The Seychelles lose a music icon as Francois Havelock passes
As a long time friend of the Seychelles, and regular visitor, I stay in touch with many individuals on the islands and they share their news from the archipelago with me. Derek Savy just published a moving article about the passing of one of the Seychelles’ music greats, Francois Havelock. Having heard his songs played […]
Ethiopian’ pilots land ‘smoking’ Q400 safely in Axum
SECOND ETHIOPIAN INCIDENT GOES LARGELY UNNOTICED (Posted 20th July 2013) An Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa to the town of Axum earlier in the week ran into some trouble, when cockpit indicators on the Bombardier Q400 showed smoke developing. A few minutes to the scheduled landing, from the sketchy details available at present, the […]
Kenya Railways launch tender for design of new Mombasa line
TENDERS INVITED FOR DESIGN OF NEW STANDARD GAUGE NAIROBI – MOMBASA RAILWAY (Posted 20th July 2013) Kenya’s seriousness about constructing a second, standard gauge railway line between Mombasa and Nairobi, and eventually on to Kisumu and the Ugandan border, was underscored yesterday when Kenya Railways launched their tender for the design of the new line, […]
1.148 tusks seized in Hong Kong harbour raid
HONGKONG AUTHORITIES SEIZE OVER 1.100 ELEPHANT TUSKS (Posted 20th July 2013) The largest seizure of blood ivory since 2010 took place yesterday at Hong Kong harbour, when 1.148 tusks were discovered in a container shipped from Togo. Customs officials in Hong Kong confirmed the find. No arrests have been reported at this stage but the […]
Kenya’s leading hospitality businesses vie for World Tourism Award honours
SUN AFRICA IN RUNNING TO MAKE IT THREE IN A ROW AT WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS (Posted 20th July 2013) The race is now on towards the finishing line on the 16th of October, when the Kenya Tourism Board, aka www.magicalkenya.com will host the 20th edition of the World Travel Awards ceremony, during which the winners […]
Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania under the spotlight
NORWEGIAN MEDIA EXPOSE ROT IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF TANZANIA (Posted 19th July 2013) Norway’s Aftenposten on the 06th of July filed a damning article, exposing the rot and corruption which contributed to the disappearance of 6.8 NOK, leaving the society, according to the article, technically bankrupt. With the Tanzanian government at the ropes […]
Kenya and Nigeria sign new BASA
NEW BILATERAL AIRSERVICE AGREEMENT PAVES WAY FOR ABUJA FLIGHTS (Posted 18th July 2013) Kenya used the presence of President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nigeria for an African Union Summit to progress a range of bilateral issues, among them the conclusion of negotiations over a new air services agreement between the two countries. Kenya Airways […]
Last Call for artists as Sauti Za Busara deadline looms
FINAL CALL FOR ARTISTS FROM SAUTI ZA BUSARA (Posted 18th July 2013) It is now less than two weeks to go until the period for submission of interest for artists will end and the selection process start for Sauti Za Busara 2014. The Zanzibar culture and performing arts festival Sauti Za Busara has over the […]
The worst may be over for Kenya Tourism says KTB source
HAVE TOURISM ARRIVAL FIGURES BOTTOMED OUT IN KENYA? (Posted 17th July 2013) The latest statistics published by the Kenya Tourism Board suggest the worst is now over for the tourism industry, as by end of May the month by month comparison with 2012 – then still on course to become another record year – show […]
Dr. Naikuni gets recognition by ‘Airline Strategy Awards’
KENYA AIRWAYS’ DR. TITUS NAIKUNI AWARDED TOP AVIATION HONOURS (Posted 17th July 2013) Dr. Titus Naikuni, CEO of Kenya Airways, last weekend received the ‘Airline Business Award’ at a ceremony in London, where outstanding contributions to the aviation industry by individuals were recognized. At the helm of Kenya Airways for over 10 years now, […]
