Popular loop on iSimangaliso’s Eastern Shores to be re-opened
Upgrades to 68km of roads in iSimangaliso Wetland Park's Eastern and Western Shores commenced this week.
SIXTY-EIGHT kilometres of gravel roads in iSimangaliso Wetland Park’s Eastern and Western Shores will be rehabilitated over the next few months and repairs to Sodwana Bay’s roads will also be undertaken.
Forming the next phase of the park authority’s R250-million upgrade project, works commenced on Monday with the appointment of Aqua Transport and Plant Hire.
Included in the scope of works are the improvement of drainage on the Eastern and Western Shores and the raising of sections of road to allow better access during wet periods.
Most notably, the popular Grassland Loop is set to be re-opened once repair work to the collapsed berm at Lake Bhangazi on the Eastern Shores is complete.
The R40-million contract will be overseen by MBB, iSimangaliso’s consulting engineers. Work will break over the peak December holidays, from 15 December to 16 January, and will continue into the next financial year.
Work on 99km of roads in the uMkhuze Game Reserve will commence in January, as well as the completion of new walkways and car parks at the hides.
In the interim, an ‘invisible’ Big 5 fence will be erected from the car park to the walkway at recently rebuilt kuMasinga Hide which has seen increased activity of dangerous game, including new lion cubs, buffalo and elephant.
Owing to increased elephant activity at the Western Shores entrance gate, additional electric fencing is currently being installed.
‘One of the primary drivers in the implementation of our conservation model is to marry tangible community development with a first-class visitor experience,’ said iSimangaliso CEO Andrew Zaloumis.
‘The Aqua contract includes labour-intensive construction methodology and the employment of locals.
‘The ongoing maintenance and upgrades to popular visitor roads throughout iSimangaliso will improve visitor experience and permit even small sedans the freedom to explore the rich diversity in the park.’
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