Ngorongoro surpasses revenue target

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) chief conservator, Dr Freddy Manongi (L) and his deputy, Dr Mautus Msuha, during a press conference in Arusha on July 31, 2018. 

What you need to know:

During the 2018/19 financial year, the NCAA looks forward to generating a total of Sh156.6 billion from 750,000 tourists.


Arusha. Use of electronic funds collection systems and introduction of concession fees has seen a surge of revenue earnings at the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA).

Adjustment of the entry fees and introduction of new products such as the hominid sites are other factors behind the doubling of revenue garnered in the last four years.

Some Sh124 billion was collected during the financial year, which ended on June 30, up from Sh102 billion in 2016/17 and Sh70.7 billion in 2015/16.

During the 2018/19 financial year, the NCAA looks forward to generating a total of Sh156.6 billion from 750,000 tourists.

The chief conservator, Mr Freddy Manongi, said although there had been a rising number of visitors in the area,the use of Safari Portal System in revenue collection was largely behind the feat. “It has made it easier for them to settle payments all the time using different options such as M-Pesa, visa cards and other means,” he told journalists yesterday. Revenue collection was also boosted by the introduction of pre-paid $50 concession fee for visitors spending nights within the NCAA on December 1, last year.

The NCAA was given a target of raising Sh13 billion as dividend during the 2017/18 financial year to the Treasury, which is 15 per cent of its gross earnings.

However, it surpassed its revenue targets by remitting Sh22 billion as dividend to the government and paying Sh20 billion as Value-Added Tax (VAT) to the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA). The authority paid Sh3.4 billion to the ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism as tourism development levy during the 2017/18 financial year.

Dr Manongi declared that the NCAA would no longer entertain groups of people free entry or entry fee waiver or discount to Ngorongoro because some requests have no basis.

These include hundreds of conference delegates in Arusha,employees of corporate bodies, diplomats and expatriates keen to visit the world famous site.

“Before a waiver or discount is granted, we will have to satisfy ourselves over the legitimacy of such request,” he said.

“The powers to grant or not a waiver no longer rests with the Chief Conservator as was the case in the past, but a panel of senior officials of the authority.”

The 8,292 square kilometre NCAA in Arusha region is now the leading single destination for tourists to Tanzania.