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UNESCO NATIONAL COMMISSION OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

IntroductionTanzania is one of the

unique destinations on theAfrican continent that hasyet to be discovered by many.It is a land of many wondershubbing an un-paralleleddiversity of fauna and flora.Kilimanjaro, the highestpermanently snow-cappedfree standing mountain inAfrica, the exotic Islands ofZanzibar, the finest gamesanctuaries of Serengeti,Tarangire, Lake Manyara,Ngorongoro Crater, Ruaha,Selous and the Marine Parkof Mafia Island are only buta few of the living examples.The scenery, topography andvery friendly people harbourthe growth of excellent cul-tural tourism beach holidays,historical and archaeologicalventures – and certainly thebest wildlife photographicsafaris on the continent.

Tanzania has more landdevoted to national parks

and game reserves than anyother wildlife destination inthe world. It boasts 15 nationalparks, 32 game reserves, 50game controlled areas, 1 con-servation area and 2 marineparks all protected by gov-ernment law and placed intrust for future generations tomarvel at in wonder and awe.

Managementof the sector

The Ministry of NaturalResources and Tourism Tan-zania (MNRT) oversees thetourism policy, nationalparks development, gameand game parks, develop-ment of beaches and othertourism attractions, nationalheritage, antiquities andmuseum, national resourcesand forests.

The operating mission ofthe Ministry is to formulatepolicies and strategies thatwould lead to sustainableconservation management

of natural, cultural resourcesand environment, promoteand diversify tourist attractionsand increase sector contribu-tion to national income andforeign exchange earnings.

National Tourism Policyand Strategies

The first National TourismPolicy was adopted in 1991to provide the overall objec-tives and strategies neces-sary to ensure sustainabletourism development in thecountry. Nearly a decade later,there have been considerablechanges on the political,economic and social frontswithin the country, whichraised the need for regularreview of the policy.

The thrust of these changeshave been towards stimu-lating efforts to expand theprivate sector, in tandem withthe disengagement of theGovernment from the soleownership and operation

Tourism,a land of contrasts and majesty

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of tourist facilities. Knowingthe potentiality of tourismsector, as a strategy for poverty

alleviation, the NationalTourism Policy of Tanzaniawas reviewed in 1999 to copewith the dynamism of thetourism industry.

The overall objective ofthe policy is to assist in effortsto promote the economy andlivelihood of the people,essentially poverty alleviationthrough encouraging thedevelopment of sustainable

and quality tourism that isculturally and socially accept-able, ecologically friendly,

environmentally sustainableand economically viable. It isalso sought to market Tanza-nia as favoured tourist desti-nation for touring and adven-ture in a country renownedfor its cultural diversity andnumerous beaches.

The Government recog-nizes that the private sectorplays a major role in theindustry’s development, with

the Government playing thecatalytic role of providing andimproving the infrastructureas well as providing a con-ducive climate for investment.

Strategies forTourism Development

Tanzania has developedan Integrated Tourism MasterPlan, which outlines strategiesand programmes for thesector. The primary focus ofthis plan is to obtain sustain-able benefits for the peopleof Tanzania by generatingadditional economic activityfrom available resources.

Six primary areas addres-sed by the Integrated TourismMaster Plan are the following:• Creating greater awarenessof Tanzania in the tourismsource markets;• Expanding tourism products;• Securing a more compet-itive position;• Maximizing the necessaryservice skills; and• Establishing the necessarystructures and controls to un-derpin tourism development.

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Performance of the sectorTourism in Tanzania plays

a vital role in the country’seconomic development. Itcontributes about 16% of theGross Domestic Product (GDP)and about 25% of the foreignexchange earnings. It alsocontributes about 14% oftotal investment and offersemployment opportunitiesto over 300,000 people.

Though the tourism indus-try has been growing at arate of around 10% per yearsince 1995, it was hardly hitby the effects of the globaleconomic crisis during 2009,through a slowdown in touristarrivals. The number of touristswho toured different areas ofthe country in 2009 went downto 714,367, from 770,376 in2008, which represents a 7.3%decline. Proceeds dropped by3.0% from US$ 1,198.76 mil-lion in 2008 to US$ 1,162.80in 2009.

