Historic lion release in the Karoo National Park

Posted on 13 November 2010

You shouldn’t go to the Karoo National Park just to see the lions. In fact, if you do go, you shouldn’t only be going for the game viewing at all. The vastness of the landscape and its unique vegetation lends itself to other fascinating activities which make the park such a great destination.

On the 10th November, eight lions were transferred from Addo Elephant Park in the Eastern Cape to the 90 000 hectare Karoo NP; two regal Kalahari black-maned males, two feisty females and four of their cubs. The lions were released from the boma in the Karoo NP on Wednesday afternoon, becoming the first wild, free-ranging lions in the Great Karoo after an absence of 170 years.

The Addo lions were originally introduced from the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park stock, chosen for their disease-free status and genetic similarity to the Cape lions which would historically have occurred in the area. These lions are truly magnificent to look at.

The park is well known for its dramatic landscape, ecological and cultural history and its hiking and 4×4 trails. Some people say that park authorities shouldn’t have brought the lions in as it limits the hiking activities that made the park unique and so popular among tourists. Others, like SANParks officials, decided that introducing lions to the park would hopefully restore the natural functioning of the predator-prey balance of the ecosystem as well as ensuring that all the historically-occurring species are conserved in the park once again.

Prior to the release of the lions, the restcamp area, reception complex, camping ground, swimming pool and popular fossil trail were fenced in with low-level electrified fencing. This ensures that the visitors can still walk between the accommodation and facilities. For all those who were sad to have lost their free-roaming human privileges, guided hikes such as the Pointer and Bossie Trails will be run at no extra cost, departing at various times of the day.






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