Liuwa Plain National Park in Western Zambia has announced a process of tender for private operators wishing to provide services in the park.
The park is described as “fully rehabilitated” and offers a migration of over 40 000 wildebeest and 5 000 zebra, prolific birdlife, a good number of carnivores and other plains game.
The vision for Liuwa Plain includes financial sustainability, a core aspect of which is an appropriate level of tourism development. Expressions of interest are therefore being called for by African Parks Zambia for the development of a fly-in, four- to five-star tourism product in Liuwa Plain National Park.
An indication of key terms is as follows:
1. Up to three commercial lodges to be located within a ‘low volume, high value’ shared exclusive tourism zone.
2. Lodge size restricted to 18 beds with possible mobile satellite camp of six beds.
3. Shared use of the exclusive tourism zone according to prescribed rules and regulations, plus general access to remainder of the park.
4. Concession term of 20 years with a first right of refusal for a further 15 years.
5. Right of use of the year-round, all-weather airstrip within the exclusive tourism zone.
6. Park fees plus 10% of annual turnover payable to African Parks Zambia.
7. Environmental Impact Assessment to be completed prior to commencing construction.
8. Commitment to community development including capacity building and employment.
9. General management of the area, including the airstrip, roads, wildlife management and security, to be done by African Parks Zambia.
10. Approval of Development Plan and a formal Concession Agreement by African Parks Zambia Board required.
Interested parties must submit an Expression of Interest in a prescribed format by December 31, 2010, including a description of the size and nature of their existing tourism business. To ensure the proper roll-out of this phase of the project, any proposal from a party that does not currently have an existing portfolio of 18 existing beds, an annual turnover of $1 million and a capital base of $1million will be disqualified.
The process to be followed by African Parks Zambia, the Barotse Royal Establishment and ZAWA will also be explained in the Expression of Interest documentation.
Please request Expression of Interest documentation from:
Raquel Filgueiras Seybert
Park Manager, Liuwa Plain National Park
PO Box 320149, Lusaka, Zambia
Cell: +260979611975
liuwamanager@africanparks.co.zm
