Safari Lodge
Offers a quintessential 'Out of Africa' experience.
Classic, colonial décor, refined simplicity, deep verandahs and sweeping views, capture the history and romance of a bygone era. Guests are accommodated in 8 luxurious safari tents (each with indulgent bathroom, outdoor canvas shower, private verandah, personal bar and tea/coffee facilities).
Insect gauze on windows and tent-flaps, overhead ceiling fans, mosquito nets and crisp white percale bed linen provides luxurious comfort as well as old world romance.
Sumptuous meals are served at the main house (a restored colonial homestead) on the wide verandahs, in the dining room, garden or on the wooden deck alongside the swimming pool.
Personalised service, utter comfort and passionate attention to detail ensure beautiful memories of Africa.

At the foot of the Lebombo Mountains on the shores of Lake Jozini, our 5 star graded White Elephant Safari Lodge captures the history and romance of the colonial era. Eight luxurious safari tents, each with ball and claw bath and outdoor canvas shower, provide a secluded retreat in the unspoilt Pongola Game Reserve wilderness. Stylish dining, sophisticated simplicity, attention to detail; sweeping views and a myriad bush and water-based game activities promise a unique African experience.


Bush Camp
Provides an authentic 'back to nature' experience with the emphasis on simplicity, comfort and privacy.
Guests are accommodated in 7 thached, spacious, en-suite chalets (each with private verandah, ceiling fans, crisp white bed linen and mosquito nets).
Camp facilities include a swimming pool, well equipped open plan kitchen for self-catering, dining area, upstairs lounge and viewing deck.

Chalet 1: Honeymoon unit, en-suite shower with outdoor private ball 'n claw bath.
Chalet 2, 3, 4: Twin beds, en-suite shower.
Chalet 5, 6: Twin beds, en-suite shower and bath, an extra bed for a child or a camping cot can be placed in these rooms.
Chalet 7: Family unit, en-suite shower, twin beds in main room, 2 X single beds in children's adjoining room and camping cot on request.

Africa's hues, spectacular views, stylish simplicity and traditional bush comforts, add to the serenity and harmony with nature.

White Elephant Lodge is located in the Pongola Game Reserve, which is situated east of the N2, in Maputoland, north-eastern Zululand. The lodge is approximately 485km from Johannesburg and 330km from Durban. The closest major centre is Richards Bay, which is 180km southeast on the N2 freeway.

Safari Lodge:  This 16-bedded lodge captures the history and romance of the "colonial era".  The sweeping views and tranquil setting provide the venue for a unique African experience. Eight luxurious safari-style tents, each with en-suite bathroom, outdoor canvas shower, private veranda and personal bar, ensure a secluded retreat in unspoilt savanna bushveld teeming with game and birdlife. Unwind with dusky birdcalls, moonlit vistas and the distant gentle lapping of water.

Safari Lodge - 5 Star- Full Board with 2 Eco-activities per night stay At the foot of the Lebombo Mountains on the shores of Lake Jozini, our 5 star graded White Elephant Safari Lodge captures the history and romance of the colonial era. Eight luxurious safari tents, each with ball and claw bath and outdoor canvas shower, provide a secluded retreat in the unspoilt Pongola Game Reserve wilderness. Stylish dining, sophisticated simplicity, attention to detail; sweeping views and a myriad bush and water-based game activities promise a unique African experience.


Private Bush Villa - Self-Catering
Situated in the beautiful Pongola Game Reserve, this unique lodge can now be exclusively hired for a totally private bush experience.
Thatched en-suite chalets are generously spacious with quality linen and overhead fans.
Open plan kitchen, dining room, bar and swimming pool with spectacular views ensure a “close to nature” relaxed ambience.
Venture into the wilderness with a field guide on bush walks, game drives, boat cruises or cast the water for tigerfish.
White Elephant Bush Camp is an ideal escape from the busy hurried world for families and friends. Bush Camp can accommodate up to 16 guests as follows:
Chalet 1: en-suite bedroom “Honeymoon suite” (A ball ’n claw bath has been placed under an old Marula tree some distance into the bush from the Honeymoon suite. Hot and cold water is on tap and the bath has been screened by a woven-stick “wall” (in traditional Zulu style) to ensure total privacy.)
Chalet 2-4: twin beds, en-suite shower
Chalet 5-6: twin beds, en-suite shower and bath
Chalet 7: family unit, en-suite shower. Twin beds in main room, 2 x single beds in children’s adjoining room

SAFARI LODGE
Rates Include:
Accommodation, dinner, pre-activity continental breakfast, brunch (late breakfast), afternoon tea (high tea), daily tea/coffee/juices/cakes etc., VAT and two eco-activities per day – game drive, boat cruise or a guided game walk.

Rates Exclude:
Other beverages, telephone & fax, laundry service, personal purchases, additional activities and transfers to and from the camp, and R20.00 gate entrance fee (per vehicle) payable at the gate.

