The Development Bank of Southern Africa is providing a loan of R3.6million to Orlando Towers (Pty) Ltd to establish an adventure tourism project at the iconic Orlando Power Station Twin Towers in Soweto.

"Adventure tourism is a major growth market around the world, and the creation of an adventure tourism facility, will undoubtedly contribute towards Soweto’s economic diversification and tourism attractiveness," said Kate Rivett-Carnac, DBSA Tourism Specialist.

"The main goal of the Orlando Towers Adventure Tourism is to optimise both social and economic opportunities of Soweto in the medium to longer term, thereby contributing towards socio-economic development in South Africa" she added.

This project also seeks to develop the disused Orlando cooling towers into a world class adventure facility, providing a unique recreational venue that retains a sense of Soweto.

The Orlando Towers project will contribute to the economic development and poverty alleviation of Soweto through the employment of local labour and youth development.

"The vast walls of the towers will be developed into a "vertical adventure centre" the scale and nature of which describes a truly unique and legendry facility", said Bob Woods, project originator and Director.

The end goal is to recreate the typical environment found in a ’Magaliesberg Kloof’ inside a tower, with large, vertical rock walls, landscaping, forest and water.

The facility will include recreational, training, retail and entertainment activities.

Source: Sapa