I spent 2 months billeted at Tembe while I was doing some volunteer teaching at the school across the road from the entrance. During my non-teaching time I did elephant and lion monitoring in the park and spent endless hours just sitting and watching at the waterholes.
It's a wonderful place.
You can get there by car or by plane. There is a nearby airstrip and Tembe folks will pick you up there, or best way to drive is from Durban, I think.
There is a Tembe Facebook page where you could ask lots of questions if you have more, or get back to me if you want.
Have a lovely vacation!

cybercrone, thank you.
I gather it's not very "touristy" place is that correct?
So want to avoid places where you have to que to see anything.
My first question to lodges these days is what is their mobile phone policy.
What a fabulous experience you must have had.

Hi Sally,

I was at Tembe a few months back, and it was certainly a memorable experience. It's a little off the beaten track, and a bit of a diversion, but I can recommend it if you have the chance.

The accommodation and staff were excellent, and we were serenaded after dinner by a choir group from the nearby village. African voices have a special quality. They were spectacular.

The ellies were great, and I drifted off to sleep with the sound of leaves falling on the roof of my safari tent (being "crew", I wasn't staying in one of the chalets, and I was away from the main camp). There was an ellie happily munching on my main shade tree, virtually right above me (he was within a few feet of me). I did see the old boy the next morning, very relaxed, about 100 feet away). Really a wonderful experience.

Sorry Sally, you asked how to get there.

Drive North from Durban on the N2 almost to the Swaziland border (about 300kms I think). About 10km after Mkuze, you turn towards Jozini, follow the road for about 60km, over the dam wall, and continue until you reach a T-junction. Turn right and Tembe is about 30kms or so from there.

They did have mobile phone reception, but I don't think it was all that great.

Hope that helps.