Cases of tourists falling sick during their trips to Tanzania are rare though it happens and realising that, a large modern hospital to offer international standards of treatments is under construction in an area close to Serengeti National Park.
The hospital has been built in north-western Tanzania's district of Serengeti, and will be serving people in the district and also foreign visitors at the adjacent national park. The new facility is expected to be completed next year.
The Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) is one of the big players in the construction of the medical facility, Charles Mlingwa, Mara Regional Commissioner said here on Sunday.
TANAPA has contributed $22,319 (about Sh2.3 million) as part of its contribution towards the ambitious medical project.
The construction works for the first phase are underway, explained Mlingwa, pointing out that the medical facility is planned to be like any other hospital found in developed countries.
The first phase involves the setting up of the out-patient department wing and this has so far cost nearly $1 million about Sh103.2 million out of the planned $1.5 million about Sh155 million to complete the OPD buildings by December 2017, so that the hospital could open next January.
The Hospital will also provide medical services to 78 villages mapped within the Serengeti District in Mara Region.
Other than local residents, the modern medical facility also targets to cater for the nearly 400,000 tourists who visit the Serengeti National Park annually.
While we are working to promote our tourist destinations across the country, it is now important to ensure that once the foreign visitors arrive here, they also get assured of reliable medical services when touring remote national parks, said Allan Kijazi, the TANAPA Director General.
Most foreign tourists who visit national parks come with their respective medical insurance covers and rely on flying doctors to airlift them to either Nairobi or Arusha cities upon falling ill during their game drives, however with the modern hospital in place, they can now be attended to right there in Serengeti.
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Showing posts with label tanapa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tanapa. Show all posts
Tuesday, 5 September 2017
Monday, 26 June 2017
TANZANIA: Fight Against Silent Poaching In Serengeti
For the first time in history, the tour and hotel operators have officially committed themselves to become responsible tourism players by supporting conservation initiatives in the country’s national parks.
They started walking their rhetoric by contributing a patrol vehicle worth $90,000 (about TSh200 million) to a conservation initiative dubbed Serengeti De-Snaring, the brainchild of Mr. Willbard Chambulo, the owner of Tanganyika Wilderness Camps (TWC).
“This program will spread all over the 16 national parks, but we’ve started here in Serengeti where snaring has become yet another major threat to our wildlife,” explained Mr. Chambulo, who doubles as the Chairman of the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO).
Snaring is a small-scale poaching method targeting wildlife species for bush meat, including the abundant wildebeest.
Deadly traps in use, however, catch many other wild animals, mostly elephants and predators waylaying the wildebeest.
The Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) is, along with other stakeholders, carrying out the De-Snaring program in Serengeti – the Tanzania’s flagship national park – to suppress the new fatal poaching method.
With the stakeholders’ initial contributions, the program has already set up 2 anti-snaring teams currently operating in the national park.
“The physical ground operations have been very successful, as over 350 snares have been discovered and dismantled in 3 weeks of ‘training’ operations, and 5 poachers’ camps have been reported to Tanzania National Parks’ (TANAPA) anti-poaching unit,” Mr. Erik Winberg from FZS said.
The magnitude of the challenge demonstrates the need for acting fast, given the high rate of snaring and losses incurred during the annual migration season, which is under way.
Mr. Winberg said that May, June, and July were critical months, as poachers actively set snares along well-established migration pathways leading to the north, particularly at the Kogatende and other hot spots in the northwestern part of the Serengeti.
“The de-snaring initiative can mitigate huge losses of migrants and also give TANAPA rangers space to apprehend poachers,” he stressed.
The hatched plan is to have 8 teams deployed within the Serengeti ecosystem alone.
At the helm of the teams with members from villages surrounding the Serengeti ecosystem, mostly ex-small-scale poachers themselves, is a retired ranger with the TANAPA, explained the FZS Program Manager for the Africa Region, Mr. Gerald Bigurube.
The teams zoom around the ecosystem in collaboration with the Serengeti National Park’s rangers to collect the snares before they cause harm to wildlife animals.
The gains the de-snaring initiative has so far registered call for the backing of various stakeholders for it to cover other areas of the Serengeti ecosystem as well, noted the Program Coordinator, Ms. Vesna Glamocanin.
Much as the tour operators’ activities heavily rely on the welfare of the Serengeti ecosystem, concerted efforts towards conservation of the ecology is the surest way of sustaining both the Tanzania’s wildlife heritage and the tourism industry, said the Chief Executive Officer with TATO, Mr. Sirili Akko.
It is in this backdrop that the TANAPA, FZS, and members of the private sector operating in the ecosystem have penned a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a view of flagging off the ambitious de-snaring campaign.
Voluntary donations and those accrued from hoteliers’ bed night fees as well as camp operators’ charges will also contribute to the funding of the unique and useful conservation cause with a sustainable future for the tourism value chain.
The plan is also expected to reduce rampant poaching in the western Serengeti where the TANAPA Director General, Mr. Allan Kijazi, said between 200 and 300 wildebeests were slaughtered annually.
“This is the minimum figure, but the number can be even higher. We’re worried that if this trend goes unabated, the wildlife survival will be at great risk,” Mr. Kijazi noted.
A UN Conservation Program (UNEP) and World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) joint report indicates that at least 200,000 various animal species are killed annually in the western Serengeti.
The document says the rise in demand for meat has also been partly driven by the growing local population.
Official statistics show that the Serengeti’s sprawling western boundary is densely populated with the number of farmers and herders settling on the buffer zone estimated at 3,329,199 in 2011.
Agriculture has encroached on the park’s boundaries, and consequently what once was subsistence poaching has now turned into a large-scale commercialized vice.
They started walking their rhetoric by contributing a patrol vehicle worth $90,000 (about TSh200 million) to a conservation initiative dubbed Serengeti De-Snaring, the brainchild of Mr. Willbard Chambulo, the owner of Tanganyika Wilderness Camps (TWC).
“This program will spread all over the 16 national parks, but we’ve started here in Serengeti where snaring has become yet another major threat to our wildlife,” explained Mr. Chambulo, who doubles as the Chairman of the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO).
Snaring is a small-scale poaching method targeting wildlife species for bush meat, including the abundant wildebeest.
Deadly traps in use, however, catch many other wild animals, mostly elephants and predators waylaying the wildebeest.
The Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) is, along with other stakeholders, carrying out the De-Snaring program in Serengeti – the Tanzania’s flagship national park – to suppress the new fatal poaching method.
With the stakeholders’ initial contributions, the program has already set up 2 anti-snaring teams currently operating in the national park.
“The physical ground operations have been very successful, as over 350 snares have been discovered and dismantled in 3 weeks of ‘training’ operations, and 5 poachers’ camps have been reported to Tanzania National Parks’ (TANAPA) anti-poaching unit,” Mr. Erik Winberg from FZS said.
The magnitude of the challenge demonstrates the need for acting fast, given the high rate of snaring and losses incurred during the annual migration season, which is under way.
Mr. Winberg said that May, June, and July were critical months, as poachers actively set snares along well-established migration pathways leading to the north, particularly at the Kogatende and other hot spots in the northwestern part of the Serengeti.
“The de-snaring initiative can mitigate huge losses of migrants and also give TANAPA rangers space to apprehend poachers,” he stressed.
The hatched plan is to have 8 teams deployed within the Serengeti ecosystem alone.
At the helm of the teams with members from villages surrounding the Serengeti ecosystem, mostly ex-small-scale poachers themselves, is a retired ranger with the TANAPA, explained the FZS Program Manager for the Africa Region, Mr. Gerald Bigurube.
The teams zoom around the ecosystem in collaboration with the Serengeti National Park’s rangers to collect the snares before they cause harm to wildlife animals.
