South Africa: Portuguese Consortium Bankrolls New Maputo Game Reserve

10 October 2001
African Eye News Service (Nelspruit)
By Rafael Bie

Komatipoort — A Portuguese consortium has begun construction on a new US$1,5 million game lodge midway between the South African border town of Komatipoort and Mozambique's capital Maputo.

The Sociedade de Producao e Abastecimento Agro-Pecuario initiative by Portugal's Ferpinta Group represents the first major eco-tourism initiative in southern Mozambique linked to the proposed transfrontier game park with South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The new 10 000ha reserve borders the town of Moamba 30km outside Maputo, and will be stocked with a variety of game imported from South Africa.

Reserve manager, Carlos Coelho, said developers intended targeting US and Portuguese tourists and hoped to open the first boutique lodge catering for 50 tourists by December.

The lodge is also considering limited hunting operations, and is already the largest employer in Moamba with 65 permanent staff.

The lodge forms part of the Ferpinta Group's US$12 million investment drive into Mozambique. - African Eye News Service

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