East Africa Tourism Platform names new coordinator

Following the departure of Ms. Waturi Wa Matu, who served as Coordinator for the East Africa Tourism Platform (EATP) since the launch of the regional tourism apex body three years ago, the organization has been seeking to fill the position with an equally competent individual from across the member states of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

In a breaking news development, it was confirmed that Ms. Carmen Nibigira, former Director General of the Burundi National Tourism Office and presently a Ph.D. Candidate at Clemson University in South Carolina, was selected unanimously and will upon completion of her studies take over the vacant position in Nairobi.

Carmen took Burundi’s national tourism office from a previously hibernating state into the spotlight among the East African tourism boards, winning ITB’s Best African Exhibitor Award among many other accomplishments during her one year term of office, before she had to return to the United States to complete her Ph.D. studies.

Carmen earned the respect and admiration among East Africa’s tourism fraternity, and no doubt her appointment will be warmly welcomed across the region.

Gifted with both academic credentials as well as skills in diplomacy, besides her extensive network in Eastern Africa and beyond, Carmen is thought to be the perfect choice to take over from Waturi and take EATP to the next level, as East Africa’s tourism sector needs to unite to succeed against sharp competition from Southern Africa’s safari destinations.

Said Carmen in a brief statement sent out earlier on to this correspondent: “I am very honored to have been selected as Coordinator for the East Africa Tourism Platform. Waturi Wa Matu did a fantastic job since the launch of EATP and has, together with the representatives of the member countries, driven the regional tourism agenda forward. EATP has recorded significant successes, and I look forward to building on these achievements and help take East Africa’s tourism industry to the next level.

Protecting borders means protecting tourism

TANZANIA (eTN) – Through tourism, Tanzania National Parks supports community projects in villages neighboring the parks through its Social Community Responsibility (SCR) program known as Good Neighborliness, an initiative that has shown a positive trend, bringing reconciliation between people and wild animals. People in villages appreciate the importance of wildlife and tourism in their lives.

This is why it is vitally important for Tanzania’s government to take new strategies to resolve escalating conflicts between local communities and wildlife conservation authorities. The Tanzania government is now planning to demarcate anew the wildlife parks borders. The move to demarcate borders between wildlife parks and local communities had come into government plans as the only option to solve conflicts between locals and wildlife conservationists.

Natural Resources and Tourism Minister Mr. Lazaro Nyalandu was quoted as saying that his ministry which is responsible to oversee wildlife protection and conservation, is working out a modality to re-demarcate the borders between wildlife parks and human settlements.

He said the aim to carry such an exercise was a quick solution to frequent conflicts between communities living near reserved areas, the parks’ managements, and related wildlife managers.

There has been frequent conflicts and skirmishes reported to erupt between local communities and wildlife conservation managers. Most of reported conflicts were based on the fight for pastures and farming lands.

Wildlife and human conflicts are currently a big debate in Tanzania and which had attracted local and international conservationists to intervene. Northern Tanzania’s premier tourist pulling parks of Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Arusha and the Serengeti have reported conflicts between humans and wild animals.

Tanzania National Parks, the trustee and leading wildlife conservation and protection institution, has been affected by some reported human and wildlife conflicts in three of its leading parks of Ruaha, Tarangire and Serengeti.

But, through tourist benefit-sharing initiatives designed and monitored by Tanzanian National Parks, the trustees and the parks management are looking at social benefits to the local communities neighboring nature-protected areas through tourist income-sharing initiatives.

For the past 25 years, proponents of conservation in Tanzania have pointed to the importance of conservation of wildlife outside national park boundaries and within human-inhabited landscapes as critical to maintaining healthy migratory wildlife populations.

Just outside the national parks in Tanzania, there are over 100 villages, of which 42 share a border with the parks. Many of these villages were integrated into the Tanzanian national parks.

The community conservation program, Good Neighborliness, has been established with a purpose of educating local communities on the importance of wildlife conservation and tourism, while sharing incomes generated from tourist business conducted inside and outside the parks.

