It’s a question we’re often asked: How can Tembe Elephant Lodge offer comfortable safari-style accommodation along with all meals and 2 daily game drives at a fraction of the price of similar game lodges in southern Africa? 

The answer in essence, is a combination of generous donor-funding, subsidised accommodation and our participation in what has become the most successful community-based conservation initiative in the country.

Here’s how it works

Basically, all the tented accommodation rooms and buildings at Tembe have been pre-funded by donors, visitors are not charged for what is essentially subsidised accommodation.

This means our daily rate for visitors only has to cover the running costs of the lodge – staffing, vehicles, food, maintenance of facilities and utilities, etc.

As a community -owned and managed lodge it is vital to ensure that the Tembe community can all experience the benefits of tourism. To this end, any surplus from visitor revenue is put into job creation, creating new posts on an ongoing basis to accommodate as many community members as we can. We believe that that the support of a community that has been economically empowered through tourism is the way to secure the future of Tembe Elephant Park for generations to come..

It’s an unusual and unique model that benefits both the people of Tembe and visitors like yourself, who can enjoy an unforgettable bushveld experience in our pristine reserve at a price that, we certainly hope, will keep you coming back again and again.