The White Elephant is situated at the foot of the majestic Lebombo Mountains next to the shimmering blue waters of Lake
Jozini in the Pongola Game Reserve, Northern Kwazulu Natal. The White Elephant is the most diverse and unique safari
destination in South Africa offering true water and land based safari options. The White Elephant consist of The White
Elephant Safari Lodge which is a 5 star tented camp as well as The Bush Camp which is an exclusive use, self catering
property.
White Elephant Safari Lodge at a Glance
Eight luxury tented suites (4 double and 4 twin) - Max 16 guests
Tiger-fishing, fishing, boat cruises and spectacular sunset cruises.
Black Rhino Range
Expansion Project
Elephant Research Project
Excellent cuisine and personalised service.
Private, exclusive experience.
Wi-fi
Parking facilities
No children under 12
years allowed
White Elephant Safari Accommodation
The White Elephant Safari Lodge is a 1920’s colonial house with wrap-around veranda featuring the lodge lounge, the lodge
restaurant (inside and outside dining areas), a non heated swimming pool and a sundowner deck.
There are eight luxury tented suites (4 double and 4 twin). Each suite has an indulgent bathroom, outdoor shower, private
verandah, personal bar and tea/coffee facilities. They all have insect gauze on windows and tent-flaps, overhead ceiling
fans, mosquito nets and crisp white percale bed linen provides luxurious comfort. The child policy is no children under 12
years allowed, except under special terms & conditions. Safari Lodge is aligned towards romantic getaways for couples,
couples travelling together or families with older children.
Rates include all meals and two activities of your choice per day.
Wi-fi and parking facilities available at the lodge.
Activities
The White Elephant offers fantastic water and land based experiences.
Boat Cruise – On the 15 000 hectare Lake Jozini we do fishing, boat cruises and spectacular sunset cruises. One can
take a boat safari and see the animals on the shores of the lake as well as the hippos, crocodiles and an enormous
variety of bird species in the water.
Canoeing - See the beautiful birdlife as well as the hippos and crocs from a canoe on Lake Jozini.
Guided Bush Walks - Tailor made walks are very much part of the lodge's outdoor experience. It’s a great way to
see game on foot as well as for bird watching. On our Rhino Walks we track black rhino on foot and learn about
their social behaviours and feeding habits.
Black Rhino Range Expansion Project –
A unique experience that provides an insight into the rhino's fascinating world and the WWF Black Rhino Range
Expansion Project. With the use of a Telemetry device, we will follow the rhino's signal, look for tracks and dung
middens and examine our camera 'trap' locations as part of our rhino monitoring and conservation project.
Included is also a visit to our Rhino room at our Research Centre.
Elephant Research Project – The Elephant Research Project is a unique activity offered at White Elephant as an
alternative to Game drives, Walks, Boat cruises and Fishing. This activity is educational, interactive and visual, and
includes spending time with our research and conservation staff.
After an early breakfast, guests depart for a cruise on Lake Jozini to locate and watch the elephants from the boat.
After a few hours on the water, guests are returned to the Lodge for High Tea.
The activity continues after tea with a visit to our Research Centre, to watch the BBC production ”Operation
Elephant-The Mission” documenting the initial re-location of our elephants from the Kruger National Park. Guests
examine elephant skulls and bones and participate in discussions and debates. Spending time in the world of
elephants is enlightening and fascinating, and offers insight into the Reserve history, the re-wilding and re-stocking of
animals, nature and conservation issues, and the purpose of the Space for Elephants foundation and our other
research projects.
Safaris – One can also do Safari and see the animals from the luxuary of a vehicle. A sundowner drive offers
excellent scenery of Lake Jozini and the Lebombo Mountains and great sightings of animals roaming the shorline.
Tiger Fishing - From the novice angler to the expert fly-fisherman, Lake Jozini offers the ideal location for that tigerfish
of a lifetime. The pristine wilderness setting compares favorably to the wilds of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe. A boat can
be hired for either half day or full day fishing and includes a personal guide. We can also provide basic rods and
tackle and have a catch and release policy for our tigers. September through to May are the best Tigerfishing
months.
Distances
White Elephant is located within the Pongola Game Reserve (South) along the shores of Lake Jozini (Pongolapoort
Dam), close to southern swaziland and the beaches of kwazulu natal.
Johannesburg to The White Elephant is 485km
Durban to The White Elephant is 330km
The closest major center is Pongola, which is 45km north west on the N2 freeway.
Transfers - Road and Air:
Please note the road to the lodge is a 12km gravel road and a bit rocky, but it is accessible with a normal sedan, all
road transfers are handled by accredited car hire companies and must be booked prior to arrival.
SA Express operates daily scheduled flights from Johannesburg to Richards Bay Airport.
SA Airlink operates 4x weekly scheduled flights from Johannesburg/Skukuza to Phinda. Phinda is 1 hour south of
White Elephant and a road transfer can be arranged from there.
Private air charter from Johannesburg/Durban to Mkuze can be arranged.
The lodge also has its own private landing strip for light aircrafts and a helipad
Malaria
Pongola Game Reserve is a low risk malaria area and it is important to to malaria precautions when visiting the area. Malaria
medication is only neccesary should travels extend into Mozambique or extreme North Eastern South Africa.
What to Bring
Comfortable walking shoes
Hats, sunscreen and insect repellent
Cameras and Binoculars
Light, neutral colour clothing and swimming costume
Warm clothing is essential in winter (May to September)
