It may be one of South Africa’s lesser-known parks, but Mokala National Park, just 80km from Kimberley, is a hidden gem offering rich wildlife diversity and stunning scenic beauty.
Members of the Honorary Rangers Diamantveld Region decided to organise a family fun day on 27 September to raise awareness of the park and educate young people about conservation. The event coincided with Open Parks Week, with activities designed for the entire family, including educational displays, demonstrations, guided tours of the Interpretation Centre, and a tree-tagging “treasure hunt”. Members turned out in force to instil a love for nature and Mokala.
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“The future of conservation lies in the hands of the youth, and parents need to understand conservation to teach their children,” remarked Hestia Swanepoel of the Honorary Rangers Diamantveld Region.
She explained that several months ago, some members began developing the idea of creating family-friendly activities in Mokala. After discussing and refining various concepts, the family fun day was born.
On the day, members were stationed at different points throughout the park to engage with visitors.
Lood and Sonja welcomed guests at Lilydale Rest Camp, handing out cupcakes and sweets whilst sharing information about Mokala. At Kameeldoring Picnic Spot, Hannes and Gawie challenged visitors to guess the length of antelope horns, teaching them about scientific horn measurement techniques.
Chrissie and Margaret were stationed at the bird hide, armed with animal skin cut-outs and bird identification books to educate visitors. Marie guided guests through the Interpretation Centre, sharing the fascinating history of Mokala and the surrounding area.
Meanwhile, Pieter and Miguel were stationed at the Matopi Picnic Site, whilst Mathilda and Hestia hosted activities at Mosu Rest Camp. There, visitors embarked on a tree-identification challenge, trying to spot all the tagged trees, with help of information about Mokala’s flora and seed samples.
Unfortunately, rainy weather meant fewer visitors than usual, particularly at the picnic spots. However, this allowed members to conduct additional patrols throughout the park.
“It was fantastic being there as a group of 11 members,” said Swanepoel. “At every station, our volunteers shared extensive information with guests, and visitors returned to tell us they’d learnt new things and found all the SANParks Honorary Rangers of Diamantveld incredibly friendly.”
