Ts'ehlanyane National Park

Coordinates: 29°00′S 28°25′E / 29.000°S 28.417°E / -29.000; 28.417
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Tšehlanyane National Park
Map
Coordinates29°00′S 28°25′E / 29.000°S 28.417°E / -29.000; 28.417
Governing bodyLesotho Northern Parks
Websitehttps://environment.gov.ls/protected-places/tsehlanyane-national-park/
Ts'ehlanyane National Park is located in Lesotho
Ts'ehlanyane National Park
Ts'ehlanyane National Park (Lesotho)
Ts'ehlanyane National Park

Ts'ehlanyane National Park is a National Park in

Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area
. This Lesotho northern park protects a high-altitude, 2,600-metre (8,500 ft) patch of rugged wilderness, including one of Lesotho’s only stands of indigenous forest with a number of rare undergrowth plants that are unique to this woodland habitat.

The name "Ts'ehlanyane" is the local common name for the berg bamboo (Thamnocalamus tessellatus), from which the river and park take their name. It is fitting that the park should bear the name of this Drakensberg endemic plant, as it may be the most important refuge for this plant in the entire Maloti-Drakensberg mountain range.

History

This proclaimed protected pristine area lies at the junction of the Ts'ehlanyane and the Holomo rivers. It owes its origin to the access road to the "Mamohale tunnel" (May 1991), which was the first

Clarens, Free State
.

Terrain

This Lesotho northern park protects a high-altitude, 2,600-metre (8,500 ft) patch of rugged wilderness, including one of Lesotho's few stands of indigenous forest with a number of rare undergrowth plants that are unique to this woodland habitat. Here indigenous "ouhout" (Leucosidea) trees of significant size are preserved.

The park has an altitude ranging from 1,940 to 3,112 metres (6,365 to 10,210 ft) and is considered mostly

sub-alpine
. The diversity of habitat types is exceptionally wide and derived from the large altitudinal range that the park has.

Biota

  • Avifauna: Species of interest include the
  • Fauna: Indigenous mammals include
    Snakes include the berg adder
.
  • Flora: On the banks of the rivers and streams are stands of berg bamboo which are of significant cultural significance to the Basotho people. Berg bamboo is the host plant for an endangered butterfly species, the bamboo sylph
    spiral aloe, among other varied and abundant alpine flora
    , including over 180 flowering species.

    • Bird species

    Bird species found in the park include:[1]

    Wild flower and shrub species

    Wild flowers and shrubs recorded at Ts'ehlanyane National Park on the Matsa-Mararo route via Lets'a-le-ts'o and the lower bridle path (4 × 4 track) that leads to Holomo Pass
    (* = exotic)

