Description
Set amid dense woodland beside a busy waterhole where animals congregate, Zuka Lodge offers an intimate, deeply private safari option. If hired exclusively (the sole option from 2017 onwards), it essentially works as a personal holiday home, one with its own staff, pool, facilities and four ginormous cottages. All around is the rest of Phinda Private Game Reserve, whose seven distinct ecosystems deliver memorable, Big Five-boasting safaris, and whose privileged position enables beach jaunts.
Accommodation
Spaced around a central homestead, each of the four air-conditioned cottages come with big, big bathrooms, freestanding stone tubs, a sitting room and fireplace and an outdoor game-viewing deck overlooking that ever-active waterhole. Colourful displays of traditional Zulu hats adorn every bedroom.
Facilities
The main homestead contains comfortable library with Internet access, a cafe-style kitchen and a gorgeous pool and deck which becomes especially popular during balmy afternoons. Dinner is served inside, within the lovely garden or out amid the plains. Exclusive hirers benefit from a personal chef, and can choose their own menus.
Activities
Exclusively booked Zuka Lodge? Then you’ll have a dedicated ranger and tracker at your disposal, plus a 4x4 vehicle, and can choose how to structure days. Otherwise, for those reserving individual rooms in 2016, there’s a relaxed daily programme. Dawn game safaris are likely to deliver Big Five sightings, plus many a cheetah. Evening safaris and their sundowners are also complimentary, along with birdwatching, educative ranger walks, canoeing and river cruises, while other activities – thrilling flights to Maputaland beaches, night-time turtle drives (November to January), deep sea fishing – cost extra.
Child Policy
Game drives are available to children aged 12 and over; those aged 6-12 are permitted on drives only at the manager’s discretion. During exclusive hire, drives can be tailored for kids. Childminding can be arranged (additional cost).
The Best of South Africa Travel map displays the locations of the destinations and accommodation that we have selected and visited; for each item, hovering over or clicking the marker will display a short summary and photo of that place or hotel, and hotel pricing. Follow the links in the info box to the full page listing which has much more information.
Note that the online map offers both a satellite view (click satellite in the top right) and, for some locations, a street level view (Drag the person in the top left onto the map). These let you explore the country; and when you wish to explore in person, or if you have any questions about the places you see, give our staff a call, or request a quote. Our staff regularly visit the places and accommodation that we feature.
When you book a holiday with us we will provide full driving instructions for reaching your accommodation, where necessary; these can be used by yourself, or you could enjoy the luxury of a driver. Alternatively we will arrange private (car rather than coach) transfers for you; helicopter transfers are also possible for some destinations.
