andBeyond Phinda Homestead

Tucked into the edge of a dappled forest in the north of Phinda Private Game Reserve, lies Phinda Homestead, a gracious sole-use safari villa, complete with a dedicated ranger, tracker, butler and chef.

Phinda Private Game Reserve encompasses an impressive 28,555 hectares (70,560 acres) of protected wildlife land in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Showcasing one of the continent’s finest game viewing experiences, the reserve is home to Africa’s Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino), as well as 436 bird species.

Blending seamlessly into the natural surroundings, and designed like a contemporary bush farmhouse, Phinda Homestead is an elegant and homely sole-use villa, ideal for both families and small groups.

Four private bedrooms and spacious bathrooms fuse harmoniously with the cool, expansive, and inviting guest spaces. An interactive kitchen brings the lodge’s private chef into the centre of the guest experience, while a fully equipped private gym and spa allow for relaxation between safaris.

Game drive times, as well as meals, are tailored completely to the guests’ preference to create a fully personalised safari.

Choose from a range of exciting Phinda Adventures such as specialist walking and tracking safaris, a sleepout under the stars, an infrared Night Eye drive and other participative conservation experiences, such as rhino notching or pangolin tagging.

Also on offer and within easy access of the reserve, are Zulu village tours, Africa Foundation community visits, a Maputaland exploration, Maputaland beach trip, night turtle drives (seasonal), scuba safaris, or an incredible ocean safari that offers you a host of marine life sightings.

Specialist safaris can be arranged in advance and these focus on special interests such as birding, photographic, family and private safaris.

LEAVING OUR WORLD A BETTER PLACE
It was at Phinda that &Beyond’s Care of the Land, Wildlife and People impact vision was tested and shaped. Here, 28 622 hectares of farming land was reclaimed for wildlife, including 790 hectares of critically endangered ancient sand forest.

Cheetah, rhino and pangolin are actively protected, with more than 30 years of pioneering wildlife victories behind us. Along with Africa Foundation, the reserve works closely with neighbouring communities, employing locally and investing in community education and welfare.

Sustainability practices are a daily priority and include the elimination of plastic bottles and a focus on energy-saving initiatives.

IMPRESSIVE GAME VIEWING
28 555 ha of private, traversing across seven distinct habitats allows for a great diversity of landscapes and exclusive game viewing. Limited number of vehicles at sightings and sensitive off-roading practices affords close-up sightings of Big Five wildlife.

ICONIC WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
Phinda is home to a magnificent variety of wildlife, including the Big Five, but is best known for its large population of cheetah and black rhino. The sand forest is home to the shy suni and the rare red duiker, two tiny antelope that are seldom encountered elsewhere.

SOLE-USE EXCLUSIVITY
Equipped with your own dedicated ranger, tracker, butler, chef and safari host, not only does Phinda Homestead offer the ideal home-away-from-home, game drive times as well as meals, are tailored completely to your preferences to create a fully personalised safari.

LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES
A variety of incredible adventures are available, including twice-daily game drives, nature walks, conservation and community experiences, sleep outs, village tours, an infrared Night Eye Experience, specialist safaris, as well as nearby ocean activities.

Safari adventures at &BEYOND Phinda
An African Safari is an experience of a lifetime, and there is so much on offer at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve – from twice-daily game drives, where you have the opportunity to encounter some of South Africa’s most prized wildlife, to a night safari offering incredible after-dark drives.

When booking a private vehicle and specialist guide, our safaris can be tailormade to suit a wide range of interests. These specialist safaris ensure an incomparable interpretive wilderness experience and range from private safaris, to birding, photographic and family safaris, each unique in their offering.

What’s more, you can even choose to spend the night sleeping directly beneath the stars in the heart of the bush on a thrilling overnight adventure, surrounded by Africa’s night sounds and kept safe by an armed guard.

For those interested in exploring beyond the reserve, day trips can be arranged with a guide to take you deep into Maputaland to explore the World Heritage Site of iSimangaliso Wetland Park and its huge array of bird species.

Safari game drive on &BEYOND Phinda
The pristine wilderness sanctuaries of KwaZulu-Natal lend themselves to fantastic game drives, making this region one of the most sought-after safari destinations in South Africa.

Reserves such as the renowned &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park offer exceptional encounters with the Big Five and other incredible wildlife in breathtaking landscapes.

