Pakamisa Private Game Reserve Greater St Lucia Wetland

The Pakamisa Private Game Reserve is majestically positioned in the spectacular mountainous region of northern Zululand in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province.

The Pakamisa Hotel is approximately 15 km south-west of the small town Pongola. This magnificent getaway offers discerning visitors luxury, comfort and security with top class European cuisine amidst the pristine African wilderness.

The Pakamisa Game Reserve comprises an unspoiled malaria free wilderness area of some 2500 hectares. The access to this game reserve is restricted, enabling guests at the Pakamisa Hotel to enjoy the private experience of the African bushveld. This game reserve is home to an abundance of wildlife and exotic vegetation.

Guests staying at the Pakamisa Hotel have the opportunity, with a bit of luck, to encounter leopard, giraffe, zebra, waterbuck, red hartebeest, warthog, bushpig, kudu, nyala, impala, bushbuck, common reedbuck, mountain reedbuck, grey and red duiker, steenbuck, klipspringer, baboon as well as many smaller mammals, predators and reptiles. In this game reserve, the bird life is also plentiful and diverse.

Spectacularly located on the high plateau of the Pakamisa Mountain, the Pakamisa Lodge provides breathtaking views over the evergreen valley and plains of the Pongola River and the surrounding mountains in KwaZulu-Natal.

Accommodation at the Pakamisa Lodge, KwaZulu-Natal

Guests staying at the Pakamisa Lodge can enjoy the exclusive, friendly atmosphere, especially as accommodation is limited to a maximum of 16 guests. The unique Italo-Spanish architecture and style of the Pakamisa Lodge blends the finest of European and African ambience.

The eight spacious and beautifully decorated guest rooms offer the highest standards for comfort and luxury. Each suite, comprising a bedroom, lounge, deluxe-bathroom (bath, shower, two basins and separate toilet), wardrobe and own veranda, is fully equipped with in-room electronic safe, mini-bar and tea/coffee facilities. Each room at Pakamisa has been individually styled after an African animal, a theme picked up in valuable paintings and local artifacts.

The imposing main building of the Lodge, with a mix of African and European art and antiques, offers the finest atmosphere for either quiet relaxation or socializing with friends and other guests.

• Guests can meet new friends around the grand fireplace in the spacious Living Room at the Pakamisa Lodge
• One can choose a good book from the lodge's extensive library which contains many treasures to delight the most discerning bibliophile in a variety of languages
• The Hunter's Bar with its intimate atmosphere invites guests to quench their thirst
• Visitors can relax and enjoy wonderful music on the sweeping terrace with its panoramic views of spectacular Africa
• The pool terrace at Pakamisa provides an oasis of tranquillity where light snacks and exotic drinks can be enjoyed after a refreshing swim in the large rock pool

Conferences and seminars at Pakamisa

The Pakamisa Lodge offers conference facilities and equipment which makes for a unique company getaway in a beautiful bush setting. The lodge provides all the latest technical equipment, including audio-visual facilities, to ensure a smooth-running event.

Activities at the Pakamisa  Lodge, South Africa

The Pakamisa Game Lodge is a pleasant retreat no matter if the guests are looking for a holiday filled with adventurous activities or simply wish to relax. A variety of sporting, social and cultural activities are available at Pakamisa.

Game drives:

The Pakamisa Game Reserve is home to leopard, giraffe, zebra, waterbuck, red hartebeest, warthog, bushpig, kudu, nyala, impala, bushbuck, common reedbuck, mountain reedbuck, grey and red duiker, steenbuck, klipspringer, baboon as well as many smaller mammals, predators and reptiles. Experienced game rangers accompany guests staying at the Pakamisa Lodge through the reserve in an open safari vehicle to encounter Africa's untamed wilderness.

Guided walks:

Guests have the unique opportunity to experience the unspoiled bushveld on guided walks in company with a professional tracker.

