Fastjet Kenya Air Service Licence finally appears in Kenya Gazette notice

FASTJET KENYA NOW MOVES INTO AOC AUDIT STAGE (Posted 30th May 2016) The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, often seen as a preventer rather than a promoter of broader air transport into Kenya and within Kenya, has finally gazetted the formal notice that Fastjet has been granted an Air Service Licence. The matter had been pending, […]
Ecowas is broke, can’t pay hotel bills as Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal, Cape Verde and Nigeria default in Payment
More news from Nigeria and the rest of West Africa, including an alarming item that ECOWAS is broke. All this and more courtesy of Ikechi Uko and his ATQ News. ATQnews.com a member of Travel Media Group. This is the online platform for African Travel Quarterly (ATQ), the first Travel magazine in West Africa which […]
Updates from the Rhino Charge venue outside the Masai Mara
COME DAWN TODAY IS THE 28TH RHINO CHARGE GOING UNDERWAY (Posted 30th May 2016) (Routing of the 2016 Rhino Charge) Final preparations for the 28th edition of the Rhino Charge, Kenya’s unique off-road competition have been completed at a location in the untamed wilderness of South Western Kenya. The venue, which had been secret until […]
Rwanda’s planned Visa waiver for Africans aimed to support tourism industry
RWANDAIR AND MICE INDUSTRY SEEN AS MAJOR BENEFICIARIES OF RWANDA’S DECISION TO ABOLISH VISA FOR AFRICANS (Posted 29th May 2016) When Rwanda broke ranks with other African countries two years ago and implemented their decision to grant Visa on arrival for citizens of African Union memberstates, did many other African countries either dismiss the new […]
Coastal Kenya roots for Honey moon showcase
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, the Hon. Najib Balala, while officially opening the new Hill Park Resort in Diani, reminds the hospitality industry of a range of incentives put into place for the duty free importation of hotel equipment to aid the sector with modernization and to make refurbishments more affordable. This goes hand in […]
Tone your violent politics, Balala advises politicians
Kenya’s Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala, while opening a new resort – Hill Park Amare in Diani – did not mince words when he reminded the opposition to tone down their rhetoric and refrain from what he called violent politics. He warned that political chaos introduced by the opposition into the streets of the Kenyan […]
RwandAir’s A330 interior is beginning to take shape

RWANDAIR’S LONG HAUL SERVICES SET TO PROVIDE SUPERIOR COMFORT LEVELS (Posted 28th May 2016) When RwandAir takes delivery of the first of two Airbus A330 long haul aircraft in September this year, will a new era begin for Rwanda’s national airline. For the first time will long haul flights be launched, to Mumbai in India […]
Kigali prepares for first ever car free Sunday

KIGALI’S CITY COUNCIL PROVIDES RESIDENTS WITH FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO SAMPLE A CAR FREE CITY (Posted 28th May 2016) (Courtesy Kigali City Council) From 07.00 am to noon tomorrow will large parts of Kigali’s Central Business District and key access avenues be car free, to allow residents of Rwanda’s capital to use the roads to walk, […]
Ecotourism Kenya certifies third Serena property as ‘Gold Level’
THREE GOLD RANKINGS BY ECOTOURISM KENYA TAKE SERENA TO THE TOP (Posted 28th May 2016) Following the latest audit carried out by Ecotourism Kenya did news emerge that Serena Hotels now holds three Gold Level rankings for their Kenyan properties. The green label, regionally recognized as the leading such home grown platform but not yet […]
Could there be a new lizard species in Uganda

BWANA TEMBO CAMP OWNER STUMBLES UPON A POTENTIAL NEW LIZARD SPECIES (Posted 27th May 2016) It is not only big game which visitors to Uganda can discover. Over 1.000 species of birds await to be seen, many of them endemic and some extremely rare like the ancient looking shoebill stork. Across Uganda’s ten national parks […]
#BreakingNews – Kenya Airways continues its fleet reduction
TURKISH AND OMAN AIR TAKE DELIVERY OF ONE B777-300ER AND ONE B787-8 FROM KENYA AIRWAYS (Posted 27th May 2016) Kenya Airways, clearly defying its critics with their determination to cut costs and streamline operations, has this week delivered a second of three Boeing B777-300ER to Turkish Airlines, while the third aircraft under this multi year […]
FAA inspectors in Nairobi for Category 1 audit

IT IS NOW OR NEVER FOR JKIA AS DECISION NEARS BY FAA OVER CAT 1 STATUS (Posted 27th May 2016) An audit is underway at the moment by FAA inspectors to determine if the various construction activities and the subsequent separation of incoming and outgoing passengers, among a series of other criteria, will be sufficient […]
Blood ivory seized at Juba International Airport

AIRPORT SECURITY IN JUBA ARRESTS SOLDIER CARRYING 8 TUSKS (Posted 27th May 2016) Information was received from the South Sudan capital Juba that security services at the international airport have arrested an SPLA soldier who carried 8 elephant tusks. The suspect confesses that he had bought the blood ivory from other government soldiers, trying to […]
Hassle free travel with kids

Lillian’s final piece this week is looking at how best to travel with babies and toddlers … Fuss-free Travels: Six Tips for Baby Meal-planning and Co-sleeping Travelling with a baby brings in a totally different experience from journeying around with an older child or even a teenager. Apart from the need to tuck in a […]
How to make Social Media content work …

Lillian in yet another shared article takes a closer look at Social Media content, and what is needed to make it count! #5 Tips: How to create social media content that works for you The markets seem to be all bent on bringing home the Millennial; this generation, among many accusations seem to have insatiable […]
Saving for the next big vacation.

