This lookout is situated at the start of the Lebombo Mountain Range which is a long, narrow mountain range in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. It is about 800 km long and consists of volcanic rocks. The name is derived from a Zulu word, Ubombo, that means “big nose.” In South Africa the mountains extend from south of the Mkuze River in KwaZulu-Natal north into Kruger National Park. It can be found NW of Letaba Camp on the northern bank of the Letaba River.
Here you will encounter east dipping reddish rhyolites of the Jozini Formation, which forms the basis of the Lebombo Mountain Range. These rhyolites, together with the underlying basalt make up the Lebombo Group. The Lebombo Mountains form the boundary between the province of KwaZulu-Natal, and Swaziland, between Swaziland and Mozambique, and between Mozambique and the South African provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, extending north of the Olifants River. The average elevation of the range is about 600 metres above sea level. Mount Mananga, on the border between Mpumalanga province and Swaziland, rises to about 760 metres.
A number of rivers, including the eastward-flowing Mkuze, Olifants, Pongola, Ngwavuma and Usutu, as well as the south flowing Letaba are impacted by the Lebombo Mountains. The vegetation on the range is mostly tropical forest and savanna, with ironwood and ebony on the better-drained slopes. In the narrow ravines, tree growth is dense and includes the large khoya tree, which resembles mahogany.
The Engelhard Dam is a large concrete weir in the Letaba River, east of the Letaba Restcamp, and is named for an American millionaire businessman, Charles Engelhard, who donated funds to the National Parks Board for its construction. He became involved in South African mining industry and died during a medical operation in New York.
It's possible to get out of your car here at the given co-ordinates and the view down to the large concrete Engelhard Dam is impressive. A closer view of the dam can be had at the bottom of the hill but the size is better observed from the lookout point.
Remember that it is neither SAFE nor LEGAL to get out of your vehicle at any point in the Park unless specifically authorized to do so.
The dam is not only an important reservoir for water for the diverse fauna of the area [a very good birding area] but more recently is being upgraded to act as an important flood control mechanism for the lower reaches of the Letaba River. This after the devastating floods that have occurred in recent years. The upgrade will also include a fish ladder for migrating fish swimming upstream to breed.
In order to qualify to log this cache, you need to answer the following questions and e-mail the cache owner at cincolcc(at)gmail.com Any logs not accompanied by an e-mail will be deleted.
1) Take a photo of you and your GPSr at this spot with the signboard and the dam in the background - optional.
2) How does a weir [dam] affect :-
a. Silting in the river?
b. Flood control?
3) How does a fish ladder work?
4) Explain how the construction of the weir has influenced the surrounding area.
FTF goes to - De Kokopelli's
