Bwanamich,

Tanzania is not much better on the exchange rate. Check it out.

Occupancy levels in safari areas slump to below 50%

Staff Reporter
5/13/2004 6:46:32 AM (GMT +2)

A SLUMP in tourist arrivals caused by the bad publicity the country is receiving abroad has affected hunting and photographic safaris in the country with occupancy levels estimated to be below 50 percent, industry players said this week.

Apart from the bad publicity surrounding Zimbabwe's political and economic environment, the disruption of land ownership patterns in the country has spilled over to the safari industry.

The industry has been at the centre of persistent haggling over hunting concessions, particularly in the Matabeleland provinces, where many safaris are located.

Ngamo Safaris, one of the largest safari operators in the country, said its photographic line of business has been adversely affected by the tourism slump and business was slowly picking up.

"Occupancy levels are around 20 percent consisting largely of domestic tourists," said Enos Shumba, the general manager of the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe, which runs Ngamo Safaris .

Ngamo Safaris was established by the commission to generate revenue for conservation programmes in the country's indigenous forest areas through recreational hunting.

Zimbabwe is one of the world's finest safari destinations and the hunting season runs from April to November, which coincides with Zimbabwe's cool, dry months.

The commission hunting line operates four hunting camps - Intundhla in Ngamo and Sikumi forests, Mubiya in Fuller forest, Kazuma in Kazuma and Pandamasuie forests, and Amandundumela in Gwayi and Bembesi forests.

The photographic line operates two photographic lodges, Ganda near Hwange in Sikumi forest and Jafuta near Victoria Falls in Fuller forest.

The country's hunting sector clinched hunting deals estimated at over $20 billion at the world's largest international hunting convention, the Reno Sparks Convention, held in Nevada, United States, in late January this year.

The sector has the potential to rake in foreign currency as evidenced by the prices of trophies that were clinched at the convention.

A trophy elephant was selling for up to US$40 000 per animal, lion from $3000 to US$12 000 and leopard up to US$2 800.

Zimbabwe has raked in up to $6 billion per year from sport hunting during the past few years.

New trophy hunting fees announced by the government last month were suspended following an agreement between the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management and representatives of safari operators.

The new trophy prices had come at a time when most operators had clinched deals with international clients, mostly from the United States and South Africa.

In February, the government pegged the price of a male elephant trophy at US$10 000, up from last year's figure of US$6 000.

A male buffalo was set at US$1 200 from last year's price of US$800 and a male zebra at US$550 compared to US$450 last year.

The new fees, which have been suspended, were for the 2004 hunting season.



Kathi


kathi@wldtravel.com

Then Robert can keep his hunting and people will go to Tanzania

I would still consider Zimbabwe when going to Africa next time.

Cheers,

Andr�

Quite right.

Interestingly, the "unofficial official" industry figures show an annual turnover of approx 9 million US$ for Tanzania! That is roughly 5 times more than Zim? Seems odd as I can't see that Tanzanias' hunting industry is as big as the ones in Southern African countries.

It would be interesting to compare the hunting days stats and number of hunting visitors for the various countries...

Terry & Alf show us what you're made of

I don't understand that article . Is it a "Herald" BS article?



First it says occupancy is way down.

Quote:

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A SLUMP in tourist arrivals caused by the bad publicity the country is receiving abroad has affected hunting and photographic safaris in the country with occupancy levels estimated to be below 50 percent, industry players said this week.

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Quote:

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"Occupancy levels are around 20 percent consisting largely of domestic tourists," said Enos Shumba, the general manager of the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe, which runs Ngamo Safaris .

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Then it tries to say the sales at the conventions were fantastic and sold well.



Personally I would only hunt there now for 50% (or less) of the market rate and paid after the hunt and after they can show game animals on the ground. One concession on my last trip had hardly a game animal in sight. The buffalo had become almost totally nocturnal. The concession outfitter was disputed with a legally appointed outfitter and a "black" appointed outfitter both hunting the same area. We recovered hundreds of poaching snares though so someone must be catching something.

With regard to tourist hunting, during 2002, a total of 40 companies were licensed to undertake professional hunting activities in 131 hunting blocks. A total of $ 9.3 million were earned from tourist hunting activities in 2002 compared to $ 9.1 million earned in 2001, an increase of 2.6 percent.



NUMBER OF TOURIST HUNTERS

Table No. 48B
Year........Number of.............Number of hunters
............companies.............Foreign-----Tanzanians

1994/95.......43....................668...........194
1995/96.......42....................694...........160
1996/97.......35....................937...........171
1997/98.......35....................992...........355
1998...........35....................933...........391
1999...........35....................924...........429
2000...........39....................893...........407
2001 - - -
2002 - - -

Source: Wildlife Dept.


2002 Economic Survey - Tanzania

You are just awesome Terry!