Enjoy twice-daily game drives that set off early in the morning or late in the afternoon (continuing after nightfall), in the company of expert safari guides and local trackers who will do their best to ensure that all your wishes are met.

In addition to the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo), each safari features an iconic set of wildlife and some of KwaZulu-Natal’s endemic species, which you won’t encounter anywhere else in South Africa.

You will also be spoilt for choice at the range of awe-inspiring landscapes. Venture through the seven distinct ecosystems of &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, often referred to as Seven Worlds of Wonder.

This fascinating variety of landscape and vegetation shelters an abundance of wildlife, including rarer and less easily spotted species such as the elusive cheetah or the scarce black rhino.

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park also boasts an extraordinary array of habitats from mountainous regions and grasslands, to flourishing forests and wetlands.

Photographic safaris on &BEYOND Phinda
Designed for photography enthusiasts, our expert guides will use their extensive experience in wildlife, birding and landscape photography to help you get the shot of a lifetime by providing advice on shutter speed, lenses, filters, angles, lighting and so much more.

Combining their understanding of animal behaviour with their photography skills, they will help you plan every step of your safari.

In addition to a private safari with a specialist guide, take advantage of a fully-equipped photographic safari vehicle. The vehicle has been fitted with state-of-the-art camera mounts and caters for a maximum of four guests, ensuring exclusivity during your safari experience.

A sleepout under the stars
Enjoy a leisurely afternoon game drive and arrive at a romantic and magical setting in the middle of the bush – comfortable beds with full duvets and warm blankets draped with billowing mosquito nets, inviting chairs surrounding a blazing campfire and twinkling lanterns hanging from the trees.

You will be welcomed with sundowner drinks that toast the sunset and your guide will prepare a delicious meal on the fire. Recreate the day’s adventures around the fireside, drink in the tranquility of the bush and enjoy the distinct night sounds of Africa.

Fall asleep under an impossibly starry sky to the sound of hyena calling in the distance, secure in the knowledge that an armed guard will patrol the site throughout the night.

Family safaris with &BEYOND
It is safe, fun and rewarding to travel with children in Africa. Africa is a treasure chest of adventure and learning, with almost year-round sunshine, making it the perfect family holiday destination.

&Beyond’s family-friendly lodges in South Africa – Phinda Private Game Reserve, Ngala Private Game Reserve, and at &Beyond Kirkman’s Kamp in the Sabi Sand – each offer a host of fascinating and entertaining activities for children aged 3–12 years, bringing alive the magic of Africa.

Whilst on a family safari, you can rest assured that your children will always be safe and well cared for (both on and off game drives). Every minute is supervised by our guides and lodge staff, who provide hours of amusement and invaluable information to the children in their care.

Designed for families with children who are wanting to experience the wonders of the South African bush together, each family safari is planned with your specialist guide taking into account your children’s ages, their interests, your family’s preferences and the fun seasonal activities available.

Why we love &BEYOND’S family safaris:

• Special WILDchild programme for children aged 3–12 years
• Each WILDchild receives a backpack filled with age-appropriate goodies
• Activities are seasonal and include bark rubbing, bug collecting, frog safaris, ‘poo walks’, baking with the chef and more
• Special children’s menus available
• Childminding services available at additional cost

Private safari game drive on &BEYOND Phinda
A private safari at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve allows you to explore the reserve at your own pace while focusing on your special interests. With your own dedicated ranger and tracker team, in your own private 4×4 safari vehicle, &Beyond’s exclusive safaris let you create your very own tailormade wildlife adventure.

With the use of a private safari vehicle, your day begins whenever you wish, whether you choose to set off before daybreak, or treat yourself to a lie-in. The rest of the day goes according to your schedule, heading back to the lodge for a midday break or staying out for a picnic meal in the heart of the African bush.

Should you hear the distant sounds of a lion roaring or a hyena calling while you’re warming your toes around the fire in the lodge boma, there’s nothing to stop you from heading out with your ranger to discover the nocturnal predators.

The secrets of the bush will unravel in the company of your dedicated ranger, who will spend time getting to know your special interests and will plan each day accordingly. From birding and tracking to photography or wildlife research, each day will bring myriad surprises to delight and enthral your every waking moment.

Choose to spend a night sleeping out beneath starry skies, lulled to sleep by the music of the bush or decide to explore the local community, stopping to visit a traditional healer and getting to know the lives of Zulu villagers.

