Tembe

Tembe Elephant Park - South Africa

Let me know any problems as I have not double checked this page. There may be inaccuracies in descriptions, if so please let me know. robburton@hotmail.co.uk or rob@robs-journeys.co.uk

Tembe Elephant Park

This park is in the far north of Zululand and forms a border with Mozambique. Of the big five present the Lion and Elephant population are the main species monitored. There are over 200 elephants and these animals have the biggest tusks in Africa. The Suni, a rare small antelope, is also monitored but difficult to see and photograph. The park contains a rare habitat known locally as Sand Forest. The area consequently contains many endemic plants and animals.

Here are some photos which I hope will give some idea of what it is like working as a volunteer on the reserve. A more detailed record of the birds and animals seen appears at the end.

Around Tembe Research Camp

Cilla and her team of volunteers

Cilla Barbara Angus Caroline Rob

Who knocked it down I wonder? Mozambique border

Wild Life seen

These are just a few of the hundreds of photos taken of the animals of the reserve. A more accurate and scientific record may be found by following any links given.

Mammals

African Elephant

Blue Wildebeest

Buffalo

Burchell's Zebra

Bushbuck

Common Duiker

Common Waterbuck

Greater Kudu

Impala

Indigenous Mouse

Lion

Always the last word!

Nyala

Red Duiker

Samango Monkey

Scrub Hare

Slender Mongoose

Southern Giraffe

Southern Reedbuck

Suni

Tree Squirre

Vervet Monkey

Warthog

White Rhino

Wild Dog

Total 24

Birds (listed from the Thanda Bird List)

Bee-eater, Little Merops pusillus

Boubou, Southern Laniarius ferrugineus

Bulbul, Dark-capped (Black-eyed Bulbul) Pycnonotus tricolor

Bulbul, Yellow-bellied Greenbul Andropadus importunus

Bustard, Black-Bellied (Black-Bellied Korhaan)       Lissotis melanogaster

Chat, White-browed Robin-chat (Heuglin's Robin)     Erythropygia leucophrys
Chat, White-throated Robin-chat (WT Robin)        Cossypha humeralis
Crow, Pied                   Corvus albus

Dove, Cape Turtle-dove Streptopelia capicola

Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood-dove (GS Dove)     Turtur chalcospilos

Dove, Red-eyed           Streptopelia semitorquata

Drongo, Fork-tailed             Dicrurus adsimilis
Eagle, African Fish               Haliaeetus vocifer

Eagle, Long-crested Lophaetus occipitalis

Eagle, Brown Snake-eagle Circaetus cinereus

Egret, Cattle Bubulcus ibis

Flycatcher, African Paradise            Terpsiphone viridis
Francolin, Crested            Dendroperdix sephaena

Goose, Spur-winged        Plectropterus gambensis

Guineafowl, Crested Guttera pucherani

Gymnogene or African Harrier-hawk Polyboroides typus

Heron, Black-Headed Ardea melanocephala

Hoopoe, African Upupa africana

Hornbill, Crowned Tockus alboterminatus

Hornbill, Trumpeter Bycanistes bucinator

Ibis, Hadeda Bostrychia hagedash

Kingfisher,Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris

Kite, Black-Shouldered Elanus axillaris

Kite, Yellow-billed Milvus aegyptius

Lapwing, African Wattled (Wattled Plover) Vanellus senegallus

Lapwing, Crowned (Crowned Plover) Vanellus coronatus

Lapwing, Senegal (Lesser Blackwinged Plover) Vanellus lugubris

Longclaw, Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus

Lourie, Purple-crested Turaco              Tauraco porphyreolophus

Myna, Common (Indian Myna)            Acridotheres tristis

Nicator, Eastern (Yellow-spotted Nicator)             Nicator gularis

Nightjar, Fiery-necked         Caprimulgus pectoralis

Oriole, Black-Headed             Oriolus larvatus

Oxpecker, Red-billed           Buphagus erythrorhynchus

Pigeon, African Green                  Treron calvus
Quail, Common                             Coturnix coturnix
Quelea, Red-billed                        Quelea quelea

Roller, Lilac-breasted                   Coracias caudatus