The largest elephants in the world can be found in the Tembe National Elephant Park. The largest of these were Isilo, Mkadebona and Siqualo. Isilo, the biggest of them all, died in 2015 of natural causes and is thought to have been about 50 years old, to weigh about seven metric tons, and to stand 3,2 metres tall. His tusks were about 2.5 metres long (8.2 feet) and weighed more than 60 kgs. (132 lbs). Visit Tembe and you could be lucky enough to spot the next generation of magnificent Tembe tuskers.
What makes a Tembe game drive so special? Firstly, your guide and tracker will have grown up in Tembe and will be showing you their ‘back yard.’ Combined with this local knowledge, is their pride in welcoming visitors to their ancestral home. Another thing that makes Tembe unique is the quality of interaction visitors receive with our elephants. Your guides know the elephants and the elephants know the guides, so they are calm and relaxed around the game drive vehicles. This makes for some unforgettable encounters with Tembe’s gentle grey giants.
Tembe is a Big Five reserve with abundant elephant and buffalo sightings. If you’re lucky, your guide will also be able to show you white rhino and the smaller, rarer black rhino, possibly lion and maybe even an elusive leopard. Of course, Tembe’s abundant wildlife extends far beyond the Big Five. Tembe is home to many antelope species, including the shy Suni, Africa’s smallest antelope as well as giraffe, wildebeest and a host of other small mammals, reptiles and insects.
Learn more about the culture and traditions of the Tembe tribe and the stories of the wild handed down from father to son. Hospitality Manager Vusi Tembe and his team will bring the rich oral history of his people to life as you relax under the stars around a glowing campfire in the boma.
Tembe tribal dancers from the community will visit the lodge by request and bring their folklore to life through song and dance. All tips received from the audience are put into a fund that buys school uniforms for the local children who cannot afford to buy their own.
For 30 years we’ve been providing our elephants with the water you see them enjoying on our free webcam, now we want to bring clean water to our people too. Watch the elephants and other big 5 wildlife come and enjoy the water at Tembe year round. Join our Above and Below Elephants and Dolphins tour and be a part of unique conservation and community upliftment initiative.
The region is a paradise of natural wonders with an incredible 21 different ecosystems. In fact, there are few areas in Africa with such an incredible diversity of fresh water ecosystems. It is largely due to this, and the incredible sense of place, that a large portion of the Elephant Coast was declared a World Heritage Site, and named iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Broadly translated from the Zulu language, iSimangilso means ‘miracle and wonder’.
It is South Africa’s third largest park, spanning 280 kilometres of coastline and made up of around 328 000 hectares of pristine natural ecosystems including swamps, lake systems, beaches, coral reefs, wetlands, second highest vegetated sand dunes in the world and coastal forests. Hluhluwe iMfolozi, the oldest recognised protected area in Africa and second in the world to Yellow Stone.
The quaint little town of Ponta do Ouro is situated in Southern Mozambique just 10 km from the South African border. In Ponta do Ouro you will be sure to find a number of rare and varied ecosystems, beautiful white beaches, dense dune forests, fresh water coastal lakes, amazing diving and an ever-stretching azure sea with loads of dolphins.
A very traditional open air market, several cantinas and eager curio sellers will quench your thirst with local beers called 2M (doysh-em). Ponta do Ouro is a slipslop/flipflop kind of town, meaning it has a very laidback relaxed vibe. The majority of visitors in Ponta come for scuba diving, dolphin swims, kiting, surfing or just to be lazy on the beach sipping cocktails.
We will spend the next week maximising our chances of encountering some dolphins, whales and all other marine species. Just like most outdoor activities weather plays a vital rol regarding the conditions and wildlife sightings. Echo Wild Africa and our partners will always follow safety for our clients first, but at the same time we will take every opportunity that we have to snorkel/dive or be on the ocean when it allows us too.
Spend your days exploring the dunes, fishing, surfing and kiting or take a quad bike tour and discover the other local beach and boats in the area.
Although our packages are pre designed we customize them to each of our clients needs, contact us through this form and one of our professional guides will contact you to further discuss what you have in mind. We go above and beyond to give our clients the best experience possible.
View extra activities to add to your current itinerary when visiting KwaZulu Natal.
Some of our most commonly asked questions about this package.
The northern range of the trip is considered a low risk malaria area. With preventative measures such as insect repellent and long pants it is extremely unlikely to contract malaria. Consult your doctor beforehand.
Most European Union countries get 90 days free without needing a visa in South Africa. Kids travelling under tue age of 18 will require the necessary documents namely birth cerificates and consent from both parents.
When crossing into Mozambique a visa will be required which may be obtained at the border. You will need a letter stating that you have accommodation booked at your destination which we will provide. Children under 18 will need birth certificate and consent from both parents.
South Africa has very accessible retail outlets with everything you may have forgotten or still need to get. Here are a few things to being along.
Loose, easily breathable clothes in the summer, warm clothes for the winter, swimming costumes, your personal camera as there will be many photographic opportunities, binoculars.
They have the Metical. It is fairly easy to change currencies in Mozambique and all major cards are accepted.
If you are not a qualified scuba diver we have the professionals on hand to do the short course with you which comprises a theory session, pool session and 5 ocean dives to get you open water cert.
Please feel free to ask us anything and we will come straight back to you
Each travel package is custom designed and quoted for, please fill out the form below and a representative with be in contact with you shortly to discuss your Safari needs.
