The Board of South African National Parks (SANParks) confirmed, at its quarterly meeting held at Groenkloof, that it still stands by the decision to develop two safari hotel-type tourism facilities in the Kruger National Park.
It said that commercialisation continues to be a policy of the board that is based on sound decision making
The board re-affirmed its commitment to the building of two new safari lodges in the Kruger National Park saying that this is a necessary innovation to diversify the market of the park, general enjoyment and access to the parks for all sectors of our society.
The board reassures South Africans that it understands its legal mandate and, as such, would not preside over a decision which may lead to the destruction of the natural heritage of the people of South Africa, saying “nowhere in the world has an accommodation facility destroyed the ecology of a park”. It invited anyone to bring such scientific evidence to the table.
Professor Willem van Riet has been announced as the project co-ordinator for both lodges. - Weekend Argus