Thanda Private Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal has won two prestigious awards at this year’s World Travel Awards: South Africa’s leading safari lodge, and Africa’s leading luxury lodge which it won for the 2nd consecutive year.

The news comes just 6 months after Thanda was voted ‘luxury individual hotel, lodge or resort offering best overall product and service’ in the Selling Long Haul awards for 2007 by readers of the trade publication. Thanda, which means ‘love’ in Zulu, won the Leading Safari in South Africa award in 2006 and Africa’s Leading Luxury Lodge in 2007.  

The only private game reserve in the world to hold exclusive membership with the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World, Thanda’s world-class facilities include the opulent main lodge, authentic safari-style tented camp and award-winning wellness centre.

CC Africa has almost completed its R20m refurbishment on Phinda Mountain Lodge in the Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal.

The upgraded lodge now features 25 new suites, 18 of which are already open to guests, as well as transformed guest areas.

The new suites comprise an en-suite bathroom, private sitting area, veranda with private plunge pool and outdoor shower.

The lodge has a central alfresco courtyard and new sitting areas that lead out on to a shaded terrace and three-tiered veranda, with wraparound views of the Ubombo Mountains and surrounding bushveld. A safari shop has opened on the premises, and an open-air boma, swimming pool and shaded observation deck are now available to guests.