Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge & Thonga Beach Lodge – An Educational Visit

There’s no better way to recommend a property than by experiencing it firsthand. Recently, Xavier and his partner had the opportunity to visit two of Isibindi Africa Lodges’ incredible properties – Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge and Thonga Beach Lodge.

From unforgettable wildlife encounters to endless beaches and genuine South African hospitality, the trip showcased two completely different, yet perfectly complementary, experiences.

Here’s a look at their stay…

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

We started our journey from the Waterfall suburb of Durban, heading towards Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge at around 09h00. The drive to the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park entrance gate took approximately four hours. From there, we continued for another hour, mostly on tarred roads before turning onto the gravel road leading to the lodge. In total, the journey took around five hours, including the drive through the park.

Even before arriving at the lodge, the safari had already begun. Along the way we spotted elephants, nyala, impala and buffalo.

Upon arrival, we were welcomed with a delicious lunch on the deck overlooking the spectacular 96,000-hectare reserve. The views are breathtaking and already offer guests a gentle safari experience from the deck, pool area and even from their rooms.

After lunch, we set off on a three-hour game drive, where we enjoyed an incredible close-up encounter with a large herd of elephants. We also spotted many beautiful bird species, including the African Harrier-Hawk (Gymnogene), a juvenile Bateleur Eagle and many others. To finish the afternoon perfectly, we came across a pack of nine wild dogs, which we followed for around 20 minutes.

Returning to the lodge, we were welcomed back to a beautifully candle-lit setting for an exceptional dinner. The food was outstanding, with excellent attention given to dietary requirements. While the wine list isn't extensive, it offers a lovely selection of local wines to suit most preferences.

The following morning started with coffee and tea before heading out on another game drive. We travelled to the opposite side of the reserve in search of lions. Along the way we enjoyed more sightings of antelope, buffalo and eventually three lions. Breakfast afterwards was fresh, delicious and perfectly portioned.

After breakfast we spent some time relaxing on our private deck, enjoying the peaceful surroundings and watching the wildlife move across the plains. Around 13h00 we returned to the restaurant for high tea/lunch. Once again, the food was excellent and offered a generous variety of dishes.

The pool area provided the perfect place to unwind during the afternoon. I also visited the gym, which isn't fully equipped, but certainly offers enough for guests wanting to keep active during a relaxing safari holiday.

Our afternoon game drive rewarded us with sightings of rhino, buffalo, giraffe, several antelope species and more birdlife. Dinner that evening was my favourite of the stay – beautifully prepared Kingklip served with home-grown vegetables, followed by an excellent kudu steak on roasted vegetables. Afterwards we spent the evening around the boma chatting with fellow guests.

Unfortunately, our final morning arrived all too quickly. Although the bush was quieter than usual, we still enjoyed distant lion sightings before stopping for coffee on top of a scenic hill while watching the sunrise with our guide. It was the perfect ending to our stay.

One of the most unique features of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is its rolling hills, creating a landscape that feels very different from many other South African reserves. Even in winter, with lower river levels, the scenery remains spectacular.

About the room

We stayed in a Bush Villa, which was incredibly spacious. The large bedroom opens onto a private deck overlooking the reserve's open plains. The villas are cleverly positioned to ensure completely unobstructed views.

Each Bush Villa features a large walk-in shower, a bathtub and an exceptionally comfortable extra-large king-size bed.

Additional Activities

Rhino Ridge also offers a spa, with the therapists introducing their services during breakfast each morning.

Private safari vehicles can be booked directly through the lodge, subject to availability, while guided bush walks can also be arranged (weather permitting).

Thonga Beach Lodge

From Rhino Ridge we continued our journey to Thonga Beach Lodge, which took approximately three and a half hours to the Librodi Lodge meeting point, where guests are collected for the final transfer to the lodge. It is recommended to arrive a little early, as transfers often depart once all guests have arrived.

The secure parking area features a charming little café serving coffee, milkshakes and refreshments, making it a pleasant place to wait. From there, we enjoyed a scenic 50-minute drive through local villages and lush, jungle-like landscapes before reaching the lodge.

Upon arrival we received a wonderfully warm welcome from the entire team. During the introduction, the activity board immediately caught our attention, offering a far wider variety of activities than we had expected.

As the ocean conditions were a little rough during our stay, we decided to focus on inland activities, including birding and the Lake Sibaya Sundowner excursion.

Since we arrived in the afternoon, we spent the remainder of the day walking along the seemingly endless beach and enjoying a refreshing swim. One of the highlights was watching whales breaching surprisingly close to shore. As the sun set, we returned to our beautiful room before enjoying dinner beneath the trees.

Dinner was another highlight, with outstanding food served in a magical setting. The hosts and bar staff were incredibly friendly and immediately made us feel at home.

Both mornings we joined the birding excursion, departing at 06h30. Our guide drove us past Mabibi Village into the nearby wetlands, which proved to be a paradise for bird enthusiasts.

Among the many species we spotted were Yellow-throated Longclaw, Black-crowned Tchagra, Brown-crowned Tchagra, African Stonechat, Rufous-naped Lark and Purple Swamphen. Similar to a safari game drive, the excursion also included a relaxing coffee stop overlooking beautiful Lake Sibaya.

After breakfast we spent more time on the beach before enjoying an excellent spa treatment, which we would highly recommend. The remainder of the afternoon was spent alternating between the pool and the beach.

Later that day we joined the Lake Sibaya Sundowner excursion. The drive passes through Mabibi Village, where all Thonga staff are employed. The village, named after its first chief, is home to just over 800 people who continue to belong to the Mabibi tribe.

During our stop we visited the local primary school, clinic and other parts of the community before continuing to the lake.

Our chairs were already set up along the lakeshore, allowing us to enjoy the sunset while learning more about the local community, the park and its rich birdlife. Although we didn't see any hippos or crocodiles, we could certainly hear the hippos calling in the distance.

Our final evening was spent enjoying another excellent dinner together with fellow guests before relaxing around the boma one last time.

As always, all good things must come to an end. On our final morning we enjoyed one last birding excursion through the wetlands before returning for breakfast and soaking up the last bit of sunshine before making our way back to Durban.

The friendly farewell from the staff and our new friends at the lodge made it even harder to leave. The drive back took approximately five to five and a half hours to Waterfall, or around four to four and a half hours to King Shaka International Airport.

About the room

We stayed in an Ocean View Room with spectacular views across the Indian Ocean. The room was beautifully appointed, spacious and extremely comfortable.

It features a large walk-in shower with a built-in shower seat but does not include a bathtub.

Activities

Thonga offers an excellent variety of activities, with seasonal changes throughout the year.

During our visit, guests could enjoy:

– Scuba Diving
– Ocean Experience
– Rock Pool Snorkelling
– Birding
– Kayaking on Lake Sibaya
– Cultural Tour
– Kiddies Activities
– Forest Walk
– Lake Sibaya Sundowners
– Scorpion Walk
– Amarula Walk
– Pan Walk

Experiencing Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge and Thonga Beach Lodge back-to-back perfectly highlights the incredible diversity that KwaZulu-Natal has to offer. From exceptional Big Five game viewing in Africa's oldest proclaimed game reserve to untouched beaches, remarkable birdlife and genuine coastal hospitality, these two lodges complement each other beautifully and create a truly unforgettable itinerary.

A heartfelt thank you to the entire Isibindi Africa Lodges team for your warm hospitality and for hosting Xavier and his partner during this educational visit. Your passion, attention to detail and genuine care made the experience incredibly special. We truly appreciate the opportunity and look forward to introducing many more of our clients to these two outstanding properties.