The information about the missing three- meter python was only beginning to reach them after it was reported in the media.The snake is between two and three years old.

The snake that can eat small animals and even babies went missing from the ministry’s headquarters. It reportedly escaped from its cage where it was being held in preparations for a journey to the Nane Nane show that ends tomorrow in Dodoma.

Yesterday, the residents blamed the ministry for not quickly alerting where the snake was possibly hiding. Unconfirmed reports indicated that the reptile had been spotted but escaped before game wardens arrived.

A deputy director of wildlife, Mr Obedi Mbangwa, confirmed yesterday in Dar es Salaam that the snake was yet to be found and 15 game scouts were still looking for it.

However, he refuted reports that no information had been circulated to the residents.

But resident Ummy Shamte said she had been unaware of the incident until yesterday.
“I have just heard this from you now, would you please brief me about the incident? I simply heard it from the pupils passing around here and no more details,” she said.

But Mr Joseph Ngede said the ministry personnel had passed the message to some residents.

When reached for comment Keko Magurumbasi Primary School headteacher Mercy Nakajumo said the school had no official information about the snake.

“I heard it over the radio and other people have been speaking about it. I could not even tell pupils because I don’t have official information,” she said.
“I was frightened when I heard that there was a snake near our school, but teachers have not been told about it,” she said.

African pythons normally eat crocodiles, pigs, goats, birds, gazelles and cats. They do not chew their food but swallow it, and strong intestinal acids ease digestion.

Experts say the python that escaped could get hungry and start looking for food a week since it was last fed before it escaped.However ministry sources allay fears that it can swallow a human being.

Source: The Citizen

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RIVERTREES COUNTRY INN

A cosy country inn set in 10 acres of natural gardens along Usa River, with breathingtaking views of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Meru and Wildlife only 20 minutes from Kilimanjaro International Airport, Price, up to $150 per night.

P.O. Box 235, Arusha

Tel: +255 27 2553894

E-mail: rivertrees@habari.co.tz

THE ARUSHA HOTEL

This historic luxury hotel situated in the heart of Arusha and overlooked by the majestic Mt. Meru.  86 elegant rooms, extensive mature gardens, swimming pool, full equipped gym and casino. Price up to $200

P.O. Box 88, Arusha

TeL: +255 27 250 7777

E-mail: reservations@thearushahotel.com

KARAMA LODGE

An eco-friendly lodge with en-suite cabins on stilts, very close to Arusha Center with spectacular views of Mt. Meru and Kilimanjaro

P.O. Box 1573, Arusha, Tanzania

Tel: +255 732 971823

E-mail: info@karama-lodge.com

KIA LODGE

Only 2 minutes’ drive from Kilimanjaro International Airport

Tel: +255 27 2554194/5

E-mail: kialodge@africaonline.co.tz

KIBO PALACE HOTEL

A new hotel in town, about five minutes walk from the Clork-Tower.

Old Moshi Road

P.O. Box 2523 Arusha Tanzania

Tel: +255 27 2544472

E-mail: info@kibopalacehotel.com

MOUNT MERY GAME LODGE & SANCTUARY

Nestled between the peaks of Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro, Meru Game Lodge and Sanctuary lies midway between Kilimanjaro International Airport and Arusha.  The lodge is located within 33 acres of mature gardens, bounded on the side by the tranquil waters of the Usa River and on the other by the Sanctuary where our wildlife and birdlife reside.  Rates start from US$160 per double room.

Tel: +255 27 255 3643

Fax: +255 27 255 3885

E-mail: reservations@intimate-place.com

L’OASIS LODGE

An ideal tourist lodge, of traditional styled boma houses, close to town and tucked in tranquil verdant gardens.

Price (B&B) up to US$85

P.O. Box 1908, Arusha

Tel: +255 (0) 757 557802 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +255 (0) 757 557802      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or +255 (0) 755 749934

E-mail: s.broadbent@edi-africa.com

NGURDOTO MOUNTAN LODGE

Nestled between Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro, located within a lush coffee plantation, 140 acres, with natural streams flowing from Mount Meru.  Price from $135.

P.O. Box 7302, Arusha, Tanzania

Tel: +255 272555217

E-mail: ngurdoto@thengurdotomountainlodge.com

NAAZ HOTEL

Located along Sokoine Road, close to the clock tower

Prices start from $45 per double room, BB

P.O. Box 1060, Arusha Tanzania

Tel: +255 27 2502087

ARUSHA CROWN HOTEL

Located in the centre of Arusha town, walking distance from the sport stadium, the fruit market, and the central bus station.  38 rooms designed to meet the requirements of traveling executives and leisure tourists, rate from $70 per double room, BB

P.O. Box 361, Arusha

Tel: +255 27 254 4162, +255 27 250 8523/24

Email: info@arushacrownhotel.com

GOLDEN ROSE HOTEL

Located along Col. Middleton Road, self-contained rooms with single and double beds.  Serves traditional dishes and has a garden for East African barbecue (nyama ya kuchoma).  Rates start from US$40 per single room, BB,

P.O. Box 1440, Arusha

Tel: +255 27 250 3849/+255 713 650775

Email: afritravel@bol.co.tz

EAST AFRICA ALL SUITE HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTRE

Located along old Moshi Road, Price start from $140 per single room, BB

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Centered at the mid point of Africa on the Cape-to-Cairo line, Arusha is a sophisticated, lively city, with much to offer to travelers.  Shopping, coffee houses, bazaars, hotels, museums, mosques, churches and then more shopping.

