andBeyond Phinda Rock Lodge

Rock Lodge was a 10/10 stay. The two managers were a sweet couple who made the whole experience magical, and every staff member was kind and attentive. I’ve never had service like that before. If you want a luxury safari, I highly recommend staying here. And if Lucky is your ranger, you’re in very lucky hands!

We also took the excursion to Sodwana Bay, which I’d encourage everyone to try. We saw so many humpback whales, the team there were really nice, and the coastline was unlike anything I’d seen before. You miss just one game drive and still get back for the afternoon one. The whole staff at the lodge were thoughtful, attentive and hardworking. The rooms were beautiful, and the food was spectacular, with healthy options made with so much care by the chef and team. Our ranger Declan was the best, always doing his best to show us every animal he could. He knew the park so well and was lovely. The whole experience was 100/10. Best experience ever!

For three nights my husband and I stayed at Phinda Rock Lodge, and we wish we could have stayed longer. The rooms and property are breathtaking, the meals were fantastic, and the service was superb. The team also let us take meals to go when we wanted to stay out on the drives longer. Daryl, our ranger, and Pat, our tracker, made the game drives special by tailoring the days to what we wanted. Daryl knows so much about the bush and is great at wildlife photography. Pat shared detailed local knowledge and Zulu traditions connected with the Phinda ecosystem. The manager, I believe his name is Murry, was wonderful too. He found cigars for my husband and made sure we were comfortable. We’d highly recommend Phinda Rock Lodge and hope to return.

We had a few bumps along the way. Sightings on the game drives were limited, though the &Beyond team is doing good work to reintroduce wildlife to the area. Since that’s what the word 'Phinda' means, perhaps there’ll be more to see in future years. &Beyond also forgot to book one of our flights several months ahead, which made for a surprisingly long day of travel. The staff worked hard to fix things and keep us comfortable, and we appreciated it. That’s no reason to avoid staying with &Beyond, but I’d confirm that all flights are booked in advance rather than assume they are. We were in South Africa to celebrate my mom’s 75th birthday, and it was a memorable trip. The rock lodge setting was breathtaking, with thoughtful details throughout our stay. We also enjoyed meeting other kind, like minded travelers. Most of all, the team, especially Justice, Z, Sibu and Bongo, made us feel welcome and looked after our every need. Their hospitality was the standout for us. The warmth of the staff, the beautiful lodge and the company made this an unforgettable adventure. Thank you for the lasting memories!