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The Oyster Box
Standing majestically on the Umhlanga beachfront with gorgeous views over the Indian Ocean, you will find The Oyster Box. Considered a national treasure, this cherished hotel is the epitome of modern elegance, offering the charm and nostalgia of a bygone era, but with all the comfort and amenities expected in a five star luxury establishment. The hotel has 86 luxury guest rooms and suites, including Garden Villa Lofts, Classic Garden-Facing Rooms, Classic Sea-Facing Rooms, Luxury Sea-Facing Rooms, Sea-Facing Cabanas, Sea-Facing Family Rooms and a Presidential Suite (that even has its own Baby Grand Piano). Facilities include an award-winning spa, two swimming pools, luscious gardens and an in-house cinema.
The hotel is renowned for exceptional cuisine offering guests a choice of wonderful venues for wining and dining. Besides their famous curry feast, look out for their tasty oysters which can even be ordered for breakfast – accompanied by Champagne – if you so desire. From the casual Ocean Terrace and fine-dining Grill Room, to The Palm Court which serves a delicious and indulgent High Tea, the selection is enormous. And for sundowners, cocktails, seafood and sushi, there are The Lighthouse and Oyster Bar.
Why we like it here
The Oyster Box is located 15 minutes from King Shaka International Airport with easy access to the Drakensberg Mountains, Big 5 Game Reserves and historic Battlefields.
For a romantic touch, couples can indulge in this world-class getaway, treating themselves to a spa treatment for two in the Durban Hammam.
Drift away at The Spa which is secluded in luscious tropical gardens filled with the chatter of monkeys, exotic birds and perfumed flowers.
The hotel caters for your four-legged “family members”.
The Chukka Bar with its old world charm is a whisky and smoking bar.
Things to be aware of
Due to the popularity of restaurant venues like the Grill Room, it is advisable to book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Where we are situated
Pairs well with
andBeyond Phinda Homestead
Situated in the Phinda Private Game Reserve, &Beyond Phinda Homestead is a gracious sole-use safari villa that blends seamlessly into the surrounding bushveld. This exclusive lodge boasts four spacious and luxurious suites with sweeping views of the surrounding bush.
The emphasis is on outdoor spaces, with the expansive central living areas opening up directly onto the magnificent landscape. Complete with a dedicated rangers team, private butler and chef, and its own open 4×4 safari vehicle, Phinda Homestead is ideal for safaris enjoyed at guests’ own pace.
An interactive kitchen allows for intimate, informal family dining and a rim-flow infinity pool provides respite from the heat of the day.
Why we like it here
Sole-use safari villa for families or groups.
Private open 4×4 safari vehicle with a dedicated ranger, tracker, butler and chef.
Private fitness room, including state-of-the-art exercise equipment.
Extra children’s room available with 2 bunk beds, accommodating an extra four kids.
Completely customisable daily schedule.
Day and night game drives, walking safaris.
Phinda Adventures available – Zulu village tours, Maputaland beach adventures, night turtle drives (seasonal), scuba safaris, an ocean safari, and black rhino tracking on foot.
Wildlife includes Big Five plus cheetah, black rhino and nyala.
Things to be aware of
Best to fly there if possible.
Where we are situated
Pairs well with
andBeyond Phinda Rock Lodge
Carved into the rocky mountainside, &Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge sits in sheer seclusion, suspended over the magnificent valley below. Six stone and adobe suites burrow into the heart of the cliffside, with solid wooden shutters and doors opening out onto a private viewing deck and plunge pool balanced on the very edge of a breathtaking precipice.
Boasting spacious en-suite bathrooms, the suites also feature outdoor showers, providing some of the most scenic al fresco bathing on the African continent. The lodge’s comfortable sitting areas offer the perfect vantage point for viewing the abundant birdlife in the surrounding trees and the wildlife roaming the bush below.
Why we like it here
Day and night game drives and specialist walking safaris.
Perched high on a rocky cliffside with panoramic views over Leopard Rock.
Phinda Adventures include Zulu village tours, Maputaland beach adventures, night turtle drives (seasonal), scuba safaris, an ocean safari and black rhino tracking on foot.
