Kimberley – The Mokala National Park in the Northern Cape has extended its borders as part of its expansion plan, which seeks to make the park more economically and socially sustainable.
According to the South African National Parks (SANParks), the park is now 2 7571 hectares after the fence cutting ceremony, which was held on Sunday in Kameeldoorns.
Mokala, which is the latest addition to the SANParks stable, has incorporated the neighbouring Kameeldoorns property to realise the expansion.
SANParks Chief Executive Officer David Mabunda said since 2000, SANParks has added some 55 8897 hectars to its national parks.
“We are very excited about the dropping of this fence, as it signifies the seriousness with regard to our mandate as SANParks of increasing the national conservation estate,” he said.
Mokala park is situated about 80km outside Kimberley. It also boasts an interpretative centre, which was officially opened by Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa today. The centre sheds light on the region’s history.
Mokala National Park was established in 2007 as an alternative to the Vaalbos National Park, which was the subject of a land claim.
The incorporation of Kameeldoorns into the park is the realisation of a commitment that SANParks made to the Northern Cape government at the time of the land claim.
Mokala National Park is home to a number of game species like eland, giraffe, roan sable, buffalo, gemsbok, red hartebeest and tsessebe, to name but a few.
SANParks has a mandate to conserve representative samples of South Africa’s different ecological landscapes, and the establishment of ecologically sustainable parks remains a priority. – SAnews.gov.za
