Milestone for Nyerere National Park after its Mtemere Airstrip welcomes its first tourist aircraft

MOROGORO: A new chapter has opened for Tanzania’s tourism sector after Mtemere Airstrip, located inside the Nyerere National Park, received its first tourist aircraft carrying more than 10 passengers since its official opening on February 11, 2026.

The milestone follows the completion of local and international aviation safety and security procedures for passengers, aircraft and airport operations, paving the way for full-scale use of the facility ahead of the peak tourism season.

Speaking while witnessing the landing of the first aircraft on Thursday May 6, 2026, Assistant Conservation Commissioner Ephraim Mwangomo, who heads the park, described the development as a major boost to air transport and tourism in the country.

ALSO READ: Tanzania pledges to expand access to technical education by increasing the number of colleges

“The operationalisation of Mtemere Airstrip after meeting international standards opens a new chapter for air travel, especially as we prepare for the high tourism season,” he said.

Mwangomo noted that the upgraded airstrip has been built with a hard polymer surface, allowing aircraft to land throughout the year, including during the rainy season when flights previously faced disruptions due to poor runway conditions. He said the improvement is expected to increase tourist arrivals and stabilise tourism revenues even during the wet season.

He also commended President Samia Suluhu Hassan for funding the upgrading of the airstrip and other tourism infrastructure projects within the park, including tourist cottages, picnic sites, machinery and road improvements.

Mtemere Airstrip is among the largest airstrips located inside Tanzania’s national parks and stands out for having a control tower. The facility also features a 1.8-kilometre runway, a 300-metre safety strip, a 60-metre stopway and a 300-metre clearway.

The runway was constructed using a special polymer surface designed to prevent water retention while remaining environmentally friendly to the park ecosystem.