KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa
Sector
Tourism & Leisure
Mkhambatini Game Reserve – rest camps, exclusive lodges, exclusive bush camps, conference facilities, restaurants and game viewing roads … and a few upmarket houses on sectional titles.
The vision is to create a 110sqkm game reserve within 30 minutes drive from Durban and 10 minutes from Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal’s major cities. The park’s enormous competitive advantage over the established game parks is that visitors will be able to view rhino, elephant, buffalo, antelope and a variety of smaller predators at a location so proximal to these urban centres.
Project description: 11 000ha of land has been returned to land claimants under the land restitution process. The area is located immediately to the northeast of the N3 motorway linking Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The western extent of the proposed reserve actually abuts on Pietermaritzburg’s eastern suburbs. A limb of the area crosses the N3 at the Mkhondeni River and may enable the established Bizley Nature Reserve in Pietermaritzburg to link with the new park.
A major feature for the reserve will be the Msunduzi River which meanders along the northern boundary. In addition, there are a number of smaller rivers running through the reserve draining into the Msunduzi. The terrain itself is eminently suitable for the variety of species planned. There are a few game species in the park.
Planned facilities: Promoters plan a network of rest camps, exclusive lodges, exclusive bush camps, conference facilities, restaurants and game viewing roads. A few up-market houses on sectional titles are planned. Notwithstanding that the park will be easily accessible all accommodation facilities will be sited to create the illusion of wilderness.
Business activities: Income streams will be from park entrance fees, sale of accommodation, lease on sectional titles and conferencing facilities as well as rearing and sale of rear or endangered game species such as black rhino.
Feasibility study status: A feasibility study has been completed.
Financials: A total capital outlay of R108-million has been estimated. Should all saleable facilities are sold total capital inflow should be approximately R151-million.
Employment opportunities: Not established as yet
An investor is sought to develop, operate and manage the facilities in partnership with the project owners.
Contact Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal:
