This presentation was made at a IUCN WCPA Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group side event at the World Parks Congress, Sydney, on 13 November 2014

1. Presented to the World Parks Congress
by Lamson Maluleke
THE MAKULEKE JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE
GLTFCA: TOURISM AS A NATURE BASD SOLUTION

3.  After the democratization of the country in 1994, the Makuleke
community was one of the first communities in South Africa to
win a land claim in 1998.
 The Makuleke community regained the title to the land in 1998
after a restitution of land rights process which lasted for 2 years.
 This negotiated settlement creates the framework for one of the
most advanced programmes of community involvement in
conservation and wildlife.
 After the Pafuri land has been returned to its original owners (the
Makuleke people),
 The Makuleke community retained the land as part of Kruger
National Park to be co-managed by the Makuleke community and
the South African National Parks through the Joint Management
Board (JMB).

4.  The Makuleke Contractual Park is 26,500 hectares in size and lies
at the northern extremity of the Kruger National Park (KNP),
South Africa.
 It is bounded by the Limpopo River in the north, Luvuvhu
River in the south and Mutale River in the west.
 The Limpopo River is also the boundary between South Africa
and Zimbabwe, while the meeting point of the Limpopo and
Luvuvhu Rivers is where South Africa, Zimbabwe and
Mozambique meet.
 The Makuleke Contractual Park is a unique and special place.
 It boasts a long and interesting history and is considered one of
the high biodiversity areas in the Kruger National Park and South
Africa more generally.

5.  Makuleke Region forms part of the GLTP
 Initially, their involvement was more on peripheral
 But they have now been given the recognition they
deserve by the TFCA and are examples of how to
benefit from tourism and conservation for other
communities in the TFCA.
 The Park Manager does attend the GLTP JMB
committee

6. Regional
perspective
Pafuri Region: Conservation
components

7. KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
•Pafuri Gate
•Tulamela Gate
•Punda Maria Camp
•Nyalaland hiking trail
•Pafuri picnic site
•Teba Facilities
•Crook’s Corner
•Tulamela Archaeological Site
MAKUYA GAME RESERVE
•Tshikondeni Gate
•Hunting Camp
•Ivory Trails Camp
•Mutale Gorge
•Mutale potholes & waterfalls
•Luvuvhu Gorge
MAKULEKE
•Pafuri Gate
•Outpost Safari Lodge
•Wilderness Safari’s Camp
•Runway
•Lanner Gorge
•Limpopo / floodplain
GONAREZHOU NATIONAL
PARK
•Buffalo Bend Camp
•Eduardo Mondlane Border Post
PARQUE NATIONAL DO
LIMPOPO
•Teba Facilities
Existing
Infrastructure
and attractions

8.  December 1998 - Settlement agreement finalized.
 Sets out vision of community owned land within
KNP system via “Contract Park”.
 For 50 years but after 20 it can be withdrawn. (24.1) if
CPA give 5 years notice.
 Therefore in 2014 there will be a decision by CPA on future!
 JMB (50/50 KNP/CPA) is established with power to
manage the land within a Master Plan that was
completed in March 2000.
 CPA called for tourism development proposals in
1999.

9.  Benefits to the community includes:
 The sustainable use of natural resources:
- Hunting concession
 Employments as a result of photographic tourism
- The development of The Outpost Lodge
- The Pafuri camp
- The Levubu lodge
- The Eco-training camp

10. Partner
Chronologicall
y
Start
date
Period of
concession
Number of
beds
Actual beds Number of
game vehicles
The Outpost May 2001 15yrs +15yrs 24 plus 12 (but
8 if 32ttl)
24
EIA for
3
Elsmore August
2002
15yrs + 15yrs+
15yrs
30 plus 20 = 50 0 0
Wilderness
Safaris
July 2005 15yrs
+15yrs+15yrs
Stage 1 is
18+44= 62
Stage 2 is 18
Option is 44
Total = 122
52
8 walking
trail
Total 62
6
Eco-training Novembe
r 2004
15yrs +
15yrs+15yrs
20 20 1