The Community Conservation Service (CCS) is an Outreach Program of Tanzania National Parks that is extended to surrounding communities with a focus on local people and governments up to the district level.

WILDEBEEST MIGRATION STILL AROUND CENTRAL SERENGETI AND SOME CROSSING TO MARA RIVER

United Republic of Tanzania - TZ - New Tax Code - E4 -

Dear business partner,

Kindly be advised that Zanzibar Government has introduced a new
*’Infrastructure
Tax (with code E4*).

This Tax amount will be *TZS 2,000* and  charged for every passenger
departing Zanzibar and Pemba  airports to any destination within Republic
of Tanzania .

The fee has been  filled for effective *01 July 2015*.



For those passengers already holding tickets, they will have to pay by cash
at ZNZ and PMA airports from 01 July 2015.

More information found on the attached Notice.

Tanzania: Ngorongoro - a Tourism Gem

Located in northern Tanzania, Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) shares part of the Serengeti plains to the northwest and with the city of Arusha, municipality of Moshi and Mount Kilimanjaro to the east.

Ngorongoro also forms part of the Serengeti ecosystem and is home to about 2.5 million wild animals, a huge population, indeed.

The area is one of the most favoured tourist spots not only in Tanzania, but also the entire world. A major ecological survey of the Serengeti Reserve (which then included Ngorongoro) by Dr Bernhard Grzimek and his son in the late 1950s resulted in the establishment of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in 1959.

The conservation area became a pioneering experiment in multiple land use where pastoralism, conservation and tourism could co-exist. At the same time Serengeti National Park was enlarged and extended northwards to the Kenyan border, where it borders the Maasai Mara Game Park in Kenya.

Subsequently awarded World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve status, the NCA covers 8,292 square kilometres and ranges in altitude from 1,020 metres to 3,587 metres. The terrain embraces several distinct habitats from open grasslands to mountain forest and from scrub bushland to highland heath.

An estimated 25,000 wild animals live in the Crater throughout the year, whilst in the NCA as a whole the numbers can swell to more than 2.5 million, depending on the season. The NCA aims to maintain the historic balance of people and nature in a way which has not been possible in many parts of Africa.

At stake are the rich biodiversity and ecology of the Serengeti Plains and Ngorongoro highlands, the major archaeological sites and the vital water catchment areas. Within all this, man and wildlife have to live together without harm or destroying each other's habitats.

TOURISM SECTOR NOW CONFIRMED TANZANIA’S MAIN EXPORT EARNER

ACCORDING to the Economic Review of the central Bank Of Tanzania (BoT) for February 2015, in the year that ended on January 31, 2015, export performance for ‘Tanzania travel’ reached US$2,045.6 million, up from $1,897.6 million in the previous year, showing a growth of 7.8 per cent.

During the same period, income from gold exports reached US$1,309.5 million, showing a sharp loss of 25.5 per cent in exports value.

This makes tourism Tanzania’s Number-One foreign currency earner for the second year in a row.

In an earlier story, the World Bank (WB) had stated in its 6th Tanzania Economic Update titled ‘Unlocking the Potential of the Tourism Industry for Tanzanians’ that annual tourism revenues for Tanzania could grow from US$4.48 billion in 2013 to $16 billion by 2025 ? “with the equitable and even distribution of industry benefits.”

According the World Bank Lead Economist, Jacques Morisset, development of the country’s tourism sector is a priority for the National Business Council, and is part of the development agenda under the Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete.

For his part, the WB Country Director for Tanzania, Burundi and Uganda, Philippe Dongier, explained that the growth of Tanzania’s tourism sector could have a significant effect on the economy. The sector is responsible for employing nearly 500,000, and is the primary source of foreign exchange ? with nearly 20 per cent of the country’s total exports, and nearly 3.4 per cent of the total GDP.

“There is no doubt that Tanzania is in a good place with tourism… And, yet,it could still do considerably better,” he said, stressing that “there is potential for further growth.”

