Serengeti Airport: Paul Tudor Jones Project still airborne..
This is an interesting piece of current news related to Tanzania and it’s main and visible foreign exchange earner. Tourism. Wildlife tourism. The various tourism and package tour operators gear their tourism itineraries around the existing facilities and infrastructure. The gateway international airports – Dar Es Salaam and Kilimanjaro (Arusha), then feed the tourist through local small private charter aircraft operators to various national parks, from where they travel further by road – Landrovers or now, Landcruisers!. But these, again, were geared around existing infrastructure and tourist attractions.
Step in Paul Tudor Jones. A billionaire conservationist. Billionaire from trading in futures in the USA. His vision was to create a new Gateway Intenational airport right in the heart of one of the most popular and well known national park in Tanzania. The Serengeti. Ideally located. Lake Victoria, Kilimanjaro, Arusha, the Kenya border and its National parks and attractions. The airport would sit close to the three hunting blocs Paul Tudor Jones’ company, Grumeti Game Reserves Ltd. holds licences to. The three areas are Grumeti, Ikorongo and Ikoma.
Assuming that this project is going through and it is more likely that it will, there is surely going to be opportunity for various peripheral businesses which can feed on the business and revenue that Grumeti and its airport will generate. The areas in the Mara region should surely capitalise on this. A potential investment opportunity for Musoma and it’s people with it’s strategic location right on the Lake and in direct water connection with Kisumu, Kenya.
Here are the main points of this story from IPP Media, The Guardian.
News article from: IPP Media, The Guardian
Dated: Aug 12, 2006
For full story click this link: Serengeti airport project still on course…
…..Construction of a modern airport in Serengeti District, Mara Region is still on course and it is only awaiting approval by the district authorities before commencement, The Guardian has established…..
…..Grumeti Game Reserves Ltd is a locally incorporated company and the legal concession holder of three hunting blocks � the Grumeti and Ikorongo Game Reserves and Ikoma tourist hunting blocs…..
…..Besides infrastructure development, Wanzagi said his firm would help the district develop tourism facilities……
…..This, he noted, was pertinent in enabling local operators to utilize the northern section of the Serengeti National Park, to its full potential……
…..It is envisaged that through the promotion of this economic development, approximately 600 jobs would be created…..
…..The US-based firm has already constructed a US$16m five star lodge at Sasakwa Hill in Western Serengeti. The lodge is yet to be officially inaugurated……
…..Jones, a prominent Wall Street equities investor, who owns Tudor Holdings, through Grumeti Reserves Project has already invested 37bn/- in Western Serengeti since 2002.
The development of this particular tourism focussed business is surely to be followed.
I am not sure of the of the airport. (Will give a thought) as I read the site just now.
But The Map of Serengeti is detailed. I believe the Ruana River is called Rubana? After Gurumeti joins the same upstream.
In the good old days I am talking of my days ’40s and ’50s there were no people residing on the shores of Lake Victoria particularly between Ruaban(Gurumeti) and Mbalagameti Rivers and many times using Chandiram’s United Bus (it used to take a day to reach Mwanza) not to count the endless times when a pride of lions would block the road just sitting on the road – I think to keep away from the flies – taking our time to pass – that time even the Great Migration of The Wild Beasts started from the shores of Lake Victoria between these rivers.
But for the modern civilisation the Park was throttled by the main tarmac roads between the two rivers and, ofcourse, unchecked dwellings of the local people.
Even now this Great animal lover Paul Tudor Jones can make this happen by only building a special 50feet high (To be compensated by Toll Checks at the both entrance) HIghway from Mbalageti river to Gurumeti Ruban river and, ofcourse, the Tanzanian Govt will have to fully compensate the people involved for their invoulntarty migration and this wll put extra life into The Serengeti Park. And this will put the animals to their old habitats which they miss from 60s.
I sent an eamil to Tanzania National Parks about this but somehow did not receive rtesponse or may be they did not receive it.
I have been visitig Ikoma since I was say 7 years old. In those days, a real safari was in a large truck – Tyre chains in spare a must to be able to pass those muddy roads.
(My dad C M Rao used to drive from Arushna via Seronera and Ikoma in ’30s and ’40s and used to take few days to reach Musoma!)
Grateful pass this to Mr Paul and may be the idea is just giving a thought and should you require any more information please eamil to me.
It will be a pleasure sharing the information which I know.
Jashwant C Rao
Musoma 1941 to 1972
You may be right about the road connection. I am not aware of the actual geography of the roads and areas you indicate in your comment.
But if you click the link to the main IPP Media news story from which I have taken the main points, you will read:
“..Grumeti Game Reserves Ltd is assisting in securing external funding to upgrade the access routes to Mugumu by air and road, including the Natta-Mugumu road..
Is this road/area what you were talking about?
I find this really interesting.
Rakesh
Actually Mugumu is located on the old route.
