Maburuburung
Introduction
The farm Bazaine J92 KT is situated in the Hoedspruit/Makutsi district, consisting of 2,641 hectares of Arid Lowveld (Acocks, Number 11) with about 5 km of frontage on the Olifants River. It is situated in a fairly dry region with a long-term mean annual rainfall of 488mm. The climate can be described as arid steppe with an average temperature exceeding 18 degrees Celcius. The underlying geology is harmony granites with dolerite intrusions. Bazaine is located on communal controlled land with the legal status of state land.
Bazaine’s topography is very striking. The Drakensburg Escarpment provides the backdrop, rising-up hundreds on meters from the foothills where the majestic Olifants River has been cascading through the dolomite geological fault for millions of years. "Maburuburung” is the name given to a series of waterfalls and potholes – ‘the sound the water makes’. Bazaine’s topography combined with the diversity of indigenous plant types, various indigenous animal species and the Olifants River combine to provide a very high quality natural environment suited to carefully controlled tourism development in an area with a rich cultural history.
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The Location and integration of the proposed Maburuburung Reserve
Caveat
It is very important to note that the issues and proposals described below have been discussed with the local community on whose communal land this development could take place, but that some sections of the Community did not meet the proposals positively. This can be attributed to internal conflict between the traditional and political leaders, conflict within the traditional hierarchy and the serious underlying issue of land tenure rights or the ‘tragedy of the commons’. As such the proposal is simply a reflection of the kinds of developments that could take place. Any decision to pursue this project further would require the whole concept, objectives, principles, project elements etc. to be discussed anew with the local community and that total consensus on the way forward needs to be achieved.
Objectives
• The overall objective of this project is to promote the development of environmentally, culturally, economically, and socially sustainable tourism facilities on Bazaine.
• From a socio-economic perspective the overall objective is to develop tourism infrastructure and facilities in a manner that will ensure that a range of sustainable socio-economic benefits flow to the Mametja community. A second objective is to mobilise private sector investment and expertise for the development and operation of the required infrastructure and tourism facilities. The development of the tourism facilities on communal land on the basis of a community/ public/ private partnership should in turn have important ‘empowerment’ effects for the local community. The development and operation of these tourism facilities catering for the high-income market should provide important and sustainable entrepreneurial development opportunities for these communities.
• From an environmental perspective the development of the tourism facilities will result in the generation of revenue flows without jeopardizing environmental and cultural standards. Such revenue will be channelled into socio-economic development activities (including conservation related human resource development activities) in the Mametja Tribe.
• From a tourism perspective the development and operation of quality tourism facilities that provide access to a wide range of eco-tourism, adventure and cultural tourism activities in this relatively pristine and highly diversified environment. This will provide a significant boost to tourism development efforts for the Central Lowveld and Escarpment.
Proposals
There are no existing tourism facilities on Bazaine. The proposed tourism facilities will need to be constructed anew. The Maburuburung Trust Members accepted the following proposals:
1. The establishment of a Game Reserve
The Blyde Olifants Conservancy aims to establish, through its members (of which Bazaine can be one), a 14,000 ha. Big Game Reserve with a potential to grow eventually to over 21,000 ha. Spanning both the Blyde and the Olifants Rivers this future reserve provides close to 30 km of both the Blyde and Olifants Rivers providing 60 km of unique perennial Lowveld riverine habitat, able to support a viable herd of Elephant. Some of the largest specimens of Common Waterbuck have been recorded in these areas. Rare game species such as Roan, Sable and Tsessebe also use to occur here, as did Common and Mountain Reedbuck in plentiful numbers, before homesteading and cattle ranching pushed all these species into local extinction.
2. Traditional Living Village
It is envisaged that a traditional “living” village be positioned within the cattle zone at the main entrance to the reserve area, providing access to resources and visitors. This site would afford the opportunity to acquire a small herd of Nguni cattle, African dogs and chickens – enhancing the authenticity of this village, extending interpretative opportunities and community participation.
It is envisaged that four family units could be built in phases, depending on the need and growth of the project. These would be used to ‘house’ the production of handcrafts and also serve as museum exhibits, interpretative exhibition spaces, and for dance and presentations.
3. Iron age museum and interpretive center
Archaeological evidence has revealed extensive iron industry activity within an eighty kilometre radius of the ancient ore body, dating back to the 6th century AD, situated at Phalaborwa. A reconstruction of an iron-smiting site on a trial with interpretative infrastructure and museum would provide a focal attraction within the reserve area – increasing the tourist experience, community participation and employment.
The history of the metal industry of the Central Lowveld has never in the past been comprehensively exhibited besides the site at Mazorini in the Kruger National Park. No permanent dedicated space has ever been provided to attract the possible donations of collections of artefacts that exist in private hands and official museum collections throughout the country. Should there be such a facility, professionally managed and directed, it is felt that exhibition material would be available to exhibit at this centre.
The concept of this facility is to provide both a formal space (museum) and an open site reconstruction of the process of metal extraction and manufacture in the vicinity of two granite hills on the reserve. A suitable site has been found in the reserve overlooking a superb vista of the escarpment and river valley. The Facility would be open to the public as well as to guests residing in the camps within the reserve. Access would be provided both from the Traditional Village via the existing village of Finale or via the main road (R52 to Mica)
4. Accommodation Facilities
The Olifants River as it enters the reserve property forms a wide flood plain with extensive riverine vegetation on the surrounding banks. It is proposed that the Main Camp should be positioned in the middle of the property’s river frontage, near where the river cascades down a series of deep gorges.