Tourism is already a major contributor to Tanzania’s economy. But the World Bank’s latest Economic Update includes several strategic directions to help further grow the sector in particular, and the economy in general ? including taking steps to diversify tourism activities and the additional integration of local communities and small operators in the tourism activities through benefit-sharing processes.

Written by FRANCES MARTEL

TERRY DALE, CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TOUR OPERATORS ASSOCIATION TO SPEAK AT THE SWAHILI INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXPO (S!TE) 2015 OCT 1-3, 2015, DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA

Terry Dale, CEO and President United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA)
- See more at: http://www.site.co.tz/terry-dale-ceo-and-president-united-states-tour-operators-association-to-speak-at-the-swahili-international-tourism-expo-ste-2015-oct-1-3-2015-dar-es-salaam-tanzania/#sthash.xhI6pNp6.dpuf

USTOA has been the voice for the US tour operator industry for more than 40 years. Its members are responsible for more than $13.5 billion in revenue annually through the provision of tours, packages and custom arrangements that allow nearly 8 million travelers each year  unparalleled access, insider knowledge, peace-of-mind, value and freedom to enjoy destinations and experiences across the entire globe.  Each member company has met the travel industry’s highest standards, including participation in the USTOA’s Traveler Assistance Program, which protects consumer payments up to $1 million if the company goes out of business. USTOA holds an annual business to business conference and marketplace every December in the US, and also provides education and assistance for consumers and travel agents.

Devota Mdachi, TTB’s Acting Managing Director, in making the announcement noted, “Tanzania is honored to have Terry Dale, an American travel industry expert and influencer, join us at S!TE 2015. The U.S. is already one of Tanzania’s most vital markets, and through TTB’s USTOA membership, and especially with Terry Dale’s guidance and support, the U.S tour operator programs to Tanzania have grown and diversified.” Mdachi added, Terry Dale’s participation at S!TE will provide an excellent opportunity for African-based suppliers and operators to learn more specifics about increasing business from the American market.”

“I am excited and thrilled to finally have the opportunity to travel to Tanzania, let alone be a speaker at this year’s S!TE,” said USTOA CEO and President, Terry Dale. “In the past three years since Tanzania (TTB) joined USTOA, they have been actively working together with us to showcase their destination through sponsorships including the worldwide USTOA digital campaign, Dancing with Matt. The opportunity to be at such a major travel industry event for Africa in Tanzania will provide me with a new understanding of some of the challenges facing the travel industry in Africa and how USTOA can help address these issues.”

S!TE was launched in 2014 by the Tanzania Tourist Board in partnership with Pure Grit Project and Exhibition Management Ltd.  The expo is held annually in October at the Mlimani City Conference Centre in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania’s commercial capital located along the coastline of Tanzania, East Africa. S!TE focuses on inbound and outbound travel to Africa and is expected to attract hundreds of tourism and travel professionals from all over the world.

Tanzania: 'Poaching Steals from Us All'

Tanzanian music artist Alikiba in an ad for the "Poaching Steals from Us All" campaign

The Hon. Lazaro Nyalandu, Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism

Wildlife ambassador Jacqueline N Mengi

WildAid CEO Peter Knights

DAR ES SALAAM (18 June 2015) — Tanzania's Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, in association with WildAid and the African Wildlife Foundation, has launched a new public awareness campaign to inform the public about the severe poaching crisis currently facing Tanzania and to generate widespread support among civil society for the protection of elephants and other wildlife species.

The campaign will use television, radio, social media, newspapers and magazines, billboards and videos in public spaces in order to reach as many members of the public as possible, including the residents of remote rural villages.

Tanzania has lost 60% of its elephants in the past six years, mainly because of poaching for ivory. Very large profits from this illegal activity are made in China and other consumer nations, while Tanzanians are left to bear the cost.

Award-winning singer-songwriter Alikiba has become an ambassador for the campaign. "I'm honoured to lend any support that I can to this effort to protect our wildlife,” Alikiba said. "Our beautiful elephants must

The campaign also features singer Vanessa Mdee, former NBA player Hasheem Thabeet and former Miss Tanzania Jacqueline Mengi. They join a host of international icons including Jackie Chan, Yao Ming, Edward Norton, Prince William and David Beckham, who are featured in the “Ivory Free” and “When the Buying Stops, the Killing Can Too” campaigns.

