| Makuleke, Kruger National Park | |
|---|---|
  Location in South Africa | |
| Location | Limpopo, South Africa |
| Nearest city | Tshipise, South Africa |
| Coordinates | 22°24′05″S 31°11′49″E / 22.40139°S 31.19694°E |
| Area | 240 km2 (93 sq mi) |
| Established | Incorporated into Kruger Park 1969 Returned to Makuleke people 1998 |
| Governing body | South African National Parks and Makuleke People |
| Official name | Makuleke Wetlands |
| Designated | 22 May 2007 |
| Reference no. | 1687[1] |
The Makuleke Contractual Park or Pafuri Triangle constitutes the northernmost section of the Kruger National Park, South Africa, and comprises approximately 240 square kilometres of land.[2] The "triangle" is a wedge of land created by the confluence of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers at the tripoint Crook's Corner, which forms a border with Zimbabwe along the Limpopo River. It is a natural choke point for wildlife crossing from North to South and back, and forms a distinct ecological region.
Pafuri (Tsonga) is derived from Mphaphuli, the dynastic name of Venda chieftains who ruled locally,[3] while the Luvuvhu River is named after a Combretum tree (Venda: muvuvhu, Tsonga Rivubye) growing on its banks.[4]
- ^ "Makuleke Wetlands". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ Wilderness Safaris (2007). "Pafuri Wilderness". Archived from the original on 6 August 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2007.
- ^ Bulpin, T. V. (1975). "The Kruger National Park". The Transvaal (A Collection of the Mobil Treasury of Travel Series covering the Transvaal). Cape Town: T. V. Bulpin. ISBN 0-949956-12-0.
- ^ du Plessis, E.J. (1973). Suid-Afrikaanse berg- en riviername. Tafelberg-uitgewers, Cape Town. p. 265. ISBN 0-624-00273-X.