TANZANIA: Saanane Island National Park Tourist Numbers Grow

Saanane Island National Park has recorded remarkable achievement by going above its targeted number of tourists for two years in a row as domestic tourism flourishes.

Saanane Chief Park Warden, Mr Donatus Bayona said here that the smallest park in the country has attracted more tourists from East African countries than those from abroad.

Mr Bayona said that about 90 per cent of tourists who visited the islet were locals, giving an example of 2015/16 that saw 11,000 local tourists call to the island.

Apart from game viewing through walking safaris, tourists can enjoy boat excursion in Lake Victoria, rock hiking, picnicking, walking along designated trails, canoeing with dhows along the lake. "Saanane was declared to be a national park in July 2013, before that it was a zoo and later a game reserve.

The number of tourists has been going up year after year, signalling that we are on the right track and domestic tourists form the biggest percentage," said the chief. Mr Bayona unveiled that in 2013/14 the park has attracted 89 foreigners, 52 expatriates and 2,306 tourists from East Africa.

The trend improved in the following year as the islet had 132 foreigners, 32 expatriates and 5,947 East Africans.

The Chief Park Warden disclosed that in 2015/16 the park located two kilometres southwest of Mwanza City had 453 foreign tourists, 243 expatriates and 11,685 from East Africa.

Mr Bayona said that on the financial year 2014/15, Saanane Island National Park collected 129m/- while the target was to earn 85m/-. In 2015/16 they surpassed the target of 124m/- revenue by collecting 162m/-.

The only park that is located in a city targets promotion of interest and conservation education in wildlife and promote recreation to people as different species of animals have been ferried to the island between 1964 and 1966.

Those included buffalo, bushbuck, dik dik, elephant, eland, impala, black rhino, topi, warthog, wildbeast, zebra, giraffe, porcupine, crocodiles and monkeys like patas and velvet.

Dangerous animals were caged but are no longer in the cages now. However, Tourism Warden at the park, Mr Ikwabe Koroso said plans are underway to rebuild some cages so as to take such animals.

That is in different outlook, to provide sanctuary to the sick or injured ones and once fit would be returned where they were taken from.

Mr Bayona said the islet that forms spectacular scenery over Mwanza south and Lake Victoria currently has species such as impala, crocodiles, clawless otters, rock hyrax, tortoise and agama lizards famously referred to as agama mwanzae. Others are snakes, particularly pythons, lions, spotted hyenas, vervet monkeys and shy De Brazza's monkeys.

There are more than 70 types of resident and migratory birds. The park, however, faces several challenges including environmental degradation around the park, human encroachment as well as poaching.

ZIMBABWE: Matobo National Park

A UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, Matobo National Park occupies a total area of 44 500 hectares. Established in 1953, the Park was awarded Unesco World Heritage Status in June 2003. The Park includes an Intensive Protection Zone where a large population of Black and White Rhinoceros

are successfully breeding. The Park offers a diverse package of tourist attractions and activities. The park is situated in the magnificent Matobo Hills, a range of domes, spires and balancing rock formations which have been hewn out of the solid granite plateau through millions of years of erosion and weathering. The majestic and rugged terrain of the park is a hiker's paradise and the diversity of the vegetation supports a wide range of wildlife.

Matobo meaning 'bald heads' was the name chosen for the area by the great Ndebele King, Mzilikazi. He is buried in the Matobo Hills just a short distance from the park. Matobo National Park is also the site of the grave of Cecil John Rhodes. He is buried at the summit of Malindidzimu -' hill of benevolent spirits'. He referred to this hill as having a 'View of the World'. A short walk from the parking lot will lead the visitor to his grave, which is carved out of the solid granite hill and surrounded by a natural amphitheatre of massive boulders.

The Matobo area has great spiritual and cultural significance to the local people and there are many sites within the park where important ceremonies still take place. The Park is home to a wide variety of animal species including: black and white rhinoceros, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, kudu, eland, sable, klipspringer, leopard, hyena, cheetah, hippo, warthog, rock dassies, waterbuck, wildcat, springhare, common duiker, crocodiles, baboons and monkeys.

