RUSTENBURG HERALD - KGASWANE - Nature enthusiasts in the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality will be all too aware that the popular Mahala Week is currently being observed in a deserving initiative by the North West Parks & Tourism Board in order to promote a number of objectives by NWPTB.
Mahala Week as it is known, entails free entry for all visitors during normal visiting hours for the week 15 to 22 September and hopes to involve North West and Bojanala communities to become increasingly involved in celebrating and promoting the true essence of South Africa’s heritage during the appropriately dubbed Heritage month of September.
Parks Mahala aims to create and promote tourism in the Bojanala District - perhaps the single area in North West Province best known for its unsurpassed tourism potential amongst countless of visitors flocking to the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, Sun City and surrounding developments, game ranches, lodges and the like - all with the focus on nature, tourism and an awareness of our heritage.
Though a specific week has been designated for Mahala Week (15 - 22 September) South Africans are encouraged to visit their favourite nature resorts, parks, reserves and ranches as often as possible also during the remaining 11 months of the year in order to achieve what Mahala Week has envisaged. The Bojanala Platinum District Municipality is privileged to call no less than four Key Economic Development Parks “its own” within the area, namely Kgaswane Mountain Nature Reserve, the Vaalkop Dam Nature Reserve, Borakalalo and the Pilanesberg National Park. The importance of tourism and the “cultivation” of our heritage is underscored by the fact that no less than 14 parks are managed by the NW Parks & Tourism Board.
In terms of Economic development and conservation, it is crucial that international and local visitors and the people of North West understand the role of Parks Management in the province. People should know why these areas exist and all communities should indeed take ownership of these facilities. Our children should be taught about the value of parks and tourism facilities, how to take care of our heritage, how to properly manage and sustain these facilities, how to fight arson (veld fires are a major problem almost every winter) and that pollution is one of the main concerns threatening the feasibility of most of these resorts. Did you know for instance that empty bottles thrown from vehicles are the main causes of veld fires which causes a lot of strain and hard work on personnel of NWPTB?
In terms of “local”, Kgaswane Mountain Nature Reserve is very special indeed and is not only unmatched in beauty with breathtaking views and scenes, but also listed as an important “ramsar” (wetlands of international importance) water catchment area.
Kgaswane Mountain Reserve is a 4 600 ha area of grassy wetlands, rocky outcorps and walkways, an abundance of wildlife and plants and was named after Kgosi Kgaswane, a former Tswana Chief of days gone by. The reserve boasts several 2 and 5 km hiking trials with overnight facilities (groups of 25 or 19: pre-bookings are essential), a cottage which sleeps eight, a number of waterfalls, a group camp which is currently undergoing renovation, conference facilities, 21 camp sites and picnic areas. The reserve is super popular among nature enthusiasts, bird clubs, cyclists, and is also famous for its annual Sunset to Sunrise Women’s Walk.