The gains the de-snaring initiative has so far registered call for the backing of various stakeholders for it to cover other areas of the Serengeti ecosystem as well, noted the Program Coordinator, Ms. Vesna Glamocanin.
Much as the tour operators’ activities heavily rely on the welfare of the Serengeti ecosystem, concerted efforts towards conservation of the ecology is the surest way of sustaining both the Tanzania’s wildlife heritage and the tourism industry, said the Chief Executive Officer with TATO, Mr. Sirili Akko.
It is in this backdrop that the TANAPA, FZS, and members of the private sector operating in the ecosystem have penned a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a view of flagging off the ambitious de-snaring campaign.
Voluntary donations and those accrued from hoteliers’ bed night fees as well as camp operators’ charges will also contribute to the funding of the unique and useful conservation cause with a sustainable future for the tourism value chain.
The plan is also expected to reduce rampant poaching in the western Serengeti where the TANAPA Director General, Mr. Allan Kijazi, said between 200 and 300 wildebeests were slaughtered annually.
“This is the minimum figure, but the number can be even higher. We’re worried that if this trend goes unabated, the wildlife survival will be at great risk,” Mr. Kijazi noted.
A UN Conservation Program (UNEP) and World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) joint report indicates that at least 200,000 various animal species are killed annually in the western Serengeti.
The document says the rise in demand for meat has also been partly driven by the growing local population.
Official statistics show that the Serengeti’s sprawling western boundary is densely populated with the number of farmers and herders settling on the buffer zone estimated at 3,329,199 in 2011.
Agriculture has encroached on the park’s boundaries, and consequently what once was subsistence poaching has now turned into a large-scale commercialized vice.
Saturday, 13 May 2017
TANZANIA: Is The Tallest Tree In Africa In Kilimanjaro?
Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA) one of the 16 national parks in The country which is under the Tanzania National Parka (TANAPA) is exploring strategies to maximally exploit tourist potentials of the tallesttree in Africa, found in Kilimanjaro region.
Speaking during the regional leaders’ tour of the tree at Mrusunga, Kidia area led by the Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner, Saidi Mecky Sadiki accompanied by the Moshi district Commissioner, Kippi Warioba, KINAPA Chief Park Warden Bertita Loibooki, he said that, the unique tree has the potentials of attracting more tourists.
Loibooki said here that having around the tree which is 81.5 metres is a tourism millage, noting that KINAPA will conserve it by any means possible to enable people from different corners of the world to see it.
“We boast to have this tree in our park and we are going to use it as one of our tools to promote Mount Kilimanjaro, get more tourists and revenues,” she said.
She further noted that it takes about 2:30 hour walk from Tema village to that area where the Kilimanjaro RC, Said Meck Sadiki, Moshi District Commissioner (DC), Kippi Warioba and other officials had to use both feet and hands to negotiate the way to the area due to the steep hills, valleys and rivers they had to cross over; she praised the role played by Dr. Andreas Hemp and his beloved wife, Claudia.
Last year , Researchers exploring a remote valley on the mountain,two hours walk from Mrusunga forest in Kidia ward, Moshi rural district, discovered towering tree that reaches 81.5 metres onto the sky; and that makes a new record for the tallesttree on the entire Continent of Africa.
Explaining to the Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner, Saidi Mecky Sadiki and his delegates including the Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA) high ranking officials and journalists from various media who visited the ‘new tourist attraction in the Mt. Kilimanjaro’s buffer zone, the researcher Dr. Andreas Hemp, accompanied by his wife Claudia said that, the giant specimen is a Entandrophragmaexcelsum, a rare species that is typically found in upland semi-deciduous forest, and it might be over 600 years old.
“We first noted the mammoth size of some of the valley’s trees during an expedition 20 years ago, but the location’s remoteness kept the true height of its vegetation a secret until we recently found our way back here” explained.Dr. Hemp.
“The Record-breaking tree is still significantly shorter than the World’s tallest tree-a coastal redwood in Northern California which is over 116 metres high. Africa is not a continent typically known for its towering trees” he said.
He added that, the trees in the valley are nurtured by rich volcanic soils, high temperatures and higher-than-normal levels of precipitation, which undoubtedly helps them to reach great heights. ‘They are a city in the forest,’ described Dr. Andreas Hemp; advising the government of Tanzania to preserve them for the next generation.
He added that their isolated location helps them to grow well as they are relatively safe from logging activities that have decimated in forest habitat elsewhere.
The grove of the trees lies outside the borders of Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA) in Mbokomu and Uru wards, in Moshi rural district, Kilimanjaro region, which means they are still vulnerable; but their discovery needs the park expansion that encompasses the grove and keeps the trees safe.
“The colossus has matched Africa’s previous tree-height record established by a specimen of the introduced Sydney blue gum (Eucalyptus saligna) in Limpopo, South Africa, which died in 2006..” he further explained.
Dr. Hemp, who is a Researcher at the University of Byreuth in Germany first spotted a bunch of tall Entandrophragmaexcelsumtrees while exploring Mt. Kilimanjaro’s vegetation 20 years ago, but it was until recently he and his team were able to measure their heights accurately using new tools.
“We sized 32 specimens with laser instruments between 2012 and 2016, finding that the 10 tallest individuals ranged from 59.2 81.5 meters in height and 0.98 to 2.55 metres in diameter.” he explained.
Hemp estimates from growth rates that the arboreal behemoths are between 500 to 600 years old. According to him, the world’s tallesttrees are not normally found in Africa; for example, a 116-metre-tall tree grows in North America, and a 100-metre-tall eucalyptus in Australia.
“My appeal to you is to protect and conserve the environment in this conservation area, as there are also different specimen of endemic spicies..” he insisted
On his part Moshi District Commissioner, Mr.Kippi Warioba pledged to discuss with the Moshi district council to renovate the road that links Mbokomu - Kidia to boost tourism in the area.
Speaking during the regional leaders’ tour of the tree at Mrusunga, Kidia area led by the Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner, Saidi Mecky Sadiki accompanied by the Moshi district Commissioner, Kippi Warioba, KINAPA Chief Park Warden Bertita Loibooki, he said that, the unique tree has the potentials of attracting more tourists.
Loibooki said here that having around the tree which is 81.5 metres is a tourism millage, noting that KINAPA will conserve it by any means possible to enable people from different corners of the world to see it.
“We boast to have this tree in our park and we are going to use it as one of our tools to promote Mount Kilimanjaro, get more tourists and revenues,” she said.
She further noted that it takes about 2:30 hour walk from Tema village to that area where the Kilimanjaro RC, Said Meck Sadiki, Moshi District Commissioner (DC), Kippi Warioba and other officials had to use both feet and hands to negotiate the way to the area due to the steep hills, valleys and rivers they had to cross over; she praised the role played by Dr. Andreas Hemp and his beloved wife, Claudia.
Last year , Researchers exploring a remote valley on the mountain,two hours walk from Mrusunga forest in Kidia ward, Moshi rural district, discovered towering tree that reaches 81.5 metres onto the sky; and that makes a new record for the tallesttree on the entire Continent of Africa.
Explaining to the Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner, Saidi Mecky Sadiki and his delegates including the Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA) high ranking officials and journalists from various media who visited the ‘new tourist attraction in the Mt. Kilimanjaro’s buffer zone, the researcher Dr. Andreas Hemp, accompanied by his wife Claudia said that, the giant specimen is a Entandrophragmaexcelsum, a rare species that is typically found in upland semi-deciduous forest, and it might be over 600 years old.
“We first noted the mammoth size of some of the valley’s trees during an expedition 20 years ago, but the location’s remoteness kept the true height of its vegetation a secret until we recently found our way back here” explained.Dr. Hemp.