The richness of the Park can also be seen from the diverse bird life. The park is famous for its large concentration of black eagles, which can be seen perched atop the rock formations or soaring along the cliffs in search of prey. Bird species that can be found include, fish eagle, martial eagle, francolin, secretary bird, weavers, pied crow and Egyptian geese. Fish species readily found in this Park include, bass, bottle fish, bream, catfish and robustus.

Matobo National Park has a mixed type of vegetation that ranges from Mopane, Acacia species, Brachstegia in other area, Figtrees, Azanza species, Zizphus species, Strychnos species and Terminalia species.

Facilities
Accommodation facilites are located at Whitewaters, Tshabalala Sanctuary, Toghwana, Hazelside and Mtsheleli. Maleme Rest Camp provides accommodation in the form of chalets and lodges and it is by far the largest rest area in the Park.

Lodges
Electrified accommodation is found at Maleme Rest Camp where the main office is located. There are several types of lodges at Maleme. 12 lodges with have 2 bedrooms, a kitchen with fridge, stove, cutlery and crockery. Some of the lodges have 4 single beds and others have 1 double bed and 2 singles. All lodges are equipped either dressing tables or wardrobes, dinning rooms with tables, chairs, heaters, flush toilet and bathrooms with cold and hot water.

There are 3 single bedroom lodges with similar facilities as the 2 bedroomed lodges.

Exclusive Lodges

Fish Eagle
This is a 2 bedroomed lodge with 5 beds i.e. one double and one single bed, one bedroom with 2 single beds all with linen, 2 dressing tables. The kitchen has a fridge, 4 plate stove, electric kettle, crockery and cutlery. The lodge has a flush toilet, bathroom with tub and hot shower, veranda, garden table and chairs.

Black Eagle
This is a 2 bed roomed lodge with 5 beds i.e. one double and one single bed, one bedroom with 2 single beds all with linen, 2 dressing tables. The kitchen has a fridge, 4 plate stove, electric kettle, crockery and cutlery. The lodge has a flush toilet, bathroom with tub and hot shower, veranda, garden table and chairs.

Imbila
Top of the range accommodation with 2 bedrooms containing 2 double teak beds. Each bedroom has 4-seater teak easy chairs. There are 2 ensuite bathrooms and flush toilets. The dining room has a teak table. The veranda overlooking the river has a garden table and chairs. The kitchen has a fridge, 4 plate stove, crockery and cutlery supplied.

Chalets
5 single bedroom chalets have 2 single beds, dressing tables, wall wardrobes, dining tables with chairs for 2. The kitchen is communal and is equipped with 2 plate stoves. Ablution facilities are communal. Heaters are also supplied in the chalets. 1 two-bedroomed chalet with one double bed and 2 single beds, dressing tables, wall wardrobes. The chalet has a dining room with dining tables and chairs for 2. The kitchen is communal and is equipped without 2 plate stoves. Ablution facilities are also communal. Heaters are also supplied in the chalet.

Campsites
Cooking facilities are available on wood or charcoal braais. Ablution and toilet facilities are provided in a communal block.

Communal Campsite
Camping sites are available at Maleme Dam, Mthselele Dam, Toghwana Dam, Mesilume Dam and Arboretum.

Conference Facilities
The Rhodes Hall is a conference facility that can host up to 30 delegates depending on the required seatting arrangement. There is a blackboard, projector, 60 inch colour television monitor, VCR and decoder. Toilet facilities are adjoined to the hall. The kitchen facilities and equipment include an urn for boiling water, pots, cups, glasses, crockery and cutlery. Movable braai stands are also available for guests' use.

Activities
Tourists are encouraged to liase with the tourist office on availability of particular activities as well as to get details on the rules and regulations.
• Escorted walks for up to 6 people - an armed scout can be availed on booking at Maleme or Whitewaters office
• Pony trails - conducted around the Maleme Dam area and into the Whovi Wild Area
• Fishing - allowed in most dams to those issued with licences at the tourist office
• Boating - privately owned boats are permitted on certain dams
• Game viewing - can be done in the Whovi Wild Area, a protected game park which is home to more than 60 animal species and hundreds of beds
• Bird watching - offers great opportunity to see the several eagle species
• Hiking - there is abundant excitement of climbing the Pomongwe Hill which gives one a good view of the central part of the Park
• 33 miler road race - a unique marathon that is conducted within the Park at particular times of the year


