Rwanda tourism news – Nyamasheke District set to develop tourism development plan
NYUNGWE AND CONGO NILE TRAIL TO BENEFIT FROM DISTRICT TOURISM PROMOTION Nyamasheke District, into which theNyungwe Forest National Park (see a related previous article on this via www.wolfganghthome.wordpress.com/2011/07/26/rwanda-conservation-news-a-visit-to-the-enchanted-nyungwe-forest-national-park/ ) and sections of the Congo Nile Trail fall, will embark on its own dedicated tourism promotion efforts with the launch of a district tourism development plan. […]
African aviation news – ICAO meeting for Africa and Indian Ocean islands set for Kampala
ICAO TO HOLD REGIONAL MEETING IN KAMPALA A source from Ugandas civil aviation authority has confirmed that ICAO will hold a meeting for Africa and the Indian Ocean islands in Kampala between March 26th to 30th. The 18th such meeting of the Africa Indian Ocean Regional Planning and Implementation Group, in short APIRG, will alongside […]
Kenya conservation news – Mbulia Conservancy launched on Tsavo West boundary
NEW 11.000 ACRES CONSERVANCY LAUNCHED AT TSAVO WEST BOUNDARIES The Mbulia Group Ranch, located along the boundaries of Tsavo West National Park, has recently signed a long term agreement with New African Territories to turn 11.400 acres of their land into a wildlife conservancy on which a new tented eco lodge is being set up […]
Kenya tourism news – Stakeholders demand announcement of election date
KENYAS TOURISM INDUSTRY DEMANDS CLARITY ON ELECTION DATES Leading stakeholders in Kenyas tourism industry are getting more vocal now about the governments dragging out the announcement of an election date, due to be held later this year. Following the collapse of tourism in the wake of the post election violence in early 2008 have in […]
Rwanda tourism news – RDB promotes improved customer care for hotels and restaurants
RDB TOURISM & CONSERVATION PROMOTES INCREASED CUSTOMER CARE Information was received overnight that the Rwanda Development Boards Tourism and Conservation Department has partnered with the hospitality industry to promote better customer care and service delivery across a broad section of hotels, lodges and restaurants. 20 participants were drawn from the Quality and Standards Task Force […]
East African aviation update – Emirates to deploy the A380 for connecting passengers to Amsterdam from August 2012
EMIRATES UPS AMSTERDAM TO A380 A regular source at the airlines Kampala office has confirmed that come August this year, Emirates will begin to operate their route from Dubai to Amsterdam with a daily A 380 flight, compared to the present use of a B777. Launched only 9 months ago, the shift to the largest […]
Tanzania aviation news – Precision Air and Kenya Airways add 5th daily flight between Dar and Nairobi
PRECISION AIR / KENYA AIRWAYS PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS PUBLIC WITH MORE FLIGHTS The intense partnership and schedule coordination between Tanzanias leading airline Precision Air and regional giant Kenya Airways has now resulted in a 5th daily flight being introduced on the route between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, giving passengers an added choice of departure. Precision […]
Kenya tourism news – Damian Cook to host e-Tourism conference in Nairobi next month
NAIROBI TO HOST E-TOURISM CONFERENCE IN MARCH Kenyas capital city has once again been chosen to host a major continental tourism conference in March this year. E-tourism guru Damian Cook will be leading the field of global e-tourism experts who will come to Kenya to help transform the sectors approach to the new media and […]
Rwanda gets provisional nod from AU for UNSC non permanent seat
RWANDA GETS AU BACKING TO TAKE OVER AT UNSC AS NON PERMANENT MEMBER Rwandas contributions to UN peace keeping missions in Darfur and the long term deployment of police contingents in Haiti have earned Rwanda the respect of fellow AU member countries, which have now reciprocated to give provisional clearance for Rwanda to step into […]
Rwanda aviation news – No mid year delivery for new regional jets as RwandAir extends time frame to late 2012
RWANDAIRS DECISION ON NEW JETS POSTPONED TILL LATER IN THE YEAR It was learned from a regular source in Kigali, that the anticipated delivery of two brand new regional jets in the 100 seat range will be delayed until later in the year. Two aircraft manufacturers are said to be in the running for the […]
