SA to unveil World-Class Dinosaur Interpretation Centre
This R120 million investment is funded by the European Union through the South African National Treasury. The launch, scheduled for June 22, is a milestone moment for the Department of Tourism, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE), South African National Parks (SANParks), and the Free State provincial government.
Under the theme 'A Nation That Works for All – Unearthing Our Past, Building Our Future,' the new centre offers an immersive celebration of Africa's ancient story, spotlighting one of the world's oldest known dinosaur embryos ever discovered. With interactive exhibitions blending palaeontology, archaeology, geology, and cultural heritage, the centre promises to awaken curiosity and delight in every visitor – young and old.
BaSotho people and their ancestors inhabited and explored this eastern Free State landscape for hundreds of years. Through their deep connection with the land, early BaSotho communities discovered fossil bones and footprints of unknown creatures. They imagined that these bones and footprints belonged to a mythical beast, 'Kgodumodomo' and created stories about them that still feature in BaSotho mythology today.
'This centre is a symbol of what we mean when we say, Come Find Your Joy in South Africa,' said Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille. '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.'
The launch of the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre will include the graduation of newly trained local tourist guides, a testament to the project's role in empowering youth, women, and rural communities through skills development, job creation, and tourism-led economic growth.
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