Why Visit Matobo?
• The Park has one of the largest concentrations of black and white rhinoceros making it easy to sight one or more of the large population of this endangered specie
• Fine rock paintings - within the park are numerous sites which were once occupied by the San hunter-gatherers. The paintings at Nswatugi Cave are perhaps some of the finest in the country and contain beautiful renditions of giraffe, eland and kudu. There are other areas of note such as Bambata Cave, Inanke Cave and Silozwane Cave - just outside the park - that display fine animal paintings. The feint but distinct outline of a rhinoceros at the White Rhino Shelter was the impetus for the reintroduction of the species to the park in the 1960's.
• Numerous cultural and historical sites
• The unique balancing rock features
• The curio souvenir sales crafted by the local communities around the park
• The quiet and unpolluted environment
• Excellent stopover for tourists in transit to Hwange and Victoria Falls

How to get to Matobo National Park
The park is located 34 kilometres south of Bulawayo along the Kezi/Maphisa Road. The Main road to Maleme is tarred while all other Park roads are gravel and mostly in good condition. Durintg the rainy season the road to Toghwana requires 4 wheel drive vehicles

TANZANIA: Great Wildebeest Migration

Each year around the same time the circular great wildebeest migration begins in the Ngorongoro area of the southern Serengeti of Tanzania.

This migration is a natural phenomenon determined by the availability of grazing. It lasts from approximately January to March, when the calving season begins – a time when there is plenty of rain ripened grass available for the 750,000 zebra that precede 1.2 million wildebeest and the following hundreds of thousands of other plains game.

During February the wildebeest spend their time on the short grass plains of the south eastern part of the ecosystem, grazing and giving birth to approximately 500,000 calves within a 2 to 3-week period: a remarkably synchronised event.

Few calves are born ahead of time and of these, hardly any will survive. The main reason for this being that very young calves are more noticeable to predators when mixed with older calves from the previous year, and so are easier prey.

As the rains end in May the animals start moving north west, into the areas around the Grumeti River, where they typically remain until late June. July sees the main migration of wildebeest, zebra and eland heading north, arriving on the Kenyan border late July / August for the remainder of the dry season (the Thomson’s and Grant’s Gazelles move only east/west).

In early November with the start of the short rains the migration starts moving south again, to the short grass plains of the south east, usually arriving in December in plenty of time for calving in February.

Some 250,000 wildebeest die during the journey from Tanzania to Maasai Mara Reserve in lower Kenya, a total of 800 kilometres (500 mi).

Death is usually from thirst, hunger, exhaustion, or predation.The migration is chronicled in the 1994 documentary film, Africa: The Serengeti. The second-largest is the South Sudan animal migration.

KENYA: Samburu National Park First In Africa On Google Street View

Google Street View has launched its maps of Kenya's Samburu National Park, which allows internet users to take a virtual safari in the conservancy.

The initiative, launched together with the charity Save the Elephants, wants to promote wildlife conservation.

The project aims to tell the stories of the elephant families in the park.

The Google Street View car drove through the park in February 2015, assuaging any fears that the tool could inadvertently help poachers.

The route follows one of the roads through the 165 sq km (65 sq mile) central Kenyan reserve and does not let the user go off-road.

Elephants, zebra and a leopard can be seen dotted along the way.

The Kenya Tourist board says it is the country's first national park to be accessible in such a virtual way.

"We hope that by bringing Street View to Samburu, we will inspire people around the world to gain a deeper appreciation for elephants," Google Kenya's Farzana Khubchandani said.

The Samburu county governor, Moses Lenolkulal, also attended the ceremonial launch.

"The more people experience our culture, our people and the majestic elephants and other wildlife with which we co-exist, the more we are able to conserve and sustain the Samburu culture and its fragile ecosystem for generations to come," he said.

Two of the main families of elephants captured by Street View are the Harwoods and the Spice family who have been identified by the shape of their tusks.

David Daballen, head of field operations at Save the Elephants,that he could recognise more than 600 elephants.

