Tanzania’s reluctance to implement regional integration projects came under sharp focus yesterday during this year’s magical Kenya Travel Expo in Nairobi.
Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda revived calls for a joint marketing campaign for the recovering tourism sector.
The three countries yesterday called on Tanzania to come on board in promoting the region as a package, through the single tourist visa.
“Tanzania has issues. It is the fear of the unknown and fear of competition. We need to grow beyond competition,” Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said, adding “Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda see ourselves as complementary.”
Tanzania has given the regional initiative meant to facilitate access to all member states using a univisa a wide berth.
It has also refused to open up her border at the Mara River to allow movement of tourists flocking the region for the historic Wildebeest migration.
A diplomatic row between Kenya and Tanzania was also witnessed in the last two years over the ban of tour vehicles to access one another’s borders, an issue that is yet to be fully addressed.
“Eventually we will be looking to resolve these issues through dialogue. I am optimistic Tanzania will finally come on board.
Maybe we need to give them time,” Balala said at the annual fair.
Rwanda,Uganda and Kenya have implemented the single visa and use of national identification cards to cross to either sides.
The visa uptake has, however, remained low since its launch in February 2014, with only 4,000 visas having been issued so far.
The three governments cited lack of enough promotion, calling on high commissioners both in Africa and abroad to market the visa. Under the single visa regime, foreigners can visit Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda at a fee of $100(Sh10,130 ), current exchange rate.
“High commissioners should emphasise we have a single visa. It is so unfortunate that tourists pay for different visas to enter the three countries yet they can have one visa,” East African Tourism Platform chairman Bonifence Byamukama said.
The three states have agreed to have a joint stand at the World Travel Market in London (November 7-9 ), to market the region.
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Showing posts with label Wildebeest migration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wildebeest migration. Show all posts
Friday, 17 March 2017
Thursday, 18 February 2016
ZAMBIA: New Luxury Camp to be Built in Liuwa Plain
African Parks, a conservation non-profit, and Norman Carr Safaris are proud to announce details of the investment in, and construction of, a luxury camp in Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia. Mambeti is being funded by Africans Parks donors with the design and construction being implemented by the award-winning Norman Carr Safaris group which will also manage and market the new offering. Construction on Mambeti will start in February 2016 and the camp is expected to open in early 2017.
The name of the camp pays homage to two remarkable residents of the park – Mambeti and Lady Liuwa. Mambeti who lived, died, and is buried in Liuwa was a member of the Lozi tribe and a highly-revered grandmother to several existing park staff. Lady Liuwa is the world-famous matriarch around whom the park’s lion pride has evolved. According to local folklore Mambeti, the grandmother, was reincarnated into Lady Liuwa, the lioness, and is the reason why the lioness spends so much time in the same woodlands area frequented by Mambeti in her twilight years and near to where she was buried.
Liuwa Plain is situated on the upper Zambezi flood plains of western Zambia and is bounded by the Luambimba and Luanginga Rivers. Vast, remote and untamed, Liuwa is 365,000 hectares in size and characterised by seasonally-flooded grassy plains dotted with woodland islands. It has one of the oldest conservation histories in Africa having originally being proclaimed a protected area by the King of the Lozis in the early 1880s. The Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) is the monarchy of the Lozi people who live in and around the park and is the official administrative entity of the region. Since 2003, the park has been managed by African Parks through a public-private partnership with the Zambian Government and the Barotse Royal Establishment.
In addition to its famed lions, Liuwa is home to the second biggest wildebeest migration in Africa, a recovering cheetah population, a burgeoning hyena population, wild dogs, abundant zebra, buffalo, red lechwe and tessebe herds and more than 300 bird species. It is not uncommon to see tens of thousands of pratincoles and spectacular kaleidoscopes of crowned cranes and endangered wattled cranes which start flocking at the onset of the rains.
Located on the upper Munde stream, a site chosen for its sweeping vistas and complete wildlife immersion, Mambeti Camp will comprise six luxury villas including a two bedroomed family villa, with the capacity to accommodate a total of 15 guests.
It has been designed by acclaimed lodge architects, Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, who are also responsible for the design of Norman Carr Safaris’ flagship camp, Chinzombo, in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, and sister property, Miavana, a new development in progress in Madagascar under the marketing umbrella of Time + Tide.
“We feel it is an honour to the people of Liuwa that a lodge of this status will help immortalise not only a resident of Liuwa but also a highly-respected member of the community who lived and was buried in this area. I am proud to be part of this process of development that will unlock tourism potential and economic growth in the area,” said Induna Mundandwe, Area Chief of Mukola.
“We are proud to be driving a venture of this calibre in one of the most beautiful wilderness areas on the continent, said Peter Fearnhead, African Parks CEO. “ The construction and operation of Mambeti will benefit communities living in and around Liuwa and the conservation of its fauna and flora, both features that form the cornerstone of the African Parks model.
We are also delighted to be teaming up with Norman Carr Safaris in this venture. Their experience and proven success in operating and marketing high-end camps and lodges is pivotal to the success of what is destined to be the jewel in the Liuwa Plain crown.”
