MAJOR development is on the cards for the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site, aiming to satisfy existing visitors’ needs and encourage more visits.
Improvements, both conservation and visitor-related infrastructure projects, totalling R250-million will be carried out over the following two financial years.
Maintenance to operational structures such as roads and field ranger camps will be carried out, as well as the rebuilding of hides, entrance gates and visitor centres.
KuMasinga Hide at uMkhuze Game Reserve was rebuilt in 2013 and work to its 200m walkway and new ablution facilities will soon begin.
‘Invisible’ fencing between the car park and walkway will set at ease the minds of those apprehensive about the area’s growing lion population frequently seen drinking at the hide’s waterhole.
KuMalibala and KuMahlala hides have been demolished, to be replaced with new structures. New swing bridges and a 12m-high treetop canopy walkway on uMkhuze’s Fig Forest Walk are now complete, giving visitors a different perspective of the surrounding reserve.
In a bid to combat rhino poaching, plans to build new field ranger camps at uMkhuze, Ozabeni and Western Shores are in place.
New gates
Work to rebuild Charters Creek on Lake St Lucia’s western shores, will commence late in this financial year, while new gates will be built at Sodwana Bay, Eastern Shores’ Bhangazi (Cape Vidal) and Western Shores’ Nhlozi (Charters Creek) entrances.
Massive roadworks are currently underway in Eastern Shores, with 35km of tar and 35km of gravel being refurbished. The roadworks include the rebuilding of the bridge over Lake Bhangazi berm which was washed away, after which the popular Grasslands Loop will reopen to the public.
Fencing is being repaired and installed throughout the park, with a new 25km section going up in the Ozabeni section to eradicate the presence of cattle in this previously unfenced area.
Major upgrades to Sodwana Bay, both ecologically and tourism-related, are forthcoming and include road rehabilitation and the modernising of day visitor facilities in keeping with the area’s increase in visitors in recent years.
Ablutions will be enlarged and eco-friendly toilets installed at Mabibi Beach and Lala Nek.
‘In all aspects iSimangaliso is making enormous, visible progress in indelibly positioning itself as Africa’s most exciting and relevant destination,’ said park CEO Andrew Zaloumis.
