Luxury Safaris in Phinda Private Game Reserve

Phinda is a year round safari destination, but each season offers something unique. KwaZulu-Natal’s warm, subtropical climate keeps winter mild, making it one of the most comfortable reserves to visit even in the cooler months.

Dry Season (May to October)

• Best for consistent wildlife viewing
• Vegetation thins, improving visibility
• Excellent cheetah, lion and rhino sightings
• Clear, comfortable winter weather due to KwaZulu-Natal’s mild climate
• Ideal for first time safari travellers and photographers

Green Season (November to April)

• Warm, tropical conditions with short afternoon rains
• Lush, colourful landscapes perfect for photography
• Excellent birding with migratory species
• Fewer vehicles and quieter lodges
• Good predator activity during calving season

Marine Safari Option

• Phinda’s proximity to Sodwana Bay allows easy access to marine safaris
• Snorkeling and diving available year round
• Seasonal sightings include turtles, whale sharks and vibrant reef life

Phinda Private Game Reserve offers one of South Africa’s most meaningful safari experiences, where exceptional wildlife viewing, pioneering conservation and genuine community partnership come together across seventy three thousand acres of protected wilderness. Whether you visit in the dry season for clear Big Five sightings or the green season for lush scenery and quieter moments, Phinda delivers a safari that is immersive, responsible and deeply rewarding.

Phinda is known for exceptional cheetah sightings, thriving rhino populations and reliable Big Five viewing across its seventy three thousand acres of protected wilderness. The reserve is also home to leopard, elephant, lion, buffalo, hyena, giraffe and a remarkable variety of plains game.

Its seven distinct ecosystems, including rare sand forests and wetlands, support more than four hundred bird species and create outstanding photographic and wildlife experiences.

Phinda’s conservation experiences offer a unique perspective on Africa’s most important wildlife protection initiatives, including the rare opportunity to learn about the Temminck’s pangolin, the most trafficked mammal in the world.

Phinda is one of Africa’s most successful private conservation projects. Since 1991, more than thirty years of work has transformed degraded farmland into thriving wildlife habitats through the reintroduction of cheetah, rhino and pangolin, groundbreaking anti-poaching initiatives and carefully managed ecological practices.

Phinda’s wildlife has contributed significantly to rewilding efforts across the continent. Black and white rhino have been relocated to Botswana, Rwanda and soon the Ngorongoro Crater. Cheetah have been translocated to several reserves to strengthen the genetic diversity of wild populations. Phinda has even helped restore lions to Rwanda through the introduction of lions to Akagera National Park.

The reserve also partners closely with neighbouring communities through Wild Impact, investing in education, healthcare, employment and local economic development. This long-standing community partnership ensures that conservation benefits both the wildlife and the people who share the landscape with it.