Mozambique and SA link hands across sea creating Africa’s largest marine protec ted area

Mozambique has declared its first Marine Protected Area (MPA) that now links with the iSimangaliso Wetland Park to create Africa’s first transfrontier marine conservation area.

This now extends along 300 kms of unbroken coastline and pristine beaches from Maputo Bay in Mozambique to Cape St Lucia, the southern boundary of the iSimangaliso Park in South Africa.

The Mozambique MPA of 678kms² includes Inhaca and Portugese islands, the Maputo Special Reserve, and stretches three nautical miles into the sea.

Southern Mozambique is a vital nursery for commercially important fish stocks with fish, larvae and eggs carried in south-flowing currents into South Africa’s iSimangaliso. “Protection of these will benefit both countries and iSimangaliso directly” said Zaloumis. Park CEO and Chairman of the Ponta do Oura/Kosi Bay TFCA Task Team.
The long-term vision for the marine components is to create Africa’s first trans -boundary marine World Heritage Site. Mozambique has placed its new MPA on it’s tentative list, the first step towards formal application for listing with UNESCO whose technical team will evaluate the proposal.

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park was listed as South Africa’s first World Heritage Site in December 1999.

The Ponta do Ouro-Kosi Bay Marine Transfrontier Conservation Area is one of five such initiatives – coastal and interior – under the Lubombo TFCA that aim to consolidate the unique biodiversity of the Maputaland Centre of Endemism and link the elephant populations of both countries.

Mozambique Tourism Minister Mr Fernando Sumbana said “this was a vital step in protecting marine turtles that nest in high densities along the pristine beaches of the Maputo Special Reserve, other rare or endangered species, marine mammals and ecosystems.”

Activities like semi-industrial and industrial fishing, fishing on the coral reefs, fishing with explosives, driving of motorised vehicles on the beach and building other than approved developments are now prohibited.

For more information re: Reserva Marinha Parcial da Ponta do Ouro contact:
Dr Bartolomeu Soto
Director: Ministry of Tourism
Unidade de Coordenancao das Areas de Conservacao Transfronteira
Tel: + 258 (82) 302 362/303 616
Mobile: + 258 (82) 302 9300
Email: bsoto

For more information re: iSimangaliso Wetland Park contact
Andrew Zaloumis
Chief Executive Officer
iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority
Tel: + 27 (35) 250 1633
Mobile: + 27 (82) 788 3000
Email: andrew

The best summer spots according to Getaway Magazine staffers.

The best summer spots according to Getaway staffers.

http://www.getaway.co.za/content/getaway/magazine/feature.asp?id=1397&fe_page=2

Maputaland Bush Camp, KZN, chosen as top destination by Khumo Ntoane

The northern part of Maputaland appears uncharted and vast. The landscape folds, elevates and flattens out. It’s abundantly vegetated with swamp forests and wetlands. It has lakes, rivers and a rich coastline. The attractions in this magical space are simple; it’s a wonderland to anyone with an active imagination. This rustic slice of the past is doing its bit to keep the 21st century at bay.

The camp is on a hill overlooking a hippo pool, 16 kays south of Kosi Bay. Owners Willie and Isabella Labuschagne lived in a tent for six months while they built the camp themselves. Their aim was to have as little impact on the natural surroundings as possible.

The bush camp sleeps 10 to 14 people. En suite huts are made from reeds and thatch. The watersaving shower among the trees is rudimentary. To operate it, you pour buckets of water into a sack-like contraption with a shower head before hoisting it into a tree with a pulley. Solar panels generate power for lights in the evening and gas is used for cooking.

The sound of a vehicle is rare and you need a 4×4 to get there. The Labuschagnes have a stable full of horses for exploring the area. Fishers collect their catches in mekoro and in the elaborate fish traps at Kosi Bay. Reeds are harvested along the edges of the lakes and the fields hoed.

This is a great hiking destination, with only hippos posing some danger. The animals tend to be shy, but there are plenty of birds to be seen. Canoeing on the Siyadla River, well-fed crocodiles surface with calm precision. As one paddler said, ‘Even the crocodiles are happy in Maputaland.’

The locals like to refer to this corner of the country as paradise – and I have to agree.

Tel 072-727-3079 or e-mail mail or web http://www.maputaland.net.

