New domestic route in Kenya launched by Fly SAX

FLY SAX LAUNCHES LOKICHOGIO FLIGHTS (Posted 16th February 2014) Yesterday, Saturday 15th of February, saw the launch of scheduled flights from Nairobi to the border town of Lokichogio in Northern Kenya by East African Safari Air Express, in short known as SAX in Kenya’s airline circles. The airline will serve the route, the 12th in […]
New BASA for Tanzania and China signed
TANZANIA AND CHINA SIGN NEW BASA (Posted 15th February 2014) Tanzania and China earlier this week signed a new Bilateral Air Services Agreement, in short BASA, to facilitate improved flight links between the two countries by airlines designated to operate on the route by their respective civil aviation authorities. The new deal was signed in […]
Two months and counting to the Seychelles Carnival

PREPARATIONS FOR 4TH EDITION OF THE CARNAVAL DE CARNIVALS IN HIGH GEAR (Posted 15th February 2014) With just over two months to go, until the world of Carnivals will for the 4th time focus on the Carnaval de Carnivals, the Carnival International de Victoria, preparations are now in high gear according to information received overnight […]
News from Ile de la Reunion
REUNION’S ‘SAGA DU RHUM’ GAINS RECOGNITION FOR OFFERING TOURS FOR PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED VISITORS (Posted 15th February 2014) One of Reunion’s most visited museums, the one and only Saga du Rhum, where the history of the island’s sugar cane plantations and the making of rum is showcased, has just been recognized by the 4th edition of […]
Controversy erupts afresh over Adrift’s attempt to charge rafters

ADRIFT STIRS MORE CONTROVERSY WITH PUBLIC OUTBURST (Posted 15th February 2014) In November last year an outcry of rafting and other tourism companies over what can only be described as arbitrary if not outright extortionist fees, not gazetted at the time nor suitably explained, found its way into my blog and on to other media […]
Africa Travel Week comments on Hosted Buyer programme

AFRICA TRAVEL WEEK ORGANIZERS PROVIDE UPDATES FOR CAPE TOWN EVENTS (Posted 14th February 2014) Africa Travel Week event organizers Thebe Reed Exhibitions in conjunction with Reed Travel Exhibitions have just announced further details of the Hosted Buyer Programme for the inaugural Africa Travel Week, taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from […]
All aviation eyes will be on Entebbe in March for CASSOA / AVIASSIST events

KEY AVIATION WORKSHOPS IN ENTEBBE LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY (Posted 14th February 2014) AviAssist, in conjunction with CASSOA, East Africa’s Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency, is in the final stages of preparing for a number of key certification workshops to be held at the Protea Hotel in Entebbe from the 10th of […]
Kenya’s tourism marketeers target the Gulf region
KENYA TOURISM BOARD ON MARKETING MISSION IN THE GULF (Posted 14th February 2014) The Kenya Tourism Board is presently on an extended marketing mission in the Gulf, concluding visits to Dubai and Abu Dhabi before over the weekend heading to Doha, the capital of Qatar. The Gulf region is of growing importance for Kenya as […]
Kenya Airways’ first B787 due in Nairobi on April 04th

MAKE A DATE WITH KENYA AIRWAYS’ FIRST B787 DREAMLINER (Posted 14th February 2014) Kenya Airways has named the 04th of April as the tentative date for the expected arrival of their first B787-8 Dreamliner, which is now in the final stages of assembly. This delivery, overdue by more than 3 years as a result of […]
Podcast: Jane Goodall says no to ivory and horn trade
Following several recent articles on poaching and the London Conservation Conference, here is some more from none other than Jane Goodall. From the Conservation Action Trust in South Africa Podcast: Jane Goodall says no to ivory and horn trade Jane Goodall says no to ivory and horn trade Dr Jane Goodall travels an average of […]
Silence is golden … an alien concept for MTPA’s Mootoosamy
MTPA’S MOOTOOSAMY ATTEMPTS DAMAGE CONTROL (Posted 13th February 2014) Usually reliable and well informed sources in Port Louis have broken the story that the head of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, one Karl Mootoosamy, clearly rattled by both local and international media reports about his continued spat with the Seychelles and the Vanilla Island Organziation, […]
Wolfgang Thome – 2014 Safari Awards Results – No Embargo
News from The Good Safari Guide – The Safari Awards 2014 While front runner Zambia took the lion’s share of this year’s awards, Kenya has, inspite of the challenges the destination faces this year, acquitted herself admirably and bagged a good number of awards. Tanzania is back in the frame too with ‘Best Beach Safari’ […]
Serengeti Highway case decision now rests with judges