“The Record-breaking tree is still significantly shorter than the World’s tallest tree-a coastal redwood in Northern California which is over 116 metres high. Africa is not a continent typically known for its towering trees” he said.
He added that, the trees in the valley are nurtured by rich volcanic soils, high temperatures and higher-than-normal levels of precipitation, which undoubtedly helps them to reach great heights. ‘They are a city in the forest,’ described Dr. Andreas Hemp; advising the government of Tanzania to preserve them for the next generation.
He added that their isolated location helps them to grow well as they are relatively safe from logging activities that have decimated in forest habitat elsewhere.
The grove of the trees lies outside the borders of Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA) in Mbokomu and Uru wards, in Moshi rural district, Kilimanjaro region, which means they are still vulnerable; but their discovery needs the park expansion that encompasses the grove and keeps the trees safe.
“The colossus has matched Africa’s previous tree-height record established by a specimen of the introduced Sydney blue gum (Eucalyptus saligna) in Limpopo, South Africa, which died in 2006..” he further explained.
Dr. Hemp, who is a Researcher at the University of Byreuth in Germany first spotted a bunch of tall Entandrophragmaexcelsumtrees while exploring Mt. Kilimanjaro’s vegetation 20 years ago, but it was until recently he and his team were able to measure their heights accurately using new tools.
“We sized 32 specimens with laser instruments between 2012 and 2016, finding that the 10 tallest individuals ranged from 59.2 81.5 meters in height and 0.98 to 2.55 metres in diameter.” he explained.
Hemp estimates from growth rates that the arboreal behemoths are between 500 to 600 years old. According to him, the world’s tallesttrees are not normally found in Africa; for example, a 116-metre-tall tree grows in North America, and a 100-metre-tall eucalyptus in Australia.
“My appeal to you is to protect and conserve the environment in this conservation area, as there are also different specimen of endemic spicies..” he insisted
On his part Moshi District Commissioner, Mr.Kippi Warioba pledged to discuss with the Moshi district council to renovate the road that links Mbokomu - Kidia to boost tourism in the area.
Tuesday, 29 November 2016
TANZANIA: Paramilitary To Combat Poaching
In a bid to combat poaching in the country, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism has announced the establishment of a paramilitary force system that will directly protect animals from being attacked and killed by poachers.
The ministry's Permanent Secretary (PS), Major Gen. Gaudence Milanzi, said on Thursday evening that the government is prepared to stop poaching and that the new strategy is set to end the problem once and for all.
Major Gen. Milanzi was speaking on his ministry's performance in a period of one year during an interview on a local TV station. He said members of the paramilitary unit will receive tough military training and will be equipped with modern weapons to face and fight poachers.
"We are going to establish a special unit that will be able to face poachers, these will be following military system and they will be equipped with modern weapons," he said. According to the PS, the new unit is expected to directly face poachers on the ground.
"We are looking forward to improving officials' working environment including their benefits, this will also improve their performance," he said.
However, the PS said so far the situation is improving and a number of poachers have been arrested. He said the tourism sector contributes 17.5 per cent to the GDP and thus the government is forced to apply all means to protect the sector.
"This is one of the very important sectors for the country's economic growth, we are therefore supposed to do everything in our powers to protect the sector so that it could continue attracting more tourists in the country," he said.
He said the number of elephants is increasing in some areas except in Selous game reserve. However, he said his office is making sure the number is not going down anymore. "We had a serious problem in Selous game reserve, the number of elephants dropped from 100,000 to around 40,000.
At the moment we have managed to control the situation," he noted.
He said his office is continuing to resolve some of challenges, which include invasion of pastoralists to the reserved areas and grazing animals in the hunting blocks. "I am asking my fellow Tanzanians to understand what we are doing, politicians must stop politicising issues related to the protection of our game reserves by shielding some pastoralists who invade reserved areas," he noted.
On seized tusks, the PS said the government neither plans to sell them nor destroy them. On tourism, Major Gen. Milanzi said his office is doing everything in its power to promote tourism in the country. He said the ministry is also focusing at promoting beach, conference and culture tourism.
"We are now venturing on the other side in order to attract more tourists, we are now promoting our beaches, culture as well as conference tourism, our aim is to increase the number of tourists who come to our country from 1.1 million to a bigger number," he said.
He added that his office is also promoting other parts of the country so that tourists could visit them. So far 80 per cent of tourists visit Northern regions of Tanzania. The ministry is also preparing special advertisement that will be aired on both international and local media outlets. Major Gen. Milanzi said CNN and BBC are among international TV stations that air Tanzania tourism adverts.
Recently, Tanzania aired tourism adverts in London during the World Tourism Forum (WTF). He added that those who advertise that Mt Kilimanjaro belongs to them instead of telling the truth that it is in Tanzania will not affect tourism business in the country anymore, since the ministry has already designed an advert that clearly states why tourists must come to Tanzania to climb Mt Kilimanjaro.
"Our advert tells that you can see Mt Kilimanjaro from any angle, but you can only climb Mt Kilimanjaro from its home, which is Tanzania," he noted. On the revival of Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL), the PS said the company is expected to promote tourism in the country by flying tourists to various destinations across the country. He said there will be advertisement and various articles will be published in newsletters and magazines that are found onboard ATCL's bombardier planes.
On Value-Added Tax (VAT) on tourism, Major Gen. Milanzi said so far there is no negative impact from the government decisions.
He said the Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa) statistics and Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) show that the number of tourists has been increasing.
The ministry's Permanent Secretary (PS), Major Gen. Gaudence Milanzi, said on Thursday evening that the government is prepared to stop poaching and that the new strategy is set to end the problem once and for all.
Major Gen. Milanzi was speaking on his ministry's performance in a period of one year during an interview on a local TV station. He said members of the paramilitary unit will receive tough military training and will be equipped with modern weapons to face and fight poachers.
"We are going to establish a special unit that will be able to face poachers, these will be following military system and they will be equipped with modern weapons," he said. According to the PS, the new unit is expected to directly face poachers on the ground.
"We are looking forward to improving officials' working environment including their benefits, this will also improve their performance," he said.
However, the PS said so far the situation is improving and a number of poachers have been arrested. He said the tourism sector contributes 17.5 per cent to the GDP and thus the government is forced to apply all means to protect the sector.
"This is one of the very important sectors for the country's economic growth, we are therefore supposed to do everything in our powers to protect the sector so that it could continue attracting more tourists in the country," he said.
He said the number of elephants is increasing in some areas except in Selous game reserve. However, he said his office is making sure the number is not going down anymore. "We had a serious problem in Selous game reserve, the number of elephants dropped from 100,000 to around 40,000.
At the moment we have managed to control the situation," he noted.
He said his office is continuing to resolve some of challenges, which include invasion of pastoralists to the reserved areas and grazing animals in the hunting blocks. "I am asking my fellow Tanzanians to understand what we are doing, politicians must stop politicising issues related to the protection of our game reserves by shielding some pastoralists who invade reserved areas," he noted.
On seized tusks, the PS said the government neither plans to sell them nor destroy them. On tourism, Major Gen. Milanzi said his office is doing everything in its power to promote tourism in the country. He said the ministry is also focusing at promoting beach, conference and culture tourism.
"We are now venturing on the other side in order to attract more tourists, we are now promoting our beaches, culture as well as conference tourism, our aim is to increase the number of tourists who come to our country from 1.1 million to a bigger number," he said.
He added that his office is also promoting other parts of the country so that tourists could visit them. So far 80 per cent of tourists visit Northern regions of Tanzania. The ministry is also preparing special advertisement that will be aired on both international and local media outlets. Major Gen. Milanzi said CNN and BBC are among international TV stations that air Tanzania tourism adverts.
