Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa – Investment and Employment - Responsible Tourism: Critical Issues for Conservation and Development - page 255

Employee analysis and staff bed ratios - Four countries and Madikwe
commercial lodges 2003

100% 2.50

91%

88% 85%

2.15

82%

90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

1.90

70%

2.00

1.34
48%

1.50

1.24

53%

1.03 47%

40%

1.00

23%

0.50

-

Botswana
Okavango :
lodges

Zimbabwe
5SE Lowveld :
3 Lodges

Namibia
Kunene : 3
Lodges

SA (KZN) : 3
Lodges

Madikove
2003 : 12
commercial
lodges

Local Employees as
% of total staff
Female Employees
as % of total staff
Staff/Bed Ratio

Lodge Clusters

Source: Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia & SA (KZN) from Relly 2004a, adapted from Koch et al, 2001a, 2001b,
2001c, 2001d

Figure 12.2 Madikwe Cluster 2003 compared with clusters in four countries -
employee numbers only

Summary and conclusions

The ongoing evaluation of Madikwe has been conducted in a relative vacuum of
comparable published data. However, the evaluation of new lodges within the
reserve has produced some noteworthy data.
The state's investment of nearly $28 million (mainly infrastructure, fencing
and wildlife) has attracted a further $65.14 million worth of private sector, fixed
investment within the reserve in the form of lodge superstructure and fittings -
and is well in excess of this if one considers the capital that has been invested in
land and tourism plant on farms not officially incorporated in the reserve to date.
Within the reserve, investment at the 20 commercial lodges averages around
$118,570 per bed or $85,570 per permanent job.
The reserve has created 773 full-time employment positions within the
cluster of five enterprise categories. Nearly 75 per cent of these jobs are occupied
by local employees, a significant percentage increase on the 2003 figure of 65.5
per cent. The 2007 figure suggests that the 12+ years of MGR's operational
existence has started to manifest in increased local recruitment. This is supported
by the increased local capture of cash remuneration to 48.4 per cent (2003, 42.6
per cent). The total formal cash earnings going to local employees are now close
to the $2.57 million/annum mark and this figure can be reckoned to be in the
region of $3.29 million/annum with various estimated adjustments for cash
income sources not reflected on the payrolls.