Every Tanzanian city seems to offer a busy avenue or street, but in Arusha the walk along either side of the Sokoine/Uhuru Street, the avenue that divided the industrial and commercial areas, is better than most.  Walk down from the Clock-Tower or ogle the multi-million-shillings shops, which go right down to the TFA Shopping Complex housing Shoprite Supermarket opposite Kilombero market.  Marvel at the cultural Heritage Centre, farther west and see no less than two hundred antique artifacts in the spectacular compels.

Movie buffs may recognize the Arusha declaration monument or “Esami Tower”.  The 1980s Institute tower offer a panoramic view of Arusha while Mount Meru to the north of this city covers the Arusha Momella National Park, which was featured in John Wayne’s famous film Hatari. A taxi owners association offer tours from the centre of the city while tour operators offers longer safari tours as far as Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti National Parks.

Refreshments are usually offered on board tourist vehicles and occasionally machinga (street hawker) will take advantage of a confined clientele in a traffic jam to seek buyers for cotton handkerchiefs, khangas, radios or a million other goods, even nail cutters and lipsticks, at bargain prices.

Bargain prices are the chief feature of shopping in Arusha, particularly at the city markets that have replaced the government fixed prices of yesteryear.  Haggling over price is considered both a social custom and a business practice.  It pays to be both polite and firm; try not to look bewildered or hassled and accept the offers of Tanzanian tea or soft drinks without feeling pressured into buying.

At the glistening grand bazaars around the Central Bus Station, there are more than 30 hectares of covered shopping, much of it aimed at consumer merchandise.  The Goliondoi Road area past the main Post Office and the Arusha Hotel provides shopping for the tourist trade.  It is said there are a good number of shops here, quality and prices along the alley ways.  Choose from khangas and kikois, jewellery including gold and diamonds, and the famous Tanzanite, copper and glassware, belly dancing costumes, chess sets, and Makonde wood carvings.

While Tanzania manufacturers are generally bang to date with current fashion trends, be careful that your fashion dress or suit is that and that the colour and style you have chosen would not look out of place at home.  Every country or city has its own rogue traders, but don’t make the common mistake of imagining that haggling in itself is an effort to trick you.  It is a sport centred on trade.

Always check the goods including workmanship, and walk away from traders who are rude or will not come down to fair price.  You will meet another around the corner with a grander selling manner, offering the same goods at possibly lower prices.  And please accept Tanzanian hospitality – they like to deal in friendship, offering the buyer Kilimanjaro coffee or Chai Bora or Amani tea and exchanging details about family and lifestyle.

There is so much to see in Arusha: The Arusha Declaration Monument, the largest mosque in Arusha, St. Theresia Catholic Church, East African Community headquarters, for example, Go, too, to the mosques and churches and use the opportunity to see these exceptionally beautiful places of worship (as in many other countries, non Muslims are not allowed to enter mosques).  Visit the church of St. Theresia in Goliondoi area, with its exquisite mosaic windows and ceilings depicting the Glory of GOD.

Another important site that Arusha has to offer is the Arusha International Conference Centre, site for the Rwandan genocide tribunal.  Nearby is the Arusha Boma Natural History Museum, in the same area the Via Via Meeting Place where you can sit in the coffee bar enjoying coffee as you chat with the locals.  The museum has a very good café where a self-service drink will cost about 0.5 Euro (in the waiter-service restaurant it will cost about four times as much).

At evening time Tanzanians and tourists alike flock to the bars, cafes, and restaurants along the Moshi-Nairobi road, the Philips-Kijenge zone, and around the city centre.  As Tanzania is a secular state, there is no religious prohibition on the sale of alcohol.  In general, Tanzania beer and spirits are cheap.  Serengeti or Kilimanjaro lager is a good beer but imported alcohol will be considerably dearer.

Taxi are not metered but are usually very cheap compared to London or Berlin fares.  However as in any other country, watch out for trips that are longer than necessary including waiting charges.  It is sensible to have your destination written on a piece of paper and to negotiate price before hand.

Learn a few words of Kiswahili language, Tanzania’s national language strongly encouraged by the first president (the Late Mwalimu Nyerere, in office 1961-1985) as a little politeness will be very much appreciated.  “Jambo sana” means a very good day to you, “Ahsante sana” means thank you very much, “kwa heri” means good bye while “nipatie chakula or bia” means give me some food or beer.  And when you are done remember to say “tutaonana baadaye” meaning see you soon.

Bring plenty of lower denominations of Tanzania shilling notes and coins (foreign currencies are acceptable almost every where on the tourist trails) for shops and tips.

And when entering Arusha bus station, Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport for the flight home, hire a porter who will lift you heavy cases laden with treasures onto the back of the bus or onto scanning machines for you for a couple of hundred shillings.  Then check in your seat and indulge in more therapy at the excellent groceries around the stations.

And as departing time zeros, board your bus or airplane and wave goodbye to your friends and tour guides remembering to chant out “Ahsante san na kwa heri ya kuonanan” meaning , “Thank you very much, good-bye, and see you again.”

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