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The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, agreed in 2002, will eventually join parks in all three countries to South Africa's Kruger National Park. Part of the 450 km of heavy fence between South Africa and Mozambique has been removed and the park authorities hope to have it all down by 2010. The new super park will expand the Kruger's area to 3.5 million hectares from around 2 million, giving more space to its 12,000 elephants, whose numbers have been causing some alarm.
Removing the fence may also allow more illegal immigrants to sneak into South Africa. Many make the trip even though on the way they could be attacked by lions and elephants.
South African President Thabo Mbeki's rhetoric was stirring:"This park is a tangible symbol that we can and must use sustainable development to confront the legacy of colonialism and apartheid, to eradicate poverty and underdevelopment and build a better world for all our people," he said.
