Thanda Safari is a Big Five game reserve, owned by Swedish philanthropists Christin and Dan Olofsson. 14 000 hectares in extent, Thanda lies in the heart of Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, where the Great Rift Valley meets the Lebombo Mountains. Home to all the Big Five, a wide variety of other animals, and a plethora of birds, it offers an authentic South African wildlife experience with excellent game and bird viewing all year round. Furthermore, it has a sincere commitment to the Zulu culture and conservation of the environment. It is actively involved in conservation and wildlife research and works to uplift the local communities through ‘Star for Life’ and other projects. Here you are guaranteed a unique African experience and close-up encounters with Africa’s Big Five.
Thanda Safari offers three different accommodation types: Thanda Safari Lodge - nine luxurious bush suites with panoramic views of the surrounding game reserve Villa iZulu, an outstanding safari hideaway for 10 guests in five suites, has a new package that includes a fly-in helicopter safari for six passengers (excluding pilot), an exclusive butler, chef, guide, tracker, housekeeper and spa therapist; a flight to the beach for a fish braai (barbeque) and a flip to the western mountains on Thanda to enjoy the sunset. A minimum stay of five days is required for the package Thanda Tented Camp - 15 colonial safari-style tents, each with en-suite bathroom and a viewing deck. Thanda Tented Camp is also open for special events and exclusive use Thanda Safari is a proud member of The Leading Hotels of the World, a multiple winner of The World’s Leading Luxury Lodge award, ranked as one of the 20 Top Resorts in South Africa in the 2020 Condé Nast Traveller Awards, and more recently was winner at the 27th World Travel Awards for World's Leading Luxury Private Villa 2020: Villa iZulu at Thanda Safari, South Africa and World's Leading Safari Lodge 2020: Thanda Safari Lodge at Thanda Safari, South Africa.
BIRDERS OVERVIEW
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ACCESSIBLE WITH A NORMAL SEDAN VEHICLE
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GUIDED GAME DRIVES AND WALKS
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BIRD GUIDES
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BIRD CHECKLISTS
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FIELD GUIDE BOOKS
BIRD SPECIALS
Pink-throated Twinspot, Gorgeous Bushshrike, Bateleur, Rudd's Apalis, Broad-billed Roller, Dwarf Bittern, Eastern Nicator, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Magpie Shrike, Lappet-faced Vulture
INFORMATION FOR BIRDERS:
Thanda Safari is blessed with a plethora of birds - over 300 different species - that can be viewed all year round. Thanda Safari's Wildlife Photographer Christian Sperka is an experienced field guide and bird enthusiast, and while not a birding expert, he is a bird photography expert. Sperka and his tracker, Bheki Ngubane, a very experienced bird guide, conduct special game drives for birders and bird photographers. The Green Mamba is a safari vehicle dedicated to wildlife photography (not especially bird photography); however, Thanda Safari does offer private birding safari vehicles (at an additional cost and subject to availability) with a bird guide (not a birding specialist). One of Thanda Safari's field guides, Vincent Hindson, is also a very enthusiastic bird guide.
Open Bushveld, Wooded Grassland, Forest and well established Riparian Areas.