

The QwaQwa National Park is part of the Golden Gate Highlands National Park and the Maloti-Drakensberg Park and comprises the former Bantustan (homeland) of QwaQwa. It is approximately 60 km from Harrismith on the Golden Gate Road (R712) and formed an integral part of the Highlands Treasure Route. == History == The QwaQwa National Park area is the historical home of the Bakoena and the Batlokoa people. QwaQwa was established as a park in 1992 during South Africa's transition to democracy. The goal of the park’s creation was to involve the local community in national projects.The park was reincorporated into the Free State province in 1994. The South African Development Trust (SADT) had already purchased additional land to the north and northwest of QwaQwa in 1984 to reduce localised overcrowding. Additional land of the QwaQwa Farms was leased to black farmers or taken over by the QwaQwa agricultural development corporation. Under the South African Government's Land Reform Programme, the QwaQwa Bantustan was dissolved. The remaining SADT was proclaimed as the QwaQwa National Park in January 1992 according to section 18(1) of the Qwaqwa Nature Conservation Act (No. 5) of 1976. SOURCESWikipedia