eritage
Park Walk 2005
Wild With Opportunity
The third since 2003. The North West Parks and Tourism Board in partnership with the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality (BPDM) staged the 2005 Heritage Park Walk from the 18th to 22nd of August 2005.
The 2005 Heritage Park Walk commenced in Madikwe Game Reserve and ended in Pilanesberg National Park. The five-night-four-day event began with an overnight camp in Dwarsberg, the initial assembly point for all participating walkers, officials and the support team.
When the morning of Friday, 19th August broke, over 150 walkers were on site. By 08h00 everyone had gone through the routine of early breakfast, registration, collection of branded Heritage Park Walk bush jackets and other promotional materials afforded them. By 07h30 they had been briefed on the route, do’s and dont’s and on other important items on the checklist. All looking fit and well the Walkers Team departed from Dwarsberg for Madikwe Game Reserve’s Molatedi Gate to be transported to the starting point inside of the reserve.
The walkers were met at the start point by the Chairperson of the Heritage Park Steering Committee, Mr Gabriel Mokgoko joined by the Executive Mayor of BPDM, Mrs Getrude Tema and Kgosi Matlapeng of Molatedi Village.
Their onus? To give words of appreciation, encouragement and official launch. And if the environment had allowed it, would have been followed by the ribbon cutting ceremony at the start point of what was to be a long 110km Walk in the wilderness.
Through experience, some walked fast, some at a moderate pace and others just took their time. There was no sign of walkers until late afternoon. The first batch of walkers started appearing back at the camp after 17h00… in much smaller groupings, in drip and drabs, some panting, limping from pinching shoes and blisters – with the last batch arriving much later than 18h00. The mutual aim was not about winning, but the triumph of the human spirit to finish the Heritage Park Walk. By the end of the first day, walkers had exceeded the scheduled 30km walk by 8km according to the GPS reading!
As the walk progressed towards Pilanesberg National Park, moving camps in the next three days became the order of the day. Making good of very challenging situations. Walkers covered the following distances: Day two 28km; Day three 34km and Day four 15km. Thus moving from Dswarsberg – Greater Lebatlane – Lesetlheng Village close to Pilanesberg. The final lap was taken from Pilanesberg’s Bakgatla Gate, cutting through the park, winding up the Pilanesberg Mountains and ending at the Mphebatho Musuem in Moruleng Village, bringing the total distance walked to 115km.
The final day of the walk culminated in a community function and was patronized by the Dikgosi from villages which will be affected by the establishment of the Heritage Park, i.e. Kgosi M Matlapeng, Nyalala Pilane and T Maotwe who was very much part of the Walkers Team until the very last day.
In the promotion of team spirit, all walkers received bronze
medals, handed out by the Chief Executive Officer of the NWPTB, Mr Charles
Ndabeni, the Kgosi Pilane, Kgosi Matlapeng and Executive Mayor Getrude
Teme.
for the
fireside storyteller
Mamaki Phoolo
photos by
Maretha Shroyer
