A Balinese influence informs the style of the Phinda Vlei Lodge suites, glass walls opening under the thatch roof to a viewing deck with its own plunge pool. Soaking in the cool water after a game drive and sipping a refreshing cocktail, the game viewing continues, graceful nyala grazing right up to the deck and sometimes even an elephant deciding to drink from the plunge pool itself! On winter evenings a cheerful fire blazes in the sitting area and with the luxurious bathroom and dressing room, your suite becomes an enticing refuge, cosy and warm. The delicious meals are reason enough to tear yourself away from this seclusion, served on the dining deck or even in the bush around the vlei. With no internet, TV or phone it is a true retreat, buffered from the frenetic pace of the outside world by a cushion of wild nature.
Game drives from Vlei Lodge focus on the north area of Phinda with its rare sand forest and abundance of game attracted by the vlei itself. Phinda is renowned for its pioneering conservation and seven diverse habitats, so guests can expect to see a wide variety of wildlife, from the Big 5, including the rare black rhino, to smaller creatures and nyala, impala, warthogs, zebra, cheetah, the list goes on. The dedicated rangers make sure guests do more than tick off a list, pointing out and explaining the subtleties of the rich and diverse natural world and directing each game drive to accommodate guests’ interests.
Early morning or sunset boat trips offer a glimpse of river life, hippo and crocodiles, vibrant bird life and a serene glide through riverine bush.
The service at Vlei Lodge is faultless and friendly, pampering guests in style for a luxury safari in Africa that can’t be beaten.