Minister
for Natural Resources and Tourism Hon. Lazaro Nyalandu has commended a
remarkable initiative by Tanzania National Parks in introducing new
tourism products at Lake Manyara National Park. Nyalandu said this
during the official launching of the hot springs boardwalk way and hippo
pool viewpoint projects at the park yesterday. Nyalandu said that the
two projects will add value to the tourism sector by increasing the
number of tourist arrivals in the country and urged other stakeholders
to be innovative in introducing products that will attract more
tourists.
The
Manyara boardwalk way and hippo pool viewpoint projects worth about 200
millions were initiated to counter the decreased trend of tourist
numbers in the park following the flashfloods hit the park in March 2013
which damaged most of tourist infrastructures.
The
first ever tourism product in the national parks, the boardwalk way is
featured with 1.5 meters wide impressive wooden structure, creating a
300 meters long trail standing 1.5 meters above ground winding up in an
observation platform that is 15 meters long and 2.5 meters wide. The
trail meanders through the hot springs and lakeshore around a marsh and
finally into the lake. The boardwalk will give visitors a unique view
and wonderful photo opportunities at every turn of the boardwalk trail.
Hot
springs boardwalk way is designed to simply give people a nice place to
walk along the numerous hot springs and be close to the attractions and
enjoy the wide view of the lake.
Visitors
will use the facilities boardwalk way for free and have opportunity of
walking around 600 meters on a return trip to the lakeshore and over the
hot springs. Educational signage with entertaining themes will be
erected in key locations to allow visitors’ easy reading and
understanding of the nature and the resources found in the area. These
signs will educate visitors about the ecology and adaptation of plants
and animals to the area. Moreover, it will explain the fragility of the
ecosystem and why it is so important to use the boardwalks to avoid, as
much as possible, disturbing the environment.
Moreover,
the viewpoint is a freestanding wooden platform rising by 8 feet above
the ground measuring 56 feet in length and 5 feet in width. It is about 8
km away from main gate. Standing at the top of the viewing platform
enables the viewer a spectacular view of the marshland and its
inhabitants – waterfowl, hippo, buffalo and wildebeest – from a point of
vantage while affording the visitor a high sense of security.
Minister
for Natural Resources and Tourism Hon. Lazaro Nyalandu (2nd left) cut
off ribbon to officially launch Lake Manyara hot springs boardwalk way
and hippo pool view point in Lake Manyara. Others in the picture from
left are Manyara Regional Commissioner Hon. Elaston Mbwilo; Director
General of TANAPA Allan Kijazi and the Chairman of the Parliamentary
Committee on Lands, Natural Resources and Environment Hon. James
Lembeli.
Minister
for Natural Resources and Tourism Hon. Lazaro Nyalandu unveils the
foundation stone of the Lake Manyara hot springs boardwalk way
yesterday.
Director
General of TANAPA Allan Kijazi giving out welcoming remarks during the
official launching of the hot springs boardwalk way and hippo view point
at Lake Manyara National Park yesterday.
Chief
Park Warden for Lake Manyara National Park Domician Njau (right)
explain a point to Hon. Lazaro Nyalandu, Minister for Natural Resources
and Tourism as they walk through the Lake Manyara Hot springs boardwalk
way yesterday.
Chief
Park Warden for Lake Manyara National Park Domician Njau explaining
about the newly launched projects during the official launching of the
hot springs boardwalk way and hippo view point at Lake Manyara National
Park yesterday.
Chairman
of the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators Wilbard Chambulo was also
there to emphasis the importance of National Parks.
Some
of the TANAPA staff in a group picture with the Minister for Natural
Resources and Tourism Hon. Lazaro Nyalandu (seated third left).
The newly launched Hot springs boardwalk way in Lake Manyara National Park.
The newly launched Hippo view point in Lake Manyara National Park.
Issued by Corporate Communications Department
TANZANIA NATIONAL PARKS
P.O.BOX 3134
ARUSHA
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