TUESDAY, 2 OCTOBER 2001: The Gaza-Kruger-Gonarezhou (GKG) Park, Africa’s largest transfrontier conservation area, is beginning to shape up. The coming into being of what has been dubbed “Africa’s Super Park” will move towards reality when South Africa’s Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mohamed Valli Moosa, begins the process of relocating 1 000 elephants to the Mozambican side of the park when he hands over the first 40 elephants to the Mozambican Minister of Tourism, the honourable Fernando Sumbana, in an event to be held on Thursday, 4 October 2001.

The GKG, a transfrontier conservation area covering Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa, was established last year through an international tripartite treaty aimed at creating one of the world's largest animal conservation areas – one of 35 000 square kilometres.

The handover ceremony will be attended by Minister Sumbana and the Zimbabwean Minister of Environment and Tourism, the honourable Francis Nhema, and other dignitaries.

Former South African President Nelson Mandela will symbolically open the gate separating the two sides of the park, giving the elephants free passage, after Minister Moosa has formally handed them over.