MOUNT KILIMANJARO,SERENGETI AND NGORONGORO CRATER DECLARED SEVENTH AFRICA'S WONDERS

Tanzania natural attractions, Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti national park and Ngorongoro crater have been declared Africa’s seventh wonders.

SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

MT.KILIMANJARO

NGORONGORO CRATER

SERENGETI National Park was declared the best of the seven New Natural Wonders of Africa as all the three entries from Tanzania made it to the coveted seven.

Announcing the new ‘Seven Wonders’ of nature here, the President and Founder of the Texas (US)-based ‘New Seven Wonders,’ Dr Philip Imler, revealed that though the seven wonders are not ranked in positions, Serengeti stood out due to its legendary, spellbinding largest migration of large mammals.

Ngorongoro Crater, found within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, and described as ‘The Bowl’ in which a variety of wildlife live,’ was also voted among the Seven Wonders of Nature while Mount Kilimanjaro, which is Africa’s highest mountain, became the third entry from the country.

Other winners were the ‘Red Sea Reef,’ on the coast of Egypt and Sudan; River Nile, which flows into more than 10 countries in Africa, the Sahara Desert encompassing nearly ten countries as well and the Okavango Delta of Botswana.

A total of 12 entries from around the continent had been competing for the coveted ‘Seven’ positions and Tanzania had fielded its own top three tourist attractions. “I was a bit skeptic upon learning that, the ‘New Seven Wonders’ of nature will have three winners from a single country but official statistics and experts’ opinions did not lie,” said Dr Imler.

He added that even the votes from Tanzanians did not help to sway final experts’ conclusions. He also named the Seven Wild Life Wonders of Africa as the leopard, crocodile, elephant, hippopotamus, rhino, mountain gorilla and the lion.

The colourful proclamation ceremony was graced by the Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda, who was the chief guest at the awards giving session, held at the New Mount Meru Hotel. “As Tanzanians, we must protect not only the three winners but all natural resources and wildlife that our country has been endowed with,” said the prime minister.

The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Ambassador, Mr Khamis Kagasheki, said Tanzania is proud to have three of its natural wonders among Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. Among those who attended the function include the Minister of State (Tourism) of Uganda, ambassadors, MPs and representatives of tourist boards from Zambia and Uganda.

The Director-General of Tanzania National Parks, Mr Allan Kijazi, was proud to have two destinations under his authority making it to the top seven and pointed out that Tanzania was always regarded as ‘Number One Natural Summit of Africa.’

Also vying for the title were Mount Kenya, Zuma Rock of Nigeria, the 'Peak of Furnace' in the Reunion Island, the 'Aldabra Atoll' of Seychelles, 'Tsingy Debemaraha,' of Madagascar and the 'Avenue of Baobabs' also found in Madagascar. Visitors wise, the Ngorongoro Crater, located in Ngorongoro District of Arusha, seems to be the most popular, attracting over 500,000 tourists every year.

Serengeti comes second with 350,000 annual visitors while Mount Kilimanjaro attracts nearly 55,000 tourists per annum. Overall, Tanzania as a country attracts around 1.2 million tourists per year with more than 80 per cent of these ending up in the Northern Circuit where the three features are located.

The Ngorongoro Crater is managed by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) while both the Serengeti and Mount Kilimanjaro operate under the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA).

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SINGIDA THE FORGOTTEN LAND OF MILK AND HONEY

Journalists  Adam Ihucha on a smiling face and Charles Ngereza near  Singidani Lake in Singida Region yesterday they are  on a tour to unveil the economic potentials in the Region.

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Serengeti airport: Tanzanian govt wins the day

Tourists at the Serengeti National Park. Tanzania plans to build an airport near the park

The protracted battle over construction of an international airport next to Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, pitting the government against environmentalists, is nearly over — and the government seems to have carried the day.

Plans for the construction of the $350 million facility, expected to start early next year, are complete, and the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority has approved the project. All that remains now is the release of an environmental impact assessment report by the National Environmental Management Council (NEMC).

