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ZIMBALI LODGE

Zimbali Lodge is a stunning boutique hotel, nestled in lush, sub-tropical indigenous forest just 26 miles north of Durban. The name Zimbali is Zulu for 'Valley of Flowers', and is an apt description of the estate on which the lodge is located. Set in a haven of natural lakes and wetlands, the estate is a protected reserve and is home to a variety of wildlife, from magnificent butterflies to beautiful antelope and many species of birds.

Every luxurious bedroom at Zimbali opens onto a private, furnished balcony offering sweeping views down the valley to the sea. They offer hand-carved mahogany beds,ornate armoires and ceilings clad in sisal matting - all reminiscent of the baronial homes of sugar magnates from years gone by. The bedside lamps are never the same in any given suite and air vents are carved scenes of Africa, so rich is the detailing. The splendid bathrooms feature freestanding Victorian bathtubs and seperate showers. Falling asleep at night to the crashing of waves is a sheer delight.

'Service Excellence' is the motto at Zimbali, and the staff and management go out of their way to live up to the ideal. The arrival of each new guest is announced from the main entrance to the estate, so that staff are on hand with a refreshing cocktail at the porte cochère. A private check-in follows while luggage is transferred to a golf cart and your car is parked by a valet.

The dining room has the atmosphere of an old colonial dining hall, with ferns suspended from the ceiling, a mixture of rattan and other dining chairs, and superbly atmospheric lanterns and amber-beaded table candles. The menu changes daily to enable the chef to select the freshest available produce and prepare the most delicious and flavoursome fare.

The living room and bar, like the dining room, are tree houses with glass doors leading onto a central courtyard and pool. They all enjoy marvellous views across the golf course and indigenous forest, onto the Indian Ocean and Dolphin Coast. These rooms are so comfortable, filled with a combination of textures and colors so African, that one has the feeling of coming home with a hint of White Mischief. Added details for those relaxing include backgammon and chess sets, made by locals, and a collection of wildlife and historical books relating to the area.

Zimbali offers its guests the opportunity to relax or explore. The lodge itself is sheer self-indulgence and provides a myriad of contexts for relaxation: unwind in your own luxurious room or next to the designer pool, take a stroll on the beautiful estate, or soak up the sun on the beach and play in the waves of the warm and inviting Indian ocean. For the ultimate in self-indulgence, treat yourself at the hotel's health and beauty spa. Zimbali is also within easy driving distance of cosmopolitan Durban, Shakaland (a recreation of a traditional Zulu village), the Ghandi Temple in Tongaat, and a host of other destinations reflecting the ecological and cultural diversity of this section of Kwazulu-Natal.

Zimbali Lodge is a verdant retreat that will revive and refresh the weariest traveller who is certain to be delighted with this elegant, sophisticated, yet totally unspoilt sanctuary.

To find out more about Zimbali Lodge, or to make a reservation, call on

27-11-463-7889 or email us.

LIYATSHWA SAFARIS PORTFOLIO - Maputaland