Birdwatching:

200 species have been recorded in this game reserve with many more occasional visitors and seasonal migrants. From soaring eagles overhead to the vivid sunbirds flitting through the shrubs, the area offers birdwatchers a wonderful opportunity to observe these.

Horses:

Guests may join the horse-back safaris through the Pakamisa Game Reserve. The elegant lounge and veranda at the Pakamisa Stables invite riders to enjoy pre-ride drinks and snacks as well as a delicious dinner in a very special setting at the end of a day in the saddle.

Golf:

Transportation can be arranged to the small but challenging nine-hole golf course in Pongola which is a 40-minute drive from the Pakamisa Lodge.

Sightseeing Tours:

Cultural tours to get to know the history of the Zulu people, including conducted tours of the famous battlefields of the Anglo-Zulu and Anglo-Boer wars can be arranged. The St. Lucia World Heritage Site is recommended for wildlife observation and a boat cruise through this vast coastal wetland is on offer.

Fishing:

Expeditions to the nearby Jozini Dam, which is approximately one hour's drive, can be arranged seeking the legendary, hard-fighting Tiger fish and other freshwater species. The Jozini Dam, which is one of the largest in the region, is in a beautiful setting and an abundance of wildlife visits its shores.

Directions to the Pakamisa Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal

The Pakamisa Game Lodge is situated only about 50 km from the Indian Ocean, approximately 15 km south west of the small town of Pongola in KwaZulu-Natal. The close proximity of the coast provides a moderate and temperate climate.

One can reach the Pakamisa Private Game Reserve via air-shuttle from Johannesburg directly to the Pongola Airport whereby the approximate flight time is about one hour. When landing at Pongola, the lodge collects guests directly from the airstrip. The car transfer to the lodge (approx. 30 minutes) winds through the picturesque Pongola River valley and the evergreen sugarcane plantations.

The alternative travelling option to the Pakamisa Game Lodge is to go by car on the N 2 highway:

• the north from Johannesburg over Witbank, Ermelo, Piet Retief (450 km)
• the south from Durban (380 km) or from Richards Bay (250 km)
• In Pongola you take the R66 (towards Magudu, Ulundi) - travel on this tarred road for 7 km (passing over the Pongola river) untill you see our brown
• Pakamisa sign on your left
• here turn right onto dirt road for 7,5 km
• here turn left towards the mountain for further 600 m to our entrance gate of the reserve.
• 3 more kilometers of very steep road up the Pakamisa mountain to the Lodge

Quick Facts: Pakamisa Game Reserve, South Africa

• 8 luxury suites - all comprising of a deluxe bathroom (2 basins, shower, toilet and bath), bedroom (king size or twin beds), lounge with mini bar, tea & coffee making facility, electronic in-room safe, private balcony
• Award winning restaurant - Top 100 Restaurants of South Africa 2003/4
• Private Game Reserve -  a pristine wilderness area of 2500 ha where guests can expect to view the following species: Giraffe, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Zebra, Waterbuck, Red Hartebeest, Impala, Kudu, Nyala, Grey and Red Duiker, Steenbok, Klipspringer, Common and Mountain Reedbuck, Leopard, Caracal, baboon as well as many smaller mammals, predators and reptiles. An abundant (of approx. 200) species of birdlife have been recorded
• Horseback Safaris - Horse lovers will be impressed by our horses used for the unforgettable rides through the Reserve
• Guided game drives and walking safaris 
• Clay Target Parcours - situated in the fascinating mountain location
• Pellet Gun Shooting range
• Archery
• Voted as Top Honeymoon destination
• Malaria free area
• Children of all ages are welcome at a reduced rate
• Pakamisa is the perfect place to sojourn when travelling between Kruger Park and KwaZulu-Natal, home of the famous Battlefield routes, the Drakensberg, the unspoilt beaches and the famous Wetlands of St. Lucia.
• Excursions, such as visits to a nearby Big 5 game reserve, traditional Zulu village, Tiger fishing and boat cruises on the Jozini dam, can also be arranged