We are welcoming you to attend and participate in this year’s Karibu Fair Sports Bonanza.

While the registration process is still on, football friendly matches will take place before the kick-off of the Bonanza  Saturday 21st April from

10:00 am there will be 1st friendly matches at Soweto grounds. The following teams will be playing;

CONGEMA TOURS  VS  SUNBIRD

WILD TRUCKS  VS  ACCESS 2 TANZANIA

JACKPOT SAFARIS  VS  KIBO PALACE HOTEL

ZARA INTERNATIONAL  VS  TEAM KILIMANJARO

Please make sure you don’t miss these matches, you can invite your friends and family on Saturday.

FIXTURE FOR 2012 KARIBU FAIR FOOTBAL BONANZA

April is Malaria Awareness Month, the perfect time to thank you for your participation
and sponsorship of the Fifth annual “Ngorongoro Run: The Race Against Malaria
held on April 14,2012,”

As you know, Malaria remains the most important public health problem in Tanzania and
is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in women and children under 5
years. Health education communication is one of the key components in malaria control
and prevention. The Ngorongoro Marathon serves as an opportunity to help raise funds
and awareness about malaria its health, socio-economic and development risks within
the city of Karatu, the region, and the nation.

Your continued contribution and support at this year’s marathon garnered a great deal of
participation with over 265 professionally classed runners registered for the full half-
marathon of 21 kms beginning at the Gate of Ngorongoro Crater and ending in Karatu
Town, drawing a crowd of almost 2000 spectators anxious to learn about malaria and the
Products and services of our sponsors .The kids run of 5 km was also an extraordinary
Success with over 200 children registered and over 100 Malaria treated nets provided to
Children ,With your support this year’s Marathon will also be able to contribute to the
future planning initiatives of constructing a women and children’s malaria ward at the
Karatu Health Center.

Your caring commitment is critical in battling Malaria outbreaks and for establishing
continued malaria literacy in the region and nation .W e truly appreciate your dedication
and hope you recognize, as we do, the valuable role you play in the fight against malaria
in Tanzania Thank you for your continuing support. It is through the positive efforts of
people like you that we can race against malaria.

Over 200 domestic athletes are due to participate in the fifth consecutive edition of the Ngorongoro half marathon, taking place in Karatu, near Arusha, on 14 April. The annual race is being organised by Zara Charity in cooperation with the Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC) with a view to creating awareness and fighting malaria among the local community. Organisers have encouraged local residents to join the 230 runners already signed up for the event, including top athletes Zakia Mrisho, Dickson Marwa, Samson Ramadhan and Fabian Joseph, all of whom hope to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. More than 50 corporate racing teams are expected to take part in the marathon and there will be a 2.5km fun run for children, with all races starting at 08.30. Dubbed the “Race against Malaria”, the marathon’s route begins at the gates of the Ngorongoro Crater and runs for 21 kms through extensive highlands to the finish line in Karatu. Located about 115 kms east of Arusha, the town of Karatu is bordered by the Ngorongoro conservation area, known for its countless wild animals as well as the Masaai tribe.

This year, ZARA Charity was sponsor of the marathon , which was arranged for the first time.

Last year, In April 2011, more than 350 world class runners from East Africa and non East Africa resident made their way through one of the most beautiful and unique places on earth, beginning at the Ngorongoro Crater and ending in Karatu Town. Participants ran the full half marathon as individuals and this year, Zara Charity  are arranging the run, are encouraging corporate teams to run the race as a relay. For 2011,  5 km and 1 km “fun runs” for children are added.

Zara Charity  is still looking for sponsors of the event. If you see yourself in a position to assist, contact Steve Kamau, Zara Charity  (zara5@zaratours.com). Sponsorship opportunities start as low as 100,000 TSh (75 USD) to sponsor a runner (Bronze package) and 1 Million . TSh (750 USD) to be a main sponsor. Also contact Steve if you want to participate as a runner.

The marathon is an opportunity to raise awareness about malaria which affects between 300 and 500 million people every year, over 90% of whom live in Africa. Malaria kills over one million men, women and children every year. In Tanzania one person dies of malaria every 10 minutes.

I have been honoured by TTB as the leader of this climb to mark 50 years of the independence of Tanzania mainland.

We plan to be at the summit on the anniversary, 9th December.

1.       Ms. Zainab Ansell, Founder and Director of Zara Tanzanian Adventures and Member of the Sustainable and Solidarity Tourism Network of the Spanish Banesto Foundation, related her experiences as a successful female entrepreneur. She explained how she managed to make her company one of the largest Kilimanjaro outfitters and one of the biggest tourism companies in Tanzania. She spoke of the bravery it took to “walk the path”. She explained that women face many challenges when becoming entrepreneurs in developing countries. “There is an entrenched social believe in Africa that women are supposed to stay at home. At times, society even does not expect you contribute to public life or to benefit the economy”, she observed.