Tanzanian minister disowns vehicle entrance fees charged at borders with Kenya
TANZANIAS NEW CROSS BORDER VEHICLE FEES DISOWNED BY GOVERNMENT Information from Dar es Salaam overnight confirmed that the Minister for East African Cooperation Mr. Samuel Sitta, has denounced the introduction of a US D 200 border crossing vehicle fee 10 days ago as not sanctioned by government, saying it was a unilateral and unauthorized decision […]
African aviation breaking news – Kenya Airways and Sky Team launch ‘Africa Air Pass’
KENYA AIRWAYS AND SKY TEAM PARTNERS LAUNCH GO AFRICA AIRPASS Sky Team has announced the introduction of a comprehensive air pass for flights into and across Africa, based on the scheduled network of partner airline Kenya Airways via Nairobi. It is available for sale with immediate effect and flights booked can commence as of March […]
Brussels Airlines set to launch Korongo Airlines from Lubumbashi
BRUSSELS AIRLINES TO LAUNCH NEW AIRLINE IN CONGO Information was confirmed by a source from Brussels Airlines that the Belgian flag carrier will launch flight operations in Congo through a new airline, 70 percent owned by SN with the balance of shares held by Congolese investors. Korongo Airlines, operating under IATA two letter code ZC, […]
Mauritius tourism news – St. Regis opening pushed to September
ST. REGIS OPENING POSTPONED BY 4 MONTHS TILL SEPTEMBER (Picture courtesy of St. Regis Mauritius, showing a sample bedroom) The much anticipated grand opening by the new St. Regis Mauritius, named by the Forbes Travel Guide as one of the worlds 10 most anticipated new hotel and resort openings in 2012, has been moved from […]
African aviation – As the world unites against the EU’s ETS, where is Africa
AFRICA ABSENT AS WORLD UNITES AGAINST THE EUS ETS As the war of words intensifies, between the European Union on one side and key global powers like China, Russia and the United States, over the hugely controversial emission trading scheme the EU had introduced on January 01 this year, African governments are notably absent again […]
Kenya heritage tourism news – Turkana Festival set for May 18 – 20
TURKANA FESTIVAL SCHEDULED FOR MAY 18 20 The diversity and heritage of the Turkana people and region in Kenya will be celebrated once again this year in May at Loiyangalani, for the fifth year running. Supported by the German Embassy, the Kenya Tourist Board / Magical Kenya, the National Museums of Kenya, the local communities […]
Tragic end for Amazing Race freelance producer
AMAZING RACE FREELANCE PRODUCER MEETS TRAGIC FATE IN UGANDA A reliable source from one of Kampalas leading hotels has confirmed that Jeff Rice, a producer on the Amazing Race series, has died under unclear circumstances, and that his travelling companion has been admitted in a coma condition in a local surgery. Allegations are sweeping Kampala […]
Kenya / Tanzania conservation news – KWS and TANAPA carry out joint predator census
KWS AND TANAPA LAUNCH GAME COUNT IN GREATER AMBOSELI / KILIMANJARO AREA Information was confirmed yesterday that Kenya Wildlife Service, in conjunction with their Tanzanian counterparts Tanzania National Parks Authority have last weekend launched a two week game count in the transboundary ecosystem of the Kilimanjaro / Amboseli area. Also on board is the African […]
Kenya aviation news – KQ and KLM launch joint Europe – Asia – Africa cargo service
KENYA AIRWAYS AND KLM LAUNCH JOINT CARGO FLIGHTS It was announced in Nairobi yesterday that Kenya Airways has launched joint cargo services with KLM to operate from Nairobi to both Guangzhou / China and Lagos / Nigeria, with a link to Amsterdam. The new cargo routing has been given as Amsterdam Guangzhou Sharjah Nairobi Lagos […]
Kenya aviation news – African conference on aviation maintenance and repairs opens in Nairobi
NAIROBI TO HOST AFRICAN AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE CONFERENCE The African Aviations annual aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul conference, now in its 21st edition, is taking place for the first time in Nairobi / Kenya and will start today. Nairobi has established itself in the recent past as a major centre for aircraft maintenance, led by Kenya […]
