Lodge · Phinda
AndBeyond Phinda Zuka Lodge
About the lodge
An overview of AndBeyond Phinda Zuka Lodge.
Phinda Zuka Safari Lodge is an exclusive-use establishment, positioned in a private wooded area of the Phinda Reserve.
Highlights
- Four private bush suites offer en-suite bathrooms with oversized baths and indoor showers.
- Suites have private seating areas that overlook an active waterhole.
- Private day and night safaris available when booking as an exclusive-use lodge.
You Should Know
- Children of all ages are welcome.
The Details
Phinda Private Game Reserve is a diverse 28,555-hectare park located in KwaZulu-Natal. The reserve is situated between the Mkuze Game Reserve and the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, within easy reach of the Indian Ocean coastline. The landscape is lush with grassy woodlands and sweeping mountain ranges. It is home to Africa's famous Big Five.
Phinda Zuka Safari Lodge is an exclusive-use establishment located in a private wooded area of the Phinda Reserve. This well-appointed lodge, named after the Zulu term for "sixpence," caters to your every need. The lodge offers the services of a personal game ranger and game drive vehicle, an interactive kitchen with a dedicated chef, a butler to attend to all your needs, a comfortable library with internet access and TV, a sitting room with a fireplace, a private swimming pool, and a private waterhole. With no set timetable or routine, your safari experience is completely tailored to suit your needs.
Four private bush Suites feature en-suite bathrooms with oversized baths and indoor showers, as well as private sitting areas that overlook the waterhole.
Activities offered at the lodge include twice-daily private game drives conducted in open safari vehicles, guided bush walks, Zulu village tours, seasonal night turtle drives, scuba and ocean safaris, black rhino tracking on foot, and participative conservation experiences.
Phinda Private Game Reserve’s unique blend of riverine and rare sand forest habitats is home to an exceptional variety of wildlife, including lions, giraffes, white and black rhinos, antelope, elephants, leopards, buffalo, cheetahs, and wildebeest, as well as 415 bird species.
Phinda Zuka Lodge is ideal for families and small groups seeking an exclusive safari experience.
Price Includes
- Accommodation, three meals daily, soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beers, teas and coffees, refreshments on game drives, and laundry.
- Safari activities, 1-hour nature walks accompanied by experienced armed trackers (subject to availability).
- Emergency medical evacuation insurance, VAT, and transfers to and from the lodge airstrip.
The same as booking direct
Rates and pricing.
Per person sharing, per night. Final pricing depends on dates, room category and party size.
Valid until 10 Jan 2027
Why book through us
You pay the lodge's rate, never a markup. What you get on top is a specialist who knows AndBeyond Phinda Zuka Lodge personally, looks after every detail of the trip, and stays reachable on WhatsApp from the moment you enquire to the day you come home.
By season
Green season
1 Apr 2026 – 31 Jul 2026
All Inclusive – All meals, beverages, two game drives, walking safaris, and return transfers
Special offer
R 11 850
Normally R 15 800
Peak / migration
1 Aug 2026 – 31 Oct 2026
All Inclusive – All meals, beverages, two game drives, walking safaris, and return transfers
Special offer
R 11 850
Normally R 15 800
Shoulder
1 Nov 2026 – 10 Jan 2027
All Inclusive – All meals, beverages, two game drives, walking safaris, and return transfers
Special offer
R 11 850
Normally R 15 800
Rates are per person sharing, per night. A single supplement may apply for solo travellers. We offer a price match guarantee, just ask your safari specialist.
Exclusive offer
Already reflected in the rates above.
The reduced rates shown in the table apply for the periods listed. Here is what is running and why.
Stay & Pay
Stay 4 Pay 3 - Valid 11 Jan '26 - 10 Jan '27. Stay 4 nights at andBeyond Phinda Zuka Lodge and only pay for 3 nights | Fly me to Phinda: Stay 3 nights at Phinda Zuka and get a discount to fly there & back OR return scheduled road transfers between King Shaka International Airport/Richards Bay and Phinda | Validity: 11 Jan '26 - 10 Jan '27 | Terms and Conditions Apply
Combo
Long stay discounted rates: Stay for 6+ nights and save up to 20%: May be applied for a combination of &Beyond lodges in Africa (subject to seasonal availability of the offer), for the same guests on a single itinerary. | Validity: 11 Jan '26 - 10 Jan '27
Honeymoon offer
For couples celebrating a wedding.
Documented from andBeyond Southern Africa's 2026 rate sheet. A formal offer you can claim, not marketing language.