Whether a sudden whim or a long-held desire, a private safari is planned exactly according to your wishes, while remaining flexible enough to adapt at a moment’s notice.

Birding Safaris at &BEYOND Phinda
Birding Safaris are just one of &Beyond’s many matchless private safaris that can be personalised for any small group. Accompanied by one of &Beyond’s specialist birding guides, set out in search of the nearly-440 bird species that inhabit Phinda’s seven diverse habitats.

Leaving the lodge in the pre-dawn dusk, you will have the best chance of seeing as many of Phinda’s most well-known species, from the Rudd’s Apalis to Neergard’s Sunbird or Narina Trogon.

Although guests have a chance of seeing any of Phinda’s birds on a scheduled game drive, booking a private Birding Safari offers guests the privacy and freedom to explore specific areas of the reserve in a private vehicle in search of the more special and rare birds, and allows you the time to enjoy them, photograph them and learn more about them.

Explore Maputaland
Renowned for its rich biodiversity, varied ecosystems and natural beauty, Maputaland is a paradise waiting to be explored. Set off with your expert guide at daybreak and spend the day exploring the forests and wetlands of this beautiful region, marvelling at its avian residents and untamed wildlife. Choose from three options for your Maputaland adventure:

NORTHERN MAPUTALAND
Catch a glimpse of some of Africa’s largest tuskers as they converge at the watering holes of Tembe Elephant Park, renowned for the magnificent ivory that graces its elephant herds. Take your time exploring the clear waters of Lake Sibaya and winding through the natural grasslands that run parallel to the azure coastline.

SOUTHERN MAPUTALAND
Visit the World Heritage Site of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, where you can wander through pristine coastal dune forests, take a boat cruise along the St Lucia Estuary and explore the breath-taking scenery found along the lush wetlands.

WESTERN MAPUTALAND
Keen birders can venture through the quaint town of Eshowe, exploring the lush forests of Dlinza and Ngoye, with their abundant birdlife, which swoops, casting moving shadows over the forest. The sleepy coastal town of Mtunzini is your last stop before returning to &BEYOND Phinda Private Game Reserve.

Conservation Experiences at &BEYOND Phinda
Beginning with our ground-breaking conservation achievements during the original restocking of Phinda Private Game Reserve, &Beyond has continued to take part in a number of conservation successes.

Our approach to the creation of this reserve, from the underlying conservation issues to its interaction with the community, has proven to be the foundation on which all our subsequent projects were to be built.

Since then we have embarked on a variety of pioneering conservation initiatives, both in Africa and beyond. &Beyond’s conservation engine is driven by one thing only and that is creating extraordinary experiences for our guests. Without our guests, we simply cannot be successful in extending and sustaining green frontiers.

To fund many of the projects that help us to continue our conservation of Phinda’s endangered species, guests are invited to join us in the routine monitoring or research projects that are essential to the survival of the reserves’ species’.

Rhino conservation experience
Depending on which research activity is available at the time, you will have the opportunity to assist in either a rhino notching or a rhino de-horning. These rhino are of great conservation significance, and we need to ensure the longevity of this wild animal, and that this healthy population does not diminish.

Rhino notching
Witness the darting of a rhino, and assist the veterinary team in notching the sleeping rhino’s ear for research and security monitoring, before releasing it back into the wild.

Phinda is committed to ensuring the survival of Africa’s rhinos and, as such, we implement best practice research and management practices. Ear notches enable researchers to correctly identify different individuals on the Reserve.

Each rhino is given a unique ear notch number, and microchips are placed in the horn and body for identification and security purposes. Measurements, horn shavings and skin samples are also taken for DNA analysis.

Many of Phinda’s rhinos are in need of ear notches and we are inviting groups of up to eight guests each (sharing one vehicle) to participate in this extraordinary experience. Guests will play an active role in the day’s adventure.

As the veterinary team flies overhead in a helicopter in search of the rhino, guests will follow in hot pursuit with an expert ranger in an open 4×4 safari vehicle.

Once the animal is located and darted, the helicopter will land, and guests will have the never-to-be-repeated opportunity to touch the anaesthetized rhino during the notching procedure.

Get up close and personal with these highly endangered giants of the African bush on this once in a lifetime opportunity to assist in the conservation of rhinos at &BEYOND Phinda (all funds raised go directly towards the costs of running Phinda’s rhino conservation and management project).

