South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced its intention to form a public-private partnership in which it will grant a private operator the right to operate and manage the Skukuza Safari Lodge in the Kruger National Park.

Annemi van Jaarsveld, Head of Business Development at SANParks told Tourism Update: “Skukuza Safari Lodge is a 250-bed lodge being constructed by SANParks to cater for the ever-increasing demand for a four-star catered product as well as the MICE market requirements with the adjacent Nombolo Mdhluli Conference Centre. The tender is for the appointment of a management company that will manage the lodge on behalf of SANParks.”

According to Van Jaarsveld, the appointment will be made at the end of October, following the tender process. The lodge is due for completion at the end of November. “It is anticipated that the lodge will be operational by latest January/February 2019.”

The tender process is being undertaken as part of SANParks’ Commercialisation Strategy, created in 2000, which forms part of the organisation’s ecotourism plan.

According to Van Jaarsveld, the key objectives of the strategy include creating revenue to fund conservation, accelerating transformation of the tourism industry, ensuring optimal use of underperforming state assets, facilitating infrastructure delivery, reducing the delivery cost of tourist amenities and leveraging private capital and expertise in diversifying facilities.

SANParks’ commercialisation has seen impressive returns with the introduction of 380 additional beds in the five-star segment and improved efficiency in visitors’ experiences at the national parks. Additionally, it has created R817 million (€49 million) over 15 years for conservation in the country. In socio-economic terms, the strategy has resulted in 1 946 jobs (excluding construction) and local small, micro, medium enterprise (SMME) spend of R57 million (€3.4 million), adding to poverty alleviation in communities around the country’s national parks.

This latest project is also seeking to address issues of transformation in the tourism industry, with Van Jaarsveld explaining: “There are revolutionary broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) requirements for the project, ensuring radical transformation. There will further be significant benefits to the Kruger National Park’s land claimants with a profit-sharing model introduced.”

If you are interested in finding out more about the request for proposals on this project, click here. A site visit at Skukuza Safari Lodge is being organised for interested parties on August 29. Those interested must register with Ibraheem Dockrat at ibraheem.dockrat@sanparks.org before close of business on Friday, August 24.

SANParks also intends to award three new concessions in the KNP area.

• Letaba Concession: SANParks intends to award a new concession of around 15 000 hectares, south of the Letaba River on KNP’s western boundary. It will be opened for a private party to develop a lodge of 50 guest beds and 30 staff beds, certain activities will be allowed on the concession and could include equestrian activities.
• Phalaborwa Lodge: A new concession consisting of a 100-room safari lodge north of Phalaborwa Gate within the bounds of KNP.

These two concessions will be 25 years and will require equity participation by successful claimants.

• Phabeni Education Centre: A concession to manage and operate the education centre located at Phabeni Gate within the bounds of KNP.

This will be a 10-year concession and will require equity participation by successful claimants.

For details regarding these three concessions, contact James Daniels at james.daniels@sanparks.org.