Conservancy carries out regular patrols to keep encroachers away

Erick Kimario, park’s conservator said yesterday that in the past three years, 216 poachers and2,052 cattle were arrested inside the park and cases for the victims are in different stages in various courts. 

He said that in a bid to combat poaching and cattle invaded the park, so far the park has been able to improve security by conducting patrols inside the park using the aircraft, vehicles and on foot patrol security in all areas of the park.

Kimario who heads the park’s security department said: “We’ve embarked on a programme to provide training on conservation education to local communities living close to the park to conserve and protect wildlife resources and other natural resources at the community level and improve natural resources governance.

”Lomi Ole Meikasi, park assistant  conservation commissioner said that tourists keen to visit the area, the park is home to hippopotamus, buffalo, lion, elephant, giraffe, impala, zebra, Miombo woodlands, sable antelope, waterbuck, bohor reedbuck, topi, greater kudu, duk-dik, bushbuck, hyena, hartebeest, eland and warthog.

The park also houses helmeted guinea fowl, francolins, greater egret, doves, hippos and biggest crocodiles ever seen in Africa, different tree species, rivers, enough rainfall and best ecological system connecting Ugalla- Moyowosi–Kigosi wildlife corridors, Ruangwa Forest Reserve, Rukwa and Luganzo-Tongwe Forest Reserve and Katavi National Park for wildlife movement.

Tourists keen to visit the area, the park can be accessed by road, flight and train going to Kigoma through Tabora route at Usoke and Kaliua stations and through Mpanda-Kaliua route at Lumbe and Ugalla stations.

The conservancy also improves infrastructure and constructs a total of 496 km of road to ease transport services and facilitate transport for tourists visiting inside the park.

He called upon tourists from different countries across the world, Tanzanians and other people from East Africa Community (EAC) to visit the park because it is endowed with diverse flora and fauna species making the area very potential for tourism activities such as walking safaris, bird watching, camping site and best place for professional filming and others.

The fee charged for local tourists keen to visit the area is 4720 per adult, children 2,360/-, 1 ton vehicle 23,600/- 3 tonne vehicle 59,000/- while special campsite 11,800/- per adult while children 5,900/-While the fee charged for foreigners is $23.6for adults, children $23.6, 2 tonne vehicle $ 59, 3tonne vehicle $117.Special campsite fee charged for foreigners is$59 per adult and $11.8 for children.