Limpopo / Shashe Transfrontier Conservation area (TFCA)

The idea of straddling game parks across borders is not a new one and, since the late 1980’s, when the World Conservation Union (IUCN) identified some 70 protected areas that shared common international boundaries, at least 30 more have been added to the list. The benefits of formally linking these areas through inter-state agreement, common conservation objectives and local community support are many.

Several areas within Southern Africa have been identified for possible TFCA areas. The first TFCA to be successfully established was the Kgalagadi TFCA. This TFCA is an area extending over the international boundary between South Africa and the western border of Botswana. Within both countries the area was allocated to wildlife, and removing the fences and managing the reserve as one seemed to be the most logical course of action.

A TFCA, namely the Limpopo/Shashe TFCA, has been proposed for our area. The proposed TFCA is 4 872 km² in extent, of which 2 561 km² (53%) is in South Africa, 1 350 km² (28%) is in Botswana and 960 km² (19%) is in Zimbabwe. The TFCA is centred at the confluence of the Shashe and Limpopo rivers. It is made up of a complex mosaic of land owners, including land owned by the state; South African National Parks; private individuals in South Africa; private individuals in Botswana (including the Northern Tuli Game Reserve and cattle/game ranches); and a mixture of communal lands, privately owned stock and game farming operations and a government owned safari area in Zimbabwe.

The TFCA has excellent potential as a “Big Five” conservation area. Viable populations of lion, leopard, and cheetah are still prevalent, and a population of 1400 elephant exist within the region. The resident elephant population of approximately 600 within the Northern Tuli Game Reserve is the largest population on private land in Africa. The area includes 19 Red Data Book mammals and 26 Red Data Book plant species, as well as several Red Data Book bird species - including the Black Eagle. Within the proposed TFCA numerous archaeological sites can be found, ranging from Early, Middle and Late Stone Age sites, to various Iron Age sites such as Mapungubwe Hill, a site of major importance in sub-Saharan Africa (South Africa) and the Mmamagwa Ruins on Mashatu (Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Botswana).

Once established, this TFCA has the potential to be a significant sanctuary for wild dog, black rhino and elephant, and for 16 other Red Data Book species. Wild dog and elephants, in particular, will benefit from the larger area of the TFCA. This TFCA, with its' wealth of wildlife and scenery and its' cultural/historical assets, has the potential to become a major new Southern African tourist destination.

Mashatu Game Reserve, as part of the Northern Tuli Game Reserve, welcomes the idea of a TFCA, and is in favour of being part of such a conservation area. Projects currently being conducted within Mashatu (such as the elephant research and the archaeological research) would be beneficial to the TFCA. Through the TFCA, the range of the elephant population would be expanded and would assist in preventing further habitat destruction due to overpopulation of these pachyderms.

Should you wish to find out more about these projects, and to contribute in any way, please feel free to speak to Jeanetta via email: mashatu.research@telkomsa.net