De-horning a rhino
Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime, rare opportunity to get up close and personal with rhino at &BEYOND Phinda Private Game Reserve, while assisting in the conservation of this endangered species.

Phinda is committed to ensuring the survival of Africa’s giants of the bush and, as such, we implement best practice research and management practices. This thrilling experience allows guests to witness the capture and darting of either a black or a white rhino.

A wildlife vet will locate and dart the rhino from the vantage point of a helicopter, while the guests and ground crew will follow in open 4×4 safari vehicles. Once darted, the veterinary team will remove both horns from the sleeping animal for research and security monitoring.

These horns are safely removed by our conservation team and will be transported off the reserve to a safe storage site, at an undisclosed location.

Cherish this memorable opportunity to assist in the conservation of rhinos at &BEYOND Phinda, where all funds raised go directly towards the costs of running Phinda’s rhino conservation and management project.

Elephant conservation experience
Be a part of &BEYOND’s incredible conservation story, by embarking on Elephant Conservation activities at &BEYOND Phinda Private Game Reserve.

Depending on which research activity is available at the time, you will have the opportunity to participate in either an elephant contraception or an elephant collaring. Be captivated by these once-in-a-lifetime adventures, as you get up-close-and-personal with these iconic wildlife giants.

Elephant contraception
Since the inception of &BEYOND Phinda Private Game Reserve, the reserve has seen many conservation firsts, one of which was the use of non-invasive contraceptives to manage its burgeoning elephant population.

Elephants are one of Africa’s most iconic and magnificent wild animals, however; when confined in a nature reserve, they are also capable of causing major environmental changes should their numbers increase too dramatically.

At &BEYOND Phinda, female elephants are vaccinated only after having had one calf and the object of the programme is not to decrease elephant numbers but to slow their growth to an appropriate level.

Join one of the reserve’s wildlife veterinarians on this exceptional halfday experience, where you will gain first-hand knowledge about this pioneering programme, by assisting with ultrasound examinations and taking blood samples of selected elephant cows within the reserve.

Elephant collaring
&BEYOND Phinda Private Game Reserve is committed to ensuring the survival of Africa’s elephant herds. Seven elephant herds on the reserve have been collared to assist with monitoring and tracking their movements.

From time to time, one of the elephant collars utilised in this research will be in need of replacing and we invite groups of up to eight guests each (sharing one vehicle) to participate in this extraordinary experience.

Guests will play an active role in the day’s adventure. As the veterinary team flies overhead in a helicopter in search of the elephant, guests will follow in hot pursuit with an expert ranger in an open 4×4 safari vehicle.

Once the animal is located and darted, the helicopter will land, and guests will have the never-to-be-repeated opportunity to touch the anaesthetised elephant as they change its collar.

Dates for this exceptional adventure are dependent on whether there is an elephant to collar, as well as on the availability of the vet and the helicopter pilot.

All funds raised from guests go directly towards the costs of running Phinda’s elephant conservation and management project. This incredible adventure will be offered to one group as there is one collar available.

Pangolin conservation experience
Participate in our privately guided pangolin research and monitoring experience, and support us in this groundbreaking initiative to re-establish Temminck’s ground pangolin in a region where they have been locally extinct for decades.

A precious opportunity to join a researcher from our specialist conservation team as he (or she) locates one of the pangolins that has been reintroduced to the reserve.

A rare window on the world of these shy, elusive and terribly threatened mammals: observe their unique features and adaptations first hand as our researcher does a general health check and downloads critical research data from the UHF tag attached to each pangolin.

This path-finding project, in partnership with the African Pangolin Working Group, is not only the first of its kind for pangolin worldwide, but the research learnings are key to the long-term survival of these intriguing creatures who are the world’s most trafficked mammal.

All funds raised from this signature experience will go into the project for the purchase of tags, equipment, veterinary costs and the care of all the reserve’s pangolins.

Guided walks and tracking adventures
This adventure makes full use of all your senses, allowing you a deeper connection with the African bush. Strap on your boots and feel the wild grasses crush beneath your boots as you follow your expert guide into the pristine, untamed landscapes of the region.

Be mesmerised by the morning sunlight as it dances in dewdrops delicately sprinkled on flourishing vegetation. Smell nature in its purest form and be enchanted by the chorus of wildlife surrounding you.

Nothing quite encapsulates the feeling of viewing wildlife on foot. Encounter a variety of plains game from a safe distance and be enchanted by the reserve’s smaller inhabitants.

