Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge — first-paint frame

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

A ridge lodge on the western boundary of Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park.

Stay in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi's first private lodge.

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge stands on a ridge of Mpembeni community land on the western boundary of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, brought inside the park fence after nine years of negotiation.

  • Established 2015Community partnership since 2013
  • Hluhluwe-iMfolozi ParkKwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
  • “the first private lodge within Hluhluwe-iMfolozi”Durban press at the 2015 opening

About Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge is the first private lodge inside Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, described in the park's own history as "Africa's oldest proclaimed game reserve". It stands on a ridge of Mpembeni community land on the park's western boundary, brought inside the park fence after nine years of negotiation. The Mpembeni Community Trust, the National Empowerment Fund, and a private partner each hold an equal third of the lodge company. The lodge opened in March 2015 and draws most of its staff from the community next door.

Eighteen rooms sit along the ridge, spread up to 200 metres from the main lodge: eight glass-fronted bush villas, two honeymoon villas with plunge pools, four safari rooms, and two family suites of two rooms each. The nightly rate carries all meals, two game drives a day, and a walk or drive through the Mpembeni community. Guided bush walks, spa treatments, and park entry are charged separately. An infinity pool, a spa, and a gym overlook the reserve.

What’s included

  • White-clothed tables sit under woven pendant lights in the restaurant, with cowhide rugs and a framed photo wall.

    All meals

    Breakfast, high tea, and dinner are part of the nightly rate, served on the deck, in the boma, or in the glass-fronted dining room, with teas and coffees through the day.

  • Two zebras run past an open game-drive vehicle carrying guests.

    Two game drives daily

    Morning and afternoon drives into Hluhluwe-iMfolozi run every day, with refreshment stops in the bush.

  • Woven palm baskets, lidded pots and coasters rest on a bamboo mat with loose weaving grass.

    Mpembeni community walk or drive

    A guided walk or drive through the neighbouring Mpembeni community, the lodge's co-owner, is part of the standard rate.

  • A young impala stands among tall grass with others of its herd behind it.

    Children's mid-morning drive

    Children under six take a dedicated mid-morning drive at no additional charge, since they do not join the standard departures.

Plan your stay

Enquire

We will reply personally within four hours.

Where you stay

Sixteen villas and rooms on the western ridge of Hluhluwe–iMfolozi.

  • A safari room with framed cheetah art, a ceiling fan, a plain headboard and glass doors to a bush-view deck.
  • A safari room with a plaid-throw bed, a timber wardrobe and glass doors to a deck with a hill view.

Safari room

Sleeps 2

Four rooms on the ridge line with the park below.

  • Villa bedroom with a canopy bed, a live-edge headboard, a chaise and glass doors to a view deck.
  • Villa bathroom with a freestanding stone tub, blind-covered windows, a cowhide rug and a bush view.
  • A rust-toned entrance wall reading Villa 7 beside a glimpse of a canopy-bed room and deck doors.

Luxury bush villa

Sleeps 2

Eight villas set apart along the ridge.

  • Private deck with a plunge pool and a towel-draped lounger, facing the hills under a sunset sky.
  • A honeymoon villa bathroom with a freestanding stone tub, blind-covered windows and a cowhide rug.

Honeymoon bush villa

Sleeps 2

Two villas with private plunge pools.

  • A family room with two single beds against a live-edge headboard and glass doors to a view deck.
  • A family suite with a four-poster and a second bed, an in-room fireplace and kitchenette, doors open to a deck.

Safari family suite

Sleeps 4

Two en-suite bedrooms joined by a passage.

Gallery

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Experiences

Big-five days inside Hluhluwe–iMfolozi.

An open game-drive vehicle stands on a ridge under a colourful sky at sunrise.

Drive Africa’s oldest proclaimed game reserve twice a day among the Big Five.

Included
Two white rhinos walk along a track at sunrise, seen from an open game-drive vehicle.

Track white and black rhino in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi, the reserve that saved the white rhino.

Included
Two white-walled rondavels with corrugated roofs in the Mpembeni community, a man and a woman by the door.

Walk the Mpembeni homesteads on the community land that hosts the lodge.

Included
A guide leads three guests on a walking safari through tall grass toward green hills.

Walk three hours on animal trails with an armed ranger in big-five country.

Extra
The spa relaxation room has a beaded-artwork wall, woven pendant lights and lounge chairs.

Take a treatment overlooking the reserve between the morning and evening drives.

Extra

Journeys

Every journey below includes Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge and books as one stay.

Map

Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The lodge stands on a ridge on the western boundary of Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park, on Mpembeni community land brought inside the park fence. The park was proclaimed in April 1895 as two reserves and is the oldest proclaimed game reserve in Africa. It covers about 96 000 hectares of hill country.

Fewer than 100 southern white rhino survived here at the end of the 1890s, the last anywhere. Operation Rhino in the 1950s and 1960s carried the species back across Southern Africa from this park. The Big Five live here, and more than 320 bird species are recorded.

Things to know

Cancellation policy

  • The deposit returns in full more than 60 days before arrival.
  • The deposit is 50% of the booking value.
  • The balance is due 30 days before arrival.
Read the full policy

Lodge rules

  • Check-in from 13:00
  • Checkout by 11:00
  • Self-drive works in a sedan
See all rules

Rates and inclusions

  • Rates are quoted per person sharing per night in South African Rand, with meals, two daily game drives, and the Mpembeni community visit included; a single traveller adds 30%.
  • All meals
  • Two game drives daily
See what the rate covers

Common questions

Plan your stay at Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

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Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

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