By Anne Robi
RUAHA National Park
is set to introduce boating safari tourism before this year ends,
aiming to
diversify attractions while boosting government revenues.
The Park's
Conservation Officer in the Tourism Department, Ms Amina Salum said the
plan aim at attracting local and foreign visitors into the park.
"We have had many
products that we offer to our visitors, but we are set to introduce more
products to attract more tourists... one of them is boating safari
tourism, which will be the second in the country," she said.
At present, boating
safaris for game-viewing operate in the Selous Game Reserve, where the
Rufiji River, the Great Ruaha River, and numerous lakes give visitors a
choice of many expeditions to choose from.
Ms Salum said Ruaha
is set to invest in that area and the door was also open for the
private sector. She was speaking to a delegation from Journalists
Environmental Association (JET).
Boating through the
great Ruaha River will offer visitors an opportunity to get out in the
open and see tremendous amount of bird-life and water species.
Despite the
proximity of crocodiles and hippos during water safaris, the expeditions
are extremely safe, while the animals react with puzzled curiosity to
the sight of boats on water.
In another
development, the management of Ruaha National Park introduced sport
fishing tourism in the park. She said recreational fisheries will help
in attracting local and foreign tourists and create incentives to the
government.
"The introduction
of the new and unique tourism products in our park is to attract
tourists from in and outside the country, it is also a way of creating
investment opportunities in the park," she said.
The park's management has already identified areas with potential for hotel construction, lodges and other tourism facilities.
Currently Ruaha
National Parks offer a variety of tourism products, such as balloon
safaris, day and night game drives, walking safaris among others.
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