Religious leaders representing an interfaith coalition — including Muslims, Catholics, Evangelicals and other Christian denominations — also recorded messages and offered their support: “We don’t always agree on everything, but we all agree that poaching and the smuggling of ivory is completely wrong,” the leaders said in a PSA.

"Elephants are at the top of the 'wish list' for many tourists who come to this country, and tourism generates over 17% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” said The Hon. Lazaro Nyalandu, Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism. "Our elephants are a great asset to this country in many ways, and my government is determined to stop the slaughter. But we cannot do it alone: We want to enlist the help of all of our citizens to stop the theft of our national heritage.”

A recent WildAid/AWF survey of over 2,000 Tanzanians in both rural and urban areas found that more than 79% of respondents said that it would matter a great deal to them if elephants disappeared from Tanzania. Over 73% said that they associated wildlife with their national identity and heritage.

"Poaching of elephants literally is theft from all Tanzanians and from future generations,” said Peter Knights, CEO of WildAid. “We invite all media to participate in the campaign, and we need everyone to help in the fight to stop it.”

Dr Patrick Bergin, CEO of the African Wildlife Foundation, said of the new campaign, “Tanzania has always been known for its large elephant herds and, together with Botswana and Zimbabwe, is home to half of all of Africa’s elephants. The current rate of poaching, however, threatens to erode that distinction. As Tanzanians learn more about the crisis through the campaign, we hope they will work with us to protect this tremendous asset.”

Media Contacts

Salome Gasabile, WildAid Tanzania, +255 656 802 548, gasabile@wildaid.org
Andrew Harmon, WildAid (U.S.) +1 415 834 3174, harmon@wildaid.org
Click here for more info on the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's elephant orphanage.

be allowed to live — free and wild — instead of ending up as a carving on somebody's coffee table."

ALIKIBA JACQUELINE NA VANESSA MDEE WATANGAZWA KUWA BALOZI WA WILDAID KUPIGA VITA UJANGILI NA BIASHARA YA PEMBE ZA NDOVU

.

Good news ninayotaka kukusogezea ni kwamba Msanii wa Bongo Fleva Ali Kiba, Jacqueline Ntubaliwe , Vanessa Mdee wameamua kuungana na shiriki la kimataifa liitwalo WildAid ili  kupiga vita ya ujangili na biashara ya pembe za ndovu.

Uzinduzi wa kampeni hiyo ulifanyika katika hoteli ya Sea Cliff na kuhudhuliwa na waziri wa Maliasili na Utali, Lazaro Nyalandu na wakiwemo mabarozi wa china na marekani.

Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari Ali Kiba alisema ‘Nashukuru kwanza nilipata nafasi ya kuishi na tembo porini kwa muda wa siku wa tatu kwa hiyo kiukweli lazima uogope maana mimi ni muoga nambari moja,  ila nilichokuwa nafikiria ni tofauti na vile nilivyodhani ila tembo ni wanyama wazuri

Vile vile nilipata nafasi ya kwenda Nairobi kuwatembelea watoto wa tembo yatima mama zao wameuliwa na watu wasio na imani ukifikiri kibinadamu wanyama ni viumbe kama sisi, kuna wale ambao tumeruhusiwa kula lakini sio kwa wale ambao ni fahari kwetu sisi ni vivutio vinaipa nchi yetu thamani, wageni wanakuja kuona hao hao wanyama wetu lakini watu wanawaua kwasababu unavyowatoa ndovu zao ni sawa sawa unawatesa wanaumia kiukweli mimi napiga vita hivi vya ujangili lakini kutokana na imani na kutaka Tembo hao wanapata watetezi ambao ni sisi, mimi na yoyote kwani wale ni kama raia na pia wana haki ya kuishi ndio maana tukiwa na mapenzi nao tunaenda kuwaona, kwa hiyo mimi hili suala nimelipokea kwa mikono miwili na nimefuraha kuwa balozi wa WildAid, nimetembelea sehemu nyingi kama Tarangire na bado nitaendelea kutembelea na wengine mnakaribishwa kutembelea hifadhi za wanyama.

