Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge (Kwa-Zulu Natal)

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge is a glass wrapped lodge that rests on a ridge overlooking Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park. The park is found in northern Kwa-Zulu Natal, in the heart of Zululand. The oldest game reserve in Africa and a historical success story of rhino conservation in Southern Africa. The park is made up of two game reserves previously known as the Hluhluwe Game Reserve and uMfolozi Game Reserve. A Big 5 game reserve which is also home to thriving populations of African wild dogs, lion, elephant and multitudes of other species.

Light, colors and textures play meaningfully between inside and out. Your time is your own, relax in our leisure areas, restore in the spa, warm yourself around the campfire at night or put your feet up in our plentiful chill spaces around the pool on a hot Zululand day. Take a deep breath. Long after you’ve left you’ll remember this view of Africa. The lodge has an elevated sense of peace and tranquility which allows guests to fully decompress. Visionary open-plan architecture and a deck that runs the full length of the main lodge combine strategically with the natural vantage point to create views that take your breath away.

Skip to Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge Rates or Specials and Packages

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge Accommodation

18 x well appointed, air-conditioned rooms nestle on a ridge, each with their own private deck giving expansive and uninterrupted views of the reserve. The lodge, built in 2015, is designed in a contemporary style with overtones of organic forms utilizing natural finishes and materials.

Mindfully curated interiors drawing on the best architect – the natural wilderness. The villa’s and safari rooms are organic and raw with a pure natural elegance. Oozing with contemporary energy, the rooms are placed on a walkway seamlessly blending along a cliff edge and offer magnificent views over the game reserve and down onto a busy waterhole.

All rooms have double vanities, separate toilet, air conditioning, overhead fans, mini bar, safe, hairdryer, and tea and coffee making facilities.

In order to maximize the view & ensure guest privacy some rooms are as far as 200 meters away from the main lodge facility.

Safari / Family Rooms

The six Safari Rooms are configured in pairs comprising a common entrance lobby leading off to two separate bedrooms. Each bedroom has a private bathroom with double vanity and shower, opening out onto a small viewing deck. The bedroom has a glass sliding door that opens onto a deck which is screened from guests in the neighboring room ensuring your complete privacy.

Although these rooms are side by side they afford guests maximum privacy while parents have peace of mind knowing their children are in the next door bedroom.

Luxury Bush Villas

The eight Luxury Bush Villas feature a spacious, open plan design with a fireplace, lounge area, and a large viewing deck. The large bathrooms with rain showers that open onto the outdoors are a guest favorite. Along with luxurious bathtubs with wide windows that look directly onto the wild African bush.

Honeymoon Villas

There are two Honeymoon Villas, which comprise a spacious, open plan bedroom and bathroom with bath, double vanity, separate shower and toilet. The open fireplace is perfect for cozying up on cool winter nights. These dreamy villas have private plunge pools set on an elevated deck with spectacular views of the African bushveld below. The Honeymoon Villas offer total seclusion and privacy, and the king-size four-poster bed is romantically draped with dreamy white mosquito nets.

Hluhluwe honeymoon — Honeymoon Villa interior

Kwa-Zulu Natal honeymoon — Honeymoon Villa with private pool

Journey With Purpose

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge is situated on Mpembeni community land that they chose to incorporate into Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park in order to establish the first five star lodge inside the game reserve. This is a unique joint venture between the community, the park and a private company. Creating much needed employment and generating revenue for conservation through park fees and levies. Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge prides itself on this shared community ownership of the lodge and its commitment to the empowerment of the local previously disadvantaged community of Hlabisa. In keeping with the Isibindi ethos, people from the community have been trained to work in various departments and now constitute 97% of the lodge staﬀ.

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge Activities and Experiences

The Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park is home to an incredible array of wildlife and exceptional bushveld birding. The gently sloping topography moves through a number of ecosystems yielding different habitats including grasslands, savannahs, woodlands and wetlands.

Guests at Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge have the opportunity to experience all the typical African big game. Including the Big Five: buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and black and white rhino.

