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If anything, it is the relocation of Badplaas’ tourism information centre from the BP petrol station lot in which it was housed in a little portable ‘shacklike’ dwelling to the aesthetically appealing cottage situated at Cradle of Life’s Travel Port that demonstrates the extent to which Badplaas’ tourism industry has already been improved by the Cradle of Life tourism development project.

Unlike the shack at the BP station where one felt as if you were stopping at some lone borderpost of one of the former Soviet states, the centre at Travel Port makes one feel as if you are a VIP deserving treatment and service consistent with your ‘high class’ status. This is the extent to which meticulous care and detail have been put into designing the centre so it falls in line with the core concept behind the development: to position Badplaas as a place to visit and not just a thorough-fare to other destinations.

Behind the centre, visitors can wander through a nursery that boasts various indigenous species of plants, making the stopover at the centre more than just an information – gathering exercise.

But even before walking up the steps to the centre, one is mesmerized by a majestic waterfall which accentuates the experience of entering the Travel Port development, and if it is true that ‘first impressions make a lasting impression’ then the waterfall, centre and nursery will leave visitors with a lasting memory of Badplaas that is sure to lure them back.

And luring back visitors, thus positioning Badplaas as a tourism destination of choice is what the development is all about. To achieve this, the developers went beyond just an appealing information centre but created a visitors’ centre that encompasses attractions and facilities that are second to none in the SouthernLowveld.

The developers regard these features of world-class standard, and if the old saying, the proof is in the pudding, is anything to go by, the development’s features are a pudding that is a delicate balanceof taste and class.

Taking into consideration the need for entertainment, the developers built an amphitheater that any world class theatrical or musical performer would find it a venue worthy of their talent. If that is not enough, inside the main building that boasts a restaurant that can accommodate 120 diners, there is the museum. The museum has two distinct attractions, the capturing of a timeline through a collection of rocks found in the region and a collection of vintage and unique motor cars.

The rocks go back to the earliest rock formations on earth dating back about 3.4 billion years. This geological timeline is complimented by another timeline display of what is said to be the most extensive collection of Mercedes Benz SL’s in the country.

With the objective of developing an attractive and chosen destination, the museum, particularly the Mercedes SL collection, looks set to achieve this goal-in short, the collection is very impressive, whether one is a car enthusiast or not.

Positioning the development as a destination of choice is not confined to tourists. The developers paid heed to the high demand for conference facilities. Both government and private enterprise will find three state of the art conference rooms at their disposal.

First there is the main conference room which can accommodate up to 120 delegates.  For smaller groups there is a room with a capacity of 20 to 30 people. Then there is the 10 seater ‘exclusive boardroom’ designed to cater to VIP’s, company heads and senior government official.

Once again, in keeping with their world-class standards, the developers fitted the conference rooms with state of the art equipment that includes lights and temperature control that are self adjusting.

Above all else the development offers tourists and conference delegates alike the opportunity to partake in a game drive right from the development’s doorstep.

The 1 to 1 and a half hour game drive will bring visitors in direct contact with giraffe, zebra, grey duiker and lynx, just to name a few. The drive culminates in a visit to the animal sanctuary, rated by a national SPCA inspector as one of the best and animal friendly in the country.  The sanctuary is home to lion, tigers, hyena and leopard.

According to the Cradle of Life management, the animal sanctuary will alsobe open to school groups for educational tours, a novel opportunity for school kids in the rural areas of Mpumalanga.

But to this writer the most appealing feature is the incredibly opulent toilet facilities. They are not just toilet facilities meant for visitors just to relieve themselves after a long drive but for one to totally recuperate. The state of the art toilets are fitted with showers and baby care facilities.

For Badplaas, the development has brought a new dimension to the area’s tourism industry but more importantly it looks set to achieve the founder, Fred Daniel’s, vision of developing not just a tourist stop-over, but a ‘world-class’ attraction that will position Badplaas as a visitor destination of choice.

Cradle of Life center is open from Mondays to Fridays from 8:00 to 17:00, Saturdays from 08:00 to 16:00 and Sundays and public holidays from 09:00 to 13:00.

