Wedding bells? Anyone?

Before I fly off again just one last piece …I hear so much about weddings these days, my own kids included, so when I had lunch with my daughter and her hubby yesterday, and the issue of a honeymoon arose – not a minimoon or familymoon as they put it, a proper honeymoon, I remembered […]

Why did the latest Gulf airline chose the smaller handling company in Entebbe

DAS HANDLING BAGS ETIHAD CONTRACT IN ENTEBBE (Posted 04th May 2015) DAS Handling, Entebbe’s second and much smaller handling company, has reportedly bagged the business of Etihad, which commenced flights last week. Predominant handling company ENHAS would not comment on factors or circumstances which led to Etihad taking that decision but sources usually in the […]

Hidden Gems – Made in Kenya

The Lamu archipelago does not need much explanation in our region oramong my readers. This ancient Kenyan town takes visitors back in time. Accessible by air from Wilson Airport with Safarilink and Air Kenya and from JKIA by Jambojet has Lamu something in store for every visitor. Festivals galore, from the Lamu Cultural Festival over […]

40 kilometres in four months but 431 kilometres remain. Read on to find out more!

NEW STANDARD GAUGE RAILWAY MAKES ADVANCES (Posted 04th May 2015) Information coming in from Kenya indicates that about 40 kilometres of the new Standard Gauge Railway, in short SGR, is already complete after work started in earnest some four months ago. A further 431 kilometres however need to be finished if the new Chinese financed […]

Airline rubbishes false social and mainstream media allegations and rumours

KENYA AIRWAYS CLEARS THE AIR OVER MEDIA ALLEGATIONS OF CANCELLED DREAMLINER ORDERS (Posted 04th May 2015) Kenya Airways yesterday went on record to nip mainstream media allegations in the bud that the airline had cancelled their remaining three Boeing B787 Dreamliner orders. Truth told, the mainstream media slept when the 07th Dreamliner was delivered over […]

Dreamliner number seven arrives in Nairobi

KENYA AIRWAYS TAKES DELIVERY OF THEIR 7TH B787-8 DREAMLINER (Posted 03rd May 2015) It is rare that an aviation journalist can beat an airline at their own game but here comes the breaking news that yesterday, Saturday 02nd of May did Kenya Airways receive their 07th Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner, flown in nonstop from Charleston / […]

South Sudan’s environment under siege as conflict rages on

THE FALLOUT OF THE CIVIL WAR – AFFECTING PEOPLE, ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT (Posted 03rd May 2015) As the South Sudan civil strife enters its 17th month with no peaceful resolution in sight – all previous agreements were broken more or less immediately by the regime in Juba which has only remained in power courtesy of […]

KWS builds anti poaching alliances in China

Wildlife conservation non-governmental organisations based in China have pledged to forge a united front with Kenya in efforts to combat global wildlife crime. They held a round-table meeting with a Kenya Wildlife Service goodwill delegation at the Jintai Art Museum in Beijing where they discussed how the civil society could work with governments and communities […]

No 398 Wildlife Trade News: 2nd May

Weekend or not, the bad news just keep coming … poaching, wildlife and environmental crimes just do not stop … in the spotlight today …………………… Pangolin Prison – Part II. EXTRACT: providing black market pangolin meat and scales to traders in China and Vietnam, and now this unimaginable hoard of dead pangolins needs to be […]

ITV report on elephant killings greatly misleading says TANAPA

TANAPA’S ANGRY REACTION A HARBINGER OF THINGS TO COME UNDER NEW LAWS (Posted 02nd May 2015) Going by the angry reaction of TANAPA over recently published figures on elephant and game counts in the country, it can be anyone’s guess what will happen to those who use and rebroadcast such figures inside Tanzania when the […]

Challenges mount for Kenya’s leading tourism companies

SERENA’ PROFITS SLUMP BY 39 PERCENT (Posted 02nd May 2015) Serena Hotels, as TPS Eastern Africa Ltd. – a company quoted on the Nairobi Stock Exchange – is regularly referred to, has now released the results of the last financial year and the profit warning sounded a few months ago turned out to translate into […]

ATA Membership Updates – See Who’s Joined & Renewed in 2015

Want to be equal among peers and join this elite group? Become a member of the Africa Travel Association THE most relevant global body promoting travel to Africa, EXCLUSIVELY … ATA Membership Updates View this email in your browser The ATA community continues to grow! Have a look at who has joined and renewed in […]