Kwa hiyo na imani mimi na wasanii wengine ambao tunaweza tukatimia nguvu hii ya pamoja, Jacqueline Mengi na Vanessa Mdee kwakweli tuko mbele juu ya suala hili, ningependa sana watanzania tushirikiane katika jambo hilo unapoona tukio hilo limetokea basi toa taarifa mapema kwani ujangili unatuumiza sisi sote…..’alisema
SOURCE; Millard Ayo.com

WAZIRI NYALANDU AZINDUA KAMPENI MPYA DHIDI YA UJANGILI

Waziri wa Maliasili na Utalii , Mhe. Lazaro Nyalandu kwa kushirikiana na Asasi ya Kimataifa ya WildAid na African wildlife Foundation wamezindua kampeni mpya ya kuongeza ufahamu na kuelimisha jamii kuhusu tatizo la ujangili nchini.

Akizungumza jijini Dares Salaam, Mhe. Nyalandu alisema kuwa kampeni hiyo itaongeza mwamko kwa Taasisi za kiraia katika kulinda tembo na wanyama wengine.

Katika uzinduzi huo, ulihudhuriwa na viongozi wa dini zote nchini, Wadau wa Uhifadhi wa ndani na nje ya nchi pamoja na Balozi wa Marekani nchini Tanzania na Mwakilishi kutoka China.
Katika uzinduzi wa kampeni hiyo iitwayo ‘’ UJANGILI UNATUUMIZA SOTE’’ Mhe. Nyalandu alisema Kampeni hiyo ni hatua muhimu katika mapambano dhidi ya Ujangili na pia itatoa mwamko kwa wananchi wote nchini kushiriki katika mapambano ya dhidi ya Ujangili.
Alisema vita dhidi ya Ujangili ni yetu sote hivyo ni lazima Asasi za Kimataifa zishiriki kwani serikali ya Tanzania pekee ni vigumu kushinda vita hii, licha ya mafanikio makubwa yanayoonekana hivi sasa chini ya Serikali ya Mhe. Rais Kikwete katika vita hivyo.
Balozi wa Marekani nchini Tanzania Bw. Mark Childress alisema hatua iliyochukuliwa na China ya kusitisha ununuzi wa bidhaa za tembo nchini mwake ni mafanikio makubwa katika kukomesha vita dhidi ya ujangili Barani Afrika hususani nchini Tanzania.
Aliongeza kuwa ni muhimu kwa Watanzania kushiriki katika kuhamasisha na kukataa kujihusisha kutumiwa na watu wachache wenye uchu wa utajiri wa haraka haraka kwa kupitia biashara haramu ya meno ya tembo.
Kwa upande wa Mkurugezi Mtendaji wa WILDAID, Peter Knights alisema ‘ Kauli mbiu ya Kampeni hii “UJANGILI UNATUUMIZA SOTE “ inawakumbusha wale wote wanaojihusisha na Ujangili wa kuua tembo na kusafirisha meno ya tembo kwenda nje wanatuumiza wa Tanzania sote.
Dkt. Patrick Bergin, Afisa Mtendaji Mkuu wa Wildlife Foundation, alisisitiza kuwa Ujangili unachafua jina la Tanzania nchi ambayo
ina sifa ya kuwa na hifadhi kubwa ya tembo.
Kwa upande wa viongozi wa dini, Shekhe Alhad Musa wa Dar es salaam alisema Ujangili ni dhambi hivyo wale wote wanaojihusisha ni chukizo mbele ya Mwenyezi Mungu.
Naye, Msanii Maarufu wa Kizazi kipya wa Bongo Fleva , Ali Kiba ambaye kwa sasa ni Balozi wa kupambana na Ujangili nchini amesema atatumia uwezo wake wote katika kuwamasisha Watanzania kushiriki katika mapambano dhidi ya Ujangili kwa kuwa baadhi ya tembo wadogo wamekuwa wakibaki yatima kwa kuwapoteza wazazi wao wote kwa kuuawa na majangili

Serengeti Voted Africa's Best Safari Park by Industry Experts and Safari-Goers

A study of more than 3,000 reviews from safari adventurists and industry experts from Lonely Planet, Rough Guides and other guidebooks all agree: Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is the best in all of Africa.

