With SA's borders closed and flights limited due to the coronavirus crisis, luxury game lodges are struggling to make an income.The reserve normally gives away or sells at a low cost meat from animals it culls each year to manage stocks.
But with a loss of up to 90% of its revenue, it is now marketing the meat to bring in R50,000-R100,000 a month. “The tourism industry has collapsed. There has been no-one coming to visit,” said Roelie Kloppers, CEO at the Wildlands, which co-manages the reserve. “Instead of culling and just giving that meat away or selling it at a very low price locally, we tried to market it,” said Kloppers, adding, “we would rather have the doors open”.
Rising costs from safety procedures such as hand sanitiser stations, temperature checks and protective equipment for staff have added to the reserve's burden since“Through the meat sales market we were able to keep the ship afloat,” reserve manager Meiring Prinsloo said.n countries lost almost $55bn in travel and tourism revenues in just three months due to the pandemic.