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 tanzania national parks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tanzania national parks. Show all posts
Tuesday, 5 September 2017
Sunday, 25 June 2017
TANZANIA: National Tourism Television Channel To Telecast Very Soon
A new tourism television channel dedicated exclusively for the country's attractions will hit the sky soon at the national broadcasting television.
This follows the signing of an agreement between the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC), the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) and the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) in Dodoma on Wednesday.
The TBC Director General, Dr Ayub Rioba said at the signing ceremony that, the channel would run twenty four hours a day with a focus on the national parks, beaches, archeological sites, marine parks, game reserves, conservation, among others.
I am very delighted for this milestone achievement giving TBC an opportunity to play its role as a national public broadcaster in the promotion of the tourism sector, he said.
TBC as a national public broadcaster has a role not just to inform but to help the country promote the tourism sector to boost the foreign currency reserves.
The introduction of the new tourism channel marks the first time in the country's history for a local television station to reach out to diversified international markets.
The agreement also comes in the wake of President John Magufuli's directive when he visited TBC mid last month that the national public broadcaster should introduce a tourism channel.
Under the agreement, TANAPA, NCAA and TTB will finance the project aimed at promoting the local touristic attractions across the country and to the outside world.
Currently, tourism is the country's forex earner, generating over 2.1 billion US dollars (about 5tr/-) annually.
TBC also runs TBC 2 Television channel and radio stations, namely TBC Taifa, TBC FM and TBC International. It is the fastest growing brand, according to the recent Geopoll study.
On her part, the TTB Managing Director, Ms Devotha Mdachi said that the partnership marks a new era in the promotion of the country's tourism sector.
This is a proof that our efforts of promoting tourism are winning support from all other players in the public and private sector, she said.
On his part, TANAPA Director General, Mr Allan Kijazi said his institution was excited about the partnership with TBC.
TBC has shown that we can use our own media to project the tourism attractions not only to Tanzanians but to the whole world, Mr Kijazi said.
This follows the signing of an agreement between the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC), the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) and the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) in Dodoma on Wednesday.
The TBC Director General, Dr Ayub Rioba said at the signing ceremony that, the channel would run twenty four hours a day with a focus on the national parks, beaches, archeological sites, marine parks, game reserves, conservation, among others.
I am very delighted for this milestone achievement giving TBC an opportunity to play its role as a national public broadcaster in the promotion of the tourism sector, he said.
TBC as a national public broadcaster has a role not just to inform but to help the country promote the tourism sector to boost the foreign currency reserves.
The introduction of the new tourism channel marks the first time in the country's history for a local television station to reach out to diversified international markets.
The agreement also comes in the wake of President John Magufuli's directive when he visited TBC mid last month that the national public broadcaster should introduce a tourism channel.
Under the agreement, TANAPA, NCAA and TTB will finance the project aimed at promoting the local touristic attractions across the country and to the outside world.
Currently, tourism is the country's forex earner, generating over 2.1 billion US dollars (about 5tr/-) annually.
TBC also runs TBC 2 Television channel and radio stations, namely TBC Taifa, TBC FM and TBC International. It is the fastest growing brand, according to the recent Geopoll study.
On her part, the TTB Managing Director, Ms Devotha Mdachi said that the partnership marks a new era in the promotion of the country's tourism sector.
This is a proof that our efforts of promoting tourism are winning support from all other players in the public and private sector, she said.
On his part, TANAPA Director General, Mr Allan Kijazi said his institution was excited about the partnership with TBC.
TBC has shown that we can use our own media to project the tourism attractions not only to Tanzanians but to the whole world, Mr Kijazi said.
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.
Wednesday, 13 July 2016
TANZANIA: Lenient Sentences By Courts Of Law Fail To Protect Wildlife
Rubondo Island National Park Acting Chief Park Warden, Mr Emmanuel Kaaya, sounded an alarm that there is a need to review some laws as poachers find them too soft and keep degrading the parks.
He gave an example that some poachers and illegal fishermen who destroy fish breeding grounds, catch huge numbers of fish and degrade the environment that has been conserved for long, but end up getting a few months behind bars or conditional discharges.
"We are facing a huge challenge because we try our best to protect the park, arrest poachers but when we get to the court they are given lenient sentences, such as a 20,000/- fine and conditional discharge while what they get in their illegal activities is highly valued," said Mr Kaaya.
He noted that in the last financial year some 700 people were arrested for going against the Tanzania National Parks Act, Wildlife Act as well as the Fishing Act.
