For some time now, rumours have been circulating regarding a proposed “conservation corridor” that would join Pilanesberg National Park with the nearby Madikwe Game Reserve, allowing a bigger migration space for animals and creating a prime combined eco-tourism destination. It has been said that this would be a 20-year project culminating in linking up with Limpopo Province and Botswana.
Madikwe is the fourth largest game reserve in South Africa, covering over 60,000 hectares, and has the country’s second largest elephant population, as well as an abundance of all South Africa’s other ‘usual suspects’. Madikwe is roughly 75kms from Pilanesberg as the crow flies.
The proposed corridor follows a new Open Africa tourist route, the Segarona Heritage Experience, which was launched in 2012. This new route runs between Pilanesberg and Madikwe, and includes the Bakgatla tribal lands, and the towns of Derdepoort, Zeerust and Groot Marico (and many others). The rural villages connected by this route offer insight into the struggle history of South Africa and the cultural heritage of the many African clans who still live in the area.
The aim is to introduce the traveller to the cultural attractions through interaction with people and local guides.
However, the proposed new “conservation corridor” development ran into trouble in early 2013 due to bureaucratic issues. The Federation for a Sustainable Environment (FSE) alleged that the corridor would no longer be viable due to the extent of mining activities by Platmin — and other miners — in the area.
But almost a year and a half on talk of the proposal going ahead continues to circulate widely. So watch this space!
