Tanzania to offer 26 big game hunting blocks in new auction

13 May 2019 05:47PM


DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania plans to introduce a new auctioning system for big game hunting blocks next month, in a move aimed at enhancing transparency and curbing corruption in that part of the tourism industry.

Allocation of hunting blocks by government officials to tourist companies has been dogged by allegations of impropriety and loss of revenues.


But in a new initiative, the state-run Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) will next month auction 26 hunting blocks for the first time.

"TAWA invites applications ... for the allocation of tourist hunting blocks through electronic auctioning (e-auctioning)," the authority said in a statement on Monday (May 13).

"Auctioning will commence on Jun 10, 2019 and will last for seven consecutive days."

Eligible hunting companies will be allocated a maximum of five hunting blocks, each of different categories.


Most of the hunting blocks are allocated within the 50,000 square-kilometre Selous Game Reserve ecosystem, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its elephants, lions, zebras, black rhinos, giraffes and other species.

Tourism is the main source of hard currency in Tanzania, best known for its beaches, wildlife safaris and Mount Kilimanjaro.

Revenues from the sector fetched US$2.43 billion last year, up from US$2.19 billion in 2017, according to official data.

Tourist arrivals totalled 1.49 million last year, compared with 1.33 million a year ago.

President John Magufuli's government said it wants to bring in 2 million visitors a year by 2020.

Source: Reuters/zl
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.co...ew-auction--11528826

Need long term, low cost leases in depleted areas especially!!

quote:

Most of the hunting blocks are allocated within the 50,000 square-kilometre Selous Game Reserve ecosystem, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its elephants, lions, zebras, black rhinos, giraffes and other species.

One might ask how many photographic tourists and hunters actually had the privilege of an encounter with a Black Rhino in the last 20 years and while there are healthy numbers of Giraffe in the photographic area north of the Rufiji River, there are none in the south and in addition, Giraffe is a protected species.

In the years to come once the dam at Stiegler's Gorge has been built, the Giraffe might actually be able to ford the river from time to time and impact the ecosystem, for better or worse I don't know.

Let us see how many anti hunters bid for those?

Every couple of years, you can count on Tanzania shuffling the dominoes at the start of the season. At least this doesn't really affect clients.

Outfitters have a short window for due diligence.

No time to market the new blocks if they are the winning bidder.



Does anyone know if many of these blocks were Pasanisi's?

Does anyone know if the government has published any information on the blocks being auctioned? Just curious

With a hunt booked for Maswa this December with Mike Fell, I wonder how this might impact us? Anyone know how this may or may not effect existing leases?

My guess it is blocks vacated by Pasanisi and others.

Yes, probably the blocks vacated by Pasanisi, but there may be some others as well. I can't wait to see how this goes down. I suspect the keystone cops could do a better job of handling the auction. And who knows how all these blocks have been affected by non-use and the proposed dam?

Andrew- yes, NO anti hunting entities will bid!

Its a chance for the TZ government to realize the true value of these blocks and act accordingly with the future in mind, but we all know very well that they'll make a deal considering only Today.

quote:

Originally posted by Tim Vining:
Does anyone know if the government has published any information on the blocks being auctioned? Just curious

I have been told that these would be Pasanisi's ex-blocks; don't know of anyone else south of Luke's boundaries and any other outfitter will be outside the main Selous boundary in the Open and WMAs.

Seeing they are being auctioned I am pretty certain there will be a minimum bid value applicable per block since these, as others, are priced according to grade and good luck to the sucker!

Did Padanisi have 26 blocks??

The Pasanisis, through multiple companies, had over half the Selous at one time. At the end, I don’t know how many total blocks they had.

The Tanzanian government cut the blocks up into so many small pieces that I couldn’t keep track of how many blocks there were.

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:

quote:

Most of the hunting blocks are allocated within the 50,000 square-kilometre Selous Game Reserve ecosystem, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its elephants, lions, zebras, black rhinos, giraffes and other species.

One might ask how many photographic tourists and hunters actually had the privilege of an encounter with a Black Rhino in the last 20 years and while there are healthy numbers of Giraffe in the photographic area north of the Rufiji River, there are none in the south and in addition, Giraffe is a protected species.

In the years to come once the dam at Stiegler's Gorge has been built, the Giraffe might actually be able to ford the river from time to time and impact the ecosystem, for better or worse I don't know.

Fulvio,
When do suppose the last black rhino was actually seen in the Selous? From a certain redhead...likely none since about 2004-2006. Would you agree?

quote:

When do suppose the last black rhino was actually seen in the Selous? From a certain redhead...likely none since about 2004-2006. Would you agree?

Lane,

That would be about right and possibly slightly earlier.
There was one extra-protected area within the Selous that harbored a small family but almost impossible to see as they had changed their habits to feeding at night and holing up in the densest of thickets by day.
We had to be contented with viewing their tracks at the springs - that's the closest we ever got to physically seeing them.
I think it was the Rhino Foundation that subsidized the building of a guard post close to this area hoping to offer these survivors some protection from poachers.
Not sure what the final outcome has been after all these years but if we apply the theory of "all things being equal" we should be looking at "several healthy families" today but I guess that would be wishful thinking.

fulvio, I never saw one. But I did hear about that place. It’s hard to imagine that they once overran the east African hunting grounds, and were a menace to all they encountered.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
fulvio, I never saw one. But I did hear about that place. It’s hard to imagine that they once overran the east African hunting grounds, and were a menace to all they encountered.

