Conservation authorities in the North West province have been left reeling after a week-long fire destroyed most of the Pilanesberg National Park bordering Sun City.

Cautious estimates point to hundreds of thousands of rands' damage to infrastructure at the park and a bill for mop-up operations that already stands at just under R1-million.

Park officials will now begin the difficult task of ascertaining how many of the park's Big Five were lost.

North West Parks and Tourism spokesperson Mamaki Phoolo confirmed that firefighters managed to get the runaway blaze under control early on Friday.

She said more than half of the 50 000-hectare park was destroyed, although sources in the department said at least 75 percent of the vegetation was lost.

The fire was discovered a week ago and raged for several days as firefighters couldn't reach the mountainous terrain.

Both the Mogwase and Sun City fire departments were called in to assist park staff, many of whom were physically fighting the blaze with grass beaters.

The National Disaster Management Centre in Pretoria provided two Oryx helicopters fitted with 2 000-litre water buckets at a cost of R45 000 an hour.

Phoolo said the two camps at the park - valued at about R60-million - were saved from any damage but that the cost for the two helicopters was about R900 000.

Park damage is estimated at R125 000 and includes toilets at the Kubu picnic site, a toolshed with equipment, herbicides and signage.

Officials will be conducting flights over the burnt area in the next few days to look for injured and dead game, said Phoolo.

• This article was originally published on page 3 of The Star on March 26, 2007