Eastern Cape gets a new national park

South Africa has officially declared a new national park in the Eastern Cape, protecting more than 10 000 hectares of grassland and an important strategic water source area.

The Grasslands National Park, comprising 18 properties covering 10 225.9242 hectares, is situated in the Eastern Cape highlands between Nqanqarhu and Rhodes.

The declaration was published in Government Gazette No. 55531 under Government Notice No. 8002, formally establishing the park following a statutory process that began with a notice of intention in 2025.

The park will help protect grassland ecosystems that remain underrepresented in South Africa’s protected-area network, as well as part of the Eastern Cape Drakensberg Strategic Water Source Area.

These landscapes are important for water security, biodiversity conservation and the livelihoods supported by the region’s agricultural land.

SANParks appointed to manage new park

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, David Maynier, has assigned management of the Grasslands National Park to South African National Parks (SANParks).

The appointment was made in terms of section 38(1)(aA) of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003.

The declaration marks the transition from a proposed conservation area to a formally established national park.

“The declaration of the Grasslands National Park is an important step in protecting one of South Africa’s least-protected biomes and a strategic water source landscape,” Maynier said.

He added that the initiative demonstrated how conservation and compatible productive land use could reinforce one another through voluntary, long-term partnerships.

First national park established primarily through biodiversity stewardship

The Grasslands National Park has been established primarily through biodiversity stewardship, an approach that allows participating landowners to retain ownership of their properties while committing to agreed conservation and management arrangements.

This means conservation-compatible agricultural activities can continue, supporting local livelihoods while helping to safeguard the area’s natural ecosystems.

Maynier described the initiative as the first national park in South Africa established primarily through this model.

He said the project demonstrated how inclusive partnerships could deliver large-scale conservation outcomes.

WWF South Africa played key role

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and SANParks worked alongside WWF South Africa, which played a leading role in coordinating the establishment of the park.

A wider network of partners also contributed to the initiative.

The partnership-based approach provides an alternative way to expand protected areas while working with private landowners and maintaining compatible economic activities.

Protecting a vital water source area

The park’s location in the Eastern Cape highlands gives it significance beyond grassland conservation.

The Eastern Cape Drakensberg Strategic Water Source Area supports water security, making the protection of its natural landscapes important for the region.

By formally declaring the properties a national park, the government has created a framework for long-term conservation management across the 18 properties.

The Grasslands National Park adds more than 10 225 hectares to South Africa’s protected landscapes and highlights the role of biodiversity stewardship in protecting ecosystems while recognising the needs of local landowners and communities.