PONGOLA NATURE RESERVE (LEEUKOP) – SONDABA CAMP

We wanted to experience something different for our December holiday and a private solar and gas lodge in the heart of KZN, approximately 14km drive from the Albasinie dam sounded like a perfect match.

If you want to get away from the rat race and become one with nature, Pongola Nature Reserve might be just the place you are looking for. Pongola Nature Reserve is situated on the N7, on the road to the northern KZN beaches, including St. Lucia and Sodwana Bay. Pongola Nature Reserve is approximately 38km from Pongola, and about 472km from Johannesburg.

I can really comment that the lodge exceeded our highest expectations. The lodge has a capacity to accommodate a maximum of 12 people. Six exclusive wooden huts, containing 2 beds each as well as a shower and toilet, provide comfortable accommodation, while a fully equipped kitchen, pantry, bar and braaiing facilities met all our needs. Certainly one of the highlights was that 2 friendly staff was available from 7:00 to 16:00 every day to clean, make the beds and wash the dishes – always with a smile.

The lodge has a nice size swimming pool that kept our children entertained and provided comfort after each hot December day. During our drives in the reserve, we were privilege to see buffaloes roaming, giraffe, warthog, kudu, zebra and numerous bird species. During one of the boat trips on the dam, we came across one of the biggest elephant herds that we have seen in a long while.

Unfortunately the rivers came down strongly during our visit to the reserve, and although we enjoyed every moment of our visit, we were not successful in catching the tiger fish we so desired.

Will we be back – most definitely  “YES”!

Next time however, we will make provision to bring back more of the game meat that are available at the shop on the reserve.