That age-old question! In truth it depends on what you’re after, but we think that there is so much to explore on this beautiful reserve that all times of the year will bring something special to your safari. The dry season (May through to September/October) is when the bush will be at its driest, which makes for easier game viewing. That said, it does drop in temperature at night which can make those early and evening game drives a little nippy. You can just wrap up in the blankets Phinda will provide though and tuck into a tasty whiskey to keep warm! In the summer months when temperatures heat up (October/November through to around March) you can expect the odd thunderstorm which is quite a sight to see, and the rain brings with it stunning greens which make Phinda a photographer’s paradise! It can make finding the animals a little harder, however cats don’t like getting their paws wet so you may find them just strolling along the roads – nice and easy! Ultimately you’ll have a phenomenal safari experience no matter when you visit, as Phinda Private Game Reserve is home to some incredible animals including the Big Five, as well as 436 bird species.

Phinda Private Game Reserve is over 28,500 hectares of private game reserve situated in KwaZulu-Natal, in the furthest eastern part of South Africa between the Mkuze Game Reserve and the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park. With its seven distinct habitats, Phinda is often described as ‘Seven Worlds of Wonder’, a magnificent tapestry of woodland, grassland, wetland and forest, interspersed with mountain ranges, rivers, marshes and pans. The reserve is also home to 1,000 hectares of Africa’s remaining rare dry sand forest just a short distance to the unspoiled beaches and spectacular coral reefs of the Indian Ocean which means it offers you the most remarkable opportunity to combine both bush and beach!

In our opinion, it’s impossible to say just one or two are the best! Phinda is home to six magnificent lodges, each with its own individual charm and character and we are lucky enough to know the lodges inside out, which means as soon as we get to know you and how you like to travel or what you expect from your South African safari, we can put you in the best home-from-home possible. A few of the lodges are representative of where they sit within the reserve (Mountain Lodge, Rock Lodge, Forest Lodge, Vlei Lodge) and if you’re looking for proper exclusivity we’d recommend either Zuka Lodge (just four suites) or Phinda Homestead (an exclusive-use four-bed villa). Each of the lodges allows you to embrace a huge variety of incredible activities 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 such as scuba diving and turtle hatching (seasonal). So what are you waiting for?