As part of its strategy tomitigate the situation, thegovernment, through theTanzania Tourist Board (TTB),has recently intensified itsefforts to revamp domestictourism. Following a promo-tion campaign, the numberof local tourists grew by 19.3%in 2009 to reach 639,749.Additionally, TTB is currentlytargeting the newly emerging

tourist markets such as China,India, Japan and EasternEurope countries.

The tourism industry isnonetheless projected toregister positive growth during2010 with many of its poten-tial markets on the road torecovery. As such, the Min-

istry for Tourism and NaturalResources predicts that thesector will expand by 8%in 2010.

Investment opportunitiesIn spite of its natural

beauty, the Tanzania tourismsector still remains relativelyuntapped. Furthermore, aconsiderable majority of touroperators see Tanzania as agrowth destination offeringan authentic African experi-ence generally superior tocompeting destinations inthe region.

An existing environmentconducive to private invest-

ment, combined with Tanza-nia’s natural beauty and thepotential of the tourism sec-tor, have made Tanzania anextremely viable and appeal-ing market for investment

Investment opportunitiesare in all sub sectors of tourismin Tanzania, such as hotels

development, conferencetourism, eco-tourism, restau-rants, deep sea fishing, lakecruising, air operations, andtraining services to mentiona few.

ATTRACTIONS

Mt. KilimanjaroThe snowy peaks of

Kilimanjaro rising majesti-cally from fertile green foothillsjust 330km south of the equa-tor have become a powerfulmotif for this land of extremes.At 5,895m Kilimanjaro,Africa’s highest mountain,


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is still almost snow-cappedalthough the familiar icecover continues to shrinkeach year and within decadesmay be just a memory. HansMeyer was the first Europeanto scale the mountain in 1889;now over 20,000 climbers ayear attempt Kibo, the highestof its three volcanic cones. Theroute progresses from tropicalforest to heath, moorland toalpine desert, to rock and icefields at the summit. Thereare several routes to reachthe top of Kilimanjaro. Theseinclude:

Lemosho routeIt takes six days to reach

the top using this route. It israrely used, unspoilt, remotebut beautiful way up to theShira Plateau. It can eitherbe used to gain the WesternBreach route or followed by theKibo South Circuit to ascendby the easier Barafu Route.

Machame routeAbout 100 km. It takes

about six days to reach thesnow cape of the mountain.

Marangu routeIt is by far the most pop-

ular route to the summit ofKilimanjaro. Total hikingdistance is about 96 km andit takes five to six days toreach the summit.

Rongai routeIt allows for climbing the

Kilimanjaro from the north-eastern side of the mountain,

along the border betweenTanzania and Kenya. Thisroute retains a sense of un-spoilt wilderness and offers

a different perspective ofKilimanjaro by approachingit from the north.

Umbwe uja arrow glacier route

This route is one of theshortest routes to the SouthernGlaciers and the WesternBreach. It is probably themost scenic, non-technicalroute on Kilimanjaro. It isquite taxing, primarily dueto the relatively fast ascentto higher altitude, but therewards are plentiful.

NgorongoroConservation Area

The area is home to manand wild animals. It is aUNESCO World Heritage Sitefamous for its active volcanoes,mountains archeological

sites, rolling plains, dunes,forests and most importantlyNgorongoro Crater and man’scradle, the Olduvai Gorge.

Ngorongoro CraterA natural wonder to

behold, the Ngorongoro Craterwas an active volcano whosecone collapsed leaving behinda crater 20km in diameter and610m deep. Covering an areaof 311 square km, it is hometo about 30,000 large mamals.This ectinct volcano offersthe finest wildlife viewing inAfrica. Its combination ofabundant animals includingthe endangered black Rhinoand cheetahs and awesomescenery are immensely impres-

sive. The crater is home toelephants, lions, jackals,wildebeests, hyenas, zebras,elands, Cape buffalo and awide assortment of colourfulbirds, including a large flockof flamingos.