Specialist Safaris – birding, photographic, rhino capture and research, tracking, walking and private safaris.
Perfect for Honeymooners, couples, romantic or private getaways.
Things to be aware of
Best to fly there if possible.
Only accepts children from 12 years.
Where we are situated
Pairs well with
andBeyond Phinda Forest Lodge
&Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve is a private game reserve in South Africa known for its abundant wildlife, diversity of habitats and wide range of safari activities. Its location is within easy reach of the Indian Ocean coastline and the famous iSimangaliso / Greater St Lucia Wetland Park in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Thanks to its coastal rainfall pattern, it enjoys a lush green environment.
&Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge can best be described as “pure secluded bliss”, because its 16 beautiful glass suites, designed in the calming style of Zulu Zen, are set deep in the rare and beautiful sand forest. In spite of the floor-to-ceiling glass walls, the towering torchwood trees and fertile forest floor that surround your suite ensure a sense of seclusion and privacy. Each suite is raised on stilts and seems to float between the sandy forest floor and the leafy canopy above. At the heart of &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge lies a sparkling rim-flow swimming pool, as well as expansive decks in a spacious seating area, which look out onto panoramic views of an open meadow where animals frequently graze.
End your days where warm firelight welcomes you to the traditional African boma, and where wide-eyed bush babies watch inquisitively from the dense foliage above as you in indulge in a mouth-watering, lantern-lit feast beneath a canvas of stars.
Why we like it here
Wildlife is abundant here and includes not only the Big Five, but many rarer and less easily-spotted species, such as the elusive cheetah or the scarce black rhino.
The lodge offers day and night game drives as well as luxury walking safaris.
There are also Specialist Safaris like birding, photographic, rhino notching, tracking and private safaris.
Phinda Forest Lodge was one of the world’s first truly eco-designed luxury lodges.
The glass walls allow guests sweeping views of one of the most unique ecosystems on the planet.
Look out for the dainty forms of dwarf forest antelope which dart among and below the suites.
Things to be aware of
We highly recommend that to get there, that you fly in rather than drive, so as to save time and maximise your experience.
Where we are situated
Pairs well with
The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa
The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa is situated in the majestic Oribi Gorge, an unspoiled part of KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast in South Africa. Accommodation options offer luxurious, comfortable and sophisticated suites and villas providing glorious views of the romantic setting from the private balconies. All are fitted with heating / air conditioning, coffee / tea-making appliances, free Wi-Fi, a mini bar and satellite television.
Guests can enjoy fresh and delectable contemporary cuisine with a country twist at the lodge’s fine-dining restaurant, or relaxed lunch at the Pool Deck Bistro restaurant. Leisure facilities at the lodge include rejuvenating treatment at the Clivia Day Spa, a dip in the pool or Jacuzzi, or soaking up the African sun on the private deck. Popular outdoor activities in the area are hiking, mountain biking, bird / game watching, water sports at the beach, and zip-lining.
Why we like it here
Spectacular views.
Things to be aware of
Children from 12 years and older are welcome.
With its beautiful beaches, lively wining and dining scene, and rich cultural heritage, Durban is South Africa’s third-largest city and KwaZulu-Natal’s tourist hub. The swimming and surfing are rated the best of any major city across the world and because of the sub-tropical climate the water is warm all year round. Known as the Golden Mile, this stretch of beaches and amusement parks is Durban’s major attraction with the recently developed uShaka Marine World at the southern end providing a world-class aquarium and other entertainments. Visitors can look forward to an array of wonderful activities including strolling along the beachfront promenade, visiting the Durban Botanical Gardens and exploring the many Asian and Indian markets.
KwaZulu-Natal is a coastal South African Province known for its majestic mountains, boasting some of South Africa’s highest mountains; endless beaches offering year-round swimming, and wildlife reserves providing diverse game viewing opportunities. Visitors can look forward to a wide selection of activities and attractions such as playing around at an array of premier golf courses, discovering a wealth of historical and cultural experiences, exploring the Indian-influenced city of Durban, and spotting abundant wildlife while on safari in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Other popular activities include surfing, hiking, sightseeing, fishing, and much, much more.