EAST AFRICAN COURT OF JUSTICE HEARS FINAL SUBMISSIONS IN SERENGETI HIGHWAY CASE (Posted 13th February 2014) Details have emerged from Arusha, that the East African Court of Justice has earlier this week heard final submissions from the Tanzanian government and the plaintiffs who are seeking to obtain a permanent injunction of the construction of the […]
KTB and KQ target African markets for tourism growth
KENYA TOURISM AND KENYA AIRWAYS PARTNER TO MARKET KENYA IN SOUTH AFRICA (Posted 13th February 2014) The Kenya Tourism Board has confirmed that a joint campaign to market Kenya in South Africa has been launched in close partnership with Kenya Airways. As tourism arrivals from the traditional core markets for in particular the Kenya coast […]
RwandAir introduces dual class turboprop into the East African skies

RWANDAIR’S NEW BOMBARDIER Q400 CABIN NOW COMPLETE (Posted 13th February 2014) The countdown is now truly on as RwandAir is expecting their newest bird, a Bombardier Q400 to arrive in Kigali on the 03rd of March. Latest pictures obtained show the aircraft interior now completely outfitted in the dual class cabin, offering both business and […]
Meet Reunion Tourism at the Paris Golf Show
REUNION TOURISM PROMOTING GOLFING HOLIDAYS (Posted 13th February 2014) The Reunion Tourism office, in short IRT, has confirmed that they will attend the Paris Golf Show from the 14th to 16th of March which will be held at the Parc de Expositions at Porte de Versailles. The world’s leading golfing brands will all be on […]
Dodoma becomes Auric Air’s 19th domestic destination

AURIC AIR ADDS DODOMA TO GROWING DOMESTIC NETWORK (Posted 13th February 2014) Auric Air, one of Tanzania’s leading domestic scheduled and charter airlines, has confirmed that effective 17th February they are adding flights to Tanzania’s formal capital city of Dodoma. Operating from their main hub in Mwanza, the airline now uses a fleet of 8 […]
Nairobi set to host Swahili Fashion Week Kenya from 05th April

SWAHILI FASHION WEEK HEADING TO KENYA (Posted 13th February 2014) East Africa’s most successful fashion festival, the Swahili Fashion Week, is preparing to make a full appearance in Kenya as a mainstream event, starting from the 05th of April this year. Mustafa Hassanali’s erstwhile vision, which resulted in the first Swahili Fashion Week to be […]
BA teams up with Corporate League to raise funds

BRITISH AIRWAYS PARTNERS WITH UGANDA’S CORPORATE LEAGUE FOR CHARITY (Posted 11th February 2014) British Airways Uganda and the Corporate League, a football league for Ugandan teams, have joined hands to raise funds for local charities through a season opening mini tournament which according to a media release just received will become an annual event. The […]
Seychelles arrival numbers keep climbing as January figures show 5 percent plus