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Olduvai Gorge - Cradle ofMankind

Appropriately namedafter the wild sisal plant‘Oldupai’ in maasai, the siteis believed to be man’s firsthome. It was in this gorge,which lies between LakeManyara and the Serengeti,that Louis and Mary Leakey

discovered important hominidremains of the nutcracker,‘Australopithecus bosei’,who lived nearly 2 millionyears ago.

NATIONAL PARKS

Serengeti National ParkA national park, an eco-

system, one of the world’s mostcelebrated wildlife reservesand now part of the seventhwonder of the world. Theunfenced boundaries of the14,763 square kms expanseof the Serengeti National Parkare flanked by conservation

areas and game reserves inan exceptional bid to preserveone of the last great migra-tory systems and the greatestand most varied collection ofwildlife on earth. The ‘endlessplains’ of the Serengeti arethe stomping ground ofmillions of wildebeest andzebra for 9 months of the

year; this is wild Africa, alivewith energy, a realm of end-lessly rewarding safaris.

Selous Game ReserveThe Selous Game Reserve,

the largest protected wildlife

reserve area in Africa, isbigger than Switzerland, andyet has few tourists. Just 5000visitors a year experience theaccessible northern corner ofthis UNESCO World Heritagesite. The lagoons, sandbanksand lakes of the Rufiji Riverand surrounding forests createan exciting ecological envi-ronment for walking, boatingand fly-camping safaris. Thespectrum of wildlife is diverse,with east and southern Africanfauna, including 440 speciesof bird and a healthy popu-lation of wild dogs.

Ruaha National ParkTanzania’s second-largest

national park, Ruaha is seri-ously under-visited but veryworthwhile especially whencombined with the SelousGame Reserve. A wild anddistant safari experience, itsdry red-earth vistas are stud-

ded with ancient baobabsand irrigated by the rockymeanderings of the GreatRuaha River. This elementallandscape supports one ofAfrica’s largest elephantpopulations, plentiful lion


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prides and thriving packsof African hunting dogs.Leopard sightings are fre-quent, wonderful antelopeaction abounds and the parkis a birdwatcher’s delight.

Mahale MountainsNational Park

The steep, forested slopes ofMahale Mountains NationalPark are home to approxi-mately 800 of Africa’s remain-ing wild chimpanzees. Fur-ther north, Gombe StreamNational Park is the site ofan alternative chimpanzeeresearch programme in whicharound 200 chimpanzees arefed and monitored.

Chimp-trekking in Mahalerequires stamina, trekkingthrough rich woodlands pop-ulated by various monkeyspecies and rewarding, diversebirdlife. Inaccessible by road,visitors must fly or arrive byboat from Kigoma, alongthe southern shores of LakeTanganyika, the world’s

deepest and least-pollutedfresh water lake. It is Snorkelwith iridescent cichlids toconclude an exceptionalsafari experience.

Tarangire National ParkTarangire National Park,

South of the plains of southernMaasailand, covers 2,600square kms of grass and floodplains, acacia woodland anddense bush. Dominated bythe Tarangire River, the parkthrives in the heat from Augustto October when masses ofwildebeest, zebra, buffalo andgiraffe migrate to the valleyfloor. Resident predatorssuffer lean months to enjoythese feast days. Impressiveelephant herds congregatefrom July to October.

Katavi National ParkThe wide alluvial plains

of Katavi are barely visitedat all, mainly because there

are presently no permanentcamps. Miles off the beatentrack; Katavi is a remote,classic dry season reserve,superb in the driest monthsof the year but unpredictableand partially impassable forthe remainder of the year.The intrepid few who do

venture the distances are wellrewarded; the park is hometo vast buffalo herds and hippopods, and concentrations ofelephant around February.Wildlife disperses but birdlifeproliferates following theshort rains in November.

THE LAKES

Lake VictoriaThe second largest fresh

water lake in the world andthe largest in Africa, this lakeis also the source of the river

Nile. Scenically beautiful andbordered by large boulders onthe Eastern front (Mwanzatown), the lake has a greatnumber of fish, the most suc-cessful commercial varietybeing the Nile perch. Thelake is bordered by Musoma,Mwanza and Bukoba.


