TANZANIA: Marine Parks And Reserves

Not only is Tanzania the number one destination for safaris, its endless coral reefs in the crystalline waters of the Indian Ocean offer some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world.

The archipelago of islands off the coast of Tanzania and Zanzibar are surrounded by coral reefs and are home to an amazing array of wildlife and unique ecosystems, as well as providing shelter, sustenance and employment for local people.

From Mafia Island Marine Park, an unspoiled, uncommercialised island, where local people go about their traditional businesses in a way (as far as one can tell) they have done for centuries, to Maziwe Island Marine Reserve, which only appears during low tide, Tanzania’s marine parks and reserves are exceptionally rich in their diversity of cultural, coral, fish, bird and plant life.

In order to protect and manage these areas from over fishing, mangrove deforestation, and coral mining, the following marine parks and reserves have been established and can be visited for day trips and longer stays.

The Marine Parks and Reserves Authority was established under the Marine Parks an reserve Act Number 29 of 1994, to oversee the management and administration of marine parks and reserves to ensure sustainable use of the marine resources.

The Marine Parks and Reserves Authority currently manages: a. Dar Marine Reserves - located in Dar es Salaam region. Four marine DSM reserves, Bongoyo Island Marine Reserve Mbudya Island Marine Reserve Pangavini Island Marine Reserve Funguyasini Marine Reserve b. Maziwi Island Marine Reserves - located in Pangani district (Tanga region). c. Mafia Island Marine Park - located in Coast Region. d. Mnazi Bay - Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park (MREMP) located in Mtwara Region. e.

Transfrontier Conservation Area encompassing (TFCA) Southern Regions and areas bordering Lake Nyasa in the countries like Malawi and Zambia.

Tanga City
Tanga was once another stopping point, in competition with Pangani and Bagamoyo, for caravans on their way to the hinterland of Central Africa searching for ivory and slaves.

Pangani Town
Pangani is a small town in East Africa’s coast that was 50 kms South of Tanga with long history culture the town has Arabic, German, Asian and British Colonial rules influence.

Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve
The Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve System (DMRS) is a group of marine wildlife reserves in Tanzania, situated off the coast of Dar es Salaam Region. The reserve system consists of Seven (7) islands of Bongoyo.

Mafia Island Marine Park
Mafia is renowned as an excellent world-class diving destination with some of the richest reefs in the world, The park covers the Southern part of Mafia Island .

Mikindani Bay Marine Reserve
Mikindani is a fascinating old town with winding streets and an exciting blend of African, Arabic and European architecture. The arms of the bay mouth contain old houses with doors which are carved.

Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park
Located in southern Tanzania, on the Mozambique border, is home to important populations of whales, dolphins, four species of turtle and numerous birds.

Maziwe Marine Reserve
Maziwe island is a very small unvegetated island surrounded by coral reefs located about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) south east of the town of Pangani off the northern coast of Tanzania.

Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park
Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park (TACMP) is located on the northern coastline of Tanzania. It extends for 100 km along the coastline from north of Pangani River estuary to Mafuriko village.

Chumbe Island Marine Sanctuary
Chumbe offers some of the most pristine and colourful coral reefs in the world, with over 200 species of coral providing a sanctuary for more than 400 species of colourful fish.

Mnemba Island Conservation Area
Mnemba Island is a single small island located about 3 km off the northeast coast of Unguja, the largest island of the Zanzibar Archipelago, Tanzania, opposite Muyuni Beach.

ZANZIBAR: Bwejuu

Bwejuu is a fairly typical Zanzibari coastal village where backpackers' hangouts and luxury establishments happily rub shoulders. Its beach has been included in Conde Nast Traveller's top 30 beaches in the world - no mean feat.

Its open, fresh feel is its charm, and the soft sands stretching either way as far as the eye can see. Nonetheless this is also a working beach, and you can expect some women gathering seaweed, kids on bikes and the general everyday life of a beach that is also a high street.

But don't get the wrong idea - you won't be sharing this beach with many other tourists. While Unguja, the main island of Zanzibar, is more developed than its neighbour Pemba and its southern cousin Mafia, it's still a far cry from the likes of Thailand. At many times of day you will get the beach to yourself - dusk is a lovely time as the light softens, everyone goes home for dinner and you can enjoy some solitary - or romantic - contemplation.

This area is good for all budgets, and you can live like a sultan or much more simply depending on your means and tastes. There are a smattering of fun Rasta-run places, small local establishments, boutique hotels and larger resorts. There are some good restaurants in the area, but distances are a little further than they are in Nungwi/Kendwa.

TANZANIA: Tanzanian Delegation Heads To ITB In Berlin

According to information received from Dar es Salaam will nearly 170 representatives of Tanzanian tourism businesses head to Berlin to attend the world's largest tourism show, ITB.

The delegation will be spearheaded by the Tanzania Tourist Board, which put the participation for the exhibition together and which will showcase the country alongside TANAPA and dozens of hotels, resorts, tour and safari operators, local airlines and other tourism attractions.

KILIFAIR too will be in Berlin to drum up support for their own Moshi based tourism trade show and visitors to the Tanzania stand will be able to see the wide range of offerings available, from the islands of Zanzibar and Mafia across the southern and northern safari circuit.

It could not be ascertained if Tanzania's Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Prof. Jumanne Maghembe, will lead Tanzania's delegation to Berlin, where a number of tourism forums for attending Ministers would provide a perfect opportunity to network.

Tourism ministers from other countries in the Eastern African region, namely Uganda and Kenya, will be heading their respective delegations and notably will the trio of Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda once again have a joint stand space. The three will promote travel in Berlin not just to their own beaches and parks but across the Northern Corridor Integration Project countries, using the single tourist Visa for leverage.

