Fugas (Público): New "Luso" Tourism Project for Gorongosa
Mar 26, 2011 - Portugal
To read the article (in Portuguese) in the website of the magazine "Fugas" of the newspaper "Público" please click the image below:
New "Luso" Tourism Project for Gorongosa"
by Carla B. Ribeiro
Wake up overlooking the whole wildlife gathered around Urema lake, in a relaxed atmosphere but with the right to all the luxuries imaginable. This is the proposal of the only Portuguese project approved at the international public tender launched by the Ministry of Tourism of Mozambique and the Gorongosa Restoration Project to develop tourism in the Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique.
The Luxury Tented Camp Xivulo (three more were selected: Barra Lodge Ltd., One Africa Limited and Nwedzi Investments Ltd), which will be developed in the area of 30,730ha with the same name, will initially consist of eight luxury tents, with a capacity for two persons each, in the lowland area, nearby the Urema. A second camp will follow, four years later, with ten tents on Mount Xivulo, where visitors will benefit from the resulting height and view.
All tents and common areas are expected to be built further in April, according to the project of the architect and designer Allan Schwarz (South Africa), known for his work based on the ecological balance. The aim is to make the unit self-sustaining - using alternative energy such as solar panels, and betting on the recovery of rainwater - and without environmental impact. The same happens to the visual level.
To our magazine, Pedro Meireles, General Director of Xivulo camp, described the tents as "simple and discreet", because the environment is lush and sufficient, although "with all the refinement." The basic construction materials are wood and mosquito net, covered by the same material that makes the nautical sails. Built with the logic of tree houses, the tents will open up to nature, both in its side and in its coverage, allowing to look to the stars at night.
In the common area, dominates a live swimming pool (where water treatment is made by plants), a lounge, bar, restaurant (with a touch for international cuisine, but with Portuguese base guaranteed by a Portuguese chef), library (the only place where the decor will not match the neutral earth tones crossed with khaki and beige), and a reception. The Xivulo should be ready to receive its first visitors in July and prices will be around $2,500 per person (€ 1,765/person - five days, all inclusive).
The investment in tourism Gorongosa comes one year after the debut of a National Geographic documentary, which relaunched the Mozambican park to the world, and is part of the reconstruction plan developed by the American Greg Carr, who negotiated an investment of $40 million (€ 28,7 million) in 20 years, a rehabilitation project - like a rebirth - of the whole ecosystem.
In addition to the "Luso" project, three others were selected: Barra Lodge Ltd., One Africa Limited and Nwedzi Investments Ltd.
by Carla B. Ribeiro
Wake up overlooking the whole wildlife gathered around Urema lake, in a relaxed atmosphere but with the right to all the luxuries imaginable. This is the proposal of the only Portuguese project approved at the international public tender launched by the Ministry of Tourism of Mozambique and the Gorongosa Restoration Project to develop tourism in the Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique.
The Luxury Tented Camp Xivulo (three more were selected: Barra Lodge Ltd., One Africa Limited and Nwedzi Investments Ltd), which will be developed in the area of 30,730ha with the same name, will initially consist of eight luxury tents, with a capacity for two persons each, in the lowland area, nearby the Urema. A second camp will follow, four years later, with ten tents on Mount Xivulo, where visitors will benefit from the resulting height and view.
All tents and common areas are expected to be built further in April, according to the project of the architect and designer Allan Schwarz (South Africa), known for his work based on the ecological balance. The aim is to make the unit self-sustaining - using alternative energy such as solar panels, and betting on the recovery of rainwater - and without environmental impact. The same happens to the visual level.
To our magazine, Pedro Meireles, General Director of Xivulo camp, described the tents as "simple and discreet", because the environment is lush and sufficient, although "with all the refinement." The basic construction materials are wood and mosquito net, covered by the same material that makes the nautical sails. Built with the logic of tree houses, the tents will open up to nature, both in its side and in its coverage, allowing to look to the stars at night.
In the common area, dominates a live swimming pool (where water treatment is made by plants), a lounge, bar, restaurant (with a touch for international cuisine, but with Portuguese base guaranteed by a Portuguese chef), library (the only place where the decor will not match the neutral earth tones crossed with khaki and beige), and a reception. The Xivulo should be ready to receive its first visitors in July and prices will be around $2,500 per person (€ 1,765/person - five days, all inclusive).
The investment in tourism Gorongosa comes one year after the debut of a National Geographic documentary, which relaunched the Mozambican park to the world, and is part of the reconstruction plan developed by the American Greg Carr, who negotiated an investment of $40 million (€ 28,7 million) in 20 years, a rehabilitation project - like a rebirth - of the whole ecosystem.
In addition to the "Luso" project, three others were selected: Barra Lodge Ltd., One Africa Limited and Nwedzi Investments Ltd.
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