BUSH CAMP
Rates Include:
Accommodation, dinner, pre-activity continental breakfast, brunch (late breakfast), afternoon tea (high tea), daily tea/coffee/juices/cakes etc., VAT and one eco-activity per day – game drive, boat cruise or a guided game walk.

Rates Exclude:
Other beverages, telephone & fax, laundry service, personal purchases, additional activities and transfers to and from the camp, and R20.00 gate entrance fee (per vehicle) payable at the gate.

Activities
Journey into the bush on a game drive or a bush walk with one of our professional guides.
Boat cruises on Lake Jozini add a new dimension to game viewing and birdwatching.
Hear fish eagle cries, hippos snorting and inhale the tranquility of Africa.
Test the waters for 'tigers' with our expert fishing guide.
From the novice angler to the expert fly-fisherman, Lake Jozini offers the ideal location for that tigerfish of a lifetime.
The pristine wilderness setting compares favorably to the wilds of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe.
Rhino walks are an exhilarating experience, allowing you to gain a closer understanding of these prehistoric mammals, their ways and their battle against extinction.

"Elephanting" provides so much more than the mere thrill of sighting elephants. Learn to "see" elephants differently. With our elephant researcher ad monitor team our "silent" elephants and the challenges they face.
Soar over the majestic Lebombo mountains and our corner of Africa with Zululand Mission Air Transport.
This 'flying doctor' service brings medical assistance to the people in the remote rural areas of Maputaland.
Gain a new insight into Africa's people and their needs, from ZUMAT'S comitted pilots.

A visit to Dumazulu Cultural Village and Illala Basket Weavers can be arranged, as well as visits to rural schools, Zulu chiefs and herbal doctors. Venture a little further into some of Maputaland's other wonderful Game and Nature Reserves (Hluhluwe-Umfolozi, Mkuze, Itala, Ndumu, Tembe and the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park).
Located in the middle of the village of Ubombo, you will find a special place known as the “Ubombo Children’s Care Village”.
Here, orphaned, sick or needy children from the community are cared for. This project is sustained with the help of donations and voluntary work.

Game Drives
Game drives are conducted in open game drive vehicles in the early morning and the late afternoon, by our qualified guides.
Your guide will show you not only the beautiful game in our reserve but also a veriety of interesting smaller species and the many wonderful facets of the bush and the nature. Guided Bush Walks 1 - 3 hours depending on group fitness and season Walks can be experienced all year round except in exceptionally hot or inclement weather.

Tailor made walks are very much part of the lodge's outdoor experience, to burn off calories from the lodge cuisine, for birding, tree identifying or any other special interest.
Walks provide unique opportunity to interact closely with the nature.

Boat Cruises 2 - 3 hours excurison
The 13 000 hectare Lake Jozini provides the focal feature of the Pongola Game Reserve.
At White Elephant Safaris, fishing, boat cruises and spectacular sunset cruises provide a unique and wonderful alternative means to exploring the flora and fauna of our beautiful wildlife sanctuary.
Sightings of herds of antelope, hippo, crocodile as well as an enormous variety of bird species are common. You may even be fortunate enough to see the elephant enjoying a morning or evening drink or bath from the lake.
The winter months provide good game viewing by boat as the open savannah on the shoreline’s green belt attracts a variety of antelope species. Birding is particularly good all year round, from the water and waterside.

Guided Elephanting ± 3 hour excursion
“Elephanting” is an afternoon or morning activity that allows a unique glimpse into our elephant society and their unobtrusive ways. Touch a primal cord as you learn about the family structures and are introduced to individual personalities.

Gain an insight into the challenges facing elephants in today’s fenced world. Learn to “see” elephants differently. Find a new understanding of these magnificent pachyderms.

Rhino Walks ± 3 hour adrenalin raising excursion
The experience provides insight info on the WWF Black Rhino Tange Expansion Project and a new respect fot the "prehistoric" rhino. Learn about the endangered black rhino's fascination social behaviours, dung middens and feeding habits and encounter a veriety of interesting creatures along the way.

Birding
“Arriving fairly late in the afternoon, we were treated to sightings of Flappet Lark and Arrow-marked Babbler on the road to the camp. In the camp itself, it seemed as if the AGM of the Yellow-billed Hornbill Society was in progress, as about 20 were sitting in one tree alone!

Other common camp residents over the nest couple of days were White-throated Robin, Crested Barbet and one of the reserve’s specials, Burchell’s Starling.
The starlings only occur in a thin belt in far northern KZN, but are resident in the Pongola Game Reserve.

