Historical Context of Research in Maputaland, South Africa, and Research in Ndumo Game Reserve to C. 1988

This paper provides an overview of historical natural history interest in the Maputaland region of South Africa, as context for an account of the history of research in the Ndumo Game Reserve to c. 1988. It draws on archival sources and printed publications from the pre-digital era, which are often unexplored by contemporary researchers, and includes arguments in favour of their preservation and digitization. Aspects of the history of the region relevant to research in the game reserve, which have impacted on the game reserve, are provided. These include veterinary and medical research and interventions, notably concerning tsetse flies and nagana, and malaria and arthropod-borne disease research in the reserve. Alternative visions for the region, including the building of the Pongolapoort Dam and associated irrigation schemes intended to establish commercial agriculture, are noted, with consideration of their social and ecological impacts. Early natural history explorations and conservation initiatives are discussed, as well as the period of management under the Natal Parks Board (1947–88). Key findings of the landmark publication Studies on the ecology of Maputaland are reviewed. Although some human dimensions are included, the emphasis is on the natural sciences, with social science and humanities research noted in passing. The paper concludes with reflections on the utility of these materials for current and future research at Ndumo Game Reserve