Honeymoon Offer
Save 50% on one partner's accommodation (one partner pays full rate, the other pays 50% of accommodation rate for the whole stay)
Honeymooning couples staying at &Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge receive a 50% discount on one partner's accommodation for the entire stay. One partner pays the full rate while the other pays 50% of the accommodation rate. The offer is based on the 1–5-night rate, requires a minimum 2-night stay, and is valid for travel within 6 months of the date of marriage. A marriage certificate/proof of marriage must be supplied. Not applicable to Family Cottages, Family Suites and Villas, and may not be combined with other offers or Long Stay rates. Valid 11 Jan 2026 – 10 Jan 2027.
- Minimum stay
- 2 nights
- Valid
- 11 January 2026 – 10 January 2027
- Proof
- Marriage certificate to be supplied
- Combinable
- May not be combined with other offers or Long Stay rates
Honeymoon Offer
Save 50% on one partner's accommodation (one partner pays full rate, the other pays 50% of accommodation rate for the whole stay)
Honeymooning couples staying at &Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge receive a 50% discount on one partner's accommodation for the entire stay. One partner pays the full rate while the other pays 50% of the accommodation rate. The offer is based on the 1–5-night rate, requires a minimum 2-night stay, and is valid for travel within 6 months of the date of marriage. Proof of marriage must be supplied. Not applicable to Family Cottages, Family Suites and Villas, and may not be combined with other offers or Long Stay rates. Valid 11 Jan – 20 Dec 2027.
- Minimum stay
- 2 nights
- Valid
- 11 January 2027 – 20 December 2027
- Proof
- Proof of marriage to be supplied
- Combinable
- May not be combined with other offers or Long Stay rates
Milestone Celebrations Offer
20% discount on accommodation
Guests celebrating a significant wedding anniversary (1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40 or 50 years) receive a 20% discount on their accommodation at &Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge. The offer is valid for travel up to 6 months before or after the anniversary date. Valid for all room types booked on a 1–5-night rate, applicable to the room occupied by the milestone guest(s). A wedding certificate must be provided as proof. Valid during three seasonal windows across 2026: 11 Jan–31 Mar, 11 Apr–30 Jun, and 1 Sep–20 Dec 2026.
- Valid
- 11 January 2026 – 20 December 2026
- Booking
- Valid for 6 months before OR after your celebration date
- Proof
- Wedding certificate as proof
- Combinable
- May not be combined with other offers or Long Stay rates
Milestone Celebrations Offer
20% discount on accommodation
Guests celebrating a significant wedding anniversary (1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40 or 50 years) receive a 20% discount on their accommodation at &Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge. The offer is valid for travel up to 6 months before or after the anniversary date. Valid for all room types booked on a 1–5-night rate, applicable to the room occupied by the milestone guest(s). A wedding certificate must be provided as proof. Valid during three seasonal windows across 2027: 11 Jan–19 Mar, 2 Apr–30 Jun, and 1 Sep–20 Dec 2027.
- Valid
- 11 January 2027 – 20 December 2027
- Booking
- Valid for 6 months before OR after your celebration date
- Proof
- Wedding certificate as proof
- Combinable
- May not be combined with other offers or Long Stay rates
Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Terms and eligibility may change. Your specialist confirms all offers at the time of booking.
Photographic safari options
Built for photographers.
Specific photographic infrastructure available at AndBeyond Phinda Zuka Lodge, taken from andBeyond Southern Africa's published rate sheets, not marketing copy.
Photographic vehicle
Photographic vehicle
A fully-equipped photographic safari vehicle available at Phinda Private Game Reserve, fitted with state-of-the-art camera mounts, catering for a maximum of four guests to ensure exclusivity during the safari experience. Suitable for photography enthusiasts from beginners to advanced.
Fitted with state-of-the-art camera mounts; max 4 guests; 16 years and older; private activity; per safari per day
- Cost
- 14 900 / 14 095 per safari per day
- Availability
- advance booking required
Specialist guide
Photographic Safari
A dedicated photographic safari at Phinda Private Game Reserve led by expert guides with extensive experience in wildlife, birding and landscape photography. Guides provide advice on shutter speed, lenses, filters, angles and lighting, and combine their knowledge of animal behaviour with photography skills to help guests plan every step of their safari.
Expert guides advise on shutter speed, lenses, filters, angles, lighting; max 6 guests; 6 years and older (12+ recommended); private activity; per safari per day
- Cost
- 15 900 / 15 041 per safari per day
- Availability
- advance booking required
Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Prices and availability subject to change. Your specialist confirms at booking.
Family policies
Travelling with children.
What our safari specialists know about bringing children to AndBeyond Phinda Zuka Lodge: minimum ages, activities, family rooms and child rates, current as of May 2026. They plan family trips here all the time, so anything below that needs arranging, they will sort. For the bigger picture, see our guide to safari with children .
