German Crew in Tanzania to Film Tourist Attractions

Dar es Salaam — A German company, PolyPhone Crew, is in Tanzania to film leading tourist attractions such as Mt Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar's pristine beaches and Serengeti and Arusha National Parks.

According to the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB), the team arrived in Dar es Salaam on November 9 and has been filming such attractions. It will end its mission tomorrow.

"The filmed attractions will be broadcast on a renowned German TV series called "Traum Schiff" which is aired on a German TV channel, ZDF. The channel is very popular in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, attracting more than 17 million viewers," TTB managing director Devota Mdachi said in a statement yesterday.

The main actor in the series, Hardy Kruger Jr, is a son of famous actor Hardy Kruger who, along with a prominent US actor John Wayne, participated in the world's famous "Hatari", which was filmed in Arusha National Park.

"We really thank Polyphone Filming Company for choosing Tanzania. We believe that through this film many prospective tourists from Germany, Switzerland and Austria will be enticed to visit Tanzania's tourist attractions," she noted. The project will also create more awareness to international film producers that Tanzania has attractive locations. She also said filming generates revenue and creates employment.

Tourism provides 600,000 direct jobs to Tanzanians; over one million people earn an income from tourism not to mention the value chain of tourism which supports parks, conservation areas and now community- based wildlife management areas as well as farmers, transporters, fuel stations, spare parts suppliers, builders, tent manufacturers, suppliers of food and drinks.

Poaching, multiple taxes, poor infrastructure and inadequate promotion funds should be tackled for Tanzania to realise its target of attracting two million tourists annually in the next five years, tourism players say.

Poaching threatens wildlife and ultimately a thriving multibillion-dollar tourism industry, its related jobs, revenues and the whole value chain, as sooner than later, there will be nothing to attract the long haul of tourists.

Over the past six years, more than 80,000 of the country's elephants have been slaughtered for their ivory in yet another sign humanity could soon drive the great pachyderms to extinction.

Saadani National Park Registers Booming Business, Pledges Sustainability

 

Tanzania: Bagamoyo — Saadani National Park has recorded booming tourism, a trend expected to continue in the coming years, the park's development authority has announced.

The park's Acting Chief Warden, Mr Lomi Ole Meikasi, said the number of visitors grew by 84 per cent between 2005 and 2015. "The park welcomed a record of 450,000 tourists in 2015 from 3758 recorded in 2005," he said, adding that the growth is expected to surpass in 2016.

Mr Meikasi made the revelation when speaking to a team of women journalists who toured the park through Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) sponsorship. He said the massive record brought in over 1.3b/- revenue collection....an increase of 95 per cent of 49m/ collected in 2005.

The park recorded the majority of international tourists compared to the local. According to Mr Meikasi, the growth is attributed by a good management plans set by the park authority to ensure increased and quality tourists' attractions and services.

"We do a lot of advertisements of the parks destinations in and outside the country promoting and marketing the park," said the park's Chief Operator, Ms Aipakunda Mungure.

She said the park's authority strived to ensure that new and quality tourism products that attract both local and international tourists are availed every year to keep the pace of tourism growth in the park.

On the other hand, Mr Meikasi told the visiting journalists that good management has seen control of many issues facing the smooth growth of the park, including poaching and illegal hunting.

Mr Meikasi said the park recorded no incidences of elephants poaching cases and illegal hunting in 2015 contrary to the past years. Since 2005, the park recorded six incidents of elephant poaching.

East Africa Tourism – The Joint Project of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda

African tourism authorities rely more and more on synergy. In East Africa, Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda have decided to join forces to improve their visibility to tourists across the world. After signing a tripartite agreement in October, these countries created their first joint marketing plan in London at World Travel Market.

The biggest international tourism trade fair opened its doors in London from November 7th to the 9th. Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda opted for a common stand, announced Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, the Ugandan Minister of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities.

As a reminder, these three countries of East Africa recently signed a common cooperation agreement regarding the tourism sector which consists of joint promotion of the three destinations as if it were only one. The objective: boost African tourism, increase the number of visitors, and indirectly help the economy of each of the three countries.

Countries Where Tourism Counts

In Kenya, tourism, which accounts for about 11% of the GDP, has been in trouble for a few years, a situation in which the attack on the Westgate shopping center in Nairobi—which occurred in September 2013, killing 68 people and injuring over 200—is not foreign.

In Uganda, the tourism industry, which is the primary source of revenue, is traditionally seen as an important aspect of the economy. In 2015, it generated 2.6 billion dollars in revenues, representing 9.8% of the GDP and employing 247,000 people. But according to authorities, the potential of the country remains mostly untapped.

More known for its technological boom, Rwanda is also trying to diversify its economy by focusing, among other things, on tourism. The country has managed to set up a tourism development strategy which has successfully boosted the number of visitors from around 25,000 to nearly one million between 2004 and 2012. And the synergy created with its neighbors also aims to multiply its economic impact.

Single Tourist Visa

The joint agreement between the three countries also aims at the establishment of a single visa. “We are implementing a single tourist visa. This is the first time that we have signed an agreement of this kind and we are committed to promoting our countries' tourism together,” said Ugandan Tourism Minister Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi. But he wants to make it clear right away:  the joint promotion is not synonymous with 'less aggressive politics.' “We will continue to be innovative in order to capture the largest market share in East Africa.”

