Maputo National Park opens Membene Lodge

Last week, the government of Mozambique and the Peace Parks Foundation celebrated the official opening of Membene Lodge, the latest tourist attraction in Maputo National Park.

Both parties say this new lodge is a vital step in the park's vision to capitalize on the growing interest among local and international ecotourists in experiencing Mozambique's beaches and vast landscapes first-hand.

This is achieved while helping to protect nature and create jobs and livelihoods for surrounding communities. Membene Lodge creates a vital source of income for Maputo National Park and surrounding communities.

The three-star eco-friendly lodge is located in Ponta Membene, where bush meets beach. Accommodation includes 24 self-catering chalets with 80 beds and campsites catering to the mid-market at a level that will be accessible to both local Mozambican tourists and international travellers.

The park is in association with World Parks and partners also supports community projects such as reproductive health, environmental education and alternative livelihoods programs, which currently benefit 18,810 people directly and 32,586 indirectly.

“We congratulate everyone involved in the excellent efforts to restore the park, making it a symbol of national biodiversity and an attraction for domestic and regional tourism. The Peace Parks Foundation is a proven and excellent resource mobilizer that will follow us into the future in a committed partnership,” said Filipe Nyusi, President of Mozambique.

“Our government will continue to work for protection and development landscape, as well as the conservation of ecosystems and biological diversity. We are committed to conserving natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations.”

Maputo National Park has come a long way in its development: from an area devoid of wildlife to a thriving ecosystem ready to welcome the world.

The park initially offered only one accommodation - the Anvil Bay Lodge in Ponta Chemucan, a five-star boutique hotel, followed by the Montebelo Milibangalala Bay Resort.

“With the support Hansjörg Wyss and the Reinet Foundation The Peace Parks Foundation has invested US$5 million in the construction of Membene to enhance the park's appeal to international, regional and local tourists who want to enjoy pristine nature and, more importantly, to become a catalyst for positive change through empowerment and enriching the lives of local communities.

“With this latest investment and expected revenues, the park will be able to cover its operating costs by 2032,” said Werner Myburg, CEO of the Peace Parks Foundation.

The ambitious rewilding program in Maputo National Park has become an important factor in both ecosystem restoration and tourism development. Since 2010, more than 5,100 animals of 16 species have been relocated to the park, of which 12 are reintroduced. A recent wildlife census showed that this number has risen to at least 14,000 wild animals that now live in the park.

Tourism has been extremely important to Mozambique since before the global pandemic of 2020 and associated travel restrictions accounted for 6.2% of the country's GDP. It also supports communities that receive 20% of the income generated by Mozambique's national parks, in addition to the employment opportunities it creates.

Travel to Maputo National Park

Maputo National Park, part of Africa's first transboundary marine protected area, is a major component of the 1,795 square kilometer Lubombo Transboundary Conservation Area. km.

It was declared a national park in 2021 when the Maputo Special Reserve and the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve merged into one management system. The Peace Parks Foundation has supported the development of this area since 2006 and in 2018 signed a 15-year agreement with the National Parks Administration of Mozambique to jointly restore, protect and develop this area.

In the beginning, the park suffered from poaching, was deprived of wildlife and infrastructure, and lacked the ability to protect ecosystems and raise the standard of living of communities.

Thanks to World Bank funding through MozBio, a community and park development program, significant investments have since been made in qualified management personnel and the basic infrastructure necessary for effective management of the park.

Source: travelnews.co.za