The World Bank Shire River basin project is now under way to help develop areas of the Lower Shire Valley, including Lengwe National Park. It is set to improve Hydro Electric capabilities as well as preventing flooding and siltation in Lengwe.

(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED KINGDOM - July 10th, 2013 - The World Bank Shire River basin project is now under way to help develop areas of the Lower Shire Valley, including Lengwe National Park. It is set to improve Hydro Electric capabilities as well as preventing flooding and siltation in Lengwe.

Lengwe is a place that attracts millions of litres of water every year, all coming from the Mwanza catchment during the wet season. It runs through a good portion of the park causing floods, and more devastatingly, communities bordering Lengwe are faced with tonnes of silt dumped on their doorstep.

All the improvements carried out will be 100% sustainable and the majority of the money spent will be directed at non-Government stake holders in the protected areas. This includes the private sector, such as Nyala Lodge, and the communities. It is hoped this money will lay a platform from which the private sector can increase revenue for the park. The revenue sharing scheme will also see communities earn a percentage of the money collected from the concession fees, as well as the gate takings, so this is sure to be a project beneficial for all.

One of the projects in Lengwe will see Nyala Lodge complete a conference centre which was started almost 5 years ago. Money will also go towards improving the road network and infrastructure in the park. In turn this will increase the available areas that visitors and park management can reach, which will make it more difficult for poaching to happen. Increased water holes for animals run by solar pumping units will also try and spread the game throughout the park, and help stop buffalo crossing into the nearby cane fields. It is hoped that a series of check dams as well as one large dam will be installed, helping to curb much of the water and prevent siltation into the Shire River.

It will also add a new dynamic to the entire park, which could possibly allow the park to sustain larger species, including elephants! Nyala Lodge also hope that if all goes to plan they may also be able to introduce bush camps and possibly another lodge nearby. The lodge is looking at adding 12 new rooms to cater for the conference centre. Two self-catering units currently used by the World Bank technicians working on the project will also be left to Nyala to manage when the project is over.

Jambo Africa, who run Nyala Lodge are also pleased to announce that they now have Conforzi Lake Cottage, situated in Mangochi, in their portfolio. Conforzi Lake House is a self catering lake shore unit comprising of one main house and a smaller cottage situated approximately 10 km north of Club Makokola and it is one of the older houses on the lake. It is built on a large plot and has been

in the Conforzi family from 1958.The house was extensively refurbished only two years ago and has a beautifully manicured beach overlooking Boa Dzulu Island.

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