SafariBookings.com, an online marketplace for African safaris, set out to put to rest the question of which park was best for African safaris. Serengeti National Park in Tanzania came out on top, which was no surprise to safari enthusiasts. The study reports, after analyzing 3,008 reviews by both safari travelers and top experts in the field, that Serengeti was the clear winner.

A total of 2,234 reviews were contributed by safari tourists from 63 countries. The remaining 774 park reviews were written by renowned experts, including guidebook authors associated with Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Frommer’s, Bradt and Footprint.

The study revealed the Serengeti received an overall rating of 4.91 out of 5 stars. This was the highest score amongst all parks, and thus the Serengeti was crowned Africa's Best Safari Park.

To add weight to this outcome, safari tourists who visited multiple parks rated the Serengeti an astonishing 16% higher than any other park. The industry experts also rated Serengeti highest. Their reviews tend to be more critical, as they can compare Serengeti to a host of parks they've visited in various countries. Regardless, Serengeti came out on top, justifying its first place ranking all the more.

When asked why Serengeti is such a desired safari destination, several repetitive themes emerged: the annual Great Migration (hosting over 2.5 million wildebeest and zebra), top wildlife viewing year-round and endless grass plains that feel like authentic Africa. Also contributing to the choice was Serengeti’s distinction as one of the best places to see most predators including lions, and thousands of wildebeest cross crocodile infested rivers. In addition, visits to the park can be easily combined with other top-class parks of Tanzania.

Source: https://www.safaribookings.com/blog/260/

Tanzania: Kilifair Set to Inspire Tourism, Investment

Moshi — The character of world expositions can be distinguished in three eras - industrialisation, cultural exchange and the nation branding.

World's fairs originated in the French tradition of national exhibitions that culminated with the French Industrial Exposition of 1844 held in Paris.

The fair was followed by other national exhibitions in continental Europe.

They influenced development of several aspects of society, including art-and-design education, international trade and relations as well as tourism.

Tanzania has not been exception to this tradition as it has been holding several, especially in the commercial capital - Dar es Salaam. Industry and tourism stakeholders and the Kilimanjaro Regional Secretariat felt that is not enough, hence the region, being a great hub for East Africa travellers should have its own.

Realisation of the same did not come as quick as a thunderbolt, but it took extensive discussions among the interested parties to bring it to fruition. Mr Tom Kunkler and Dominic Shoo are The Kilimanjaro International Tourism and Industry Fair (KILIFAIR) directors.

They achieved bringing together thousands of people to Moshi Club Grounds. They were exhibitors and visitors from within and outside the country for three days - June 5th to 7th this year.

They say hundreds of people from different countries, cultures, religions and social backgrounds helped and volunteered thousands of hours towards that end. Mr Kunkler says it was great to welcome and finally meet travel-partners from around the world at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, the roof of Africa.

It will be an annual event. "For many years we have been brainstorming the idea of having our own tourism trade fair for the Kilimanjaro Region, one of the most powerful areas in Tanzania.

Zara Tours & Zara Properties Announces Updated Safari Accommodations....

TANZANIA, AFRICA - Zara Tours & Zara Properties is happy to announce the completed renovations and upgrades of wildcamps to better welcome guests, allowing clients to embark on a safari from greater style and comfort than ever before. These updates have been made to several of our wild camps that are located in the heart of the Tanzania’s most famous National Parks, Conservations and game reserves.

