SANParks Honorary Rangers recently handed over the Phabeni Interpretive Centre to Kruger National Park (KNP) management at the Albasini Ruins cultural heritage site.
The centre at Phabeni Gate, boasts a newly designed display structure as well as the re-fenced Albasini Ruins and the two grave sites, which reveal interesting history of people who stayed and worked in the Phabeni area in the past.
“KNP is best known for its rich biodiversity such as animals, plants and vast wilderness, however what many people do not know is that the park also boasts more than 627 cultural-heritage and historical sites. Only a few of them, including the Albasini Ruins, are open to the public,” said the managing executive, Glenn Phillips.
Phillips recognised the Nkuna and Mavundla clans, who lived in the area in the past and have family members buried in the Phabeni area.
Ninety-four-year-old L/cpl Willie Nkuna of the Nkuna clan and a retired ranger, was present at the handover.
His family and that of the Mavundla clan were praised for their contributions to the rich history in the centre.
“Cultural-heritage interpretation has taken the front seat in the 2022 Responsible Tourism Strategy and Phabeni Interpretive Centre is an example of what needs to be done as interpretation has been identified as one of the areas which need improvement in the organisation. There is oral history which has been recorded by our people and conservation department, and we will continue to engage with people like Willie Nkuna as they hold the park’s cultural and historical information, which needs to be narrated and interpreted, for the benefit of everybody including the future generation.”
Phillips also praised the SANParks Honorary Rangers for the role they played in creating the centre.
“Your work as the SANParks Honorary Rangers has not ended and we are still going to approach you for assistance as there is still a lot of work which needs to be done in terms of building similar structures throughout the park,” concluded Phillips.