Shayamoya Tiger Fishing and Game Lodge

Beautiful place, so peaceful. Rooms are rustic but very comfortable, loved the outdoor shower. Lots of birdlife all around. There was chance to socialise with a few sundowners at the bar/restaurant or just sit on the comfy chairs, soak up the a**osphere and enjoy the incredible views.

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.

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.

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

We had a lovely stay at Shayamoya. The staff was friendly and the food was really good. The scenery is breathtaking and is complimented by the structure. Too bad we couldn't stay longer but will definitely be back.

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!

Great discovery in the Pongola area, which is less touristic but we highly recommend to visit. The views are amazing, and the chalets are really in the middle of nature with the sounds of birds and other animals to wake up in the morning. Outdoor shower with the sun on your face is a great way to start the day full of energy. Very attentive owner and staff. We did the boat safari with Lucky which was one of the highlights of our trip in South Africa. Saw lots of animals (hippo, rhino, giraffe, etc) from the boat. If you’re looking for an authentic and relaxing experience surrounded by beautiful nature, don’t hesitate to book this place.

Shayamoya is a beautiful place to stay. The facilities are stunning - clean, well maintained with beautiful views. The staff is outstanding - friendly, helpful and welcoming. Can highly recommend Maxwell our fishing and game viewing guide - he was an absolute legend!! He was knowledgeable and really went out of his way to make our stay amazing. Our only one issue was the food, it could do with improvement.

This is one of our favourite places to retreat to when the going gets busy. Our spacious and comfy room had an exquisite view of the bush and lake. We had one of THE best game view boat rides ever! … big and small birds and game in the water and on the banks, around every corner. Lindy’s team is so friendly, helpful and interested, and the food was delicious (loved the fancy G&T’s at lunch)!