Massive infrastructural developments planned for Kruger National Park!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has recently compiled a multimillion-rand develepment plan for Kruger National Park. Although some infrastructural developments are planned to take place in the Southern part of South Africa's most popular and largest National Park, the main focus of the future development is clearly on the Northern part.  South Africa's Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) awarded R396 million in funding to SANParks for infrastructure development over the next three years in 2018. SANParks allocated R195 million to Kruger National Park earmarked for tourist facilities, staff accommodation, conference and day visitors' facilities, entrance gates, roads and smaller upgrades.

The infrastructural developments will include:

• new entrance gate in the Giyani area in the Northern-western part of
  Kruger National Park
• a new tourism centre at the entrance to Kruger National Park at Phalaborwa Gate
• a new tented camp at Punda Maria Rest Camp
• several new picnic spots
• a cultural village at Masorini Archaeological Site
• new bird hides and ablution facilities at several hides
• staff accommodation units in villages will be upgraded to en-suite units, and additional units will be built
• number of gravel roads will be replaced and stabilised. Roads will be upgraded
• hybrid power supply systems at Sirheni Bushveld Camp, Shimuwini Bushveld Camp, and Bateleur Bushveld Camp will be upgraded, in addition to lapas and swimming pools, which are set to be built at these camps, as well as at Biyamiti
  Bushveld Camp
• the shop at Mopani Rest Camp will be turned into a conference centre, and the current cafeteria will be turned into the shop
• water and sewage facilities will be receiving an upgrade, including main bulk water supply lines between Balule Rest Camp and Satara Rest Camp and between Malelane Rest Camp and Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp
• some developments at Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp, Lower Sabie Rest Camp and other parts in the Southern region of the Kruger National Park are planned
• all southern gates, as well as Phalaborwa Gate and Orpen Gate, will also be upgraded, Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp will receive a new bridge and road to ensure it becomes an end-destination. Roads will therefore no longer pass through the camp
• the height of the Crocodile Bridge will be increased
• a swipe card system will be introduced at all gates to facilitate fast lanes for Wild Card holders