They behave just like their relatives do in the Kruger: noisy, bold and even taking to stealing our fruit!
At night we were treated to Pearl-spotted, White-faced, Barn, Scobs and Spotted Eagle Owl calling around camp, as well as hyaena, jackal and Fiery-necked Nightjar.
The bush was alive with birds, even though it was dry and mid winter.
Burnt-necked Eremomela, Mleba Finch, Lilac-breasted Roller, Bearded Woodpecker and Striped Kingfisher were recorded in open woodland, while Gorgeous Bush Shrike, Rudd’s Apalis, Grey Penduline Tit and Paradise Flycatcher were recorded from denser bush.
Other interesting birds included Wattled Starling, Red-billed Oxpecker, Grey Honeyguide, Kurrichane Buttonquail, Alpine Swift and Red-crested Korhaan. Other White Elephant specials such as Long-tailed Shrike, Grey Lourie and Grey Hornbill were also seen, it seems strange to see these “Kruger” species in our province! Raptors were present, and in numbers.

Over 100 White-backed Vulture were seen at the vulture restaurant, as well as Lappet-faced. Tawny Eagles were all over, and so too were Martial and Bateler. With so many birds we were happy to go home, but we were treated to one last highlight; a boat cruise on Lake Jozini, which turned out to be the landlubber’s equivalent to a pelagic off the Cape coast! We saw at least 500 White-faced Duck – in one flock, 8 heron species including Goliath, Squacco and Green-backed, Black-winged Stilt, African Jacana, Black Crake, Glossi Ibis, African Spoonbill etc. etc. etc.
A breeding colony of Yellow-billed Stork, containing at least 20 pairs, proved to be the cherry on the top. The large crocs and hippo’s kept us from jumping too high for joy, though, for fear of capsizing our double-decker boat! We also counted at least 6 active White-backed Vulture nests from the boat, all in tallish thorn trees. Many thanks to White Elephant staff and their guides for sharing with us your little patch of paradise. Pongola Birdlist Species Duncan McKenzie Zululand Birding Route Tiger Fishing on Lake Jozini
The magnificent Tigerfish provides an exciting experience for any keen angler.

In October 1997 a record was set for the biggest fish caught weighing in at 8.9 kg. Tilapia, Barbell (sharp toothed catfish), Yellowfish, grass Carp, Mozambique and Red Breasted Bream are also found in the lake.
A boat can be hired for either half day or full day fishing and includes a personal guide and one tank of fuel. We can provide basic rods and tackle.
Please arrange with your lodge manager or guide should you wish to hire a boat for fishing. The best bait for Tigerfish is live Tilapia or Sardines. (Ask your guide whether live bait is available). Artificial lures such as rapalas, spinners and flies are useful alternatives to live bait, (your guide can advise you as to the best option depending on temperatures, season and prevailing conditions).
Slow trawling is a common method of fishing on Lake Jozini and the month of September through to May are regarded as the best Tigerfishing months. The Pongola Game Reserve promotes a catch and release policy regarding Tigerfish.

Additional Activities
Additional acitvities nearby: Zumat (Scenic flight and air transport)
Dumazulu Cultural Village Illa Weavers (Museum and sale of Zulu Art)
Ubombo Children’s Care Village”
Arabian Horse Riding
Pongola Golf Course

Additional Game Reserves Emdoneni Zulu Croc (Crodocile farm)
 Bayete Zulu Elephant Interaction

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Children over 12 years welcome.

Lodge facilities:  Boma/lapa, swimming pool and private water hole with viewing hide as well as an open-air dining area.

Malaria:  Pongola Game Reserve is a low risk malaria area. However, guests are advised to take prophylactic precautions before entering Zululand, in view of the new malarial strains, which have developed during the past few years.
We advise guests to consult their GP or pharmacist regarding the most effective anti-malaria prophylactics.

Clothing:  Khaki clothing and good walking shoes are advised for those guests who wish to participate on walking safaris.  During the summer months (October to March) cool cotton clothing is advisable as well as anoraks or raincoats as afternoon thunderstorms often prevail.
Jerseys and pullovers are suggested for the winter months of May through to August.
Hats and sunscreen are recommended for use throughout the year.

Temperatures:  Northern Zululand and Maputaland are situated in the subtropical zone of South Africa. Midday temperatures during the summer months of October to March can reach 40°C.
Winter (May to August) is moderate with minimum temperatures of 10°C.

Boat Hire 
Half day (Max 6 guests) R 1.000,00
Full day (Max 6 guests) R 1.750,00
Half day (Max 16 guests) R 1.750,00
Full day (Max 16 guests) R 2.750,00

Cook                                                 R 150,00 per day (advance notification)
Guide & Vehicle: (Game Drive)             R 150,00 per person (min R 900,00 per vehicle)
Guide & Boat: (Boat Cruise)                R 200,00 per person (min R 1200,00 per Boat)
Guided Walks                                     R 120,00 per person (min 2 guests)
Canoeing                                           R 200,00 per person (double canoe max 3)