I-Ecology, Flora kanye Fauna ye Mapungubwe

Emnengi Eyahlukahlukeneko Yeendawo

©Roger de la Harpe
iMapungubwe ibonwa ngehlanganisela ye-Mopane Bushveld kanye neemila zomhlobo we-savannah. Imihlobo emnengi eyahlukahlukeneko yeendawo zemvelo esephageni le irholele ekutheni kube neenlwane ezinengi ezahlukahlukeneko. Kunemihlobo engaba ma-24 yemithi ye-Acacia kanye nema-8 yomhlobo we-Commiphora. Imuthi ye-mopane, ibonakala ngamakari wayo akheke njengeviyaviyani, begodu kuhlala khona iinondo/-mopani worms (nanyana aMasonja / Mashonza).

Iinkakaramba Zephageni

©Roger de la Harpe
Imithi ezinkakaramba yephageni le ngokungangabazi yi-baobabs - (Adansia digitata). Imithi yakade le gade ivele iyidala lokha abantu bemaPungubwe babulunga iinkosi zabo, begodu iragela phambili ngokukhula lokha iba yidala.
Izindlovu zephasi lemithi, mikhulu idlula yoke imithi. Ubukhulu bayo obuthusako, ubude bawo kanye nokuqina kwayo yinto erara kwamanikelela. Ngesinye isikhathi ibizwa bona mimithi eqale upside-down ngombana ayinamakari, iindindi zawo ezingakahleleki kuhle kuthiwa zifana nemirabhu eqale esibhakabhakeni.
Eduze kwe-Limpopo flood plain, imithi ikhula ibeyihlathi elihlangeneko elinetende evalileko. Ihlathi lemithi womhlobo we-fever trees, leadwoods, camel thorns, ilala palms kanye ne-nyala berries (mashatu) kulapha kudlala khona umhlambi weemfene kanye neenyoni.

Iintaba kanye Nemimpoporima

©Shem Compion
Ngendela iphaga le iyihle ngayo akukajwayeleki begodu kuyababazeka. Ngale kwe-millennia kwakhe kwaba nentaba ede kodwana sele idlekile ekwenza bona kube nendawo yemilambo kanye nemimpoporima. Ekugcineni kweLimpopo, kunensalela zentaba le ezenza bona kube nendunduma eyehlela emlanyeni. Ubude bayo busuka emamitheni ayi-300 kuya ku-780 ngaphezu kwelwandle.
Iintaba ezahlukeneko kanye nesiphande se-koppies, esifana nemaMapungubwe zarholela bona kubene-Clarens Sandstone eyasuswa mamanzi, kwaze kwasala imitjhana emincani ejamileko. Ikepisi elilitje elibomveli ihlanganiswe notjani obusarulana ehlathini lipha abakweriyileko umbala okhumbulekako.

I-Reserve le Iphethe

©Roger de la Harpe
Nanyana iphaga le ithandelwa amasiko wayo kunama-fauna wayo i-reserve le iphethe ezine kwezisihlanu iinlwane ze-Big 5. Isilwane esingekho yi-buffalo kwaphela ngombana basabela bona izakubanjwa bulwelwe bomlomo nennyawo-foot and mouth disease. Amabhubezi uyabonwa wona ngaskhathi kodwana kuqatjangwa bona angewe-Botswana nokobana akahlali lapha ngaso soke isikhathi.
Kunemihlobo eminengi yeenlwana ekubalwa hlangana amaqina, ama-eland, blue wildebeest, waterbuck, bushbuck duiker, red hartebeest, kudu, impala, klipspringer, steenbok and gemsbok. Kwezinye iinlwana ezikhona kubalwa iingungumbane, iindlovu, izinja zehlathini, iimfene, amabhubhezi, abobhejane abamhlophe, iimfarigi zommango, ama-zebra iindlulamithi ingwemabala amabadgers, kanye ne-sivets. Iingungumbani, iimfene zemhlobo we-vervet kanye ne-aardvark. Iimpisi kanye nabobhejani abamhlophe khebabomnwa kodwana bayatlhogwa.
Iphaga imihlobo eyahlukahlukeneko yamakhondlo, iinyoni, iinkghaghabi, iinyoka, iinunwanana ekubalwa ne-Big 5 ekubalwa indlovu, i-buffalo, weaver, leopard, ikghuru kanye nebhubezi. Akusikobana zoke iinlwanyana ezincani ezilapha ezincani azisiyingozi. Ama-pythons kanye ne-black mamba ziyingozi kwamambala, okungasenani kunemihlobo eyi-9 yamaphephenu ebonwe ephageni. Isikhathi sakaMatjhi nangomrhayili sikhathi esihle sokubona iinlwana, uMatjhi kanye no November sikhathi esihle sokubona iinyoni.

Translated by Busisiwe Skhosana