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Daniel’s Travelport development should be seen for what it is: an admirable initiative that will bring to this economically depressed rural area desperately needed jobs that stand to empower a whole community. For this he should be made an honorary chief of the area who looks after his land.

And why even suggest this accolade/ honour that could have some baying for this editor’s blood? Well, fact of the matter is that this man, who has been the subject of an onslaught of attacks which have included accusations of racism, abuse of land occupants and occupying

land supposedly ‘legitimately’ claimed by some people, has achieved what no one else has been able to achieve ( including the chiefs ) in Badplaas: the undertaking of a development that looks set to be a world-class tourism destination that will most likely literally change forever Badplaas’s economy, at least asfar as the tourism industry is concerned.

This editor has met with and interviewed Daniel on several occasions and will be the first one to say that no-one should expect to see him playing Santa Claus, putting a bunch of kids on his lap and asking them what do you want Santa to get you for Christmas?

If he did play Santa he would most likely look the kid straight in the eye and ask, why should Santa give you anything, have you tried to do anything for yourself?

Surely this may not be the best way to try and describe the man, because it could make him come across like a scrooge – rude, uncaring and only out for himself.

But, if his development is anything to go by, and more importantly if his perseverance that has seen him remain and invest in Badplaas after what could rightfully be described as the bull-shit (instigated by the likes of Pro Khoza and the utterly useless Indwandwa Trust) he had to put up with in 2008 is considered, then he is the children-loving Santa and far from a scrooge, and those children just happen to be the population of Badplaas.

In 2008 Daniel was attacked via destructive protests whose organizers threatened to turn these into violence, all for the sake of attempting to have Daniel abandon and run from his 2000 hectares, a portion he retained after selling the bulk of his landholding ( which comprises Nkomazi Game Reserve).

It is these 2000 hectares that now house Daniel’s vision to create the worldclass tourism development on which he is virtually putting the final touches. Albeit, according to him and his management team, some work still has to be done before they can say they are at the final stage.

Despite the Khoza’s and Indwandwa’s determination to stop him, Daniel has succeeded in realizing his vision but more importantly, a vision for Badplaas economic development that others such as the Indwandwa Trust, with a whopping landholding of 35 000 hectares, seemingly could not fathom. The Trust, as many have noted, simply has no clue what to do with the land, let alone has a vision.

Just in case his detractors argue that Daniel’s vision has only been made possible by the money he made from the sale of Nkomazi Game Reserve to Dubai World, they should appreciate the fact that he has kept that money in Badplaas. Not just kept it in Badplaas but has plowed it right back into this serious development – an admirable thing considering that many landowners, who made a killing selling land to government at highly inflated prices some years ago, took their money, packed their bags and left the area to economic ruin. Daniel could have simply done the same. And will there be any benefit to the

community at large, or will this development just simply fatten the supposedly already well lined pockets of Daniel?

Already, the most important benefit, namely, job creation, job creation for local residents and general economic development, have come to fruition. Quite a few local residents are already employed in the different areas of the development, such as the restaurant, nursery and animal sanctuary, just to name a few. There should be room future stages for a few more job opportunities! Naturally, any investment in the area will contribute towards local economic development.

Furthermore, this the development’s positioning of Badplaas as a tourism destination, will be of great benefit to the impending Barberton/MakhonjwaMountain Lands (BMML) World Heritage Site (WHS) development.

With the demise of the area’s farming industry and large parcels of prime farming land now being occupied by people who seemingly don’t seem to show the will and determination to agriculture, Badplaas’ future economic prosperity would appear to be in tourism development.

Overall, Daniel’s development should be seen for what it is: an admirable initiative that will bring to this economically depressed rural area, desperately needed capital and infrastructure. This is far more than what the area’s local municipality, Albert Luthuli, local economic development office has done (in fact it has not done anything at all)!

Likewise the provincial Department of Economic Development and Planning, Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) and the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Authority (MTPA), who have been sadly lacking in their interest or investment in the Badplaas area.

Bayethe Chief Daniel!