ACI Africa prepares for annual conference in Lome
ACI AFRICA CONFERENCE SET FOR LOME IN OCTOBER (Posted 17th July 2013) The Airport Council International – Africa will be holding their annual conference this coming October in the Togolese capital city of Lome from the 19th to the 23rd of October, bringing together 57 members, operating 200 plus airports across 47 African countries. […]
Qatar Airways set for Addis Ababa flights from September
QATAR AIRWAYS BOUND FOR ADDIS (Posted 16th July 2013) Addis Ababa is to be Quatar Airways’ next African destination, with the launch scheduled for September 13th this year. The award winning airline will initially fly three times a week between Doha and Addis, using a two class configuration Airbus A320 with 12 seats in business […]
JKIA’s second runway construction still due to start by late this year
KAA TO LAUNCH SECOND RUNWAY CONSTRUCTION AT JKIA THIS YEAR (Posted 16th July 2013) A regular source close to the Kenya Airport Authority has given the clearest indication yet that the construction of the long overdue second runway of Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, East Africa’s largest aviation hub, will still commence this year […]
Lewa Downs and Ngare Ndare Forest join Mt. Kenya World Heritage Site
LEWA DOWNS MAKES IT INTO THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST (Posted 16th July 2013) The Mount Kenya World Heritage Site was recently expanded to include two additional conservation areas, namely Lewa Downs and the Ngare Ndare Forest. Lewa Downs, once upon a time a conventional cattle ranch owned and operated by the Craig […]
East African Tourism Platform signs partnership with VISA
Visa enters into collaboration to promote East African tourism Nairobi, Kenya – 15th JULY 2013. – Global payments technology company Visa is collaborating with East African Tourism Platform (EATP) to strengthen global tourism interest in the region and promote inbound tourism spend. The year-long collaboration will focus on various initiatives across the region such as […]
Seychelles Tourism Minister vies for UNWTO Executive Council seat
ALAIN ST. ANGE SET TO VIE FOR AFRICAN SEAT ON UNWTO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (Posted 15th July 2013) Seychelles’ Minister for Tourism and Culture, Alain St. Ange, will reportedly seek election for the African seat on the UN World Tourism Organization Executive Committee during the Annual Meeting, this year taking place jointly hosted by […]
Countdown starts to Kampala City Festival on 06th October
KCC CEO JENNIFER MUSISI LAUNCHES COUNTDOWN TO KAMPALA CITY FESTIVAL (Posted 15th July 2013) (KCCA CEO Jennifer Musisi on the right holding the balloons) Kampala City Council Authority CEO Jennifer Musisi today launched the countdown to the Kampala City Festival due to be celebrated on the 06th October this year. Launched last year to […]
Sheraton Kampala’s Chris Pollard joins Rhino Fund board
SHERATON KAMPALA’S CHRIS POLLARD JOINS RHINO FUND UGANDA BOARD (Posted 15th July 2013) Chris Pollard, General Manager of the Sheraton Kampala Hotel, was today co-opted to serve on the Rhino Fund Board, until the next general meeting of the fund can make the appointment permanent for an initial three year term of office. […]
ETHIOPIAN SET FOR MUNICH FLIGHTS FROM DECEMBER
ETHIOPIAN SET TO ADD MUNICH FROM DECEMBER (Posted 14th July 2013) Information was received from Addis Ababa that Ethiopian Airlines will be opening a second route to Germany from 01st December 2013 onwards, when daily flights to Munich will be launched. It could not be immediately confirmed though which aircraft type ET […]
Weekly roundup of news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, Second edition July 2013
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 Sorry for the absence of pictures which WordPress has started to eat again of late … You can get your daily news updates […]
Emirates announces more destinations for travellers from Eastern Africa
