13 November 2020

The Deputy Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Ms Makhotso Sotyu has today, Friday 13 November 2020, officially unveiled a three-star Awelani Eco Lodge in the Mutele Community Conservation Area, Vhembe District, Limpopo Province.  

Government, through the national and provincial departments in collaboration with the local government, has invested more than R50 million for the development and upkeep of the lodge.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Masisi, Deputy Minister Sotyu emphasised that the success of the lodge is entirely dependent on the collaboration between all spheres of government and the Mutele community. “Clear responsibilities for all key stakeholders ensures less conflict thereby speeding up the implementation of the project. The model used in the management and implementation of this project may be duplicated and utilised elsewhere in other projects of similar nature,” she said.

Awelani Eco Lodge is owned by the Mutele Community, which made approximately 1 800 ha of its land available for conservation and tourism associated projects in order to address high unemployment rate among the community members. The area has a high tourism potential taking into consideration its close proximity to the Kruger National Park.

Situated approximately 11 kilometres west of the Pafuri Gate of the Kruger National Park, the lodge has the capacity to accommodate 54 overnight guests in a “game reserve style” accommodation facility and a 150-seater conference centre. The lodge has become a key vehicle for employment and business opportunities for the local community.

“To date, a total number of 23 people from the Mutele Community are permanently employed, with additional casual staff appointed on contractual basis. Local small businesses are also directly benefiting from the existence of Awelani Eco-lodge and Community Conservation Area. Local contractors are used for services such as repair and maintenance, plumbing, as well as for cultural activities such as performing traditional dances and preparing traditional food for international tourists visiting the lodge,” said Deputy Minister Sotyu.

Over the past few years, the DEFF has been actively involved in the establishment and development of community conservation and eco-tourism related projects for communities living adjacent to Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs). This is in line with one of the TFCAs’ main objectives which seeks to improve the livelihoods of communities living in or adjacent to TFCAs.

Awelani Eco Lodge project was triggered by the establishment of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area and the plans to physically link the Kruger National Park with Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe through the development of a bridge not far from the lodge.

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