Skukuza Hotel Progress (Kruger National Park)

[Lisbeth]

Can someone help, please!
When is the Skukuza supposed to be opened? I have read it, but do not remember anymore

[leachy]

Can someone help, please!
When is the Skukuza supposed to be opened? I have read it, but do not remember anymore

see page 29 of this thread..............................

[Lisbeth]

Thanks a heap, leachy

[Toko]

Read this


Sanette Ferreira & Alet Harmse (2014): Kruger National Park: tourism development and issues around the management of large numbers of tourists, Journal of Ecotourism

The changed ratio of two vehicles per kilometre since 1998 indicates a shift in management objectives and the effect of political pressure on KNP to be more accessible to broader segments of the population. In a strategic environment assessment (SANParks,2009), traffic analyses showed that the road between the Paul Kruger Gate and Skukuza Rest Camp carried the most vehicles in peak and off-peak periods. Delivery vehicles and most employees travel this route. The road between Skukuza and Lower Sabie (Figure 3) had the second highest number of vehicles as this route is renowned for wildlife viewing (SANParks, 2009). According to the report, the acceptable number of vehicles per kilometre is exceeded at peak times; the number of vehicles per sighting is excessive and causes negative experiences; certain routes are very popular resulting in congestion in those areas and there is a trend towards acute traffic congestion (SANParks, 2009, p. 2).

Page 12

Traffic congestion on the internal road system of the southern part of the park is exacerbated by the 219 private wildlife or OSVs permitted to enter the park on a daily basis (Manager Tourism Business Unit, Lucy Nhlapo, personal communication, July 4, 2013). Some of these vehicles carry 25 or more passengers, ride very high on their wheels and lack manoeuvrability. About 85% of the OSVs enter and exit the park through the gates in Marula-South. Day-visitor traffic through the gates in the south (Malelane, Crocodile Bridge, Phabeni and Kruger) is already high and the quotas (Table 2) of between 550 and 750 vehicles per day exclude the private OSVs. During 2012/2013 financial year, the OSV guest numbers reached a record of 120000 comprising 8, 2% of total guest entries (SANParks, 2013). Private lodges (concessions) in the park also operate their own vehicles and although they are restricted to their areas of operation (as per contract), they are allowed on KNP roads at certain times. These vehicles are not included in the number of private OSVs. These concessionary operations inevitably affect game-viewing opportunities. Complaints have been received about unacceptable driving behaviour of the private guides – they block sightings for other vehicles and they are generally inconsiderate of other visitors (Manager Tourism Business Unit, Lucy Nhlapo, personal communication, June 28, 2013).
The principal author has personally witnessed the extent of vehicle congestion on a public holiday during the peak season. On a Sunday morning (16 June 2013) during the winter break of South African schools, a string of luxury tourist vehicles blocked the road between Lower Sabie and Skukuza for at least an hour (Box 1).

Page 13

KNP is also the tourism and recreational gateway of the Greater Mbombela Local Municipality, resulting in a tripling of park visitation over theblast 10 years (Mpumalanga Provincial Government, 2004–2014). The demand is so highbthat the Mbombela Municipality approached SANParks to open a new gate from the N4 highway via Kanyamazane, Luphisi and Nyongane (Figure 3) to serve the 600,000 residents of the eastern rural part of the municipality (Mbombela Municipality, 2011) (Figure 7)
Other recent developments such as the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, the growth of Nelspruit to city status, the mushrooming of an ecotown2 like Marloth Park on the southern boundary, the pressure to develop lodges on the borders of KNP and growth of the Nkomazi Municipality into a regional town (see Figure 2) necessitated a change in the zoning of the south of KNP from one that restricts access to an open, but controlled, increased visitor management system (SANParks, 2011b). Due to demand for luxury accommodation in KNP, the Malalane Safari Resort (Radison Blu) is being built in the south-eastern corner at the confluence of the Timfene Spruit and the Crocodile River on the southern boundary of the park.