This activity is also fantastic for keen birders and photographic enthusiasts. Your guides have a wealth of experience under their belts and will not only introduce you to the region’s fantastic fauna but its kaleidoscopic array of flora too.

For any safari addict, this is definitely a bucket list adventure that will keep you coming back for more!

Nature Walks
Looking at the often-overlooked aspects of the natural world, unravelling its marvellous intricacies and simple truths, a nature walk allows one to experience Africa on foot, free from the constraints of roads and vehicles.

Watch birds, explore a dry river bed, walk in the footsteps of zebra or giraffe, sit in stillness in the shade of an ancient tree, unravel the stories behind animal tracks, or simply stretch the legs.

As part of a game drive, or a few hours over the middle of the day, a nature walk is an opportunity to connect with the African bush and experience it on the same level as its animal inhabitants. The age restriction for this adventure is 12 years and above, with a maximum of eight guests on the walk.

Big Game Viewing Walks
Experience the thrill of viewing animals on foot, as you engage all your senses to discover a world where each sound, scent and bent blade of grass has a meaning. Led by an expertly-trained ranger and tracker team, a Big Game Viewing Walk offers the chance to track and view certain Big Five animals on foot.

Done in such a way that the animals never know that you are there, Big Game Viewing Walks ensure an undisturbed natural experience viewing these creatures in their natural habitat while ensuring safety, as they never feel threatened by your presence.

An unparalleled way to experience Africa, a Big Game Viewing Walk is a uniquely &Beyond mix of the excitement of tracking big game and gaining an understanding of one’s place in the natural order.

Walks are done by qualified and well-experienced guides, trained in tracking and viewing Big Five wildlife. The age restriction for this adventure is 16 years and above, with a maximum of six guests on the walk.

Specialist Walking Safaris
Enjoy the excitement of a Big Game Viewing Walks, the tranquillity of a Nature Walk, or any combination of the two, as your specialist ranger and tracker tailor your walking experience to suit your personal requirements and preferences.

Whether it be to follow an animal for hours, unravelling the details of its daily life, or to spend the whole day exploring the wildest corners of the game reserve on foot, a Specialist Walking Safari offers the opportunity to experience Africa at its wildest and most personal.

The age restriction for this adventure is 16 years and above, with a maximum of six guests on. At additional cost and subject to availability of qualified guide and private vehicle

Black Rhino Tracking on Foot
Slip on some comfortable walking shoes, grab your binoculars and camera, and spend the morning on foot with an expert ranger and tracker team in search of the rare and highly endangered black rhinoceros, also known as the hook-lipped rhinoceros.

A walk through the bush is a far more intimate experience as, without the distracting hum of the safari vehicle, you will hear, smell, feel and see with heightened awareness, igniting your entire consciousness.

As you slowly walk along tracks trodden by untamed wildlife, you will be humbled and left in awe of this magnificent natural site. Experience Phinda Private Game Reserve on foot, in awe of its untouched nature and allure.

Tread along the very paths black rhinos roam free on and witness their lives from a careful distance. It is the perfect setting in which to appreciate the natural environment. The slow pace of the walk and the interpretive skills of the armed guides open your eyes to a new and fascinating world.

Learn how to follow rhino tracks, recognise rhino middens and scratching posts, and follow the signs of the bent trees and broken grass blades, searching for rhino in the company of wildlife professionals. The safety of our guests is paramount and only the most highly trained and qualified &Beyond guides host these walks.

Cultural experiences near &BEYOND Phinda
For &Beyond, our involvement with Africa Foundation and the people in our local communities represents our core tenet of Care of the People.

Through our close consultation with them, &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve facilitates insightful community visits and excursions for our guests that help you to not only experience and see firsthand the various projects that are being run by the Africa Foundation and &Beyond Phinda, but also for you to see how you can get involved and make a difference.

In addition to these community visits, local Zulu villagers offer guests the opportunity to experience their daily lives and routines, and to gain a sneak peek into some of their traditional rituals and customs.

Zulu village tour
Visit a Zulu community just outside &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve and interact with the friendly people of KwaZulu-Natal. A Bantu tribal group, the Zulu are the largest ethnic group in South Africa.

A local &Beyond guide will escort you through the community and share interesting insights and narratives about Zulu culture and its fascinating customs, beliefs and traditions.

