Tourism & Travel

World Cup Reporters, Welcome To South Africa Pt. 1

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:23:20 +0200

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Americans impressed by tourist attractions in Tanzania.

pmlay — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 06:20:08 +0200

Tanzanians have been urged to reinstate patriotism especially in conserving natural resources, heritage sites and national parks.

The call was made in Dar es Salaam over the weekend by Scouts Tanzania Executive Commissioner, Brigadier General (rtd) Gerald Mkude in his media briefing on the just ended tour of the Fifteenth Scout group from the American Scouts Association.

The delegation was in the country for a two-week visit to see among other things, activities of their Tanzanian counterparts as well as visit country’s tourist attractions.

The tour was made possible through funding from the Tanzania National Parks Authority, (TANAPA).

According to Brigadier General Mkude, the Americans were very impressed with the rich ecosystem the country is endowed with.

“I appeal to fellow Tanzanians to reinstate the lost patriotism in preserving nature and everything of great national interests because our visiting American guests were so impressed when they saw the alluring nature we have been endowed with,” said Mkude.

He said that only with patriotic hearts can Tanzanians continue to love their land and all resources carried within it, from animals and plants ecosystem to minerals laying underground.

“They will through patriotism, develop a sort of courage which could help volunteer in participating to various development activities in our societies,” he added.

Led by Donald Roberts, the American scouts group visited northern tourism circuit where they climbed Africa’s highest peak—Mount Kilimanjaro as well as visiting Serengeti National Park where they had a close view of the endowed ecosystem.

Apart from visiting the tourist sites; American scouts also engaged in social development activities such as collecting materials for the construction of classrooms for Don Bosco and Makaa primary schools, both of Moshi municipality in Kilimanjaro Region.

They also participated in leveling some of Moshi municipal roads.

He thanked TSA Board Chairman, Modestus Lilungulu and TANAPA for management support and enabling the visit of the American guests, who he described as prospective future tourists and good advocates of country’s tourist attractions.

For his part, Roberts said their tour has been of more benefits and great importance to them as apart from visiting country’s great natures, they also had opportunities of sharing best practices with their Tanzanian hosts.

“Participating to social engagements was part of fulfilling our obligations which stresses on using courage, voluntary participation and the heart of giving in serving for better living of the society,” he said.

A taste of invisible chocolate

mwiinga — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:15:47 +0200

Sunday 6th September: It’s amazing that someone knows so much history of their home town. On our way to Port Elizabeth the home of Cadbury Chocolate, our tour guide shows us the chocolate making factory and I can already fell the taste of melting chocolate in my mouth. As we drive to Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, she tells us about the history of the Xhosa people and the three ‘click’ sounds in this language.

Port Elizabeth has a rich history. Some of the stories make sad hearing but our tour guide says many other beautiful things about this town, like the pyramid built in memory of Elizabeth. She narrates that a lot of young lovers often sit at the bench in front of the pyramid but few of them know the powerful love story behind it.

We reach Nelson Mandela Bay stadium after 17:30hrs. I worry that I will fill dizzy going to level five of the stadium. Level five is the highest point of the stadium. Even if, I don’t come to 2010’s world cup, I am satisfied that I stepped foot at Nelson Mandela Bay stadium. I can still taste melting chocolate in my mouth.

FAIDAMALI opens new horizons to small-scale farmers

matthew — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:16:55 +0200

Thousands of small-scale farmers in Tanzania are transforming their economic and social lives and saying goodbye to poverty as they embark on new farming and marketing strategies.

The good news was revealed by Mr. Masasa Makwasa, a District Programme Coordinator of an NGO by the name of FAIDA MARKETING LINK (FAIDAMALI). Speaking at a Citizen Journalism in Africa workshop organized by HIVOS at Golden Tulip in Dar es salaam last week. Mr. Makwasa who is presently heading the Programme in Same District, said his organization was working with small holder farmers in rural areas on new ways of planning, cultivating and marketing crops. They assist farmers to organize themselves in small groups and cooperatives, discuss and agree on what to cultivate and what market opportunities were available. FAIDAMALI has a basic role of coordinating the efforts of the farmers, providing them with expertise, technology and also monitoring all the activities. In this Programme, FAIDAMALI is in partnership with the Government and other organizations.

Asked to give a brief history of FAIDAMALI, Mr. Makwasa said, the organization started in 2003 and was already in four regions namely, Manyara, Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Tanga. In each region, there are selected districts and each is headed by a District Coordinator. According to information released by Mr.Makwasa, farmers were now producing and selling four types of crops in eight selected districts as follows:- Flower seeds and sunflower in Babati, Hanang, Hai, Arumeru; paddy in Moshi Rural; ginger in Same and Allanblackia nuts in Muheza.

Talking on the success of the organization so far, Mr. Makwasa told the seminar participants that |for example Same District farmers were so successful that they are now building a factory to process ginger for export and local use. The factory is planned to employ 30 permanent workers and 100 casual labours.

Since the start of FAIDAMALI, more than 10,000 farmers have benefited as they now know how to plan, cultivate and market their produce.