Recently, Tanzania aired tourism adverts in London during the World Tourism Forum (WTF). He added that those who advertise that Mt Kilimanjaro belongs to them instead of telling the truth that it is in Tanzania will not affect tourism business in the country anymore, since the ministry has already designed an advert that clearly states why tourists must come to Tanzania to climb Mt Kilimanjaro.
"Our advert tells that you can see Mt Kilimanjaro from any angle, but you can only climb Mt Kilimanjaro from its home, which is Tanzania," he noted. On the revival of Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL), the PS said the company is expected to promote tourism in the country by flying tourists to various destinations across the country. He said there will be advertisement and various articles will be published in newsletters and magazines that are found onboard ATCL's bombardier planes.
On Value-Added Tax (VAT) on tourism, Major Gen. Milanzi said so far there is no negative impact from the government decisions.
He said the Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa) statistics and Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) show that the number of tourists has been increasing.
Thursday, 14 July 2016
TANZANIA: Tanapa To Compensate Former Residents Of Ihefu Valley
Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa) will next month pay more than Sh362 million to the 600 people who were relocated from Mbarali District's Ihefu Valley ten years ago.
The former residents of Ihefu Valley were then underpaid, with some getting as little as Sh3,500 and this time Tanapa plans to compensate them accordingly.
Tanapa's chief conservationist, Vitalis Urulea made the promise during a meeting between the regional commissioners for Mbeya, Njombe and Iringa. The meeting aimed at discussing how best to implement Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa's order to solve the land dispute.
The Prime Minister had ordered the three RC's, Amos Makalla (Mbeya), Rehema Nchimbi (Njombe) and Amina Masenza (Iringa) to find a solution to the land conflict between Tanapa and the residents of the villages in question.
Mbeya RC, Amos Makalla promised to make sure every resident is paid appropriately according to the size of land and property they owned.
The former residents of Ihefu Valley were then underpaid, with some getting as little as Sh3,500 and this time Tanapa plans to compensate them accordingly.
Tanapa's chief conservationist, Vitalis Urulea made the promise during a meeting between the regional commissioners for Mbeya, Njombe and Iringa. The meeting aimed at discussing how best to implement Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa's order to solve the land dispute.
The Prime Minister had ordered the three RC's, Amos Makalla (Mbeya), Rehema Nchimbi (Njombe) and Amina Masenza (Iringa) to find a solution to the land conflict between Tanapa and the residents of the villages in question.
Mbeya RC, Amos Makalla promised to make sure every resident is paid appropriately according to the size of land and property they owned.
Monday, 27 June 2016
Kitulo National Park
The park is administered by Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) and is the first national park in tropical Africa to be established primarily to protect its flora.
Locals refer to the Kitulo Plateau as "Bustani ya Mungu" ("The Garden of God"), while botanists have referred to it as the "Serengeti of Flowers".
Protection of the Kitulo Plateau's unique flora was first proposed by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), in response to the growing international trade in orchid tubers and increased hunting and logging activities in the surrounding forests.
In 2002, President Benjamin Mkapa announced the establishment of the park. The park was formally gazetted in 2005, becoming Tanzania's fourteenth national park.
TANAPA has stated that the park could be expanded in the future to include the neighbouring Mount Rungwe forest.
In 2005, field scientists from the WCS discovered a new species of primate on and around Mount Rungwe and in the Livingstone Forest area of the park. Initially known as the Highland Mangabey, later changed to its Tanzanian name of Kipunji, it is one of the 25 most endangered primates in the world.
Sunday, 26 June 2016
TANZANIA: Board of Directors of Tanzania Tourist Board Innaugurated 10 June 2016
The newly appointed Board of Directors of Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) has held its first meeting at TTB‘s offices in Dar es salaam today.
The meeting which was meanly for Board members to acquaint with TTB roles and functions was chaired for the first time by Board Chairman (rtd) Judge Justice Thomas Mihayo and was also attended by TTB Management team.
The Managing Director of TTB Devota Mdachi also used the meeting to introduce to the Board of Directors the TTB Management team. The TTB Board of Directors which was appointed in May this year comprises of six members under the Chairmanship of Judge Mihayo. Members are Mr. Ibrahim Mussa, Director of Marketing of TANAPA; Ambassador Joseph Sokoine, Director of Europe and Americas Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, East Africa, Regional and International Cooperation; Mr Mark Leveri, Film and video Adverts Expert, Ex. Tanzania Film Company.
Others are Mr. Richard Rugimbana, Executive Secretary, Tanzania Confederation of Tourism (TCT); Ms Zubein Muhaji Mhita, former Member of Parliament and (rtd) Director of Primary Education and Mr. Agustine Kungu H. Olal, Assistant Commissioner for Policy and Economy, Ministry of Finance and Planning.
The Board of Directors will be in power for three years until in 2019.
Thursday, 23 June 2016
TANZANIA: TANAPA To Use Paramilitary In Parks
Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) has completed training to its officials, as it gets ready to move from civilian to paramilitary system to curb poaching.
The sixth and last phase was closed by the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Professor Jumanne Maghembe, on Saturday that included 27 senior officials and make the number of trained ones 175.
Addressing the participants here after commissioning them, Prof Maghembe said that to support the initiative to go military, President John Magufuli has offered intensive military training to 50 TANAPA officials starting this week.
It aims at equipping the authority with better and necessary field skills. He sent a strong message to poachers and intruders to national parks and forest reserves that military force would be applied against them without any hesitation.
Prof Maghembe said it was enough how parks and reserved areas have been degraded, animals killed, forests set on fire and logs cut. "Now it is time to take action.
We back TANAPA in its decision to initiate a paramilitary system to protect the country's resources. "To poachers and intruders in the national parks and reserved areas; I say we won't send Christmas cards to them.
They come in with guns and we will respond with guns," cautioned Prof Maghembe. He added that much as TANAPA will cooperate with the police force, authority will have to stand on its own legs, go forward and not wait for others in the strategy to go military since the parks are one of the main sources of foreign currency earnings and livelihoods to many in the country.
The minister said much as poaching has been getting chronic, he was optimistic that its solution is at last as use of force is necessary since poachers have refused to hear pleas to stay out of the parks.
He sent another message to park and forest wardens and managers who entertain encroachers and poachers and let people set fire on parks and forests, cut trees and smuggle out logs that their days were numbered.
The sixth and last phase was closed by the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Professor Jumanne Maghembe, on Saturday that included 27 senior officials and make the number of trained ones 175.
Addressing the participants here after commissioning them, Prof Maghembe said that to support the initiative to go military, President John Magufuli has offered intensive military training to 50 TANAPA officials starting this week.
It aims at equipping the authority with better and necessary field skills. He sent a strong message to poachers and intruders to national parks and forest reserves that military force would be applied against them without any hesitation.
Prof Maghembe said it was enough how parks and reserved areas have been degraded, animals killed, forests set on fire and logs cut. "Now it is time to take action.
We back TANAPA in its decision to initiate a paramilitary system to protect the country's resources. "To poachers and intruders in the national parks and reserved areas; I say we won't send Christmas cards to them.
They come in with guns and we will respond with guns," cautioned Prof Maghembe. He added that much as TANAPA will cooperate with the police force, authority will have to stand on its own legs, go forward and not wait for others in the strategy to go military since the parks are one of the main sources of foreign currency earnings and livelihoods to many in the country.
The minister said much as poaching has been getting chronic, he was optimistic that its solution is at last as use of force is necessary since poachers have refused to hear pleas to stay out of the parks.
He sent another message to park and forest wardens and managers who entertain encroachers and poachers and let people set fire on parks and forests, cut trees and smuggle out logs that their days were numbered.
