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2. CONTEXTUAL FRAMEWORKDISCLAIMERA reserve-by-reserve data gathering exercise (which excluded the ground truthing of the data collected) was undertaken by NCC EnvironmentalServices (Pty) Ltd. (NCC) during the initial phases of this project with the aim of collecting, collating and reviewing contextual reserveinformation that would inform the reserve management planning process. The outcome of this exercise was, however, not ideal: Very littleinformation in the form of scientific reports and/or data was made available to NCC during this process.A second attempt was made by NCC to source useful information via a Gap Analysis prepared for LEDET and LTA Directorates to feedback on.Limited feedback was received by NCC in this regard. A Third and final attempt via the appointment of a local specialist to source, and assessthe suitability of a number of old, archived reports - held at the Management Authority’s head office - for inclusion in the reserve managementplanning process. Most of the reports in question were, however, found to be outdated and stored in a state of disarray, resulting in a decisionnot to include this information in the relevant reserve management plans.The following additional step was taken by NCC to counteract the lack of information received from the Management Authority: A thoroughstakeholder engagement process, with a strong reliance on the Management Authority for assistance with the identification of potentialinterested and/or affected parties, was conducted with the aim of providing an opportunity to stakeholders to give input into the reservemanagement planning process and provide NCC with suitable scientifically based information and/or reports.2.1 LocationThe Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (LRNR) is located in the Mopani District of Limpopo Province, SouthAfrica and is situated approximately 170 km to the east of Polokwane and 10 km to the north ofPhalaborwa (Figure 2). The reserve can be accessed via three different routes: Along the Giyani-Lulekani road (R351) to the northern entrance gate of the reserve; along the Letsitele-Letaba Ranchroad, off the R71, to the western entrance gate; and from Phalaborwa, off the R71, through Lulekani tothe southern entrance gate of the reserve.The LRNR is situated along the western boundary of the Kruger National Park (KNP), to the north of thePhalaborwa Gate, and forms part of the Greater Kruger Park Conservation Area. The LRNR also formspart of the African Ivory Route. The Mthimkhulu Nature Reserve, which covers an area of 6 349 ha andis situated to the north of the Groot Letaba River, is incorporated into the LRNR.The north-western boundary of the reserve borders the settlement areas of the Makhuba region of theMopani District and the western and south-western reserve boundaries border the Lulekani and Majejeregions of the Mopani District.The LRNR covers a total area of 42 000 ha, making it the largest of all the provincial nature reservescurrently managed by LEDET. The LRNR is located on portions of the following properties: Machet No. 4LU, Mbaula Ranch No. 6 LU, Belasting No. 7 LU, Leeukop No. 10 LU, Baderoukwe 11 LU, Ndole No. 12LU, Sable No. 13 LU, Genoeg No. 15 LU and Letaba Ranch No. 17 LU (Figure 3).2.2 Legal statusThe LRNR was proclaimed as a game reserve and native flora reserve, known as the Rondalia-LetabaPrivate Nature Reserve, through Notice No. 392 of the Transvaal Official Gazette Extraordinary No. 195(3186) of 15 December 1965 in terms of Section 11 of the Transvaal Game Ordinance, 1949 (OrdinanceNo. 23 of 1949), and Section 2 of the Transvaal Native Flora Protection Ordinance, 1940 (Ordinance No.9 of 1940). The area was subsequently de-proclaimed as a reserve, effective from 1 September 1975,through Notice No. 1716 of 1 October 1975 in terms of Section 3 of the Transvaal Nature ConservationOrdinance, 1967 (Ordinance No. 17 of 1967).Reserve Management Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 19