Mugumu until 1972 was full of maize but after ’74, they are now growing coffee in abundance. That town is close to Mara River, so from Musoma to Busegwe, Butiama then detour to Ikizu (skipping Ushahi Bunda Rubana Nassa Simiyu ferry to Mwanza) Nata Ikoma by-passing Mugumu on the right. (I think borders Mara River that side) then comes Seronera.
Mugumu can be made an airport great potentialility-Natta Mugumu Road as I mentioned earlier then it was 1969 1970 the new Corridor to Seronera from Ndabaka Gate was constructed, which we have used umpteen times. We have used both the routes. The west corridor gate from Rubana bridge a few km away enters Serengeti and drives with two parallel reivers on both sides.
Jashwant C Rao
The Serengeti airport project looks like a good idea. Well done Paul Tudor Jones.
This will be great for local people who are amongst the poorest in Tanzania. Perhaps whilst the project is taking shape, Paul Tudor Jones could show some goodwill for the locals by completing an abandoned new hospital project in Musoma which was aborted after the construction started due to lack of funds.
In the context of things it won’t be too expensive to complete. I was told something like £1 million will do it.
The accessibility to the Serengeti National Parks used to be via Nairobi then Arusha, during colonial times. Following independence, the accessiblity is monopolised by Arusha…making it a problem to reach this famous national park destination.
Currently, there are efforts by one American private investor to put this western part of Siringit (to use a Kimaasai name, to the world by carving a section of the Grumeti National Reserves for his use.
The need to develop the western section of Serengeti is now timely, calling on us as it does, at the heels of the just re-discovered and operated abundant gold mines at Buhemba and Kitario (Zanaki), Ikungu (Bukwaya), Chirolwe/Suguti (Majita), and in Tarime, not to mention the construction of the slated rail link etween Arusha and Musoma for the benefits of Uganda, and, possibly, Rwanda and Burunndi, which are to join the East African Community soonest.
There is aslo a need to have a Five Star Hotel at either Musoma or Mwanza (why not each hotel at these important towns).
(Hailing from Majita Bwasi…residing in New York).
Mzee Mauma,
Nice to see your comments and activity on this site.
I agree with you with regards to the importance of this airport project becoming a reality.
Alongwith it, the Serengeti Airport will bring a large chunk of tourism traffic to this region, employment and thus a level of posterity.
The rail link you point out would prove very useful also, from the point of view of the local population.
I would agree also to your opinion of the need of a ‘five-star’ hotel in Musoma and Mwanza. However, the potential for such a project exists only on the back of the successful and early approval and completion of the proposed Serengeti Airport.
President Kikwete is winding up his business visit to the United States of America. So far, he has visited NY City and Boston. He is going to Minessota then to California. He is drumming up for more investments in Tanzania, including agriculture and tourism (building more hotels and the proposed Saadani Marine Terminal for cruise ships near Saadani National Park.
I wonder whether or not he is paying attention for the western Serengeti airport!
Anyway, let us not forget our Serengeti (Mwanza and Musoma) lake tourist destinations.
I have visited Serengeti National Parks on three different times.
Most of the Siringit, to use a Kimaasai name for Serengeti, is in Mara Region! The accessibility to the Serengeti National Parks used to be via Nairobi then Arusha, during colonial times. Following independence, the accessibility is monopolised by Arusha. Why go to Arusha Region to visit Mara Region?
Currently, there are efforts by one American private investor to put this western part of Siringit to the world by carving a section of the Grumeti National Reserves, and its environs, for his use. While this is commendable infrastructure, more should be developed by Tanzanian government or local entrepreneurs.
The need to develop the western section of Serengeti is now timely, calling on us as it does, at the heels of the just re-discovered and operated abundant gold mines (Buhemba and Kitario (Zanaki), Ikungu (Bukwaya), Chirolwe/Suguti (Majita), and in Tarime), not to mention the construction of the slated rail link between Arusha and Musoma for the benefits of Uganda, and, possibly, Rwanda and Burundi.
Tourists prefer a one-way tourism to the Serengeti and visiting Lake Victoria, rather than by a return road journey from Arusha. The airport may also assist in developing Lake Victoria marine tourism, not to mention the importance of Mwanza, the City by the lake. A five star hotel is needed in either Mwanza (the largest Lake Victoria marine centre) or Musoma on the eastern shore of the lake. There is a need to establish such hotels in either of these two places in order to directly serve the Serengeti National Park. Tourist scenic beauty spots and their related investment activities may act as productive ventures for the development of the indigenous people and their communities.
The presence of Singita grumeti Reserves has fueled a lot of small investments around Natta and Mugumu of late.
In mwanza you have now about 1 hotels of 4 star grading and more are coming up.There is this sagger from the conservationist complaining about the intended road-Njia Panda,butiama,natta,mugumu crossing a(Tabora B to Kleins gate) 50km stretch within the park to Engaruka up to Mto wa mbu.
This will be a celebretion for all people of Mwanza,Musoma,Tarime and Bunda,of coz and Mugumu.Plus the intended mugumu airport,this part of Tanzania will become more attractive and a lot of investments will flow in.
Just pay a visit now for those who have been there 10 years back,the area is completely different.