African Development Bank renovates Kasungu National Park
The African Development Bank (ADB) has, through one of its initiatives in the tourism sector in the country, changed the face of Kasungu National Park by renovating its old structures with the aim of boosting the tourism industry in the country.
Among other things, the development focused bank has renovated the area’s offices, billboards, fences, provided two vehicles, computers, uniforms and some field equipment.
The Africa Development Bank is also providing K600 000 fuel per month for the parks patrols, food rations to officers and renovate roads within the area.
Speaking during a media tour on Tuesday, Kasungu National Park manager Petros Msiska said the development has reduced poaching in the area.
“We were failing to patrol the park due to transport. Dealing with culprits was a big problem. Apart from that, we had problems in keeping records because of lack of computers but now it is history. Kasungu National Park is no longer the same now. Thanks to ADB,” said Msiska.
Msiska also disclosed that the district park management has reduced the accommodation fee of their lodges by 75 percent to every Malawian and 50 percent to a foreigner.
According to him, this will help to attract visitors of the park.
While concurring with Msiska, Kasungu National Park education and extension parks and wildlife officer, Mattias Kachepa, said in order to attract foreign visitors, the management has started educating the surrounding community to have different types of traditional dances such as Gule Wamkulu.
Covering 2, 316 square kilometres, Kasungu National Park is a second largest park in the country.
How on earth did u think Malawians could afford K105,000 accommodation per night at Lifupa? Over my dead body! The market fare shld have been K40,000-K60,000 per night.