Carnival season ends in Germany, Brazil while the Seychelles are counting down to their own ‘Mother of all Carnivals’
CARNIVAL SEASON ENDS ACROSS THE WORLD, ABOUT TO START IN THE SEYCHELLES As the traditional carnival nations like Brazil and Germany celebrate the very last day of this years festival and parade season, due to end at midnight when Ash Wednesday rings in the Christian 40 days of fasting, elsewhere preparations are in high gear […]
Rwanda conservation news – ARCOS decides to move to Kigali
KAMPALA LOSES ALBERTINE RIFT CONSERVATION SOCIETY HEADQUARTERS TO KIGALI It was learned overnight that the UK based ARCS has apparently decided to shift its regional office, presently located in Kampala / Uganda, to Kigali / Rwanda, where a new proposed US $ 350.000 head office is to be built, once discussions between the NGO and […]
Weekly roundup of news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, Third edition February 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 Get daily breaking news updates instantly via Twitter by following @whthome, join me on Facebook where the articles also cross load or read the daily […]
Etihad coming to Kenya soon – set to get new Midfield Terminal at home base
ABU DHABI AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT PLANS SUPPORT ETIHAD EXPANSION (Impression of the new Midfield Terminal, courtesy of Abu Dhabi Airport Company) Etihad, Abu Dhabis national airline, will be commencing flights to Nairobi in April, as was earlier on reported here. Now news have emerged through aviation sources in the Gulf region, that Abu Dhabis government has […]
Rwanda aviation news – New automated immigration control booths in test phase at Kanombe International
RWANDA TAKES THE LEAD AGAIN A source from Kigalis international airport has confirmed information obtained a few days ago, that the Department of Immigration of Rwanda was introducing two automated gates at Kanombe International Airport, aimed to test their suitability for fast track processing of arriving passengers. It is understood that these new unmanned gates […]
Zanzibar news update – MV Skagit stopped from sailing to Pemba by ZAM over safety concerns
ZANZIBAR MARINE AUTHORITY STOPS FAULTY SHIP FROM SAILING FOR PEMBA It appears that the lessons learned from the disaster of the sinking of the MV Spice Islander last year were learned well when the Zanzibar Marine Authority prevented a vessel, set to sail to Pemba, from leaving port, after the ships safety was called in […]
Kenya conservation news – Is Lamu the next battle ground between conservationists and developers?
LAPSSET LAUNCH SET FOR MARCH SUBJECT TO POTENTIAL COURT INJUNCTION The tripartite launch of LAPSSET, also known as the Lamu Port Southern Sudan Ethiopia project, has been announced for March 02nd, when President Kibaki will in the presence of Southern Sudans President Salva Kiir and Ethiopias Prime Minister Menes Zenawi officially launch the project in […]
Mauritius aviation news – Sydney and Melbourne axing prompts negative reaction in Australia
AIR MAURITIUS CHOPS SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE Reactions came pouring in swift and harsh when news were announced that Air Mauritius had decided to chop two of their three Australian destinations, concentrating on Perth only, and leaving Sydney to Air Austral operating via La Reunion while the significant Melbourne market was abandoned altogether. The news came […]
Seychelles aviation news – Air Seychelles revival result of presidential intervention
PRESIDENTIAL INTERVENTION SAVED AIR SEYCHELLES Information is beginning to filter into the public domain, of how the personal intervention by President James Michel brought Abu Dhabis Etihad into the frame, following discussions between the two governments in regard of part privatizing Air Seychelles. Upon agreement at the level of the two heads of state, Etihad […]
Air Seychelles to launch Abu Dhabi flights on March 12th
AIR SEYCHELLES TO LAUNCH CODESHARED FLIGHTS TO ABU DHABI It has now been confirmed that Air Seychelles will launch nonstop flights, twice a week, between Mahe and Abu Dhabi as of 12th March, alongside the present 4 frequencies by Etihad, Abu Dhabis national airline, which now owns 40 percent of its shares. The airline will […]