Ikoma Wildcamp, an ideal accommodation for guests planning night drives and walking safaris, has been newly renovated with Banda/tents. Also, A new dining area will be opening in July. Two new tents have been added to the Serengeti Wildcamp, centered in perhaps the most famous of Tanzania’s parks, which is now home to 22 comfortable tents that can accommodate two guests each.

Starting June 15, 2015, massage services will be available in Ngorongoro Wildcamp, to relax and welcome guests who have been exploring Ngorongorocrater in the Karatu area. Adding to the luxurious tents and gorgeous views, guests can now adventure even more freely and return to the new soothing massages of our luxuryaccommodation.

Tanzania Wildcamps preserve the safari experience for travelers from beginning to end, providing the ultimate experience in ultimate comfort.

TANAPA YAIBUKA KIDEDEA KATIKA MAONYESHO YA KOPTA 2015

The 30th Korea World Travel Fair at COEX started on June 11 up to June 14 and TANAPA honored with the Best Tourism Marketing Award.

MOUNT MERU WINS HOSPITALITY EXCELLENCE AWARD

The world’s largest travel site TripAdvisor has awarded 2014 Certificate of Excellence to Mount Meru in Arusha National Park which emerged a winner.

This prestigious award is based on the quality of reviews and opinions submitted by various travellers around the world to TripAdvisor over the past year. The award also signifies that Mount Meru has consistently earned outstanding feedback from TripAdvisor travellers.

TripAdvisor enables travellers around the world to plan and book the perfect trips. It offers advice from millions of travellers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools that check hundreds of websites to find the best tourist attractions.

About Mount Meru

At 4,565 metres (15,000 ft) Meru is one of Africa's volcanic giants, the third highest free-standing mountain on the continent and a hugely rewarding climb. Meru once stood at high as neighboring Kilimanjaro but a massive eruption a few thousand years ago blew out the center and the eastern flank leaving a giant horseshoe shape with a crater in the middle commanding dramatic views in all directions.

TANAPA to benefit from Chinese Academy of Sciences

Tanzania National Parks has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Sino-­‐Africa Joint Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Sciences whereby the duo have agreed to work together for the mutual benefit of conservation sector in the country and particularly in National Parks.

Director General of Tanzania National Parks Allan Kijazi (right) and Executive Director of Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Sciences Professor Qing-Feng Wang signing Memorandum of Understanding between their institutions in Arusha yesterday.

Speaking during the official signing event, the Director General of TANAPA Allan Kijazi said that the MoU would boost and enhance higher education training through research, training, innovation, technological development and capacity building in areas of mutual interest.

Some of the TANAPA Management team posed in a group picture with a delegation from the Chinese Academy of Sciences after the official signing of the MoU between the two institutions.

Kijazi further mentioned that the two parties would exchange experience and resources in areas such as biodiversity conservation, effective utilization of bio-­‐ resource, water pollution control, and strategies for solving conflicts with communities, tourism and environmental protection.

On his part, the Executive Director of Sino-­‐Africa Joint Research Centre, CAS Professor Qing Feng Wang commended the decision by TANAPA to enter into Mou with his institution believing that the move will assist TANAPA in managing better the National Parks.

Sino-­‐Africa Joint Research Centre had already sponsored three staff from TANAPA to attend a short course on ecology in China last year and they have also offered three Masters degree Scholarships for TANAPA staff to be implemented soon.

Issued by Corporate Communications Department Tanzania National Parks

SERENGETI GREAT WILDEBEEST MIGRATION UPDATES!

Around Bologonja estimations show that there could be 700,000 wildebeest here! TweetingWildebee@HerdTracker Jun 6

Looks like I'm heading to Bologonja. @andBeyondSafari estimates that there could be 700,000 wildebeest here!

There some good rain, and the grass tastes so good! says the eastern herds are heading north towards Bologonja and Kogatende! http://bit.ly/1FBD2R3 

Tanzania: Marketing Drive Boosts Tourism

TANZANIA enjoyed another record year for tourism in 2014 as the industry showed strong growth to boost foreign exchange earnings and create jobs and trade opportunities.

