Marloth Park

Marloth Park is a holiday town situated in northeastern South Africa in the Mpumalanga province (formerly Eastern Transvaal).

Kudu in Marloth Park
Aloe Marlothii, from which the park's name is taken
Marloth Park
Marloth Park from the Kruger Park
Marloth Park from the Kruger Park
Marloth Park is located in Mpumalanga
Marloth Park
Marloth Park
Marloth Park is located in South Africa
Marloth Park
Marloth Park
Coordinates: 25°20′36″S 31°46′58″E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceMpumalanga
DistrictEhlanzeni
MunicipalityNkomazi
Established1977
Area
[1]
 • Total17.50 km2 (6.76 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total1,000
 • Density57/km2 (150/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[1]
 • Black African30.8%
 • Coloured0.5%
 • Indian/Asian0.8%
 • White67.4%
 • Other0.5%
First languages (2011)
[1]
 • Afrikaans48.1%
 • Swazi22.8%
 • English21.3%
 • Tsonga2.9%
 • Other4.9%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)

Geography

On the bank of the Crocodile River between Malelane and Komatipoort on the N4 national highway, Marloth Park is a wildlife sanctuary and holiday town. It boasts four of the “Big Five” with the exception of elephant. Buffalo, rhino and lion are confined to Marloth's game reserve "Lionspruit"; the rest of the game such as kudu, zebra, giraffe, blue wildebeest, nyala, impala, warthog, ostrich and others aren't restricted by fences and roam freely between the units that are built on 3000 ha.[2]

On the southern boundary of the Kruger National Park, Crocodile Bridge gate is 14 km and Malelane gate 35 km from Marloth Park.

History

The name Marloth Park derives from a German botanist, Rudolf Marloth. The Aloe marlothii was named after him. This plant is found abundantly in the lowveld.[3]

Marloth Park was founded in 1977.

Tourism

Marloth Park is a stopover point for tourists travelling to the Kruger National Park, to Mozambique or to Eswatini. Many lodges and private houses are found inside the Park.

Marloth Park is a unique project. It opened in 1972 as a holiday township, though a large part of the park remained natural. There are no internal fences and the vegetation remains in its original state. Marloth Park is separated by a boundary fence and by the Crocodile River from Kruger Park. Within the park, there are giraffe, wildebeest, kudu, zebra, impala, bushbuck, warthog, baboon, vervet monkey and other small game and a rich bird life. Meanwhile, the infrastructure of the natural park is well developed.

Inside Marloth Park (3,000 hectares), the freedom of movement is remarkable. Tourists can ride a bicycle or go for a walk on their own through the African bush. Movement is not confined to the housing units. While walking along the Crocodile River, visitors can watch spectacular wildlife scenes in the adjacent Kruger National Park. Local restaurants, shops and a filling station are easily accessible.

Sometimes, lions from Kruger Park roam into Marloth Park.[4][5]

Climate

Marloth Park features a humid subtropical climate with mild winters and hot summers.

Notable residents
  • Philippe Morvan, french writer.[6]
  • Pieter Pieterse, south african writer.

References
  1. "Main Place Marloth Park". Census 2011.
  2. umjindi.org-"Wild Frontier". Archived from the original on 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2011-08-24. wild frontier
  3. Bredenkamp, G.J. & Van Vuuren, D.R.J. 1987. Note on the occurrence and distribution of Aloe marlothii Berger on the Pietersberg Plateau. South African Journal of Science 83: 498- 550
  4. Lowvelder, Lions roam the streets of Marloth Park
  5. Lowvelder, Two lions caught in Marloth Park
  6. Le Quotidien de la Réunion,La terre promise n’existe pas, Stéphanie Buttard, 29 mars 2021

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