Tanzania conservation news – Ice cap or no ice cap, as Maige blunders again
MINISTER DENIES KILIMANJARO ICE CAP DISAPPEARANCE Environmental experts and climate change researchers acquainted with the impact of the phenomenon have for some time now predicted, that the ice caps of East Africas mountains, on the Rwenzoris, Mt. Kenya and Mt. Kilimanjaro, would by 2025 have largely disappeared, then only collecting fresh snowfall insufficient to reverse […]
Tanzania tourism breaking news – President Kikwete officially opens new National Tourism College
KIKWETE COMMISSIONS NEW NATIONAL TOURISM COLLEGE The tape was finally cut at the new National College for Tourism yesterday by none other than Tanzanias President Jakaya Kikwete, who officially declared the new facility open a day after celebrating Tanganyikas 50th anniversary and Golden Jubilee of Independence from Britain. The college, built with substantial assistance by […]
Kenya aviation news – KCAA commissions state of the art equipment
KCAA UPGRADES NAVIGATION AND COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT Following a 3.5 billion investment by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority was state of the art equipment commissioned at the countrys main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Nairobi and Moi International Mombasa, giving the aviation fraternity the latest technology in airspace monitoring and communications with air traffic controllers. Initially started […]
Kenya tourism news – All signals green for new record year for Kenya’s tourism sector
GOOD NEWS FOR KENYA TOURISM AS UHURU DAY COMES CALLING Ahead of the long weekend, on Monday 12th December Kenya will celebrate Uhuru Day, aka Independence Day, were figures released of the performance of the tourism sector for the months between January and October 2011, which showed a sharp increase in arrivals and an even […]
Indian Ocean aviation news – Could cooperation or a merger have saved Air Seychelles
ARE COOPERATION OR MERGERS THE WAY FORWARD FOR INDIAN OCEAN AIRLINES? The social media and blog sites are running hot with input of friends, staff and aficionados of Air Seychelles, who cannot bear the thought that The Creole Spirit is to be reduced to a small regional carrier, which besides operating domestic routes between the […]
Uganda news – UMEME takes their new media campaign straight to the city’s leading tweeps
UMEME STRIKES BACK WITH A #TEAPARTYUG Embattled Ugandan electricity distributor UMEME, under harsh criticism in recent weeks for the massive powercuts across the country, often lasting 24 hours at a go and more, has changed tack and in a new strategy is now attempting to engage with Kampalas leading social media gurus and opinion leaders, […]
50 years for Tanganyika as celebrations begin at day break
50 YEARS FOR TANGANYIKA, NOT YET FOR THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA Today, Friday the 09th December, is a big day in what is today the United Republic of Tanzania, as the country marks 50 years of Independence from colonial masters Britain for what was then to become Tanganyika. Pomp and glamour will mark the […]
African aviation news – Will EasyJet’s Stelios partner with Lonrho?
