The Past
Klipkop has not always been home to intentions of preservation and conservation.
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1830s: Fields of War
Sweeps of the central highlands were common as the Zulus exercised their “scorched earth” policy across Southern Africa.
King Tshaka, head of the Zulus, fought a once trusted commander, General Mzilikazi, whom he now felt threatened by.
Mzilikazi decided to leave Zululand to set up his own kingdom. Tshaka's forces pursued him and his fledgling kingdom across the Klipkop area, towards Pretoria.
Tshaka left nothing but a path of destruction in his wake. The territory was considered both dangerous and desolate by tribal Africans.
When the Boers arrived in the 1850s, the land was theirs for the taking.
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Pre 1970s: Farming
Between 1870 and 1970, Klipkop was agricultural land. The area was subdivided and selectively cleared to support livestock.
Poor conditions and over-grazing lead to the decline of farming practises in the area, and gradually the properties were
purchased by individuals more interested in finding a place of beauty and tranquillity to call home.
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1930s: Mining
In the 1930s, Klipkop was mined for its reserves of slasto. Slasto is an irregular-shaped, slate-like rock once used in the manufacture of paving materials.
Fashioned from pre-Cambrian floods, and featuring earthy colours from the presence of trace minerals, some rocks bare the imprint of foliage and organisms captured tens of millions of years ago.
The quarries were abandoned in 1975 when the paving style fell from favour, many still bursting with stone.
In recent years, the proprietors of plot 30, Tony Prince and Mary Lewis, were offered R1,000,000 to re-open access to the quarries for mining activity.
Thankfully, their interest in conservation heavily outweighs their interest in a comfortable retirement!
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1995: Conservancy
Klipkop secured its conservancy classification in 1995. What became immediately apparent were the limitations of the declaration.
A conservancy is not a “protected area” under the South African Protected Areas Act (No. 57 of 2003). Effectively, this means;
(i) no protection from urban or infrastructure development, (ii) no dispensation with respect to land taxes, and
(iii) no opportunity for state funding. Clearly, Klipkop was still vulnerable.
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1998: Sanctuary
In 1998, the Klipkop Landowners Association was formed to create an incorporated entity which could legally represent the interests of a demarcated area within the conservancy, now the Klipkop Wildlife Sanctuary.
The concept was novel, earning Klipkop the NedBank Green Trust Award for Best Emerging Conservancy in 2001.
Property owners lease their land (excluding buildings) to the Association and the land is used exclusively to expand the reserve.
From small beginnings, the Sanctuary is over 1,500 Ha.
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2009: Domestic and International Recognition
In June, Klipkop won the EWT (Endangered Wildlife Trust) Best Biodiversity Practise Award for a Gauteng Conservancy, 2009. Klipkop also earned a Silver award in the Wetlands category.
Both awards were presented at the Annual General Meeting of the Gauteng Conservancy Association.
Klipkop is also recognised internationally. We were accepted into the global network of sanctuaries under the auspices of the Wildlife Land Trust (Australia), Humane Society International.
The Wildlife Land Trust (WLT) exists to protect wildlife by preserving natural habitats and permanent sanctuaries - that is, 'savings lives by saving land'.
Updated: 26 June 2009
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