Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area born out of the
peace park’s vision to establish a network of transfrontier
conservation areas in
Africa. It straddles the border between
South Africa’s
KwaZulu-Natal province, southern
Mozambique and
Swaziland. It measures 4 195 km² (of which 2,783 km² (66%) is in Mozambique, 1,095 km² (26%) is in South Africa and 317 km² (8%) is in Swaziland. It is situated on a low-lying coastal plain between the
Lebombo Mountains in the west and the
Indian Ocean in the east. The area offers a unique combination of big-game country, extensive
wetlands and some of the most beautiful and pristine coastal areas in the world. 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.
Maputo Elephant Reserve
Locally known as Reserva Especial, this 1040 km² reserve is situated in the southernmost part of Mozambique, 79 km south of
Maputo, in the province of
Maputo South of the
Machangulo Peninsula (The island of
Inhaca is off the Northern tip of this peninsula) . It encompasses the area from the
Indian Ocean on the eastern boundary to the
Rio Maputo on the western edge.
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.
Tembe Elephant Park
Tembe 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 km², comprises a mosaic of unique sand forest, woodland,
grassland and swampland.
Lubombo Conservancy
Situated in the north eastern part of Swaziland in the
Lubombo Region. This area about 600 km² includes the
Hlane Royal Game Reserve, the
Mlawula Nature Reserve, the
Shewula Community Nature Reserve, the
Mbuluzi Game Reserve and the
Nkhalashane Siza Ranch.
External links
See also: Protected areas of South Africa and List of conservation areas of Mozambique