Limpopo Business 2017-18 edition

OVERVIEW
private investor with about R10-million to invest in upgrading the
lodge’s six chalets and adding another 14. A master plan and environmental
impact assessment report already exists.
Several resorts in a variety of climatic regions fall under the control
of the provincial body, Limpopo Wildlife Resorts. Fourteen of the
province’s resorts have been targeted for refurbishment, creating 320
temporary and 120 permanent jobs. Annual revenue of R10-million is
expected to be gained from these revamped resorts, which include
these facilities in the Waterberg:
• Nylsvley Birding Lodge, a registered RAMSAR wetland area
• D’nyala Game Lodge
• Mokolo Dam
• Nwanedi Resort (Vhembe Region)
• Modjadji Nature Resort (Mopani Region)
• Blouberg Nature Reserve (Capricorn Region)
• Tambotie River Lodge (Sekhukhune Region)
Private game reserves, resorts and lodges
The area adjacent to the Kruger National Park is rich in private game
reserves, some of which are regarded as among the finest luxury tourist
offerings in the world. The Sabi Sands Game Reserve has several
accommodation options within its 65 000 hectares, ranging from the
luxurious to the ultra-luxurious. Like the Manyaleti Game Reserve to
its north, Sabi Sands effectively forms the western boundary of the
Kruger Park, with animals free to roam in and out of the private reserves.
Legend Lodges, Hotels and Resorts has three properties in Limpopo.
Both Entabeni Safari Lodges and the Legend Golf & Safari Resort are located
within the Entabeni Safari Conservancy in the Waterberg District.
The exclusive Jackalberry Lodge (16 guests at a time) lies to the east
within the Thornybush Game Reserve which is a reserve of 10 500ha
of pristine bush just outside the Kruger National Park.
Forever Resorts encompasses the warm water springs of the southern
Waterberg (Warmbaths at Bela-Bela), the exotic baobab trees of the
north (Tshipise Resort), the adventurous offerings of the Blyde River
Canyon (Swadini Resort) and the true bushveld experience on the edge
of the Kruger National Park (Phalaborwa Safari Park at Phalaborwa Gate).
All but the latter of these resorts have conference facilities ranging from
130 to 700 delegates.
Tourism routes and clusters
The Bush to Beach Tourism Route covers sites and sights between
Phalaborwa and the east coast of Mozambique, an example of Limpopo’s
successful partnership with a neighbouring country. A grant of more
than R600 000 from the Limpopo
Local Economic Development
programme aims to link the poorer
rural communities along the route
with the more mainstream economic
nodes. Open Africa is the
lead agent in developing community
tourism.
From game reserves in
Limpopo (including the Kruger
National Park) to the beaches of
Xai-Xai in Mozambique, the route
has been supported by private operators
and investors and therefore
is able to offer excellent products
and services to complement
the natural scenery. The Bush to
Beach Tourism Route is one of several
such routes in the province,
including:
• Kruger to Canyon, linking
Phalaborwa to the Blyde River
Canyon through the Kruger
National Park
• Seraki Blouberg, in the
Blouberg mountain range, including
two nature reserves
and encompassing the land of
the 160 000 people living in 117
traditional settlements
• Land of Legends, in the land
of the VhaVenda (northern
Limpopo). Thohoyandou is
the hub for exploring the area
around the Soutpansberg
mountain range that contains
more than 500 species
of trees. Features include the
sacred sites of Lake Fundudzi,
the Thathe Vondo Forest
and the Phiphidi Waterfall.
A 3 000-year-old baobab,
43 metres around, is found near
Sagole Spa.
Other tourism routes in the
province include: the African
Ivory Route, the Golf Route,
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