Mango launches nonstop flights between Johannesburg and Zanzibar
MANGO LAUNCHES FLIGHTS BETWEEN JOHANNESBURG AND ZANZIBAR AfricaStay, a South Africa based tour operator, has yesterday launched nonstop charter flights between Johannesburg and Zanzibar, now operating every Tuesday and using a B737-800 with a configuration of 185 seats, all economy. The flights are reportedly a ‘replacement’ for the services operated until last year by now […]
Burundi takes top ITB honours before Kenya and Rwanda
BURUNDI RECLAIMS TOP AFRICAN EXHIBITOR HONOURS BEFORE KENYA AND RWANDA The results for ‘Best African Exhibitor at ITB 2013’ are somewhat surprising for many observers but not for this correspondent, who is a keen observer of the regional tourism scene. Burundi, like last year, once again claimed the top prize as best exhibitor, hopefully helping […]
Fregate Island Private embarks on refurbishment while tourism features high in national HR awards
TOURISM BUSINESSES FEATURE HIGH IN SEYCHELLES ‘BEST HR PRACTICES’ AWARDS Last weekend saw the first ever recognition of best human resource management practices in the Seychelles, during a ceremony held at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort and Casino. Award winners were picked from both private and public sector in three main categories, small and […]
KenyaBuzz launches ‘on the go entertainment and leisure guide’ phone app for Android
KENYA BUZZ LAUNCHES PHONE APP TO BE AVAILABLE ON THE GO Kenya’s premier leisure, food, entertainment and travel e-Guide for what’s to do, where to go and what to find where has just launch their phone application, which is now available to get the news on the go, the first such known app available for […]
Air Uganda expects new CEO to take charge after 6 month vacuum at the top
AIR UGANDA SET TO REVEAL NEW CEO ON APRIL 01 Usually well informed sources have indicated that after a 6 months gap at the top – the last CEO, one Kayle Haywood in early October 2012 prematurely walked out on his contract with the airline to take up a better paying position with FastJet in […]
Air Seychelles confirms a million dollar profit
Having reported this development already nearly two weeks ago, here is the official statement from the airline, just received. March 18, 2013 FIRST AIR SEYCHELLES PROFIT IN THREE YEARS HIGHLIGHTS STRONG TURNAROUND · Net profit of US$1 million in first year of Etihad Airways management contract • Significant synergies and cost savings from equity partnership […]
Kenya Airways prepares for first B737-300F delivery
KENYA AIRWAYS PREPARES FOR DELIVERY OF FIRST CONVERTED B737-300 FREIGHTER Slightly later than initially expected will Kenya Airways receive the first of eventually four converted B737-300 cargo aircraft, which have been selected from their passenger fleet and which will be undergoing this transformation at a facility in China. With the arrival of more Embraer E190 […]
Uganda one of Africa’s BIG FIVE at ITB in Berlin
UGANDA NAMED 5TH BEST AT RECENT ITB ‘It was a bit disappointing to only get 5th, but then, it is still 5th for all of Africa’ said a participant to the recent ITB to this correspondent last weekend, when discussing the performance of the country at the world’s most important tourism trade show. Last year […]
Weekly roundup of news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, Third edition March 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 breaking news updates instantly via Twitter by following @whthome, join me on www.facebook.com/WolfgangHThome where the articles also ‘cross load’ or […]
New ferry now connects Kayunga and Kamuli across the River Nile
NEW FERRY RESTORES NILE CROSSING 35 YEARS DOWN THE LINE The town of Kayunga on the western side of the River Nile is now once again connected with the town of Kamuli on the eastern side of the river, after a break of over 35 years. The only ferry, which provided a link between the […]
Melia Hotels and Resorts close to Kenya deal?
MELIA HOTELS SAID TO EYE KENYA FOR EXPANSION IN AFRICA Spanish hotel and resort group Melia, already in East Africa with one property in Zanzibar, is said to be eyeing an entry in to the Kenyan market to expand their footprint in Africa. Melia currently is also present in Egypt with two resorts and Cape […]
Same old Same Old in Kampala? Try the Sheraton Weekend Treat
SHERATON KAMPALA DOES AWAY WITH THAT ‘SAME OLD SAME OLD’ FEELING Another weekend and what to do, many of my fellow Kampaleans do ask me with a regularity which borders on the monotonous. They have been to Jinja, done the rafting with Nalubale, the horsebackriding with Natalie, the bungee jumping and the quad biking and […]
Boeing’s Press Release on the proposed battery fix for the B787 Dreamliner
This has been a matter of much informed, and at time patently uninformed comments. Here is the full statement issued by Boeing over the proposed battery fixes which the FAA has approved and which are now undergoing a full range of tests before the FAA, and other aviation regulators, may lift the flight ban on […]
Tanzanias forests continue to be decimated
I often get ripped into by individuals from Tanzania, who clearly lack the capacity to understand that exposing transgressions against nature, i.e. poaching inside and outside of the parks, or the massive illegal logging in the forests across the country for timber and to make charcoal, is in the best interest of the country, allowing […]
FastJet manages to raise more funding from US financial markets
FASTJET CONTINUES TO CHARM INVESTORS FOR MORE MONEY Reports confirmed by an aviation source in the UK speak of FastJet having secured additional loan funding worth over 24 million US Dollars from the US based Bergen Global Opportunity Fund, injecting more working capital into the company which is faced with potential liabilities as a result […]
Brussels Airlines readies for Washington launch
