COOL THOUGHTS: pongola

Pongola Country Lodge is ideally situated in the heart of Pongola town, a place renowned for its sugar cane industry. This beautiful valley offers a rewarding variety of culture, history, wilderness and wildlife.

Initially Pongola Country Lodge offered the only accommodation for travellers and businesspeople. The town has expanded dramatically in recent years and we remain the only hotel that offers 3-star value for 5-star hospitality.

Extensive renovations on the Lodge commenced in 1998 and we grew from 36 to 57 individually decorated rooms by 2010. Further developments took place and by 2015 we had 67 well-appointed rooms and top-class conference facilities.

Our staff complement grew from 20 to 60, employing from the local community as well as affording hospitality students experience through a carefully selected government program.

LOOK AT US NOW

We pride ourselves on our attention to detail ensuring you of a comfortable and memorable stay. Our restaurant offers robust country style cooking, with an impressive a la carte menu. You can relax in our stylish lounges or next to the pool set in tranquil gardens.

Our team is available to assist with special events, whether it be corporate, weddings, birthdays or parties to celebrate an occasion.

Our receptionists will eagerly help you to plan excursions in the area.

Join us and listen to the drum beat of true Zululand hospitality.

Alternate number and WhatsApp 082 324 0250

Website: www.pongolacountrylodge.co.za

Pristine Pakamisa

Isabella Stepski established Pakamisa Private Game Reserve in 1996, on land that is “Right in the heart of the Zulu Kingdom”. The closest town, 18 kms away, is Pongola. It boasts a burgeoning agricultural community that cultivates 50 square kilometers of sugar cane and sub-tropical fruits.

During the depression of the ‘30’s Pongola introduced a canal system for irrigation. The town thrived and erected a sugar mill, now the back bone of this community. This small town of 128,000 people (2011) has an unfortunate unemployment rate of 35%.

Most of the non-arable land was used for cattle farming. Game existed in the area, but not in great numbers because of threat of disease. In the late ‘80’s a few cattle farmers established basic accommodation for hunters. Approximately 10 years later a handful of land owners realised the potential tourism was bringing to the area and upgraded accommodation to attract international and upmarket visitors. It is against this backdrop that Isabella Stepski manifested a dream of owning a game farm with a 5 star lodge in South Africa, where she could also breed and ride her Arab horses she brought from Spain.

17 years later, after the challenge of constructing a 5 Star lodge with community members who have grown up with a legacy of cattle herding and cane farming, Pakamisa has offered valuable exposure in international tourism. 33 people are employed.

The tired and overgrazed 2,500 hectare cattle farm was transformed into pristine bush, re-introducing indigenous game such as giraffe and antelope.

The most exciting, and unique, element that Isabella introduced to the area is her horsemanship. Isabella is a renowned international Arabian horse expert, who has bred these fine horses for 30 years. Her horses were originally born and bred in Andalusia, Spain, of purebred Spanish Bloodlines. Staff members who have shown an affinity to horses have been ‘groomed’ with phenomenal equine management skills. Understanding the importance of caring for saddles, tack and tools; and being able to identify and treat diseases, basic health and hoof conditions has been instilled via skills transfer either from Isabella or the numerous experts who visit Pakamisa. An international volunteer program offers a valuable opportunity to exchange cultural knowledge.

An obvious benefit of having 33 stabled horses, is of course…..manure! With Pongola’s perfect hot climate growing vegetables is a must, and is overseen by a local horticulturist. Staff grow vegetables for their own pot as well as offering lodge guests organic veg. This is converted into a culinary delight by the chef in the kitchen, another wonderful empowerment story.

Against a landscape that has been historically worlds apart from game farming, bush management, tourism and horsemanship, Isabella and Pakamisa have altered the lives of many people in the local community and introduced a new generation into a lucrative livelihood in tourism and equine management.

It is inspirational for guests and professionals to interact with staff members, whether they are game rangers, stable hands or kitchen staff, to see and appreciate the skills development that has taken place at Pakamisa.