New Gates for Kruger National Park

[Jillinflorida]

As soon as I saw how near the airport was I thought - yep hotel. There must be an awful lot of underhanded cash exchange going on.

Really sickening.

[Lisbeth]

If we did not come to SA in Dec/Jan/Feb I would have chosen to go to the north..... or maybe it is better so, as it is the last time that I will see the KNP! Sanparks has become "Big Business" and as I do not agree with their methods I am certainly not going to give them my money. In fact we are staying outside the park. We might even still change our plans and go somewhere different

[Flutterby]

Sad that it has come to that Lis.

[Richprins]

More info, looks like this is not a new idea at all:

Economic opportunity zones
Nodal development
• Opportunities exist for tourism development at the proposed Luphisi
Gate with focus on hotels, lodges and recreational or educational
tourism.
8.2.7.2 Swot analysis
Table_: indicates the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of
Mdluli Traditional Authority.
Strengths Weaknesses
Availability of natural resources
(i.e.: KNP, Nsikazi River)
Secluded settlements
No significant economic base
Lack of engineering and social
infrastructure
Unplanned settlement
General poor road conditions (mainly
gravel)
Lack of land use management
Opportunities Threats
Tourism opportunities provided by
the KNP, proposed Makoko gate
and railway line
Lots of other references in this document:
http://www.mbombela.gov.za/part%202%20sdf-web.pdf

[Lisbeth]

RP, I am convinced that all this and more to come was started being planned the day Dr. Mabunda became CEO of Sanparks, it has only taken time to develop and to decide where, when and how! Probably even earlier, why else would an expert in tourism have been selected for the position??

[Richprins]

I don't know if someone can de-pdf especially section 7.3.4.1?

This indicates a second new gate at Makoko!

(All indicated on the Map for tourist development of the Nsikazi area)

[Richprins]

Ja, Lis!

This comes from a 2011 Mbombela document, and includes the PDZ, so not that old, I think?

[Mel]

That's what you wanted, RP?





http://www.mbombela.gov.za/part%202%20sdf-web.pdf

[Lisbeth]

Thank you, Mel

[Richprins]

Thanks, Mel!

This is all very long-term from Mbombela side, but the road to Luphisi is the most immediate phenomenon. The plan is a local government one, but obviously SanParks have agreed to these developments?

On the positive side, the plan also clearly indicates that urban development is to be limited and discouraged in the "buffer zone" outside Kruger, for practical purposes.

Page 222 mentions hotel, lodge and accommodation construction at Numbi and Phabeni gates too, presumably outside the Park.