Phinda Vlei - The Details
Vlei lodge, like Forest lodge is set in the north of the reserve; however unlike Forest lodge it is not set in the forest itself which means that the lodge feels a lot more open.
The lodge looks over the open vlei (open grassland) where cheetah can sometimes be seen hunting. A lodge where you can see cheetah hunting is very rarely found throughout the whole of Africa, so this is a really unique plus which sets this lodge apart from so many others.
The six rooms are very luxurious and each has its own plunge pool. Imagine enjoying the last of the African heat of the day with a glass of champagne, whilst suddenly a rukus begins in the plains in front and you are watching some completely Attenborough-esque scenes of true African wildlife. It is not certain of course, but the opportunity is there.
This is a great lodge if you are travelling as a couple or on a honeymoon and looking for that truly luxurious, splash-out, one of a kind experience. The composition of the camp lends itself very well to suiting all your safari needs - privacy in your spacious rooms, which are equipped with a fully-stocked mini-bar, air-conditioning units and private lap pools which can offer exceptional game viewing (sometimes from your room!) and also that bit of luxury which is a very welcome thing for most.
Game drives explore both forested areas and the open grassy plains that are home to an abundance of big game and birdlife. The variety in habitat lends itself to an abundance of flora and fauna. With &Beyond being the only operator on the game reserve, sightings are often intimate and unobtrusive making for some exceptional game viewing.
What sets Phinda apart from other reserves however is their willingness to get guests involved in contributing to conservation. A number of different conservation experiences including chipping rhino, collaring elephant and tracking pangolin are available for guests to take part in. These extra activities do come at an extra cost, but they are certainly worth it. These activities must be pre-booked as it depends on the availability of a private vehicle and vet so please enquire with us beforehand if this is something you would be interested in.
Combining Phinda with a trip to
Cape Town is one of the best value luxury safaris you can take in Africa. Apart from the extraordinary abundance of wildlife at Phinda and the beautiful lodges, Cape Town can provide and excellent city stay after an exciting and enthralling safari full of late nights and early mornings.
Whether you are a family or on honeymoon, Phinda and Cape Town can provide something for everyone and with transport links being great across South Africa, getting around the country is very straight forward and means it only take a matter of hours to get from A to B.
There are always some great deals to be had across the different lodges and hotels in South Africa so make sure you contact one of our Africa experts to find out more about what current deal you could take advantage of.
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