TANZANIA: Tanzania Remains Number One In Conservation

Since independence, Tanzania has been making efforts to protect lakes, rivers, natural forest, game reserves, national parks and other natural resources found in the country.

Indeed, a report by the World Tourism Organisation indicates that in 2015 more than 7.58 trillion US dollars was transacted in the industry around the world.

The report also indicates that the USA and France were the biggest earners while China sent more tourists around the World, who spent more than 165 billion US dollars. Other countries which more tourists came from are USA, UK, German, Russia, France, Canada, Italia, Australia, Brazil and Japan.

There are more than 19 different kinds of tourisms but cultural tourism, historical sites tourism, spiritual site tourism, beach tourism and wildlife tourism are more popular throughout the world.

In Tanzania, tourism industry contributes more than 17 per cent of the national income which is mainly generated by different national parks and game reserves. Australia, India, Canada, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and many countries in South America and Africa lead the wildlife tourism industry in the world.

With the exception of Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia which control major historical sites in Africa, other African countries especially those located south of Sahara their tourism industries depend on wildlife.

Africa has more than 374 national parks but main players are Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, Zambia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. This is an exceptional kind of tourism whereby tourists are able to visit different national parks where they are able to see animals in their natural environment. The report further points out that about ten national parks in Africa are preferred more by tourists from Asia, America and Europe.

The best national parks of Africa are Maasai Mara of Kenya, Chobe of Botswana, Serengeti of Tanzania, Luangwa of Zambia, Etosha of Namibia, Kidepo of Uganda, Hwange of Zimbabwe, Ngorongoro of Tanzania and Okovango of Botswana. Unlike other African countries, the report shows Tanzania managed to enlist more national parks than others.

Among the best national parks in Africa, Etosha leads with an area covering about 22, 270 square kilometres followed by Kruger with an area of 19,485 square kilometres. Serengeti follows with 14,750 square kilometres ahead of Hwange with 14,651 square kilometres followed by Chobe with 11,700 square kilometres then Luanga with 9,050 square kilometres.

With an area covering 8,292 square kilometres is seventh in size followed by Maasai Mara which covers an area of about 1,510 square kilometres followed by Bwindi with 331 square kilometres.

Zoologists say an area of a national park plays a crucial role on conservation activities for animal and vegetation in any sanctuary around the World. Africa has 54 countries but it is Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Madagascar, Angola, Gabon, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Uganda and Algeria that are most preferred by tourists from other continents.

South Africa, Mali, Angola, Niger, Chad, Libya, Sudan, DRC and Algeria are the largest countries in Africa, each covering an area of more than 1,200,000 square kilometres.

With an area of 945,087 square kilometers, Tanzania has portioned more than 118,736. 56 for 28 game reserves available in different parts of the country. Since independence, about 56,698.80 square kilometres have been portioned for 17 national parks. Having such a big area for national parks and game reserves, Tanzania leads the world with a big number of animals roaming in the wild.

Tanzania’s Selous has one of the largest populations of elephants and African buffaloes. On the other hand, Ruaha is regarded as an almost virgin national park where big mammals such as elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, lions, leopards, hyena and cheetah are found in great numbers.

Unlike other parks in Africa, Ruaha is endowed with a good number of antelopes such as roan antelope, sable antelope, greater and lesser kudu and other species of bovines. Tanzania leads others in number of wildebeests, zebra, lions, hippos, buffaloes, Thomson’s gazelle, hyena and more than 400 different species of birds.

However, poaching and other man made obstacles are some of challenges which are holding back the industry from full growth. By implementing special operation such as Tokomeza the government is working hard to ensure that national parks and game reserve are well protected.

This goal will be attained if all good citizens join hands with the government to fight poaching and adhere to rules which protect national parks and game reserves.

Despite the economic slump which affected the world few years ago and other catastrophes such as Ebola disease, the number of tourists coming to Tanzania is rising year after year.

According to reports from the ministry of tourism and natural resources, in 2013 Tanzania received 1,095,884 tourists, but in 2014 the number increased to 1,140, 156.

The growth is equivalent to a four percent increment which may appear insignificant, but something is better than nothing as it indicates the sector is coming out from the economic crunch. Tanzania is located in a strategic position along the coastal area of East Africa where beautiful national parks are found. Along the coast there are elegant marine parks such as Mafia and Chumbe Marine Parks, stunning Jozani forest and Saadani national parks.

In different time of a year, these and other smaller parks along the coast provide a rare opportunity to tourists to different spices of marine mammals such as dolphins and whales.

Not only that, with a huge potential in the southern and western circuits where almost virgin national parks such as Gombe, Mahale, Katavi, Ruaha, Udzungwa and Kitulo are found the country possess a wider chance of generating more money from the sector.

TANZANIA: Investors Express Interest In Aviation Business

At a licensing hearing earlier in the week did the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority deal with over 30 applications, two dozen of which were for the granting or renewal of Air Service Licenses with the remainder for other services, mainly ground handling or other concession services.

Most applicants were reportedly represented in person at the hearing during which no objections to any of the pending applications were recorded by the licensing committee.

Tanzania has a fairly vibrant aviation sector, considering the vast distances people have to cover from the southern border to the northern border and from Lake Victoria to the commercial capital Dar es Salaam. Flying safaris by tourists are popular as several airlines, among them Coastal Aviation and Auric Air, offer flights not just to the national parks but also from Dar es Salaam to the islands of Zanzibar (Unjuga and Pemba) and the island of Mafia, allowing visitors to spend time in the destination instead of on the road.

Commonly used aircraft, registered in Tanzania, are Airbus A319, ATR 42 and ATR 72 turboprop aircraft while the more domestic airlines use single engine Cessna C208B Grand Caravans as well as twin engine planes with a capacity between 5 and 19 passengers for their routes.