Kenya’s safari camp sector consolidates with Asilia’s acquisition of another camp

ASILIA WIDENS KENYA PORTFOLIO (Posted 01st May 2015) Effective 01st of May has Asilia, the accommodation group with properties in Tanzania, Zanzibar and Kenya, acquired the ‘Encounter Mara’ camp which is located on the Naboisho Conservancy which adjoins the main Masai Mara Game Reserve. The ten tents, which include two larger family tents able to […]

No 397 Wildlife Trade News: 1st May

The daily dose of bad news about poaching, wildlife and environmental crimes … in the spotlight today …………………… Loving Birds to Death The bird market in Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia. (Photo: Megan Ahrens/Getty Images) http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/04/30/pet-owners-birds-extinction-indonesia No 397 Wildlife Trade News: 1st May Saving the Sumatran rhino – too little too late? SABAH/MALAYSIA EXTRACT:. Dr Shepherd says […]

Malawi set to enter the e-Payment age

Malawi takes key step to advance digital payments and drive inclusive growth Government, private sector, mobile operators and development organizations convened ast week to establish a plan for the future Malawi took a significant step towards creating a digital payment environment for the country in order to address poverty and drive inclusive growth. An event […]

Don’t miss out! Rhino Mayday, RideLondon and more

And after the Ewaso Lions News here come the Rhino News … Don’t miss out! Just 7 days left to sign up for this year’s RideLondon-Surrey 100. Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Horn-E Events Just one week to go! Don’t miss out on your chance to be part of […]

Newsletter: Lion Kids Camp Inspires Kenyan Children

News from the Ewaso Lions CLICK HERE TO DONATE April 2015 Lion Kids Camp Inspires 27 Children For many children in rural parts of Kenya, an encounter with wildlife is mainly negative: they see the remains of a camel after a lion attack, or a leopard running off with their goat. The Lion Kids Camp […]

Two new videos aim to promote Reunion in China

TUNIU FILM TEAM ON REUNION FOR PROMOTIONAL VIDEO SHOOT (Posted 01st May 2015) One of China’s leading outbound tour operators, Tuniu.com, has just flown one of their film teams to Reunion to produce two dedicated video clips which can be used to promote the various attractions of the destination to the Chinese market. This initiative […]

Changes in Air Seychelles’ fleet as emphasis shifts to regional services

AIR SEYCHELLES GETS SECOND AIRBUS A320 TO FACILITATE MORE REGIONAL FLIGHTS (Posted 01st May 2015) At the end of April, with unusually little fanfare considering that the global travel media were on the Seychelles’ for the 2015 edition of the carnival, did a second Airbus A320 join the Air Seychelles fleet. In December had the […]

5th Seychelles Carnival was the biggest ever event organized on the archipelago

Success breeds success and the juggernaut the Seychelles’ marketing machinery has become is today a textbook example of how to do things right and make heads turn and spotlights be trained on the little paradise deep in the Indian Ocean. The marketing miracle from the Indian Ocean is largely attributed to Alain St. Ange, who […]

Is SA Seeking to Downlist Lions in Order to Trade Lion Bones?

More news from the Conservation Action Trust Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Wildlife in Crisis Conference 18th, 19th and 20th May 2015 Venue: Kramer Law Building, LECTURE THEATRE 1, UCT , Middle Campus View conference details here

Will the call ‘Skal to All’ become louder again in Kampala ?

SKAL KAMPALA RE-ELECTS RECENTLY RETURNED JAMES RATTOS AS PRESIDENT (Posted 30th April 2015) After returning only a few weeks ago to Uganda, having done a two years successful stint as General Manager of the Enashipai Resort & Spa in Naivasha, is James Rattos clearly set to get stuck in with a gusto. Now managing the […]

No 396 Wildlife Trade News: 30th April

The daily dose of bad news from around the world about poaching, wildlife and environmental crimes … in the spotlight today …………………… UAE destroys more than 10 tonnes of seized ivory International Fund for Animal Welfare expresses strong support to the UAE’s move. The UAE became the first country in the Middle East to publicly […]

Pictures of an erupting volcano anyone? Read on where to get thos snapshots

VISITORS TO REUNION CAN EXPECT ANOTHER FIERY SPECTACLE (Posted 30th April 2015) The administration of Reunion Island has given advance notice that another eruption of the famous Piton de la Fournaisse may be imminent and if so will visitors to the island be able to enjoy a unique spectacle, that of an eruption volcano but […]