Media Release
27 October
2008
For Immediate Release
RHINO INTRODUCTION GIVES DINOKENG BIG 5 GAME RESERVE PLANS MOMENTUM
RHINO introduction into the Dinokeng Game Reserve (DGR) recently made the Big 5 Game Reserve plans a reality.
With 88 land owners cooperating in dropping their fences to allow game to roam freely, Dinokeng Blue IQ Projects spearheaded the procurement and introduction of white rhino to the DGR. These white rhino, a R3 million investment, were captured last Friday from the Lower Sabie area of the Kruger National Park and transported to the 12 500 hectares DGR where they were successfully released.
White rhino were introduced into the northern area of the DGR five years ago and buffalo were also recently procured. The release of the buffalo is subject to the veterinary permits being issued.
Dinokeng is located in the north-eastern quadrant of the Gauteng province. Previously it had many game farms and some conservancies, belonging to individual land owners. With successful negotiations, land owners agreed to drop their fences and plans to link together these farms began. The inclusion of approximately 7 000 hectares of state-owned land for the expansion of the game reserve will further create important opportunities for BBBEE in the tourism sector.
Already plans to introduce elephants and lions in 2009 are underway and with the construction of the gateways this will soon become a reality.
Fana Jiyane, CEO of Dinokeng Blue IQ Project, said he was pleased that the negotiations had eventually paid off, “This is a milestone for the Project. The DGR area can ecologically sustain all species proposed for the Big Five game reserve as it consists of mixed bushveld and savanna,” explained Jiyane.
Dr Erich Fuls, Deputy Director of Dinokeng Blue IQ Project when asked why they were introducing white rhino said, “White rhino are good tourism species as they are more docile than black rhino. Their docile nature will also allow them to adapt more easily to the DGR environment that will be relatively densely populated. White rhino are also better than black rhino because of their preference for open habitats, which increases the likelihood of visitors seeing them. The size of the reserve will be adequate for the big 5 to roam freely.”
The release of the white rhino at the DGR was received well by the land owners and they regard it as a huge accomplishment. “We see this as an enormous achievement and are incredibly grateful to the Project,” said Jennie Stevens, Chairperson of the Land Owners Association.
The introduced animals will be monitored by the DGR Game Enterprise Ltd and the DGR Land Owners Association on an on-going basis and monitoring through research programs will also bring scientific value. As poaching is a serious continental threat to game reserves, a security program has been implemented to combat poaching.
Issued
by the Dinokeng Blue IQ Project of the
Gauteng Provincial Government.
For interviews with key
spokespeople, or for more information, please contact:
Dinokeng
Site Marketing Manager
Kgomotso
Phoofolo
Cell:
0829285700
E-mail: kgomotso.phoofolo@gauteng.gov.za
Issued
by the Dinokeng Press Office
Tel:
(011) 463 4643
Email:
dinokeng@prdynamics.co.za
For more information on
Dinokeng, visit www.dinokeng.co.za
Background
·
The Cradle of
Humankind World Heritage Site and Dinokeng are initiatives of the Gauteng
Provincial Government to establish geo-spatial tourism destinations in the
north- west and the north east of the province, close to the densely populated
metropolitan areas of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.
·
The Gauteng Provincial
Government through Blue IQ, it’s strategic economic investment programme, has
invested over R 250 million in roads and bulk infrastructure in the two
destinations in order to boost tourism development.
·
There are 574 tourism
attractions in the two destinations (a growth of over 400 new tourism
businesses since 2003 when the were only 163 tourism establishments)
·
The projects promote
economic growth and social upliftment, relieving the burden of poverty,
particularly for the historically disadvantaged communities living in and
around the two destinations.
·
Dinokeng is
an initiative of the Gauteng Provincial Government to establish a new tourist
destination in the north-east portion of the province, close to the
metropolitan areas of Joburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni with natural, cultural and
historical attractions. It also borders on the Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces
and has the potential to benefit those provinces as well.
·
Dinokeng is aimed at
boosting tourism development in the region, and to enable many South Africans
to experience tourism for the first time. Dinokeng means ‘a place of rivers’ as
it lies in the catchment area of the Olifants and Limpopo rivers.
·
Dinokeng is a Blue IQ
project that is successfully stimulating new private sector investments in
tourism business activity in the area
·
Blue IQ is a
multi-billion Rand initiative of the Gauteng Provincial Government to develop
strategic economic infrastructure for specific major projects in the province.
·
Dinokeng will therefore
promote economic growth and social upliftment, relieving the burden of poverty
on communities, particularly for the historically disadvantaged communities
living in the area
·
Three major tourism hubs
are being developed. These are Cullinan, Roodepaat Dam and the Dinokeng Game
reserve
·
The 13 000 hectare
start-up area of the Dinokeng Game reserve is situated on private and
state-owned land and will include Africa’s Big Five (elephant, lion, rhino,
leopard and buffalo)
·
The Dinokeng Big Five
Land Owners Association (LOA) is made up of all individuals whose land has been
offered for incorporation into the game reserve, constituting a Private Nature
Reserve which will apply for Protected Natural Environment status
·
The LOA has an EXCO that
manages its affairs and is governed by a constitution. The LOA is in the
process of establishing a Section 21 DGR Management Company that will employ up
to 34 full time staff to manage and operate the game reserve
·
The first phase of the
Dinokeng Game Reserve offers 268 catered bed nights as 18 sites (predominantly
event and conference venues but with approximately 100 beds available for
individual bookings); 160 beds for school groups in an adventure camp focusing
on environmental education and leadership development; 2 restaurants; day
visitor activities- game drives, elephant rides, horse riding, hiking, quad
biking, balloon rides and live music; cultural activities, township tours and
shebeen routes in adjacent communities
·
Dinokeng is
one of two geospatial tourism development of the projects of the Gauteng
Provincial Government. The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site in the north
west of Gauteng is the other