The Reserve extends over part of the original Area that in 1894, was declared the Pongola Game Reserve by Paul Kruger the then President of the old Transvaal Republic. The original Reserve has since been re-proclaimed, in part, as the Phongolo Nature Reserve, which is the present Pongola Game Reserve's immediate neighbour. The business is owned and managed by the Landman family, who's ancestors arrived in the Cape in 1744. The Pongola River, broad and perennial, meanders through the centre of the Reserve before entering the man-made 13 276 hectare Lake.

Walter Sisulu University (WSU) was established on 1 July, 2005 in terms of the Higher Education Act No 101 of 1997, as amended. WSU, a comprehensive University, resulted from the merger of the former University of Transkei; Border Technikon and Eastern Cape Technikon. The new University was named in honour of an icon of the South African liberation struggle and close comrade of Nelson Mandela, the late Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu. There are now 4 campuses - Mthatha, East London (Buffalo City), Butterworth, Komani (Queenstown).