SPECULATION GROWING OVER EASYJETS STELIOS INVOLVEMENT ON AFRICAN LCC Over the past weeks was speculation growing in Eastern Africa about a potential involvement by former EasyJets top executive Stelios Iannou, said to consider joining hands with Lonrho to develop and implement a viable low cost carrier model for Africa, using jet aircraft to connect major […]
Mauritius tourism news update – Emirates adds 11th weekly flight, helps MTPA to promote the country
EMIRATES ADDS FLIGHTS, SUPPORTS TOURISM AUTHORITY IN MARKETING DRIVE Tourism stakeholders clearly got their way, after demanding for long that the aviation regulators grant more flights to foreign airlines, when it was confirmed that Emirates, Dubais national airline, will add an 11th weekly flight between the UAE and Mauritius. The added frequency, ahead of the […]
Burundi aviation news – Flag carrier Air Burundi orders Chinese built turboprops
AIR BURUNDI ORDERS CHINESE BUILT MA60 TURBOPROPS According to a source in Bujumbura has national airline Air Burundi now ordered two Chinese built turboprop aircraft of MA60 types, in an apparent effort to boost capacity and allow the flag carrier to fly to key neighbouring countries, like Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and even Congo under […]
Uganda / Zanzibar travel news – Air Uganda turns into ‘Santa’s airline’ with incredible holiday package
AIR UGANDA NOW TOPS PREVIOUS TOP OFFER OF 2011 WITH ZANZIBAR PACKAGE No sooner had Air Uganda launched their incredible package for 3 nights at the Leopard Beach Resort, Diani Beach, Mombasa, inclusive of all taxes and destination transfers, causing a mini run on the airline offices as the offer was only available till the […]
Kenya aviation news – Talk of new aviation laws makes stakeholders wary
AVIATION STAKEHOLDERS WARY OF INTENDED CHANGE OF LAWS The aviation fraternity is bracing for another fight with government, when it became known that there are plans afoot to change the laws governing the sector, including legislation governing the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. Transport minister Amos Kimunya made the announcement yesterday when addressing a workshop on […]
Kenya news update – Nairobi Aviation College evicted from premises, students stranded
NAIROBI AVIATION COLLEGE STUDENTS LEFT IN LURCH The Nairobi Aviation College, one of the privately owned institutions teaching programmes relevant to starting a career in aviation or a travel agency, found itself locked out of their premises yesterday over a long standing default with rent payments to the landlord ICDC. The school was reportedly on […]
Ivory and rhino horn trafficking – finally a change in Chinese position?
RELENTLESS PRESSURE PAYS OFF AS CHINA CUSTOMS CONSIDERS USE OF SNIFFER DOGS The stinging global criticism against Chinas apparent hesitation to join Africa in protecting its wildlife heritage, which has grown louder and more intense month after month, is apparently showing some reaction now in the Peoples Republic. Intercepted shipments of blood ivory and rhino […]
Tanzania news update – First windpower project gets licensed
TANZANIA LICENSES FIRST EVER WINDPOWER PROJECT PROPOSAL News have come in overnight from Dar es Salaam that the first major renewable energy project, a proposal to construct a 100 MW windpower farm in the Singida region of Tanzania, has been licensed to go ahead. Wind East Africa Ltd. is now in a position to secure […]
Kenya conservation news – KWS starts new beach management pilot programme
KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE STARTS 6 MONTH PILOT PROGRAMME FOR MARINE PARKS Beach management are the two key words it appears, after reading through details received over the weekend about a planned pilot programme, which has come about as a result of intense consultations between affected stakeholders, i.e. hotels, KWS and tourism operators. One of the […]
Seychelles aviation news – Gulf airlines expected to snap up crews, technicians and other staff
GULF AIRLINES TO SNAP UP AIR SEYCHELLES CREWS AND STAFF, REDUCING JOB FEARS Etihad and Emirates are both confirmed to be holding a job fair at the Air Seychelles headquarters at Mahe International Airport, aimed to absorb qualified cockpit and cabin crew, but also aircraft technicians, ground personnel and key office staff, following the confirmed […]
Tanzania aviation news – Precision at cross roads about future following less than successful IPO
PRECISION AIR GOES BACK TO DRAWING BOARD The poor take up of the airlines IPO in November, which raised only just over 7 million US Dollars instead of the anticipated nearly 18 million US Dollars they expected in their coffers at the end of the first ever share offering by a privately owned Tanzanian airline, […]
Uganda news update – Lack of board appointments blamed in part for lacklustre performances
