More money for communities living around Bwindi National Park

UWA DOUBLES COMMUNITY SHARE FROM EACH SOLD GORILLA PERMIT (Posted 16th March 2015) The announcement over the last weekend by the Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority Dr. Andrew Seguya, that effective 01st of July this year the community share from each sold gorilla tracking permit in Bwindi will be doubled, evoked swift reactions […]

No 357 Wildlife Trade News 15th March 2015

And yet another dose of bad news, following hot on the heels of an update filed yesterday about the killing of two rhinos in Kenya … in the spotlight today …………………… Chinese lust for ivory could kill of world’s weirdest bird – the helmeted hornbill whose ivory fetched £4,000 per kilo (three times that of […]

Australia bans import of all lion parts to stop canned hunting

Australia says NO to ‘cruel and barbaric’ canned lion hunting By Peter Borchert March 13, 2015 CAPTION Two full-maned lions bred in captivity: animals such as these are at the very top of international trophy hunters wishlists.. © Ian Michler The Hon. Greg Hunt, Australia’s Minister for the Environment has delivered a broadside against the […]

Seychelles Carnival – a magnet for carnivalistas and the global media

Come April the 24th will the 5th edition of the Seychelles Carnival kick off on the main island of Mahe. The parade is due to be held on the 25th of April when the juggernaut of carnivalistas will roll through the streets of Victoria in a display of colour, music, dance and much more.Here are […]

Two more rhinos mowed down for their horns in Kenya

TWO RHINOS POACHED AT OL JOGI THREATEN THE SURVIVAL OF THE CONSERVANCY (Posted 15th March 2015 reporting from the Mombasa Serena Resort & Spa) (File photo of a poached rhino courtesy of meebal.com) Only a few hours ago was an article posted here about the renewed poaching in the Tsavo area of Kenya where over […]

And don’t forget to mention tariff rises and VAT do tourism stakeholders remind KWS

TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS BLAME VAT ON PARK FEES FOR DOWNTURN (Posted 15th March 2015) Less visitors on safari, less park fees earned – this is a simple equation. KWS, the Kenya Wildlife Service, suffered a serious downturn in financial fortunes over the past year but when the organization attributed the negative trend simply to the prevailing […]

Tanzania National Parks set to keep tariffs in place for at least one more year

TANAPA TO HOLD PARK FEES UNTIL 2016 (Posted 15th March 2015) Confirmation was received over the weekend that TANAPA, the Tanzania National Park Authority, has apparently decided to hold park entrance tariffs which were due for upward revision, until 2016. Last revised from 01st July 2013, and initially due to be valid until 30th June […]

No 356 Wildlife Trade News 14th March 2015

The daily dose of bad news … about poaching, wildlife and environmental crimes … in the spotlight today …………………… PM+: EU must take action to close ivory trade loopholes. extract: In 2011 Belgium issued just eight certificates for raw ivory. The following year that increased to 18. 2013 saw a huge jump to 97 and […]

Lillian Gaitho today takes a look at Addis Ababa

This particular guest writer has over the past months really established herself and readers of my blog repeatedly expressed their gratitude about the direction of her articles and the topics selected. Well here is another one of her reviews, discussing a visit to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, seat of the African Union. Addis-Ababa – Africa’s […]

News from the Kenya coast …

The South Coast Residents Association is more and moreestablishing itself as the primary authoritative voice of the private sector in the wider Diani, Tiwi, Ukunda and Msambweni areas. Readers often ask for more information from the grassroots and the SCRA Newsletter is one way to find out more about activities, challenges and reactions. Enjoy the […]

Reunion pays special attention to travellers with disabilities

THE SAGA DU RHUM MUSEUM WELCOMES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (Posted 14th March 2015) France, on the weekend of 28th and 29th of March, will across the mainland and the regions, including Reunion, showcase and highlight how people with disabilities can travel, stay and explore. Reunion’s Saga du Rhum Museum in fact last year won national […]

Profitable again … Air Seychelles for the third year in a row

ANOTHER YEAR OF PROFITABILITY FOR AIR SEYCHELLES (Posted 14th March 2015) Passengers carried in 2014: 412.088 Total revenue in 2014: 106.9 million US Dollars – up by 20 percent Cargo carried: 7.311 tons in 2014 Profits for 2014: 3.2 million US Dollars These are the proud figures Air Seychelles released yesterday when making public the […]

No 355 Wildlife Trade News 13th March 2015

Your daily dose of bad news … a never ending story …about poaching, wildlife and environmental crimes … Please note: For newsletter subscription and circulation details see message at the end of this newsletter. in the spotlight today …………………… Vanishing Species: International Experts Find Fault with CITES ‘Documents’. EXTRACT: Wild animals imported to Armenia are […]

Fastjet adds Kilimanjaro to their Entebbe route

FASTJET SET FOR ENTEBBE – KILIMANJARO FLIGHTS (Posted 13th March 2015) Fastjet has announced that they will be launching flights between Kilimanjaro International Airport and Entebbe at the 31st of March, extending the present Dar es Salaam to Entebbe service with the stop at JRO. Arusha, some 50 kilometres away, is the seat of the […]

Reunion serves as photo shoot location for the world’s greatest outdoor brand

NORTH FACE SELECTS REUNION FOR MAJOR PHOTO SHOOT (Posted 13th March 2015) China’s and the world’s number one outdoor clothing brand, The North Face, has selected Reunion Island for their 2015 photo shoot, giving huge added publicity to the island which is truly one of the most breathtaking adventure destinations on the globe. A team […]

New taxes and fees on wood carvings likely to kill the curio trade in Tanzania

NEW TAX AND FEE RULES FOR WOODCARVINGS CERTAIN TO ROCK THE BOAT IN TANZANIA (Posted 13th March 2015) Incredible news are coming in from Tanzania that the government there, cash strapped ahead of the upcoming general elections, is seeking to fill its coffers from the pockets of tourists who have bought wood carvings while on […]