Mr Kaaya noted that most of the culprits come from Misongo, Ikuza, Maisome and other parts of Chato District and that many are not residents near the area; hence it is difficult to trace them.
However, he commended the courts for a job well done in dealing with such matters, noting that more than 95 percent of the cases are won by the park. He appealed for the media to promote national parks so as to increase tourists, both local and foreign and hence boost national income.
Mr Kaaya noted that a lot of resources are employed to protect the park but there are fishing camps around it. He attributed this to low numbers of tourists to the island which is not known. However, he said strategies have been put in place to promote it.
The park has offered support to the community, such as construction of a dispensary at Maisome, an administration block at Maisome Secondary School as well as office equipment and desks.
Tourism Warden, Mr Fadhili Kimambo said the park boasts of many animals such as bushbucks, elephants, giraffe, chimpanzees and snakes in a thick, well conserved forest.
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.
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.
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: 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.
TANZANIA: Anti Poaching British Helicopter Pilot Roger Gower Shot Down By Crazy Poachers
A British helicopter pilot was fatally shot by elephant poachers while flying an anti-poaching mission in Tanzania, a member of Parliament and a conservation fund said Saturday.
Roger Gower was working with Tanzanian wildlife authorities when the poachers fired on his helicopter and fatally wounded him Friday, said Dan Friedkin, chairman of the Texas-based non-profit Friedkin Conservation Fund.
"We are profoundly saddened by the loss of our dear friend," he said.
Gower managed to land the chopper but died before he was able to be rescued, said Lazaro Nyalandu, the country's former tourism minister, who said he flew with Gower many times.
Gower was helping rangers find the killers of an elephant when the poachers fired at the helicopter with an AK-47, Nyalandu wrote on Twitter.
Photos of the crash site, provided by Tanzania National Parks, show the helicopter on its side in dense grass, its tail broken off. A bloody bullet hole can be seen in one of the seats.
"Those poachers who killed Capt Roger are coward, evil, and sad people. A fine hearted individual gone too soon, and our hearts are broken," Nyalandu wrote.
RIP Capt Roger. You loved our country and I knew you on many flights we took together in defence of our wildlife heritage. Life is precious
— Lazaro Nyalandu (@LazaroNyalandu) January 30, 2016
The shooting happened at the Maswa Game Reserve, which borders the Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania, Nyalandu said. Elephant poaching is prevalent on the reserve, according to the Friedkin Conservation Fund.
It was not immediately clear whether Gower was working for the fund when he was killed.
"This tragic event again highlights the appalling risk and cost of protecting Tanzania's wildlife," Friedkin said.
The killers are still at large, Nyalandu said. Tourism Minister Jumanne Maghembe flew to Maswa with senior government officials to lead the search, he said.
"Capt Roger represented the very best in human spirit," Nyalandu wrote. "He loved people and the wildlife. He died serving both."
Saturday, 7 November 2015
TANZANIA: Tanzania Awarded With USD 100 Million By Friedkin Conservation Fund To Boost Tourism Sector
Friedkin Conservation Fund (FCF), a US based nonprofit corporation established for the purpose of conserving Tanzania’s protected wildlife areas, has recently awarded Tanzania with a USD 100 million investment aimed at improving its tourism sector.
The investment is meant to support job creation, wildlife conservation, rural growth and innovation in Tanzania’s Western Tourism Circuit which brings to the country the least quantity of tourist due to access constraints.
The proceed was catalogued as a strategic investment by the National Investment Steering Committee (NISC) which was formed by the Tanzanian Government to improve local business environment and that so far has approved 41 strategic investment projects.
According to Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC), this strategic investment is product of the international campaign developed by the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and launched by Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete in October, 2015.
The strategic investment together with the work of the NISC chaired by Prime Minister Mizengo Peter Pinda will soon bring more investments to Tanzania’s tourism sector, explained TIC Executive Director Juliet Kairuki.
FCF was established for the purpose of conserving more than 6.1 million acres of Tanzania’s protected wildlife areas. FCF also sponsors innovative community development projects and manages a Geographic Information System (GIS) for mapping and research to compliment the anti-poaching initiative.
The Tanzainan tourism sector is a notable source of income for the country with a constantly growing international tourist arrivals which in average currently stays 10 days in the country and spend a total of USD 1,691 per visitor, according to the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
According to Bank of Tanzania’s latest statistics, tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner outperforming the gold industry and which in January, 2015 attracted USD 2.04 billion up from USD 1.90 billion in January, 2014.
Tanzania Tourism, Tanzania Attractions, Tanzania Travel, Flights To tanzania, Tanzania National Parks, Kilimanjaro, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater,
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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