AFRICA: The leaders of three countries launched Africa's biggest national park on Monday - a vast swathe of savannah teeming with game, which they hope will draw much needed tourist dollars to the region.
The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, which covers an area roughly the size of Belgium, straddles South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe and is due to open to visitors early next year.
South African President Mr Thabo Mbeki, Zimbabwean President Mr Robert Mugabe and Mozambique President Mr Joaquim Chissano officially christened the park at a ceremony in the Mozambican resort town of Xai Xai on the Limpopo river.
Environmentalists have applauded the park, which combines South Africa's Kruger national park, Mozambique's Limpopo park and Zimbabwe's Gonarezhou national park, and will be home to game including lions, rhinos and elephants.
It covers 35,000 square kilometres and communities within its boundaries will remain.
Officials hope the new park will draw more travellers to a region which is struggling to lure large numbers of tourists.
While Mozambique has never been a major tourist destination, South Africa has been hit by several high-profile attacks against tourists and fears over its high crime rate and Zimbabwe has seen its once-thriving tourism industry drop off sharply in the wake of Mr Mugabe's controversial land reform programme.