Thuli Parks and Wildlife Land

Infobox_protected_area | name = Thuli Parks and Wildlife Land
iucn_category = VI


imagesize = 300px
caption = Looking across the Shashe River into Thuli Safari Area, Zimbabwe
locator_x =
locator_y =
location = Beitbridge (District) and Gwanda (District), Zimbabwe.
nearest_city = Beitbridge
lat_degrees = 21
lat_minutes = 58
lat_seconds = 13
lat_direction = S
long_degrees = 29
long_minutes = 7
long_seconds = 22
long_direction = E
area = 416 km²
established = 1958, Safari Area 1975
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = Zimbabwe Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management

Thuli Parks and Wildlife Land is a protected area in south-western Zimbabwe. It comprises four areas within the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Estate and covers the entire west bank of the Shashe River within the Thuli Circle.

The protected area comprises the Thuli Safari Area, plus 3 small botanical reserves:
* Pioneer Botanical Reserve, area of 0.38 km²
* South Camp Botanical Reserve, area of 0.26 km²
* Tolo River Botanical Reserve, area of 0.44 km²The four reserves are administered as a single unit, from the National Parks and Wildlife authority office on the east bank of the Shashe River - just outside the protected area and immediately south of the village of Tuli.

History of the Park

Thuli (Tuli) Safari Area was proclaimed in 1975. Prior to that date (from 1958), it was a controlled hunting area.

In terms of a memorandum signed on 22 June 2006, Thuli Parks and Wildlife Land forms the core of the conservation area that Zimbabwe shall contribute to the Limpopo-Shashe Transfrontier Conservation Area [Limpopo-Shashe Conservation Area Formally Agreed On. "Kruger Park Times" [http://www.krugerpark.co.za/krugerpark-times-3-7-limpopo-shashe-22703.html] ] .

Features

Flora

Most of the Thuli area is scrubland, with "Mopane" and combretum bush. The Shashe valley, the park's eastern border, supports riverine vegetation such as "Ficus" and "Faidherbia" [Hyde, M.A. and Wursten, B. 2008. " [http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/location-display.php?location_id=TU Flora of Zimbabwe] :" Location details: Shashe Wilderness Camp and the Tuli area] .

Fauna

Animal life includes elephants, black rhinos, lion, wild dog, cheetah and leopard, many of which move freely between the protected area and neighbouring Botswana and South Africa ["Update on the Limpopo-Shashe Transfrontier Conservation Area", Limpopo Valley Carnivores. [http://limpopocarnivores.wildlifedirect.org/2008/06/12/update-on-the-limpopo-shashe-transfrontier-conservation-area/] ] .

Geography and Geology

The protected area comprises a flat landscape, giving way to rugged hilly terrain near the Shashe River. The underlying geology is entirely basalt, of Jurassic age [Thompson, R.L. 1979. The geology of the area around Tuli, Mazunga and Gongwe. "Rhodesia Geological Survey Short Report" 40] .

Archaeological, Historical and Cultural0

A large Fort (Fort Tuli) existed in the center of the protected area, where in the 1890s oxen and horses were rested prior to crossing the Shashe River. The fort was established by the Pioneer Column in 1890 Hemans, T. "Those Were the Days" [http://www.hemans.dsl.pipex.com/book] ] , and maintained as a supply base [ Hole, H.M. "Old Rhodesian Days", Routledge [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3gqQqX3uVvkC&pg=PA14&lpg=PA14&dq=%22Fort+Tuli%22&source=web&ots=DMFUa-KaPn&sig=VK9CH2XXH16_lkFpZ7xuL2XtZ-Q&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result] ] . In the 1970's this building was re-located to the current site, Tuli.

Accommodation and Camping

Camping sites exist at the head office and within the safari area. There are no hotels or self-catering accommodation.

Privately-owned Camps and Sites

Shashe Wilderness Camp, operated by the Wildlife and Environment Zimbabwe (formerly Zimbabwe Wildlife Society), is located just north of the park headquarters.

Tourism

Access

Road access is via the village of Tuli, which can be reached from Beitbridge via Nottingham Estate, or from Gwanda via Guyu and Hwali. On each access route, much of the distance is over poor roads, and four wheel drive may be required. Four wheel drive is essentially for crossing the Shashe River to access the park.There is an earth airstrip at Tuli.

Boating

The canoe trip along the Shashe River can be recommended

=Concessions=

Thuli Safari Area is currently operated through hunting concessions.

ee also

Thuli Village

Shashe River

External Links

[http://www.zimparks.com/ Parks and Wildlife Management Authority]

References