Kalahari Gemsbok National Park – 1931 to 2006
18 September 2006
On 19 September this year SANParks will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park (currently known as Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park), which was proclaimed on 3 July 1931. This pristine ecosystem with its rust-red sand dunes, dry riverbeds and sparse vegetation gives sanctuary to 58 mammal, 55 reptile and 300 species of birds. |
The Park owes its existence to the concern shown by locals over the increasing slaughter of wild animals that was taking place in the area in the early 1900s. Mr Piet Grobler, the Minister of Lands, was attributed with initiating the idea of a park and, mainly because of it being so remote, its existence has never really been threatened, neither by poachers nor by World War II.
Through the dedication of the Huguenot family, the Le Riche’s, it was protected and nurtured for generations. One of the earliest traders and pioneers in the area was Christoffel Le Riche. His son, Johannes, was the Park warden appointed when the Park was first established. He tackled the Kalahari wilderness with just one assistant, Gert Jannewarie, and a donkey-cart. In spite of difficulties, they made good progress. Unfortunately in 1934 they both succumbed to malaria. A few days later, Johannes’ brother, Joep, took over the running of the Park. Every park warden since then, until 1994, has been a Le Riche, as the job was passed on from brother to brother and from father to son.
The Botswana Gemsbok National Park was proclaimed in 1938 by what was then called Bechuanaland. Mabuasehube Game Reserve was added in 1971 and was incorporated into the Gemsbok National Park in 1992. The present day Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a result of the historic 1999 unification of South Africa’s Kalahari Gemsbok National Park and Botswana’s Gemsbok National Park. It was officially opened on 12 May 2000. This is the first formally declared transfrontier park in Africa.
The size of the Park today is quite overwhelming. The South African side of the Park comprises 9 591 km2, with a further 28 400 km2 on the Botswana side. This means that the Park is almost twice as large as the Kruger National Park, making it one of the largest National Parks in the world. The Nossob riverbed meanders through both countries, symbolic of the natural ‘oneness’ of the two parks. The two conservation areas encompass two of the three Kalahari eco-types. The south-western part comprises duneveld, with its unique semi-desert vegetation, and the north-eastern part comprises Kalahari plains thornveld. The area also incorporates salt pans that play an important role in the grazing and life patterns of the game.
Progress and growth have accelerated in the 21st century and amongst the achievements was the was the restoration of over 58 000ha of land from the park to the Khoisan, Khomani San and Mier Heritage communities in 2001. The completion of six new wilderness camps, Bitterpan, Grootkolk, Kalahari Tented Camp, Kielie Krankie, Urikaruus and Gharagab in 2003 and 2004 opened up a new era of stylish, unfenced and more upmarket accommodation in the Park. The 3 main rest camps, Twee Rivieren, Nossob and Mata-Mata were also upgraded over a similar time period.
For more information telephone South African Parks call centre on 012 428 9111 or contact the park on 054 561 2000. The web address for SANParks is
http://www.sanparks.org.
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