Planet
August 29, 2019

AND BEYOND: Discover conservation led Phinda Mountain lodge in South Africa

Words by Travel to change the world
Stay

andBeyond’s flagship Phinda Mountain Lodge in South Africa is set for a sustainable future of generations.

Established in 1991 on reclaimed farmland, andBeyond Phinda has earned prestigious international conservation awards and recognition as one of the world’s premier benchmarks for responsible, sustainable travel.

Phinda Mountain Lodge was the first lodge to be opened by the conservation-led luxury experiential travel company, which now owns or operates 29 properties in Africa and South America and has recently had a make-over to exceed the expectations of today’s sustainable led safari traveller.

andBeyond Mountain Lodge
andBeyond Mountain Lodge

What will you experience?

Perched on a dramatic hilltop overlooking the lush Lebombo foothills, this Big Five, family-friendly, luxury safari destination is steeped in Zulu heritage.

Offering a rich wildlife viewing experience and a spectacular setting near the northern KwaZulu-Natal coastline, the reserve has a variety of habitats and high density of game, including some rare and less easily spotted species.

The lodge itself has beautiful mountain-view suites, cottages and a one-of-kind family suite, with panoramic vistas, and access to a selection of unique safari adventures.

Phinda is a magnificent tapestry of landscapes, from woodland to grassland, wetland and forest, interspersed with mountain ranges, river courses, marshes and pans.

It’s also home to a magnificent variety of wildlife, including the entire Big Five, but is best known for its large population of the elegant cheetah and the endangered black rhino, both of which are less easily spotted at other game reserves.

The rare sand forest is home to the shy suni and the rare red duiker, two tiny antelope that are seldom encountered elsewhere while the reserve’s population of nyala is the biggest on private land and provide frequent encounters with this stately animal.

While the frequency of big game encounters may not be as high as at other reserves, Phinda is a private game reserve, which means that vehicle numbers at sightings are strictly monitored.

Because of this, guests are ensured a far more exclusive game viewing experience, with fewer interruptions, sensitive off-road driving practices and more time spent with wildlife.

The Family Suite

What will the positive impact be?

From their legacy conservation model down to the tiniest details of the everyday activities that take place in their touring division and lodges, every decision andBeyond makes revolves around their core ethic of ‘Care of the Land/Oceans, Care of the Wildlife, Care of the People.’

These values have become an intuitive part of the way that andBeyond operates and, increasingly, are part of the reason why the group say their guests find their experience with them so rewarding.

CARE OF THE LAND embraces their efficiency strategy, which aims to minimise physical footprint and the impact that operations have on the environment.

CARE OF THE WILDLIFE is defined in their conservation strategy, which includes the preservation of endangered species.

CARE OF THE PEOPLE is their community strategy, including their partnership with Africa Foundation.

andBeyond says they have “established an intimate relationship with some of the world’s last remaining unspoiled natural places and the communities that surround them. In combination with our highly-skilled guides and rangers, this allows us to deliver extraordinary guest experiences that feel profoundly meaningful.”

Find out more: www.andBeyond.com

Getting there: Airlink operates daily scheduled flights directly from Johannesburg or Cape Town to Phinda Private Game Reserve‘s private airstrip. This convenient network of flights connects Phinda to many of Southern Africa’s iconic destinations including the Kruger National Park, the Sabi SandVictoria FallsMozambique, Vilanculos and Livingstone.

How can you travel to change the world?

Congratulations! By reading this post and taking some of these insights on board, you’ve already made a difference.

Now you can easily create your impact by sharing your new-found knowledge with other friends who you think would also be interested.

Ultimately, responsible travel comes down to common sense – stay curious, keep yourself up-to-date with the challenges at hand and make yourself accountable for your actions on your travels.

Loading...