The Skukuza Safari Lodge project is the first hotel development that was built at the Kruger National Park in South Africa. Construction on the project officially commenced on 18 February 2017 and it was completed by June 2018. But the hotel was eventually opened on January 1, 2020.
A figure eight configuration was used for the 128-room Skukuza Safari Lodge project. The hotel offers eight luxury suites, standard rooms, and family rooms, along with universal access rooms. It was built mainly for housing attendees of the park’s Mopani Conference Centre. But rooms are also available for park guests.
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Reported in Dec 2014
SANParks, South Africa to develop Skukuza Lodge Hotel at a cost of US$14.9m
The government is planning to construct a new hotel lodge to satisfy the increased need for accommodation in South Africa’s parks.
According to SANParks, the body mandated to manage and develop the parks, construction, and development of the new facility will take place once planning and feasibility studies have been completed, and finances sought. Apparently, the body was at the planning stage for the new undertaking but it will be opened in 2017.
The planned hotel, which will target the 3-star or 4-star market categories will be constructed at the Skukuza Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park and will have the capacity to host up to 628 delegates once completed, according to SANParks. In October this year, the government invited the republic to participate by inclusion in discussing issues in relation to the setting up of the facility.
The new lodge facility is will have 120 rooms with 250 beds. It has been estimated by architects that it will cost US$14.9 million to set up the new hotel. Lined up for construction for the new ‘H’ shaped building will be standard rooms, luxury suites, and family rooms. It will also incorporate green building techniques, with SANPark having already appointed Green Building Consultant to implement the ideas.
The architectural design of the property will diverge from a normal hotel design to a lodge-type design and will incorporate a KNP architectural design.
The building will also entail energy-efficient designs including solar energy and water harvesting. It will also offer direct and indirect employment opportunities.
Glenn Phillips, the managing executive for Tourism Development and Marketing at SANParks in October indicated that the new facility would help offer a more delegate-friendly accommodation at the park since the current one was focused on leisure.
The new hotel will be good news since it will help the country optimize the existing Skukuza infrastructure and Skukuza Airport. It will also offer WiFi among other latest technologies to delegates.
SANParks is mandated by the government of South Africa to develop and manage national parks.