Following the vernacular design criteria written about earlier, the design of the accommodation is conceived to follow those rudimentary forms and functions found in the traditional village, with the adaptations that history namely the inclusion of early settler vernacular had on building design. The moulding of new forms on the old will now serve as design criteria that offer both a sense of place and an interpretative function. The incorporation of traditional and western styles provides a quaint and picturesque architectural vernacular.
These buildings will form cluster units, 10 beds per phase, with a total of 20 beds in all. The main camp will also provide for a reception area, a bar and lounge area and a dining area. It is further recommended that wooden walkways and deck platforms providing safe access and viewpoints constructed from the main reception areas running along the river gorge should be considered. Exceptional views of this natural wonder can be experienced from these vantage points.
Two additional accommodation sites have been planned for. These provide rustic accommodation for eight people in two different localities. The localities are found in each extremity of the property both above and below the main camp on the river frontage.
It is envisaged that a hiking trail route will link these two units via the Iron Age site and the traditional village. This planned route will provide for a three-day two night accompanied trail for eight guests and trail guide spread over a total distance of approximately 15 kilometres.
These camps will consist of five accommodation units with two ablutions facilities in each, again build in traditional style with thatch, pole and reed using adobe (mud) plaster. They will have both an open and sheltered lapa area and enclosed kitchen.
5. Services
It will be necessary to erect a game fence of approximately 9 kilometres, which must also provide for two entrances. Game fencing is designed for different applications and as such it is recommended that this be constructed in two phases for this project. A standard game fence can first be erected. To this can then be added the electrification of the standard recommended by the conservancy, bearing in mind that fencing for big game, for example elephant, will be needed.
This phased construction will be determined by the final approval of membership to the conservancy and will follow the project implementation’s time schedule for the introduction of the Big Five species.
The two entrances that need to be provided for are the main entrance and service entrance. The main entrance will have an Entrance Gate where visitors will experience a ‘sense of arrival’ on reaching their destination. This structure would help to showcase the Reserve and its management activities. The service entrance will be a simple security gate which, as at the main gate, will need to be permanently manned. Guard accommodation in the form of an office hut will be provided for with radio communications to main camp.
To traverse the proposed reserve and gain access to the gates and planned facilities; approximately 25 kilometres of partially surfaced (prepared) dirt roads are needed. This will allow the main gate and service gate to gain access to the museum site, both trail camps and the main camp. It is estimated that an additional 25 kilometres of game viewing roads will have to be provided for 4x4 game viewing vehicles.
It is recommended that a central water reticulation system be constructed at a point on the property that is adjacent to the river. This can be provided by a borehole application. From this central point water will be reticulated to both trail camps and the main camp. A further provision for water will be provided with a borehole sited at the museum site for the visitor centre.
ESCOM electrical power is available at present from the opposite bank in the vicinity of the weir positioned in the south-western sector of the reserve. The service providers (ESCOM) will provide this service over an approximate distance of three kilometres. It is recommended that only the main camp will have electricity for guest comfort. Solar power also needs to be investigated, as this would be a far less obtrusive and a more suitable solution.
Benefits
Public sector benefits via ongoing conservation of this important water catchment area. The Community benefits via lease/concession fees from equity sharing in the tourism ventures (with a relatively captive market), capacity building via on-the-job training from the private sector partner, related entrepreneurship opportunities (transport, wood, refuse removal, road maintenance, supply of fresh produce) and direct employment (related to tourism itself and the assumed environmental management responsibilities on communal and/or State land). The Private sector benefits by way of access to prime investment opportunities that were previously unavailable on communal land, and the resultant opportunity to achieve acceptable financial returns.
Key principles
• Bazaine is of strategic significance by virtue of the role it can play in participating as a member of a big five reserve with the neighbouring Blyde-Olifants Conservancy. It’s location to the reserve, and its potential value adding by obtaining/ giving traversing rights to the bigger reserve is substantial. It also has considerable biodiversity value. Any proposed development will need to conform to ISO 14000 standards.
• The area’s inherent tourism development potential has not been optimally utilised. In order to enhance the utilisation of the inherent tourism development potential, private sector investment and expertise – in partnership with the local community - will be mobilised into Maburuburung to develop, operate and maintain related tourism infrastructure.
• This tourism development will be located on communal land. Local communities will have to develop meaningful and more equitable partnerships with private sector tourism developers/operators using their land as capital to purchase equity.
• The development of cultural and natural interpretation ventures in a manner that promotes entrepreneurial development opportunities for the local rural communities will be encouraged.
• Revenue generated from the facilities at Maburuburung will be channelled in total to the tourism partnership (community and private sector).
• It is proposed that the establishment of key infrastructure, such as roads and fencing, be provided by the Northern Provincial Government/ Donor grant funding.
• The Northern Province Government will have to provide the environmental regulatory framework within which Bazaine is to be managed.
• It is proposed that a single private sector operator will be mobilised to market and operate the accommodation and interpretation facilities. This private sector operator would have a standard lease/concession agreements in respect of all of the facilities.
• Provision is to be made in the tourism development proposals to cater for the use of the some sections of Bazaine by cattle owners and members of the local community for resource collection.
• Entry to the sections of Bazaine that is part of the Blyde – Olifants Conservancy will be controlled (numbers as well as entry and exit) and a fee levied for all entrants be they overnight or day visitors/hikers or day visitors to the Interpretative Museum. (Revenue generated from this source will be channelled into the Maburuburung Trust and be used for development initiatives within Bazaine, maintenance of infrastructure, and for socio-economic development programmes in the communal areas outside of the Reserve.
• Linkages between Maburuburung and other eco-tourism and adventure tourism activities/facilities/products in the Lowveld need to be promoted.
