Why Dar teachers took to train journey to visit Mikumi Park

DAR ES SALAAM: A FEW days after President Samia Suluhu Hassan launched the first electric train locally addressed as the SGR, more than 1,000 teachers from Dar es Salaam Region took a trip with the transport to visit Mikumi National Park.

The visit, coordinated by the Dar es Salaam Regional Office, aimed at supporting various efforts by President Samia, including to announce attractions to the country’s National Parks, is a show of solidarity in efforts to map the tourists’ attractions sites right into the grassroots so that the locals have information and see the essence of visiting them.

This comes with the background that teachers through their schools are the ambassadors. They educate, support and guide. You never know what thing a teacher said to you will suddenly become relevant.

The role of a teacher in community development is to learn from their students. By learning from their students, they are better able to support their communities. With this in mind.

Dar es Salaam Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS) Dr Toba Nguvila noted that the teachers in the area decided also to raise their own money to visit the Mikumi National Park using the SGR’s modern railway transport so that everyone is mobilised to support President Samia’s ideas of modernising the transport network.

“After our President Samia Suluhu Hassan launched the railway, teachers of Dar es Salaam decided to support her efforts and that is why they raised money to come to the Mikumi park,” he pointed out.

In the course, Dr. Nguvila praised President Samia for the project’s massive implementation as it has helped to reduce the time of staying on the road, especially for Dodoma, Morogoro and Dar es Salaam passengers, adding that the construction of the railway would stimulate many tourists to visit Mikumi National Park.

He also praised Mikumi’s entire National Park leadership for enhancing accessible infrastructures in the park, adding that other groups should also see the essence of visiting the site to watch various animal species in the area.

“I congratulate the Mikumi Park for the reception we received, the teachers have enjoyed the journey, we have seen animals before and after entering the park we promise to be the ambassadors of this park wherever we are,” he added.

Because of its accessibility Mikumi is one of the most popular National Park in Tanzania. It is about 300km to the West of Dar es salaam along the Dar-Mbeya highway.

The park is also decorated by its superbly scenic plains and baobabs and it is home to various wild animals and birds species.

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The park is endowed with spectacular concentration of wildlife which are rarely seen in other parks like magnificent Sable antelope, African hunting dog, blue wildebeest, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest and others.

The gentle foothills and vast miombo woodland savanna in the southern parts of the park are quite spectacular.

At the park, Senior Conservation Officer Herman Mtei commended all teachers who had set aside their time for visiting Mikumi Park, noting that the SGR railway station now makes it easier for many tourists to reach the reserve.

He said that the park is now fully prepared to receive foreigners, adding: “The Park has a variety of wildlife that can be easily seen.

Its closeness to Dar es salaam makes it an ideal place for weekend visitors who don’t have to spend a long time on an extended safari itinerary.

The vegetation of this area is savanna dotted with acacia, baobab, tamarinds and some palm trees. Mikumi is one most reliable places in Tanzania for animal sightings especially during the dry season.

This is the time when wildlife is easier to spot because vegetation is thinner and animals gather around water sources such as Mkata river, hippo pools, Mwanambogo pools and other waterholes.

These waterholes are constantly visited by big herds of buffaloes, elephants as well as other wild animals. We are honoured that you have chosen to visit and stay with us and look forward to providing you with unforgettable experience.”

He further said that through the money provided by President Samia they have invested in enough structures to ensure many tourists coming to Mikumi get top services.

Commenting on that, one of the teachers-Mr. Bundala Masanyiwa said the standard services at the park is a display of further improvements likely come once more Tanzanians and foreigners start using the electric train to visit the sites.