Matambwe Old Airport

The airport was closed because it was rendered obsolete and replaced by the nearby Mtemere Airstrip (HTME). The new airstrip was built to higher standards to support the growing tourism industry in the Selous Game Reserve (now Nyerere National Park). Mtemere offers a longer, paved runway, which improves safety, allows for all-weather operations, and can accommodate larger and more modern tourist aircraft than the old dirt strip could.

The site is completely abandoned and defunct. Satellite imagery of the coordinates shows a faint outline of the former dirt runway, which is now significantly overgrown and being reclaimed by the surrounding savanna and bush. There are no remaining buildings or infrastructure, and the site is not used for any aviation or other official purposes.

Matambwe Old Airport was a classic, rudimentary bush airstrip that served as a vital access point to the northern sector of the vast Selous Game Reserve. For many years, it was crucial for two main operations: 1) Conservation and Park Management: It facilitated the movement of park rangers, researchers, and supplies for anti-poaching patrols and wildlife management. 2) Tourism: It was the primary landing spot for tourists on fly-in safaris, handling small charter aircraft like the Cessna 206, Cessna Caravan, and similar bush planes. Its existence was fundamental to establishing tourism and conservation efforts in this remote wilderness area.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Matambwe Old Airport. Its function has been entirely and more effectively superseded by the modern Mtemere Airstrip, which is located just a few kilometers to the southeast and adequately serves the region's needs. Any future investment in aviation infrastructure in the area would almost certainly be focused on maintaining or upgrading the existing, active airstrips within Nyerere National Park rather than rehabilitating this defunct one.