Parts of this article (those related to Maputo Elephant Reserve) need to be updated. The reason given is: No up to date info on the status of the reserve in regards to the port. Last update from 2012 when initial plans were made. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(November 2024)
The Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area covers 4,195 km2 (1,620 sq mi), of which 2,783 km2 (1,075 sq mi) (66%) is in Mozambique, 1,095 km2 (423 sq mi) (26%) is in South Africa, and 317 km2 (122 sq mi) (8%) is in Eswatini. 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 beautiful undeveloped coastal areas. It links the Maputo Elephant Reserve in Mozambique through the Futi Corridor and the Lubombo Conservancy in Eswatini to the Tembe Elephant Park in South Africa, creating the first major elephant stronghold along Africa's eastern coastline.
Maputo Elephant Reserve
Now known as Maputo Special Reserve (or Reserva Especial de Maputo in Portuguese), this 1,040 km2 (400 sq mi) reserve is situated in the southernmost part of Mozambique, 79 km south of Maputo, in the province of Maputo. It is bounded on the east by the Indian Ocean, and on the west by the Rio Maputo.
The elephant reserve is now threatened by industrial development
On 18 July 2012 Macauhub News Agency reported that a public tender will be issued for selection of the company that will carry out the studies of the economic feasibility of building a deep water port an Techobanine.
The Mozambique Transport and Communications Minister, Paulo Zucula, said the master plan for the project had recently been completed, and that the proposal was due to be presented soon to the Council of Ministers. The port complex is expected to cover an area of 30,000 hectares, and will have an additional area of 11,000 hectares for industrial development, as well as capacity to process 200 million tons of cargo[citation needed].
The Techobanine region is 70km from Maputo and 20km north of Ponta do Ouro.[1]
Tembe Elephant Park 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 square kilometres (120 sq mi) comprises a variety of unique sand forest, woodland, grassland and swampland habitats.
The Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park
The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park in the Ponta do Ouro-Kosi Bay Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in November 1999. The site is the largest estuarine system in Africa and includes the southernmost extension of coral reefs on the continent. Efforts are ongoing to extend the existing World Heritage Site northwards to encompass the Mozambican section of the TFCA, which includes a marine protected area.
