The dam is situated just north of the settlement of Jozini, 280 km north-east of the port city of Durban.

The dam was constructed in 1973 at the eastern end of the narrow gorge separating the Lebombo and Ubombo ranges.

Prior to the construction of the Pongolapoort Dam, the land was Africa's first formally recognised conservation area.

Mammals to be sought include elephant, leopard, white and black rhinoceros, buffalo, hippopotamus, waterbuck, bushbuck, nyala, greater kudu, zebra, giraffe and spotted hyaena.

On 9 October 2021 one of the boats, Shayamanzi I, caught fire and completely burnt after a faulty engine overheated.