RwandAir lands in Mwanza, making it destination 14 for the airline
RWANDAIR CONNECTS KIGALI WITH MWANZA Today saw the long expected launch of direct flights between Tanzanias second largest city of Mwanza, located at the Southern end of Lake Victoria, and Kigali, Rwandas capital city. The airlines Bombardier Dash 8 turboprop will now connect the two cities three times a week to start with, offering up […]
RwandAir appoints Jackie Arkle as Senior Manager Marketing
JACKIE ARKLE JOINS RWANDAIR AS SENIOR MANAGER MARKETING Breaking news from Kigali is that effective today, though signed on a few weeks ago already, has Jackie Arkle joined RwandAir, dubbed Africas fastest growing airline, as Senior Manager Marketing, based in Rwandas capital city. Jackie will at least in part fill the void left by the […]
Tanzania’s Vocational Education Authority launches short guide courses
TANZANIAS VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AUTHORITY LAUNCHES SHORT GUIDE COURSES 35 tour and drive guides participated in a pilot course for guides devised by VETA in Mikumi last week, which is a radical departure from the previous 6 month courses. The half year studies, while comprehensive and sound in their curriculum, are often too long for guides […]
Weekly roundup of news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, First edition July 2012
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 […]
Qatar Airways to present their B787 Dreamliner to the world at the Farnborough Air Show
QATAR AIRWAYS TO SHOWCASE THEIR FIRST B787 DREAMLINER AT FARNBOROUGH When the Farnborough Air Show, the worlds most important air show for that matter, goes underway in a weeks time, the Qatar Airways first B787 Dreamliner will arguably take centre stage as visitors can see for themselves what extraordinary cabin comfort levels this new bird […]
Al Shabab terrorists strike two Christian churches in Garissa, kill 17 at least and injure scores of others
AL SHABAB TERROR STRIKE KILLS AT LEAST 17 IN CATHOLIC AND AIC CHURCHES The bloodiest strike yet on Kenya was this morning perpetrated in the Northern Kenyan town of Garissa, where almost simultaneously two Christian churches were attacked by what is generally thought to be Islamist terrorists from the Al Shabab group, now fighting for […]
Kenya Airways’ fleet expansion plans attracts fresh interest by global aircraft leasing giants
GLOBAL AIRCRAFT LEASING GIANTS EYE A SHARE OF KQS EXPANSION PLANS The shortfall of over 6 billion Kenya Shillings during the recent share rights issue by The Pride of Africa and its implications for the companys financial structure in the medium term has raised renewed interest in the carrier by global leasing giants, which are […]
Air Seychelles technicians move to Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub
AIR SEYCHELLES TECHNICIANS JOIN ETIHAD Information was confirmed overnight that currently 6, soon to be joined by several more of their colleagues, technicians from the Air Seychelles team are now deployed with Etihad, Abu Dhabis national airline, which earlier this year acquired 40 percent of the shares in the archipelagos national carrier. The re-deployment is […]
Kigali rolling out street signs across the city
KIGALIS NEW STREET SIGNS MAKES LIFE FOR LOCALS AND VISITORS EASIER The recently witnessed start of putting up street signs in Kigali, Rwandas capital city, is expected to make trips across the city easier, not just for visitors but according to locals also for residents of the city. A Google Map exercise started a few […]
RTUC in Kigali now offers degree courses following attaining university status
RWANDAS TOURISM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE NOW ABLE TO OFFER DEGREE COURSES Started in 2006, when the college could only offer vocational training and certificate or diploma courses, the RTUC has now been cleared by the Rwandan educational authorities to commence a full degree programme, starting with a Bachelor Degree course for students now studying hospitality and […]
RwandAir’s inaugural to Mwanza confirmed for Monday, July 02nd
RWANDAIRS MWANZA FLIGHTS COMMENCE ON MONDAY Following a brief delay in the start of flights to Mwanza, Tanzanias second largest city located on the shores of Lake Victoria, the inaugural flight is set to take off on Monday 02nd July, finally connecting the third destination in Tanzania with Kigali / Rwanda. The airline is already […]
East African Wildlife Society gets new Executive Director
EAST AFRICAN WILDLIFE SOCIETY BIDS GOOD BY TO NIGEL HUNTER AS CEO Eastern Africas premier conservation NGO, the East African Wildlife Society, has announced that Nigel Hunter will be leaving the EAWLS by the end of the month though will continue to assist the society in fund raising in the future. It was learned today […]
KWS scoops Public Service Day top honours
KWS GETS TOP HONOURS AT KENYAS PUBLIC SERVICE DAY Kenyas public sector day saw top honours go to KWS this year for their Animal Adoption Programme, which received the coveted prize in the category of Development of Policy, Strategy and Leadership. The Animal Adoption Programme is one of the activities KWS is rolling out at […]
By plane to Brussels and by bullet train to Paris – news from Brussels Airlines
BY PLANE TO BRUSSELS AND BY BULLET TRAIN TO PARIS Brussels Airlines has introduced an almost irresistible offer on the Ugandan market, permitting travelers with final destination Paris to enjoy the scenic landscapes between Brussels and the French capital by using one of the European bullet trains, the Thalys, boarding the train directly at Brussels […]
Union statement on relations with ATCL thought to be too little too late
TOO LATE AND TOO LITTLE AS UNION RUSHES TO REPAIR DAMAGE The message to those part of Air Tanzanias workers union was stark and without sugar coating, when the Minister for Transport, in the face of grumblings and heckling at the announcement of management changes he recently announced, told the gathering that anyone who did […]
Changes at the helm of RDB see Clare Akamanzi step up as Acting CEO
