Thuli Parks and Wildlife Land

Thuli Parks and Wildlife Land
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)
Looking across the Shashe River into Thuli Safari Area, Zimbabwe
Location	Beitbridge (District) and Gwanda (District), Zimbabwe.
Nearest city	Beitbridge
Area	416 km2
Established	1958, Safari Area 1975
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 km²

The 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 .

Features

The main access point into Thuli Parks and Wildlife Land, crossing the Shashe River near the park office. Four wheel drive is required.

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 .

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.

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, with a well-preserved volcanic caldera

Archaeological, Historical and Cultural Sites

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 , and maintained as a supply base . In the 1970s 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.

See also

Thuli Village

Shashe River

External links

• Parks and Wildlife Management Authority