You will be invited into a traditional homestead and given the rare opportunity to witness the daily routines and lifestyle of an authentic, rural Zulu family where aeons of tradition intersect with modern life.

Learn about the family structures, patriarchal duties and matriarchal responsibilities of the tribe, find out how local homes are constructed and why cattle are so valuable and highly revered.

Spend time with the respected local sangoma, a witch doctor and traditional healer, who will explain the significance of the ancestors in Zulu life, as well as the tribe’s spiritual beliefs and the importance of their sacred lands.

The adventure ends with a quick stop at the Mbhedula Craft Market, where the beautiful handiwork and art of 43 Zulu crafters is showcased. It’s a great place to find that perfect souvenir of your time with the Zulu people.

A local community visit near &BEYOND Phinda
A community excursion offers a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the wonderfully diverse communities of KwaZulu-Natal.

Embark on an insightful tour with Africa Foundation, &Beyond’s community development partner, which has been active within the rural communities surrounding &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve for 25 years.

Gain first-hand knowledge of the Foundation’s various projects, aimed at improving education, healthcare and access to water, as well as the development of local businesses in the area.

You will have the opportunity to visit projects in the Mduku and Mnqobokazi communities, including the Khulani Special School, a community crèche, the Mduku Clinic, the Nkomo Full Service Primary School, the Mbhedula Craft Market or the Dongwelethu Poultry Project.

These tours offer insight into the everyday lives of community members as well as the difficulties they may face.

For instance, the Khulani Special School was created by two concerned community members to meet the needs of children with disabilities living within the communities of Mduku, Mnqobokazi and Nibela, who previously had to travel over 150 kilometres to the nearest formal special needs school.

The Mduku Clinic was built by Africa Foundation in 1995, before which the closest hospital was 70 kilometres away and the only access to a nurse was a mobile clinic that visited the community once a fortnight.

Now up to 42 000 patients visit the clinic annually and the facility provides emergency care, treatment of chronic diseases and a wing dedicated to the healthcare of women and children.

Nkomo Full Service Primary School was formed in 1997 by stalwart teacher Nomusa Zikhali, who used to teach 60 children under the shade of trees. Now, Nkomo is a full service primary school with more than 20 classrooms and over 1 000 pupils.

Ocean adventures at &BEYOND Phinda
Not only is &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve‘s unique location known for its abundant wildlife, diversity of habitats and wide range of safari activities, it is also set within easy reach of the Indian Ocean coastline and the famous iSimangaliso / Greater St Lucia Wetland Park.

Adding to Phinda’s wildlife charms, the marine diversity of nearby Sodwana Bay is easily accessible, with exceptional scuba diving, fishing and even turtle watching listed as some of its main attractions. Choose from a variety of seasonal activities to explore the Maputaland region and it’s ocean adventures.

Maputaland beach trip
The vast sandy beaches of the Maputaland coastline provide a beautiful setting for this half-day beach outing to beautiful Sodwana Bay.

There is ample time for you to soak up the warm African sun and splash in the clear, temperate waters of the Indian Ocean, bordered by miles and miles of sandy beaches. The diverse area is stippled with rugged foothills, flanked by dense dune vegetation and the azure hues of the tropical Indian Ocean.

Marvel at the ever-changing forms of the golden sand dunes, constantly shifted by the winds and tides. Interspersed between the shimmering, gilded sands jut craggy mounds teeming with a dense accumulations of rich minerals and ruddy sediments.

Relax with a good book, play fun filled beach games and take leisurely walks along the pristine shoreline, which blends effortlessly with the animated ocean, awash with the sound of the waves and the cries of various sea birds.

At low tide you can snorkel alongside Jesser Point, a protected marine reserve, and marvel at an endless abundance of diverse and colourful marine life. Jesser Point features a rock-strewn point at the south corner of the bay, perfect for fishing off the rocks at low ride and from the safety of the bay at high tide.

Maputaland Ocean Safari
Whilst enjoying the exceptional Big Five at &BEYOND Phinda Private Game Reserve, why not treat yourself to an Ocean Safari that offers the opportunity to encounter some of South Africa’s most beautiful marine life?

Set off on board a semi-rigid inflatable boat in the company of a certified Dive Master and enjoy the prospect of encountering and swimming with sleek, silvery dolphins. Snorkel amongst some of South Africa most magnificent coral reef, viewing a bevvy of iridescent tropical fish. Marvel at the colossal forms of humpback and southern right whales.