AKAMANZI STEPS UP AS GARA TRANSFERS FROM RDB TO LEGAL REFORM COMMISSION Clare Akamanzi, hitherto Chief Operating Officer at the Rwanda Development Board, here often in the news for the work of the Tourism and Conservation Department, was appointed by cabinet as Acting Chief Executive Officer of the RDB with immediate effect. She will be […]
Last Air Seychelles crew graduate from type conversion course at the Etihad Aviation Academy in Abu Dhabi
AIR SEYCHELLES CREW RE-TRAINING ON AIRBUS AIRCRAFT COMPLETED The final batch of overall 66 Air Seychelles cabin crew have now completed the type conversion training to Airbus aircraft, after previously holding type certification for the B767-300. Air Seychelles, now a partner of Abu Dhabis national airline Etihad, however has since the 40 percent share acquisition […]
Precision Air’s inaugural to Lubumbashi ‘bounces’ as landing clearances withheld, while Lusaka celebrates new air link
PRECISION AIRS INAUGURAL FLIGHT TO LUBUMBASHI BOUNCES Ineptitude and incompetence, if not outright attempts of suspected blackmail have been cited by aviation observers in the region, when it became known that Precision Airs flight last weekend to Lusaka and Lubumbashi bounced when attempting to land in this important mining city of the Congo, as apparently […]
Rwanda set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Independence from Belgium
50 AND COUNTING RWANDA REACHES HALF CENTURY OF INDEPENDENCE This Sunday will see the land of a thousand hills celebrate its Golden Jubilee of Independence from former colonial power Belgium, but it has been a period, except for the past 18 years since the RPF liberated the country from a murderous regime, of much instigated […]
Torrential rains flood Kampala and cause more deadly landslides on Mt. Elgon
KAMPALA FLOODS AGAIN AMID REPORTS OF MORE DEADLY LANDSLIDES This years rainy season, as heavy as it comes, has regularly seen key intersections and roundabouts flooded but yesterday afternoons biblical torrent unleashed over the city was the worst yet. Reports came in that even hotel roofs started to leak, from amongst others the Hotel Africanas […]
Kenya’s Minister for Natural Resources and Wildlife banned from parliament for evading to answer questions
ABSENTISM GETS MINISTER BARRED FROM PARLIAMENT AS HE EVADES QUESTIONS The saga of the Southern Bypass, for which the Kenya Government has apparently sanctioned the excision of a major tract of land from the Nairobi National Park, has last week reached parliament and left the government and in particular the Minister for Forestry and Wildlife […]
Kenya Airways signs major financing deal for 20 new aircraft with Afreximbank
KENYA AIRWAYS GETS BOARD APPROVAL FOR ARRANGING FINANCING FOR 20 AIRCRAFT The Board of Directors has given Kenya Airways management approval to arrange for the pre-financing of as many as 20 aircraft, comprising 9 B787-800 Dreamliners, 1 B777-300ER and 10 Embraer 190s and the deal was concluded today already in Nairobi as the airline, according […]
Kenya’s Tourism Awards 2012 once again honour the best of the best
KENYA TOURISM AWARDS CONFIRM SUPERIOR CHOICES AS WINNERS In recent articles about a visit to the Kenya coast there was much talk about both outstanding properties but also about mediocrity and same old same old so it was exciting news over the weekend that the Kenya Tourism Federation and Kenya Tourist Board organized Kenya Tourism […]
Mombasa bar blast called ‘opportunistic crime’ and not part of wider conspiracy of terror
MOMBASA BAR BLAST CALLED OPPORTUNISTIC CRIME News last night that the Jericho Bar in the Kisauni area of Mombasa, NOT frequented by tourists it should be mentioned, was subject to a grenade being thrown into the premises, was by tourism sources called an opportunistic crime like similar incidents previously in Nairobi but not part of […]
ALS Kenya gets IATA’s SMS certification, announced interest in more domestic routes
ALS SET TO WIDEN DOMESTIC FLIGHTS Kenyas Aircraft Leasing Services, based at Wilson Airport in the same building as SafariLink has reportedly placed an order for at least 2 50 seater Embraer aircraft, aimed to add to their existing domestic scheduled flights later this year. A media statement speaks of such destinations as Malindi but […]
Weekly roundup of news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, Fourth edition June 2012
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 […]
Battlefield East Africa
BATTLEFIELD EAST AFRICA 98 YEARS AND COUNTING By Prof. Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome June 2012 Little did Africa know, neither of nor about the outcome of the notorious Berlin Conference, when the greats of the world, or those who thought of themselves as greats at the time, grabbed an entire continent and divided it amongst […]
US Embassy pulls staff from Mombasa in a highly visible move condemned by Kenya’s tourism sector and society at large
US EMBASSY PULLS STAFF FROM MOMBASA AMID TOURISM STAKEHOLDER PROTESTS The announcement by the US Embassy in Nairobi, that they had credible intelligence of an imminent attack on tartest in Mombasa was taken a step further yesterday when all their personnel deployed in Mombasa packed up and returned to Nairobi. This visible departure and public […]
Nyungwe, the Enchanted Forest, waiting to be discovered and explored
A RETURN TO THE ENCHANTED FOREST OF NYUNGWE (Map courtesy of New Dawn Associates, Kigali, Rwanda) When in Rwanda last week I was almost continuously asked by regular readers of my blog the sheer number of individual readers in Rwanda continues to amaze me to be honest and more so that dozens of people walked […]
Fatal shooting of tourist and camp manager rattles Tanzania’s tourism industry
TOURIST KILLING RATTLES TANZANIAS TOURISM INDUSTRY News have been confirmed overnight of a raid and two fatal shootings at a tourist camp in the Serengeti. A Dutch tourist and one the camps managers of Ikoma Tented Camp in the western part of the Serengeti were killed when a gang of armed thugs came to rob […]
