Phalaborwa tourism boosted by VIPs
2008-04-28
VIPs experienced the new Rixile Bush to Beach exploration tour last week as part of an effort to raise the profile of Limpopo and Mozambique as tourism destinations, with the opening of the Giriyondo border post in the Kruger National Park last year. The tour, organised by Limpopo Tourism and Parks (LTP) with Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), was hailed as a great success by the participants.
The guests included the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Rejoice Mabudafhasi; MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Collins Chabane; delegates from LTP, LEDET and the Mopani District Municipality; and Marc Demmer and Mark Glanvill from the Palabora Foundation and Ba-Phalaborwa Tourism.
The tour departed on 20 April through the Phalaborwa gate into the Kruger National Park. On their way to the Giriyondo border post the group stopped to visit Masorini heritage site and the revamped elephant museum at the Letaba Rest Camp. Having made their way through the border at Giriyondo just north of Letaba, they continued until their stop at Covane Lodge, Massingir.
The tour made an overnight stop at Complexo Aquarius and Complexo Praia do Sol in Bilene. Refreshed after the long journey by a good night’s sleep, the Deputy Minister met Mozambique’s Minister of Tourism and High Commissioner over breakfast.
The group continued their tour with visits to various schools in Xai-Xai, a visit to the statue of King Ngungunyane at Chaimite and then on to the museum and birthplace of Eduardo Mondlane at Manjacaza in the Gaza Province.
The VIPs spent a night at Xai-Xai Beach Club before beginning the journey back to Phalaborwa, once again taking the route through the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park via the Massingir dam and Giriyondo.
The Bush to Beach route is one of three Rixile routes that have been launched to position Phalaborwa as a tourism hub in the Lowveld. Judging from the success of the VIP tour, the route – and Phalaborwa – should be getting plenty of exposure in high places soon.
The Rixile routes were launched by the Palabora Foundation in 2007 as part of a tourism initiative in co-operation with the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality. More information about the routes is available from the Bollanoto Tourism Information Centre, which is located on the Phalaborwa approach to the Kruger National Park (015 781 3620).
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