Ndumo
Ndumo Game Reserve
Savanna biome · Buffalo thorn · Hippopotamus
From R 190 a night
23 km away
Where to stay near Tembe Elephant Park
Large elephant population
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Big Five
About Tembe Elephant Park
Tembe is a Big Five reserve on the Mozambique border in northern KwaZulu-Natal, owned by the Tembe community and run with Ezemvelo, and known for the largest elephants in the country: the old tusker Isilo and his lineage. The park is sand forest and grassland with sable, suni and an exceptional bird list, and the single tented lodge is community-owned. Access is by 4x4 only. It is a malaria-risk area in summer, and it combines with Ndumo, Kosi Bay and the northern end of iSimangaliso.
Things to do: Self-drive safari · Camping · Hiking · Fishing
Where you can stay: Camping · Chalets · Nearby B&Bs
Wildlife near Tembe Elephant Park
What people record most across KwaZulu-Natal. Past sightings, never a guarantee.
From iNaturalist records across KwaZulu-Natal, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
Stay in & near Tembe Elephant Park
Inside-park stays and nearby lodges, sorted by distance.
No stays are linked to Tembe Elephant Park yet. These are the closest ones we have, by straight-line distance from the park, so check the drive before you book.
Kosi Forest Lodge
Manguzi
Forest biome · Hippopotamus · Nile crocodile
Can support Isibindi Foundation and more
Price on request
33 km away
Thonga Beach Lodge
Manguzi
Forest biome · Humpback whale · Southern right whale
Can support Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
49 km away
Tandweni Villa
Mkuze
Savanna biome · African elephant · Cape buffalo
Can support BirdLife South Africa
From R 14,000 a night
78 km away
Biweda Nguni Lodge
Mkuze
Savanna biome
Can support Zululand Conservation Trust and more
From R 920 a night
84 km away
&Beyond Phinda Homestead
Hluhluwe
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Can support Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
91 km away
When to visit Tembe Elephant Park
Most of the rain at Tembe Elephant Park falls from October to March, peaking in January at about 115 mm. The dry season runs from June to July, with little or no rain. January is the hottest month, with average highs of about 31°C, and June the coolest, with average lows of about 14°C.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 115 | 31 | 22 |
| February | 87 | 31 | 22 |
| March | 84 | 30 | 21 |
| April | 53 | 28 | 19 |
| May | 21 | 27 | 16 |
| June | 19 | 25 | 14 |
| July | 14 | 25 | 14 |
| August | 23 | 26 | 15 |
| September | 33 | 27 | 17 |
| October | 65 | 27 | 18 |
| November | 69 | 29 | 20 |
| December | 105 | 30 | 21 |
Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 95 m above sea level. Weather data from Open-Meteo.com (opens in a new tab) (ERA5), CC BY 4.0.
Getting there
26.9651° S, 32.4652° E800 km from Cape TownOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
Why book here
Your stay helps keep Tembe Elephant Park wild
Wild places survive when the communities around them earn more from protecting wildlife than from anything that would replace it. Every stay you book through Spekboom carries a conservation contribution built into the price, never added on top, so choosing where you sleep becomes a way to fund the people and projects keeping this landscape intact.
- Built into every booking
- A conservation share
- Where it goes
- Local causes & communities
Tembe Elephant Park: your questions
Where is Tembe Elephant Park?
Tembe Elephant Park is in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Does Tembe Elephant Park have the Big Five?
Yes. Tembe Elephant Park is a Big Five area, home to lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.
What wildlife can you see near Tembe Elephant Park?
In KwaZulu-Natal, commonly recorded species include animals such as Suni, Red Duiker, Blue Duiker, Leatherback Turtle and birds including White-eared Barbet, Grey Waxbill, Southern Banded Snake Eagle, based on iNaturalist occurrence data. These reflect the wider province, not confirmed sightings inside the reserve.
How do you book a stay at Tembe Elephant Park?
Request Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife camps and cottages on Spekboom. We confirm with Ezemvelo, then you pay on Spekboom. Popular camps fill up well ahead of school holidays, so request early for peak dates.
When is the rainy season at Tembe Elephant Park?
Most of the rain at Tembe Elephant Park falls from October to March, peaking in January at about 115 mm. The dry season runs from June to July, with little or no rain. January is the hottest month, with average highs of about 31°C, and June the coolest, with average lows of about 14°C. Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 95 m above sea level.
When is the best time to visit Tembe Elephant Park?
The best time to visit Tembe Elephant Park is Year-round (dry season May-Sep).
What is there to do at Tembe Elephant Park?
Popular activities at Tembe Elephant Park include self-drive safari, camping, hiking, fishing.
Parks near Tembe Elephant Park
The closest parks and reserves. Distances run centre to centre, as the crow flies.
Ndumo Game Reserve
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Ndumo Game ReserveGame Reserve · 21 km
Wetland bird paradise
Phinda Private Game Reserve
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Phinda Private Game ReservePrivate Game Reserve · 100 km
Diverse private game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal with seven distinct ecosystems.
Big Five
Ithala Game Reserve
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Ithala Game ReserveGame Reserve · 132 km
Scenic valley wildlife sanctuary
Part of
Other parks and reserves that share something with Tembe Elephant Park.
Big Five parks and reservesNational parks and reserves in South AfricaNature reserves and parks in KwaZulu-NatalAll protected areas
