There’s nothing quite like taking in spectacular scenery and wildlife from a floating hotel.
That is what it is like to holiday on board the two houseboats plying Lake Jozini in northern KwaZulu-Natal, near the Swaziland border. Apparently they are the first in the country.
The lake is stocked with tiger fish, the prized African game fish with ferocious teeth. It can jump out of the water to escape a fishing line and has also been known to catch birds in flight.
The population is growing as the food source increases, and fish up to 14kg have been caught here. The good fishing spots on the lake make it an appealing destination for both novice and avid anglers.
Lake Jozini, also known as Pongolapoort Dam, is in the heart of the Zululand wildlife area, with the Hluhluwe and Mkuze game reserves close by.
Set against the Lebombo mountains, the lake is surrounded by the Pongola Game Reserve and Phongolo Nature Reserve, providing spectacular game viewing from the water’s edge.
From the decks of the houseboats, you can see elephant, rhino, hippo, crocodile, giraffe, zebra and buck of various kinds.
The area is also a birder’s paradise that hosts more than 350 species of bush birds, raptors and water birds. The lake is a breeding zone for cormorants, herons, ducks, storks, among other birds.
The two Shayamanzi houseboats are anchored at the four-star Jozini Tiger Lodge, perched on the edge of the dam in the rural town of Jozini. Once passengers are on board and settled, the boat cruises in style up to 9 knots. Guests enjoy different anchorages each evening.
Shayamanzi I is a 25m x 8m, double-pontoon houseboat with six en-suite cabins. It has an eight-seater jacuzzi and is manned by four crew members.
Shayamanzi II measures 30m x 8.6m and has 10 air-conditioned, en-suite cabins. It has six crew members and its jacuzzi seats 12.
The boats offer excellent cuisine and service, and are ideal for private excursions or corporate getaways. But the houseboats also regularly cater to family groups.
Even though the main objective of a trip like this is to escape from the trappings of modern life, the boats do provide wi-fi and DStv once anchored.
To my utter amazement, we lost the menfolk to a sports programme while the women climbed onto Shayamanzi I’s tender boats with Captain Bramson to reel in a few fighting fish.
Jozini Tiger Lodge is a great place to start and end a couple of days on the dam. The lodge was awarded “Continent Winners – Luxury Hotel and Conference Centre” at the World Luxury Hotel Awards held recently in Hong Kong.
These awards are a celebration of the ultimate achievement in service excellence, and acknowledge hotels and spas that have excelled beyond the normal call of duty.
The lodge opened its doors just five years ago. Of their staff, 80 percent come from the local community and had not worked in the hotel industry before. They have since had the pleasure of helping the hotel evolve successfully.
From a tourism perspective Zululand has always had to challenge Cape Town and Kruger Park as a primary travel destination.
In my mind, it is the Cinderella |of South Africa, a little known beauty with so much to offer. It is one of our best-kept secrets and well worth a visit.
