Towards the end of February 2022, after two years of postponements, we finally welcomed our guests on a privately guided safari to Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa, one of Africa's most diverse hidden gems. 

Phinda, pronounced 'Pinda', is a firm favourite destination of ours and one that we recommend enthusiastically to many of our guests, especially for first-time safari goers. There is a magic at Phinda that is found in its diversity of habitats, that makes every outing exciting, whether you are out in search of wildlife, of which there is a phenomenal abundance, or simply to enjoy the beautiful sceneries quite spectacular.

This notebook entry is a short recap of our time here in February '22, which Toby privately guided for some of our wonderful guests. 

Phinda is made up of seven distinct habitats, ranging from the ancient sand forests in the north to the riverine floodplains in the south. Even over the course of nine nights at Phinda we weren't able to explore every area. However we were hugely lucky with the wildlife we saw, including all of the Big Five, sometimes including all of them in one day (without actively trying to view them all in the same day), plus a huge amount more. 

We headed out on game drives every morning and afternoon, but also explored the forests and mountains on foot, something that we highly recommend, no matter how long you are staying for. Walking in the bush gives you a completely different perspective on the wild. 

We even spent a day at the beach, to swim in the warm Indian Ocean. 

The word 'Phinda' comes from the Zulu and means 'the return'. The reserve was initially named this as it symbolised the return of many species that had historically been hunted or poached out of the region. When the founders of this area came together and bought up various farm lands (cattle, cotton, pineapples etc), they began the process of returning the land to its original state and return the naturally occurring animals to the region. This finally now includes the return of the Pangolin, the world's most remarkable animal. 

For us though, Phinda means our return, we just love going back again and again.