Pongola Game Reserve was declared in 1894 by Paul Kruger, President of the old Transvaal Republic. It was re-proclaimed as Phongola Nature Reserve and is now neighbouring to the Pongola Game Reserve The Pongola River flows into a 13 276ha lake. Pongola game reserve offers rustic campsites. There are clean ablutions, some offer hot water. The sites are positioned far from each other and spread out.