Tuesday, 21 June 2016
TANZANIA: TANAPA For Paramilitary Action In Parks
The sixth and last phase was closed by the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Professor Jumanne Maghembe, on Saturday that included 27 senior officials and make the number of trained ones 175.
Addressing the participants here after commissioning them, Prof Maghembe said that to support the initiative to go military, President John Magufuli has offered intensive military training to 50 TANAPA officials starting this week.
It aims at equipping the authority with better and necessary field skills. He sent a strong message to poachers and intruders to national parks and forest reserves that military force would be applied against them without any hesitation.
Prof Maghembe said it was enough how parks and reserved areas have been degraded, animals killed, forests set on fire and logs cut. "Now it is time to take action.
We back TANAPA in its decision to initiate a paramilitary system to protect the country's resources. "To poachers and intruders in the national parks and reserved areas; I say we won't send Christmas cards to them.
They come in with guns and we will respond with guns," cautioned Prof Maghembe. He added that much as TANAPA will cooperate with the police force, authority will have to stand on its own legs, go forward and not wait for others in the strategy to go military since the parks are one of the main sources of foreign currency earnings and livelihoods to many in the country.
The minister said much as poaching has been getting chronic, he was optimistic that its solution is at last as use of force is necessary since poachers have refused to hear pleas to stay out of the parks.
He sent another message to park and forest wardens and managers who entertain encroachers and poachers and let people set fire on parks and forests, cut trees and smuggle out logs that their days were numbered.
Wednesday, 25 May 2016
TANZANIA: Safari Lodges And Hotels Required To Pay Unfair And Unrealistic Taxes To Ngorongoro District Council
A wrangle is brewing between hoteliers and lower arms of government, this time triggered by the insistence of the Ngorongoro District Council that lodges inside and outside the Ngorongoro Conservation Authority area should pay them a combined levy worth over 1 million US Dollars.
The Tanzanian hotel association body HAT, short for Hotel Association of Tanzania, has made it patently clear that since the Finance Act of 2012 are hotels exempted from paying service levies to districts demanding money from them.
An intransigent Ngorongoro District Council however has threatened to take hotels unwilling to meet their extortionate demands to court and even lock their premises, all happening now ahead of the high season and of two crucial local Tanzanian tourism trade fairs, the Karibu Travel and Tourism Fair in Arusha and the KILIFair held a week later in Moshi.
'Should these uneducated and ill informed administrators try to make good of their threats, they could spoil the entire season for the tourism sector. If the Finance Act of 2012 exempted hotels and lodges from paying such service levies, they should accept it and find other mechanisms to finance their overspending.
TANAPA held safari operators and clients hostage at their gates about two years ago trying to extort money which the lodges claimed was not due, taking it out on the entire industry.
That caused us all huge damage in loss of reputation, as an industry and as a country. Those responsible at TANAPA at the time made us look like fools. Such malfeasance must be stopped once and for all and these little village chiefs better get some education and learn civil manners and behaviour' ranted a regular source from Arusha when asked to comment on the development.
HAT will no doubt take the matter back to court to seek protection for their members, maybe via a prohibition order against this and any other councils which may wish to follow suit while higher courts with greater competence than a mere magistrate's court are expected to rule differently when all facts are presented to them.
The Tanzanian hotel association body HAT, short for Hotel Association of Tanzania, has made it patently clear that since the Finance Act of 2012 are hotels exempted from paying service levies to districts demanding money from them.
An intransigent Ngorongoro District Council however has threatened to take hotels unwilling to meet their extortionate demands to court and even lock their premises, all happening now ahead of the high season and of two crucial local Tanzanian tourism trade fairs, the Karibu Travel and Tourism Fair in Arusha and the KILIFair held a week later in Moshi.
'Should these uneducated and ill informed administrators try to make good of their threats, they could spoil the entire season for the tourism sector. If the Finance Act of 2012 exempted hotels and lodges from paying such service levies, they should accept it and find other mechanisms to finance their overspending.
TANAPA held safari operators and clients hostage at their gates about two years ago trying to extort money which the lodges claimed was not due, taking it out on the entire industry.
That caused us all huge damage in loss of reputation, as an industry and as a country. Those responsible at TANAPA at the time made us look like fools. Such malfeasance must be stopped once and for all and these little village chiefs better get some education and learn civil manners and behaviour' ranted a regular source from Arusha when asked to comment on the development.
HAT will no doubt take the matter back to court to seek protection for their members, maybe via a prohibition order against this and any other councils which may wish to follow suit while higher courts with greater competence than a mere magistrate's court are expected to rule differently when all facts are presented to them.
Sunday, 28 February 2016
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.
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.
Thursday, 25 February 2016
TANZANIA: More Suspects In British Chopper Pilot Killing Held
HELICOPTER pilot Roger Gower, right, assists with anti-poaching activities in Tanzania’s Katavi National Park. On January 28, he died after he was shot by poachers while trying to track them down.
MORE suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of British helicopter pilot Roger Gower by poachers recently.
Impeccable sources close to the investigations team said about 12 suspects have been arrested while the manhunt was closing in on additional suspect yesterday.
A source revealed that antipoaching operations have been intensified nationwide since the slaying of the British helicopter pilot, netting eight suspects and 21 rifles within the Selous Game Reserve in Mahenge District.
The ‘Daily News’ contacted the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Prof Jumanne Maghembe, who directed this reporter to contact the Simiyu Regional Police Commander for a detailed report on the matter.
“Yes, we have more suspects in custody..... contact the Simiyu RPC, who will give you more details. We have also intensified anti-poaching operations countrywide,” he explained. Efforts to contact the Simiyu RPC were futile as his phone was not reachable.
Prof Maghembe noted that the Simiyu RPC would hold a press conference today on the matter, adding that at the policy level, together with Home Affairs Minister Charles Katanga, they will hold another press conference tomorrow.
The Friedkin Conservation Fund was quoted saying that among suspects arrested are members of a network providing illegal weapons and smuggling ivory. Gower, 37, was helping authorities in the country to track the criminals when they opened fire on his aircraft on January 29.
President John Magufuli has condemned the killing of the British conservationist, who worked for the Friedkin Conservation Fund.
“This is a sad incident that must be strongly condemned,” Dr Magufuli said in a statement, ordering all those involved to be “aggressively pursued and brought to justice.”
“I personally support the fight against poaching in our game reserves and national parks let us join hands against the poachers,” added the president. Gower’s South African colleague, safari guide Nicky Bester, survived the helicopter crash.
Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) spokesman Pascal Shelutete was quoted saying that poachers can be “heavily armed with sophisticated military weaponry.
” Ivory is sought out for jewelry and decorative objects and much of it is smuggled to China, where wealthy shoppers are reported to be increasingly buying ivory trinkets as a sign of financial success. It is estimated that more than 30,000 elephants are killed for their tusks every year across Africa.
Impeccable sources close to the investigations team said about 12 suspects have been arrested while the manhunt was closing in on additional suspect yesterday.
A source revealed that antipoaching operations have been intensified nationwide since the slaying of the British helicopter pilot, netting eight suspects and 21 rifles within the Selous Game Reserve in Mahenge District.
The ‘Daily News’ contacted the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Prof Jumanne Maghembe, who directed this reporter to contact the Simiyu Regional Police Commander for a detailed report on the matter.
“Yes, we have more suspects in custody..... contact the Simiyu RPC, who will give you more details. We have also intensified anti-poaching operations countrywide,” he explained. Efforts to contact the Simiyu RPC were futile as his phone was not reachable.
Prof Maghembe noted that the Simiyu RPC would hold a press conference today on the matter, adding that at the policy level, together with Home Affairs Minister Charles Katanga, they will hold another press conference tomorrow.
