| Pongola | |
| Native Name: | oPhongolo |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa KwaZulu-Natal#South Africa |
| Coordinates: | -27.3833°N 31.6167°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Zululand |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | uPhongolo |
| Subdivision Type4: | Main Place |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Leader Party: | ANC |
| Leader Name: | Mndeni Khumalo |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 3.60 |
| Population Total: | 1403 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2011) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 37.9% |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 0.6% |
| Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
| Demographics1 Info3: | 3.4% |
| Demographics1 Title4: | White |
| Demographics1 Info4: | 57.3% |
| Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics1 Info5: | 0.6% |
| Demographics Type2: | First languages (2011) |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Afrikaans |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 55.6% |
| Demographics2 Title2: | Zulu |
| Demographics2 Info2: | 30.5% |
| Demographics2 Title3: | English |
| Demographics2 Info3: | 8.6% |
| Demographics2 Title4: | Swazi |
| Demographics2 Info4: | 1.4% |
| Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics2 Info5: | 3.9% |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
| Postal Code: | 3170 |
| Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
| Postal2 Code: | 3170 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 034 |
Pongola (also known in Zulu as oPhongolo) is a town on the north bank of the uPhongolo River, in a fertile valley on the N2, near the Lubombo Mountains, in the valleys of Zululand, easily accessible to the Swaziland border posts. It was part of the Transvaal panhandle between the Phongolo (Natal) and Swaziland (now Eswatini) until 1994, when it was transferred to KwaZulu-Natal.
It is a unique and tranquil subtropical environment. It has more than 50 km2 of sugarcane and subtropical fruit plantations surrounding it. During the Depression years of the 1930s, drastic irrigation systems were started in Pongola for sugar cane farms. The town thrived as a result of the canal system and a sugar mill that was built. Today it is part of the uPhongolo Local Municipality.
Pongolapoort Dam and Pongola Game Reserve is to the east. It is the only dam in South Africa where African tigerfish (family Alestidæ) can be caught.
The uPhongolo Local Municipality is one of five local municipalities located within the area of the Zululand District Municipality. The municipality is governed by the ANC Council consisting of 22 Councillors and an executive committee and Hon. Cllr Winile Nhlabathi is the Mayor. The administrative functions are performed by the Municipal Manager and a team of managers. Among other schools, there are Pongola Akademie, Dingukwazi Senior Secondary School and Langa High School. Dingukwazi High Currently led by principal Dr S.G Msane and Bambanani led by Principal Mr M. Ntshangase are leading schools in Pongola in terms of enrolment so as Matric pass rates.
Pongola is surrounded by hunting lodges and several have even the Big Five. Some farms specialise in biltong hunting and others concentrate on trophy hunting.
Richard Antoine Rouillard, born in the Phoenix district of Mauritius in 1873, was the driving force behind the agricultural and economic prosperity of the Louwsburg and Magut districts. The pioneering spirit which opened up the interior of South Africa came in a variety of guises.
Pongola is home to Tugam Game Farm, uPhongolo's oldest game reserve.