The Concession - Natural History

The Makuleke Concession is home to several large herds of buffalo, as well as hippo, white rhino, lion, leopard and high seasonal concentrations of elephant. The Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers host the highest density of nyala in Kruger and species such as eland, Sharpe’s grysbok and yellow-spotted rock dassie, which are difficult to find further south in the Park, are regularly seen here.

A drive along the floodplain and riverine fringe of either of the two large rivers usually produces good general game in the form of nyala, impala, greater kudu, chacma baboon, waterbuck, warthog and perhaps grey duiker or bushbuck. Patience and a little luck may yield the more elusive residents of the area such as lion, leopard and sable. Other areas hold steenbok, agile klipspringer and herds of Burchell’s zebra.

The area has long been regarded as something of a Mecca for southern African birdwatchers. Some species are found nowhere else in South Africa and the serious birder will revel in being able to find Böhm’s and Mottled Spinetails, Racket-tailed Roller, Three-banded Courser, and Arnot’s Chat. Other specials are Black-throated Wattle-Eye, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Yellow White-Eye, Meves’s Starling and Tropical Boubou.

The Makuleke area of the Pafuri triangle carries a remarkable geological and natural heritage that makes this region one of the most special in Africa. The “triangle” is created by the intersection of two great rivers – the ancient and dying Limpopo, which more than 65 million years ago had its origins in the Angolan highlands, and the young and powerful Luvuvhu River. The latter is actively carving its way through the sandstone of the escarpment, in the process creating the impressive Lanner Gorge. Their intersection forms the meeting point of three countries – South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

The variety of habitats is also exceptionally scenic: From the pans and floodplains of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers to the cool riverine forests along their banks, rugged kopjes covered in thick Mopane, giant Baobabs and charismatic Commiphoras, gorges carved from ancient rock, acacia-shaded savannah and the renowned Fever Tree forests. Many tree species reach the southernmost extremity of their ranges here and the Makuleke area has been recognised by Kruger as one of two botanical reserves in the Park, the other being in the extreme south and both representing important storehouses of rare species.