Hlane Royal National Park
Hlane Royal National Park | |
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IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources) | |
Location | Eswatini |
Coordinates | 26°15′0″S 31°52′48″E / 26.25000°S 31.88000°E |
Area | 300 km2 (120 sq mi) |
Hlane Royal National Park is a national park in
Features
It is Eswatini's largest protected area
Fauna
Hlane is home to populations of
It has an abundant and diverse birdlife, including the highest density of nesting white-backed vultures in Africa.[3] Raptors include martial eagles, bateleurs, and long-crested eagles, as well as several species of vultures including white-backed, white-headed, lappetfaced and the occasional Cape vulture. The park is home to the southernmost nesting site of the marabou stork.[3] Some bird species, such as the southern yellow-billed hornbill (Tockus leucomelas), found here are either endangered or locally extinct in the country.[6]
Accommodation
A network of game-viewing roads crisscrosses the park's flat terrain. Accommodation is available in thatched huts and cottages at two different sites.[3] The main site is near the park entrance from MR3, Hlane Camp. The other site is Bhubesi Camp, almost at the northern end of the park. The road between them requires high clearance to navigate, so with a normal car, it is best to drive all the way around the park to get between them.
Transport
The park was bisected by the MR3 Highway in the 1960s, under pressure from sugar estates at the park's borders. They claimed that the highway would cause no environmental damage, but now hundreds of antelopes, wild boar, buffaloes, and other game are struck by vehicles each year.[7]
See also
References
- ^ a b c South Africa, page 815
- ^ "Swaziland - Hlane Royal Game Reserve". Game-Reserve.com. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Hlane Royal National Park". biggameparks.org. Malkerns, Swaziland: Big Game Parks. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
- ^ "The Swaziland National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, 1999". Environmental Centre for Swaziland. Archived from the original on 2011-07-28. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, page 558
- ^ A Crash of Rhinoceroses http://www.geobeetles.com/eswatini-rhinos Retrieved 02/2020
- ^ Hall, James. "A Fierce Battle over Construction of New Road". Inter Press Service. Archived from the original on 2003-05-01. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
Sources
- Pinchuck, Tony (2002). South Africa. Rough Guides. ISBN 1-85828-853-3.
- Fitzpatrick, Mary (2004). South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland. Lonely Planet. ISBN 1-74104-162-7.