Lillian’s shares her thoughts of how best to financially prepare for the next big vacation Frugal vs Cheapskate: 5 Tips on how to save for the big vacation Just to clear things up, frugal does not equal cheapskate. While frugal revolves around getting the most value on every cent spent, cheapskate can be downright self-sabotage. […]
Seychelles Hotel and Tourism Association re-elects Mrs. Cardon as Chairperson

MRS. SYBIL CARDON GETS ANOTHER TERMS AS SHTA CHAIR (Posted 26th May 2016) Earlier this week did the Seychelles Hotel and Tourism Association hold its annual general meeting at the Seychelles Conference Centre in Victoria. High on the agenda was the election of the new executive including the position of chair person. Congratulations are extended […]
Finding Refuge
More news from the Conservation Action Trust Finding refuge: The untapped potential of Mozambique’s Banhine and Zinave 26 May 2016 | Traveller24 | Dianne Tipping-Woods | FREE TO PUBLISH CREDIT CAT When researcher Kristoffer Everatt spotted a movement in the grass while conducting field work in Banhine National Park in Mozambique in July 2015, he […]
Sounds Of Kili – don’t miss the launch party for KILIFair 2016
Sounds Of Kili – official KILIFAIR partner 4th June 2016 @ Glaciers, Moshi Starts at 15.00 hours with open stage by Cultural Art Center / Tumaini University / International School Moshi Main concerts begin 21.00 hours Entrance fee 15 000 TShs (free before 17.00 hours) Featuring live performances from: – Cultural Art Center Fusion – […]
UNWTO publishes the latest trend report for global tourism in 2016
Reunion’s volcano erupts for the first time in 2016

PITON DE LA FOURNAISE SPITS FIRE AGAIN (Posted 26th May 2016) Earlier today did the Piton de la Fournaise, Reunions’ active volcano, begin to shift from sleepy to active again, for the first time this year after days of increased seismic activity. Last year were at least six eruptions recorded, all spectacular in their own […]
Lillian takes aim at ‘active adventure getaways’

In need for an adrenaline boost? Read on to find out whatLillian’s thoughts this week are for thrill seekers and adventure travelers! And the good thing, all these can be explored in Kenya, although of course the rest of East Africa too has similar attractions to offer. Check out the web pages of your country’s […]
Lillian Gaitho’s latest thoughts on new travel trends

It is not that Lillian wasn’t productive over the past couple of days and the fault for not publishing her articles is entirely mine. Involved in the final planning stages and handling of my son’s wedding yesterday, notably on Africa Day when he married his Eritrean fiancee, kept me from spending as much time as […]
News updates from the East African Wild Life Society
Warning for travelers to Abu Dhabi – Introduction of Tourism Dirham Fees
Beware of the imminent introduction of a tourist fee of AED 15 per person per night spent in Abu Dhabi … seems they have fallen on hard times in the Gulf to resort to such extortionate measures! Be Social with us :-
More news from further down south, courtesy of Gill Staden’s ‘The Livingstone bi-Weekly’

Enjoy more news from Zambia, Zimbabwe and beyond. https://thelivingstoneweekly.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/tlbw25may16-compressed.pdf An osprey fishing in spectacular super slow motion This is filmed in Scotland but osprey migrate to Africa between September to March. I have seen them in Lower Zambezi. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03tmgvv Shoebill of Bangweulu: https://www.facebook.com/769539486429569/videos/1144472735602907/ BBC 2 Elephant Baby – to make you smile https://www.facebook.com/bbctwo/videos/899180583524444/ Inside this […]
UBER Kenya partners with Sidian Bank and Zohari leasing to boost fleet numbers

UBER LAUNCHES QUALITY VEHICLE INITIATIVE IN KENYA (Posted 25th Mu 2016) Boosting vehicle numbers as well as improving vehicle quality has seen UBER Kenya launch a new initiative which is now available for its contracted drivers. Together with Sidian Bank and Zohari Leasing will vehicles be made available for prices between 1 million Kenya shillings […]
Precision Air launches Pemba flights

PEMBA GETS AN INITIAL THREE WEEKLY FLIGHTS BY PRECISION AIR (Posted 25th May 2016) Precision Air has now launched the long expected flights from Dar es Salaam via the main Zanzibari island of Unguja to Pemba. The service will operate three times a week every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, using one of the airline’s ATR […]
Amadeus’ latest research shows unexpected results on travel patterns
LUXURY TRAVEL OUTPACES ALL ELSE SAYS AMADEUS MARKET STUDY (Posted 24th May 2016) A new Amadeus report looks at luxury travel trends until 2025 to help the travel industry better target and service its fastest-growing segment. The report was commissioned by Amadeus, a global travel technology provider, and developed with data from Tourism Economics and […]
First Dreamliner for Reunion’s Air Austral

REUNION’S HOME AIRLINE BECOMES FIRST FRENCH B787 OPERATOR (Posted 24th May 2016) Air Austral’s first Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner is now enroute from the Boeing facility in Everett, Washington State to Reunion Island and is expected to land in the morning at the Roland Garros International Airport of the capital St. Denis after a 10.500 miles […]