Reflections by a long time resident about UG@50
UG@50 – REFLECTIONS FROM A LONG TIME RESIDENT When I set foot into Uganda in April 1992, way ahead of celebrating the country’s 30th anniversary of Independence from Britain, it was an eye opener and a half for me. A country blessed with a lot of rain, good soil for ample harvests, a recently passed […]
After acrobatic flying comes paragliding adding to Uganda’s reputation as adventure destination
AFTER ACROBATIC FLYING COMES PARAGLIDING FOR THRILL SEEKERS No sooner has acrobatic flying at the Kampala Aero Club’s Kajjansi field become popular with the thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies living in or visiting Uganda has the next adventure activity taken off in the Pearl of Africa. Paragliding is the latest adrenaline booster and a most […]
Fly 540 Kenya’s woes continue unabated
FLY 540 KENYA WOES CONTINUE UNABATED A temporary relief, granted by court for a period of 30 days, may be the last lifeline for embattled Fly540 in Kenya, as creditors are now moving in for the proverbial ‘kill’ to have the airline wound up. Defying a court verdict by commercial court Justice Jonathan Havelock to […]
RwandAir does Africa proud by introducing the CRJ900NG
RWANDAIR ENTERS NEW PHASE OF EXPANSION AS FIRST CRJ900NG ARRIVES (Picture courtesy of Bombardier / RwandAir’s CEO John Mirenge cutting the tape in Montreal) Kigali’s international airport came alive to the sound of drums when the first of two, and potentially four CRJ900NG aircraft arrived in Rwanda, The Land of a Thousand Hills. RwandAir is […]
Air Tanzania’s latest ‘acquisition’ questioned by aviation observers
OUTRAGE OVER AIR TANZANIA LEASE AGREEMENT GROWS When information was unearthed last week about the cost of the lease of an aged B737-200 aircraft, Air Tanzania seems to have wetleased from a South African firm, Star Air Cargo. The 32 year old aircraft, which first went into service in 1980 at British Airtours in the […]
Weekly roundup of news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands, Fourth edition October 2012
AVIATION, TOURISM AND CONSERVATION NEWS from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. A weekly roundup of breaking news, reports, travel stories and opinions by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome You can get your daily breaking news updates instantly via Twitter by following @whthome, join me on www.facebook.com/WolfgangHThome where the articles also ‘cross load’ or […]
Air Mauritius adds Perth in change of heart
AIR MAURITIUS ADDS THIRD AUSTRALIA FLIGHT WITH DESTINATION PERTH Information has been received from a usually reliable source that Air Mauritius, which just won the World Travel Awards’ ‘Best airline in the Indian Ocean’ appears set to add a third flight from Port Louis to Australia, with Perth as the destination of choice and not […]
Hong Kong customs nab blood ivory shipment
HONG KONG CUSTOMS IMPOUND 4 TONS OF BLOOD IVORY In what has been described as the biggest seizure of blood ivory has the customs department in Hong Kong in a joint operation with other security organs confiscated nearly 4 tons of ivory, representing the life of over 600 elephants. Shipment documents indicate that the two […]
One down and seven to go as Seychelles first windpower plant gains shape
ONE DOWN AND SEVEN TO GO FOR WINDPOWER PROJECT IN THE SEYCHELLES Information from Mahe confirms that the first of overall 8 windpower turbines, which are assembled in two locations on the main island of the Seychelles as a pilot project to tap into renewable energy sources, has now been assembled in full on the […]
Dar es Salaam remains tense after army deploys in hot spots
DAR ES SALAAM REMAINS TENSE AFTER ARMY DEPLOYS IN HOT SPOTS The most recent clashes between separatists and religious radicals in Zanzibar, which caused considerable concern amongst the island’s tourism fraternity, have been mirrored in Dar es Salaam during the week, where demonstrations following the arrests of radicals descended into more church burnings, leaving the […]
FastJet signs up for Airbus A319 number two and three
FASTJET SIGNS UP FOR TWO MORE A 319’S Seemingly unperturbed by aviators sentiments from the region and seeing their much hyped up 20 US Dollar fare being torn to shreds after exposing it as a mirage, has FastJet reportedly signed up for two more Airbus A319 aircraft, configured with 150+ seats in an all economy […]
Mauritius scoops 7 awards at World Tourism Award Ceremony in Singapore
MAURITIUS CAPTURES 7 WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS AT SINGAPORE CEREMONY Inspite of Mauritius’s Tourism Promotion Authority’s less than impressive run over the past year have the island’s private sector stakeholders risen to the occasion in staying on top of their class in the Indian Ocean area, and subsequently scooped 7 top honours for the island.\ The […]
Marburg outbreak ‘joined’ by at least one Yellow Fever case
DOUBLE WHAMMY AS YELLOW FEVER OUTBREAK JOINS MARBURG Uganda’s tourism industry is in jitters since the announcement that Marburg fever has been identified as the cause of death of at least four people in Kabale District in South Western Uganda as reported here yesterday. The situation was made worse when it became known that at […]
Mara Serena and Mombasa Serena set for face lift
SERENA’S REFURBISHMENTS ON TRACK TO STAY TOP OF THE POPS Work has been progressing well at the Mara Serena Lodge where since February this year part of the public areas like the reception, the boutique, the main bar, lounge and the Spa are being transformed and given a new look. The extended timeframe is a […]
