Arusha — From its humble beginnings a few years ago, Matunda Cultural Tourism and Safaris Organization prides itself for its success in promoting cultural tourism in Tanzania -where it organizes walking safaris and village cultural walks.

Matunda Cultural Tourism and Safaris Organization according to its founder Unambwe Kaaya is a Tanzanian registered non-governmental organization established in 2006 to promote cultural tourism across Tanzania to the outside world.

Kaaya says his outfit has organized a cultural Voyage trip to Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa this month to market Tanzania as a major Cultural tourist destination in Africa.

Kaaya says the month-long trip starts in Arusha late this year through Mbeya into Malawi, then to Zimbabwe and finally into South Africa.

As an experienced driver guide, Kaaya is an active member of Tanzania Association of Cultural Tourism Organizations (TACTO).

Like an Olympic Torch, Matunda Cultural Tourism and Safari Organization's cultural Voyage travel across the entire African continent carrying the Tanzanian flag .This according to Kaaya, is meant to promote Africa's rich cultural heritage to the outside world.

At age 29, Kaaya has spent a better part of his life traveling across Tanzania and outside to promote Tanzanian rich cultural heritage to the outside world. After trying his hand in teaching at various tour guide institutes and foreign languages colleges in Arusha, he decided to Launch Matunda Cultural Tourism and Safaris Organization an NGO which he later developed into Adventures and Cultural Tourism Program.

Kaaya says the vision of Matunda Cultural Tourism and Safari Organization's cultural Voyage is to promote Tanzanian Cultural Tourism modules and Africa's rich cultural heritage to the outside world - through organization of semi- annual travel events across the entire African continent.

He says the aim of the Voyage is to promote Tanzania's rich cultural heritage across Africa, to learn and share experiences with other like minded cultural tourism and safari organizations in Africa, and to forge links and partnerships with different tour companies in Africa.

Unlike other annual rallies which are based on the principles of competition, Matunda Cultural Tourism and Safaris Organization's cultural Voyage according to Kaaya is as inclusive as possible with the aim being to foster international exchanges and promotion of cultural tourism in the countries involved.

Depending on the wealth and variety of partnerships secured before hand or emerging as the travel unfolds, Matunda Cultural Tourism and Safaris Organization's cultural Voyage will spend several days or even weeks traveling from country to country promoting Africa's rich cultural heritage to the outside world.

In a sense, Matunda Cultural Tourism and Safaris Organization's cultural Voyage meetings are milestones in a never- ending bid to promote cultural tourism modules in Africa to the outside world.

"We will work hand in hand with the tourism industry of the countries involved so as to promote their cultures, specific cities, and to facilitate the discovery of geographic beauties and historical heritages," says Kaaya.

Kaaya says Matunda Cultural Tourism and Safaris Organization's cultural Voyage travels in a well designed and engineered 4X4 truck which has been modified to endure African roads and Southern weather conditions.

Guided by its mission of encouraging the development of new skills amongst the youth and use of locally available resources for community development, Matunda Cultural Tourism and Safaris Organization has also initiated various community development projects in Kimundo area where it uses proceeds generated from its economic activities to support orphans, widows, and disadvantaged members of society.

But what support does the Matunda Cultural Tourism and Safari Organization's cultural Voyage require from African governments and their tourism authorities? According to Kaaya, his organization requires travel authorization, access to National Parks and Game reserves, political support, and attendance at press conferences or other public functions upon the Voyage's arrival or departure from the capital cities of the countries involved.

The well designed and engineered truck according to the coordinator of the Voyage (Unambwe Z Kaaya), houses, Bellasix Sawe, a professional Safari guide, Jean Luc, an internationally recognized and accredited photographer, and Elvis Munis, a professional walking guide.

According to Kaaya the entire trip is being funded by Matunda Cultural Tourism and Safari Organization with help from friends of Matunda Cultural Tourism and Safari Organization.

"We are optimistic that with help and support from friends and well - wishers, our newly initiated project of marketing and promoting Tanzanian cultural tourism modules to the outside world will see the light of the day and will be successful in the end," says Kaaya.

"We welcome on board individuals and organizations that are keen on promoting Africa's rich cultural heritage to join our cultural voyage initiative," says Kaaya. These individuals and organizations according to Kaaya can donate money for fuel, for spare parts, and for accommodation for the Voyage's core traveling team.