Shayamoya Tiger Fishing and Game Lodge offers guests an unforgettable adventure on both land and water.
Shayamoya Spa
Shayamoya Spa is open to guests in need of a pampering and relaxing experience after a busy day of outdoor adventure. There are several packages to choose from, which includes body treatments such as back, neck and foot messages, as well as Reiki therapy, which is an ancient Japanese healing technique. Nail therapy is also available upon request. Whatever your needs, Shayamoya Spa will ensure that you are well taken care of and revitalised in no time.
Tiger Fishing Excursion
Avid fishermen up for a challenge can join a guide on Lake Jozini to face off against the notoriously ferocious tiger fish. Rare to South African waters, tiger fish are fighting game fish who will give any avid fisherman a run for this money. Shayamoya has rods and tackle for hire, and pricing depends on your trips’ duration, amount of fishermen, season and additional equipment.
Game Viewing
Shayamoya is located in close proximity to Pongola Game Reserve, a well-known wildlife destination that’s home to some of South Africa’s gorgeous fauna and flora.
Morning and afternoon game drives depart from the lodge and lasts around three hours, which allows guests ample opportunity to see rhino, elephant, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, various species of antelope and other smaller animals. A trained guide will accompany guests and provide information about the area and its inhabitants.
Game viewing can also be done from a boat that travels up the Pongola River and into Lake Jozini. This activity is extremely popular as it allows guests to view wildlife from a different perspective.
The boat cruise is ideal for birding, so avid twitchers must remember to bring their binoculars. Guests will also see hippo, crocodile, elephant and other animals making their way to the water’s edge, such as red wildebeest, waterbuck and white rhino.
Guided Rhino Walks
Pongola Game Reserve offers guests lodging at Shayamoya the chance to see the majestic white rhino up close and personal on a guided walking tour through part of the reserve. In South Africa, the rhino is an endangered species largely due to poaching, and these tours are designed to educate guests on the importance of protecting rhinos and their environment. The tour can be arranged through Shayamoya, and booking is essential.
Activities in the Area
Shayamoya is a convenient departure point from which to explore the area’s many historic and cultural attractions, as well as family-friendly activities and experiences. A guided horse safari at Pakamisa Game Reserve is a wonderful way to explore the beautiful wildlife of northern KwaZulu-Natal, and beats the mundane of a game vehicle. Other game reserves worth a visit in the area include Huluhluwe, Mkuze, Nudumo and Tembe Elephant Park.
There are several cultural tours in the area, with Dumazulu Traditional Village Tour being the most well-known. This tour takes visitors into the world of the Zulu people and their traditions, customs and way of life, depicted through a village located near Hluhluwe.
Here guests can interact with residents and learn more about their old manufacturing traditions including spear, shield and clay pot making, basket weaving, intricate bead work and Sangoma bone throwing. The cultural experience culminates in spectacular and vibrant Zulu dancing. Adjacent to the Kraal is the main dining area, Shebeen (bar), a Zulu artifact curio shop, an indigenous snake pit and a crocodile park.
For the outdoor enthusiasts, there are several hiking trails open to guests who’d like to experience the rugged beauty of the area on foot.
The Gem Stone trail combines physical activity with a geology lesson, as it will take you around the area of Pongolapoort, known for its formations of ancient Karoo basalts. A mineral hike in the Lebombo Mountains will provide you with an excellent opportunity to collect your own amethyst crystals.
After the day’s activities, guests can return to Shayamoya with tired legs, a worn out camera and a full heart, ready to enjoy a cold beverage as the sun sets over the lake and mountains.