Tanzania joins elite club in tourism industry

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania - The Seven Natural Wonders of Tanzania have joined the official list of the Wonders from around the World catalogue.

UNIQUE: There is no place in the world like Ngorongoro Crater, where a host of wildlife roam since time immemorial after the great eruptions following creation of the Great Rift Valleys.

According to a statement from the Tanzania Tourist Board three of the African’s natural wonders are in Tanzania. These are Mount Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the Serengeti Migration. The Seven Natural Wonders of Africa were declared in February 2013 and now the Seven Natural Wonders of Tanzania join the official list of wonders from around the world.

‘We are excited that three of Africa’s natural wonders are in Tanzania. The entire country is honoured to be home to these icons,’ the TTB statement reads in part.

The campaign concluded at the end of 2012 with the votes being tabulated in 2013. The President of the Seven Natural Wonders Dr. Phillip Imler, said although the winners have been known for months, it was an honour and a privilege to announce them to the world now.

According to Dr.  Imler, accompanying Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti Migration, and Ngorongoro Crater are Selous Game Reserve, Gombe National Park, Ruaha National Park and Kitulo National Park. 

TTB Director of Marketing, Devota Mdachi, said in a release, Tanzania now has the distinction and honour to be the first African country to be selected in this category of the wonders of the world.

She said to have three of Africa’s seven and to now be the first African country to be declared its seven natural wonders will definitely place Tanzania on the world tourist map.

Tanzania is widely considered a beautiful country from border to border with an array of encounters with nature that would make any country envious. 

Mdachi said it was a thrill to watch the various Tanzanian wonders compete for the distinction of being one of the seven. She said the world will now get a taste of Tanzania’s natural splendour.

According to the TTB, the initial wonders were vetted and voted on by the Declaration Committee and the voting body of conservation experts for Seven Natural Wonders.

A campaign, which started in 2008, was enhanced with collaboration from the Tanzania Tourism Board, Tanzania National Parks and Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, who together championed voting throughout Tanzania and by leveraging the international voice through visitors to the various national parks and Ngorongoro Crater.

Concluding the declaration, Dr. Imler said the seven African natural wonders are all worthy representatives for the country and awesome destinations to be incorporated into travelers’ bucket lists. Congratulations to each of the winners. 

Accoridn to the statement, voting took place through a variety of venues including the Seven Natural Wonders site and winners are now recognized and celebrated on the Official Seven Wonders site. Interested parties are invited to visit either site and cast their votes for other countries.