Marburg fever outbreak suspected in South Western Uganda
REFUGEES FROM CONGO SUSPECTED TO HAVE BROUGHT MARBURG TO UGANDA According to emerging reports from South Western Uganda there is increasing suspicion of an outbreak of the deadly Marburg fever and affected individuals have been tested and put into a full quarantine. A team of health officials is on the ground, assisted reportedly by security […]
Kiprono, the new KWS Chief Executive – meet the man
WILLIAM K. KIPRONO – THE NEW KWS CEO William Kibet Kiprono was recently, as published here within the hour of the information coming form State House Nairobi, appointed Director, Kenya Wildlife Service, in October 2012. He was a County Commissioner, Vihiga County prior to this high profile appointment. Kiprono has served in the public service […]
UN in Kenya tells staff not to travel to Mombasa or coastal region
NOW THE UN DUMPS ON MOMBASA TOO Within months of the US Embassy declaring a hasty if not cowardly and ultimately withdrawn travel embargo on Kenya’s Indian Ocean port city of Mombasa, has now the UN done the same to the outrage of Kenya’s political leadership and –not surprisingly here – the coastal tourism fraternity. […]
RwandAir in final countdown to CRJ900NG delivery
RWANDA ROLLS OUT RED CARPET FOR NEW CRJ900 NG ARRIVAL Final touches are presently being put on the first of two Bombardier CRJ900 NG aircraft, ordered by RwandAir six months ago to replace two CRJ200 jets which have since been sold to a West African airline. The new, state of the art aircraft, incidentally the […]
Haywood dumps U7 for FastJet job
HAYWOOD DUMPS AIR UGANDA FOR FASTJET JOB When it was reported here a year ago, that one Kayle Haywood was to replace Hugh Fraser as CEO of Air Uganda, the breaking news clearly rattled a few cages at the time, leaving carefully laid plans to break the news at a later stage upstaged by this […]
Reposted via Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association
Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association
Embraer seeks entry into aircraft financing through partnership with the ADB
EMBRAER TO PARTNER WITH ADB TO SELL MORE PLANES TO AFRICA Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, emboldened by its success to sell their E170 and E190 jets to Kenya Airways and other leading African airlines, but also clearly rattled by Bombardiers relentless offensive to get into the lucrative African market with their newer CRJNG models and […]
FastJet’s 20 Dollar talk is misleading the public say aviation sources in East Africa
THE 20 DOLLAR FARE EXPOSED AS A MIRAGE ‘It is all about making noise, but when you dig deeper you find that it is all a bunch of hog wash, the 20 Dollar fare is subject to so much in extra and those extras demanded when you check in, you are better off with KQ […]
More violence rocks Zanzibar as church burners are arrested in Dar es Salaam
ZANZIBAR DESCENDS IN VIOLENCE, AGAIN A further outbreak of sectarian militant violence was reported late yesterday from the Spice Island of Zanzibar, leaving tourism stakeholders exasperated once again. Security organs fired live rounds into the air to control the riotous crowds which were burning tyres and throwing stones, while one section for a while stormed the […]
Sauti Za Busara 2013 announces line up for 10th anniversary festival
Sauti za Busara 2013 The Line Up Call for Donors & Sponsors Last Call for Music Films Tickets & Passes Friends of Busara Movers & Shakers Stalls & Traders Busara Xtra Visitor Info Donors & Sponsors Contact us Sauti za Busara 2013 Top Sauti za Busara 2013 It’s February, it’s humid and the sun is […]
Festival Kreol ante portas in the Seychelles
The 27th edition of the Seychelles Festival Kreol reveals its calendar of events Victoria, the Creole Capital of the World, in the Seychelles is dressing up to welcome International delegates from Mauritius, Rodrigues,Reunion and Mexico to the 27th edition of the “Festival Kreol’’ which officially opens on the 26th of October in the center of […]
Congo oh Congo, when will it ever end
KABILA GETS BLASTED AT FRANCOPHONE SUMMIT Host Joseph Kabila of the Congo DR, ended up with egg all over his face when in an uncharacteristic broadside not just one but two key participants of the just ended Francophone Summit in Kinshasa first told him off before taking aim at the UN’s MONUSCO mission. And it […]
Gulf Air flight withdrawal from Nairobi deals fresh blow to Kenya tourism
KENYA TOURISM SUFFERS FRESH BLOW WITH GULF AIR WITHDRAWAL Phones were running hot last evening after posting the breaking news that Gulf Air was halting their flights from Bahrain to Nairobi, information received by many with incredulity until the official airline statement was then posted at the website www.gulfair.com for all to see and verify. […]
The Birth of a new Boutique Collection
THE BIRTH OF THE HEMINGWAYS BOUTIQUE COLLECTION Once upon a time there was a seaside resort in Watamu called Seafarers, back in the 70’s one of the upcountry local crowd’s favourite hangouts at the Kenya coast, for deep sea fishing, frolicking in the sand, for ‘those’ weekends and lots more. But when the post August […]
Gulf Air suspends Nairobi flights effective 13 November
GULF AIR’S NAIROBI ROUTE – SADLY NOT TO BE Following the question raised this morning about GULF AIR’S AFRICA FLIGHTS – TO BE OR NOT TO BE I can now confirm that effective 13th of November the airline will suspend their flights between Bahrain and Nairobi indefinitely. The Flying Falcon had made many friends amongst […]
Uganda’s Big Birding Day – Join us in the Pearl of Africa
