The History of SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL PARKS

Modern-day SANParks has a long and complex history dating over a century. Below is a timeline of the key events in the Organisation’s history.

1898

The establishment of (Precursor to the modern-day Kruger )

1926 1903

The formation of the National Parks Board The establishment of the Game Reserve

1926 1931

The merger of Sabie and Shingwedzi Game Reserves to Kalahari National Park is proclaimed form the (Precursor to modern-day Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park)

1931 1931

Bontebok National Park is proclaimed The proclamation of Addo National Park

1937 1963

Mountain National Park is proclaimed The proclamation of Golden Gate Highlands National Park

1966 1964

The proclamation of Augrabies Falls National Park Tsitsikamma National Park is proclaimed

1979 1985

Karoo National Park is proclaimed The proclamation of

1986 1986

Vaalbos National Park is proclaimed The proclamation of Tankwa National Park The park was de-proclaimed in 2002 due to a successful land claim being officially gazetted.

1987 1991

Wilderness National Park is proclaimed National Park is proclaimed as South ’s first contractual national park

1994 1994

Marakele National Park is proclaimed (originally as ’s first democratic elections Kransberg National Park)

1995 1998

The proclamation of Vhembe Dongola National Park Mavuso Msimang becomes the first black CEO of the (precursor to ) current SANParks

1998 1998

Evolution of National Parks Board into Cape Peninsula National Park proclaimed – renamed Table South African National Parks – which was Mountain National Park in 2003 later to start using the acronym SANParks, that we all know and use today.

1999 2000

Namaqua National Park is proclaimed Kalahari Gemsbok National Park (South Africa) and Gemsbok National Park () merged into a functional Transfrontier Park renamed Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

2004 2003

Vhembe Dongola renamed Mapungubwe National Park Ai-Ais Hot Springs and Fish River Canyon () and Richtersveld National Park merged into a functional transfrontier Park known as |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

2005 2007

Camdeboo National Park proclaimed evolving out of is established the Karoo (established in 1979)

2009

The Garden Route National Park is established by amalgamating the existing Tsitsikamma and Wilderness National Parks, the National Lake Area and various other areas of state-owned land, some of which is indigenous forest, and others mountain in catchment areas.