The Park boasts 86 mammal species – hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra, cheetah, warthog, different antelopes, and many more. And it is one of the world’s top spots for for viewing the often elusive nyala.

Home of the Rhino

The Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park is world-renowned for its white rhino conservation and was instrumental in bringing the white rhino population in Southern Africa back from the brink of extinction. Following the recovery of these rhino’s here, Operation Rhino was established and bolstered southern white rhino were relocated to other parks. In fact, every single southern white rhino population in the world has its genetic origin in the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park.

Game Drives

Twice daily game drives are conducted to explore the magnificent hills and valleys of the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park. The morning game drive is at 6 am in summer and 6.30 am in winter. The afternoon safari is at 4 pm in summer and 3.30 pm in winter. These are in open, high game viewers with professional guides and included in your room rate.

Nothing is predictable in the bush; therefore each safari offers a potentially new and unique experience. The guides will share their wealth of bush experience. The medicinal uses of plants and local folk lore is also discussed. As well as looking for the ever fascinating Big 5! Game drives are the highlight of every safari in South Africa. You just never know what’s around the next corner…

You’ll also get to enjoy the scenery when you park the vehicle to enjoy outdoor treats. Warm drinks and nibbles in the morning, and sun downers and snacks as you watch the sunset on your evening game drive.

Hluhluwe safari — Buffalo taking a mud bath

Game Walks

Nothing can quite prepare you for the experience of walking in the wilds of a game reserve in Africa. Reconnect with nature and with each other in a vast wilderness area. With untamed lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.

Guided walks last 3-4 hours inside the park in Big 5 territory. No children under 14 years. Additional cost.

Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park Birding

The Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park is a prime birding destination, home to over 400 bird species. A number that represents close to half of the species found in the southern African sub-region. Of which 16% are recognized as red data species. The bird diversity within the park can be attributed to the variety of habitats in this area, from the ﬂood plains to the riverine thickets, dams, woodlands, vleis and open savannah. Migratory birds arrive around September/October and depart around February/March.

best birding safari — Lilac Breasted Roller

Zulu home stays

Traveling isn’t only about ﬁne dining, luxury and relaxation. It’s about having an authentic family safari experience that gives you insight into a new place or a new way of life. The Zulu home stays give you the unique opportunity to step out of your own existence and into the world of a traditional Zulu family.

Stay in a Zulu village — Zulu village home stay

Your Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge guide (who remains with you for the entire stay) will take you to the Nkosi Family Home. The family will host you and invite you to join them in their daily tasks. Such as basket weaving, collecting thatching grass and wood and bringing the cattle home for the evening at sunset. You’ll also be able to visit local crafters or consult the sangoma (a traditional healer).

As the sun goes down, you’ll gather with the guide and family around the open ﬁre to enjoy the magniﬁcent view over the hills of the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park while listening to stories of bygone times. Asking questions, making friends and enjoying Zulu Beer, cold drinks and traditional snacks. A traditional Zulu meal observing all the rituals of the Zulu home is served in the dining hut. You’re then free to retire to your hut, listening to the soothing sounds of rural Zululand.

Sunrise heralds the new day with roosters crowing and the happy singing of neighbors’ in the distance. It is time to take the cattle out to graze and go about daily chores after enjoying a hot bucket shower. A breakfast of fresh, locally-grown fruit, farm eggs and traditional maize meal porridge is served at 8 am. When it’s time to bid farewell to the family, it will feel like saying goodbye to old friends.

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge Spa

The Day Spa has been designed to ensure that guests can soak in the sights and sounds of Africa while enjoying professional treatments from the hands of therapists. Positioned to take advantage of the magnificent views of game grazing across the reserve – this is the perfect place to indulge after a day’s safari. The Spa provides an unrivaled African relaxation experience.

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge Family Safari

Start your children’s love for the bush in the beautiful Hluhluwe-iMfolozi game reserve. The perfect setting for a relaxed safari with plenty of view points and picnic spots to jump out and have a stretch. Kids game drives are for children from 3 – 6 years and are at 10 am – 12 pm at no extra cost. Children over 6 years old can go on the normal game drives.