BRUSSELS AIRLINES CRANKS UP WASHINGTON ROUTE PROMOTION After stirring up the market a few weeks ago when Brussels Airlines launched their new cabin product across the 4 East African Community countries the airline is flying to at present, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi, is the airline’s sales team now working the market ahead of the […]
Hamad International in Doha getting ready for opening on April 01
QATAR AIRWAYS CONFIRMS MOVE TO NEW AIRPORT BY END YEAR Information received from sources at Qatar Airways confirms that the soft opening of the new international airport in Doha, Hamad International and to be known in airline circles as HIA, is still set for the 01st of April, when the first of 10 airlines will […]
Airports of Mauritius opens new A380 suitable parking bay just hours before Emirates’ arrival
AIRPORTS OF MAURITIUS INAUGURATE PART OF NEW FACILITIES AS A380 VISITS Air Mauritius’ flight MK 053 was the first to arrive at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport on Tuesday this week to use the new parking facilities now in place, part of a greater refurbishment and modernization of the island’s main international airport. One […]
Sauti za Busara #10 – A Roundup
Do not reply to this email address. If you would like to get in touch please use busara Sauti za Busara 2013 Photo highlights Movers & Shakers Media Coverage Audience Survey Thanks to Donors & Sponsors Contact us Like us on facebook English / Kiswahili Sauti za Busara 2013 Top “It was a weekend that […]
Seized African Grey Parrots returned to Uganda for release
UWEC RECEIVES 32 AFRICAN GREY PARROTS RESCUED IN EUROPE A shipment of the now increasingly rare African Grey Parrots to Europe, initially numbering 108 birds – according to figures at hand from a source at UWEC in Entebbe – ended up in tragedy for the feathered beauties when only 32 survived and were returned to […]
NEMA halts all projects in the greater Amboseli ecosystem for a year
NEMA SUSPENDS ALL PROJECTS IN THE AMBOSELI AREA FOR A YEAR The conservation fraternity in Kenya welcomed the news that NEMA, the National Environmental Management Authority in Nairobi, has issued an order to halt any developments in the greater Amboseli ecosystem, allowing for greater study of the impact of some of the proposed mega projects […]
Seychellois student takes top honours in Shannon’s graduate class
STA STUDENT TAKES SHANNON’S TOP RANKING The first ever group of Seychellois students, who recently completed their degree course at the Shannon College of Hotel Management, did the archipelago proud as Ms. Rose-May Payette walked off with the top ranking and scooped the prize for ‘Best Student’ overall in her academic year. 13 Seychellois students […]
Annual Murchisons Fishing Competition ends with 10.000 USD raised
MURCHISONS FISHING TOURNAMENT RAISES 10.000 US DOLLARS The annual Murchisons Falls Invitational Fishing Tournament, which was held last week, bringing together some 50 competitors in over 20 boats, produced some fine fishing results but also, once again, raised much needed funds for conservation. Over 10.000 US Dollars was raised from sponsorships, which will now go […]
Condor announces more Mombasa flights for next winter season
CONDOR ANNOUNCES MORE MOMBASA FLIGHTS FOR COMING WINTER SEASON Condor, the German leisure airline owned by Thomas Cook, has used the just concluded ITB in Berlin to announce added flights from Germany and Austria to Mombasa, commencing on 24 and 25 December 2013 respectively. Besides their ‘regular’ services the airline will operated a B767-300 from […]
New record for Seychelles as 289 KG Blue Marlin caught off Remire Island
289 KG BLUE MARLIN CAUGHT OFF REMIRE ISLAND A group of Russian tourists going out for some deep sea fishing would not have dreamed about the good fortunes they were about to encounter, as they set out with MY Sea Stream of Marine Charters recently, captained by Graham Gower. Caught off the Remire Island, […]
Serena Hotels bag more awards
SERENA BAGS MORE AWARDS Serena Hotels Tanzania recently received a recognition award from the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) for its continued compliance record with the Fund, presented by Second Vice President of Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi at Mount Meru Hotel in Arusha during the official opening of the Third NSSF […]
British Airways moves to 8 flights a week come May
BRITISH AIRWAYS SET TO ADD AN 8TH FLIGHT TO NAIROBI FROM MAY Information from Nairobi speaks of British Airways moving from daily flights to 8 flights per week, commencing in May this year, an intriguing development considering the airline has just dropped Tanzania’s commercial capital Dar es Salaam from the schedule after decades of uninterrupted […]
KWS seizes more blood ivory as CITES struggles for common anti poaching positions
KWS CONFISCATES BLOOD IVORY AFTER SHOOTOUT WITH POACHERS Reports from Nairobi reached this correspondent late yesterday of a shootout between poachers and KWS security personnel near Kitui, outside the boundaries of Tsavo East National Park, which led to the confiscation of tusks and ivory pieces weighing nearly 100 kilogramms, a motor cycle used to transport […]
UTA gets new leadership as Byaruhanga elected President
UGANDA TOURISM ASSOCIATION GETS NEW LEADERSHIP Information received over the weekend, albeit sketchy, speak of Herbert Byaruhanga, founder of the Uganda Safari Guide Association and the Uganda Bird Guide Association, having been elected to the office of President of the Uganda Tourism Association, apex body for the various tourism trade associations in Uganda. Herbert Byaruhanga […]
Emirates’s Tim Clark hopes to bring the A380 daily to Mauritius
EMIRATES’ ONE OFF A 380 VISIT TO MAURITIUS PRECURSER TO REGULAR FLIGHTS? The Mauritius tourism industry may well have reasons to smile, after Emirates’ President Tim Clark indicated on the sidelines of the world’s largest tourism trade show, the ITB in Berlin, that he would like to see the giant Airbus A380 operate one of […]
