INSTALLATION OF PHOTO FRAME AT NEAR THE VOLCANIC LAPILLI AND BLACK CHERT SITE

The Gert Sibande District Municipality, through its Tourism Department, is requesting the consent of the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) to construct a photo frame near the Volcanic Lapilli and Black Chert Geosite of the Barberton Makhonjwa Mountain World Heritage Site (BMM-WHS) on the Geotrail. This initiative is aimed at enhancing the experience of visitors, including scientists and tourists, while promoting the scenic beauty of the region. The proposed location for the photo frame (following a site visit with representatives from the MTPA), situated at coordinates (25,94573Deg S, 31, 10829Deg E.), is approximately 36.3 km from the initial Greenstone View Geosite. The site has been strategically selected within the Gert Sibande District to offer visitors an optimal viewpoint while ensuring minimal impact on the geosite itself. The frame will be constructed approximately 10 meters away from the Volcanic Lapilli and Black Chert outcrop, ensuring that no geological features are disturbed. As part of our commitment to safety, a barrier and appropriate warning signage will be installed to prevent visitors from going beyond the designated 7-meter area between the photo frame and the edge behind it.