2.       Ms. Ansell explained that a key challenge she faced was access to credit. As she did not have a credit record, and given her gender, it was difficult to convince the loan officer to grant her a loan to launch her business and even harder, she recalled, getting licenses from the government. However, “it was perseverance and resilience that kept me going when facing these barriers”, she recalled.

3.       Her determination grew in the early 1980s, Ms. Ansell said, while working for Tanzanian’s National Airline (ATC). “Working with ATC created a dream; I wanted to open my own Travel Agency”. She was especially keen to move up from a clerical position, which, she held, “is often the place where women stay, not advancing to professional or leadership positions.”

4.       Ms. Ansell recounted the story of how her company grew over time. In 1986, she used her savings and opened “Zara International Travel Agency” and began selling air tickets. However, when she applied for IATA Membership, it was not granted, and she had to work for over a year to prove herself. Thereafter, she was finally given the license which opened the doors and gave her the credibility to attract clients for Kilimanjaro and Safari excursions.

5.       By 1990, as her business was steadily profiting, a second office was opened to promote safaris. Since this was before the advent of the internet, Ms. Ansell had to go to bus stations to sell safari tours. “There was finally an advantage of being a woman” she joked. “Tourists felt they could trust me because of being a woman”. In her first trips to international tourism fairs she recalled that those in attendance were surprised and suspicious to see a woman selling trips to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. In the mid-nineties, she expanded into the hotel sector, opening a small hotel which attracted customers due to its good service and affordable prices, and which was later expanded to a hotel of 80 rooms.

6.       Ms. Ansell informed the gathering that her company employs many single women, training them especially in the areas of housekeeping, reception work, and as guides. “We are breaking stereotypes that women cannot do it”, she emphasized. “Clients were surprised women can drive the car and take the client on Safari”. She also felt that seeing her as a role model and being reassured by her example has helped other women start small businesses. She encourages them with her own personal slogan of “you can do it” and does her best to include their products in her hotels´ supply chain.

7.       Ms. Ansell also mentioned Zara Charity, a nonprofit foundation that finances its operations with 10% of her business revenue. Within its four areas of work, one is the Women´s Foundation where women acquire literacy skills and are able to make handicrafts that are later sold in the hotels. She also spoke of the company´s work with Maasai women, to whom they offer vocational training and whom they help market their handcrafts. They have constructed a waterhole in the village, saving the time and energy it previously took to get water in remote areas. “The Maasai women that work with us have been empowered and they are proudly helping their families”, she remarked.

8.       Acknowledging that women’s rights have greatly improved in Tanzania over the past three decades, Ms. Ansell said this makes it easier for women to come forward and try to achieve their own particular goals and ambitions. While recounting anecdotes, Ms. Ansell recalled that high ranking public figures she has met are more open to women having a place in society, and are encouraging women to occupy public positions. She too encouraged women in the audience with her determined “you can do it” approach. “To achieve something worthwhile requires hard work, endurance and determination,” she concluded, however “gender should no longer be a challenge.”

Consistent with efforts to expand its market presence, the Philippines was among 100 countries represented in the Montreal show that drew in 38,600 potential consumers, 98 percent of whom intend to take a trip within the next 12 months.

“The attendance, 3 percent higher than last year, once again demonstrates Quebecers’ love affair with travel,” the ITTS organizers said.

In a presentation in French on October 22, Tours Hai, a Montreal-based tour operator specializing in Asian and South Pacific destinations, actively marketed the Philippines as “Islands of Magic”, with Manila, Boracay, Cebu and Bohol as featured destinations.

Queries on flights, travel time, air fare and package rates indicated serious interest on the part of seminar participants in exploring options for their next dream vacation.

At the Philippine booth, concrete choices were offered by Atlantis Philippines for a Visayas safari and by Bluewater Resorts for island getaways in Cebu and Bohol.

http://issamichuzi.blogspot.com/2011/10/naibu-spika-wa-bunge-la-tanzania-mhe.html

Congratulations- “Hongera”!

 On behalf of the Tanzania Tourist Board, we are pleased to inform you that Zara Tanzania Adventures has been selected to receive the Tanzania Tourist Board Sustainable Tourism Award for 2011. The TTB Awards were created to support and show appreciation to the travel professionals and media who have worked hard promoting and selling Tanzania as well as to provide an incentive to increase the numbers even more in the coming years.