Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Experience how the breeze cools you as it blows gently off the great lake up the ridge or join us for one of our speciality Tiger Fishing excursions where the thrill of fighting one of these rare ferocious game fish is simply invigorating. A truly unique bush lodge in Northern KwaZulu Natal where the view from the spectacular setting is particularly breath-taking as you gaze out onto Lake Jozini, the Lebombo Mountains and the Pongola Game Reserves. Privately managed by the Blevin family who have lived in the area for many years, Shayamoya exudes a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Shayamoya Lodge is surprisingly lovely. The initial slightly rough driveway leads you to a beautiful wooden lodge with pool and several gorgeous Rondavels. The staff were great and always helpful. Restaurant and food were very good. The Rondavals have no aircon but all buildings are set on a ridge and catch any wind which helps cool everything down. It was high 30’s when we visited last month but we slept ok. Love the outdoor shower and four poster bed with mosquito nets which are recommended September to May as location is low risk for Malaria. Pool was clean and not too cold. The view from all buildings is fabulous especially at sunrise and probably the most spectacular we saw in three weeks touring from Cape Town to Jo’burg.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: November 2024
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed in a standard room, although judging by the high spec of everything in it , there would be little need to upgrade. The room itself was certainly spacious enough, erected in the African rondavel style, with a decked viewing platform outside it overlooked the spectacular Phongola river/lake and the Lembomba mountain range. Utterly breathtaking. so much so, that my partner shed a tear on first arriving ! The rooms were spotless, with nice little touches like the kettle always being refilled by housekeeping. Beautiful large bathroom with quality fittings and and wonderful outside shower made our stay feel even more unique. The bar and restaurant have the same fantastic view over the lake and mountains, with a good selection of wines, beers and spirits. The service throughout our stay was excellent, friendly and attentive with nothing being too much trouble. After travelling from Kruger we took advantage of the laundry service at Shayamoya and it was incredibly fast.....and cheap ! Special mention goes to Miriam who was delightful and virtually omnl present during our visit even performing the massage my partner booked (apparently the best she's had)!. We booked a river cruise and the guide., "Lucky" , took us out at 8am, he was extremely knowledgeable, passionate and great fun. His passion for the environment is obvious and infectious, we saw a great deal and I highly recommend it. One last mention should go to the gardening team, the grounds are like a botanical gardens, stunning! So if you are planning to be in the Pongola area then I would heartily recommend Shayamoya.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: February 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lindy Blevin, General Manager at Shayamoya Tiger Fishing & Game Lodge
Responded 28 Feb 2022
Dear Richard Thank you for your lovely review. It fills our souls to hear our efforts are so appreciated. We all love our Shayamoya which we call home. Kind regards Lindy
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Shayamoya Tiger Fishing and Game Lodge is an amazing and relaxing natural environment for nature lovers. The Lodges have a stunning view of Jozini dam, the staff are welcoming with gorgeous smiles and offer superb assistance and service. Make every effort to go Tiger Fishing under the guidance of Maxwell - an outstanding gentleman - you will not be disappointed in your adventure! The restaurant meals are especially delicious - I would highly recommend the vension potjie dish - when you savour the taste - it is like fairies dancing on your taste buds!! A beautiful and relaxing environment and well worth a visit. We shall definitely be back :)
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 2024
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The chalets were dirty. Bath mats (which we found when we checked in) and toilets were dirty as well. In one chalet the toilet had a really bad smell. We found jeyes fluid which had been provided, I suppose for the smell. I demanded that the chalets we’d booked be cleaned again.
We were not given an entrance code for the gate prior to our arrival. There was no guard at the gate and the area has no cellphone signal so we couldn’t call the lodge. We had to drive past the gate for just over a km to get signal. Only then were we given the entrance code. The car used for the game drive was filthy and very old. Thankfully I’d brought a wet towel to wipe the seats. There was no sanitiser provided. The staff at the lodge and all guests we came across weren’t wearing masks. My family and I were the only ones wearing them. Cold breakfast and the coffee station were self service. Again, no hand sanitiser provided. Clearly COVID is not considered an issue.
When I requested room service, I was told I had to collect the food myself from the restaurant because they were short-staffed. I had no choice but to do so.
The lodge is not well maintained, The grass is overgrown. There’s a lot I hated about the place. Also, contrary to what was advertised, there was no Wi-Fi in the chalets. At least not in the two we’d booked. I have pictures and videos to prove all the above.
On the positive- we enjoyed the game drive despite being transported in a dirty, run down vehicle. We liked the scenic views and saw a lot of animals. The food was really good.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: January 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lindy Blevin, General Manager at Shayamoya Tiger Fishing & Game Lodge
Responded 29 Nov 2023
Dear Guest Thank you for your review which clearly was when we were trying to recover from the drastic effects our business and staff encountered from the lock down. My apologies if our services were not up to the normal Shayamoya standard at the time. I am glad to hear you enjoyed the views, the game drive and our delicious wholesome food. Regards Lindy
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We stayed one night at this property in transit to eSwantini. The lodges give you a real African feeling; atmospheric, wide views, lovely outdoor shower and a balcony. The lodges are not spacious, but for one night totally fine. The accommodation is remote though there is nothing else nearby. Food is available at the accommodation. In our case, there was a braai. If you don't like meat, the offer is limited and pricey. There is a nice swimming pool and the lodges are in a kind of garden. Furthermore, we used the massage that was well priced: 600 rand for 60 minutes. Breakfast you have in the central building which is very nice and has a wonderful view.