Tourism earned the country 1.95 billion US dollars in 2014, up from 1.88 billion US dollars a year earlier to continue as the country's top foreign exchange earner, according to the Bank of Tanzania latest monthly economic report.

Drawn by the country's pristine beaches, safari parks and snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, 1.14 million tourists visited in 2014, up from 1.095 million the previous year.

The visitors mostly come from Britain, Germany, the United States and Italy, the traditional source of tourist market. The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Lazaro Nyalandu told the National Assembly last week that higher tourist arrivals in Tanzania were partly driven by intense government advertising campaign.

"Tourism currently accounts for 25 percent of Tanzania's total foreign exchange earnings," Tourism Minister Lazaro Nyalandu told parliament.

The marketing campaign in the traditional market source of Europe and America as well as in the far East looks to be paying off as tourism industry is growing by leaps and bounds to cushion the effects of gold price plunge on the economy.

Tanzania is the fourth largest gold producer in Africa after South Africa, Ghana and Mali and gold exports are a key source of foreign exchange.

Upcoming weekend – KILIFAIR Moshi Kilimanjaro

KILIFAIR 2015 is here with over 140 exhibitors from Tanzania, Zanzibar, Kenya and more. The fair has the character of a networking event for the tourism industry, in combination with a community fair to attract local people, families & expats. Get to enjoy the international food court, cultural maasai dances, African art & crafts and may more. Also get to participate on the 5 km/ 10 km Moshi Club FUN RUN for 5,000 Tsh. Entrance: 1 day ticket 6,000 Tsh (3000 Tsh kids) | 3 day ticket 12,000 Tsh When: 5th- 7th June 2015   |   Where: Moshi Club Ground, Moshi For more information contact  us on info@kilifair.com  | +255 754 200 580 or visit us on www.kilifair.com

Tanzania elephant population declines by 60 per cent: survey

Tanzania has released elephant population estimates from a country-wide aerial survey which shows that elephant population has declined by 60 per cent since 2009.

Lazaro Nyalandu, Tanzania’s Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, disclosed that major losses occurred in the Selous-Mikumi, Ruaha-Rungwa and Malagarasi Muyowosi ecosystems.

He said the situation accounts for the majority of the elephant population decline, while two northern ecosystems Serengeti and Tarangire-Manyara showed encouraging increases.

Nyalandu said the final results of the 2014 countrywide elephant census show that the country has a total elephant population of 43,521, compared to the 2009 census of 109,051 elephants in the East African nation.

The minister said in Ruaha-Rungwa ecosystem, more than 10,000 elephants disappeared.
"This has confused even researchers as in the survey they only counted more than 8,000 elephants, contrary to the number recorded in 2013, whereby there were more than 24,000 elephants.
"It is not clear whether those elephants have been killed or migrated into other ecosystems," Nyalandu said, adding that the number of elephants which were found dead for natural death was below 100 as it was in 2013 census.
"This is a shocking result as numbers have declined by 60 percent in just five years," said Andre Baumgarten of the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS).
"The most likely cause of decline is a dramatic upsurge in poaching, which Tanzania has been struggling to contend with over recent years due to insufficient resources for protected area management," he said.

He however said that FZS would continue to provide adaptive support to partners on the management, monitoring and protection with particular focus on improved law enforcement and anti- poaching through training and provision of resources.

Dr. Simon Mduma, Director General of the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), said the census covered all of Tanzania’s key elephant ecosystems as part of an ambitious initiative funded by Paul G. Allen Family Foundation to assess the current state of elephant populations across Africa.

He said the census sought to assess the size and distribution of the country’s elephant population and provide Tanzania and other players with accurate and reliable data to inform long-term conservation management.

The census was conducted by TAWIRI in collaboration with FZS, and Vulcan Inc, covering an area of 268,692 square kilometers, which is 28.3 percent of the entire country landmass.

The surveyed ecosystems were Serengeti, Tarangire-Manyara, Katavi-Rukwa, Burigi-Biharamulo, Malagarasi-Muyowosi, Selous- Mikumi and Ruaha-Rungwa, Mkomazi and Saadani.