Kruger goes Disney

Derek Keats via Wikimedia Commons - Pel's Fishing Owl

Threat to the environment

But the development is dogged by controversy, with environmentalists outraged that the lodge is to be built in a sensitive biodiversity area along the Crocodile River. The site is home to several species of endangered birds and plants, including the Pel's fishing owl and the Swazi lily.

It will be the latest in a string of commercial ventures to open in the park. Others include chain restaurants such as Wimpy, Debonairs and Cattle Baron at several camps.

Developments a result of demand from new market

SANParks spokesman Rey Thakuli said of the commercialisation of the park: "It's as a result of demand. The new hotel is a response to demand for a certain kind of accommodation.

"There are people who come to the park who appreciate self-catering. A survey revealed that there is, however, a new market, which is looking for a full-service holiday." This new market, he said, was middle class, particularly the black middle class.

Thakuli said international guidelines prescribed that only 10% of a protected area such as Kruger National Park could be developed. "The park has the lowest commercial development of any national park in the world, below 4%."

He said the hotel, which would be built in the park's southern section, in Malelane, would be on an "already disturbed environmental area, occupied by the original Malelane hotel, which burned down".

The latest commercial development did not presage much more to come, Thakuli said. "We are not losing out on our mandate, which is conservation and tourism. Malelane Safari Lodge is one of two hotels to be developed in the park, with another being built at Skukuza camp."

Thakuli said the park's "customer satisfaction index" showed that visitors were happy. "They enjoy having access to certain amenities and restaurants. It makes sense that we commercialise these operations. "We can assure visitors that we will not erect coffee shops at waterholes."

Between a rock and a hard place

Morgan Griffiths, manager of the governance programme of the Wildlife and Environment Society of SA, said SANParks was under pressure to cater to new markets.

"The 'black diamonds' and newly wealthy want the bars and the nightlife, as opposed to the traditional Kruger National Park visitors, who go for camping and self-catering. "Although we understand what is driving SANParks to do this, our concerns are that these developments are on environmentally sensitive areas. There are other, less sensitive, areas available.

"The area where this lodge is to be built is one of the few breeding grounds of the Pel's fishing owl and is home to the Swazi lily." He said the hotel would operate after normal park entry times, with increased traffic, especially at night.

Griffiths said his society was worried that the quest for profit would compromise SANParks' biodiversity conservation priorities. "SANParks is caught between a political rock and a hard place. They have to raise funds and show that the park is generating jobs, and at the same time protect the environment."

Environmental impact assessment

Mandy van der Westhuizen, of Nuleaf, an environmental assessment company, which conducted the lodge's environmental impact assessment, said that during the assessment some issues had been raised.

"Before development can begin the developer must conduct a traffic-impact assessment, which is under way."

"It's impossible that the southern parts of the park will be turned into an N1 highway. Guests will be able to view game only on game drives organised by the lodge."

Van der Westhuizen said every Swazi lily in the area had been mapped and there would be a buffer zone around each of them. "No endangered species or breeding grounds will be disturbed," she said.

Source: The Times