He said he hoped the glimpse into the park would inspire people to help with the elephants' plight.

Conservationists say the ivory trade and loss of habitat are putting Africa's elephant population at risk.

According to Save the Elephants, an estimated 100,000 elephants were killed for their ivory in Africa between 2010 and 2012.

UGANDA: Ostriches, Uganda Kobs, Lions And Zebras Poached

A new audit of wildlife populations in game parks shows that the number of animals is on a sharp decline, raising fears of a possible extinction of some rare species.
Last year alone, 25 elephants were killed in Murchison Falls, which is the worst scenario ever reported in a single conservation area, considering that Uganda was previously losing around three elephants only to poaching every year.

“The population of some wild animals is declining,” the Auditor General said.
“Mostly affected are the lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, whose population has reduced by 81 per cent, followed by ostriches (79 per cent), Zebras (74 per cent) and Uganda Kobs (69 per cent), among others”.

Currently, tourism contributes about 5.7 per cent of the national Gross Domestic Product per annum. The World Travel and Tourism Council figures further show that the total contribution of travel and tourism to Uganda’s GDP, including its wider economic impacts, is forecast to rise by 5.9 per cent per annum from Shs3.3 trillion, which is 7.6 per cent of GDP this year, to Shs5.8 trillion and 7.4 per cent GDP contribution by 2021.

With limited research, Auditor General John Muwanga said it is difficult to fully understand the range of factors that affect wildlife populations and habitats and the relationship between them.
“Catastrophic death and reduction in numbers of animals such as the Uganda Kob in Queen Elizabeth National Park and similar incidences in other parks has occurred without finding the root cause,” Mr Muwanga said.

In attempting to understand why wild animals were declining, the audit found that for the last three years, illegal activities inside the protected areas such as encroachment, especially in East Madi Wildlife Reserve and Mt. Elgon National Park, poaching and illegal harvesting of resources have significantly increased. This in a way affected the natural habitat of wildlife.
“Some species such as the black and white rhino, Derbys and Oryx have since become extinct in Uganda.” Mr Muwanga said.

The Roan and Bridget’s gazelle are some of the animals that are listed as endangered, with low populations from the last count in 1998. “These species, both combined, are less than 110 in number,” he said.

The latest findings contained in the value for money audit by the Auditor General provide further evidence that Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), a statutory body mandated to protect flora and fauna across the country, is failing to accomplish the task of preserving the remnant of the country’s endangered species.

UWA derives its mandate from the Uganda Wildlife Act 2000. The Act mandates UWA to manage all the country’s wildlife and wildlife-protected areas, which include 10 national parks and 12 wildlife reserves.

UWA is also responsible for ensuring the coordination, monitoring and supervision of the activities related to wildlife management in the country. In his defence, UWA Executive Director Andrew Sseguya told auditors that there was need for government to increase funding to UWA and create an independent wildlife research body to compliment and support its functions as is the case in other countries.

Protection plans
Currently, UWA requires about 3,300 rangers to adequately cover the entire wildlife estate in the country but at the moment has about 1,200 rangers. “UWA is currently overwhelmed by other wildlife management issues resulting in limited concentration on research as a function of management,” Dr Sseguya said.

“The Wildlife Policy under review has already identified this need and is providing for the creation of a Uganda Wildlife Research and Training Institute to address the wildlife research and training gaps in the sector.”

To ensure wildlife protection, UWA was to develop fire management plans for each protected area, have an effective ranger density to counter threats of game poaching and illegal activities in and around the protected areas, develop and maintain relevant infrastructure within the areas, protect the wildlife habitat, reduce the threat of invasive species, and enlist the support of the communities surrounding the game parks.

However, the audit established that UWA was not effectively protecting the wildlife in and around the protected areas. UWA said the total encroached area in Mt. Elgon is only 6,000 hectares and most of this is under contention with court cases and injunctions that make it difficult for UWA to address.

Once the court process is completed, UWA said all encroached areas will be reclaimed.
Meanwhile, the Auditor General observed that the animals have also become a nuisance to the local populace.

They destroy crops, kill humans and livestock. As a result, this has created conflict between the communities neighbouring the park and wildlife officials, thus hurting UWA’s community conservation initiatives.