EMIRATES ANNOUNCES MORE DESTINATIONS (Posted 13th July 2013) A regular source in Nairobi shared additional routes news when confirming that Kiev will be added to the growing network of Eastern European destinations by Dubai’s award winning national airline Emirates, from 16th January 2014 onwards. The aircraft used for the daily flights as per current planning […]
Kampala Serena hosts launch of Uganda’s first Guide application
UGANDA GUIDE APPLICATION FORMALLY LAUNCHED (Posted 13th July 2013) (Courtesy of www.thepearlguide.co.ug) Friday night was the proverbial D-Day for Uganda’s first ever guide application, as The Pearl Guide launched their brainchild at the Kampala Serena Hotel. Available for download through Google Store it is also available via Apple Store and direct download through www.thepearlguide.co.ug/our-mobile-app/ for […]
Ethiopian Airlines B787 ‘Queen of Sheba’ suffers fire damage while parked at Heathrow
DREAMLINER FIRE ROCKS BOEING AND AIRLINES ALIKE (Posted 13th July 2013) The fire on a parked B787 of Ethiopian Airlines at London’s Heathrow Airport has not just caused the temporary closure of the UK’s primary aviation hub, but rocked both Boeing and the airlines flying the world’s most advanced passenger jet once again. Ethiopian […]
Etihad orders an A380 FFS
ETIHAD PUTS PEN TO PAPER FOR AN AIRBUS A380 FFS (Posted 12th July 2013) Word from Abu Dhabi has it that Etihad, Abu Dhabi’s national airline, has ordered their first Airbus A380 full flight simulator, alongside one for the B787 Dreamliner and 5 more for other aircraft types, in an ongoing effort to boost the […]
RwandAir’s Accra flights lead to opening of Ghanaian Consulate in Kigali
RWANDAIR’S ACCRA FLIGHTS LEAD TO OPENING OF CONSULATE IN KIGALI (Posted 12th July 2013) The recent launch of direct flights from Kigali to Accra, via Lagos, by national airline RwandAir, has now resulted in the opening of a Ghanaian consulate in Kigali, strengthening diplomatic relations and improving the ease with which Rwandans can now obtain […]
Seychelles Tourism revamps ‘Seychelles Secrets’ link on their website
SEYCHELLES SECRETS RELOADED (Posted 12th July 2013) As often demonstrated here, emphasis on demonstrated and not just stated, does the Seychelles islands also offer a very affordable component of holidays, besides the of course much better known high end, 5 star resorts of global acclaim, for which the archipelago is best known. ‘Affordable Seychelles’ is […]
Nairobi InterContinental Hotel launched new IHG loyalty programme in Kenya
INTERCONTINENTAL NAIROBI LAUNCHES NEW LOYALTY PROGRAMME (Posted 12th July 2013) The InterContinental Hotel Nairobi earlier this week launched their new loyalty programme, now called IHG Rewards Club, which emerged from the previous Priority Club Rewards. Karl Hala, General Manager of the Nairobi InterContinental and also Director of Operations for Africa for the […]
Amboseli Elephant Trust comes out in support of Soila Sayialel
AMBOSELI TRUST FOR ELEPHANT COMES OUT IN SUPPORT OF SOILA SAYIALEL (Posted 12th July 2013) Although the matter at hand is sub judice in Kenya, has the Amboseli Trust for Elephant come out with a statement of support on behalf of their long time member Soila Sayialel, who alongside her son Robert was arrested […]
Kenya Airways tops punctuality stats at London Heathrow for June
KENYA AIRWAYS TOPS PUNCTUALITY STATS IN HEATHROW (Posted 12th July 2013) Kenya Airways came out tops in terms of on time performance at London Heathrow with 100 percent of all June 2013 departures right on time, while 83 percent of the arriving flights landed as scheduled. The only other African airline coming close to this […]
Hotel Summit East Africa and Kenya Hospitality Trade Fair just two weeks away
TWO WEEKS TO GO TO KENYA HOSPITALITY TRADE FAIR AND HOTEL SUMMIT EAST AFRICA (Posted 11th July 2013) One of East Africa’s premier hotel conferences and trade fairs, Hotel Summit East Africa and the Kenya Hospitality Trade Fair are now just two weeks away, due to kick off on the 25th of July at the […]
