MOROGORO: JAMBO Aviation pilot Hammad Hassan has said that the upgrading of Kikoboga Airstrip, located inside Mikumi National Park, has significantly contributed to the increase in the number of aircraft landings as well as the rise in tourist visits to the park.
Speaking after arriving with a group of ut 20 tourists, Hassan said Mikumi has continued to be a popular attraction due to its abundance of wildlife, diverse bird species, stunning scenery, and natural savanna and miombo vegetation.
He noted that, unlike previous years when this period was considered a low season, the park is now experiencing a high volume of air travel activity.
“As you witnessed, I just dropped off these tourists, and in two hours I will be picking up another group,” he said.
According to the experienced pilot, who has worked for more than 10 years, Mikumi and Nyerere National Parks have become top choices for tourists because of their proximity to Zanzibar. This makes it convenient for beach tourists to also enjoy wildlife experiences.
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Among the tourists who arrived that day were brothers More Van Zoolingen and Romein Van Zoongen from the Netherlands, who flew in with Unity Air Zanzibar, which brought more than 35 tourists. They said they chose to visit Mikumi due to the positive recommendations they had received about the park.
“We expect to see lions, elephants, and zebras; and if we are lucky enough to see lions hunting, we would be even more excited,” said More.
Romein added that they were delighted to see zebras and antelopes near the airstrip and promised to continue promoting Tanzania, especially Mikumi and Zanzibar.
For her part, Mikumi National Park Chief Conservation Officer Hellen Mchaki said that after the airstrip upgrade, the park now receives between 8 and 15 aircraft per day, equivalent to 150 to 300 visitors.
She explained that nearly half of all international tourists currently visiting Mikumi come from Zanzibar, a trend that continues to stimulate the growth of tourism in the park, which is the eighth largest among the 21 parks managed by TANAPA.