By Apolinari Tairo
Published April 29, 2013
After a live coverage of Africa’s most spectacular Serengeti Wildebeest Migration through China Central Television (CCTV), now Chinese tourists are eyeing Tanzania as their African travel destination.
Vice Chairman of the Chinese National Tourism Administration (CNTA) Zhu Shanzhong said the wildebeest migration in northern Tanzania would attract more Chinese tourists to visit this African safari destination.
CCTV made a special coverage of the wildebeest migration in Serengeti plains early this year to expose the wonders of nature before millions of would-be Chinese outbound tourists.
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Serengeti National Park was in February this year, voted the best of Seven New Natural Wonders of Africa by the President and founder of the Texas (US) based ‘New Seven Wonders,’ Dr Philip Imler.
Mount Kilimanjaro and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, all in northern Tanzania, were voted on top among Seven Natural Wonders in the African continent.
China is a new, upcoming market source to Africa, with millions of Chinese tourists looking to visit Africa’s untapped tourist attractions, mostly wildlife and other natural attractions.
Wildebeest migration is the longest and largest over-land wildlife migration in the world. Serengeti is home to over 70 larger mammals and approximately 500 different types of birds.
Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the largest strato volcanoes in the world reaching 19,340 feet (5,895 meters) into the air. As the tallest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro is also the tallest free-standing mountain in the world.
Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest unbroken caldera. Often referred to as “Africa’s Garden of Eden,” the crater is home to over 30,000 animals including elephants, lions, cheetahs, wildebeests, buffaloes, and the rare black rhinos.
The wildebeest migration known as The Great Migration is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on the planet. The wildebeest migration is a dramatic, natural phenomenon, taking place within the wide plains of the Serengeti eco-system in northern Tanzania.
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Over 1.5 million wildebeest and 300,000 zebra together with various species of antelope gather up there and start their long trek from Serengeti plains to Maasai Mara National Reserve.
The wildebeests endure a tough journey, and every year an estimated 250,000 wildebeest die after failing to complete an entire migration cycle. But the cycle is repeated each year, with these animals following their migratory route passing across crocodile-infested rivers, wild currents, and flocks of predators lying in wait.
In desperate need of water to drink and grass to graze, the countless herds cross the river to reach the lush, green grasslands in Maasai Mara in Kenya.
In efforts to attract Chinese tourists to visit Tanzanias natural tourists attractions including wildlife, a team of senior tourism officials from Tanzania visited China this month in a mission to attract Chinese tourists. While in China, Tanzanian officials conducted road shows tourism presentations and press conferences in key Chinese cities, including Beijing.
Tanzania Tourist Board managing director Dr. Aloyce Nzuki encouraged the Chinese state owned tour operators to open up their branches in Tanzania to attract more Chinese tourists.
an eTurboNews article
