The government has given some parts of the Gombe National Park along the Western Peninsular to residents in surrounding villages.
Paschal Shelutete
However, through Government Notice GN-228 it has also extended the same forested National Park boundaries to include the shoreline and sections of the water along Lake Tangayika in Kigoma Region.
“The extension of Gombe National Park, famous for its Chimpanzees has boosted its area from the former 33.7 square kilometres to the current 56 square kilometres, that now include part of the Lake,” explained Mr Paschal Shelutete the Public Relations Manager for the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA).
The Chimpanzee Eden has just gained 1.3 kilometres square of the beach as well as 21 square kilometres of Lake Tanganyika, but back on the land section, Gombe National Park loses 0.2 square kilometres that have been sent back to the neighbouring “Mtanga” and “Mwamutongo” villages.
Apparently when the Gombe National Park was being mapped in the past, it annexed part of the land formerly used by villagers and this is the section which has been sent back to original owners.
“The area still holds, a number of old crypts and catacombs, seven abandoned houses, and plots formerly used as farms by the locals,” said Mr Shelutete adding that the villagers were fully involved in negotiations to both expand the park and give back their former areas.
The former research residency of world-famous primatologist, Dr Jane Goodhall, in addition to offering the rare species of Chimpanzees, Gombe has added variety of fish and other marine species under its menageries and the tree-covered park will soon introduce “fishing tourism,” among its leisure activities to be undertaken by visitors.
Gombe and Mahale are the two National Parks located along Lake Tanganyika in Western Tanzania. They are renowned for wild primates such as chimpanzees, baboons, monkeys and mountain gorillas as well as other varieties of wildlife and marine species.
“Tourists have been enjoying game drives in other National Parks but in Gombe, we intend to promote boat tourism as our next attraction,” stated the TANAPA official.
Lake Tanganyika is the world’s second deepest water body with billions of gallons of fresh water, linking Tanzania with Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
By MARC NKWAME, Tanzania Daily news
