Rocktail: underwater paradise

Rocktail Beach Camp has built off the excellent partnerships forged between Rocktail Bay Lodge and the local community and continued these to the benefit of all.

Rocktail Bay Lodge was one of the first joint ventures in South Africa between community, a conservation authority and ecotourism. The model, involving Wilderness Safaris, the surrounding Mqobela and Mpukane communities and the iSimangaliso (former Greater St. Lucia) Wetland Park Authority, has evolved since then, to the point where Rocktail Bay became a partner site in the Pro Poor Tourism in Southern Africa Programme.

More than 2% of the community in the immediate settlements (comprising approximately 1 500 people) are permanently employed at the Lodge and, through a programme called Business Linkages in Tourism, community-based enterprise is being supported to provide a range of additional products and services. 

The long-term success of this innovative project is dependent upon continued relationship-building between the three parties. A new structure is currently being introduced to enable the communities to participate more effectively in this three-way arrangement extending to resource management of the coastal region and in developing a new range of products.

Pack for a Purpose is an innovative way that guests of Wilderness Safaris can help school children in this area. See their website.