De Beers Group has donated the land it owns in the Namaqua National Park to the South African National Parks (Sanparks).
The 34 667 h of succulent Karoo between the Groen and Spoeg River has been managed by Sanparks as an extension of this park since 2008.
The donation of this unspoilt land commits this area to the national protected area network for the benefit of all South Africans in celebration of the Sanparks Week, which took place in September. In its 18th year, the week is aligned to De Beers’ sustainability pillar of protecting the natural world.
De Beers stated that the company believes in restoring and protecting biodiversity, and that it has the potential to unlock a range of sustainable benefits for society.
The incorporation of this land supported the protection of unique biodiversity within the succulent Karoo biome, the world’s only arid biodiversity hotspot, stated Moses Madondo, managing director of De Beers Managed Operations.
Since 2008 Sanparks has made several developments to the land, including employing 11 people and constructing 12 camp sites with environmentally friendly facilities, six staff houses, an office building, walkways, hiking trails, bird hides and ablutions, as well as upgrading the fence.
According to Northern Cape Tourism, during August and September one will find a multiplicity of colour across the valley that spills over to the sandy coastline of the park.
Throughout the year, walking can be enjoyed in the park, and with 3 500 plant species (of which a thousand are found nowhere else on earth) there is much to appreciate in this floral kingdom. Animals found here include leopards, caracals, springbok, porcupines, baboons, and jackals.
Seals and other sea creatures pass through the marine reserve section, while birders will be delighted with the variety of birds found.
