New centre will celebrate Africa’s ancient history, highlighting one of the world’s oldest known dinosaur embryos ever discovered
As part of efforts to diversify South Africa’s tourism offerings and to boost rural tourism, South African Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has inaugurated a dinosaur interpretation centre in the Free State, a province in central part of the country.
In a press statement, the tourism authority of Free State says that the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre will provide a state-of-the-art visitor experience and is located within the breathtaking landscapes of the Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
The statement adds that the centre has been set up as part of a collaborative effort involving the Department of Tourism, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE), South African National Parks or SANParks and the Free State provincial government.
The centre has been set up with a total investment of ZAR 120 million (USD 6.64 million) and which has been funded by the European Union through the South African National Treasury. The tourism authority says that the centre represents a significant step forward in the country’s mission to create inclusive, educational and globally compelling tourism experiences.
The statement adds that new centre will celebrate Africa’s ancient history, highlighting one of the world’s oldest known dinosaur embryos ever discovered.
With interactive exhibitions that blend palaeontology, archaeology, geology and cultural heritage, the centre aims to awaken curiosity and delight in visitors of all ages.
According to the statement, the BaSotho people and their ancestors have inhabited and explored this eastern Free State landscape for centuries. Through their deep connection with the land, early BaSotho communities discovered fossil bones and footprints of unknown creatures, it adds.
They imagined that these bones and footprints belonged to a mythical beast called “Kgodumodomo” and created stories about them that continue to feature in BaSotho mythology today, says Free State government.
Patricia de Lille
De Lille says that the centre is part of the government’s plans to diversify tourism nationwide so that all parts of the country can benefit from tourism industry’s growth. “We will be able to attract more visitors to the Free State province, which is one of the less-visited provinces,” says de Lille.
She also emphasises the importance of making the centre accessible to young people, allowing them to learn about South Africa’s history and its ancestors and that it is important for the centre remains affordable for South Africans.
“I am in discussion with SANParks about the pricing structure, and even if there is some income, it must be affordable. We have a very high cost of living, and we must consider all of these factors when deciding on the entry fee,” she says.
“This centre is a symbol of what we mean when we say, Come Find Your Joy in South Africa. Whether your joy is sparked by science, nature, culture or connection, the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre is an experience that brings it all together in a way that is locally rooted and globally inspiring,” says de Lille.
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