Weekly roundup of news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, First edition June 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 You can get your daily news updates instantly via Twitter by following @whthome or join me on www.facebook.com/WolfgangHThome where the articles also ‘cross load’. Read […]
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary reports new birth
RHINO NUMBER 16 ‘ARRIVES’ AT ZIWA RHINO SANCTUARY Breaking news just in from the Rhino Fund Uganda confirms that another rhino baby was born on the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary overnight. Nandi, donated some years ago by the Disney Animal Kingdom in Florida to the Rhino Fund Uganda, now had her third baby since she arrived […]
Mass Tourism? What Mass Tourism?
MASS TOURISM? WHAT MASS TOURISM? Local media reports about the Seychelles being turned in to a ‘mass tourism destination’ met with acid comments to this correspondent, all suggesting that the writer had absolutely no clue about the concept of mass tourism, what mass tourism constitutes and what in stark contrast the Seychelles’ tourism industry did […]
St. Ange re-elected as Vanilla Island cooperation president
ALAIN ST. ANGE GETS ANOTHER TERM AS VANILLA ISLAND COOPERATION PRESIDENT Madagascar, La Reunion, Mayotte and the Comoros have during the just concluded annual meeting of the Vanilla Island cooperation proposed, and subsequently voted, that Seychelles’ Minister for Tourism and Culture, Alain St. Ange, should serve a second term of office for the organization. St. […]
Porini / Gamewatchers launch newsletter
PORINI CAMPS LAUNCH MONTHLY NEWSLETTER One of Kenya’s leading sustainable tourism businesses, Gamewatcher Safaris and Porini Safari Camps, have just announced the launch of ‘… in the Wilds …’, their dedicated e-newsletter now sent to their faithful clientele from all around the world on a monthly basis, through which a wealth of information will be […]
Conservation lobby beat land grab attempt at Nairobi National Park
CONSERVATION LOBBY BEATS THE ODDS TO HALT NATIONAL PARK LAND GRAB Dr. Paula Kahumbu and her co-plaintiffs EAWLS and ANEW have yesterday made a permanent mark on environmental protection in Kenya, when the National Environment Tribunal ruled in their favour over the suspected encroachment of the so called Southern Bypass into the Nairobi National Park. […]
KWS launches country wide crackdown on poachers and illegal herders
KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE ROLLS OUT NATIONWIDE ANTI POACHING BATTLE Following the publication of details that another four rhinos were poached over the past two weeks, 21 overall this year already in Kenya, and at least 117 elephant butchered for their tusks – at least that is the officially confirmed figure which conservation sources claim could […]
Kenya Airways boosts Eldoret services
KENYA AIRWAYS SET FOR DOUBLE DAILY TO ELDORET Information from Nairobi has confirmed Kenya Airways’ intention to commence double daily services between Nairobi and the Western Kenyan town of Eldoret, effective 02nd June. Currently KQ operates 11 times a week on the route and the addition of three more flights on Monday, Tuesday and Sunday […]
Will Qatar Airways’ pullout from Seychelles mark a turning point for Gulf aviation?
COMPETITION AMONG GULF AIRLINES PRODUCES FIRST FAULT LINES The announcement by Qatar Airways to withdraw from the Seychelles route, a destination they have served uninterrupted since 2004, has sent out signals to aviation observers, that this may constitute a turning point in the hitherto relentless march of the three Gulf giants towards expansion, adding new […]
Kenya hit by nationwide power outage
KENYA POWER PLUNGES COUNTRY INTO DRAKNESS Kenyan businesses were left reeling yesterday when the country was hit with the worst power outage since 2000, lasting for several hours before, very gradually, electricity supply was restored. Political pundits immediately raised the question if foul play was involved in this major incident, which will cost the business […]
A return to Nyungwe Forest National Park
NYUNGWE, A RETURN TO THE ENCHANTED FOREST Few places fuel my imagination as does the Nyungwe Forest National Park, with over 1.000 square kilometres the largest still intact montane forest in Eastern and Central Africa. It’s unique location, adjoining Burundi’s Kibira Transfrontier National Park, makes it part of Africa’ largest continuous protected forest area. The […]
Qatar Airways signals end to Seychelles flights
QATAR AIRWAYS ANNOUNCES PULL OUT FROM SEYCHELLES Tourism industry sources reacted with shock and incredulity when news broke over the weekend that Qatar Airways, presently serving Mahe with a daily flight, using an Airbus A320, will be ceasing operations into the archipelago come September this year. Sources on the island, probably for fear of repercussions […]
Leopard Beach is joined by Swahili Beach in TripAdvisor recognition
LEOPARD BEACH IS JOINED BY SWAHILI BEACH IN ANNUAL TRIPADVISOR RECOGNITION Two of Kenya’s leading beach resorts, the much acclaimed Leopard Beach Resort and Spa and the nearby Swahili Beach – the latter the first new hotel opened in December 2011 for over 15 years at the Diani Beach stretch of the south coast – […]
Madagascar’s second International Tourism Fair opens on 30th of May
2ND INTERNATIONAL TOURISM TRADE FAIR SET FOR MAY 30 TO JUNE 01 Next weekend will see the second edition of the Madagascar International Tourism Fair take place in the island’s capital of Antananarivo, which has already since its inception received the full support of other Vanilla Island partners as a key event on the annual […]
Maria Baryamujura gets global recognition for her work in community tourism
MARIA BARYAMUJURA MAKES IT INTO THE ADWTA HALL OF FAME (Maria Baryamujura seen here with Kitty Pope who formally proposed her for the award) The African Diaspora World Tourism Awards (ADWTA) is the first ever awards ceremony honoring trailblazers in black culture and heritage as an influence on tourism. It is designed in appreciation of […]
