Phinda Game Reserve

'Seven different eco systems exist on the reserve including forest and coastal, and its variety renders it perfect for an escape of luxury and adventure'

Size & Location: 175km² in the Maputaland region in northern KwaZulu-Natal
When to visit the park: Drier, cooler months (April - Sept) preferred for game viewing
Climate: Subtropical, humid rainy summers. Daytime temps. up to 30°C
Rainfall: 500mm per annum
Altitude: 350m (approx.) above sea level

PHINDA LODGES:
» PHINDA FOREST LODGE
» PHINDA VLEI LODGE
» PHINDA MOUNTAIN LODGE
» PHINDA ROCK LODGE
» ZUKA LODGE
» PHINDA WALKING SAFARI
» ACTIVITIES AT PHINDA

PARK INFORMATION:

Phinda Game Reserve has seven distinct habitats are home to an incredible diversity of South African wildlife:

» Abundant wildlife populations, including the Big Five
» Threatened African wildlife species such as rhino and cheetah
» Over 380 bird species - three endemic to the region
» Rare Sand Forest contains numerous rare and endemic species
» Highly endangered sea turtles breed on the beaches nearby (Nov-Jan)
» Home to Southern Africa's only member of the cactus family
» Exposed fossil sites reveal former seabed
» Dynamic model in wise land management and profitable conservation

Wildlife habitats: The unique dry Sand Forest is characterised by newtonia, umzithi, pteliopsis and Zulu podberry trees with abundant epiphytic orchids and Africa's only cactus species (Rhipsalis). Mixed bushveld savanna is dominated by acacia trees, with different species thriving on clay or sandy soils. Open woodland of tall marula, bushwillow and terminalia occurs on sandy soils. Palmveld is characterised by open grassland dotted with lala palm and waterberry thickets. Evergreen forest and thickets fringe the Mzinene and Munyawana Rivers, with tamboti, sycamore fig and weeping boerbean among typical trees. Groves of sulphur-barked fever trees occur on floodplains. Seasonal marshes and pans are inundated after heavy summer rains. Rocky hillsides are cloaked with trees such as common wild-pear, red bushwillow and galpinia.

Mammals: Phinda Game Reserve is home to an incredible diversity of mammals. Predators like cheetah, leopard, lion, white rhino, elephant, buffalo, nyala, impala, warthog, aardvark, bushpig, bushbaby, mountain reedbuck, reedbuck, tonga red squirrel, suni, red duiker, and the four-toed elephant-shrew.

Birds: An impressive 378 species are recorded. Rudd's apalis, Neergaard's sunbird, pink-throated twinspot, Lemon-breasted canary, southern banded snake-eagle, grey waxbill, narina trogon, African broadbill, square-tailed drongo, trumpeter hornbill, white-eared barbet, golden-rumped tinkerbird, crested guineafowl, purple-crested turaco, gorgeous bushshrike, african finfoot, african purple swamphen (gallinule), white-backed night-heron, malachite kingfisher, mocking cliff-chat, red-winged starling.

Other African wildlife: More than 80 species of butterfly have been recorded. 37 recorded species of frogs. Reptiles include the rainbow skink, giant plated lizard, african rock python, nile crocodile. Over 1000 species of fish are found in these subtropical waters of the Indian Ocean.

ACCOMMODATION AND SAFARIS THAT INCORPORATES HLUHLUWE GAME RESERVE
GAME AND SAFARI LODGES	SAFARIS AND TOURS
PHINDA FOREST LODGE	PHINDA WALKING SAFARI
PHINDA VLEI LODGE	ACTIVITIES AT PHINDA
PHINDA MOUNTAIN LODGE
PHINDA ROCK LODGE
ZUKA LODGE