“We are honoured to have been selected by African Parks to build and run this new safari camp, said Thierry Dalais, Chairman, Norman Carr Safaris. “Over the years African Parks has shown true dedication and commitment to the development of Liuwa Plain National Park and we aim to match their passion for the area and deliver an outstanding safari experience.
The wildlife viewing in this part of Africa is quite extraordinary; it’s a completely stunning landscape and exceeds expectations of the most hardened safari goer. Mambeti is a name filled with meaning and spirit and a wonderful tribute to two icons of the park. What more can I say – you need to go there!”
The name of the camp pays homage to two remarkable residents of the park – Mambeti and Lady Liuwa. Mambeti who lived, died, and is buried in Liuwa was a member of the Lozi tribe and a highly-revered grandmother to several existing park staff. Lady Liuwa is the world-famous matriarch around whom the park’s lion pride has evolved. According to local folklore Mambeti, the grandmother, was reincarnated into Lady Liuwa, the lioness, and is the reason why the lioness spends so much time in the same woodlands area frequented by Mambeti in her twilight years and near to where she was buried.
Liuwa Plain is situated on the upper Zambezi flood plains of western Zambia and is bounded by the Luambimba and Luanginga Rivers. Vast, remote and untamed, Liuwa is 365,000 hectares in size and characterised by seasonally-flooded grassy plains dotted with woodland islands. It has one of the oldest conservation histories in Africa having originally being proclaimed a protected area by the King of the Lozis in the early 1880s. The Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) is the monarchy of the Lozi people who live in and around the park and is the official administrative entity of the region. Since 2003, the park has been managed by African Parks through a public-private partnership with the Zambian Government and the Barotse Royal Establishment.
In addition to its famed lions, Liuwa is home to the second biggest wildebeest migration in Africa, a recovering cheetah population, a burgeoning hyena population, wild dogs, abundant zebra, buffalo, red lechwe and tessebe herds and more than 300 bird species. It is not uncommon to see tens of thousands of pratincoles and spectacular kaleidoscopes of crowned cranes and endangered wattled cranes which start flocking at the onset of the rains.
Located on the upper Munde stream, a site chosen for its sweeping vistas and complete wildlife immersion, Mambeti Camp will comprise six luxury villas including a two bedroomed family villa, with the capacity to accommodate a total of 15 guests.
It has been designed by acclaimed lodge architects, Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, who are also responsible for the design of Norman Carr Safaris’ flagship camp, Chinzombo, in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, and sister property, Miavana, a new development in progress in Madagascar under the marketing umbrella of Time + Tide.
“We feel it is an honour to the people of Liuwa that a lodge of this status will help immortalise not only a resident of Liuwa but also a highly-respected member of the community who lived and was buried in this area. I am proud to be part of this process of development that will unlock tourism potential and economic growth in the area,” said Induna Mundandwe, Area Chief of Mukola.
“We are proud to be driving a venture of this calibre in one of the most beautiful wilderness areas on the continent, said Peter Fearnhead, African Parks CEO. “ The construction and operation of Mambeti will benefit communities living in and around Liuwa and the conservation of its fauna and flora, both features that form the cornerstone of the African Parks model.
We are also delighted to be teaming up with Norman Carr Safaris in this venture. Their experience and proven success in operating and marketing high-end camps and lodges is pivotal to the success of what is destined to be the jewel in the Liuwa Plain crown.”
“We are honoured to have been selected by African Parks to build and run this new safari camp, said Thierry Dalais, Chairman, Norman Carr Safaris. “Over the years African Parks has shown true dedication and commitment to the development of Liuwa Plain National Park and we aim to match their passion for the area and deliver an outstanding safari experience.
The wildlife viewing in this part of Africa is quite extraordinary; it’s a completely stunning landscape and exceeds expectations of the most hardened safari goer. Mambeti is a name filled with meaning and spirit and a wonderful tribute to two icons of the park. What more can I say – you need to go there!”
Sunday, 31 January 2016
TANZANIA: Serengeti National Park
Serengeti National Park (Serengeti) is located in Tanzania, best known for its abundance of animals and the great wildebeest migration.
The Serengeti stretches 14,763 (5,700 sq miles) stretching North to Kenya and bordering Lake Victoria to the West.
Serengeti has the highest concentration of large mammals on this planet and its famous known for its 2,500 Lions the largest concentration found anywhere. The park also has over 518 identified bird species where some of them are Eurasian migrants who are present in the European winter months from October to April.
Accommodation: There is a wide range of places to stay in the Serengeti Ecosystem. There is also a very good Serengeti Map if you would like to know more about the general size and area.
Distance
With the Serengeti only 335 km (208 miles) from Arusha it is still a very long drive due to the roads. If you are driving to the Serengeti National Park it is recommended to stop off on the way. We would like to point out that if you are interested in visiting the Ngorongoro Crater on the way, it is best to get to the rim the afternoon before and then spend the whole next day in the Crater.
Best time to visit
Following the Wildebeest migration from Serengeti National Park to Maasai Mara National Reserve, the best time is December to July and to see the predators the best time is June to October.
Recommended number of days
Due to the amount to be seen in the reserve it’s recommendable to have three or four day’s safari. If you are interested in photography, the longer you stay the better chances you have to get the ultimate photos.
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