The Friedkin Conservation Fund was quoted saying that among suspects arrested are members of a network providing illegal weapons and smuggling ivory. Gower, 37, was helping authorities in the country to track the criminals when they opened fire on his aircraft on January 29.
President John Magufuli has condemned the killing of the British conservationist, who worked for the Friedkin Conservation Fund.
“This is a sad incident that must be strongly condemned,” Dr Magufuli said in a statement, ordering all those involved to be “aggressively pursued and brought to justice.”
“I personally support the fight against poaching in our game reserves and national parks let us join hands against the poachers,” added the president. Gower’s South African colleague, safari guide Nicky Bester, survived the helicopter crash.
Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) spokesman Pascal Shelutete was quoted saying that poachers can be “heavily armed with sophisticated military weaponry.
” Ivory is sought out for jewelry and decorative objects and much of it is smuggled to China, where wealthy shoppers are reported to be increasingly buying ivory trinkets as a sign of financial success. It is estimated that more than 30,000 elephants are killed for their tusks every year across Africa.
TANZANIA: KILIFAIR Exhibition PreparationsUnderway
THE Kilimanjaro Tourism and Industry Fair organization plans to hold an international trade fair to be held at Ushirika Sports Stadium here.
Co-directors of the organization, famously referred to as KILIFAIR, Mr Tom Kunkler and Dominic Shoo said here that more than 250 exhibitors from more than 25 countries are expected to participate.
So far more than 154 exhibitors from Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Zanzibar, India, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia have registered for the fair to take place in early June.
The fair will include three days of networking and workshops for tourism industry, while there will feature also African fashion, arts and crafts.
Mr Kunkler said the fair that started last year at a different place here, is aimed at promoting tourism, industry and trade under the motto ‘Boosting Tanzania Tourism’.
“The fair is representing and promoting the Kilimanjaro Region and the Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa), to East Africa and to the rest of the world.
“Next to local and international tourism related companies, sponsors and several Tanzania organizations such as the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB),Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), have already signed in for 2016,” said the directors in their communiqué.
Mr Shoo said they are proud to that exhibitors and pre-registered buyers from over 25 countries already have affirmed participation.
“KILIFAIR 2015, motivated 168 exhibitors, 185 visiting East African based on tour companies and more than 3,000 individual visitors participated.
No doubt that 2016 will break that record due to extended marketing campaigns in Tanzania, East Africa and at international trade fairs in Europe,” he said.
He noted that the KILIFAIR team attended in Kampala, Uganda ‘The Pearl of Africa’ fair and was expected to be present at major fairs such as ‘SITE’ in Dar es Salaam, ‘Magical Kenya’, ‘WTM’ in London, ‘ITB’ in Germany and ‘INDABA’ in Durban, South Africa.
Co-directors of the organization, famously referred to as KILIFAIR, Mr Tom Kunkler and Dominic Shoo said here that more than 250 exhibitors from more than 25 countries are expected to participate.
So far more than 154 exhibitors from Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Zanzibar, India, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia have registered for the fair to take place in early June.
The fair will include three days of networking and workshops for tourism industry, while there will feature also African fashion, arts and crafts.
Mr Kunkler said the fair that started last year at a different place here, is aimed at promoting tourism, industry and trade under the motto ‘Boosting Tanzania Tourism’.
“The fair is representing and promoting the Kilimanjaro Region and the Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa), to East Africa and to the rest of the world.
“Next to local and international tourism related companies, sponsors and several Tanzania organizations such as the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB),Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), have already signed in for 2016,” said the directors in their communiqué.
Mr Shoo said they are proud to that exhibitors and pre-registered buyers from over 25 countries already have affirmed participation.
“KILIFAIR 2015, motivated 168 exhibitors, 185 visiting East African based on tour companies and more than 3,000 individual visitors participated.
No doubt that 2016 will break that record due to extended marketing campaigns in Tanzania, East Africa and at international trade fairs in Europe,” he said.
He noted that the KILIFAIR team attended in Kampala, Uganda ‘The Pearl of Africa’ fair and was expected to be present at major fairs such as ‘SITE’ in Dar es Salaam, ‘Magical Kenya’, ‘WTM’ in London, ‘ITB’ in Germany and ‘INDABA’ in Durban, South Africa.
TANZANIA: Tour Operators Warned Against Entry Cheating
THE government has issued a stern warning against deceitful operations in letting in undocumented tourists in Kilimanjaro National Park (Kinapa) and non-compliance of regulations in the tourism business, causing the government losses in income.
The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Professor Jumanne Maghembe, said as he met tourism stakeholders.
He said that it is unacceptable that a conspiracy is struck between the park officials and some wayward individuals to that end. Professor Maghembe said he gathered that there are some ‘panya routes’ used alongside the legal gates, but a good number of tourists are not registered.
He said that this could be reflected in the fact that instead of revenue going up it was the other way round, after the number of people touring the park dropped from 50,000 to 45,000 per annum. “There have been deception as some guests are not documented yet they enter the park and climb Mount Kilimanjaro, hence the government misses its due income.
Every tourist must be documented and must pay what they have to. “There is massive cheating and we are going to take action,” said Professor Maghembe who was flanked by the Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Amos Makalla and Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa) Director General, Mr Allan Kijazi.
The minister threatened that if his call was not adhered to before May this year the ministry might consider opening doors to other business people to mount up competition that would lead to better services and revelation of perpetrators.
He said Kinapa was the park that earns the country most foreign exchange and he is not ready to see its revenue come down. Instead he is out to see it double within a year or so.
He said in 2007 rules were set that all activities should be run by locals, but at international standard, something he is going to make a follow-up on. Professor Maghembe was also concerned that some tourists were not treated well.
He said that Tanzanian hospitality was losing its gloss. He said besides generosity, tourists who climb Mount Kilimanjaro should be served with excellent food. There was no point to increase profits while offering substandard services.
The minister said he has been informed about longstanding complaints from porters and guides in regard to the deaths of their fellows who trek to Mount Kilimanjaro with tourists, because they go without proper clothing and equipment.
He ordered Kinapa’s new leadership under Chief Park Warden, Ms Betrita Loiboki to ensure nobody is allowed to trek to Africa’s highest mountain without the right gear, adding that some porters are said to take hard drinks (viroba) thinking they would take the place of proper clothing.
He promised to initiate a massive campaign to promote Mount Kilimanjaro, starting with America through ABC News, FOX News, then move to The UK, Germany and Italy to ensure the number of tourists rises again.
The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Professor Jumanne Maghembe, said as he met tourism stakeholders.
He said that it is unacceptable that a conspiracy is struck between the park officials and some wayward individuals to that end. Professor Maghembe said he gathered that there are some ‘panya routes’ used alongside the legal gates, but a good number of tourists are not registered.
He said that this could be reflected in the fact that instead of revenue going up it was the other way round, after the number of people touring the park dropped from 50,000 to 45,000 per annum. “There have been deception as some guests are not documented yet they enter the park and climb Mount Kilimanjaro, hence the government misses its due income.
Every tourist must be documented and must pay what they have to. “There is massive cheating and we are going to take action,” said Professor Maghembe who was flanked by the Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Amos Makalla and Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa) Director General, Mr Allan Kijazi.
The minister threatened that if his call was not adhered to before May this year the ministry might consider opening doors to other business people to mount up competition that would lead to better services and revelation of perpetrators.
He said Kinapa was the park that earns the country most foreign exchange and he is not ready to see its revenue come down. Instead he is out to see it double within a year or so.
He said in 2007 rules were set that all activities should be run by locals, but at international standard, something he is going to make a follow-up on. Professor Maghembe was also concerned that some tourists were not treated well.
