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THE GREATER ST LUCIA WETLAND PARK & PHINDA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE
The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park features a scenic stretch of country on the northern KwaZulu Natal coast, which includes a wilderness of reed-fringed lake, swamps, palm veld, grasslands, sand dunes, and savannah which border the breakers of the Indian Ocean.
As the area stretches through both subtropical and tropical climatic zones, the vegetation and wildlife are extremely diverse. Five ecosystems exist, each distinct but interconnected with the others: the marine ecosystem (coral reefs, beaches), Mfabeni (forested dunes), Mkuze swamps, the lake ( islands) and the western shores (fossil marine life and sand forests). The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park has become a favorite leisure area with its shallow lakes, dunes and beautiful beaches stretching from Sodwana Bay to the lower Mkuze Road in the north, the marine reserves in the east to the lakes western shores.
PHINDA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE
The Phinda Game Reserve is a 17 000 ha private sanctuary located between Mkuzi Game Reserve and the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park.
Phinda Mountain Lodge lies within the 15 000 hectares of the Phinda Private Game Reserve, in the Maputaland region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Phinda neighbors the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park which is a World Heritage Site to the east and is only 30km due west of the beaches of the Indian Ocean.
Seven specific ecosystems are found here in the Phinda Private Game Reserve, which are characterized by sand forests, open savannah, montane bushveld, wetlands and river valleys. Each of these ecosystems is home to indigenous game such as elephant, rhino, giraffe, wildebeest, nyala, cheetah and lion.
The Phinda Game Reserve officially opened in 1991 and has been declared a Natural Heritage Site. Guests at the Phinda Lodge are accommodated in luxurious mountain and forest suites and are provided with guided game and aerial safaris, black rhino tracking on foot, bush walks, canoe safaris, river cruises, snorkeling and deep-sea diving at closely Sodwana Bay.
Guests can observe the serenity of the South African wilderness from their private decks at Phinda, surrounded by the indigenous trees and shrubbery of the pristine Zululand bushveld. Each suite features a comfortable sitting area below the large beds. Paved pathways lead down the mountainside from the main guest areas to the spacious suites - a subtly executed blend of avant-garde and ethnic design.
Delicious Pan-African cuisine is enjoyed in the dramatic boma (outdoor dining area) illuminated by dozens of candles and lanterns, or served to the guest in a spectacular clearing in the bush under a star-studded sky. Phinda is renowned for wonderful bush banqueting in surprising settings.
Phinda’s unparalleled safari experiences: Little can compare to Phinda’s exciting range of safari activities. Apart from the twice-daily game-drives, nature walks, riverboat cruises and canoe trips along the Mzinene River, Phinda also offers a range of optional thrilling Indian Ocean adventures from scuba diving and deep-sea fishing to spectacular air safaris.
ANIMALS & ACTIVITIES
Besides game viewing, visitors to the Phinda Game Reserve can witness turtles laying their eggs on remote beaches and dive amongst them on the coral reefs. Hippos and crocodiles are home in the waterways and can be watched from the safety of canoes.
Numerous endemic fish species can be found in the lakes and the Indian Ocean provides a tropical home to whales and dolphins, turtles and colorful tropical fish on the coral reefs.
The Greater St Lucia area is famous for its prolific birdlife including flamingoes, pelicans, herons, ducks, geese, storks and numerous resident and migrant birds.
SEASONS
As the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park is in a sub-tropical region, the rainy summer from October to March makes the air hot and humid.
The dry season in the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park, which runs from April to September, is marked by pleasant temperatures with warm days and cool nights.
ACTIVITIES AT PHINDA GAME RESERVE INCLUDE
• Deep Sea Fishing
• Flight of the Fish Eagle
• Beach Adventure?
• Dumuzulu Village
• Turtle Drives
• Horse riding
• Scuba Diving
Twice daily game-drives in open 4x4 game viewing vehicles, nature walks and excellent birding on Phinda Private Game Reserve are offered. Riverboat cruises and canoeing along the Mzinene River add to the numerous activities while at Phinda. Optional Phinda Adventures include breathtaking coastal flights, beach excursions, snorkelling and scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, turtle viewing (season Nov/Dec/Jan), horse riding and cultural visits.
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