As for the Kenyan government, it has recently called on the other countries of the sub-region (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Burundi, Tanzania, Seychelles, Comoros, and Mayotte) to implement the single tourism visa as well. The aim is to build a strong sub-region and boost East African tourism.

This Rwandan-Ugandan-Kenyan tourism strategy is a first in Africa. It is a sign that the trend of synergy observed here-and-there across the continent, notably in West Africa in the financial field, has spread gradually to different industries.

 

Tanzania: Travel - My Epic Journey to Old Moshi

Moshi in the north of Tanzania has an abundance of off-the-beaten-track, out-of-the-ordinary gems to add to the traveler's bucket list. Over decades the surrounding areas of Moshi have always had a special place in my travels as I have always returned for inspiration.

Beyond the borders of Moshi town, the administrative town of Kilimanjaro region, I recently joined tourism experts from Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) for a tour of epic proportions.

Old Moshi's vast green landscapes that stretch over hills and down to the valleys, lying below the sprawling rural areas, attracted me first-hand. The valleys and streams cut deeply into the dramatic landscape.

Ten km north of the current Moshi town, the old town was established by the Germans in the early 1890s and has remained fairly unknown to many visitors. It was overlooked by mistake for the wrong reasons. Naively, I suppose many travelers were corrupted by the imagination of the adverb - Old.

Located in Moshi rural, this area has nurtured a culture that goes back over 200 years. Hacking back to colonial past, there are some of the incredible sights that help to reawaken visitors' senses of adventure.

Our host here was Old Moshi Cultural Tourism Enterprises and Gabriel Mzei, the coordinator led us to discover small details of the great history of the Germans and the famous local chief Meli, known locally as Mangi.

According to TTB national coordinator, Mr Elirehema Maturo, Old Moshi Cultural Tourism Enterprises is the latest addition to cultural enterprises scattered across the country. These are meant to support local communities as they showcase their culture, heritage and other natural attractions to visitors at a small fee.

The tranquil setting of Old Moshi sprawling villages spans through ten villages namely Tsuduni, Mdawi, Mowo, Tela, Msaranga, Mahoma, Sango, Kikarara, Mbokomu, and Kidia, which is reason enough to visit. This ancient area has a captivating history.

It was a historic day on 2 March 1900 when Chief Meli who defied the occupation of the German in the Chagga land was hanged on a tree in his early 30s. Chief Meli, son to Chief Mandara, who embraced the entry of the Germans, resisted the invasion of the Germans in his chiefdom leading to his arrest and death by execution.

The most iconic tree is found just opposite the former German court building (now a ruin) as a testament to the Germans past administration in the then Tanganyika. The tree is a welcoming landmark to visitors who arrive by road. It is often the starting point for exploring the historic village's tour.

In the heart of the Tsuduni village lie incredible ruins of a German military base, a chapel and an old bell, believed to have been built in the 18th century as well as a mass grave in which six Germans had been buried in the chapel's courtyard.

There is a slave market ruin nearby, which evokes emotional memories of the inhuman slave trade. Lila, an Arab trader is said to be the person who brought warm clothing such as blankets, bangles, shoes and mirrors in exchange for slaves.

The market building, according to Gabriel, was used as the holding area before slaves were transported away. Close to the market ruin, Gabriel pointed to a tree that was used to end the life of the weak or unwilling slaves. This was done in the full view of other captives so as to intimidate them.

Next, we walked through banana and coffee farms to a 'sacred' tree known locally as Msohu, where sacred rituals take place to worship and expect good fortune to the people and land. Luckily, limited rituals take place these days and are done secretly since most of the people in the area are Christian converts.

Discovering the cultural village on foot is by far the most rewarding. Visitors are introduced to different activities leading to explore and discover varied attractions.

One of the main activities here is hiking to a popular waterfall, Kwa Mambori, one of the most picturesque. Its location adds to its charm.

The waterfalls, is a sight unto itself as it falls more than 120 meters from imposing cliff faces to form natural pools that are open to the public for swimming. The falls are a popular spot for adventurous visitors in the area and it is believed to be the highest around Mount Kilimanjaro.

Walk proved to be even more captivating, as we cautiously followed the winding footpaths carved out centuries ago by local inhabitants. Treading lightly along narrow edges, we were treated to panorama after panorama of powerful and utterly breathtaking vistas. Countless lookout points were interspersed with rests along the way.

Jonas Mowo, a guide, kept my safety keenly embedded in his day's business. The hike starts from uphill and descends through valleys and water streams. The day drifted by as we ascended and descended, gazing dreamily out onto the surrounding landscape.

This is the place to go if you want to explore the valleys, streams with water that flow from Mount Kilimanjaro, exotic plants, and varied tree species with incredible lush greenery landscape backdrop.

We spent the last hour at the Mangi Meli Palace where Mzee Isaria Anael Meli, 85, a grandson to Mangi Meli took us through the history of his grandfather. He wants a monument to be erected to honor Mangi Meli in the area, and the return of Chief Meli's head which was taken to a museum in German.

It surely was a journey that brought incredible sights through great history and lush green landscapes through cultural villages.