Vaalbos/Winterhoek Timeline
Following our story earlier this week on the massive operation to translocate animals from the old Vaalbos National Park near Barkley West in the Northern Cape, to a new national park that will be established on a recently acquired piece of land called Wintershoek, south west of Kimberley, we've complied a brief timeline of the process...
• In November 1997 and December 1998 reports were received of a Land claim that would be lodged against Vaalbos by the Sidney on Vaal claimants.
• Taking the above into consideration, in July 1998 SANParks decided to investigate 5 possible alternative areas to replace Vaalbos. The report indicated Wintershoek in the Plooysburg area to be the best option.
• In May 1999 the University of Pretoria also did a similar exercise and their report also indicated same area.
• In November 2002 the Land Claim was officially gazetted.
• SANParks accepted the validity of the claim.
• In November 2004 the negotiation process with the land owners was officially launched.
• In November 2005 the land owners of Wintershoek accepted the offer and the planning regarding the exit strategies and the translocation of game started.
• The submission report was forwarded to Minister T. Didiza of Land affairs and was signed on 30 May 2006.
• The sales agreement was signed on 15 June 2006.
• SANParks took over the management of Wintershoek on 29 May 2006.
• The first animals from Vaalbos to Wintershoek were offloaded on 22 June 2006. (5 Giraffe)
• SANParks is planning to go operational on the new property as soon as possible.