Page 14/15

Closely, associated with the large numbers of visitors is their behaviour (Africa Geographic, 2014). During peak times, Big Five sightings result in extremely congested roads and road blockages become a problem. Saayman and Saayman (2006) and SANParks (2009) have shown that the majority of people visiting Marula-South are first-time day visitors who quite likely have a limited understanding of KNP’s environmental and ecological value. It is crucial that the visitors’ attitudes change from ‘rush around looking for lions’ to being more interested in understanding the ecological interactions and finer cultural – historical details of KNP, so becoming ‘mindful’ visitors.
Capacity thresholds are reached when the number of tourists approaches levels which strain the ability of the host area to provide a good visitor experience. The scale and pace of tourism development should, therefore, respect the character of the area. Wilderness parks thrive on low use levels (Eagles, 1996, p. 17). Unfortunately, it is only the northern region of the KNP that can be valued and experienced as a wilderness area. Although KNP is committed to providing value for money and high-quality wildlife tourist experiences, the densely developed Marula-South and the inflow of day tourists from adjacent tourism resorts and eco-lodges on the southern borders of the park challenges current visitor management policy. When increased use leads to dissatisfied visitors, the critical levels of social carrying capacity have been reached.

Page 15

The mechanisms used by KNP to prevent overcrowding have, in practice, been largely unsuccessful in Marula-South. Private OHVs not being considered part of the daily quota per gate suggest that financial priorities take precedence. Regarding African national parks, this emphasis on profitability is pivotal where tourism potential is in danger of being over-exploited (Gilbert et al., 1994; Henry, 1980). Given that road to vehicle ratios and daily quotas per gate have been adapted while the ‘channel system’ (the roads) for self-drive tourists have stayed almost the same confirm the pressures to accommodate more visitors and not to restrict access on ‘flooded weekends’. This had led to ‘a creeping incremental development of tourist facilities’ within the park, as well as ‘changing the profile of the visitor towards those more tolerant of intensive uses’ (Butler, 1996, p. 291).

Page 16

[Richprins]

The mechanisms used by KNP to prevent overcrowding have, in practice, been largely unsuccessful in Marula-South. Private OHVs not being considered part of the daily quota per gate suggest that financial priorities take precedence. Regarding African national parks, this emphasis on profitability is pivotal where tourism potential is in danger of being over-exploited (Gilbert et al., 1994; Henry, 1980). Given that road to vehicle ratios and daily quotas per gate have been adapted while the ‘channel system’ (the roads) for self-drive tourists have stayed almost the same confirm the pressures to accommodate more visitors and not to restrict access on ‘flooded weekends’. This had led to ‘a creeping incremental development of tourist facilities’ within the park, as well as ‘changing the profile of the visitor towards those more tolerant of intensive uses’ (Butler, 1996, p. 291).


Interesting the years when SANParks were warned of this overutilisation...sounds like Eskom!

[H. erectus]

A point I was very specific about!!! With localized EIA's very
often the bigger picture get's overlooked,...David de Waal
acknowledged this and put forth to the curator to be included
in this EIA, a list of other activities that may have an impact
on the traffic analysis in that area.

[H. erectus]

For what this comment may be worth,...maybe just for interest sake,..

Mr. W. de Waal our facilitator in Groenkloof, the same facilitator at the
Pearston get together, regarding Shale gas exploration and public concerns....!!!

[Richprins]

I think the money wasted on this monstrosity is going to run into EXTRA millions, H.

That is a terrible thing in these moments of antipoaching crisis and poorly-paid staff!

What could R200-400 million or more not do to help there? Disgusting!

[H. erectus]

RP, I need not really take your common sense to the wire
the wire where differences get split! It is forever saddening
to realize the ever bigger threat posed at these parks the very
few parks that portray our beginnings in life,..

One matter has become more and more prominent and that to
involve communities and utilize their astonishment in the bigger
picture of being.

[Richprins]

Communities know exactly what is going on!