The MEC for Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), Thabo Mokone, has urged South Africans to take advantage of the eased lockdown regulations and visit the area. He was speaking during a two-day tourism campaign aimed at reigniting Mopani’s tourism sector in Phalaborwa last week.
It was an initiative between the Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA), LEDET and the Ba-Phalaborwa Tourism Association. As part of the tourism recovery plan and in continuation of the September tourism month celebrations, the stakeholders visited Phalaborwa.
The first day began at the Kruger National Park (KNP), where stakeholders were picked up by safaris vehicles to the Masorini Open Air Museum and Archeological Site.
The area was founded in 1500 by Northern Sotho people, who were also called Ba-Phalaborwa, where they lived and melted magnetite in order to extract iron. The visiting team was also taken to the site where KNP’s new project, the Activity Hub, will be built.
The hub will have fun activities to further attract tourists to the Kruger. The park has also advertised a tender for the construction of the new safari lodge, which will be built right inside KNP.
Also read: KNP urges day visitors to observe rules at the park
The tour was concluded by a visit to Sable Hide and the Sable River, where tourist guide, Fannie Risimati, gave an interesting talk on elephants. Later the visiting parties, together with KNP management held a meeting discussing various projects including the Shangoni Gate.
The gate which is aimed at giving easy access to residents of Giyani and Malamulele to KNP is expected to open soon. The second day of the campaign was concluded at Olifants River and Safaris, where they enjoyed breakfast at Kambuka Restaurant and took a boat cruise on the Olifants River and enjoyed the wildlife on the river bank. In October the parties will also host a summer campaign in Phalaborwa showcasing the different places to enjoy in the area.
