ITI Safari

&BEYOND operates 29 extraordinary lodges and camps in iconic safari, scenic and island destinations, in Africa and South America. This enables them to positively impact more than 9 million acres of wildlife land and 3,000 kilometers of coastline.
The ITI has partnered with &BEYOND to provide you with one of the best and most exclusive safari experiences.
More detailed information: www.andbeyond.com

Phinda Mountain Lodge is one of 6 luxury lodges within the &BEYOND Phinda Private Game Reserve located in the KwaZulu-Natal province on the east coast of South Africa. The KwaZulu-Natal province shares borders with three other provinces as well as Mozambique, Eswatini and Lesotho.
Phinda Mountain Lodge is perched on a hilltop with wraparound views of the lush Lebombo foothills.

&BEYOND Phinda Private Game Reserve encompasses an impressive 29,866 hectares (73,800 acres) of protected wildlife land.
Showcasing one of the continent’s finest game-viewing experiences, &BEYOND Phinda Private Game Reserve is home to Africa’s Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino), as well as 436 bird species. The reserve is particularly well known for close-up sightings of the elegant yet elusive cheetah as well as the rare black rhino.
With its seven distinct habitats, Phinda is often described as ‘Seven Worlds of Wonder’: a magnificent tapestry of woodland, grassland, wetland, and forest, interspersed with mountain ranges, rivers, marshes, and pans. Home to 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) of Africa’s remaining rare dry-sand forest, the reserve is situated in close proximity to the unspoiled beaches and spectacular coral reefs of the Indian Ocean, offering an unmatched combination of bush and beach adventures.
Guests at Phinda experience interpretive game drives, in open 4×4 safari vehicles, led by professionally trained &BEYOND rangers and Zulu trackers as well as a wide range of optional adventures in the bush and on the beach.

• Accommodation for five nights
• Shuttle transfers from and to Richards Bay airport (RCB) and Durban airport (DUR)
• Three daily meals
• Coffee breaks
• Soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beers, teas, coffees, and refreshments on game drives
• Laundry (please be mindful that, due to culture and customs, the lodge may not wash underwear)
• Safari activities (daily game drives for course participants and twice-daily game drives for accompanying persons)
• Swarovski Optik binoculars per room for use during stay
• Emergency medical evacuation insurance (to local emergency facilities)
• Government bed levy
• Conservancy or park fees
• VAT

• Inbound flights to South Africa
• Connection flights within South Africa
• Travel insurance
• Visa fees
• Champagne, cognacs, fine wines, premium brand spirits, cigars
• Phone calls
• Safari shop purchases
• Landing fees (Phinda airstrip)
• Phinda adventures (additional experiences)
• Gratuities
• All items of personal nature

Both cottages and suites boast the following amenities:

• Private verandah with daybed
• Private plunge pool
• Private butler
• Personal bar
• Personal coffee station
• Air conditioning/heating
• Overhead fans
• Bath
• Indoor and outdoor shower
• Separate W.C.
• Telephone
• Hairdryer
• Internet access
• In-room safe

Suites are slightly larger and overlook the valley. Apart from these two differences, both room type have the same amenities.

The following options are available for both room types:

• Twin beds within the same bed frame
• Triple bed option (extra bed) – only for children 16 years and younger

• Children under the age of 6 stay for free
• Children aged 6 to 16 are charged USD 1,875 for 5 nights

Please note that the lodge can only accommodate up to 3 families where a child accompanies 2 parents. These rooms will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

The minimum age for children to go on game drives is 6 years.

If traveling in a private vehicle, children of any age may go on a game drive. Access to sightings is at the discretion of the guide. Greater distances to animals may be maintained or certain sightings may be avoided to ensure the safety of all.

Cottages are not suitable for participants with mobility issues.

Out of the 16 suites, 1 is wheelchair-friendly, and 5 are located within easy walking access and are recommended for elderly people.

Kosher and halal meals can be requested at an additional cost with a minimum of 4 weeks’ notice as they are flown into the more remote destinations.

Vegetarian and vegan options can be ordered from the menu or requested from the chef during your stay.

Please inform [email protected] if you suffer from severe food allergies or if you want to order kosher or halal food.

