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