2010 Camp to assist Poor Rural Communities to become champions of Tourism

Jan. 18, 2010 - PRLog -- 2010 Fan Camp – Greater Kruger Park

The concept behind “2010 Camp” is intended to assist the Manyeleti villages to realize their opportunities and growing their hospitality service levels to enable them to fully participate in Safari tourism.

The initiative has identified that community owned tourism businesses can assist by alleviating the pressures on the local poverty-stricken, rural community by way of the incubation of entrepreneurs and promoting community/private sector partnerships.

Located in the Mpumalanga Province, adjacent to the Kruger National Park; this community has been identified as one of twenty-three rural and urban nodes by the South African government. These nodes represent the largest concentrations of poverty in the country.
Approximately 800 000 individuals reside in the district and 70% of the community is not economically active. This is due, in part, to the fact that they do not have employable skills, have not had access to skills training and do not have the resources available to obtain these skills.

36% of households depend on remittances from migrant labour as their only source of income. An estimated 60% of men aged between 16 and 65 work as migrant labourers outside the district. 3.9% of households report no source of income at all – the highest proportion of all of the nodal areas.

The 2010 Camp project aims to place the Manyeleti Main Camp and Reserve, a design of the apartheid era as the black peoples Kruger Park, on the tourism stage. We have identified a need for an affordable product to give young travelers access to a Big 5 Kruger experience. Championing the community will reinforce conservation and promote a feeling of ownership again.

The park has never achieved its true potential like the neighboring Sabi Sands and Timbavati Private Reserves who receive hosts of international travelers. The wildlife is exceptional within the 22750 hectares Manyeleti which is open to the greater Kruger Park. The lake adjacent to 2010Camp attracts a host of animals including the sort after Big 5.
Our business model is one of maximal outsourcing so as create as many empowerment opportunities as possible.

We would like to leave a legacy of a functioning, sought after product in the market.
This legacy will include skills transfer and work experience, from trained waiters to catering staff. Furthermore, local entrepreneurs will be given the opportunity to ply their trade, the idea being that after the World Cup is over and done with, that Manyeleti would be able to continue providing the services and functions that we define in this initial product offering, without the help of outsiders. That is, building a sustainable product for an untapped niche market.

We will sell one-week packages to soccer fans. These soccer fans are defined by being young – 20 to 30 years old – and having a limited budget. We will offer accommodation of four types – luxury rooms, standard rooms, cabins (dormitories) and tents. Included in the package will be breakfast and dinner as well as activities – safari: game drives and bush walks, as well as cultural experiences.

Each guest will have three games drives, one bush walk and one cultural activity during their week stay. The cultural experiences will include visiting villages as well as playing soccer against local teams.

For more info: http://www.2010camp.com

Best regards
Russ Weston

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In the heart of South Africa’s Big Five Kruger Park – yet within driving distance of two venues for World Cup - This exclusive use large private safari camp at very affordable rates. 2010 Camp sleeps 160 guests in 3 levels of serviced accommodation.