South Africa announces Maropeng, a 'World Class' prehistory theme park South Africa

Submitted by Andy B on Wednesday, 28 September 2005 Page Views: 11327

Country: South Africa United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and several world leaders have been invited for a journey into the mists of antiquity as a prehistoric World Heritage Site opens its multi-million pound Heritage Centre. No, not to Stonehenge (not likely) but South Africa. The occasion is the December opening ceremony of a multimillion-rand tourism development which is taking shape in the foothills of the Magaliesberg mountains, north of Johannesburg.

Annan, TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey, several heads of state and a number of Nobel prize winners are expected to be among the first visitors to undertake a simulated four billion-year boat journey through time, sailing past icebergs, volcanoes and the earth-splitting cataclysm which tore apart the world's five continents.

Known as Maropeng - a Setswana phrase for "the place where we once lived" - the ancient heritage theme park development will be opened officially by President Thabo Mbeki on December 2 to coincide with the sixth anniversary of the Cradle of Humankind world heritage site.

Maropeng forms the centrepiece of a R347-million public-private development project which is intended to transform the 47 000 hectare heritage site into a world-class tourism attraction catering for up to a million visitors a year.

From afar, the development is designed to resemble a giant tumulus (burial mound) which conceals a modern exhibition centre, an underground lake, a hotel and a conference centre. Several gigantic Stonehenge-type pillars - symbolic of the "Seven Daughters of Eve" will also be erected near the entrance to Maropeng, which is 45 minutes' drive from Johannesburg.

Of the total development costs, R147-million (£13 million) is being spent on the Maropeng centre, about R20 million to upgrade visitor facilities next to the Sterkfontein caves, about 10km away, and a further R178-million (£15.7 million) to create infrastructure services such as roads, water and electricity and fossil site management plans.

"Maropeng is designed to be a very emotive experience - but it is not an African Disneyworld," said Chrissi Drunk, the Brand Manager of Maropeng a'Afrika Leisure.

"We are trying to entertain people about a serious subject, while avoiding what could have been a rather dry and scientific museum exhibit."

Expert scientists, including staff from the University of the Witwatersrand, have been closely involved in compiling the storyline which guides the narrative of humanity's earliest progenitors.

"The development is not only part of our national pride, but it also denotes the universal significance of the Cradle of Humankind as the ancestral home to all - regardless of colour, race or creed," said Rob King, the Chief Executive of Maropeng a'Afrika.

They don't have a web site at the moment, although something is possibly underway at www.maropeng.co.za. There are more details here and here.

Contributor Bio for Andy B: Megalithic Portal Founding Editor.

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