Embedded Files
Particpants: Philip Elliott and LROC Members
Vehicles: Land Rovers
Location: Tembe Elephant Park
Total Distance: 2929 km
Arrival Date: 2024-03-27
Departure Date: 2024-04-07
The Route: Pretoria >> Ramsgate >> Sodwana >> Lake Sibaya >> Tembe >> Volksrust >> Pretoria
This site is written from my personal perspective and does not represent the views of Land Rover Owners Club (LROC) or the Honorary Officers of the Tembe Elephant Park.
To view other travels, go to:
Introduction
Introduction
Every year the Land Rover Owners Club (LROC) of South Africa organizes an event for adventure seekers to do voluntary maintenance work at the Tembe Elephant Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa while also raising funds for the Tembe Elephant Reserve.
I attended the event in 2023 and enjoyed it so much I signed up for it again.
The event is split into 2 where the first 6 days is doing hard physical labour to address the event’s objectives, and the remaining time is optional to allow the LROC members to stay at Tembe and explore the park and surrounding area.
It is a real privilege to participate in this event. It allows participants to meet the Honorary Officers (HO) who volunteer their time to support the Tembe Park and raise funds for the park, and also allows us to camp in the Tembe Park and access areas that the normal public do not have access to.
For more information on the Tembe Elephant Park, refer to Tembe Elephant Park - Hluhluwe Game Reserve and Tembe Elephant Park.
Objectives
Objectives
To clean the wooden signage boards at the Tembe entrance and reception area and revarnish the signs.
To perform the following maintenance:
2.1 Plant 4 x Mahogony Trees; and
2.2 Install 3 x tension posts on the elephant fence line.
To perform the following maintenance along a 21 kilometer section of Electric Fencing:
3,1 Clear vegetation along the fence line;
3.2 Remove rusted wire along the top 2 strands (positive & neutral);
3.3 Replace the removed strands with good wire;
3.4 Clean/replace rusted joints/connections;
3.5 Roll up the old wire;
3.6 Test and resolve any issues;
3.7 Replace broken poles; and
3.8 Repair fencing damaged by elephants.
Signage Maintenance
Manungu Picnic Site
Fence Line damage by elephants
Planning
Planning
Gavin is the LROC Lead who organises this annual event. Months prior to the event, Gavin discusses the scope of work required with the Honorary Officers (HO) and Tembe Park Manager. He visits the park to view the work required and determine what the LROC group needs to prepare for. Weeks prior to the event, Gavin shares the information with the LROC parcipants to allow them to prepare and ensure they have the necessary safety protection and tools required.
Gavin and the HO's put in a lot of effort and time to make the event happen - Thank you!
Daily Routine
Daily Routine
Every evening is spent around the camp fire planning the activities for the next day. This is also a time of socialising, braaing and story telling.
During the first 6 days, the vehicles depart from the Ponweni Camp Site at 06h30. As the camp site is located in the centre of the park, it takes up to 60 minutes to reach the furthest sections of the park. This can be delayed by elephant roadblocks or sightings of elusive animal species like Lion, Pythons, Rhino or Leopard (See Animals Spotted).
Due to the high temperatures and humidity, the teams are encouraged to keep hydrated and not over exert themselves. While the plan is to stop work at about 15h00, the teams often continue working later to finish the work they set for themselves.
When returning back to camp, the drivers of each vehicle decide which route they want to take back to Ponweni to visit the hides and picnic sites in the park. This allows for game viewing and site seeing.
The drive to the worksite and back is always enjoyable as you never know what you might see along the road.
Evening awards, planning and braai session
Free Time
Free Time
After the first 6 days of hard physical work, we had time to relax and wake up later in the morning.
It also allows team members to finish off some of the work that may need attention, catch-up with laundry, go to the local town to refuel vehicles and stock-up on groceries.
Each family plans their own events for the day and some families join up with others to share in the day's experience. Popular places to visit are Kosi Bay and Ndumo Game Reserve. It is also enjoyable just chilling out at the camp site and doing game drives in Tembe.
Tembe Viewing Deck
Tembe Viewing Deck
The highlight of this was when the HO's arranged a visit to the viewing deck that the LROC had restored in 2018. This deck is reserved for research and is not open to the public as the deck can only accomodate a maximum of 8 people and it requires an armed ranger to accompany the group. One has to walk about 500m across the swamp and along an elephant path to access the deck. In this case Dave was our armed ranger.
The LROC team was broken into 2 groups and I joined the morning group.
To access the deck we had to drive along a pretty muddy section of the swamp with some deep holes.
The last people that are known to have visited the deck was in 2018 so the road was overgrown and the landmarks of trees and parking were overgrown. When we 1st arrived, Derek thought we should go further North. We continued north for about 200m. We got out of the vehicles and walk towards the swamp to see possible landmarks and a way through. As we were walking I informed everyone that there were Lion sounds coming from the bush about 60m away. Derek confirmed the sounds so we headed back to our vehicles and waited for Dave to arrive with his rifle.
Dave and Kevin arrived soon after this and directed us back to the first stopping point.
The viewing deck is situated in a perfect location. It is about 15m above ground and built into a tree located on the pathway that Elephant use daily, and overlooks a small pan. What a privilege to experience this. I wish I could spend a night camping in the tree to observe this pan and animal activities.
Viewing Deck Parking Area
Dave, our armed ranger, leading the way
Climbing up to the viewing deck
View from the deck 15m above ground
Rory, Inge, Dave, Philip and Kevin (Linda took the photo)
Rescue Defender
Rescue Defender
The 2nd team to view the deck left Ponweni Camp at 15h00. 6 members went to the Viewing Deck at 15h00 in 2 Defenders. On their way back at 17h30, they encountered elephant blocking the road. This resulted in a 30min delay. By now the sun had set and visibility was poor by the time they reached the muddy section. Gavin's vehicle ended up being stuck in the mud, solidly. Marty, Chas, Dave and Scot spent an hour trying to recover them in their Defender. By 19h00 the guys were still stuck with elephants within 50m of their vehicles. Eventually Rory went with his Defender that has a winch and approached from a different angle and recovered Gavin's vehicle. This happened all while elephant were in close proximity. The guys got back to camp at 20h30.
Chas and Team rescueing Gavin
Rescue Kitten
Rescue Kitten
While working along the fence line, Malcolm found a stray kitten hiding in a bush. He reached in to pick it up - It was thin and weighed nothing. Arina and Hennie agreed to take the kitten back to the camp as it would not survive living on the park. After speaking to the HO's they agreed that they could keep the kitten and take it home. The kitten was aptly named Tembe. After feeding the kitten, Arina washed the kitten. Later in the week Arina visited the local vet to get de-worming tablets and cat food.
The kitten adapted very quickly to camp life and everyone enjoyed the entertainment that the kitten gave us. It learnt very quickly that Arina was wonder-women and where his new home was. By the end of the week, the kitten was heavier and was looking great.
Kitten adopted Gavin
Kitten adopted Dennis
Derek, Tembe and Megan
Tembe - An awesome cat
Rescue Snake
Rescue Snake
While cleaning up the wood stack in Ponweni Camp, we found a black scorpion and a brown house snake. Gaby had previously done a snake handling course and decided she must practice her skills. She used a snake catcher tool to rescue the snake and released it into the bush beyond the camp fence.
Gaby practising her snake catching
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse