IUCN Management Category VIII (Multiple Use Management Area)

Biogeographical Province 3.07.04 (Miombo Woodland/savanna)

Geographical Location On the shores of Lake MacIlwaine about 30km south-west of Harare in Mashonaland South Province. 17°55'S, 30°50'E.

Date and History of Establishment Originally established as Robert McIlwaine National Park

Area 55,000ha including 30,000ha water and contiguous with Lake Robertson Recreational Park (8,100ha)

Land Tenure Some areas on the north lakeshore are leased out, but remain under the control of the Parks and Wild Life Department. These may in future become freehold, while still remaining part of the park.

Altitude 1,300m

Physical Features The park is located on a 14.5km long lake created by a dam across the Hunyani River, where it flows through a ridge of ironstone hills which form the northern boundary. The lake supplies water to Harare. Fairly uniform topography with scattered granite kopjes and dolerite dyke intrusions. Soils are generally sandy. Water temperatures range from 14 to 27°C and the lake stratifies in summer.

Climate No information

Vegetation The typical Mashonaland highveld has four main plant communities. The woodland area is dominated by Brachystegia with msasa and mnondo wooded communities associated with the granite kopjes and numerous termitaria. The remaining area is mainly vlei grassland varying from generally dry to marshy. Heavy msasa scrub in the Game Park is affecting the grass cover. It is proposed to introduce a number of indigenous trees to the area, including Acacia species. Msasa veld is retained in its natural state in certain parts of the park and does not occur in other conservation areas in Zimbabwe. Dense algal blooms occur in the lake.

Fauna The Game Park contains: reedbuck Redunca arundinum, steenbuck Raphicerus campestris, duiker Sylvicapra grimmia, sable antelope Hippotragus niger, leopard Panthera pardus (T), olive baboon Papio sp. and other monkeys, buffalo Syncerus caffer, oribi Ourebia ourebi, and warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus. Introduced mammals include: giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis, zebra Equus burchelli, greater kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros, eland Taurotragus oryx, blue wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus, impala Aepyceros melampus, waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus and tsessebe Damaliscus lunatus, some of which have become well established. Crocodile are present. The 250 bird species include: ostrich Struthio camelus in the scrub; fork-tailed drongo Dicrurus adsimilis, northern grey tit Parus griseiventris, spotted creeper Salpornis spilonotus, blue-eared glossy starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus, white-throated robin chat Cossypha humeralis and Mashona fly-catcher Hyliota australis in the Brachyshegia woodland; and darters Anhinga rufa, cormorant Phalacrocorax sp., herons, egrets and ducks on the lake. At least 23 fish species have been recorded in the lake including: bream Tilapia spp., yellowfish Hydrocynus vittatus, barbel Clarias gariepinus, tigerfish Hydrocynus vittatus and Hunyani salmon Labeo altivelis.

Cultural Heritage Many Bushman paintings have been found in the area.

Local Human Population No information

Visitors and Visitor Facilities Lake McIlwaine is Harare's premier recreation park and tourism is encouraged with game viewing, water-sport facilities, tennis and croquet lawns, swimming pools, chalets, lodges, and caravan and campsites. Good sport fishing for tigerfish, bream, yellowfish, barbel and Hunyani salmon. Bilharzia and crocodile discourage swimming.

Scientific Research and Facilities An ornithologist is stationed permanently in the park studying, in particular, Quelea control, waterfowl and pesticide build-up in eggs of long-crested eagle Lophaetus occipitalis. The Zimbabwean Ornithological Society carries out ringing, feeding studies, and observations in the area. Fish research concentrates on production and management of sport fish stocks.

There are research stations in the park managed by the Parks and Wild Life Department with facilities including accommodation and laboratories. University field base for fish research.

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management Under the control of the Parks and Wild Life Department, but managed for recreation with fishing by licence

Most of the southern lakeshore is managed as a Game Park (1,600ha), though it is essentially an artificial park. A bird sanctuary is proposed on the northern lakeshore in an area containing a wide variety of natural and man-made habitats. The remainder of the north bank is set aside for visitor facilities.

There is a park policy document. There have been game introductions and programmes to control water hyacinth.

Management Constraints Tourist pressure is very high and this has some deleterious effects on the natural value of the area. Control of water-hyacinth in the lake is necessary and there have been problems of water pollution. Fish poaching is common.

Staff No information

Budget No information

Local Addresses

The Warden, Lake McIlwaine, P Bag 962, Norton.

References

None listed

Date 1983