Amin Sammour Investing In The hunting Tourism Industry in Tanzania Amin INVESTING IN THE HUNTING TOURISM INDUSTRY IN Sammour TANZANIA Table of Contents 1.1 Executive Summary……………………………………………………………………….. 3 1.2 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………….. 3 1.3 Background of Study ……………………………………………………………………... 5 1.4 Management and Administration of The Hunting Tourism ………………………….. 8 1.5 Performance Of The Hunting Tourism Industry ……………………………………… 11 1.6 Payment Fees, Hunting Tourism Procedures & Hunting Tourism Packages ……….. 12 1.6.1 Payment Fees ………………………………………………………………………. 12 1.6.2 Hunting Tourism Packages ……………………………………………………….. 14 1.6.3 Hunting Tourism Procedures …………………………………………………….. 16 1.7 Value of concessions and hunting companies ………………………………………….. 17 1.8 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………….. 18 1.9 References ……………………………………………………………………………….. 20 18/Nov/2015 Page 2 Amin INVESTING IN THE HUNTING TOURISM INDUSTRY IN Sammour TANZANIA 1.1 Executive Summary : Tourist hunting in Tanzania has developed over a long period and is now a well established industry and a principle source of income for vast areas of the country. The industry has demonstrated an impressive growth in recent years and is an important source of foreign exchange to Tanzania. 1.2 Introduction : Of all the African hunting countries, Tanzania is without a doubt the one that most stimulates the imagination of hunters and non hunters alike. This former German colony once known as Tanganyika became an English territory after the First World War. In 1964, along with new found independence, its' name was changed to Tanzania. (A.E. Cauldwell, 2004) The greatest hunters of the twentieth century have celebrated Tanzania, its wildlife and its hunting, as being among the most abundant on the African continent. The most famous of these great hunters include President Theodore Roosevelt whose safari in 1905 required nearly 300 porters, and Frederick Selous, arguably one of the greatest white hunters of all time, who at over sixty years of age lost his life in 1917 while fighting for the Africa he loved so well against the German Army. As for literature and film, they hold a special place for Tanzania, not the least of which is Hemingway's novels. (A.E. Cauldwell, 2004) (Wall B, 2006) Tanzania has long been considered the ultimate hunting safari destination in Africa. Fulfilling the dream of a traditional big game hunting safari, the likes of which so many hunters have read about, continues to be a big draw to Tanzania unspoiled wilderness. 18/Nov/2015 Page 3 Amin INVESTING IN THE HUNTING TOURISM INDUSTRY IN Sammour TANZANIA Tanzania enjoys a beautiful coastline along the Indian Ocean and shares borders with Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, Zambia and Malawi to the southwest and Mozambique to the south; Tanzania is home to a wide range of African wildlife and still allows the hunting of four of the famous Big Five species; Elephant, Lion, Buffalo and Leopard. And it's no wonder with over 40 species to hunt. (Wall B, 2006) Since 1988, the regulation of increasing numbers of private sector outfitters has been undertaken by the Government Department of Wildlife. As a result, Tanzania's tourist hunting industry has grown considerably in the last few years. In Tanzania today, wildlife enterprise is widely considered a viable development strategy for income-poor communities in wildlife-rich areas. Wildlife enterprise has complex goals and is expected to provide financial and other benefits as well as incentive to conserve local wildlife. As a result, tourist hunting plays an important role in the areas because many areas are either too remote or cannot provide highly visible wildlife populations, or do not to compete with prime game viewing areas. Therefore tourist hunting is the most economically viable form of wildlife utilization. As also it plays an important role in the economic development of many remote areas. Without the income generated from tourist hunting, many important wildlife areas would cease to be viable. So it is a better choice to invest business about tourist hunting in Tanzania. (Wall B, 2006) There are many well established hunting companies that usually hold many hunting blocks and whom provide outstanding professional service, uncompromising quality of superbly equipped and comfortable tent camps and well maintained four-wheel drive custom designed safari 18/Nov/2015 Page 4 Amin INVESTING IN THE HUNTING TOURISM INDUSTRY IN Sammour TANZANIA hunting vehicles. The temporary camps/facilities are erected prior to the start of the hunting season and removed in accordance with the hunting regulations at the end of the season. All include electricity and often modern communications such as satellite phone, even satellite TV as well. The western style cuisine is often of high quality. For the Selous and the central and western areas, the hunting territories can only be reached by plane. The flight from the capital, Dar-es-salaam, is on average one and a half to two and a half hours.For the Masai land, hunting areas are reached by car from Arusha, a journey that normally requires three to four hours. 