Malolotja Nature Reserve

Malolotja Nature Reserve covers 4,447 acres (18,000 ha) of mountain wilderness on Swaziland's north western border with South Africa. The park includes Ngwenya Mountain, Swaziland's second highest mountain (1829 m),[1] and Malolotja Falls which drop 292 feet (90metres), the highest in Swaziland.[2] Habitats include short grassland to thick riverine scrub, bushveld and Afromontane forest.[1]

Malolotja Nature Reserve adjoins the Songimvelo Game Reserve in South Africa, and together they form the Songimvelo-Malolotja Transboundary Protected Area or Peace Park, which in turn is part of the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area.[3][4]

History

The region was identified as important by the Swaziland National Trust Commission in the early 1970s. At that time most of the area was sheep grazing land and much was privately owned. However, the area had little agricultural potential and residents were resettled on good agricultural land adjacent to Malolotja.[1]

Animals

Animals in the reserve include zebra, wildebeest, reedbuck, blesbok, red hartebeest, oribi, leopard, serval, aardwolf, jackal and bushpig.[2] The Natal Ghost Frog, Plaintive Rain Frog and the Gray's Stream Frog are endemic to Swaziland, South Africa and Lesotho. In Swaziland they have only been found in Afromontane mist belt forest.[5]

Birds

Birdlife includes louries, sunbirds, sugarbirds, blue cranes and swallows. Bald ibis nest in colony on cliffs near Malolotja Falls.[2] A number of bird species are of conservation importance, because their habitat is limited and threatened outside the reserve. They are the Orange Ground-thrush, Brown Robin, Bush Blackcap, Chorister Robin-chat, White-starred Robin, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Olive Bush Shrike, Southern Boubou, Narina Trogon and Knysna Lourie.[5]

Flora

Includes tall grasses, orchids, lilies, and ancient cycads.[2]

Climate

Most rain falls in summer thunderstorms from December to April. Frost is common in June and July.[2]

Ngwenya Mine

The Ngwenya iron ore mine is located within the nature reserve, near the Hawane Dam. Salgaocar is the company that is contracted to extract over 32 million tons of ore, amid much protest from locals over environmental repercussions and the detriment to one of the nation's main water supplies.[6]

Tourism

There are only 15 miles (25km) of road in the reserve, but much more can be explored on 4x4's, mountain bike or by hiking.[2] There are a number of designated camping sites.[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Malolotja Nature Reserve". Swaziland National Trust Commission. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "SWAZILAND - MALOLOTJA NATURE RESERVE". Game-Reserve.com. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  3. ↑ "Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation And Resource Area". Soath Africa: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  4. ↑ Dlamini, Wisdom M D (2005). "Songimvelo-Malolotja TFCA". Swaziland National Trust Commission. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Boycott, Richard C. (31 December 1997). "The Conservational Importance of the Mgwayiza Mist Belt Forest, Malolotja Nature Reserve, Swaziland". Malolotja Nature Reserve: Environmental Centre for Swaziland. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  6. ↑ http://mg.co.za/article/2012-08-31-00-swazilands-ngwenya-mine-extracts-its-ore-and-exacts-its-price Ngwenya Mine
  7. ↑ "http://www.footprint.co.za/malolotja.htm". Footprint Hiking Club. Retrieved 2009-10-17.

See also

Coordinates: 26°05′53″S 31°05′56″E / 26.098°S 31.099°E