The South African, Mozambican and Zimbabwean ministers responsible for the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park held an encouraging meeting at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on Friday, said Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk on Sunday.
At the meeting the ministers discussed the progress that had been made in developing the 35 000 sq km trans-boundary park, which will eventually form the core of a trans-frontier conservation area of over 100 000 sq km — creating Africa’s largest animal kingdom.
The ministers agreed that the much-anticipated opening of the new Giriyondo Border Post between the Kruger National Park on the South African side and the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, will be among the most important regional conservation developments in recent times.
”In the light of this significance it was recommended that the border post should officially be opened by the heads of state, at a date to be determined by their availability, but possibly before the end of the year,” said Van Schalkwyk.
The new border post would, for the first time ever, ensure ease of tourist access within the park between South Africa and Mozambique.
Van Schalkwyk hosts nine of his Southern African counterparts at a meeting in Johannesburg on Monday, aimed at discussing a regional approach to unlock the tourism potential of Southern Africa’s transfrontier parks. – Sapa