Phinda Postscript

 One of the last evenings at Phinda, our group was treated to a 'Boma' dinner (outside under the stars). It was gorgeous with all the lamps lit around us, and again, the food was amazing. Our food was locally sourced, and very fresh. Portions weren't ginormous like they are in the states. Our butlers are Happy and Ngcebo. (Butlers are the folks who take care of dining at the lodge.) Both went out of their way to deliver the best experience. One evening, I complemented Happy on such a delicious dinner and wonderful service, and she clasped her hands to her heart and thanked me sincerely. Her response embodied the spirit of the lodge and the people of South Africa.  

Zulu extravaganza 

As we were waiting for dessert, we heard a commotion near the dining room, drumming and clapping louder and louder until our butlers, and many of the lodge staff appeared while serenading us with their beautiful Zulu songs and dancing under the stars.

They brought out a birthday cake for me and invited me to dance - it was great fun, (it's on video), and I managed to stay in the beat! I also did a Zulu yell 😅😅😅 I think they got a kick out of it, because their suprise turned to big smiles. The whole experience made me cry - it was so beautiful. 

When it was our time to leave, our guides and trackers drove us to the airstrip for a heartfelt goodbye,  and we boarded those two little Chapman Freeborn planes to fly us from Phinda to Hoedspruit. (More to come 😉.)

&Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge Pros and cons

Gorgeous setting, wonderfull and healthy menu, plenty of activities for all ages, game drives were great, staff absolutely lovely.

Cons..

The lodge design was zen-like, lots of clean lines but most of the stairs without hand rails, making it difficult for John and I to navigate. We are grateful for our friends who were always there to help us. 

Pathways to the rooms were very sandy, and hard to navigate with wobbly mobility.

I would go back for the game drives - amazing terrain with the tree canopies, and the wonderful people. 

&beyond phinda Forest Lodge





Comments

  1. Judy WinnJune 22, 2024 at 6:20 AM

    can't wait to see the video!! So glad you are having a wonderful experience!

    ReplyDelete
  2. SpikeJune 22, 2024 at 3:02 PM

    I’m glad you guys were able to enjoy such an amazing experience. Can’t wait to hear more about it

    ReplyDelete

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