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Tanzania
Tourism News Briefs COASTAL AVIATION
INCREASES SERVICE TO RUAHA NATIONAL PARK FROM DAR
ES SALAAM AND ARUSHA TO SIX TIMES A WEEK RENOVATION OF HISTORIC
KILIMANJARO HOTEL TO BRING NEW LIFE TO DAR ES
SALAAM WATERFRONT Hon. Zakia Hamdani Meghji,
Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism presided
over the groundbreaking for the renovation of the
once renowned Kilimanjaro Hotel in Dar es Salaam.
"The Kilimanjaro Hotel was once the pride of Dar es
Salaam and we are pleased to know that its lost
glory will be restored as part of the Government's
development strategies for the renewal of Dar es
Salaam as a major port, commercial and tourism
center for East Africa," said the
Minister. ASB Holdings Ltd. is the
investor who is bringing the Hotel, dormant for 10
years, back to life. The new Kilimanjaro hotel,
located on a prime five-acre site on the Dar es
Salaam harbor front, will feature world-class
accommodation, including 170 rooms and seven
presidential suites as well as banquet and
conference facilities. Plans also call for a
shopping and entertainment complex to be built
adjacent to the hotel. The Kilimanjaro is likely to
be operated by Kempinski and will also have a
sister hotel in Zanzibar, the 250 room Zamani
Zanzibar. This major investment in
down-town Dar es Salaam will play a key role in
upgrading the surrounding waterfront area. In
addition, the hotel will serve as an anchor for the
development of Tanzania's "Southern Wildlife
Circuit" intended to provide for expansion of the
important eco-tourism business in Tanzania, while
simultaneously reducing environmental pressure on
the current Northern Circuit Wildlife
assets. TANZANIA: KILIMANJARO
MARATHON 2004 The second annual
Kilimanjaro Marathon will take place Sunday, March
7, 2004, in the foothills of Tanzania's world
famous mountain. Mt. Kilimanjaro, or "Kili," as it
is affectionately known, at 19,340 ft, is Africa's
highest mountain and also the world's highest
"free-standing" mountain. The 2004 race, supported
by the Tanzania Tourist Board and the Tanzania
Amateur Athletics Association is expected to
attract over 400 for the marathon (22.22 miles),
including some of Africa's best marathon runners,
and more than 1000 for the half marathon (13.11
miles) and fun run. For Americans, participation in
the Kilimanjaro Marathon provides them with the
unique opportunity to compete with the best of
Africa in full view of the awe-inspiring and
breathtaking Mountain. The start and finish of the
Marathon is in the town of Moshi The picturesque
route, with the spectacular panoramic view of kili,
passes through many small farms, villages, banana
and coffee plantations, as well as forest. Local
residents turn out in great numbers to support the
runners with traditional dancing and music. The
logistics of the operation are run by the
Kilimanjaro Marathon Club and the members of both
the Tanzania Amateur Athletics Association (TAAA)
and the local Kilimanjaro Amateur Athletics
Association (KAAA). Marathoners and their
families can also take advantage of a pre or post
Safari tours in Tanzania. Travel packages are
available for clients, whether they are runners or
spectators, and land packages are travel agent
commissionable at 20% by Wild Frontiers, the
official travel agent of the Marathon: tel:
27-11-702 2035; Fax 27-11-468-1655, email:
Debbie@wildfrontiers.com,
www.kilimanjaromarathon.com; TANZANIA NATIONAL PARKS,
PROTECTOR OF THE COUNTRY'S RENOWNED NATURAL WONDERS
CREATES TWO NEW UNIQUE PARKSMt. Kilimanjaro and the
Serengeti. Both internationally acclaimed World
Heritage Sites, both in Tanzania, and all protected
by Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA). Tourism in
Tanzania is mostly nature-based, and TANAPA's
mandate is to protect the country's rich endowment
of natural resources especially the wildlife which
is the major attraction for visitors. Tanzania
protects an amazing 38% of its territory, including
the national parks, reserves, conservation areas
and marine parks, more than many of the world's
wealthier nations. The 12 National Parks, soon to
be 14, representing diverse ecosystems, include
Arusha, Gombe, Katavi, Kilimanjaro, Mahale,
Manyara, Mikumi, Ruaha, Rubondo, Serengeti,
Tarangire and Udzungwa. Conservation, however, needs
the support of the local population and Gerald
Bigurube, Acting TANAPA's Director General, is
quick to point this out. "Although conservation is
TANAPA's primary role, a major part of this policy
is the emphasis on developing community-based
tourism, and involving local people in conservation
efforts. We have found that by providing employment
for the indigenous population in the national
parks' tourism activities, they benefit
economically as well as become stakeholders in the
future of the park. Nature-based tourism and
community-based tourism for countries like
Tanzania, are among the fastest growing sectors in
the tourism industry." Bigurube further noted that
TANAPA will be presenting several community-based
tourism success stories at the up-coming IIPT/ATA
2nd African Peace Through Tourism Conference in Dar
es Salaam, Dec 7-12, 2003. Two New Unique National
Parks: Saadani and Kitulo The newly created Saadani
National Park, Tanzania's first coastal wildlife
sanctuary comprising some 238 sq. miles of land and
6 sq miles of sea is located on the Indian Ocean
coast some nine miles north of Bagamoyo, and
directly west of Zanzibar. This park is unique in
that it is the only one that combines the marine
and bush safari experience. It contains many
indigenous species including Liechtensteins
hartebeest and the rare Roosevelt sable. A good
population of elephants live in Saadani as do
several herds of buffalo and numerous large groups
of hippo. Lion, leopard, hyena, giraffe, warthog,
wildebeest, yellow baboon, black and white colobus
and veret monkey, crocodile and monitor lizards can
also be seen as can bushbuck, eland, reedbuck, and
waterbuck. Saadani is a bird lover's paradise. In
addition to the fish eagle and flamingo, there are
lilac-breasted roller, fork-tailed drongo, grey
hornbill, ring-necked dove, grey-headed sparrow and
weaverbirds. Waders include yellow-billed stork,
grey heron, little egret, sandpiper and various
species of kingfisher. Bottle nose dolphins are
common off the Southern coast of the park; whales
pass through the Zanzibar channel in October and
November; and green turtle breed at Madete
Beach. Saadani village, one of the
oldest communities on the East African coast and an
enclave to the park, allows tourists the
opportunity to meet the local people, and watch the
prawn fishermen at work. Bagamoyo, a proposed World
Heritage Site for its past notoriety as a thriving
center for the Ivory and Slave trade, and the
nearby Kaole ruins, are both fascinating for their
rich history. Access to Saadani is by a
paved road from Dar es Salaam to Chalinze
(Mandera), and then by gravel road, or by boat, to
Saadani. The journey takes around 4 hours.