APPOINT NEW BOARDS, MINISTRY TOLD Pressure is growing on the Ministry of Tourism to appoint boards for various institutions under the auspices of the ministry, in particular for the Uganda Wildlife Authority, now that the albeit hugely controversial probe report by a special commission of enquiry has been presented to the Minister. While in this […]
Seychelles tourism update – Cerf Island Resort adds more luxury villas
CERF ISLAND RESORT COMMISSIONS 12 NEW LUXURY VILLAS Located inside the Sainte Anne Marine National Park, Cerf Island is home to the Cerf Island Resort, a luxurious hideaway of the kind which keeps away prying eyes and offers the level of privacy combined with comfort and service levels for which the Seychelles have become well […]
Uganda aviation news update – British Airways opens ‘Christmas fare sales’ for business class
THE EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE BIGGER SEATS ON BRITISH AIRWAYS For three days, and three days only, between the 07th and 09th of December, will British Airways in Uganda sell business class fares to the UK and Europe 1 for a mere US Dollars 256 return, PLUS taxes. Outbound travel must take place, from Uganda […]
Kenya tourism news – The hidden treasures along the South Coast
KAYAKING THROUGH MANGROVE FORESTS, THE LATEST ACTIVITY AT KENYAS COAST Information has reached that the extensive mangrove forests, still in existence along sections of the Kenyan coast, are now being opened up for tourists by with a kayak safari, allowing those brave enough to silently glide across the water, watch birds and fish and other […]
Uganda / Kenya tourism news – Air Uganda hits market with the offer of the year …
AIR UGANDA HITS MARKET WITH SUPER PACKAGE TO MOMBASA Mombasa here we come has to be the motto for those able to pack and go at an instants notice, after Air Uganda has launched their incredible offer of US Dollars 237, per person sharing, all taxes included, to fly nonstop from Entebbe to Mombasa, get […]
Weekly roundup of news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands, First edition December 2011
TOURISM, AVIATION AND CONSERVATION NEWS from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands A weekly roundup of reports, travel stories and opinions by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome Get daily breaking news updates instantly via Twitter by following @whthome or read the daily postings on my blog via: www.wolfganghthome.wordpress.com Many of these articles then also […]
Rwanda aviation news – The Glitz and Glamour of inaugural fligths
INAUGURAL FLIGHTS, THE GLITZ AND GLAMOUR AND THE REALITY BEHIND IT RwandAirs 13th destination was being launched with pomp and glamour, not only to prove the proverbial bad luck number 13 wrong but mainly because the new route leads to Lagos / Nigeria, Africas economic powerhouse and the continents most populous nation. Why Nigeria one […]
Uganda aviation breaking news – Gulf Air launches scheduled flights between Bahrain and Entebbe
GULF AIR RETURNS TO THE UGANDAN SKIES Yesterday saw the long awaited return to Uganda of Bahrains national airline Gulf Air, when the inaugural flight touched down on time at 15.45 hrs at Entebbe International Airport, greeted by the traditional welcome shower by two fire engines, dousing the plane with an arc of water as […]
Kenya aviation breaking news – B787 Dreamliner is coming to Nairobi on 14th December
KENYA AIRWAYS AND BOEING SHOW OFF THE DREAMLINER December 14th has been set as the long awaited date, that Boeings new wonderplane, the B787 Dreamliner is finally making an appearance over the skies of Kenya, a harbinger of things to come when The Pride of Africa finally can take delivery of the first of 9 […]
Tanzania conservation news – Stiegler’s Gorge / Selous power project, lies exposed and truth be told
STIEGLERS GORGE POWER PROJECT, LIES EXPOSED AND TRUTH BE TOLD When earlier in the year the news was broken here, that the Tanzanian government had reached deep into the bottom drawers of its archives and took out and dusted off the old plans for a power plant at Stieglers Gorge from back in the late […]
Kenya conservation news – Major shipment of blood ivory seized at Mombasa port
KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE AND PORT SECURITY SEIZE MAJOR IVORY HAUL Over the weekend did news emerge that KWS officials, working hand in hand with customs and port security personnel, detected yet another ivory shipment destined, according to shipping documents, for Cambodia, estimated to be worth nearly 160 million Kenya Shillings. 465 tusks and ivory pieces […]
Uganda conservation news – Grey Pratincole sighting confirmed in Queen Elizabeth National Park
GREY PRATINCOLE SIGHTING CONFIRMED IN QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK Birding enthusiasts will be delighted to learn of this latest addition in confirmed sightings of birds within the Queen Elizabeth National Park, where last week the Grey Pratincole was spotted, bringing the total confirmed birds listed to well over 600 in this single location. Uganda had […]
