Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

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Map of the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area; the areas in the province of Freestate are not included
Landscape at the Sanipass
The amphitheater in the Royal Natal National Park
Policeman's helmet in Royal Natal National Park

The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park ( isiZulu uKhahlamba = "barrier made of spears") is a protected area in the Drakensberg in South Africa . In November 2000 the park was entered on the UNESCO World Heritage List and since 2013 it has been part of the Maloti Drakensberg Park . The park is managed by the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Provincial Authority.

geography

The park covers an area of ​​2428 km². It is located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and forms a 180 kilometers long and up to 20 kilometers wide strip along the border with the Kingdom of Lesotho . Further components of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park are the separate areas of Royal Natal National Park and Spioenkop Dam Nature Reserve further to the north.

The park has towering mountain formations and is criss-crossed with a well-developed network of hiking trails. Basalt , vertically rising mountain pillars, bastions made of golden-brown sandstone as well as sculptured arches, caves, columns and rock troughs characterize the landscape. The chain of Drakensberg Mountains in uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park includes several peaks over 3000 meters high such as Mafadi , Giant's Castle , Cathedral Peak , Monk's Cowl , Champagne Castle and Njesuthi . The mountain slopes are partially designated as nature reserves, in which around 30,000 rock paintings can be found in around 600 caves that were created by the San people over a period of 4000 years. This is the region where most of the KwaZulu-Natal Province's major rivers have their source. They form deep ravines and valleys. The only road connection through the park to Lesotho is the route over the Sanipass .

Flora and fauna

There are a variety of endemic plant species, including sugar bushes . In spring, carpets of wildflowers, including Watsonia species, litter the park in the lowlands .

Bird species include Cape Vultures ( Gyps coprotheres ) and Bearded Vultures ( Gypaetus barbatus ). Numerous vertebrates and invertebrates native to the park are endemic. Bushbucks , duikers , eland antelopes and baboons also live in the park .

history

Development of the protection concept

In 1903 the government of the Natal colony decided to set up a nature reserve in the Drakensberg. In 1905 a clear demarcation of the protected area was proclaimed. In 1916 the Royal Natal National Park was established. Since the 1950s, various conservation areas have been designated in the Drakensberg, so in 1951 the Kamberg Nature Reserve , 1953, the Nature Reserve de Lotheni and 1967 Vergelegen . In doing so, water protection was promoted. In 1973 the Mdedelelo and Mkomazi protected areas were added.

Maloti Drakensberg Transboundary World Heritage

In June 2001, the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area was established (for example: Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area ). This connects the ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park with the Sehlabathebe National Park in Lesotho. It is based on the claim to a Peace Park (Transfrontier Conservation Area / TFCA). The twelve kilometer long state border can be crossed on foot. Since 2013, both parks have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as the Maloti Drakensberg Park . The entire park is now 2493 km², with 65 km² of the area on the Lesotho terrain.

"... exceptional natural beauty in its soaring basaltic buttresses, incisive dramatic cutbacks, and golden sandstone ramparts ... the site's diversity of habitats protects a high level of endemic and globally threatened species, especially birds and plants ... [and it] also contains many caves and rock-shelters with the largest and most concentrated group of paintings in Africa south of the Sahara. - ... extraordinary natural beauty in its towering basalt pillars, striking dramatic incisions, and golden sandstone ramparts ... The diversity of habitats protects a high level of endemic and endangered species, especially birds and plants ... [and it] contains many caves and rock niches with the largest and densest group of paintings in sub-Saharan Africa. "

- Description of the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area on the UNESCO website : reasons for the 2013 selection

Parts of the Drakensberg mountain range are designated as total reserves for protection purposes of overriding importance , as well as game reserves for tourism purposes . According to the Ramsar Convention , the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park is also listed as a protected property on the List of Ramsar wetlands of international importance . The Cathkin Estates Conservation and Wildlife Sanctuary holds private property rights in smaller areas .

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Description of the park at southafrica.net (English), accessed on February 5, 2014
  2. ^ Maloti-Drakensberg Park
  3. ↑ Drakensberg Nature Park (Qathlamba) - part of the cross-border world heritage site "Maloti-Drakensberg-Park" (K / N / GÜ / 2000; expanded in 2013)
  4. ↑ Website of the KZN Wildlife ( Memento of the original from September 11, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (English), accessed February 5, 2014 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.kznwildlife.com
  5. ↑ The Ukhahlamba Drakenberg Park, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
  6. ↑ Map of the park with information about the status  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed February 5, 2014@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.kznwildlife.com  
  7. ↑ Portrait at drakensberg-tourism.com ( memento from September 26, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) (English), accessed on February 5, 2014
  8. ↑ Kamberg Nature Reserve ( Memento from July 3, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
  9. ↑ Mdedelelo (Cathkin Peak)
  10. ^ Maloti-Drakensberg Park, South Africa, Lesotho
  11. ↑ Cathkin Estate ( Memento of the original from September 21, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.cathkin.gemsprop.co.za

Coordinates: 29 ° 26 ′ 0 ″  S , 29 ° 30 ′ 0 ″  E