Seychelles Tourism Academy graduates 198 students
VANESSA JULIETTE TAKES PRESIDENT’S CUP IN RACE FOR BEST STUDENT AT STA The annual graduation at the Seychelles Tourism Academy on Friday afternoon, during which 198 students graduated from their respective courses, turned into THE event in the young life of Vanessa Juliette, when she was announced to be the winner of the President’s Cup. […]
Weekly roundup of news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, Fourth edition May 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 You can get your daily news updates instantly via Twitter by following @whthome or join me on www.facebook.com/WolfgangHThome where the articles also ‘cross load’. Read […]
Kenya’s tourism industry promised 10 point plan towards recovery
NEW TOURISM SECRETARY ANNOUNCES 10 POINT PLAN TOWARDS RECOVERY ‘I have come up with a ten point plant highlighting the areas that we shall prioritise going forward. These include streamlining the boards of State corporations in tourism, hastening the implementation of the Tourism Act and setting up a tourism market recovery programme to recover Kenya’s […]
Cheli & Peacock bag two more TripAdvisor CoE’s for Loisaba and Elephant Pepper Camp
CHELI AND PEACOCK INTRODUCES NEW BOARD MEMBERS Cheli & Peacock, one of Kenya’s foremost safari and safari camp operators, has just announced the appointment of Antonia Glen and Bilal Yusuf as Directors of International Sales and Finance respectively. Effective immediately they will join the board where they will serve alongside company owners Stefano and Liz […]
Routes Africa 2013 Kampala meeting programme now available
ROUTES AFRICA 2013 PROGRAMME IS OUT FOR KAMPALA MEETING The preliminary programme for this year’s main African aviation event, Routes Africa has recently been released. Routes Africa 2013 is hosted by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority and Entebbe International Airport and will Details on the programme line up are shown below and intending participants can […]
Paraa and Chobe get top TripAdvisor recognition
PARAA AND CHOBE LODGES RECOGNIZED BY TRIPADVISOR Two of Uganda’s leading safari lodges, the Madhvani Group’s Chobe and Paraa Safari Lodges in Murchisons Falls National Park, have just received recognition as top rated properties by TripAdvisor the global industry leader in client based ratings of hotels, resorts, lodges, restaurants and other tourism attractions. Both were […]
Kenyan Masai perform at Seychelles’ Africa Day ‘FetAfrik 2013’
KENYAN MASAI GROUP PERFORMS AT SEYCHELLES ‘FETAFRIK 2013’ FESTIVAL A group of Masai dancers, normally attached to the Bomas of Kenya, are presently in the Seychelles to perform at the archipelago’s annual Africa Festival, aka FetAfrik. The Seychelles, a member of the African Union and geographically belonging to the African continent, has for some time […]
Emirates top leadership in Seychelles in talks for even closer cooperation
EMIRATES SEEKS CLOSER TIES WITH SEYCHELLES THROUGH NEW RESORT PROJECT The top leadership of Emirates, led by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Vice President of Dubai and Chairman and CEO of the Emirates Group and accompanied, among others by Mr. Tim Clark, President of Emirates and Mr. Marc Bennet, VP in charge of Emirates’ […]
Source of the Nile Marathon postponed till May 2014
SOURCE OF THE NILE MARATHON POSTPONED TILL NEXT YEAR There is disappointment among the marathon enthusiasts that the 5th edition of the Jinja Source of the Nile Marathon, which was due to be run this weekend, appears to have been postponed until May 2014, according to information posted on the marathon website. This year would […]
Kwita Izina 2013 set to name a dozen newborn gorilla babies
KWITA IZINA 2013 WILL NAME A DOZEN NEW GORILLA BABIES When the Rwanda Development Board’s Tourism and Conservation Department holds their annual Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony on Saturday, the 22nd June at Kinigi / outside the Volcano National Park, exactly a dozen newborn gorilla babies will be named this year. One of them was […]
Entebbe airport departure area to be revamped says UCAA
UGANDA CAA ANNOUNCES PLANS TO REMODEL DEPARTURE AREA OF ENTEBBE AIRPORT Travellers using the Entebbe International Airport have for long been suffering the inconvenience of being made to walk long distances from the car park to the main terminal, often subjected to bucketing rain, as a result of the security apparatus gone bonkers over keeping […]
RwandAir sets date for Accra inaugural flight
RWANDAIR SETS DATE FOR ACCRA INAUGURAL FLIGHT RwandAir has today announced the date of the inaugural flight celebration for their new route to Accra / Ghana as 15th of June. The airline already flies to Brazzaville, Libreville and Lagos and will shortly commence regular scheduled flights to Accra and Douala, bringing their West African destinations […]
Ethiopian Airlines set for Seoul from 18th June
ETHIOPIAN SET FOR SEOUL FLIGHTS FROM MID JUNE Ethiopian Airlines will commence flights between Addis Ababa and Seoul, South Korea’s capital city, from 18th of June onwards in an effort to further expand their network by adding new key destinations. No information could be obtained by the time of uploading the article of the type […]
Tourists stranded as Mombasa highway blocked by truck driver protest
TOURISTS STRANDED BY STRIKING TRUCK DRIVERS A massive traffic jam along the main highway to Mombasa was blocked yesterday for over 8 hours by striking truck drivers, with cars on both sides of the Mariakani weight bridge backed up for over 20 kilometres. As a result were safari vehicles stranded for the duration, in the […]
Burundi signs new BASA with Qatar
BURUNDI ENACTS NEW AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH QATAR The Burundi government has now formally signed a new air service agreement with Qatar, allowing the two national airlines to fly up to seven times a week between Doha and Bujumbura. The agreement covers passengers and cargo services and allows for intermediate stops enroute from and to […]
