Commercial success from a community partnership with the private sector, at Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge

Abstract

Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge (WML) is an 88-bed lodge in the South African section of the Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Park World Heritage Site. WML is a community owned lodge, privately operated by Transfrontier Parks Destinations (TFPD). By providing business acumen, market linkages, and securing investment finance TFPD has transformed a dilapidated community owned lodge into a thriving enterprise. It generates meaningful financial returns for the community owners, and also secure full-time employment for local people. Furthermore, the lodge has been independently certified as a sustainable tourism business by Fair Trade Tourism.