    1. * Cannabis sativa
    2. * Persicaria lapathifolia:[a] exotic, robust annual herb in damp areas
    3. * Solanum sp. (wild potato)
    4. Ajuga ophrydis (bugle-plant)
    5. Alepidea amatymbica[a] (Lesoko): large serrated (basal) leaves, tall herb. Tea made from leaves applied as cough and cold remedy
    6. Alepidia cf. woodii: small herb with white, star-like flowers
    7. Anisodontea julii subsp. pannosa (lefeta; mountain hibiscus; wildestokroos): shrub, 1–4 m (3 ft 3 in – 13 ft 1 in), flowers shiny pink. On the Holomo Pass bridle path, often near streams in scrub forest.
    8. Argyrolobium tuberosum
    9. Argyrolobium sp.: yellow pea-flowers
    10. Asclepias fruticosa
    11. Berkheya cirsiifolia: thorny sub-shrub with white daisy-like flowers, damp Basalt slopes at approx. 2,200 m (7,200 ft)
    12. Cephalaria natalensis
    13. Clematis brachiata: common climber esp. on dead cheche trees next to the 4 × 4 track leading to the Holomo Pass bridle path
    14. Coccinia sp. or Zehneria sp.:[a] climber in cheche forest, deeply lobed leaves, hairy. Small cucumber-like fruit of approx. 30 mm (1.2 in) in length (slightly bitter, probably poisonous)
    15. Conium sp.: tall herb >1 m (39 in), slightly aromatic
    16. Cotyledon orbiculata: on eroded basalt cliffs (south-east facing) next to the Ts'ehlanyane river
    17. Crassula cf. natalensis: small succulent (200 mm (7.9 in)) on damp rocks next to the Lets'a-le-ts'o trail
    18. Crassula sarcocaulis: on eroded basalt cliffs (south-east facing) next to the Ts'ehlanyane river
    19. Diascia cf. barberae
    20. Dierama cf. cooperi: white, with mauve and yellow flecks on inside of perianth. Next to 4 × 4 track directly above the conference centre
    21. Dichilus reflexus
    22. Disa cooperi:[a] light pink with long spur, fragrant, evident in the vicinity of the quarry
    23. Erica caffrorum: large shrub or small tree
    24. Erica oatessi:[a] shrub with pink, bottle-shaped flowers
    25. Eucomis autumnalis subsp. clavata
    26. Euphorbia cf. natalensis: herb
    27. Euryops evansii
    28. Euryops sp.: large shrub up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in), small fynbos-like leathery leaves, small yellow flowers
    29. Geranium cf. wakkerstroomianum
    30. Geranium pulchrum
    31. other Geranium spp.
    32. Gladiolius crassifolius
    33. Gladiolius dalenii
    34. Gunnera perpensa[a] (qobo; wild rhubarb; rivierpampoen): usually in large stands, marshy places, or sub-shade
    35. Habenaria epipactidea: greenish flowers with long white spur, one example seen on the 4×4 track leading to the Holomo Pass bridal path
    36. Helichrysum cooperi
    37. Helichrysum herbaceum:[a] golden yellow everlasting with small overlapping leaves
    38. Helichrysum mundtii
    39. Helichrysum splendidum
    40. Jamesbritennia sp.: ill-aromatic herb, or sub-shrub, on path, disturbed soil
    41. Lobelia spp.
    42. Lotononis sp.:[a] : greyish sub-shrub, blue pea-flowers
    43. Forget-me-not
      ): common on disturbed areas i.e. the path, pink – deep blue
    44. Orchidaceae:[a] small leaves similar to Agapanthus, Disa thodei
      ?
    45. Orchidaceae:[a] yellow-green flowers with two wings, long spur, probably Habenaria epipactidea
    46. Oxalis smithiana:[a] leaves are deeply divided, lobes narrow. Pink flowers. Common on the lower Lets'a-le-ts'o trail
    47. Passerina drakensbergensis (berg gonna): large shrub in scrub
    48. Pelargonium cf. ranuncullophyllum:[a] herb with small white flowers, tiny pink flecks on the inside of petals. Leaves with purplish brown mark. Common on the lower Lets’a-le-ts’o trail
    49. Pentzia cooperi
    50. Phygelius capensis: grassy slopes within cheche forest, damp and rocky moist slopes and on streambanks. Flowers curved.
    51. Printzia cf. pyrifolia : grassy slopes within cheche forest
    52. Plectranthus grallatus:[a] common in shade of cheche forest
    53. Polygala cf. rhinostigma: small perennial herb, pink flowers
    54. Polygala cf. uncinata: perennial herb, purple flowers
    55. Polygala virgata: common shrub next to 4×4 track leading to the Holomo Pass bridal path
    56. Rumex cf. saggitatus: climber on dead/burnt cheche en route to the Matsa-mararo falls from Lets'a-le-ts'o. Heart-shaped leaves, conspicuous fruit: papery 3-winged, pink-red en masse
    57. Satyrium parviflorum: small yellowish green flowers on long spike, petals drying brown soon after flowering. Basal leaves, heart-shaped, fairly large
    58. Scabiosa cf. columbaria
    59. Schizoglossum artropurpureum subsp. artropurpureum
    60. Scilla natalensis
       : on basalt cliffs south of the Ts’ehlanyane river
    61. Selago cf. melliodora: white inflorescence, honey scented, next to path near Matsa-mararo falls
    62. Selago galpinii
    63. Senecio macrocephalus
    64. Senecio sp.: common, herbaceous shrub with masses of yellow flowers. Large stands in damp areas or rocky places
    65. Silene cf. burchelli:[a] pink, near campsite at river deck
    66. Stachys cf. aethiopica
    67. Thalictrum cf. rhyncocarpum:[a] herb, forest floor near and on the lower Lets'a-le-ts'o path, leaves resemble maidenhair fern (Adianthium cappilus-veneris)
    68. Thamnocalamus tessellatus (liqaloe; berg bamboo; bergbamboes) damp slopes and near rivers/streams 3–4 m (9.8–13.1 ft) tall. Endangered species in South Africa
    69. Unknown species:[a] common on disturbed soil, small herb (150 mm), leaves are serrated and spatulate, of particular interest are the discoloured characteristic of the leaves: above green and below purple-pink
    70. Vernonia hirsuta
    71. Wahlenbergia krebsii
    72. Xerophyta viscosa: on eroded basalt cliffs (south-east-facing) next to the Ts'ehlanyane river
    73. Zaluzianskya cf. microsiphon
    74. Zaluzianskya smitziae: night-flowering species, common on the trail between Lets'a-le-ts'o and Matsa-mararo falls

