Kitulo - Matema Tourism
By Evance Seth
The Kitulo national park for the first time last week has received biggest number of fifteen tourist at one time from Europe. Although Tanzania is a country with large and beautiful national park and reserve as Serengeti and Selous Kitulo is of its kind.
Unlike other national parks which are rich of animals, Kitulo is a national park with thousands of flower species and is a resting point of bird when flying from the northern pole to the southern pole.
Speaking through their translator these tourists said they were very much impressed by the beauty that they have experienced in Kitulo national park which they called it a natural garden.
On their way to Matema beach the Tourist made a camp in Iniho Village at Ivala grazing plateau. Mr. Allain Mbilinyi who was coordinating this trip from Iniho said Ivala is a communal land put aside for grazing. “Since waking are no longer rearing large groups of cattle we can convert this place into a camping site and become more useful” said Mr. Mbilinyi
Ivala is a mid way from Kitulo to Matema beach of Lake Nyasa via the Livingstone ranges with Kitulo being 3000 meters above sea level and Matema beach at Lake Nyasa 1.5 below sea level. The two places are separated with walking time of two days with good vicinity on the way including the Kapunji animals which are one of the extinct creatures on earth found in forests around Livingstone ranges.
Apart from the natural beauty experienced, the the tourist said that they were also impressed by people life in the villages on their way, the life of peace and respect with each other including clean and good environment.
When talking to this website one of the youth who was helping carrying luggage of the tourists said for youth it mean business as they make some money from helping the tourists with their luggage. “It is like a temporary employment for me and my fellow young men” commented the young man.
Tourists camping at Ivala, Iniho for a night break before they could proceed to Matema the next day
Tourists getting ready to walk down slope of more than 2500M to Matema beach
Photo by Evance
royal orr says:
Thanks, Evance! Great to have your stories on the net in versions that we wazungu can read.
I walked through Kitulo two summers ago and it’s true - it’s very impressive. I hope that some kind of development can take place on this front. Makete is an ideal place for trekking holidays.
Royal Orr
Hatley, CANADA
Rainer Brandl says:
Hello!
Sure it is a beautiful site and I remember well that ELCT already got money to develope a tourist business which at the end like nearly allt he other projects did not materialize but the money is not seen. As usually the money ELCT/SCD receives is dumoed in fraud and corruption.
Your report shows, that projects like tourism can work! It does not need big funds to start something!
I hope that the PLWHA will not go on dying and many will walk down to Matema as tourist guides.
Do not forget to take your mediactions!
Rainer