TANZANIA NATIONAL PARKS: PARK FEES TO REMAIN UNCHANGED

Tourists on a game drive in Serengeti National Park.

Tanzania will not revise entry fees to its premier game parks as planned following the unimpressive performance of its tourism sector last year.

In an unexpected move, the country’s wildlife management body said the current charges, introduced two years ago amid stiff opposition from key stakeholders, will remain until next year.

Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa) said changing the fees after a bad business year would be counterproductive and hamper performance targets for this year.

Fees for the major game attractions in Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Tarangire, Gombe, Mahale and Manyara National Parks were introduced on July 1, 2013 to run till June 30 this year.

“Tanzania National Parks would like to inform the general public that our park fees will remain unchanged for the period July 2015 to June 2016,” Tanapa said in a notice on its website last week.

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It said that the notice arose from the fact that the fee structure available on the website and printed materials showed that the current fees were applicable from July 2013 to June 2015.

The entry fee for East Africans to Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Gombe, Arusha, Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks is Tsh10,000 from 16 years and above and Tsh2,000 (5-16 years) while for Katavi, Mikumi, Rubondo, Kitulo, Mahale Mkomazi and Udzungwa National Parks it is Tsh5,000 and Tsh2,000, respectively.

Foreigners aged 16 years and above pay $60 (non-East Africans) and $30 (expatriates working in Tanzania) while for 5-16 years it is $20 and $10.Children under five years enter the parks free of charge.

Vehicles 2,000kg and above pay Tsh2,000. It is Tsh35,000 for 2,001-3,000kg, Tsh60,000 for 3,001-7,000kg) and Tsh150,000 (7,000kg). Open-top vehicles pay 50 per cent extra.

Stakeholders, who were expecting the fees to be raised, welcomed the decision, saying it was also important in promoting regional and domestic tourism.

The East African