Africa Wild

4.2 Phalaborwa Wild Activity Hub
One of the Department of Tourism strategic objectives is to diversify and
enhance tourism offerings. In response to this strategic objective, the
Department of Tourism in partnership with South African National Parks
(SANParks) have developed the Phalaborwa Wild Activity Hub. The Joint
Committee received the report from the Department of Tourism and
SANParks with regard to the implementation of the Phalaborwa Wild
Activity Hub programme.
It was reported that the objectives of the Wild Activity Hub seek to address
the following;
 Diversify and enhance tourism offerings at the Phalaborwa gate;
 Improve the tourism infrastructure in the Phalaborwa area and also
attract other investments to become a feasible tourism destination;
 Development and enhancement of the Phalaborwa Gate through the
development of the Wild Activity Hub includes tourism
infrastructure such as entrance gate, rhinos’ orphanage, bird viewing,
walkways, backpackers, and cool down area, braai and waiting
areas,
 To use the Wild Activity Hub as leverage to provide opportunities
for local entrepreneurs to operate some activities in the Kruger
National Park;
 To create local hospitality facilities to benefit local communities, and
thus support growth of local enterprises;
The SANParks, further expounded on the objectives highlighted by the
Department of Tourism. According to the SAParks, the tourism
development programme would create job opportunities the Phalaborwa
municipal region. A detailed plan of the Wild Activity Hub was shared with
the Joint Committee which includes facilities such as spa, bush braais,
archery including activities such as mountain bike safaris, shortened
overnight trips to Olifants River, fat Cleveland, hiking, horse riding , Craft
beer, reptile information sessions, Photographic courses and leather making.
Further, the SANParks reported on the progress in relation to the regulatory
requirements as determined by the Environmental Impact Assessment
(EIA). The SANPaks gave an undertaking that as soon the environmental
regulatory requirements are met, the construction of the tourism
development would start with socioeconomic spinoffs guaranteed to
benefit the local economy.
The Department of Tourism further explained that through the Tourism
Incentive Programme (TIP) funds, was able to fund the Wild Activity Hub
programme to the tune of R25 million. The Joint Committee noted the
efforts of government to create tourism assets that would benefit the whole
community. Further, the Joint Committee noted that the development
programme to succeed, partnerships with the public, private, civil society
sectors including local community needed to be formed to implement the
initiative in order spur job creation and economic growth.

A Rhino Orphanage will help educate the public and will be aimed at public awareness (Rhino Poaching).