CRADOCK’S Mountain Zebra National Park is celebrating a phenomenally successful R11-million project to renovate and expand infrastructure.

The project involved the renovation of 43km of existing gravel roads and the construction of a new 13km road.

It seems to have been money well spent because tourist occupancy had risen 9% this year over last year and visitor figures had jumped 40%, SANParks said.

Speaking at a ceremony at the park, SANParks regional manager Lucius Moolman said the new road created a key link between the Ubejane and Rooiplaat loops, making travelling around the park easier.

“The successful completion of this project has now made it possible for visitors to explore all areas of the park on roads suitable for all vehicle types.”

The road renovation aspect of the project was funded by the national environment department’s infrastructure development programme and 40 local people were employed to do the work.

Former Sasol chairman Dr Paul du Plessis Kruger officially opened the park’s renovated entrance gate in recognition of the company’s contribution to the expansion of the park.

Sasol provided funds at a crucial stage of park development to purchase a farm 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 size of the park from 6536ha to more than 28000ha.

Organisations like the Barbara Delano Foundation, WildAid and Vesta Medicines had also played an important role in this growth, said SANParks regional spokesman Megan Taplin.

“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 number more than 500 in the park.”

Park manager Lesley-Ann Meyer said the renovations to infrastructure had already succeeded in increasing day and overnight visitor numbers.

“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.”

Moolman also announced that the mooted plan to link the Mountain Zebra National Park to the Camdeboo National Park in Graaff-Reinet, to form a mega- conservation area of about 300000ha, had now been officially declared by SANParks.

“These plans envisaged a linkage formed through contractual agreements with private game reserves and landowners, some of whom have already expressed interest in the idea.”