Pre-20th century In the 19th century, local residents began to encounter other groups of people in Africa, mainly commercial hunters. For a time, the hunters and settlers were able to coexist through trades of ivory and skin. However, these relations began to deteriorate with the increase of
sport hunting and the introduction of land policies in the late 1890s.
Colonial expansion Beginning in 1871, colonists sold land to cattle farmers as a means to expand their control of the area.
Establishment to present day In 1969, the base was established after the forced removal of villages in the area. During this time, the base served under the
South African Defence Force as one of the country's protective barriers from attacks by neighboring countries. Additionally, in 1992, the corridor was designated as the Matshakatini Nature Reserve. Beginning in 1994, at the end of South Africa's
apartheid government, actions were taken to move relocated villages back to the corridor. == Climate ==