Pigg's Peak up for tender

TENDERS are available this week for hoteliers interested in running the Protea Hotel in Pigg's Peak, located in Swaziland's northern mountains and accessible via the Matsamo border post with South Africa. "Tenders are invited from suitable and reputable hotel operators for long-term lease of a Pigg's Peak hotel, situated in the beautiful and scenic north-west region of Swaziland," reads the tender announcement. The hotel is owned by Pigg's Peak and Casino (Property) Limited, a company wholly owned by the government of Swaziland. The government decided to lease rather than sell the facility based on recommendations of a task team, according to team member Musa Dlamini, after considering what to do with the hotel since last year. Tender documents will be available as of Friday, October 6, only at the offices of the Ministry of Tourism in Mbabane at a cost of R500, and must be received back at the tourism ministry by Friday, October 20. Tourism officials note that the Protea Hotel is ideally situated to take advantage of the recreation and tourism attractions to come next year when the nearby Maguga Dam is completed, creating the kingdom's largest artificial lake. The 120-room hotel, situated in a pine forest, has conference rooms, indoor and pool-side bars, restaurants, a casino, tennis and squash courts and other sporting and recreation facilities. In its annual report, the Central Bank of Swaziland noted that business at the Pigg's Peak casino diminished during the past year due to competition from new casinos in SA's Mpumalanga province across the border. (James Hall)