If available, additional pre- and post-course nights can be booked via &BEYOND: https://www.andbeyond.com/our-lodges/africa/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/phinda-private-game-reserve/andbeyond-phinda-mountain-lodge/

Inbound flights to Johannesburg (JNB) are recommended. From there, Airlink offers connection flights to Richards Bay (RCB) and Durban (DUR) from where complimentary shuttle transfers to Phinda Mountain Lodge are offered.
Flight times:
JNB to RCB: 1 hour 30 minutes
JNB to DUR: 1 hour 30 minutes

Shuttle transfer times to Phinda Mountain Lodge:
From RCB: approx. 1 hour 45 minutes
From DUR: approx. 3 hours

The ITI offers travel booking support via its travel agent Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT). Booking handling fees are waived for participants and accompanying persons.
To book your flights via the ITI’s travel agent, please contact Mr. Bernd Doerr at CWT:
Email: [email protected]
Phone*: +41 79 733 31 22

*During office hours: 09:00 – 17:00 CET

Information on visa requirements for South Africa can be found on the government website: https://www.gov.za/services/temporary-residence/visa
You may also contact the South African embassy in your country for the necessary information.

Visa support letters can be requested during the registration process and will be provided to participants who have paid the registration fee in full.
The following information needs to be provided for visa support letters:

• Full name as in the passport
• Passport number
• Passport date of issue
• Passport date of expiry
• Nationality

Adequate travel insurance taken out prior to departure is essential. It is recommended to purchase travel insurance within 14 days of paying your registration fee.
The travel insurance should cover any medical situation such as hospitalization, as well as cancellation, curtailment of arrangements and baggage.
Travelling with &BEYOND, you are automatically covered by its emergency evacuation insurance. It guarantees emergency evacuation to the nearest hospital should you suffer either severe illness or injury. It does not cover the cost of treatment once in hospital and in no way replaces your normal travel insurance. There are certain medical exclusions. Please advise us of any existing conditions in advance in order to arrange cover, subject to our insurer’s approval. Please contact us for further details.
It is important to note that some travel insurance policies may not be recognized by certain local hospitals. Thus, please check with your provider if their product is accepted at your destination and seek alternative cover if necessary.

The ITI has partnered with African Agenda. Registration fees can be paid via bank transfer to African Agenda’s US Dollar (USD) account:

Please ensure that payments are made free of any charges to the ITI. This includes currency exchange fees and fees for international bank transfers.

A 25% non-refundable deposit on accommodation costs (total amount less USD 4,000 course fee) will be charged upon completion of online registration. This non-refundable deposit payment must be settled by credit card.

The remaining registration fee is to be paid within 30 days of receipt of the invoice. Your booking will be confirmed when full payment has been received.

Participation can only be guaranteed to participants who have paid the registration fee in full.

A one-time payment reminder will be sent if the full fee has not been received within 30 days of receipt of the invoice. The final payment notice is 10 business days.

After this deadline, the registration will be cancelled automatically.

The full registration fee less non-refundable deposit and less USD 500 handling fee can be refunded for cancellations received before December 31, 2025.

No refunds will be made for cancellations received after December 31, 2025.

We strongly recommend you take out travel insurance to cover your registration fee in case of cancellation due to illness, medical conditions, severe accidents, or the death of close relatives.

No, double occupancy includes course registration for only 1 person.

Should your partner also attend the course, a registration fee of USD 4,000 will be charged on top of the double occupancy price.

Please contact [email protected] to register a second course participant.

&BEYOND Phinda Private Game Reserve is situated in a low-risk malaria area and antimalarials are not considered necessary. It is still wise to cover up and use mosquito repellent (those containing DEET are the most effective) in the evenings during the wet summer months from September to May.
Despite the game reserve being in a low-risk malaria area, we still recommend that you consult your physician for advice on malaria precautions before traveling to South Africa.
Malaria is a preventable and curable disease. If not diagnosed and treated early, it can, however, be fatal. Preventative and curative advice can be obtained from your local travel clinic.

In addition to all current entry requirements, on arrival in South Africa the latest information provided on COVID-19 protocols by the South African government is as follows:
Guests of all nationalities are welcome subject to visa requirements.

There is no longer a requirement for either a recent negative PCR test result or a vaccination certificate.

• Wearing a face mask in public areas is no longer required.
• An obligatory health questionnaire, which can be downloaded from the following link, must still be completed not more than 2 days ahead of departure to South Africa (also for those transit guests, who need to collect luggage before continuing on their journey): download entry questionnaire
  When leaving the country, another questionnaire will need to be completed: download exit questionnaire
• Upon arrival at the port of entry, guests will still need to answer questions from health authorities and will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms. No quarantine will be imposed, but information will be used to keep track of the disease.
• Transit travelers through South Africa by air will be allowed to connect to their destinations, subject to them complying with applicable health protocols of the destination country.

