plantation-house look of antiques and Zulu craft feels quite different from the stone-and-glass lodges of the Kruger.
The appeal of Phinda is range. It covers several habitats, from grassland where cheetah hunt to thicket where black rhino browse, and you can track rhino on foot, go out on the Mzinene River by boat or add a day on the Maputaland coast. In season, guides take guests to see turtles nesting on the Maputaland beaches, and there are dive trips to the reefs at Sodwana Bay.
It suits couples and friends who want a small, quiet base and a safari with a bit of sea in it. Children must be 12 or over, and there is no traditional boma or big social dinner, which some people miss. Families with younger children should ask us about other options. It is also a natural pairing with a few nights in Cape Town or the Winelands.
Rooms and villas
Suite
One of six air-conditioned suites with a bedroom, en-suite bathroom and dressing room, a personal bar, an outdoor shower, and a deck with a private pool and shaded sala facing the wetland.
Lodge spaces
A library, dining room and open-air firepit under the stars in place of a boma, with meals served on the deck, in the dining room or privately in your suite.
Dining
Meals follow the day rather than a fixed schedule, served on the deck, in the dining room or in your suite, with evenings around an open firepit. Soft drinks, house wines and local spirits and beers are included; champagne, fine wines and premium spirits cost extra.
Wellness
Each suite has a yoga mat and a gym-in-a-basket for the deck, and Healing Earth treatments can be booked in your room. For a full spa, guests go to the wellness spa at nearby Phinda Forest Lodge.
Children and families
Children aged 12 and older are welcome. Families with younger children will need a different lodge; ask us for alternatives.
The facts
| Suites | Six |
|---|---|
| Children | Aged 12 and older |
| Reserve | Phinda, 29,866 hectares in the Munywana Conservancy |
| Getting there | Private airstrip for &Beyond guests, or by road from Durban, Richards Bay or Johannesburg |
| Included | Twice-daily game drives, short guided walks, house drinks |
| Extras | Rhino tracking, ocean safaris, turtle trips, diving, private vehicle |
Where it is
Phinda Private Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Nearby
A few of the things we plan for guests in South Africa.
Leopards in the Sabi Sand
The Sabi Sand shares an unfenced border with Kruger, so animals move freely, but vehicles are few and guides can drive off-road. Leopards here are unusually relaxed around vehicles. Morning and evening drives last three to four hours, with a bush breakfast or sundowners. Three or four nights is ideal.
Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula
Take the cableway or hike up Platteklip Gorge early, before the tablecloth of cloud rolls in. Then drive the peninsula via Chapman's Peak to Cape Point and the penguins at Boulders Beach. The fynbos here belongs to the Cape Floral Region, one of the richest plant kingdoms on Earth.
Estates and lunches in the Winelands
An hour from Cape Town, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch sit beneath granite mountains, with Cape Dutch homesteads and restaurants among the vines. A driver lets you taste properly. Harvest runs from about February to March; autumn colours follow in April and May.
Journeys in South Africa
Ask about &Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will check availability, suggest the right room and send a price.