Work to repair the dilapidated pot-holed roads in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) in KwaZulu Natal has started after several delays, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has announced.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife CEO, Dr Bandile Mkhize last year admitted the state of the roads in the park was a concern, and that he would set aside R26m for renovation. This year, Mkhize said he had appointed contractors to start work in May. 
However, no work was undertaken in the park. One traveller wrote on TripAdvisor in September this year: “This park seems to be in a consistent downward spiral into disrepair. The roads are appalling and the animals sparse, particularly in the North. What was once KZN's crown jewel is becoming a major embarrassment.”

Musa Mntambo, spokesperson for Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, explained to Tourism Update that the delays had been caused by miscommunication with the contractor. “The provider was appointed around May. He then started working in HiP but we realised that he was not repairing the roads as per our agreement. We stopped him and threatened to cancel his contract if he was ignoring the terms of reference of this contract. The provider is now back at HiP and is busy working as per the recent engagement we had with him.”
According to Mntambo, the repairs will be from the Memorial Gate until Mpila resort and will consist of a complete re-tarring of the roads.