Alternatively, charter flights are available from
Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar as well as
Arusha. Kitulo - "The Serengeti of
Flowers"Kitulo will be the first park in tropical
Africa to be protected 'primarily' for its
floristic significance. Known locally as "God's
Garden" or the "Serengeti of Flowers," the 405.3
square- kilometer. Kitulo park is situated on the
Kitulo Plateau and Mt. Livingstone in the Southern
Highlands. Kitulo is covered for six months of the
year in wildflowers, and already has documented 350
species of plants. These include 45 species of
orchids, many found nowhere else on earth. Some 31
species are Tanzania endemics; 26 are endemic to
the Kitulo region; at least three species are
endemic to the plateau itself; and two more are
found only in Kitulo and in the adjoining forests.
The plateau is also home to some important bird
species, again many endemic to Tanzania, including
blue swallow, Denham's bustard, lesser kestrel.
Pallid harrier, Njombe cisticola, short-tailed
pipit, Uhehe fiscal and Kipengere seedeater can be
seen and photographed, while some of the world's
rarest butterflies also inhabit the
area. For more information on
Tanzania National Parks: Tel: 255-27-2503471; Fax
255-27-2508216; email
tanapa@habari.co.tz; NEW LODGE OPENS ON
TANZANIA'S MAFIA ISLAND The Marine Park Lodge,
formerly known as the Government Lodge, which had
been dormant for many years, has now been reopened
and renovated by Coastal Travel Services. The new
40-room upscale lodge, stands amidst tall palms on
a white sandy beach on the East side of Mafia-Chole
Bay. Horseshoe in shape, the beautiful bay is a
protected deep-water anchorage, and the Mafia
Island Marine Park, with its beautiful coral reefs
and some 400 species of fish, are within easy reach
for excellent snorkeling, diving and sport fishing.
Marine Park Lodge offers tourists all the amenities
including private baths and air-conditioned rooms.
Coastal Aviation has made the island more
accessible with its new, convenient twice-daily
flights from Dar es Salaam, on mainland
Tanzania. Mafia Island, only a 30
minute flight from Dar es Salaam, but seemingly
much farther than the 30 miles away from the hustle
and bustle of Tanzania's commercial Capital, is a
true remnant of the old Swahili coast, a place
unspoiled, and timeless. The largest of a small
archipelago of Islands with a population of about
40,000, Mafia lies across from the great Rufiji
River Delta and the world famous Selous Game
Reserve. Arriving at the local
airstrip, and traveling the 30 or so minutes on a
bumpy dirt road to one of the beach front lodges,
the visitor truly gets into the local rhythm of
"pole pole" (slowly slowly). Mafia has so far
escaped the invasion of mass tourism, as building
has been restricted to three tourist lodges with a
combined bed capacity of 120. For more information on
flights and Marine Park Lodge, contact coastal at
safari@coastal.cc; www.coastal.cc AIR ACCESS TO
TANZANIA KLM/Northwest offers daily
service from their US Gateways via Amsterdam into
Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro: British Airways
flies three times a week via London into Dar es
Salaam; South African Airways flies three times a
week from Atlanta and New York City via
Johannesburg, into Dar es Salaam; and Ethiopian
Airlines, effective Dec. 6, flies via Addis Ababa,
from Dulles (Baltimore/Washington DC) and Newark
with twice weekly connections to Dar es Salaam and
Kilimanjaro. Bobby
Tours and Safaris Offers Safaris for All
Reasons. Since 1976,
Bobby Tours and Safaris has provided tour packages
and services to all national parks, lodge safaris,
beach holidays and camping safaris. The company
specializes in Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru
mountain climbing expeditions, with qualified
porters and guides. Bobby Tours offers your clients
a variety of options from 3 day Safaris to luxury
tented Camping Safaris and excursions. Locations in
Tanzania include Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Manyara
National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and much more
including Southern Tanzania. Contact Bobby Tours
and Safaris: E-mail bobbytours@bobbytours.com;
http://www.bobbytours.com For more information on
Tanzania visit www.tanzania-web.com
or contact the Bradford Group in New York at (212)
447-0027. Email: Tanzania@bradfordmarketing.org |
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