The Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) is set to become the third-largest national park in the country, according to South African National Parks (SANParks).
The AENP’s new southern access road was officially opened by Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk on Tuesday, coinciding with the park’s 75th-anniversary celebrations.
The southern access road links the new gate at the AENP’s Camp Matyholweni, near the town of Colchester on the N2, to the existing tourist roads in the park.
SANParks chief executive David Mabunda said the new road is yet another achievement in the expansion and development of the AENP.
”Through new land incorporated into the park, it has grown to one of the most biologically diverse protected areas in the country.
”The [park] has been transformed from an area proclaimed for the conservation of a single species to one conserving the unique biodiversity of the Eastern Cape, while providing real benefits for local communities and stakeholders,” he said.
The park stretches from the Karoo near Somerset East to the coastal areas between Sunday’s River Mouth and Bushman’s River Mouth. It includes the Bird and St Croix Islands group in Algoa Bay, incorporating a vital marine component.
Five of South Africa’s seven biomes — or major vegetation types with associated animal species — are conserved within the park, creating myriad habitats for wildlife, landscapes and experiences.
Park manager Lucius Moolman said the AENP has grown from just more than 2 000ha when proclaimed in 1931 to 164 000ha today.
It has shown tremendous growth in tourism, attracting more than 140 000 visitors yearly and acting as a tourism hub for the region.
Plans for the future include an expansion goal of 236 000ha of terrestrial conservation area, with a proposed associated 120 000ha marine protected area (MPA) in Algoa Bay.
Plans for the proposed MPA will first be subjected to a rigorous public participation process to ensure concerns of local communities and stakeholders are taken into account.
Once expansion is complete, the Addo Elephant National Park will be the third largest of South Africa’s national parks with an unequalled offering of biodiversity and experiences.
Van Schalkwyk said the new road was constructed with a R33-million departmental poverty-relief grant, creating employment opportunities for local community members.
The community of Colchester will continue to benefit from the development, due to the influx of tourists through the southern access road. — Sapa