He said that Tanzanian hospitality was losing its gloss. He said besides generosity, tourists who climb Mount Kilimanjaro should be served with excellent food. There was no point to increase profits while offering substandard services.
The minister said he has been informed about longstanding complaints from porters and guides in regard to the deaths of their fellows who trek to Mount Kilimanjaro with tourists, because they go without proper clothing and equipment.
He ordered Kinapa’s new leadership under Chief Park Warden, Ms Betrita Loiboki to ensure nobody is allowed to trek to Africa’s highest mountain without the right gear, adding that some porters are said to take hard drinks (viroba) thinking they would take the place of proper clothing.
He promised to initiate a massive campaign to promote Mount Kilimanjaro, starting with America through ABC News, FOX News, then move to The UK, Germany and Italy to ensure the number of tourists rises again.
TANZANIA: Two Anti-poaching Planes Land In Serengeti
Valued at nearly 1.2bn/- the two ‘Aviat Aircraft Husky A-IC’ planes have been donated by Germany in its ongoing support to the local war against poaching and other forms of wildlife destruction.
Handing over one of the planes to the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Professor Jumanne Maghembe, the Ambassador of Germany to Tanzania, Mr Egon Konchake, said his country was taking conservation efforts extremely seriously and that is why they are assisting Tanzania in its war against poaching.
“Overall, we have invested over 500 million Euros in the global natural resources and wildlife conservation efforts,” explained the envoy, adding that they have special mutual connection with the Serengeti National Park that German conservator and zoologist, the late Bernhard Grzimek, had helped to establish.
Speaking during the event Prof Maghembe said German had also granted Tanzania over 32 million Euros, equivalent to 80bn/-, for the next five years to aid in conservation efforts.
The funds will cover the establishment of the Tanzania Wildlife Authority (TAWA) Research, anti-poaching efforts and the setting up of a game ranger squad.
The Director General of the Tanzania National Park (TANAPA), Dr Allan Kijazi, said the manning of Serengeti National Park, measuring 14,700 square kilometres, was almost impossible by using vehicles and that planes were the only solution.
The two planes, each to be manned by two personnel, are specifically made for low-flying aerial patrol and will be dispatched to Selous, which is the largest game reserve on the continent and to Serengeti, the country’s second largest national park.
“The aircrafts had been transported here in parts and assembled in Nairobi,” explained Dr Kijazi, adding that each of the reconnaissance planes is valued at US $ 250,000.
The total donation is 1.2bn/- Tanzania has a total of 16 national parks, 29 game reserves and one (Ngorongoro) conservation area authority.
The country has thus dedicated more than 35 per cent of its total geographical area to conservation purposes.
TANZANIA: More Wild Dog Packs Released Into Serengeti
The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Prof Jumanne Maghembe officially opened the gates of the sanctuary in which the wild dogs were being confined under special care to allow the ferocious animals to begin their free roaming in the 14,763 square kilometres making up the vast Serengeti plains.
That was the last in the series of six packs releases from the Serengeti Wild Dog Conservation Project aimed at replenishing the National Park with its own indigenous species of the endangered animals.
They were initially captured from Loliondo hills, where the dogs were constantly in conflicts with pastoralists. Wild dogs apparently love to tear goats and sheep apart for their meals and this has earned them a coveted top spot in the livestock keepers’ hate list.
Cases of poisoned or speared carnivores in areas like Loliondo Division of Ngorongoro and parts of Monduli District have been common.
“The dogs were going extinct from the early 90s,” pointed out the tourism minister, adding that since the species of African Wild Dogs were facing demise all over the world, it is upon Tanzania to ensure that the carnivores were protected.
Director General for Tanzania National Parks, Dr Allan Kijazi described the latest wild dog pack as gypsy have at one time travelled from Loliondo, through Maasai-Mara all the way to Tsavo before crossing back to Tanzania ending up in Korogwe, then making return trip to Loliondo.
Previously five other wild dog packs had been released from the Conservation Project and these included the ‘Kikwete Pack,’ ‘Vodacom Pack,’ ‘Serengeti Park,’ ‘Loliondo Pack,’ and Nyasiruri Pack all containing nearly 125 wild-dogs between them.
All packs have some wild dogs that are fitted with GPS devices that help conservators and researchers to track their movements.
But the entire Serengeti Eco-system which also encompasses the (former) Loliondo Game Controlled Area, Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), Maswa Game Reserve and Kenya’s Maasai Mara is reported to have 27 packs of wild dogs with about 325 individuals in-between.
The latest (6th) Wild Dog pack, released from the project was named after Prof Markus Borneran an expert in Genetics and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Glasgow, who has been researching on the carnivores within the Serengeti eco-system.
The Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (Tawiri) has been implementing the project with support from the State House, Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), Grumeti Fund (GF), Vodacom Foundation, The University of Glasgow, Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa), Tanzania Wildlife Authority, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority.
Emmanuel Masenga and Joseph Kaboya who have been working at the project in Serengeti revealed that Tanzania was among the only seven countries of Africa that still have wild dogs, others being Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Botswana and South Africa.
Thursday, 18 February 2016
TANZANIA: TANAPA Deploys Surveillance Aircraft In Serengeti National Park
German Ambassador to Tanzania handed over a surveillance aircraft to the Tanzanian Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism which was donated a few months ago during an official visit of the German Foreign Minister to the country. The Husky aircraft will be operated by the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) for surveillance of the Serengeti National Park to support TANAPA’s fight against poaching.
'We are seeing the large mammals of our protected areas under a severe threat of local extinction because of poaching' said the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Prof. Jumanne Maghembe on the occasion of the handover in Seronera. He thanked the German government for the support in countering the recent upsurge in poaching.
'Stringent law enforcement, community involvement and ecosystem management are key in the fight against poaching', said the German Ambassador Mr. Egon Kochanke before adding: 'I am very proud to be able to hand this aircraft over to the Tanzanian authorities and FZS. This is an important cornerstone of our close and longstanding cooperation'.
It is the Frankfurt Zoological Society which will operate the aircraft in close cooperation with the Serengeti National Park Authority. With aerial support, poacher camps and illegal activities can be detected and the pilots can provide critical information to reaction forces on the ground.
Tanzanian wildlife authorities are faced with a dramatic upsurge of poaching threatening the country’s populations of elephants and rhinos. To counter this threat and to support wildlife and habitat monitoring, the German Government through the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has provided funding for the acquisition of overall three aircraft.
The other two Husky A-1C Aircraft will be deployed in the Tanzanian Selous Game Reserve, one of the hardest hit areas by elephant poaching gangs and the Zambian North Luangwa National Park. The Husky is well suited for monitoring and anti-poaching surveys as it operates at low heights and slow speeds.
This support is part of longer-term financial and technical development cooperation measures implemented by FZS, GIZ, KfW, in collaboration with Tanzania Wildlife Authority TAWA, Tanzania National Parks TANAPA, and the Zambian Department of National Parks and Wildlife DNPW.
'We are seeing the large mammals of our protected areas under a severe threat of local extinction because of poaching' said the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Prof. Jumanne Maghembe on the occasion of the handover in Seronera. He thanked the German government for the support in countering the recent upsurge in poaching.
'Stringent law enforcement, community involvement and ecosystem management are key in the fight against poaching', said the German Ambassador Mr. Egon Kochanke before adding: 'I am very proud to be able to hand this aircraft over to the Tanzanian authorities and FZS. This is an important cornerstone of our close and longstanding cooperation'.
It is the Frankfurt Zoological Society which will operate the aircraft in close cooperation with the Serengeti National Park Authority. With aerial support, poacher camps and illegal activities can be detected and the pilots can provide critical information to reaction forces on the ground.
