The trip affords one the opportunity to camp at Ponweni inside the park (only other accommodation is a luxury lodge) and to access all of the roads, not only the few in the southern third of the park.
Here is some general information:
About Tembe Elephant Park
1. 30 000 hectares;
2. Big 5 Park;
3. The terrain is mostly sand forest (beach sand);
4. Tembe is extremely hot and carrying water in summer is essential;
5. Established in 1983 on Tembe Tribal Trust land;
6. Over 220 Elephant and 15 Lions;
About Ponweni Camp
1. Approximately 20kms into the park S26.94608 E32.52213;
2. 5 Chalets with 3 single beds and one mattress each (2 rooms). Linen is provided but no basins, water or electricity;
3. Ablution block with gas heated showers, toilets, basins;
4. Outside open air cold showers, basin and toilets (with a view);
5. 4x4 Vehicles only (4x4 trailers are permitted);
6. No caravans;
7. The site is approx 55m x 60m x 55m x 50m;
8. Solar panel 12v electricity is used for lighting and powering the electric fence;
9. Water is good to drink;
10. Please note that the terrain is like beach sand (I usually put my tents on shade cloth mats and use longer tent pegs) and that shady spots will be at a premium, however April/May is an ideal time since it is cooler;
11. We provide staff to clean the kitchens, ablutions, communal areas;
12. There are 2 fridge freezer units and a gas stove in the kitchen;
13. We supply the wood and braai facilities;
14. We provide a venison (Nyala or Impala) potjie with rice and pap on the first evening;
Suggested Activities
1. Short presentation on Tembe Elephant Park history, ecology, diversity and vision for the future of the Park on the first evening before the potjie;
2. Day game drives. We suggest self game drives and have obtained permission for you to access the entire park. Each vehicle will receive a map at the gate upon arrival;
3. Kapuza Market is a local market (not crafts and curios) approx 20kms East along the boarder fence and takes place on Saturdays and Wednesdays. We drive there in a group and ask permission of the Mozambique police to enter Mozambique through the fence (as the locals do) to shop. Typical produce includes: vegetables, Moz bread, Lala Palm wine, Moz alcohol; fabrics, clothes, fish, etc;
4. Viewing Platform at Isifomithini. This involves booking a 2 hour slot for 6 people at a time to go with an armed Ranger to the platform (7m up a ladder) which overlooks the deepest natural waterhole in the park;
5. Hanging pedestrian bridge at Muzi. This is in the NE corner of the park and hangs over the swamps;
6. Mahlasela Hide good hide to visit in the heat of the day to view elephant and all other game species;
7. Ponweni Hide Good hide just around the corner from the camp;
8. Viewing tower near the park entrance located on top of the main water tank;
9. Tembu Crossing about 3kms South of the Ponweni Camp;
10. Muzi Prison at Muzi outpost. Usually visited en route to Kapuza Market on Saturday;
11. 2 Picnic Spots.
General
1. There is no Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife accommodation in the park. The Lodge in Tembe Elephant Park is a Private Concession;
2. This weekend is a fundraising event where ALL proceeds go back into the park,
3. You will all be required to sign an Indemnity form upon arrival,
4. We have special permission for you to use the entire park (not just the bottom third which is all the public are allowed access to). The conditions are:
• Access to the South of the Park only between 10h00 and 15h00;
• No leaving the roads;
• No travelling outside or on top of vehicles;
5. The nearest petrol station is approx 65kms away;
6. Very little cellphone signal in the park;
7. Tembe is in a malaria area;
8. We have to be very weary of sending out long strings of vehicles. There are a couple of troublemakers amongst the elephants (tuskless females in breeding herds) and reversing a number of vehicles at speed in beach sand is not a situation I would like to find myself in. Highly unlikely but not impossible;
9. In case of breakdown, no one is to leave the vehicle. They are to wait for assistance. I suggest that we have a set time for return each day and if anyone is missing 1 hour after deadline (usually a mealtime), we will go and look for them. Committee members to co-ordinate;
10. Worsrolls are made at the park and are R15ea.
The typical trip agenda would look like this:
There are a very limited number of vehicle slots available (perhaps two) for camping this coming longDay 1
• Group arrives;
• Travel to Ponweni Camp and set up camp;
• Boerewors rolls at Ponweni camp from 12h00 to 14h00;
• Viewing platform per booking 13h00 and 15h00 slots only;
• Self drive game viewing;
• Evening welcome presentation;
• Dinner game potjie (provided by HO’s).
Day 2
• Morning Self drive game viewing;
• Viewing platform per booking 10h00 and 12h00 and 14h00 slots;
• Boerewors rolls at Ponweni camp from 12h00 to 14h00;
• Afternoon Self drive game viewing;
• Evening self braai.
Day 3
• Morning Self drive game viewing;
• 09h00 Drive to Muzi Boarder post;
• Look at old Prison;
• 11h00 Drive to Kapuza (Mozambique market);
• 13h00 Return to park;
• Boerewors rolls at Ponweni camp from 13h00 to 15h00;
• Viewing platform per booking 14h00 slot only;
• Afternoon Self Drive game viewing;
• Evening braai.
Day 4
• Pack up camp;
• Self drive game viewing;
• Depart Tembe Elephant Park.
weekend in September (23 September to 27 September). We anticipate driving up on Wednesday, staying Thursday (Heritage
Day), Friday, Saturday and departing Sunday.
If you would like to join the group and are definitely available (please, no "maybe's") and are able to pay the cost into a bank account by the end of this week, please speak now. Cost of around R600 per person (camping 3 nights) or R700 per person (camping 4 nights).
I know it is perhaps far to travel for most members here, but perhaps the Richards Bay/Mtunzini/Durban boys would be interested (Jules? Koos?).
Time is of the essence, so please let me know ASAP.
I can be reached via the forum or via e-mail on gerritl (at) bell (dot) co (dot) za
.