Very true!

It was not uncommon in the neighbouring Tapika/Ngarambe open hunting area adjacent the Selous to be challenged for "trespassing" by some cantankerous bull forcing some "pedal to metal" getaway tactics.

http://www.china.org.cn/world/...content_74850962.htm



Tanzania to start auctioning 26 hunting blocks electronically

Xinhua, June 3, 2019

ARUSHA, Tanzania, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's hunting blocks will be placed on sale through online bidding portal on June 10, a senior official said on Monday.

Imani Nkuwi, the deputy Commissioner of the state-run Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) said that the move is meant to enhance transparency and curb corruption in the country's tourism industry.

Nkuwi said TAWA is currently conducting special training for local tour operators and safari hunting firms on how to log into the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism portal, and place bids.

He said that through the open online bidding, values of hunting blocks will be market-driven and determined by buyers who win tenders.

"This time it won't be the government deciding how much a particular block costs, but the buyers themselves will compete against each other to bid for the plot," Nkuwi said.

According to Nkuwi, the first phase of online auction is scheduled to run from June 10 to June 17, as a total of 26 hunting blocks will be put up on sale.

Tanzania has 160 potential hunting blocks but 78 are occupied, leaving 82 blocks that will be put on sale through electronic bidding system in three phases. The second auction is expected to be held in September. Enditem

How many Chinese professional hunters will there be in 2020?

https://www.safariclub.org/blo...anzaniaLeaseAuctions


From SCI, link has list of the blocks being auctioned.

Some good areas in that list. If the TZ government would extend the lease terns to 10 years or more it would be good for all involved.

Obly 5 have been awarded. Others had good offers but the government said bids where to low. I know for good that even a 60000 us was declined

quote:

Originally posted by dwarf416:
Obly 5 have been awarded. Others had good offers but the government said bids where to low. I know for good that even a 60000 us was declined

I’m guessing the prime Selous blocks were awarded?

quote:

Originally posted by Safari2:

quote:

Originally posted by dwarf416:
Obly 5 have been awarded. Others had good offers but the government said bids where to low. I know for good that even a 60000 us was declined

I’m guessing the prime Selous blocks were awarded?

In order to operate profitably and viably, those blocks all rely on being able to sell good elephant trophies so with the existing burocracy in importing elephant trophies into the US and the just passed new Hunting regulations limiting elephant trophies to 20kgs ivory and increased trophy fees...... makes me wonder which profit oriented operator had the balls to place those bids and expect to make money!

Much nmore likely that it is philanthropic money bidding on those blocks.

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanamich:

quote:

Originally posted by Safari2:

quote:

Originally posted by dwarf416:
Obly 5 have been awarded. Others had good offers but the government said bids where to low. I know for good that even a 60000 us was declined

I’m guessing the prime Selous blocks were awarded?

In order to operate profitably and viably, those blocks all rely on being able to sell good elephant trophies so with the existing burocracy in importing elephant trophies into the US and the just passed new Hunting regulations limiting elephant trophies to 20kgs ivory and increased trophy fees...... makes me wonder which profit oriented operator had the balls to place those bids and expect to make money!

Much nmore likely that it is philanthropic money bidding on those blocks.

Bwana...I will take philanthropic any day over losing the area(s)to conservation altogether. Look at what Paul Tudor Jones has done with Grumeti as an example.

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanamich:

quote:

Originally posted by Safari2:

quote:

Originally posted by dwarf416:
Obly 5 have been awarded. Others had good offers but the government said bids where to low. I know for good that even a 60000 us was declined

I’m guessing the prime Selous blocks were awarded?

In order to operate profitably and viably, those blocks all rely on being able to sell good elephant trophies so with the existing burocracy in importing elephant trophies into the US and the just passed new Hunting regulations limiting elephant trophies to 20kgs ivory and increased trophy fees...... makes me wonder which profit oriented operator had the balls to place those bids and expect to make money!

Much nmore likely that it is philanthropic money bidding on those blocks.

Bwanamitch, you are correct. There are lots of "ifs" involved and yes, the ex Pasinisi blocks in the Selous are expensive to operate. Are there any legal bull elephant still there?

I'm sure a few wise, old bulls are but I was told by an ex-Pasinisi PH of high reputation that as of 2015 the elephant poachers had visited areas in their blocks that even they had not frequented too often.

Perhaps all this auction activity will give the Tanzanians a lesson on economics and how their actions affect profitability? I doubt it, though. For these areas to be properly protected they will most likely be supported by individuals who have deep pockets and also are not interested in consumptive utilization i. e. Grumetti GR.

