SOPA LODGE GETS FIVE STAR RANKING

 Tarangire Sopa Lodge   has been awarded   a five star hotel class after meeting   criteria set by the East African Community in conjunction with the Ministry of Natural Resources and tourism.

Tarangire Sopa Lodge hotel manager, Dedan Ogelo holding a five star trophy. Next to him is a sopa lodge group operations manager, Kennedy Ayoti and Human resource Manager, one Elisaria Makivao in a group picture with staffs after receiving the certificate of recognition from ministry of natural resources and tourism.

Based in Tarangire National Park, the lodge is described by visitors from all over the world as an elegant ultra modern luxury facility in the area.

Presenting the award to the management and staff of the lodge over the weekend Group Manager of Operations of Sopa Lodges, Kennedy Ayoti praised the workers for their job well done.

 “I acknowledge and appreciate your commitment, hard working and high motivation spirit. These, among others, are behind our lodge to achieve a high ranking. Be proud of yourselves” Ayoti remarked.

He said the hotel classification exercise had tough procedures, which involved serious scrutiny in all areas including service, environment, human resource development and skills.

“I urge the management and workers to work even harder to maintain this achievement, experts will be visiting here to evaluate our progress” Ayoti noted.

In his remarks, Tarangire Sopa Lodge Manager,Dedan Ogelo said his lodge offers tailor made services and amenities to make  Tarangire national Park  the most special place to experience.

“We believe in giving the best for our visitors when they get here they are welcomed by architectural charm and unparalleled service. The guests are entitled to enjoy luxurious services” said Ogelo.

In receiving the award, staff showed their joy of achievements, vowing to double efforts and commitment in order to sustain the achievement.

Ritha Mollel a worker told the visiting journalists that they are confident and well prepared to take the only five-star lodge to the next level.

“We appreciate Sopa lodge Management for its policy where we staffs are regularly receiving training's as part of carrier advancement. I am sure without this we wouldn't achieved the best in serving our customers” she said.

Mollel said the strategy has contributed a lot in terms of maintaining standards of all hotel facilities and services throughout.

It takes 40 minutes’ drive from the main gate of Tarangire National park to sopa lodge, with capacity to host 150 occupants at a time in 75 spacious rooms.

Sopa Lodge has also a conference hall with capacity of accommodating between 70-100 occupants at once.

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EIGHT HURT IN TANZANIA TOURIST RESTAURANT BOMBING

Tanzania: Eight people were wounded late Monday when unknown attackers hurled a bomb through the window of a restaurant popular with foreigners and wealthy locals in the north Tanzanian town of Arusha.

"No one died, but eight people were wounded, one is in a serious condition," Tanzania Director of criminal  Investigation (DCI)Isaya Mngulu .

"It was an improvised explosive device thrown through a window."

All the wounded, who included two children, were Tanzanians, according to the police chief.

The floor of the upmarket  Indian restaurant in the centre of Arusha was covered in blood, with overturned chairs amid broken glass, an eye witness  said.

No one has claimed responsibility, but two Tanzanian nationals were arrested following the attack, Mr Mngulu said, giving no further details.

The bombing targeted a key town for Tanzania's tourist industry, a major source of foreign currency for the East African country.

Visitors come to Arusha before travelling on to the iconic snowcapped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, as well as to the Serengeti national park, famed for its spectacular great migration of wildebeest.

A political rally

Somalia's Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab have carried out attacks across East Africa, especially targeting Kenya in wave of bombings and killings, but Tanzanian police said they did not believe the extremists were to blame for the Arusha blast.

"We do not know who the attackers are, but we do not suspect any involvement with Al-Shabaab," Mr Mngulu said.

Unlike Kenya, Tanzania does not have troops fighting against the Al-Shabaab with the African Union force in Somalia.

The attack is the latest of several in Arusha.

On July 3, two people were wounded when an improvised bomb was hurled into the home of leading Muslim cleric in Arusha, Mr Mngulu said.

Police arrested six people, all Tanzanians, following that attack.

Three people were killed and 60 wounded in June 2013 in Arusha when a grenade was hurled into a political rally by an opposition party.

A month before, attackers killed three and wounded 30 when an improvised bomb exploded in a Cat

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MAASAI STUDENTS TO STUDY IN AMERICA IN EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

THE Maasai students in Monduli district now have a reason to jubilate, thanks to an insertion of exchange programme between their school and an American school.

According to Orkeeswa secondary school headmaster, Yusuph Mollel the exchange programme will enable his students to travel all the way to American Groton School and study for good three months and the same to the later.

Mollel said that idea behind the programme is to give both students a lifetime exposure that could be inspiration for them.

“Our students have learnt a lot in America during the pilot programme and the same way for the American students who come in Tanzania. We think this is important way of giving our students an exposure” he noted.

Groton school director of counseling who is in Tanzania with several American students, Ms Megan Harlan said that the exchange programme offers both students an opportunity to learn and appreciate the diversities.

“My students are admired the Maasai culture and appreciate that there are diversity between American tradition and Tanzanian one. This will not be possible with this programme” she explained.

A Groton school student, Sophie Baker says that she was overwhelmed by the Maasai community warm welcome, adding that the smiles will never leave her brain forever.

A form five student of Orkeeswa school who went to America, Florah Tipapurwa to Orkeeswa School said that American education system is more advanced compared to Tanzanian one where students do not have enough materials and desks.

“Our colleagues have a lot of scholastic materials and teachers compared to us where we compete for few materials available” a young Florah says.

Orkeeswa School, opened in 2008, is located in an under-served Maasai community in the Monduli Hills of northern Tanzania known as Lashaine Village.

By providing free education within the village, Orkeeswa offers the only opportunity for most of its students to continue education past the primary level.

“Students of Orkeeswa School live and learn within their own village, allowing them to take their education home with them every day” said the school Managing Director, Mr Peter Luis.

Orkeeswa’s holistic model of education extends beyond the classroom and equips students with the knowledge and skills to create change in their community.

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