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Lake TanganyikaThe Tanganyika lies 773m

above the sea level within theAfrica Great Rift Valley on thewestern Tanzania. It is thelongest fresh water lake inthe world streching 677kms.It is also the second deepestat 1,443m. It houses over1,000 different types of fish.The town of Ujiji, off LakeTanganyika, is one of Africa’soldest market villages.

Lake NyasaThe most southerly of the

Rift Valley Lakes and biolog-ically it is the most diverse.The lake contains 30% ofthe world’s cichilds speciesof colourful fishes that areeasily observed in clearwaters. Matema Beach onthe northern tip of the LakeNyasa is rated as the bestbeach on the lake and hasa beautiful setting againstthe mountains.

Lake ManyaraThis shallow lake at the

base of the Great Rift Valleyattracts flocks of flamingosto its alkaline waters. Famedfor its excellent birds, butter-flies and tree-climbing lions,the park also has an under-

stated diversity of other gamesuch as elephants, giraffes,buffalos, wildebeest, hipposand a vast number of baboons.The habitat varies through-out with grassy floodplainsand thick acacia woodlandcontrasting with the rockyescarpments of the Rift.

THE ISLANDS

ZanzibarZanzibar is known through-

out the world as being thejewel of Indian Ocean. Itshistory is tainted by romanceand colour (e.g. the tales ofseafarers and explorers, andriches) and tragedy (e.g.the dark stain of slavery).Zanzibar’s coastline offerssome of the best beaches inthe world.

Once a city-state ruled bysultans, Stone Town is famous

for its buildings (a blend ofPortuguese, East Indian,Persian and Omani Arabarchitecture) and narrow,windings streets. Among thesights in Stone Town are thesultan’s palace, the old Arabfort, built to defend againstthe Portuguese around 1700,two cathedrals and severalmosques.

MafiaOnce a strategic Indian

Ocean trading post visited by

dhows, Mafia Island becameTanzania’s first Marine Park,


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and now provides colourfuldiving and fishing opportu-nities. Just 30 minutes flightfrom Dar es Salaam, Mafiais home to rural farming andfishing communities whoselives continue just as theyhave for millennia. This is itscharm: a virtually unchangedisland home, with just a fewtourist lodges. The fascinatingruins of Chole Island can bereached by ferry, and furtherhistoric links to the ancientruins of Kilwa and the sur-rounding islands are a shortflight away.

Pemba IslandNorth of Unguja, Pemba

is a surprisingly large ruralisland and the main sourceof Zanzibar’s cloves. Seaweedfarming and even rubber-tapping may also be seen.Pemba has a unique charm,enhanced by its lack of visi-tors and local reputation asa centre for traditional medi-cines. Separated from Zanzibarby the Pemba Channel thatdrops to depths of more than1000m, this is the place forsuperb diving and deep-seafishing of whales, sharks andmanta rays are often seen inthe deeper channels.

Tanzania’s Myriad ofCultures and Traditions

Tanzania is endowed withthe rich cultural heritage of120 ethnic tribes. The diversecultures, traditions and cus-toms manifest themselves in

Tanzania’s unique touristattractions in the form of richtraditional dances, handi-crafts such as weaving andpottery and art in the formof paintings and the woodcarving of the Makonde ethniccommunity from southernTanzania.

ConclusionRegardless of the coun-

try’s abundance of touristattractions, there is a need formore emphasis to be placedon preservation of naturalresources, some of which areWorld Heritage. Tanzaniahas a unique tourism productmix and must keep it uniqueby sustaining it. A correctbalance has to be establishedbetween exploitation andconservation; and betweeneconomic interests and thesocial, environmental andcultural impact of humanactivity in tourism. This is whythe government aims at devel-oping low volume-high yieldtourism while continuing

to encourage private sectorinvestment in the sector.

However, greater public-private sector cooperationand coordination is requiredin order to plan, promote,market, and regulate theindustry in a manner thatwill ultimately prove to besustainable, and successful,for Tanzania. ■


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