Child Policy at Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

The normal rooms at Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge can accommodate 1 x additional child per room. Children under 3 years old stay for free.

Child Policy in Non-Family Rooms	Adults	4 – 12 yrs	13 – 18 yrs
2 x adults sharing with 1 x child (Extra bed in adult’s room)	Adult rate x 2	Pays 50% of adult rate	Pays 75% of adult rate
1 x adult sharing with 1 x child older than 3 years	Adult rate	Pays 75% of adult rate	Pays 100% of adult rate
1 x adult sharing with 1 x child younger than 3 years	Adult rate plus 30%	n/a	n/a
1 x adult sharing with 2 x children	Adult rate	Pays 50% of adult rate	Pays 75% of adult rate

Child Policy in Family Rooms	Adults	4 – 12 yrs	13 – 18 yrs
2 x adults sharing with 2 x children	Adult rate x 2	Pays 50% of adult rate	Pays 75% of adult rate
2 x adults sharing with 1 x child	Adult rate x 2	Pays 50% of adult rate	Pays 75% of adult rate
1 x adult sharing with 2 x children	Adult rate plus 30%	Pays 50% of adult rate	Pays 75% of adult rate

Best time to visit Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

May – September: Excellent game viewing and not as hot and humid as the summer. Less chance of rain.
November – February: Best months to see baby wild animals and for bird watching. Migratory birds start arriving October – November.

Getting to Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

The lodge is 3.5 hrs drive from King Shaka International Airport and 1.5 hrs from Richards Bay Airport. We can arrange your transfers from either airport. It is about a 9-hour drive from Kruger National Park so we recommend a stop in Eswatini (Swaziland) en route. Or, limited scheduled flights to Richards Bay operate on selected days which we will advise you on.

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge Accommodation Rates

Rates per person sharing	Safari Rooms	Luxury Bush Villas	Honeymoon Villas
1st May 2023 to 31st July 2023	R 3 290	R 4 690	R 5 310
1st August 2023 to 30 April 2024	R 4 300	R 5 770	R 6 390
1st May 2024 to 31st July 2024	R 3 590	R 5 110	R 5 790
1st August 2024 to 30 April 2025	R 4 690	R 6 290	R 6 970

Single supplement is 30% of the above rates.
2 night minimum stay year round.

Rhino Ridge rates are inclusive of accommodation, meals, game drives and Mpembeni Community Walk/Drive.
On the afternoon game drive guests get a sun downer local alcoholic or soft drink.
Rhino Ridge rates exclude flights, road transfers, park fees, Isibindi Foundation levy, drinks, gratuities, items of a personal nature, guided game walks & Spa treatments.

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge Accommodation Special Offers and Packages

Long Stay Rates

Combine your safari with a stay at Thonga Beach Lodge or Kosi Forest Lodge (Isimangaliso Wetland Park) or Tsowa Safari Island in Victoria Falls (info to follow), and get discounts according to the total number of nights spent at these properties. These are the discounts:
5 nights: 5%
6 nights: 7.5%
7 nights: 10%
8+ nights: 12.5%

Valid until 30th April 2025

Stay/Pay Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge Special Offer

Book 4 nights and only pay for 3
Valid: May, June and September 2023 & 2024
3 of the nights must fall in the applicable months.
Pay stay specials may be doubled up e.g. Stay 8 Pay 6 provided they fall within the valid months.

Honeymooners

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge is an exclusive honeymoon destination offering you, the bridal couple, the ultimate in secluded, private villa luxury. Slow down, pause at your private plunge pool to breathe in the moment and reconnect with nature, with ourselves and with one another.

All honeymooners receive:
A complimentary bottle of sparkling wine on arrival,
A private dinner,
Romantic turn down at no extra charge.

There are also a few extra surprises awaiting your on this romantic beach honeymoon. But they are a secret!
Valid: All year

Kwa-Zulu Natal Accommodation

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge (Kwa-Zulu Natal)

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park Kwa-Zulu Natal South Africa

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge (Kwa-Zulu Natal)