Pondoland or Mpondoland (Mpondo: EmaMpondweni), is a natural region on the South African shores of the Indian Ocean.

It is a mountainous area whose main vegetation consists in thornveld, grassland, as well as subtropical evergreen forests in the humid coastal valleys.

The Khoikhoi and San people had inhabited the region since ancient times in scattered nomadic groups.

About 500 AD the Xhosa speaking Ngunis settled in the area, for the mountain grasslands were a good resource for cattle-rearing.

[5] Finally Mpondoland as well became a British protectorate and in 1894 the amaMpondo were forced to accept the annexation of their own region to the Cape Colony.