    Indigenous tree species in the Park

    Indigenous trees as seen at the campsite, on the lower Lets'a-le-ts'o path en route to Matsa-Mararo falls and the lower bridle path (4x4 track) that leads to Holomo Pass

    1. *
      Rosa eglanteria
       (rosehip): thorny tree, pink flowers followed by orange–red fruit, in scrub forest near river and cheche forest
    2. mountain sage
      ; bergsaliehout) very similar to B. salviifolia but leaves are leathery, lanceolate, whilst B. salviifolia leaves are softer and oval/heart-shaped at base. B. loricata usually at higher altitudes than B. salviifolia, but their habitats do overlap(1,800–2,450 m (5,910–8,040 ft)). Inflorescences of B. loricata, smaller, only white, sweetly scented. B. loricata common in the vicinity of Lets'a-le-ts'o.
    3. Buddleja salviifolia (lelothoane; quilted sage; saliehout) Very similar to B. loricata but leaves and inflorescence differ: see B. loricata (supra). Flowers: fragrant, white to mauve in spring.
    4. Diospyros austroafricana subsp. africana (liperekisi-tsa-makhoaba, senokonoko; firesticks star-apple; kritikom; vuurmaakbossie; jakkalsbessie) usually a shrub, sometimes small tree, grey appearance. Flowers: pink to red, highly fragrant during springtime. Fruit conspicuous: grey-green, red to black when ripe up to 20 mm (0.79 in) in diameter.
    5. Heteromorpha trifoliata (monkhoane; parsley tree; pietersieliebos) small tree with conspicuous bark peeling off in papery flakes, on steep slopes and cliffs where protection from veld fires esp. vicinity of the Matsa-mararo falls. Flowers and seeds resemble parsley.
    6. entomological
      study made on the cheche of the Golden Gate area (EFS), these trees are the habitat of 117 species of beetles
    7. Myrsine africana (semapo; Cape myrtle; mirting) evergreen shrub with very small leaves, toothed in upper half, rarely a tree
    8. Rhamnus prinoides (mofifi; dogwood; blinkblaar) small tree, often in shade of cheche forest. Glossy-green leaves, small red–black berries
    9. Rhus divaricata (kolitsane; rusty-leaved current; roesblaartaaibos) shrub or small tree with trifoliate leaves, slightly leathery, dark olive green above, grey-green–rusty-brown hairs beneath, large numbers of small yellow to brown berries 3 mm (0.12 in) in diameter.

    Other tree species

    Other trees expected to occur in the area include:

    1. Bowkeria verticillata (isiduli; umbaba; southern shell-flower)
    2. Euclea crispa (mohlakola; blue guarri)
    3. Halleria lucida (lebetsa; tree fuchsia; notsung)
    4. Passerina montana (lekhapu; mountain gonna)
    5. Rhus dentata
       (lebelebele; nana-berry)
    6. Rhus pyroides
       (kolitsane; common taaibos)

    Fern species

    Ferns and

    fern allies

    Underneath shade of cheche forest, an abundance of ferns occur: Polystichum spp. and Cheilanthes quadripinnata. Pteris cretica in damp places often near boulders. In exposed areas on rocky mountain slopes, typical poikylohydrous species evident like the resurrection fern and Cheilanthes eckloniana. Selaginella spp. expected on exposed rock surfaces.

    Location

    The park is located deep in the northern range of the Maloti Mountains at the foot of the Holomo Pass and only about 45 minutes on tarred road from the South African border post of

    Clarens and about 4 hours from O. R. Tambo International Airport
    ).

    Activities

    • Maliba Lodge accommodation is located within the park
    • Numerous hiking and bridle paths have already been established with the park, one of which is a spectacular 39 km trail linking the Ts'ehlanyane National Park with the Bokong Nature Reserve.
    • Photographic opportunities. Not only is the scenery spectacular, but the fauna and flora offer a boundless variety of photographic subjects.
    • Basuto pony rides offer an ideal way to explore nature from a higher vantage point.
    • Swimming in the pristine streams and rock pools
    • Small to medium-sized game viewing with about 24 species present
    • Massage treatments at Maliba Lodge Spa
    • Restaurant meals and viewing/photography deck at Maliba Lodge

    How to get there

    A 32-kilometre (20 mi) tarred access road leaves the main A1 route 8 km (5.0 mi) south of Butha-Buthe. The route passes through the village of Khabo and parallels the Hlotse river along the Holomo valley until it reaches the park entrance gate.

    See also

    Notes

    1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q specimens collected by Patsy Millin (31 Jan 2006 – 2 Feb 2006)

    References

    1. ^ "Bird Species" (PDF). Birds of Lesotho. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
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