Nestled inside 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) of Africa’s last remaining dry sand forest lies Phinda Forest Lodge, one of the world’s first eco-designed luxury safari lodges.
With its seven distinct habitats, Phinda Private Game Reserve 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. Showcasing one of the continent’s finest game viewing experiences, the reserve is home to Africa’s Big Five, as well as 436 bird species.

Set in a rare and beautiful sand forest, the glass walls of Phinda Forest Lodge’s 16 air-conditioned suites offer a sweeping view of one of the most unique ecosystems on the planet. A dense canopy provides privacy, and floor to ceiling windows invite the forest in, with the wonderful opportunity to view wildlife roaming outside your glass “bubble”, fluttering birds nesting in the foliage and the gentle rustle of forest sounds.

Family Suite
(2 Rooms)
The family suite comprises of two rooms which can be accessed privately or through a linked passageway. The main suite features an ensuite bathroom with a freestanding bath, an indoor shower, and double vanity. Additionally, it has a super-king bed, his-and-hers wardrobes, a sitting area, a freestanding personal bar, a coffee and tea station, as well as a refurbished outdoor deck. The second bedroom, linked via a small passageway, each with a closable door for privacy, also includes a super-king bed (which can be converted to a twin), and a seperate bathroom with an indoor shower, toilet, and single vanity. Seamlessly blending aspects of Japanese minimalism with an ode to local culture, and aligned to the lodge’s other suites, the Family Suite celebrates a contemporary design incorporating elements of the natural forest and Zulu culture through the use of tactile textures and natural materials such as woven matting, textured grass cloth wallpaper, and hardwood floors, with natural stone tiling in the bathrooms.

On the edge of the forest, just before a clearing that overlooks a small waterhole, lies the lodge’s sparkling rim-flow swimming pool, an ideal respite in between game drives. Expansive decks in the spacious guest area, look out onto panoramic views of an open grassy meadow. In the evenings, when warm firelight welcomes you to the traditional African boma, wide-eyed bush babies watch inquisitively from the trees above, as you in indulge in a lantern-lit feast beneath a canvas of stars.