Turboprop addition to fleet gives Jambojet a wider reach for new domestic destinations

JAMBOJET ADDS LAMU, MALINDI AND UKUNDA WITH NEW BOMBARDIER Q400 AIRCRAFT (Posted 13th March 2015) Jambojet, the low cost subsidiary of national airline Kenya Airways, has now confirmed what has been rumoured for some time, that they will lease a Bombardier Q400NextGen aircraft and begin serving additional domestic routes their present fleet of Boeing B737-300’s […]

Baby Elephants Held In Zimbabwe are Suffering

News updates from the Conservation Action Trust Baby Elephants Held In Zimbabwe are Suffering Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Baby Elephants Held in Zimbabwe Are Suffering, Expert Says National Geographic | March 09, 2015 | Christina Russo | This young elephant, separated from its mother in Hwange National Park, […]

No 354 Wildlife Trade News 12th March 2015

Your daily dose of bad news from around the world about poaching, wildlife and environmental crimes … in the spotlight today …………………… Lack of rhino poaching statistics unacceptable. SOUTH AFRICA NA comment: This, from a CITES Secretary General Award Winning country.) http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38334:lack-of-rhino-poaching-statistics-unacceptable&catid=87:border-security&Itemid=188 No 354 Wildlife Trade News 12th March 2015 Angola: African Elephant Protection Experts […]

MYD – stands for Malindi / Kenya

EXPLORING THE KENYA COAST – ONE LOCATION AT THE TIME (Posted 10th March 2015) It is almost inevitable that questions were asked and motives studied when I announced a trip along the Kenya coast, covering Vipingo, Malindi, Watamu, Kilifi, Shanzu and Nyali. But why here and why not there or what on earth made you […]

WOW as in WOW? Read on to get the meaning of it …

WOW – THE WONDERS OF WATAMU (Posted 12th March 2015) The entire Kenya coast has for some time now been struggling to overcome the fallout caused by anti-travel advisories. The award winning Diani beach south of Mombasa is as much affected as are the beaches north of the city and one has the impression that […]

East Africa March Newsletter 2015

Tech savvy? Keen on the latest technologies for bookings and making travel easier through a one stop centre? Here is the latest Amadeus news update from the region … This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, click here to view. Are you making the most of Social Media? Facebook, Twitter and […]

No 353 Wildlife Trade News 11th March 2015

Your daily dose of bad news … all about poaching, wildlife and environmental crimes from around the world in the spotlight today …………………… Empty the Cages! Photos Show the Suffering of 80 Wild-Caught Baby Elephants in Zimbabwe http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/photos-show-the-suffering-of-wild-caught-baby-elephants-in-zimbabwe/ BLAME CHINA. IF THERE WAS NO DEMAND FOR THESE BABY ELEPHANTS THERE WOULD BE NO TRADE – […]

Chinese market very important for Reunion

EDUCATIONAL TOUR FOR CHINESE MARKET BRINGS IN STAFF FROM LEADING OPERATOR (Posted 11th March 2015) Representatives of China’s first online travel agency are presently on Reunion Island to see for themselves what the hype about the destination is all about and that indeed the marketing slogans and advertising promises are for real. Tuniu was launched […]

If you think the carnival this year is over, think again …

SEYCHELLES CARNIVAL NUMBER FIVE – A CRACKER IN THE MAKING (Posted 11th March 2015) While many have heard the marketing slogan ‘Seychelles – another world’ probably fewer will think that the annual ‘Carnaval de Carnivals – the Carnival International de Victoria’ is equally another world altogether, as it brings the carnivalistas from around the world […]

Kenya beats Tunisia in battle for ITB Best African Exhibitor runner up spot

KENYA TOURISM CLAIMS RUNNER UP SPOT AS AFRICA’S SECOND BEST EXHIBITOR AT ITB (Posted 11th March 2015) Kenya’s Tourism Board missed out narrowly to Rwanda at the just concluded ITB 2015 but nevertheless lifted the runner up trophy as second best African exhibitor. The award will no doubt give an added boost to the confidence […]

FlyDubai scales up flights to Zanzibar, Bujumbura and Juba

MORE FLIGHTS FOR JUBA, BUJUMBURA AND ZANZIBAR (Posted 11th March 2015) Zanzibar will see a doubling of flights by flydubai from June this year, the service routing via Tanzania’s commercial capital of Dar es Salaam, From the 29th of March onwards will Juba move from five flights a week to daily services and Bujumbura, Burundi’s […]

News from the Entumoto Conservancy

Entumoto news January/February 2015 We take this Opportunity to wish you a happy and prosperous 2015! Tourism industry has had quite few challenges over the past few months but we are seeing an improvement for the coming months and we thank you for your continuing support. The Mara is as spectacular as ever, and particularly […]

Chimpanzee Trust February bulletin

Chimp news from Uganda … get the latest updates from Ngamba Island … Chimpanzee Trust February 2015 bulletin DONATE Make a donation today or pledge to contribute to the welfare of chimpanzees in our care at Ngamba Island. #everypennycounts Chimpanzee Trust Plot 1, Bank Close P.O.Box 884 Entebbe, Uganda info Ngamba chimpanzee politics Umutama, whom […]

Conflict or not, South Sudan enters the age of e-transactions

JOVAGO.COM LINKS SOUTH SUDAN’S HOTELS TO THE REST OF THE WORLD (Posted 11th March 2015) South Sudan, while presently undergoing conflicts in large parts of Africa’s youngest nation, remains in the focus of neighbouring countries with the primary purpose of supplying goods and services not available locally to the parts of the country close to […]