Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area
Encyclopedia
The Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area was born out of the Peace Park Foundation
’s vision to establish a network of transfrontier conservation
areas in southern Africa
. It straddles the border between South Africa
’s KwaZulu-Natal
province, southern Mozambique
, and Swaziland
.
in the west and the Indian Ocean
in the east. The area offers a unique combination of big-game country, extensive wetland
s, and beautiful undeveloped coastal areas. It links the Maputo Elephant Reserve in Mozambique through the Futi Corridor and the Lubombo Conservancy
in Swaziland to the Tembe Elephant Park
in South Africa, creating the first major elephant stronghold along Africa's eastern coastline.
, in the province of Maputo
. It is bounded on the east by the Indian Ocean
, and on the west by the Rio Maputo.
In 1975 before the Mozambique civil war, vast numbers of wildlife including 65 White Rhinoceros
where relocated from Umfolozi Game Reserve
in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. Sadly no rhinoceros
and only some 200 elephant
survived the 14-year war.
is situated in Maputaland
, in the north-eastern region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa adjoining the Mozambique border. It is home to the province's biggest African elephant herd and its only indigenous elephants. Tembe's 300 square kilometre comprises a variety of unique sand forest, woodland, grassland
and swampland habitats.
Region. This protected 600 square kilometre area includes the Hlane Royal National Park
, the Mlawula Nature Reserve
, the Shewula Community Nature Reserve, the Mbuluzi Game Reserve
the Nkhalashane Siza Ranch and the Inyoni Yami Swaziland Irrigation Scheme, (also known as the IYSIS).
.
Peace Park
Peace Park may refer to:*Peace park, another name for a transboundary protected area*Santiphap Park, Bangkok, also known as Peace Park*Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a park in Hiroshima, Japan dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to be nuclear bombed* Peace Park , a...
’s vision to establish a network of transfrontier conservation
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
areas in southern Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. It straddles the border between South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
’s KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
province, southern Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, and Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
.
Overview
The Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area covers 4195 square kilometre, of which 2783 square kilometre (66%) is in Mozambique, 1095 square kilometre (26%) is in South Africa, and 317 square kilometre (8%) is in Swaziland. It is situated on a low-lying coastal plain between the Lebombo MountainsLebombo Mountains
The Lebombo Mountains, also called Lubombo Mountains, are an 800km long, narrow range of mountains in Southern Africa stretching from Hluhluwe in KwaZulu-Natal in the south to Punda Maria in the Limpopo Province in South Africa in the north. Part of the mountains are found in South Africa,...
in the west and the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
in the east. The area offers a unique combination of big-game country, extensive wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s, and beautiful undeveloped coastal areas. It links the Maputo Elephant Reserve in Mozambique through the Futi Corridor and the Lubombo Conservancy
Lubombo Conservancy
Lubombo Conservancy comprises 5 reserves in Swaziland:* Hlane Royal National Park* Mbuluzi Game Reserve* Mlawula Nature Reserve* Shewula Community Nature Reserve* Nkhalashane Siza Ranch...
in Swaziland to the Tembe Elephant Park
Tembe Elephant Park
Tembe Elephant Park is a 300km² game reserve in Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is adjacent to Ndumo Game Reserve.The park was developed by Tembe Tribal Authority and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife....
in South Africa, creating the first major elephant stronghold along Africa's eastern coastline.
Maputo Elephant Reserve
Locally known as Reserva Especial, this 1040 square kilometre reserve is situated in the southernmost part of Mozambique, 79 km south of MaputoMaputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
, in the province of Maputo
Maputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
. It is bounded on the east by the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
, and on the west by the Rio Maputo.
In 1975 before the Mozambique civil war, vast numbers of wildlife including 65 White Rhinoceros
White Rhinoceros
The White Rhinoceros or Square-lipped rhinoceros is one of the five species of rhinoceros that still exist. It has a wide mouth used for grazing and is the most social of all rhino species...
where relocated from Umfolozi Game Reserve
Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve
Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, located 280 km north of Durban, is the oldest proclaimed park in Africa. It consists of 960 km² of hilly topography in central Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and is known for its rich wildlife and conservation efforts. The park is the only...
in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. Sadly no rhinoceros
Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros , also known as rhino, is a group of five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia....
and only some 200 elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
survived the 14-year war.
Tembe Elephant Park
TembeTembe Elephant Park
Tembe Elephant Park is a 300km² game reserve in Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is adjacent to Ndumo Game Reserve.The park was developed by Tembe Tribal Authority and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife....
is situated in Maputaland
Maputaland
Maputaland is a region of southern Africa situated in the northern part of the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and may also refer to the southern-most region of Mozambique. The South African section was also previously known as Tongaland after the Tonga people who live there, and is...
, in the north-eastern region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa adjoining the Mozambique border. It is home to the province's biggest African elephant herd and its only indigenous elephants. Tembe's 300 square kilometre comprises a variety of unique sand forest, woodland, grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
and swampland habitats.
The Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park
The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park in the Ponta do Ouro-Kosi Bay Transfrontier Conservation Area was proclaimed a World Heritage Site in November 1999. The site is the largest estuarine system in Africa and includes the southernmost extension of coral reefs on the continent. Efforts are ongoing to extend the existing World Heritage Site northwards to encompass the Mozambican section of the TFCA, which includes a marine protected area.Lubombo Conservancy
Situated in the north eastern part of Swaziland in the LubomboLubombo
Lubombo is a district of Swaziland, located in the east of the country. It has an area of 5,947 km² and a population of 202,000 . Its administrative center is Siteki. It borders all three other districts: Hhohho to the north, Manzini to the west, and Shiselweni to the south...
Region. This protected 600 square kilometre area includes the Hlane Royal National Park
Hlane Royal National Park
Hlane Royal National Park is a park in Swaziland, roughly 67km northeast of Manzini. Prior to the park being public, it was a private royal hunting ground. Hlane, meaning 'wilderness', was named by King Sobhuza II...
, the Mlawula Nature Reserve
Mlawula Nature Reserve
Mlawula Nature Reserve is situated in north-eastern Swaziland. It covers approximately 16,500 hectares and is adjacent to Mbuluzi Game Reserve, Simunye Nature Reserve and Hlane Royal National Park....
, the Shewula Community Nature Reserve, the Mbuluzi Game Reserve
Mbuluzi Game Reserve
Mbuluzi Game Reserve is a privately owned reserve in Swaziland, within the Lubombo Conservancy. There are 3 lodges privately situated on the Mlawula River, and a campsite, situated above some amazing rapids in the Mbuluzi River.-Wildlife:...
the Nkhalashane Siza Ranch and the Inyoni Yami Swaziland Irrigation Scheme, (also known as the IYSIS).
Plans
This park is to become part of the: Greater Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation AreaGreater Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area
Greater Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area will be the next step in the Peace Parks for the future. It will include all the areas already mentioned under the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area, as well as the following:-The 5 separate TFCA:...
.
See also
- Protected areas of South Africa
- List of conservation areas of Mozambique
- Protected areas of SwazilandProtected areas of SwazilandProtected areas of Swaziland include any geographical area protected for a specific use.Within Swaziland there is a mix of national, private and community-owned protected areas...
- Usuthu-Tembe-Futi Transfrontier Conservation AreaUsuthu-Tembe-Futi Transfrontier Conservation AreaUsuthu-Tembe-Futi Transfrontier Conservation Area is a group of protected areas in southern Africa, straddling parts of South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland, including the following:* Maputo Special Reserve .* The Futi Corridor ....