Here is hoping we will have a good Turtle Season in Kosi

More good blog news about Kosi!

http://katesafricaninternship.blogspot.com/2008/02/kosi-bay.html

This weekend was incredible and exactly what I needed. The entire group of volunteers went to Kosi Bay which is a 3 hour drive from St. Lucia. It is right near the border to Mozambique. We hired a van to take us to the Kosi Bay town and then we were picked up by a man named Villy and his wife Isabelle. We took two 4WD vehicles to our destination; a Land Rover (you all know how much I love them!) and a similar Mercedes vehicle. We drove through grass and sand for about 40 minutes until we reached our little slice of heaven! I will upload pictures right after I write this because I absolutely fell in love with this place. Isabelle (the wife) is from Belgium and her husband Villy is from Pretoria (South Africa). They started the place 6 years ago after they gave up their jobs and regular lives. They decided to go to Kosi Bay and build some accomodations for people to stay and build a stable for horseback riding. They lived in tents for SIX MONTHS while they were in the process of building! They take people on turtle tours at night, horse riding tours, kayaking and a few other activities.

When we arrived Villy presented us with an amazing feast for lunch of steamed vegetables and cold potato salad. We then drove to the beach which was just as perfect and untouched as most of the coastline here on the east coast of South Africa. We laid around and relaxed and then Villy served us some Brie and Camembere (spelling?) on bread. His wife had made a carrot cake for us as well which was honestly the BEST I have ever had!! I may have over indulged. We waited for the sun to go down then we took a very long (and challenging) walk along the beach to see some turtles. The sand was very soft so our bums sure felt the pain after an hour or so of walking. We eventually reached a nest that just hatched and watched all of the baby turtles make their way to the water. They were so tiny and adorable and we all knew their fate as we watched them struggle toward the ocean. I think only 1 in 1,000 survive or some ridiculous statistic like that. I should have put one in my pocket and taken it home.

We were all physically exhausted after the hours of walking in the sand so we fell asleep as soon as we arrived back at our huts. I actually slept in the loft in the main house instead of in one of the beautiful huts. I was a bit scared of snakes because I saw one of the cats playing with one earlier like a chew toy! The huts were gorgeous and very romantic for a couple but I was playing it safe and slept up in the loft (free from snakes). I know, I am a wuss!

The next day I went horseback riding for the first time ever! What an amazing place to have my 1st experience on a horse. We walked much of the time up and down enormous hills and the view was just incredible. We also cantered quite a few times which scared me half to death because I have no experience in a saddle. I was positive I was going to fly right off but somehow I clung to GoGo (my horse) and survived! GoGo means Grandma in Zulu by the way. We rode past a pond full of hippos and right by the ocean. I can’t even decribe the feeling I had when I got on top of that horse and looked out to see AFRICA–pure and beautiful and completely untouched. No homes, no stores, so un-commercial, just so perfect.

What an awesome week! “I can definitely recommend Kosi Bay!”

I came across this blogsite with excellent photos of Maputaland Bush Camp posted by Michelle on her blog.

Kosi Bay and the hatchling turtles!

Posted by michellelutener in South Africa.

Well, what a fantastic weekend. Five of us hired a car and I drove us up North (300km) to Kosi Bay which is still part of the Isimangaliso Nature Reserve. It was a lovely drive and the beaches and lakes around Kosi Bay were beautiful! We went up there because it is the season to see the baby hatchling turtles making there first journey down thebeach to the big open ocean.

We were picked up from the town of Manguzi and driven by 4×4 to the accommodation we were staying at. You can only get to Koi Bay by 4×4 as it is basically all sand dunes. We were staying at a lodge which was basic and rustic. It was awesome. We were out in the bush in the middle of nowhere with an outside toilet and bathroom. It was wonderful and actually very comfortable:

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After a spot of lunch we then went off road to the lake where we were played a bit f volleyball in the lake and then jumped on a boat for a drive around two of the lakes in the area which are connected by a channel. We saw several hippo and different birds and then had another swim. It was so picturesque and relaxing, especially with the beers supplied on the baot! That’s the life.

After the boat trip we headed to a beachfordinner. We watched the sun set whilst eating dinner and trying to avoid the crashing huge waves that were creeping up the beach. It was simply beautiful.

After dinner (and a few more beers…) we met up with our guide, Victor, who was going to take us for a walk along the beach to try and find the hatchling turtles. We headed of in the darkwith the beach only being lit by the moonlight. Victor had a torch and walked higher up the beach to look for the hatchlings. After about 45 mins walking he found the baby turtles that were out of their eggs and heading down the beach to the ocean. We sat and watched them for ages as about 30 baby turtles were walking straight down the beach one after another or in pairs or threes. Their little legs / fins (or whatever you want to call them) were struggling to walk through the sand, but they all somehow managed to and then just got swept away in the waves. It was amazing to watch. Just look how tiny they are!

We then headed back to the lodge and our chalets and the sky was so clear I decided to try and capture a star trail shot. I have been wanting to do this for ages but have never quite managed, so am realy pleased with this attempt!

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The next morning we headed to the beach and I tried to swim in on the waves which were huge. It really was the perfect end to a wonderful weekend. I can definitely recommend Kosi Bay!

By the way, here is one of my hippo shots from the other day that I promised I would add to this update.