The Tanzania government has begun improving a 38-kilometer stretch of road to Mahale National Park. The road connects Rukoma Village to the Mahale Mountains National Park in Uvinza District in Kigoma region. The main aim of the project is to facilitate ease of access to the park. Furthermore, it aims to increase the number of domestic tourists visiting the park. The Kigoma Regional Commissioner, Simon Sirro noted these remarks during a visit to the park.
The commissioner noted that the poor condition of the road has been a major obstacle to tourism development. Furthermore, he noted that tourists currently take between five to six hours to reach the park from Kigoma town. ”Improving infrastructure is a key step in promoting tourism and local development,” he stated. Moreover, he directed the Uvinza District Council leadership to take immediate action to rehabilitate the road for the benefit of both tourists and residents of the villages connected by it. Tanzania is making effort to improve tourism in the country with projects such as the Wellsworth Luxury Hotel in Serengeti national park being in the works.
Project Factsheet
Significance:
- A government-led infrastructure project aimed at upgrading a 38-kilometer road connecting Rukoma Village to Mahale Mountains National Park in Uvinza District, Kigoma Region.
- Seeks to enhance accessibility, reduce travel time, and boost domestic and international tourism.
- Expected to increase visitor numbers and support local socio-economic development in surrounding communities.
Infrastructure:
- Involves rehabilitation and surfacing of the 38 km road leading to Mahale National Park.
- Designed to ensure year-round access, including during the rainy season.
- Will improve connections between Kigoma town, local villages, and the park entrance.
Developer/Consortium:
- Implemented by the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) under the supervision of the Ministry of Works and Transport.
- Coordinated in collaboration with the Uvinza District Council and the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA).
- Supported by the Kigoma Regional Commissioner’s Office.
Funding/Timeline:
- Fully financed by the Government of Tanzania.
- Construction and rehabilitation works commenced in 2024, with completion targeted for 2025.
- Project expected to significantly improve access to Mahale National Park, home to over 700 eastern chimpanzees and more than 300 bird species.
The Significance of the Mahale National Park Road Project
Once complete, the improvement on the road linking Kigoma to Mahale national park is expected to be of monumental significance. The Chief Park Warden of Mahale Mountains National Park, Assistant Park Commissioner Halid Mngofi, said the number of tourists has increased from 210 in 2020/2021 to 923 in 2023/2024. Elaborating, the commissioner noted that the biggest challenge facing the park is the poor road condition. Furthermore, he noted this was apparent especially during the rainy season where tourists are forced to use air transport to access the park.
He further mentioned other challenges as, encroachment into park areas, poaching, and attacks on people by dangerous animals when they enter the park illegally. Mahale contains at least the world’s largest protected population (approx. 700-1000) of the eastern subspecies of Chimpanzee. The area also contains at least 337 bird species, many of which are rare and endemic to the Albertine Rift. Eg Pel’s fishing owl. Mahale contains 8 (Possibly 9) primates in addition to chimps; these are yellow baboons, blue monkeys, red colobus, pied colobus, and vervet monkeys, two or three species of Galago. The completion of the road project will ensure that tourists can access and see the spectacles of the park with much ease.
