The Limpopo National Park ( Portuguese : Parque Nacional do Limpopo ) was born when the status of Coutada 16 Wildlife Utilisation Area in Gaza Province , Mozambique , was changed from a hunting concession to a protected area. It forms part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park with the Kruger National Park in South Africa and the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe .
17-698: Administratively, the park is split between Chicualacuala District (6,400 square kilometres (2,500 sq mi)), Massingir District (2,100 square kilometres (810 sq mi)), and Mabalane District (1,500 square kilometres (580 sq mi)). The park is part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park , a 35,000 km peace park that links this park, Kruger National Park in South Africa, Gonarezhou National Park , Manjinji Pan Sanctuary and Malipati Safari Area in Zimbabwe, as well as
34-460: Is a district of Gaza Province in south-western Mozambique . It has a population of 41,638 (2011) and covers 18,155 square kilometres (7,010 sq mi). The population density of Chicualacuala District 2.1 residents per square kilometers, significantly lower than the average of 17.5 in Gaza Province. The district seat is the town of Chicualacuala . Chicuacuala District is bordered to
51-456: Is a road network in the district which includes a stretch of the national road EN340 to Chokwe , as well as 268 kilometres (167 mi) of secondary roads. The Limpopo Railroad (Southern System) runs through the district. 22°05′S 31°41′E / 22.083°S 31.683°E / -22.083; 31.683 Banhine National Park Banhine National Park is a protected area in northern Gaza Province , Mozambique . The park
68-422: Is divided into three postos , Chicualacuala (three localities), Mapai (four localities), and Pafuri (two localities). In the district, there are 6,000 farms, with 60% exploiting less than 2 hectares (0.0077 sq mi) of land. The main agricultural products are corn, cassava , cowpea , peanut, and sweet potato. Population of cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats was steadily growing prior to 2005. There
85-472: Is shared between Massingir, Chicualacuala, and Mabalane Districts. The area of the park within Chicualacuala District is 6,400 square kilometres (2,500 sq mi). As of 2005, 47% of the population of the district was younger than 15 years. 25% of the population spoke Portuguese. The most common mothertongue among the population was Tsonga . 69% were analphabetic, mostly women. The district
102-446: Is tropical arid and semi-arid, with the annual rainfall varying between 500 millimetres (20 in) and 800 millimetres (31 in). Banhine National Park , part of Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park , is shared between Chigubo, Chicualacuala, and Mabalane Districts. The area of the park within Chicualacuala District is 2,400 square kilometres (930 sq mi). Limpopo National Park , also part of Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park,
119-501: The area between Kruger and Gonarezhou, the Sengwe communal land in Zimbabwe and the Makuleke region in South Africa. This park is home to mammalian species including elephant , lion , Cape wild dog , leopard , rhinoceros , blue wildebeest , spotted hyena , Cape buffalo , mongoose , kudu , giraffe , zebra , oribi , and hippopotamus . With the help of R42 million donated by Germany
136-483: The civil wars of the 1980s and early 1990s. However, the park is still home to endangered wattled cranes and to many migratory birds. Results of an aerial survey in October 2004 showed that the park had healthy populations of ostrich , kudu , impala , reedbuck , duiker , steenbok , porcupine , warthog and oribi . Predators such as leopards , lions , servals , spotted hyenas and even cheetahs are also found in
153-728: The fact that many communities had resettled into the park, the borders were changed to reflect this fact and facilitate the management of the area as a wildlife haven. The Banhine, Zinave and Limpopo national parks in Mozambique, the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe and the Kruger National Park in South Africa are the basis for the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park , part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area that will link
170-470: The national park. There is a small human population in the reserve, damaging the environment by slash-and-burn cultivation of maize, sorghum, cassava and sugar cane. With drought, the crops fail and the people revert to hunting and fishing, placing stress on the fauna. The government is encouraging people to move out of the park by building permanent water sources outside of the reserve and giving incentives for relation. However, in 2013, in recognition of
187-584: The new park is being developed with fencing and anti-poaching units. The park is divided up into three separate zones of use: a tourist zone, a wilderness zone, and a resource utilization zone (hunting). In the south is the Massingir Dam and the town of Massingir in Massingir District , which is the administrative headquarters of the new park, while on the northern border is the Limpopo River . In 2001
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#1732852443986204-499: The north by the Massangena District , to the east by Chigubo District , to the southwest by Mabalane District , to the south by Massingir District , to the southwest by South Africa , and to the northwest by Zimbabwe . It is home to several villages along the Limpopo River including Dumela, Mbuzi, Kunguma, Mawene, Xicumba, Xicumbane, Ngala, Panhame, Mabuzane, and Xitshutswini. Chicuacuala District has four health centers;
221-708: The park is wetland and there are also more than a thousand pans that range in size from a few square meters to hundreds of hectares. These pans may be very salty or "sweet" and drinkable. The water comes from the area to the northwest near the Zimbabwe boundary, flowing through many channels into the wetlands and then into the Changane River . Administratively, the park is split between Chicualacuala District (2,400 square kilometres (930 sq mi)), Chigubo District (3,000 square kilometres (1,200 sq mi)), and Mabalane District (1,600 square kilometres (620 sq mi)). 18 species of fish have been found in
238-410: The park. The African lungfish , two killifish species and two barbel species have developed ways to deal with predictable periods of drought. At times, the wetlands are completely dry on the surface. The Banhine National Park used to be home to Cape buffalo , sable , common tsessebe , hartebeest , Selous' zebra , and blue wildebeest . Populations of many of these animals were destroyed during
255-737: The single hospital in the province is located outside the district. The district also lacks a bank. The whole district belongs to the drainage basin of the Limpopo, and the Limpopo River flows through the district. Other big rivers in the district are the Nuanetzi River , the Chefu River , the Munene River , and the Singuédzi River . The latter makes the border with Massingir District. The climate
272-520: The translocation of a large number of animals from the Kruger National Park to new park had got underway. Work on the new Giriyondo Border Post between South Africa and Mozambique has started in March 2004. 23°52′S 32°08′E / 23.867°S 32.133°E / -23.867; 32.133 Chicualacuala District Chicualacuala District ( Portuguese : Distrito de Chicualacuala)
289-454: Was established on 26 June 1973. In 2013 the limits of park were updated to better reflect the realities on the ground, particularly the human presence in the area. The park is 7,250 square kilometres (2,800 sq mi) in area and holds extensive inland wetlands, acting as an important source of water to the dry lands that surround it. The park is in an area that has annual rainfall of only 430 millimetres (17 in). However, over 1% of
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