Eastern Cape game parks are benefitting from upgrades and renovations and are seeing sharp increases in visitor numbers.
Eastern Cape game parks are benefitting from upgrades and renovations and are seeing sharp increases in visitor numbers.
The Mountain Zebra National Park, situated near Cradock in the Eastern Cape, recently celebrated the official opening of a newly upgraded entrance gate and the complete renovation of its tourist roads.
The project was completed in just over a year, involving the upgrade of 42.7 km of existing gravel roads and the construction of 13.4 km of new roads. “Visitors can now explore all areas of the park for wildlife viewing on roads suitable for all vehicle types, “ said Lucius Moolman, SANParks regional manager, as he officially opened the roads.
Moolman added that the new 13.4 km road provided an important link between the Ubejane and Rooiplaat Loops, making travelling around the park easier. The road upgrade project, funded by the Department of Environmental Affairs’ Infrastructure Development Programme saw 40 local people being employed with a stipend of R11-million.
Sasol provided funds at a crucial stage of the development to purchase a property that was on the market. This donation, along with other donations and fundraising initiatives initiated by SANParks and the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, helped to increase the park size from 6 536 hectares to over 28 000 hectares.
Visitor numbers have increased by a massive 40% and occupancy rate has increased from 61% to 70% for the first six months of the financial year. This expansion facilitated the reintroduction of species such as buffalo, cheetah and brown hyena and assured the conservation of the endangered Cape mountain zebra, which now numbered as being over 500.
Meanwhile, the Karoo National Park, situated near Beaufort West, celebrated its 30th anniversary at the end of October with the announcement that lions would be introduced to the park in 2010.
Speaking on behalf of South African National Parks (SANParks) executive management, Dr Nomvuselelo Songelwa said “The introduction of lions will bring back a historically-occurring species to the Great Karoo ecosystem.”
Mzwandile Mjadu, Karoo National Park Manager, expanded on the major developments and achievements in the park over the 30 years of its existence.
Highlights included the opening of the park’s rest camp in 1989, the opening of SANParks first-ever 4×4 trail in 1992 and the opening of the first Braille fossil trail in the world in 1994.