Minimum ages
- Stay
- All ages
- Game drives
- 6+
- Walking safari
- 12+
Programmes & care
No dedicated kids' programme.
Babysitting available
Accommodation
Family unit available.
Child rates
0–2 years sharing with adults: free of charge (cots subject to availability). 3–5 years sharing with adults: free of charge (triple rooms subject to availability). 6–16 years sharing with adults: 50% of adult rate. 6–16 years in own room: 1st child at adult rate, 2nd & 3rd child at 50% (max 3 children per room). 17+ charged full adult rate. Child rates do not apply to Family Cottages/Suites/Villas. Single supplement applies when an adult shares with an infant under 6.
Notable exceptions
- Children of all ages are welcome to stay. Standard game drives are open to children aged 6+, with 6–11 year olds joining at the Lodge Manager's discretion. Walking safaris remain 12+. If a Private Vehicle is paid for, children of any age may join game drives, with sighting access at the guide's discretion; additional children's drives may be requested for the 3–5 age group. The lodge has 1 Family Suite (2 rooms) accommodating 2 adults + 2 children, charged per suite — standard child rates do not apply to Family Cottages/Suites/Villas. Childminders are available (must be booked on day of arrival) at ZAR 120/child/hour (2026) or ZAR 200/child/hour (2027), payable to the lodge.
Walking safari
Built for walking.
Documented walking safari options at AndBeyond Phinda Zuka Lodge. Distinguishes short bush walks from dedicated walking trails and overnight wilderness journeys.
Full-day walk
Specialist Walking Safari
A private, full-day walking experience at Phinda Private Game Reserve guided by a specialist ranger and tracker. Guests can choose between a Tracking Walk, a Nature Walk, or any combination of the two, tailored to their personal preferences — from following an animal for hours to exploring the wildest corners of the reserve on foot.
- Availability
- Minimum 2-night stay required; subject to availability
Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Prices and availability subject to change. Your specialist confirms at booking.
Sleep-outs
Under the stars.
Star beds, sleep-out hides, walking sleep-outs and overnight platforms documented at AndBeyond Phinda Zuka Lodge.
Fly-camp overnight
A night under the stars
Guests enjoy a leisurely afternoon game drive out to a romantic bush setting where comfortable beds with full duvets, warm blankets and mosquito nets are set up around a blazing campfire. A ranger prepares a meal on the fire, sundowner drinks are served, and guests fall asleep under an open starry sky with an armed guard patrolling the site throughout the night. This is a supplement charged in addition to lodge accommodation.
Private, overnight experience. Maximum 6 guests. Minimum age: 12 years and older. Cannot be pre-booked; subject to availability of a guide and vehicle.
- Cost
- ZAR 2 860 per person
- Availability
- Subject to availability of a guide and vehicle; cannot be pre-booked
Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Prices and availability subject to change. Your specialist confirms at booking.
Cultural
Beyond the game drive.
Community visits, cultural walks, and dining experiences documented at AndBeyond Phinda Zuka Lodge.
Village visit
Zulu Village Visit
Guests visit a Zulu community just outside Phinda Private Game Reserve, escorted by a local andBeyond guide who shares insights into Zulu culture, customs, beliefs and traditions. The visit includes a tour of a traditional Zulu homestead, time with the local sangoma (traditional healer/witch doctor), and ends at the Mbhedula Craft Market showcasing work from 43 Zulu crafters. Funds from the market support andBeyond's Star-in-Training internship programme for neighbouring community members.
Duration: 4 hours. Group size: min 2, max 12 guests. Pricing: ZAR 2,600 per person for 1–4 guests; ZAR 2,355 per person for 5+ guests. Scheduled activity. Not available: 3–6 Apr & 25–26 Dec.
- Cost
- ZAR 2,600 per person (1–4 guests); ZAR 2,355 per person (5+ guests)
- Availability
- Scheduled; not available 3–6 Apr & 25–26 Dec
Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Prices and availability subject to change. Your specialist confirms at booking.
Imagery
A closer look.
10 photographs · click any image to expand
Speak to a safari specialist
Plan your dream safari at AndBeyond Phinda Zuka Lodge.
From your first enquiry to the day you come home, one named safari specialist looks after every detail. We can handle the whole trip, not just the stay at AndBeyond Phinda Zuka Lodge: multi-country itineraries, internal flights, road transfers, tipping guidance, travel insurance, the lot. A safari specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours.
Ready when you are
Let's design your stay.
Your specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours with availability, exact pricing, and suggestions for what to combine it with.