TANZANIA
Local tourist hunting at a crossroads: Establishing the key players in the game

THISDAY REPORTER
Dar es Salaam

SINCE the late 1970s, foreign businessmen ? predominantly French, American and Arab ? began to make their huge presence felt in Tanzania’s tourist hunting industry, landing arguably the most lucrative hunting blocks in the country.

According to THISDAY findings, the current roster of key players in local tourist hunting is topped by companies directly owned by these foreigners who manage and control the areas with the largest concentration of wildlife.

Also on the list of foreigners owning a significant stake in the multi-billion shilling business are nationals of the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, South Africa, Kenya and Greece ? to name but a few.

French businessman Gerard Pasanisi is reputed to be the single, most influential person in the business, with interests in around 20 hunting blocks in the Selous Game Reserve alone, plus additional concessions in open areas adjacent to the reserve.

The Pasanisi family is understood to hold at least one third of all concessions within the Selous, and has been in control of some of the more lucrative hunting blocks for decades.

Major tourist hunting companies under the common ownership of this apparently powerful family include Gerald Pasanisi Safari Corporation Limited, Barlette Safaris and Tanganyika Wildlife Safaris.

Influential members of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) royal family are also inextricably linked to the Loliondo game-controlled area, which was controversially licensed in 1993.

Alleged irregularities in the Loliondo deal and other dubious concessions have been well-documented by the Warioba Commission on corruption.

There is also the Greek/British Luke Samaras family, which controls around six concessions in the Selous through the Samaras Safaris Company Limited.

Meanwhile, the Robin Hurt family whose members have dual Kenyan and British citizenship are also understood to hold a significant amount of hunting concessions in Tanzania.

And American billionaire Paul Tudor Jones, a relative newcomer in the local tourist hunting scene, has recently become a major player in the sector through the Grumeti Reserves company, which now holds around three hunting blocks in western Serengeti.

But despite the supposed dominance of foreigners in the business, a few Tanzanian-owned firms have also reportedly emerged as key players in the industry.

In 2003, the wildlife division in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism allocated some 141 hunting concessions to 42 outfitters in Tanzania.

According to a 2004 research titled ’Tourist Hunting and its Role in the Development of Wildlife Management Areas in Tanzania’, the Tanzanian Game Trackers Safaris ? Wengert Windrose Safaris Group is increasing the number of concessions that are leased, and currently holds 15 leases.

’’The Tanzania Big Game Safaris, Tandala Hunting Safaris, and Tanzania Safaris and Hunting Group is also a significant player in the industry holding 16 leases,’’ says the research report.

Although the hunting concessions, which are leased for five-year periods, are expected to come up for review next year, there are concerns within the industry that the wildlife division has been routinely awarding the same lucrative hunting block licences to a select group of outfitters.

The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Prof. Jumanne Maghembe, recently announced an increase in various hunting licences and fees, which for decades have been so low as to cause massive revenue losses to the government.

Tourist hunting companies in the country have reacted angrily to the fees hike, and are currently in the process of lobbying for the government to reconsider its decision.

(CONTINUES TOMORROW: A rundown of which Tanzanian companies own exactly what in the multi-billion shilling tourist hunting industry).

Sounds like the Democrats who want to increase taxes - reduced taxes have increased revenues. Push the rates higher and see the hunting industry in other countries benefit, eh. Normal socialist view of the world. Soak the rich so the poor can starve faster. The political class will benefit the most!

"The political class will benefit the most!"

Truer words were never said.

Kathi,

Thanks for posting this article. Quite interesting to see who gets what and how it all breaks down.

Please do post the follow up to this article mentioned at the bottom of the text.

Best Regards,
Dave