11. Makuleke residents organised as members of the CPA: 15000 people
CPA Exco
9 members
4 village reps
4 general reps
Chief is ex-officio chair
Elected every 2 years
Implementation
& admin office
Supports exco
& all projects
Administrator
Implementation
officer
Development Trust
Includes Exco reps,
DLA, Maitland
Trust and WWB
Finances
community projects
Interest used for
Exco and
implementation
office costs
Receives & manages
revenues from
hunting, tourism
concessions, land
restitution grant &
funders/partners
Friends of Makuleke Supporters of Makuleke
Individuals & organisations who provide advice
and technical support
to Exco
Development Forum
Includes reps from tribal councils,
municipal council, churches,
women, civics
Advises CPA exco which local
projects to support with
revenues from trust
Specialist subcommittees
Each exco member has
special portfolio
• JMB
• Hunting
• Culture & Heritage
• External support
(partners and donors)
• Private sector
(Bid committee)
• Training and skills
Development
Joint Management Board
(JMB)
Comprises reps from Exco
and KNP
Deals with land and wildlife
management in Makuleke
Region of the KNP
Makuleke residents organised as members of the CPA: 15000 people
CPA Exco
9 members
4 village reps
4 general reps
Chief is ex-officio chair
Elected every 2 years
Implementation
& admin office
Supports exco
& all projects
Administrator
Implementation
officer
Development Trust
Includes Exco reps,
DLA, Maitland
Trust and WWB
Finances
community projects
Interest used for
Exco and
implementation
office costs
Receives & manages
revenues from
hunting, tourism
concessions, land
restitution grant &
funders/partners
Friends of Makuleke Supporters of Makuleke
Individuals & organisations who provide advice
and technical support
to Exco
Development Forum
Includes reps from tribal councils,
municipal council, churches,
women, civics
Advises CPA exco which local
projects to support with
revenues from trust
Specialist subcommittees
Each exco member has
special portfolio
• JMB
• Hunting
• Culture & Heritage
• External support
(partners and donors)
• Private sector
(Bid committee)
• Training and skills
Development
Joint Management Board
(JMB)
Comprises reps from Exco
and KNP
Deals with land and wildlife
management in Makuleke
Region of the KNP

12. A new governance arrangement
Joint Management Board
Park Manager
Joint Management Committee
Working Group: Conservation and Tourism
Working Group: Safety and Security
Working Group: Social
Working Group: Infrastructure Development

13.  A clear rights framework was put in place through the settlement
agreement when the community got ownership of their land back from
the state.
 The community agreed to keep their reclaimed land under conservation
management and became a “Contract Park” jointly managed with
SANParks.
 They set up a Communal Property Association (CPA) accountable to
community members, which manages their land asset and the
partnerships with SANParks and private tourism concessionaires.
 The CPA has nearly 15 year of trying to maximise the benefit to the
community through tourism leases and conservation related activities.
 These structures set an example of good governance and accountability to
the vision, community and partnership agreements.
WHAT MAKES IT WORK

14.  They have drawn their private sector partners into the decision
making process around the Joint Management Board.
 This means the private sector are more involved in conservation
and infrastructure planning and investments.
 They have created an inclusive Conservation and Development
Trust to receive and spend money in the region on conservation.

15.  Government, NGO and Donor support for the community is critical.
The community is not able to negotiate and manage private sector
concessionaires without getting help from government or NGO’s.
 Over the last 13 years there have been many conflicts and difficult
decisions that the Makuleke CPA needed professional input on.
 The Makuleke community were lucky that they had lots of support from
international donors and local NGOs.
 Tourism takes at least 4 years or more to start generating income for the
community in both jobs and lease fees.
 The Makuleke CPA in this case therefore decided to use hunting as a
quick way to get income and show their community the value of having
rights on their returned land.

16.  Tourism income from leases is variable as it was linked to a
percentage of turnover of the lodges.
 This meant that the income to the CPA and community depended
on the number of tourists.
 The actual amounts earned were way below the predictions made
by concessionaires when the contracts were signed.
 The CPA has now renegotiated all the leases and they all now
have a “guaranteed minimum lease fee”. If the 10% turnover is
higher then they get the higher amount.
 The lack of this was devastating to the CPA when a flood
destroyed the one lodge and there was no trading or income for
over 2 years.

17.  Being part of the Kruger has both its benefits as well as
problems. It is wonderful being part of a world renown
conservation area and the tourist operators find it easier to market
the region.
 Being part of the GLTP is a bonus in the marketing of the land
 However sometimes conservative conservation officials on the
ground do not respect the community ownership and the rights
they have.
 We created a common vision and program for all the
stakeholders in the form of the 2013 Conservation and
Development Framework. It has given certainty and clarity to the
tourism and conservation plans and strategies. This has removed
most of the doubt and conflict form the partnerships.

19. Thank You !!