Showcasing one of the continent’s finest game viewing experiences, &BEYOND Phinda is home to Africa’s Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino), as well as 436 bird species. The reserve is particularly well known for close-up sightings of the elegant yet elusive cheetah, as well as the rare black rhino.

With its seven distinct habitats, Phinda is often described as ‘Seven Worlds of Wonder’, a magnificent tapestry of woodland, grassland, wetland and forest, interspersed with mountain ranges, rivers, marshes and pans. Home to 1 000 hectares (2471 acres) of Africa’s remaining rare dry sand forest, the reserve is situated in close proximity to the unspoiled beaches and spectacular coral reefs of the Indian Ocean, offering an unmatched combination of bush and beach adventures.

Each of &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge‘s 16 suites are built on stilts, and appear to float between the forest floor and the towering torchwood trees in the intensely canopied rare sand forest. Inventively designed in a style affectionately known as Zulu Zen, each handcrafted, glass-encased suite was constructed without damaging or removing a single tree in the forest. The interiors boast a minimalist flair that incorporates high-gloss wooden floors, richly tactile fabrics and brightly accented Zulu artefacts. The suites feature luxurious ensuite bathrooms with slate hand basins and viewing decks where guests can drink in the sight of graceful nyala and duiker in the dappled shade of the forest.