For six years, the government has come up against stiff resistance from conservationists and environmentalists opposed to the planned construction of an ultra-modern airport in Mugumu town, 40 km from northwestern Serengeti. The government’s move follows an earlier attempt to construct a 321-kilometre tarmac road through Serengeti.

This was shelved over concerns that it would destroy the only animal migration existing in the world.

The projects are a part of President Jakaya Kikwete’s dream to create a new gateway to Tanzania’s northern tourism circuit and open up potential investment opportunities in the natural resources-rich Lake Victoria zone.

The idea is that large jets could land directly at Serengeti to offer holidaymakers a hassle-free trip. “The new airport would offer tourists the option to use both Kilimanjaro or Serengeti airports,” said President Kikwete. The tourists could land at Kilimanjaro International Airport and, after visiting Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti, use Serengeti international airport to fly back home.

Serengeti District Council Chairman John Ng’oina confirmed that the project had received the go-ahead from the Civil Aviation Authority and expected the environmental impact assessment report “anytime soon to pave the way for other crucial steps before the actual construction takes off.”

An American billionaire and conservationist, Paul Tudor Jones, is said to be willing to finance the construction.

Mr Tudor, a prominent Wall Street tycoon, runs a $16 million five-star lodge at Sasakwa Hill and the three wildlife rich hunting blocs of Grumeti, Ikorongo and Ikoma, covering nearly 110,000 hectares in western Serengeti.

“Mr Tudor is willing to bankroll the project, not only because he seeks close ties with the naturally well-endowed country, but because the airport would benefit his business as well since his higher-end clients would be using the airport,” a source  said 

Analysts say the airport would also be a major boost to Tanzania’s drive to increase the number of visitors from 800,000 to 1.6 million in 2015 and double tourism revenue from the current $1.4 billion to $2.8 billion annually in the next three years.

Natural Resources and Tourism Deputy Minister Lazaro Nyalandu said that the Serengeti airport would make life easier for tourists, who currently travel 300 kilometres by road from KIA to the famous game sanctuary.

“We want to cut down the time spent in travelling and enable our visitors to enjoy the abundant attractions,” Mr Nyalandu added.

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US investor in Tanzanite cutting joint venture

The world largest tanzanite buyer, billionaire Morris Gad is putting up a state-of-the-art tanzanite processing plant at the outskirts of Arusha.

Gad, chairman and CEO of Diamonds International, the largest jewelry retailer with 140 locations in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and other parts of the world, is partnering with the Arusha based gemstone firm, Signature Gems.

Jacob Hassid, Diamonds International managing director, announced on Wednesday that the firm had taken over a factory opposite Pepsi Cola along Njiro Road in Arusha.

The plant, conceived after Gad’s last month trip to Tanzania, which he usually conducts on an annual basis, is expected to be operational in a month and create employment to nearly 200 workers, chiefly women.

Under a 1000 square metre factory, about six kilometers from the newly inaugurated city centre, it is anticipated to turn Arusha into a major gemstone producer and exporter.

“We are very comfortable and confident that in a few weeks we will employ 200 women to start with, train them on how to cut and polish rough tanzanite for the export market,” Hassid said in a press conference.

Reading a message from Morris Gad, the company’s general counsel, Elchonon Shagalov said the most prominent memory he has about his journey was the kindness of local residents.

“I was very impressed how we were welcomed into their country with warmth and open arms,” the gemstone investor noted in his written message, stating further that “My motto has always been, when someone does well to you, reciprocate that goodness.”

Gad said that his mission has been to lay the basis for economic growth for local people and now the creation of the gemstone cutting plant was a dream come true.

The women would be employed to create a unique tanzanite jewellery line for sale in Diamonds International locations.

“This project is to enable Tanzania to become more prosperous and help the beautiful people reach their goals. I look forward to working together and I have hopes that this project will be a complete success,” the investor underlined.

Signature Gems managing director Sailesh Pandit said the joint venture factory could go down in history as one of the largest and ambitious gemstone processing plants in the region.

“I am very grateful to my partner, Morris Gad for walking his promise made last month that he would come back and invest heavily in the country to create employment,” the director intoned.

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