A new viewing platform, offering a panoramic view from Camdeboo National Park’s Valley of Desolation has been opened.
The opening of the platform, valued at R250 000, took place on Tuesday, May 10.
The project, as well as the upgrading of the ablution facilities, was funded by the SanParks honorary rangers and managed by GRANAAT, a club that has been providing support to Camdeboo National Park for the past 20 years.
Local contractors were used and engineering inputs were provided at no cost by SCIP Engineering Group.
Fayroush Ludick, regional communication manager for SanParks Frontier Communication, said Camdeboo National Parks are now one step closer to universal access to the Valley of Desolation.
“The panoramic view from the Valley of Desolation is the major tourist drawcard to the quaint Karoo town of Graaff-Reinet.
“With an ever-increasing number of elderly and mobility-impaired visitors over the years, the need arose to provide universal access to the world-renowned lookout point, along with supporting ablution facilities and a new viewing platform,” Ludick added.
She said GRANAAT is working tirelessly to secure funds for the construction of a 250m access pathway from the parking lot to the new viewing platform, which will see their dream of a fully accessible Valley of Desolation realised.
The estimated cost to build the pathway is R1 million.
At the May 10 ceremony, Professor Bruce Rubidge, a palaeontological researcher of fossils and sedimentary rocks in the Karoo, said Graaff-Reinet is the gem of the Karoo.
He gave an overview of fossils and the forming of rocks, as far as 300 million years back.
“This is our backyard,” local tour guide, Chantelle Marais, said.
Andrew Riley, general manager of parks coordination, said for the last 24 months, SanParks struggled due to the impact of COVID-19.
“At one stage, international visitors dropped by 95%. It will take us three to four years to recover. This beautiful project will play a great part in our recovery process.”