The South African National Parks (SANParks) Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretive Centre at Golden Gate Highlands National Park has surpassed R1 million in revenue since opening last year.
The centre welcomed its first visitors on 22 June 2025, offering free entrance until 30 September 2025 to encourage initial patronage.
SANParks welcomed over 80 000 guests to the newly unveiled Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretive Centre since its opening. The facility is based at Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State Province.
During this period, the majority of visitors were domestic travellers, primarily from the Free State (57,138), Gauteng (14,678), and KwaZulu-Natal (3,230).
The centre has significantly enhanced the local economy, with accommodation establishments experiencing a substantial increase in bookings. The entrepreneur operating at the centre, who employs 20 people from the local community, has seen considerable growth in sales. Additionally, four interpretation officers at the centre are recruited from the local community.
The Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretive Centre operates daily from 08:00 to 16:00. Guided tours are available for visitors seeking deeper insights into the centre’s exhibits and the region’s rich palaeontological history. To book a guided tour, contact +27 (0)79 336 9290.
The centre represents a collaboration between SANParks and the Department of Tourism, aimed at enhancing the visitor experience at Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Eastern Free State.
ALSO READ: Dinosaur Centre opens in Golden Gate
The establishment of the Kgodumodumo Centre required an investment of R120 million. The interpretive centre offers scientific palaeontological, archaeological, and geological knowledge, combined with broader cultural heritage appreciation through interactive exhibitions.
ALSO READ: Dinosaur eggshells unlock a new way to tell time in the fossil record
The interactive exhibition focuses on dinosaurs that inhabited Southern Africa millions of years ago. South African dinosaurs such as Massospondylus, Dracovenator, and Heterodontosaurus provide important insights into the early evolution of more famous dinosaurs like Diplodocus, Tyrannosaurus, and Triceratops.
The opening of this exhibition at Golden Gate provides visitors with a unique window into the ancient history of Southern African dinosaurs and Earth’s prehistoric past.
You must be logged in to post a comment.