Tanzanian wildlife authorities are faced with a dramatic upsurge of poaching threatening the country’s populations of elephants and rhinos. To counter this threat and to support wildlife and habitat monitoring, the German Government through the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has provided funding for the acquisition of overall three aircraft.
The other two Husky A-1C Aircraft will be deployed in the Tanzanian Selous Game Reserve, one of the hardest hit areas by elephant poaching gangs and the Zambian North Luangwa National Park. The Husky is well suited for monitoring and anti-poaching surveys as it operates at low heights and slow speeds.
This support is part of longer-term financial and technical development cooperation measures implemented by FZS, GIZ, KfW, in collaboration with Tanzania Wildlife Authority TAWA, Tanzania National Parks TANAPA, and the Zambian Department of National Parks and Wildlife DNPW.
Sunday, 31 January 2016
TANZANIA: Ngorongoro Conservation Area Less Tourists Coming In
Adam Akyoo, Public Relations Manager of Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), said that the situation has been caused by the outbreak of Ebola disease in western African countries and a series of terrorist attacks in neighboring Kenya.
"We are highly affected with those two factors," he said, adding that before, an average of 300 tourist vehicles used to get into the Ngorongoro Crater per day, but now only an average of 20 vehicles were registered per day.
"This is a very serious situation in this country’s leading tourist attraction," he said.
Akyoo said NCAA was working on establishing other alternative measures including erecting a storey building in Arusha city center, which will be used for economic investment.
"We are expecting to spend about 250 million U.S. dollars for the completion of the proposed storey building in Arusha," he said.
"The idea is to make revenue of the NCAA remain intact at the time when doldrums like this happens."
Ngorongoro MP Saning’o Ole Telele suggested the need for the NCAA to embark in a serious campaign to promote domestic tourism.
"What we are seeing now is a wake-up call.
"Let’s start encouraging our people to inculcate a culture of visiting our tourist destinations.
"Though they’ll be paying a little money, but that will make us continue with our wildlife conservation efforts, " the MP said.
Catherine Mbena, communication manager at the Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa), admitted that the country’s tourism industry was passing through a very difficult time.
"The current trend hadn’t happened before," she said.
For the past two years, the Tanzania’s wildlife fully-packed caldera recorded nearly 700,000 tourists annually which is high compared to other parks.
However, the recent trend sends a shockwave to the country’s tourism industry, which ranks top in contributing to GDP.
The situation also ruins country’s endeavors of increasing number of foreign tourist arrivals to more than 2.5 million by 2017.
Tuesday, 8 December 2015
TANZANIA: Aviation Expert Begs For Revitalising National Carrier
Mr Nundu, renowned aviation expert, was of a view that the country should make use of local finances to invest in the flag bearer to boost tourism and economy at large, rather than largely depending on foreign investments.
He made the observation while reacting to issues raised by stakeholders during a workshop organized by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA), as part of activities to mark the International Civil Aviation Day (ICAD), which climaxes on December 7.
“Way back in 2012 a number of proposals were made on how the national carrier could be brought back to its feet but there wasn’t willingness to implement the plan,” Mr Nundu explained.
During meeting bringing together industry players that year a number of options were offered to the government including involvement of tourism-related parastatals and social security funds to raise funds for the airline.
It was then proposed that the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) and Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCCA) should contribute 30 and 10 per cent in equity, respectively.
On the other hand, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and PPF Pension Fund were to raise 10 per cent each while the public and the government would own the remaining stake through the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE).
There was as well an alternative of welcoming a strategic investor to own 25 per cent stake and the remaining shares be held by the tourism related parastatals and the public.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of TCCA-Consumer Consultative Council (TCAACCC), Mr Hamza Johari, echoed the sentiments by the former minister, stressing that there was no need to ‘re-invent the wheel’ stick to the previous plan.
Friday, 18 September 2015
TANZANIA: Drone Proves Successful In Anti-Poaching Surveillance
At last anti-poaching surveillance trials have proved successful in Tanzanian national parks through the use of a Super Bat DA-50 plane. After two ineffective trials in Tarangire and Selous national parks, a private Tanzania company, Bathawk Recon, registered success in its five successive days trials in Mkomazi National Park.
While the former trials used a French-made plane that was incompatible with a number of features, including weather, size of the parks and time they needed to be airborne, the American DA-50 has proved to be the right kit. Speaking after the trials at Kisima aistrip within Mkomazi Game Reserve, Bathawk Recon Head, Mr Mike Chambers, said the small, lightweight unmanned plane could bring to an end poaching in Tanzania, specifically to the most targeted animals - elephants and rhinos.
"We have finished the surveillance trials and are upbeat this is the right equipment that can be on air for 10 successive hours, identify anything on ground night and day and send the right data to a ground control system," said Mr Chambers.
Elephants and rhinos are under threat across Africa and a number of projects have proposed UAV surveillance, agree that aerial surveillance is needed but there was no project that achieved a workable scalable model to deploy UAV in a way that would make a difference. The trials were under management of officials from Martin UAV Company that manufactured the planes, two of whom have been pilots in US and British air forces.
Mr Chambers said after the trials they will present their reports to Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa) and Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) and await Tanzania Government decision if they could enter a deal with it to supply the service. "We want to offer this service to Tanzania.
After the reports we could enter into negotiation and if agreed we will offer it with quality equipment and strong training to Tanzanians. Martin UAV's Chief Operating Officer (COO) and a former UK Air Force pilot, Mr Phil Jones, said he was sure the technology matches properly with Tanzania's situation.
He said the plane uses half a litre of fuel per hour and can help track poachers, send information to the ground and enable rangers to act quickly to arrest them. Mr Jones said in Tanzania there is no such plane that can stay on air for 10 hours, land, refuel and go back for the same hours.
Planes from the company have been used and are ideal for small units surveillance, anti- piracy, aerial mapping, urban monitoring, border patrol, force protection, pipeline inspection, perimeter security and damage assessment.
While the former trials used a French-made plane that was incompatible with a number of features, including weather, size of the parks and time they needed to be airborne, the American DA-50 has proved to be the right kit. Speaking after the trials at Kisima aistrip within Mkomazi Game Reserve, Bathawk Recon Head, Mr Mike Chambers, said the small, lightweight unmanned plane could bring to an end poaching in Tanzania, specifically to the most targeted animals - elephants and rhinos.
"We have finished the surveillance trials and are upbeat this is the right equipment that can be on air for 10 successive hours, identify anything on ground night and day and send the right data to a ground control system," said Mr Chambers.
Elephants and rhinos are under threat across Africa and a number of projects have proposed UAV surveillance, agree that aerial surveillance is needed but there was no project that achieved a workable scalable model to deploy UAV in a way that would make a difference. The trials were under management of officials from Martin UAV Company that manufactured the planes, two of whom have been pilots in US and British air forces.
Mr Chambers said after the trials they will present their reports to Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa) and Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) and await Tanzania Government decision if they could enter a deal with it to supply the service. "We want to offer this service to Tanzania.
After the reports we could enter into negotiation and if agreed we will offer it with quality equipment and strong training to Tanzanians. Martin UAV's Chief Operating Officer (COO) and a former UK Air Force pilot, Mr Phil Jones, said he was sure the technology matches properly with Tanzania's situation.
He said the plane uses half a litre of fuel per hour and can help track poachers, send information to the ground and enable rangers to act quickly to arrest them. Mr Jones said in Tanzania there is no such plane that can stay on air for 10 hours, land, refuel and go back for the same hours.
Planes from the company have been used and are ideal for small units surveillance, anti- piracy, aerial mapping, urban monitoring, border patrol, force protection, pipeline inspection, perimeter security and damage assessment.
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