Fairmont Zimbali Lodge and Zimbali Resort
Jun 4, 2008, 7:53 pm
#1
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Fairmont Zimbali Lodge and Zimbali Resort
http://www.hotelinteractive.com/hi_i...ticle_id=10668
A new resort today joins the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts portfolio -- Fairmont Zimbali Lodge, located in Zimbali, a mixed-use, 700-hectare coastal resort, north of Durban, South Africa. Set within the serene confines of a coastal forest reserve on the north coast of KwaZulu Natal, the 76-room resort overlooks the Indian Ocean and is surrounded by lush vegetation and beautiful gardens.
A new resort today joins the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts portfolio -- Fairmont Zimbali Lodge, located in Zimbali, a mixed-use, 700-hectare coastal resort, north of Durban, South Africa. Set within the serene confines of a coastal forest reserve on the north coast of KwaZulu Natal, the 76-room resort overlooks the Indian Ocean and is surrounded by lush vegetation and beautiful gardens.
Mar 27, 2011, 10:23 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: boston, ma, usa
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In Zimbali you are pretty removed from everything and a good 30 -50 min drive from downtown Durban.
Mar 29, 2011, 12:43 am
#4
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 83
I've stayed at both the lodge and the resort in Zimbali. I liked the lodge much more as it was more rustic and had serious character. The resort may be better now as when I was there I was the only guest as it was the week of it's opening.
In Zimbali you are pretty removed from everything and a good 30 -50 min drive from downtown Durban.
In Zimbali you are pretty removed from everything and a good 30 -50 min drive from downtown Durban.
Mar 29, 2011, 7:02 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: boston, ma, usa
Posts: 220
I went to Kruger in the north which is about 12 hours drive away but I have been told that kwa zulu has several game parks in close proximity to the zimbali lodge as well as national heritage and world sites up in zululand, so this might be your best bet with limited time. The best advice I can give if you have a few extra days is to take advantage of the cheap BA award redemptions from South Africa to Namibia (5K miles each way I think?) and spend a few days in Namibia. Just an amazingly beautiful country. Then again so is South Africa but people tend to miss Namibia altogether.
Apr 17, 2011, 12:19 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Durban
Posts: 37
less than 2 hour drive from Zimbali you will find the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi game park, which in my opinion is far better than Kruger when it comes to seeing the Big 5. There are also a number of smaller game parks which abutt it and also host the big 5 - Phinda, Thanda etc. They are serious 5 star resorts in their own rights, both being rated amongst the best in the world.
In that region you also have lake St. Lucia nearby home to 1000s of crocs and hippos and very easy to see them all. As well as whales and dolphins in the ocean.
I would recommend a few days in Zimbali to soak up all it has to offer and the surrounds of Durban and then head for 2/3 days by the game parks 2 hours away. Will give you a fantastic city, beach and bush holiday.
In that region you also have lake St. Lucia nearby home to 1000s of crocs and hippos and very easy to see them all. As well as whales and dolphins in the ocean.
I would recommend a few days in Zimbali to soak up all it has to offer and the surrounds of Durban and then head for 2/3 days by the game parks 2 hours away. Will give you a fantastic city, beach and bush holiday.
Apr 18, 2011, 12:56 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2008
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less than 2 hour drive from Zimbali you will find the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi game park, which in my opinion is far better than Kruger when it comes to seeing the Big 5. There are also a number of smaller game parks which abutt it and also host the big 5 - Phinda, Thanda etc. They are serious 5 star resorts in their own rights, both being rated amongst the best in the world.
In that region you also have lake St. Lucia nearby home to 1000s of crocs and hippos and very easy to see them all. As well as whales and dolphins in the ocean.
I would recommend a few days in Zimbali to soak up all it has to offer and the surrounds of Durban and then head for 2/3 days by the game parks 2 hours away. Will give you a fantastic city, beach and bush holiday.
In that region you also have lake St. Lucia nearby home to 1000s of crocs and hippos and very easy to see them all. As well as whales and dolphins in the ocean.
I would recommend a few days in Zimbali to soak up all it has to offer and the surrounds of Durban and then head for 2/3 days by the game parks 2 hours away. Will give you a fantastic city, beach and bush holiday.
Apr 18, 2011, 6:04 pm
#8
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Apr 19, 2011, 4:50 pm
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less than 2 hour drive from Zimbali you will find the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi game park, which in my opinion is far better than Kruger when it comes to seeing the Big 5. There are also a number of smaller game parks which abutt it and also host the big 5 - Phinda, Thanda etc. They are serious 5 star resorts in their own rights, both being rated amongst the best in the world.
In that region you also have lake St. Lucia nearby home to 1000s of crocs and hippos and very easy to see them all. As well as whales and dolphins in the ocean.
I would recommend a few days in Zimbali to soak up all it has to offer and the surrounds of Durban and then head for 2/3 days by the game parks 2 hours away. Will give you a fantastic city, beach and bush holiday.
In that region you also have lake St. Lucia nearby home to 1000s of crocs and hippos and very easy to see them all. As well as whales and dolphins in the ocean.
I would recommend a few days in Zimbali to soak up all it has to offer and the surrounds of Durban and then head for 2/3 days by the game parks 2 hours away. Will give you a fantastic city, beach and bush holiday.
Apr 20, 2011, 10:10 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Durban
Posts: 37
You would need to check with the hotel, but most hotels in the area offer this service, leave very early morning and return late. However the best times to see animals is often very early or evening. If you are just looking for a taste of the bush a day trip will be good and you are still likely to see a lot. But if you want the true bush experience I'd recommend spending at least one night at a resort in the bush. Hope it helps!
Apr 20, 2011, 5:45 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 83
You would need to check with the hotel, but most hotels in the area offer this service, leave very early morning and return late. However the best times to see animals is often very early or evening. If you are just looking for a taste of the bush a day trip will be good and you are still likely to see a lot. But if you want the true bush experience I'd recommend spending at least one night at a resort in the bush. Hope it helps!
Apr 20, 2011, 6:23 pm
#12
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Apr 21, 2011, 2:10 am
#13
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You would need to check with the hotel, but most hotels in the area offer this service, leave very early morning and return late. However the best times to see animals is often very early or evening. If you are just looking for a taste of the bush a day trip will be good and you are still likely to see a lot. But if you want the true bush experience I'd recommend spending at least one night at a resort in the bush. Hope it helps!
Apr 22, 2011, 5:02 pm
#14
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May 18, 2011, 4:47 pm
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As Iīm planning to visit the Zimbali Resort, I was wondering whether anyone has been there lately?
Are there any "must do" activities? Are the prices at the restaurants reasonable? (I canīt seem to find a menu for any of the restaurants online)
So far my interaction with the hotel hasnīt been too impressive, but I wonīt jump to any conclusions before staying there...
Are there any "must do" activities? Are the prices at the restaurants reasonable? (I canīt seem to find a menu for any of the restaurants online)
So far my interaction with the hotel hasnīt been too impressive, but I wonīt jump to any conclusions before staying there...