SA to unveil World-Class Dinosaur Interpretation Centre
The Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre, promising a state-of-the-art visitor experience will be unveiled in the breathtaking landscapes of the Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
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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Explore Africa's ancient history at the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre
The Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre was officially launch in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Free State, at the site of the world's oldest known dinosaur embryos. The Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre has officially opened, allowing visitors to explore the continent's ancient history where dinosaur embryos were discovered. Speaking at the opening at the weekend, Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille, said the centre, based at the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, is not just a brick-and-mortar building, but a gateway into Africa's past and a dynamic future. "This is the heritage and identity of the Basotho people, and at least 50% of jobs created here must be for locals. This is part of the government's efforts to diversify tourism in the country. The Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre will act as a catalyst to further develop the district and the province,' she said. Free State Premier, MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae added that the province boasts great tourism attractions such as the Golden Gate, which provide us with endless opportunities to create jobs for our people.
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Eyewitness News
a day ago
- Eyewitness News
[GALLERY] Walking among giants: Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre launched in Free State
Jacques Nelles 23 June 2025 | 7:35 Free State Department of Tourism SANParks A model of Lesothosaurus diagnostics 'The distinguished lizard of Lesotho' on display at the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre, located in SANParks' Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State, on 21 June 2025. Picture: Jacques Nelles/EWN JOHANNESBURG - Ledumahadi mafube, a 12-ton, 12-meter-long South African dinosaur first discovered in 1989 by James Kitching in the Free State, is considered the heaviest dinosaur to have roamed the prehistoric Golden Gate Highlands National Park. It is also one of the first dinosaurs to be given a proper African name - "The Giant Thunderclap" - inspired by the sound it may have made as it thundered through the Free State roughly 200 million years ago. The Ledumahadi mafube dinosaur model at the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre, located in SANParks' Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State, on 22 June 2025. Picture: Jacques Nelles/EWN This massive sauropodomorph is one of South Africa's more well-known dinosaurs, now brought to life in full-scale artistic models at the newly launched Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre, located in SANParks' Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State. Parts of the found skeleton of the Ledumahadi mafube dinosaur on display at the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre, located in SANParks' Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State, on 21 June 2025. Picture: Jacques Nelles/EWN The state-of-the-art centre, officially opened by Minister of Tourism Patricia De Lille, is a collaboration between the Department of Tourism and SANParks, designed to enhance the visitor experience at the park. The facility features several life-sized sculptures and provides an exceptional educational experience in paleontology, archaeology, and geology geared towards inspiring curiosity in both young and old visitors about our country's ancient past. A display of dinosaur eggs at the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre, located in SANParks' Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State, on 21 June 2025. Picture: Jacques Nelles/EWN Early BaSotho communities discovered fossilised bones and footprints of unknown creatures scattered across their homelands, sparking the creation of myths and legends that still echo in BaSotho folklore today. The legend of Kgodumodumo tells of a monstrous being that terrorised villages, devouring anything in its path. When it moved, it shook the very mountains of the BaSotho homeland. One brave young man, Moshanyana wa Senkatana, who grew up hiding from the beast, grew strong and clever in his constant efforts to evade it. After the creature swallowed half his people, he allowed himself to be eaten, armed with food and fire, and ultimately cooked the beast from within, killing it and freeing those trapped inside. Visitors to the newly launched Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre, located in SANParks' Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State. Picture: Jacques Nelles/EWN His Majesty Moremoholo Mopeli of the Bakoena Kingdom, who cut the ribbon alongside Minister De Lille on 22 June 2025, expressed his pride in seeing the heritage of his people displayed in such a powerful way. "A lot of the information you see here, the storytelling, the narration, was done by us and our people," he said. A model of Heterodontosaurus tucki on display at the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre, located in SANParks' Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State. Picture: Jacques Nelles/EWN The centre now employs at least 15 permanent staff, many from the surrounding communities. Locals are encouraged to offer goods and services to both domestic and international tourists, with the hope of growing the local economy through this new attraction. A visitor looks up at a model of Dracovenator regenti, the apex predator of South Africa 200 million years ago on display at the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre, located in SANParks' Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State. Picture: Jacques Nelles/EWN Funded by the European Union, the R120 million Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre is a celebration of African history, science, and storytelling. An artist's reconstruction model of a 'Massospondylus', South Africa's most famous dinosaur on display at the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre, located in SANParks' Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State. Picture: Jacques Nelles/EWN For a limited time, SANParks is offering free access to all South African citizens until 30 September 2025, an open invitation to walk among giants and rediscover the ancient wonders beneath our feet. Visitors take pictures of an artist's reconstruction model of a 'Massospondylus', South Africa's most famous dinosaur on display at the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre, located in SANParks' Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State, on 22 June 2025. Picture: Jacques Nelles/EWN
Eyewitness News
a day ago
- Eyewitness News
Entrance to Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre in FS free for all SAns until 30 Sept
JOHANNESBURG - Deep in the Free State's Golden Gate Highlands National Park, nestled between high mountains lies the state-of-the-art Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre. The R120 million investment, funded by the European Union (EU), is described as a milestone moment for the Department of Tourism, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, SANParks, and the Free State provincial government. The centre blends palaeontology, archaeology, geology, and cultural heritage, promising to awaken curiosity in every visitor. His Majesty, Moremoholo Mopeli of the Bakoena Kingdom, alongside Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille, cut the ribbon to launch the new centre and had this to say: "It's creating jobs for everybody. It's imparting knowledge to the youth because the stories that our elders have been telling are stories that have never been recorded, and this is the first of its kind." Patricia de Lille said: "South Africa is not only the cradle of humankind, we are also the cradle of human culture and no world history can be written without making reference to South Africa. The oldest fossil, I mean dinosaur embryo, was found here in South Africa over 220 million years ago." To mark the opening of the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre, SANParks will be giving free entrance to all South African citizens from Monday until 30 September.