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Date of stay: July 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wonderful place surrounded by nature, convenient as a pit stop before crossing Eswatini towards Kruger (the lodge is in fact 10 minutes from the border). Very helpful staff: we were leaving early in the morning and they prepared breakfast for us the night before to keep in the fridge so we could eat it during the trip. Excellent lunch and dinner, I recommend lunch in the lodge because it has a spectacular view, especially of Lake Jozini. We did the excursion with Maxwell on the lake and it was magical: it was just us with the guide looking for rhinos on the lake shore, hippos and crocuses. Very nice characterful room. The only negative note was the lack of a shower: in fact there was only a bathtub without a shower attached inside (you could only bathe lying down). The Boma dinner area is beautiful.
Overall, however, I can only recommend it as a stop!
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Macchina necessaria
Parcheggio interno disponibile
Chiamare/messaggiare via WA reception appena...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The most wonderful lodge, coupled with friendly, knowledgeable and attentive staff! Fabulous fishing and awesome game drives await you! Fully catered, they provide a wide variety of meals and have a well stocked bar. Rooms are elegantly appointed with comfortable beds. With views to die for, this lodge is ideally placed for the traveller, wishing to explore KZN. It is close to the Eswatini border, ensuring a ‘1st in the queue’ position to cross if needed.
For travellers routing to Mozambique, this is the ideal stop-over before the stunning onward drive over the Jozini Dam.
Well done Shayamoya Tiger Fishing & Game Lodge! We’ll be back!
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Perfect stop-over for leaving/entering Eswatini and as a halfway house for the Mozambique...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lindy Blevin, General Manager at Shayamoya Tiger Fishing & Game Lodge
Responded 28 Nov 2023
Dear Guest Thank you for your informative review. Shayamoya is indeed well located to explore the Northern KZN game reserves and to break the long journey from Kruger Park through (or around) Swaziland as we are only 8km from the Golela border post on the Southern end. Travelling time to the Kosi Bay/Mozambique border post is around 2.5 hours so this also helps with breaking the trip from Johannesburg/Pretoria to the beach resorts. Shayamoya is not just a stop over though. As you mentioned, there is the safari boat cruise on Lake Jozini, or tiger fishing and game drives we offer. We also outsource the guided rhino tracking and horse back safaris - advance notice is required for these activities. Fun for the whole family! We look forward to your next visit. Regards Lindy
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Shayamoya is a very well run establishment, and have used that game lodge for many years. Its a very statistically placed lodge when it comes to travelling from Durban airport going north to Swaziland and beyond to the Kruger park. Accommodation is well designed to have that African bush atmosphere feeling. The view from the chalet we had is magnificent and overlook the Jozini lake. The whole area is connected with game reserves joining each other, and daily excursions can be done, like open gamedrives in the adjoining reserves, as well tiger fishing trips, on the lake itself or book the famous Shayamanzi house boat.
There is a wide range of food types on the menu, and a very good selection of drinks. The staff is very friendly and you get a feeling of being part of a family. As said, i have used this lodge for absolutely years, and recommend it as a place to chill or as a stop over en-route to Swaziland and Kruger National park, as its right on the half way disstance from King Shaka airport and the Kruger park
Peter
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Date of stay: November 2023
Service
Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lindy Blevin, General Manager at Shayamoya Tiger Fishing & Game Lodge
Responded 06 Dec 2023
Dear Peter Thank you for your review and your kind compliments. Shayamoya is very dear to our hearts and love seeing guests return over the years, and become part of the family. We look forward to seeing you again soon. Kind regards Lindy
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Fantastic view on the dam, outside shower very nice, Chalet comfortable and clean, enormous bed. Breakfast and dinner of very high quality. Staff were all very friendly and helpful. Game viewing boat trip on the dam (am) highly recommended, saw lots of animals and birds. On the down side: Traffic noise can be a bit disturbing and the swimming pool was not usable, dirty and green
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: February 2024
Value
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Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lindy Blevin, General Manager at Shayamoya Tiger Fishing & Game Lodge
Responded 30 May 2024
Dear Guest Thank you for your feedback which is always very valuable to us. The pool has been a challenge to manage on some occasions with extreme load shedding which meant our pump wasn't able to operate sufficiently but certainly it is not the norm. We look forward to your return visit. Kind regards Lindy
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The view is absolutely breathtaking, and the hospitality is next-level. And the food was delicious! Management was always readily available (and Kim an absolute delight!) and the staff were all so friendly and eager to help. The facilities were impeccable. I love how each room has a great deal of privacy, rather than clustered close together. This is the place to go if you need a quiet weekend away, an unforgettable honeymoon, and everything in-between! Can't wait to return!
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Date of stay: January 2024
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Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lindy Blevin, General Manager at Shayamoya Tiger Fishing & Game Lodge
Responded 30 May 2024
Dear Guest Thank you so much for your kind review. It is so lovely to hear our guests so excited about our lovely Shayamoya and all her delightful contributions that make her unique. We look forward to seeing you soon. Kind regards Lindy
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Hi Hayley, sorry for delay in my reply. I prefer March or April when the water has had time to filter some more after the rains (which hopefully we will have lots of). It is tough fishing in discoloured water. Hope that helps.
Regards
Lindy
Hi there! October is a brilliant month! The tiger fish come on the bight about mid August as the water warms up after Winter, September is also a brilliant month but a little unpredictable with regards to cold fronts, so October is great, but expect rain showers in the late afternoon. Email Nomvula in Reservations to book your dates.
Hope to see you then.
Kind regards
Lindy
Hi again. The record tiger fish is 8.3kg so the big ones are out there but to be realistic, we are catching from around 300g to 3kg frequently.
Regards
Lindy at Shayamoya Tiger Fishing and Game Lodge
Lake Jozini
There are more places to choose from in the Pongola area.
PRICE RANGE
RÂ 2,151 - RÂ 2,593 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
South AfricaKwaZulu-NatalZululandPongola
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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