Lion Park brings family fun

Lion Park Resort Centre, a subsidiary of Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) this weekend inaugurated a family fun centre at Lion Park that will attract families in Gaborone and its environs to come and relax.
 
Lion Park Manager, Johan Weideman said the centre, some 15 kilometers from Gaborone is BDC’s brainchild and first of its kind in Botswana, and is expected to be officially opened on December 5, 2008.
 
The centre provides full event planning services and catering facilities for the entire family. Weideman said the amusement centre prides itself with a state-of-the art wave pool reminiscent of a sea with exciting waves and water splashes. The pool dubbed "The beach within reach" can take over 200 people at a single setting. The centre has all amusement facilities such as Merry-go-round, go carts and a mini speedy train, which proved to be a favorite among children and adults alike.

The amusement park is highly accessible and offers affordable rates, according to Lion Park Operations Manager, Dewald vd Walt. He explained that though Lion Park has specialized prices for the entire family, individuals will be charged P50 to gain access. The park, which opens December 5, this year, is expected to attract over 500 people per day and will open every day including public holidays and Christmas holidays. The amusement centre opens at 10 in the morning and closes at seven in the evening. Walt expects the number of visitors to increase to over 1500 during the second phase of development.

The two managers, both of whom are experienced with managing resorts having worked at Gold Reef City in South Africa, said in the next six months, the resort centre would have developed and will encompass a camping site and a picnic area.
 
The centre will also have a sizeable conference centre in future, according to Walt. He explained that in an effort to boost the centre, management has intentions of bringing wild dogs and cheetahs in an enclosure. He said due to its accessibility, the area stands a chance to be a stop over for tourists in-transit to the north and south. The two managers said Lion Park resort centre would provide first class service with world-class facilities. For her part, BDC spokesperson, Boitshwarelo Lebang said the purpose of introducing Lion Park amusement centre is in line with BDC’s mandate of stimulating commercial growth and diversifying the economy.

Lebang further said the park will go a long way in boosting the tourism sector.” This form of entertainment has long been denied the people of Botswana as it is evident from the fact that a lot of people cross the border to South Africa during the weekends/holidays for this type of entertainment” she said.