SEYCHELLES STARTS 2014 AS 2013 ENDED – WITH A NEW JANUARY ARRIVAL RECORD (Posted 11th February 2014) There was certainly pride in the latest media brief received from Seychelles’ Minister of Tourism and Culture Alain St. Ange, when he shared the January statistics of arrivals and average stay of tourists to the islands. The length […]
Who are the villains in Tanzania’s never ending poaching business
CONSERVATIONISTS TELL TANZANIA TO STOP MOUTHING OFF AND INSTEAD FIGHT POACHING FOR REAL (Posted 12th February 2014) ‘The shame has come home to roost’ wrote a regular conservation source from Arusha, when it became known that a hugely damaging media report in the UK blamed Tanzania’s massive poaching records squarely on the failures of the […]
Tsavo / Mkomanzi elephant census shows significant decrease in numbers
TSAVO / MKOMANZI ELEPHANT CENSUS CONFIRMS A LOSS OF 1.500 ELEPHANT SINCE 2011 (Posted 11th February 2014) Information has come to light, following the conclusion of the recent transboundary elephant population survey covering the Tsavo and Mkomanzi national parks in Kenya and Tanzania, that compared with the last census in 2011, the returns showed some […]
It is all about Creole cuisine as top French food critic visits Reunion
FRENCH FOOD CRITIC PLANS VISIT TO REUNION TO SAMPLE CREOLE CREATIONS (Posted 11th February 2014) Gilles Pudlowski, a famous French food critic and writer for Le Point, Version Femina and Cuisines and Wines of France, will be visiting Ile de la Reunion, the French Indian Ocean island from 25th to 28th of February. He is […]
RwandAir to resume Juba flights on 01st March

RWANDAIR SET FOR RESUMPTION OF JUBA SERVICES EFFECTIVE 01ST MARCH (Posted 11th February 2014) RwandAir has just announced that their Juba services, suspended since the outbreak of hostilities between the two opposing sides in South Sudan, will resume their full schedule between Kigali and Juba as of 01st of March. The airline will from that […]
IRT names new tourism ambassador
REUNION TOURISM NAMES GEORGE COLSON TOURISM AMBASSADOR (Posted 11th February 2014) The Chairman of the National Union of Travel Agents, George Colson, was last weekend named Ile de la Reunion’s Tourism Ambassador, in recognition of his work to promote this French Indian Ocean island. SNAV just concluded its 7th meeting on La Reunion with over […]
It’s Jazz time in Dubai

EMIRATES REELS IN VISITORS WITH FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES (Posted 11th February 2014) Yesterday it was the announcement that Emirates, Dubai’s award winning airline, was the main sponsor of the ‘Festival of Literature’ and today more news emerged that the airline will be the main sponsor of the ‘Dubai Jazz Festival – a Unique Take on Jazz, […]
Want to name a new born rhino – ask Angie!

KEEN TO NAME A YOUNG BORN RHINO – ZIWA GOT THE ANSWER FOR YOU (Posted 11th February 2014) A couple, wishing to remain anonymous but whose contribution to the rhino conservation nevertheless needs a mention and a standing ovation, has named the third of Kori’s calves Waribe – meaning ‘Unite’ or ‘Coming together’ in Alur, […]
BusiWeek’s Asiimwe appointed new UTB boss
UGANDA TOURISM BOARD GETS NEW BOSS (Posted 10th February 2014) Cuthbert Baguma will be succeeded at the helm of the Uganda Tourism Board by Mr. Stephen Asiimwe, who was appointed as CEO of Tourism Uganda last week and introduced by the Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Maria Mutagamba. Joining UTB from the private sector, […]
New railway line seeks to take 250 acres out of Tsavo national park
NEW RAILWAYS’ HUNGER FOR LAND TRIGGERS CONSERVATION CONCERNS (Posted 10th February 2014) Emerging news of gazette notices about compulsory acquisition of land for the construction of the new standard gauge railway between Mombasa and Nairobi, affecting land inside the Tsavo National Park to the tune of over 250 acres, has triggered the alarm bells among […]
Seychelles undeterred by latest snub from Mauritius

MAURITIUS SNUBS SEYCHELLES AGAIN (Posted 10th February 2014) A regular source from Port Louis described the latest spat between Mauritius and the Seychelles as a diplomatic form of one island giving the other the proverbial finger, when it became known that the Mauritius Minister for Culture M. Choonee had earlier on confirmed that there will […]