I am not against a philanthropic style investment, though it has several long term consequences that could become a major problem:
- It creates an expectation by the Government of Tz and TAWA that ALL blocks are being under charged which will lead/has led to destabilisation of the sector and with that, a considerble number of abandoned blocks;
- Philanthropic investment isn't as "stable" as a profit motivated, self-funding industry, IMO. Once priorities change for the philanthropist(s), that's the end of the "project"
- There aren't enough Philanthropists to take up the existing supply of vacant blocks

Current news filtering from the grape vine is that these blocks went for in excess of $100k each with one of them close to $200k. Bidder is a wealthy businessman who intends to keep them as private hunting concessions. it remains to be seen if such a "business model" is the right one for the Government whose main objective for this drive to an auction based block allocation system was to increase revenue. Will the communities benefit more?

Interesting times ahead as the TZ hunting sector attempts to dig itself out of a very, very deep hole.

Hunting in Tanzania is already very expensive.

Now the government has seen that they can get more money out of it, it will be even more expensive.

Aren’t concession owners responsible for a certain percentage of the quota, whether sold or not?

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Hunting in Tanzania is already very expensive.

Now the government has seen that they can get more money out of it, it will be even more expensive.

Aren’t concession owners responsible for a certain percentage of the quota, whether sold or not?

Yes, 40% of trophy fees on quota allowed per block must be paid by the operator to the government each year even if the animals are not shot.

Bwanamitch's statements about the status of the industry in Tanzania are correct. Its difficult for operators (philanthropic or profit-based) to make money in the present environment.

quote:

Originally posted by Dahav:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Hunting in Tanzania is already very expensive.

Now the government has seen that they can get more money out of it, it will be even more expensive.

Aren’t concession owners responsible for a certain percentage of the quota, whether sold or not?

Yes, 40% of trophy fees on quota allowed per block must be paid by the operator to the government each year even if the animals are not shot.

Bwanamitch's statements about the status of the industry in Tanzania are correct. Its difficult for operators (philanthropic or profit-based) to make money in the present environment.

Yes I have heard Paul Tudor Jones pays for the quota in Grumetti.

Has anyone heard if the 10 year lease for prime blocks and 15 for category 2 & 3 is official?

quote:

Originally posted by Safari2:

quote:

Originally posted by Dahav:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Hunting in Tanzania is already very expensive.

Now the government has seen that they can get more money out of it, it will be even more expensive.

Aren’t concession owners responsible for a certain percentage of the quota, whether sold or not?

Yes, 40% of trophy fees on quota allowed per block must be paid by the operator to the government each year even if the animals are not shot.

Bwanamitch's statements about the status of the industry in Tanzania are correct. Its difficult for operators (philanthropic or profit-based) to make money in the present environment.

Yes I have heard Paul Tudor Jones pays for the quota in Grumetti.

Has anyone heard if the 10 year lease for prime blocks and 15 for category 2 & 3 is official?

I heard that Tudor Jones pays 100% of the quota each year on his blocks.

quote:

Originally posted by Safari2:

quote:

Originally posted by Dahav:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Hunting in Tanzania is already very expensive.

Now the government has seen that they can get more money out of it, it will be even more expensive.

Aren’t concession owners responsible for a certain percentage of the quota, whether sold or not?

Yes, 40% of trophy fees on quota allowed per block must be paid by the operator to the government each year even if the animals are not shot.

Bwanamitch's statements about the status of the industry in Tanzania are correct. Its difficult for operators (philanthropic or profit-based) to make money in the present environment.

Yes I have heard Paul Tudor Jones pays for the quota in Grumetti.

Has anyone heard if the 10 year lease for prime blocks and 15 for category 2 & 3 is official?

New Regs came out a few days ago with many changes but block tenure remains the same at 5 year terms. In order to change the Block Term, it requires Parliament to amend the Wildlife Act

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanamich:

quote:

Originally posted by Safari2:

quote:

Originally posted by Dahav:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Hunting in Tanzania is already very expensive.

Now the government has seen that they can get more money out of it, it will be even more expensive.

Aren’t concession owners responsible for a certain percentage of the quota, whether sold or not?

Yes, 40% of trophy fees on quota allowed per block must be paid by the operator to the government each year even if the animals are not shot.

Bwanamitch's statements about the status of the industry in Tanzania are correct. Its difficult for operators (philanthropic or profit-based) to make money in the present environment.

Yes I have heard Paul Tudor Jones pays for the quota in Grumetti.

Has anyone heard if the 10 year lease for prime blocks and 15 for category 2 & 3 is official?

New Regs came out a few days ago with many changes but block tenure remains the same at 5 year terms. In order to change the Block Term, it requires Parliament to amend the Wildlife Act

That sucks.

How can anyone invest in improving his concession with only five years??

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
How can anyone invest in improving his concession with only five years??

They can't and the looser in the long run is conservation.

https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/n...8-lllemfz/index.html


Could not copy article to post, Government to conduct evaluation of hunting block auction.

The auction has been an abject failure from what I hear!

Someone should correct me if I am wrong.

Tanzania will sooner or later price itself out of business, its been going that direction for a number of years now..Trouble with African indigenous businessmen is they can live on nothing or with the greatest of wealth, and don't really care one way or the other..Hard to deal with, hard to reason with.