Tembe Elephant Park

Categories: accommodation; hide; booking required

Tembe Elephant Park, under the custodianship of KZN Wildlife, is situated within Tongaland, in the extreme northern part of Zululand. Tembe borders on Mozambique in the north, and is named after one of the late local Tonga tribal leaders. The reserve is 30 000ha in size, and was proclaimed in 1983 to protect the elephants, sand forest and suni antelope.

Tembe protects a number of habitats, including sand forest, open and closed woodland, grassland, swamps and pan-edge. Over 350 species have been recorded, including many South East Africa endemics, wetland and sand forest specials as well as occasional vagrants from the more tropical areas north of Zululand.

Tembe Elephant Lodge is the only private concession holder to offer accommodation in the reserve.

Tembe is probably most famous for being the only locality in South Africa where one has a reasonable chance of seeing Plain-backed (Blue-throated) Sunbird.

All the usual sand forest specials such as Neergard's Sunbird, African Broadbill, Pink-throated Twinspot and eastern Nicator occur.

The many small, seasonal wetlands (of which Muzi Pan is the largest) may hold Rufous-bellied Heron, Little Bittern, Saddle-billed, Woolly-necked and Yellow-billed Stork, African and European Marsh Harriers, Osprey, African Crake, Lesser Jacana, Collared Pratincole, Southern Brown-throated Weaver and Red-headed Quelea.

The grasslands species like Lemon-breasted Canary, Senegal Plover, Black-bellied Bustard and Rosy-throated Longclaw.

Tall woodland species include Yellow White-eye, Grey Cuckooshrike, Retz's Helmet Shrike and Emerald Cuckoo.Grey Waxbill and Green Twinspot can be seen in thicker tangles near seeding grasses.Bat Hawk, Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Cuckoo Hawk and Palm-nut Vulture have all been recorded.

Directions

From the N2 highway linking Durban to Pongola, travel up to the Jozini/ Ndumo/ Kosi bay turn-off (situated 50km south of Pongola). Drive up through the village of Jozini, and over the Jozini Dam Wall. Continue with this tar road for about 76km, following the signs to Kosi Bay and Manguzi. The park's turn-off is situated on the left had side of the road, and is signposted. The roads in the reserve are very sandy, and a 4x4 vehicle is recommended.