1.3 Background of Study : Tourist hunting has already developed over a long period in Tanzania, and it is the main income for vast areas of the country. In recent year, the industry of tourist hunting has demonstrated an impressive growth and it is also an important source of foreign exchange to Tanzania. There are over 130 hunting concessions in Tanzania, which covers an area in excess of 250,000 km2, also they are leased to outfitters licensed to conduct tourist hunting. Besides, there are more than 60 species can be hunted on a tourist-hunting license. As a form of land use, tourist hunting generates significant income for local communities involved in community-based natural resource management as well as for national economies of these countries. Under appropriate governance and institutions conservation hunting has been a powerful tool used to promote conservation and rural development and thus improve the livelihoods of local communities. (Frost and Bond, 2006, Taylor, 2009) There are two types of hunting which are legally recognized in Tanzania. These are tourist hunting and resident hunting. Tourist hunting takes place in Game Reserves, Game Controlled 18/Nov/2015 Page 5 Amin INVESTING IN THE HUNTING TOURISM INDUSTRY IN Sammour TANZANIA Areas, and Open Areas and in Forest Reserves. Resident hunting takes place in Game Controlled Areas and Open Areas not allocated to tourist hunting. According to the Wildlife Act of 1974, all hunters are required to obtain a valid hunting license or written authority which is issued upon fulfilling conditions e.g. the applicant has attained age of 18 years, posses a valid firearm license in respect of the firearm intended to be used in hunting and that he has a reasonable knowledge of the use of a firearm for the purpose of game hunting. Land and wildlife in Tanzania is owned by the government. No hunting is allowed without the permission of the government, in this case the Wildlife Division in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism. Hunting of wildlife without permission is illegal. (Nyiti, 2008) Tanzania has over 140 hunting concessions covering an area in excess of 250,000 km² that are leased to outfitters licensed to conduct tourist hunting. These concessions are distributed throughout the country either in Game Reserves, Forest Reserves, Game Controlled Areas or Open Areas. Hunting is not allowed in National Parks, Ngorongoro Conservation Area or within 1 km of the boundary of these areas. The hunting areas can naturally be divided into three greater ecosystems, namely Masailand, Selous / Coastal and the Western Tanzania ecosystem. These areas each have their differences and unique values which relate to advantages and disadvantages. 1. Masailand Ecosystem – This area has the advantage of having Arusha centrally located within, where many hunting outfitters and the tourist industry generally are based. Also the proximity of many National Parks and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area ensures there is plenty of wildlife. It is a low rainfall area where the major habitats are Acacia woodlands and dry open grasslands. 18/Nov/2015 Page 6 Amin INVESTING IN THE HUNTING TOURISM INDUSTRY IN Sammour TANZANIA Specialized species for Masailand include gerenuk, oryx, gazelles and Coke’s hartebeest, but there is general scarcity of lion available for hunting. 2. Selous / Coastal Ecosystem – Most hunting here is concentrated in and around the Selous Game Reserve which is renowned for its generally high wildlife populations and abundant hunting opportunities. This area offers good elephant trophies, while the other specialized species is Rooseveldt’s sable. The most prominent habitat is mixed Acacia – miombo woodlands. The area is however characterized by many small hunting concessions with many different operators, attributed to relatively easy access from Dar es Salaam. 3. Western Tanzania Ecosystem – These areas are remote, but characterized by large concessions. These are generally high rainfall areas where the major habitats are Miombo woodlands and wetlands. Many wildlife populations have been reduced through illegal harvesting, but nevertheless most species offer higher quality trophies than elsewhere. There is a wide diversity of species available for hunting, with specialized species including Sitatunga, roan, oribi and Lichtenstein’s hartebeest.