Arusha — After organizing an elaborate month- long cultural voyage trip to Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, and South Africa recently, Matunda Cultural Tourism and Safaris Organization has embarked on its long- term goal - to promote cultural tourism across Tanzania to the outside world.

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 the main purpose of the month- long trip was to promote Tanzania's rich cultural heritage on one hand and to share experiences and forge links and partnerships with other like minded cultural tourism organizations in Africa on the other hand.

He says unlike annual rallies which are based on the principles of competition, Matunda Cultural Tourism and Safaris Organization's cultural voyage trip is as inclusive as possible with the sole aim being - to foster international exchanges and to promote cultural tourism in the countries involved.

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

"We work in partnership with the tourism industry of the countries involved so as to promote their people's cultures and to facilitate the discovery of geographic beauties and historical heritages", says Kaaya, director and founder, Matunda Cultural Tourism and Safaris Organization.

As an experienced driver guide, Kaaya is also 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, the youthful 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 and has stuck to it like glue.

Guided by its mission of encouraging the development of new skills among 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.

Kaaya says so far, Peace Matunda Orphanage Centre supports over 130 children with education, food, shelter and clothing.

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.

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.

"Kaaya says he is optimistic that with help and support from friends and well - wishers, their 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.

Vincent Obiro Orute Obunga is executive director Volunteer Network Africa, a global volunteer organization that is committed to social and economic change across the globe.