Bordering the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park - a World Heritage Site - Phinda comprises 17 500 hectares (43 240 acres) of prime conservation land. Seven distinct habitats shelter an abundance of wildlife including Africa's Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, black and white rhino, buffalo) and over 380 bird species, with an incredible array of marine diversity off the nearby coast of Sodwana.
Conservation and Community Development Projects at Phinda Private Game Reserve
South African History is made as CC Africa signs Phinda land deal
17 March 2008 marked a joyous and momentous occasion at Phinda Private Game Reserve as R18 million was handed over from CC Africa to our two landlord communities surrounding the Reserve. In August 2007, CC Africa and the Makhasa and Mnqobokazi community leaders signed a groundbreaking land restitution deal which restored
9 500 hectares of the Reserve to the ancestral owners of the land. Now, as landlords, these communities will continue to share meaningfully in the benefits of conservation and ecotourism and will receive substantial, escalating rental from the Phinda land. They have engaged CC Africa to continue running the business of Phinda for the next 72 years, and the communities have in turn committed the land to wildlife in perpetuity.
Africa Foundation, CC Africa's social development partner aims to empower communities through skill development- providing them with a means of generating their own income. Seventeen individuals from the community of KwaNgwenya have recently completed a construction skills training course. The 30-day course was aimed at teaching the skills of plastering, tiling, bricklaying and carpentry. The group was divided into four smaller groups which will then be able to form separate co-operatives and can take on construction projects in the future. The group will now go on to construct 6 classrooms, 12 teachers accommodation units and an admin block at Mdolomba Junior Secondary School in KwaNgwenya, gaining valuable, on-site training and experience.
Phinda Forest Lodge works to help their communities
The CC Africans from Phinda Forest, have decided to help the Advent Christian School in a nearby community by helping them build a worm farm; an organic garden aimed at providing a continual source of nutritious vegetables for the school children. Ultimately, we hope to assist the school in providing enough vegetables to sell to CC Africa for the use in the lodge. This will provide a very valuable source of income to the school, ensuring they will be able to provide better education for the students. The staff from Forest will set up an organic garden, supplying the school with a weekly supply of all the food waste from the lodge. Five trenches will be built and filled as the waste accumulates. Earthworms will be built and used to assist in the breaking the waste into fertile compost. The trenches can then be used to grow nutritious vegetables, which will primarily fill hungry stomachs and improve the childrens' ability to concentrate, and ultimately provide a source of income to the school. The Forest trackers are also planning on building the children a see-saw, as they are currently playing on a termite mound.
Luxury Safari accommodation at Phinda Private Game Reserve
This unique lodge comprises six stone and adobe suites with en suite bathrooms, private sitting areas, decks and plunge pools offering unrivalled views of the valley below.
Each of the 20 private suites feature spacious en suite bathrooms, sitting areas and spectacular viewing decks. Between exciting game-drives, birdwatch from the pooldeck, or simply relax in the Lodge’s comfortable sitting area with its great vaulted ceiling and enormous fireplace.
Exquisite architectural design meets conservation in these luxurious hand-crafted suites. Set deep in the heart of a rare Dry Sand Forest, the Lodge comprises 16 private stilted suites, a sparkling rim-flow swimming pool, luxurious dining and sitting areas, and an expansive viewing deck with panoramic views of the game-filled plains.
Intimate and elegant, this exquisite lodge comprises six thatched suites with en suite bathrooms, dressing rooms, private plunge pools and decks which overlook the vlei (wetland system) where you’re likely to observe herds of grazing antelope, zebra and a dazzling variety of birdlife.
The intimate, exclusive-use Phinda Zuka Lodge comprises just four thatched Zululand bush cottages with verandas overlooking a busy waterhole – perfect for family gatherings and special occasion safaris.
An intimate family lodge, perfect for family celebrations and special occasion safaris. An interactive kitchen allows for intimate, informal dining, and a rim-flow infinity pool provides for respite from the heat of the day.
As a guest at Phinda and Dulini, I can tell you CC Africa indeed made a difference in our travel experience. From accommodations to service to game drives to learning about the communities, these lodges were great
It's not often that a visitor is able to enjoy a travel experience coupled with seeing first hand the positive initiatives in conservation, education and health care made possible by one's tourism dollars and the owner's foundation. While at Dulini, I visited the Justicia and Lillydale communities seeing three schools, a clinic and adolescent center. The work going on there is most impressive, as is Lotus Khoza, development officer for the area. He provided information about ongoing projects at each place, as well as background and insights on the impact of the foundation's work to the local communities. As a volunteer liaison between a nonprofit organization and its 20 plus daycare agencies, I can appreciate that impact. Unique vacation experiences, along with ongoing investment in conservation development and community empowerment give you a powerful marketing platform.
" - Kathryn Zawake, USA
By choosing one of CC Africa's 37 lodges situated in Africa 's wilderness highspots, you can make a small but meaningful difference. Embark on a
CC Africa tailormade safari and help Africa, its environment, people and wildlife.
