Maria Moroka Nature Reserve

Maria Moroka National Park is named after Chieftainess Maria Moipone Moroka of the Barolong Tribe in Thaba Nchu.{{cite web |url=https://www.sa-venues.com/game-reserves/fs_maria-moroka.htm |title=Maria Moroka Game Reserve, Free State |website=www.sa-venues.com |access-date=13 January 2018}} The national park is near Thaba Nchu in the Mangaung District of the Free State Province, South Africa.{{Cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216025723/https://nrs.dst.gov.za/communities/explore/promo/8 |archivedate=16 Feb 2018 |title=Thaba Nchu promotional information |url=https://nrs.dst.gov.za/communities/explore/promo/8}} The park perimeter surrounds the Moutloatse Setlogelo Dam (previously known as the Groothoek Dam) which is a popular angling area.{{cite web |url=https://www.sa-venues.com/game-reserves/fs_maria-moroka.htm |title=Maria Moroka Game Reserve, Free State |website=www.sa-venues.com |access-date=13 January 2018}} The Thaba Nchu (Tswana for "Black Mountain") mountain range is to the north of the national park.

Climate

The national park comprises grassland vegetation. The area is a summer rainfall region with most rain falling between November and March. The winter season between May and August is clear although temperatures can drop to below freezing at night. Frost are frequent in the winter and snowfall occasionally occurs in the mountainous regions.{{Cite web |website=soer.deat.gov.za |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527142331/http://soer.deat.gov.za/dm_documents/Chapter_5_-_Biodiversity_and_Ecosystem_health_cwsIR.pdf |archivedate=27 May 2016 |title=Biodiversity And Ecosystem Health |url=http://soer.deat.gov.za/dm_documents/Chapter_5_-_Biodiversity_and_Ecosystem_health_cwsIR.pdf}}

Wildlife

The animals found in the reserve include several species of mammals such as Burchell's zebra, black wildebeest, eland, springbok, blesbok, red hartebeest, jackals, vultures and white rhinos. There are also more than 100 different bird species including many water fowl species which frequent the Montloatse Setlogelo Dam. The blue crane also frequents the reserve.{{cite web |url=https://www.places.co.za/html/moroka.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010306143016/https://www.places.co.za/html/moroka.html |archivedate=6 Mar 2001 |title=Maria Moroka Park |website=www.places.co.za}}File:Thaba Nchu Rural, Thaba Nchu, 9780, South Africa - panoramio (2).jpg

Activities

There is a 9 km hiking trail to the Thaba Nchu mountain. Other activities include braai facilities, picnic areas, wildlife day tours, tennis, mini golf, cabaret shows, and angling.

External links

{{Cite web |website=soer.deat.gov.za |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527142331/http://soer.deat.gov.za/dm_documents/Chapter_5_-_Biodiversity_and_Ecosystem_health_cwsIR.pdf |archivedate=27 May 2016 |title=Biodiversity And Ecosystem Health |url=http://soer.deat.gov.za/dm_documents/Chapter_5_-_Biodiversity_and_Ecosystem_health_cwsIR.pdf}}

References

Category:Nature reserves in South Africa

Category:Protected areas of the Free State (province)