Chairman: Bhangazi Trust - Ephraim Mfeka, Director of Park Operations: Wetland Park Authority - Herbert Mthembu, CEO: Wetland Park Authority - Andrew Zaloumis and Mayor of Mtubatuba - Chris Swartz

ABOUT 60 local business owners, tourism stakeholders and community leaders joined the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park Authority on a field visit to experience the Park’s exciting new visitor infrastructure currently being constructed on the Eastern Shores.
The purpose of the visit was to enable tourism stakeholders to get first hand experience of what is being built in order to provide accurate information to their clients and the operators with whom they work; to provide input on how the tourism offering on the Eastern Shores can be further improved; and to meet Wetland Authority staff.
These developments will substantially enhance the day visitor options to the Park and thereby add value to their stay in the area.
They are also creating jobs for communities living in and around the Park.

Game drives
Included in the developments are two new game drive loop roads enabling visitors to experience the full range of ecosystems in this part of the Wetland Park - one high up on the dunes giving sea and lake views; the other meandering along pan edges and coastal forests.
The sites for five new viewpoints along the game drive roads, a lake view picnic site at Catalina Bay and at the Mission Rocks viewpoint, a new hide at Mfabeni Pan, and a view road to Kudu Pan were experienced first hand.
The Mission Rocks road is also being substantially upgraded.

Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of the Wetland Authority said they were delighted with the interest and participation of the St Lucia businesses and community leaders.
‘We look forward to ongoing input from tourism stakeholders on how the offering on the Eastern Shores can be enhanced.
‘The new game drives will be completed in time for the Easter season, and the new hides and picnic sites by mid year,’ he concluded.
Local leadership included Mtubatuba Mayor - Chris Swart, Efraim Mfeka - Chairman of the Bhangazi Community Trust, Induna Phillip Mkhwanazi.
Mtubatuba’s new Municipal Manager - Dr Michael Ntombela, who recently started with the municipality also joined the trip on his first visit to the Park.

Source:  Zululand Observer