The temperate waters are awash with a plethora of diverse aquatic life, including the ancient walnut-hued leatherback and the white-bellied loggerhead turtles, the slow-moving, yellow-spotted whale shark, a variety of shy eels and hundreds of minute, kaleidoscopic fish that flit in and around the corals.

Marvel at the iridescent colours of a variety of tropical fish as they streak through the aquamarine waters, from the bright yellow of the butterflyfish to the topaz triggerfish and the distinct shapes and vivid colours of a variety of wrasse.

Marvel at the medley of colours of the flourishing marine species beneath the calm, azure surface as you swim amidst the infinite hues of blue that stipple the sky and sea.

Indian Ocean scuba dive
Diving the reefs off South Africa’s east coast at Sodwana Bay allows you to experience a portrait of marine diversity, with over 1 200 species of fish and spectacular coral formations set in warm and clear tropical waters.

Ideal for divers of all abilities, dives can be tailored for all guests who hold an Open Water 1 NAUI or PADI dive qualification have dived in the last six months.

The tropical waters of Sodwana Bay are home to an abundance of marine life, boasting more than 80% of all the world’s marine classes. Swim past lemony yellow butterflyfish, powder blue triggerfish and citron-spotted whale sharks.

Renowned as one of the top five diving destinations in the world, dives at Sodwana Bay reveal just a taste of the wide-ranging biodiversity found here.

With the aquamarine water as the perfect canvas, watch in awe as variety of rainbow-coloured fish dart in and around healthy coral reefs, creating a vivid visual masterpiece.

The Maputaland coast is unique in that it is the only site in the world that attracts prevalent South African, tropical Indo-Pacific, Southern Ocean, circum-global, deep-sea, and European fish, which filter down along the west coast of Africa coast.

This vast range of species includes predators like the ragged-tooth shark and the silvery dolphins, as well as easy-going turtles and streamlined rays.

Turtle nesting adventure
Each year, during the southern hemisphere summer, between November and January, enormous leatherback and loggerhead turtles emerge from the Indian Ocean at Sodwana Bay to lay their precious eggs in the sun-warmed sand, as they have done for hundreds of millions of years.

Set out on a thrilling night-time adventure along a stretch of 16 kilometres of tranquil beach, set to the background of the harmonic sounds of foamy waves rushing in to shore.

With only the beam of your flashlight, the cold light of the moon flitting between wispy clouds and the distant flash of the lighthouse to guide you, search for these gentle animals as they ride the waves to shore to dig their nests at one of Africa’s last key nesting sites.

Dig your bare feet into the cool, velvet sand and hold your breath as you wait for a ritual as old as time to once again take place.

Watch in wonder as two of the ocean’s largest turtles – the walnut-hued leatherback ringing in at 700 kilograms and the white-bellied loggerhead touching 160 kilograms – breach the quiet shore, leaving behind a deep trail in the soft sand.

Marvel at the silent concentration of the mother as she squats above a deep hole in the sand, laying scores of smooth, oval eggs, which she carefully covers with warm, loose sand before disappearing back into the inky waves.

Weddings with &BEYOND
From its striking landscapes and dramatic wildlife to the warmth of its people and its timeless atmosphere, Africa is the very soul of romance – the ideal place for a magnificent wedding or blessing ceremony that will create memories to last a lifetime.

From a classic safari wedding in the open bushveld to a sunset ceremony overlooking a spectacular view or a walk down the aisle in the dry bed of an African river, our South African lodges and camps, each provide a selection of beautiful wedding locations.

Whether an intimate ceremony for two or a celebration for over 120 guests, exceptional care is taken with every special occasion.

Following an effortless bush ceremony, guests can raise champagne flutes to toast the bride and groom in a sand forest or on an outcrop overlooking spectacular mountain ranges.

&Beyond creates gracious wedding banquets set in open-air bomas, with softly glowing lanterns, crackling fires, crisp white tablecloths, and the faint background orchestra of the wilderness.

Our meticulous wedding planners can put together a wedding filled with breathtaking moments and joyful surprises that will pamper and delight any couple.

From world-class banquets to flowers, officiants, photographers and wedding entertainment, we can assist. Contact us to help you plan your fairytale wedding in the African bush.

Website: www.andbeyond.com

Rooms: 4

Price: from 1.070 EUR per night