Marloth Park Management Plan. - Nkomazi Local Municipality

STUDY AREA
Marloth Park is located in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, about 20 km northwest
of Komatipoort, between latitudes 25°15´ and 25° 30´ south and longitudes 31° 45´ and 31°
60´ east (grid reference 2532 AC). The property is situated in a horseshoe bend formed by the
Crocodile River that forms a natural boundary with the Kruger National Park. Centre to this
development is the Lionspruit Game Reserve, a natural area wedged in the development zone.
The reserve fence acts as inner periphery for the southern, western and eastern boundaries.
Olifants Drive, with a tarred surface, traverse the property giving access from Hectorspruit
and Komatipoort, respectively. Access through Marloth Park is not restricted or controlled.
SIZE
The property consists of subsections of the farm Tenbosch 162 JU and extends over 3049 ha
of tropical bush and savanna type bushveld. The Lionspruit Game Reserve is approximately
1422 ha in size, with the Marloth Park peripheral development zone (Figure 1) being
approximately 1627 ha. Of the development zone, 528 ha are retained as parkland habitat for
wild animals.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Marloth Park is a township development with basic infrastructure such as shops, restaurants,
petrol filling station and other recreational facilities. The township development consists of
approximately 4500 plots (Figure 2), each with access to water and electricity. Of the 1627
ha, 528 ha is parkland excluded from development and retained as habitat for wildlife. The
housing development currently only has a footprint of 28 ha; however, many property owners
landscape gardens, some to such extend that little of the natural habitat remain. It is estimated
that at least 300 ha has been modified to such extend that the habitat is considered unsuitable
for wildlife. Although these areas can act as reserves during periods of feeding stress, many
owners actively discourage wildlife from entering their property boundaries. Approximately
180 ha of Marloth Park are classified as road reserves along a 96 km road network. However,
much of these road reserves are used by wildlife for feeding, nesting and resting habitat. Only
an estimated 40 ha consist of road surface areas with no suitable wildlife habitat. Within this
development zone a number of water points for animals have been constructed, far in excess
of the wildlife requirements. Although this action reduces the formation of piospheres,
vegetation utilisation is more uniform and no low utilisation areas exist as reserve during
periods of drought.
© Ecological Associates/ Marloth Park 7