For you Tanzania lovers, a Dubai-based investor is attempting to build a 120-room hotel at the Bilila site of Serengeti. Though it has not yet been approved, with the Tanzanian track record of Loiliondo (sp?) it is possible that it may be approved despite many organizations advising against it.

Article can be found at:
http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafric...1909200519.htm

Everyone thinks it would endanger the delicate ecosystem, particularly migration routes. Local experts argued that putting up a permanent structure in the Serengeti
would interfere with the natural habitat of the park and may cause animals to migrate to Kenya.

Jan

Ugh, thanks for the link, Jan. Just scanned the article, but it doesn't sound good. Strange, though, because they said most lodges are built outside the park, and then went on to list a number of lodges inside the park? Unless I was misreading.

When we were last there, our guide and some others we talked to were expressing dismay that their government had sold the Wildlifes to a South African company. They thought, though they admitted the lodges hadn't been run well by the government, that selling to foreign investors what could be a boon for TZ gov't was a bad idea.

And so it goes.

Very disturbing. Thanks for posting it.

Is this “Dubai-based investor” another member of the UAE royal family? Are they stupid or do they just hate wildlife?

Thanks, Jan, for the link.

Leely -

You're right, most of the lodges mentioned in the article... inside the park! Guess, we can't trust what is written.

As to the Wildlife properties, though bought by a SA company about two years ago, they haven't done anything to improve these properties... while their public space at these seem to be okay, the rooms themselves are in need of help; it looks like the properties are up for sale again.

Granted there aren't enough properties to meet demand in the Serengeti, which is frustrating to visitors and outfitters, but permanent structures... especially a 120-room hotel (read: big building) are not what is needed. One to four (maximum) small permanent tent camps and mobile camping is the most that would seem reasonable.

Let's hope that calmer (smarter) heads prevail when the vote is taken!

Thank you Jan for the sad news.

Is there anything we can do to help those calmer heads prevail? Such as indicating how we intend to spend our tourism dollars in the future in Tanzania if this is built?

Here is a link to many tourist organizations in Tanzania.


http://tanzaniatouristboard.com/associations

Should anyone wish to write regarding this potential disaster for wildlife the address is:

Director General of Tanzanian Nat'l Parks

P.O. Box 3134
Arusha, Tanzania

email: [email protected]
fax: 255 272 508 216

Jan

Just put my letter in the mail, for whatever it's worth. Thanks, Jan for the information. Fingers are crossed.