The requirement for yellow fever vaccination depends on the countries you are traveling from and to prior to or after your stay in South Africa.
&BEYOND’s Terms and Conditions require you to obtain advice from your medical practitioner or travel clinic before traveling to any destination to determine if you are required to get a yellow fever vaccination, no less than 10 days prior to travel.
If yellow fever vaccination is required, you must be able to produce a yellow fever certificate as proof of vaccination.
The certificate may also be required when re-entering your country of origin, or other African countries, if you have visited a destination within the yellow fever belt.
For more information you may consult the following website, but we advise you to visit your medical practitioner or your closest travel clinic for further information: https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/yellow-fever
It is recommended that travelers entering South Africa directly from non-endemic countries receive the vaccination in their home country.

If you suffer from allergies, it is advised to take the necessary medication with you, as this may not be available on site due to the remoteness of the destination.
If you are taking medication, please ensure that you bring a sufficient supply for the entire trip as it may be difficult to obtain after arrival. This applies to any malaria prophylaxis, prescriptions, chronic or preferred brand medication.

Ticks can be found in Africa’s wilderness areas. To avoid getting bitten when going on bush walks, guests are advised to take precautions by wearing long trousers, socks, and boots.
Please note that there is a possibility that tick bites could lead to tick bite fever. Symptoms include fever, headaches and painful, enlarged lymph glands around the bite. If you experience these symptoms after returning home, please visit your doctor and advise them of the possibility of tick bite fever.

As a general guide, comfortable, casual wash-and-wear clothes are recommended. Muted colors are recommended for game viewing. Game drives are conducted in the early morning and late afternoon, which can be very cold, especially in winter.
The most practical items to pack for safari are:

• Khaki, green, beige, and neutral-colored clothes
• Shirts with long sleeves (even in summer to protect against the sun and mosquitoes)
• T-shirts
• Shorts or a light skirt
• Jeans or safari trousers for evenings and cooler days
• Jackets and sweaters are recommended for early morning and evening game drives
• Lightweight waterproof jacket
• Swim and beachwear
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Sun block, sunglasses, hat, moisturizer, and lip-salve are all essentials
• Strong insect repellent (ideally with DEET)
• Camera and equipment

Good quality safari clothing is also available in the &BEYOND Safari Shop: www.andBeyondsafarishop.com

The official currency is the South African Rand (ZAR).
Please note that vendors may not always be able to issue large amounts of change. Thus, it is recommended that you carry small denominations of cash.
Credit cards are widely accepted. However, please note that credit card transactions could take anything up to a few months to go through on guest’s cards – especially in more remote areas.

Gratuities are at your discretion and are not compulsory. The amounts below serve as a reference only:

• Waiter & drivers: 10% of the fare bill
• Rangers & guides: ZAR 320 per couple/day
• Trackers: ZAR 160 per couple/day
• Butlers: ZAR 160 per couple/day
• Camp staff: ZAR 160 per couple/day

Please note that local laws, religious beliefs, and cultural practices in parts of Africa may be more conservative than those in your country of origin. As these must be observed, we suggest that participants carry out due diligence on any areas of concern to them and exercise discretion when traveling in the region.

Please be sure to bring sufficient memory cards and batteries as, although these are readily available in all South African cities and towns, there might be no stock available at the safari lodges. Please remember to ask permission before taking a photograph of any South African resident.

Please be advised that the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) is not allowed in the entire game reserve until such time as their impact on wildlife and anti-poaching initiatives can be assessed. This rule applies throughout Africa, as most reserves in various countries and regions have adopted a similar stance.

In South Africa the standard voltage is 230 V, and the frequency is 50 Hz. You can use your electric appliances in South Africa if the standard voltage in your country is in between 220 – 240 V (as in the UK, Europe, Australia and most of Asia and Africa). Manufacturers take small deviations into account. If the standard voltage in your country is in the range of 100 V – 127 V (as in the US, Canada, and most South American countries), you will need a voltage converter in South Africa.
If the frequency in South Africa (50 Hz) differs from the one in your country, it is not advised to use your appliances. But if there is no voltage difference, you could (at your own risk) try to use the appliance for a short time. Be especially careful with moving, rotating and time-related appliances like clocks, shavers or electric fan heaters.
To be sure, check the label on the appliance. Some appliances never need a converter. If the label states ‘INPUT: 100-240V, 50/60 Hz’ the appliance can be used in every country around the world. This is common for chargers of tablets/laptops, photo cameras, cell phones, toothbrushes, etc.

In South Africa the power plugs and sockets are of type D, M and N. Check out the following pictures.

In addition, you will also find USB charging outlets in your room.