Rwanda tourism breaking news – New Congo Nile Trail is officially launched in Gisenyi today
RWANDAS NEW CONGO NILE TRAIL HIKING THROUGH RURAL AFRICA (The starting point of the Congo Nile Trail just outside Bralirwa Bay / Gisenyi) Before I set out to conquer the new Congo Nile Trail, at least in part from Kibuye to Gisenyi, during a trial trip with a group of other media representatives, questions were […]
Seychelles aviation news – Will Air Astral take over flights from France via Mahe?
AIR ASTRAL MAY STEP INTO AIR SEYCHELLES PARIS ROUTE There is growing speculation that Air Astral, with a home base on the island of La Reunion, may in due course step into the vacant space left by the announcement of Air Seychelles, that they will progressively drop their European routes from early next year. Air […]
Seychelles aviation news – Restructuring and downsizing of Air Seychelles gains momentum
AIR SEYCHELLES RESTRUCTURING GATHERS PACE A task force has been established at the head office of Air Seychelles in Mahe, having to deal with the downside of the current major restructuring, which will see the airline drop all intercontinental destinations and downsize itself to a regional airline, serving existing and very likely new destinations on […]
Ethiopia aviation news – ET gets first B737-800 Sky Interior
ETHIOPIAN NOW ALSO FLIES THE LATEST BOEING SKY INTERIOR Ethiopian Airlines earlier this week also took delivery of the first of 10 ordered B737-800 Sky Interior, of which RwandAir already fly two, having beaten the African aviation giant to the door to claim the honours of being the first African airline to do so. However, […]
Tanzania aviation news – Former ATCL chiefs in court on criminal charges
FORMER ATCL CHIEF IN COURT AS SUCCESSOR TALKS BIG The former Air Tanzania CEO has ended up in court yesterday with two erstwhile colleagues, charged with abuse of office over an alleged 1.4 billion Tanzania Shillings procurement deal of vehicles. The cause of the charges dates back to 2007, when Air Tanzania, allegedly in violation […]
Mauritius aviation news – International airport rated as number one in Africa, 31 in the world
SIR SEEWOOSAGUR RAMGOOLAN INTERNATIONAL NAMED AS AFRICAS BEST Mauritius had reason to celebrate a world number one position this week when it became known that the international airport survey carried out by the Airport Council International, ranked SSRI as Africas best, ahead of more likely rivals on the continent. Globally the airport is ranked as […]
Rwanda conservation news – National tree planting campaign unfolds across the country
NATIONAL TREE PLANTING CAMPAIGN STARTS Last weekend saw the start of the national tree planting campaign as this year targets in particular parts of the country with less trees than is average in the country. Rwanda presently has 22 percent of its territory under forest cover, a figure due to increase to 30 percent by […]
Tanzania aviation updates – ATCL has big plans but no fleet to recapture market share
AIR TANZANIA PLANS BOMBARDIER PURCHASES Within hours of the announcement that Precision Airs IPO had attracted less than 43 percent of a share take up, did Air Tanzania make waves with an announcement that they would hold more talks with Canadian manufacturer Bombardier for the purchase of up to 8 aircraft. Presently ATCL operates a […]
Tanzania aviation news – Precision Air IPO all but flops, largely undersubscribed
PRECISION AIR IPO ALL BUT FLOPS The signs were ominous from day one of the airlines IPO when several banks had to postpone the launch over lack of relevant documents and an ill timed announcement by the Tanzanian government about a planned revival of Air Tanzania did not help much either as it rattled investor […]
Tanzania aviation news – JRO to get long overdue facelift and expansion
KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL NEXT IN LINE FOR UPGRADE TOO Information has been coming in fast and furious in recent weeks, with news chasing news of yet another major international gateway, and even secondary airports being upgraded, expanded and renovated to finally give aviation the state of the art facilities air operators have been demanding in past […]
Seychelles tourism news – STB shows flag at Nairobi’s Getaway Fair
SEYCHELLES AT NAIROBI GETAWAY FAIR The Seychelles Tourism Boards appearance at the recently concluded Getaway Fair in Nairobi was once again termed an overwhelming success, as the archipelagos stand attracted the attention of both the tourism trade, seeking to forge ties with the islands to do business together, but also of course of individuals coming […]
Seychelles tourism news – STA sends 13 students to the Shannon College for their degree course
SEYCHELLES TOURISM ACADEMYS EFFORTS PAY OFF The long standing partnership between the Seychelles Tourism Academy and the Shannon College of Hotel Management has now allowed a further 13 Seychellois graduates from the home made Advances Diploma in Hotel Management to move to Ireland to complete a Bachelor Degree programme and push their skills and capabilities […]
Rwanda aviation news – Preselection of suitable contractors establishes short list for Bugesera
BUGESERA AIRPORT PLANS ADVANCE WITH SHORTLISTING OF 9 CONTRACTORS The start of construction of the new international airport at Bugesera has taken another step forward, when it was announced that 9 international companies have been shortlisted by a selection committee within the Rwanda Development Board. Over 30 companies had submitted initial bids and less than […]
Weekly roundup of news from the East African region and the Indian Ocean islands, Fourth edition November 2011
TOURISM, AVIATION AND CONSERVATION NEWS from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands A weekly roundup of reports, travel stories and opinions by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome Get daily breaking news updates instantly via Twitter by following @whthome or read the daily postings on my blog via: www.wolfganghthome.wordpress.com Many of these articles then also […]
Seychelles aviation news – Which way Air Seychelles after shock news emerge of European destinations being axed
THE END OF AIR SEYCHELLES AS WE KNOW IT OR A NEW BEGINNING The short reign at the helm of Air Seychelles of Bram Stellar has brought about some activities, which the word restructuring no longer captures. First came the successful negotiations with ILFC for the premature return of two older B767-200 aircraft, surplus in […]
Uganda aviation news – Brussels Airlines’ CEO Bernard Gustin shows ‘flag’ in the face of new rivals entering Ugandan market
BRUSSELS AIRLINES PULLS OUT THE STOPS IN KAMPALA The timing of Brussels Airlines CEO Bernard Gustin visit to Uganda for a media blitz was certainly intriguing as far as the timing was concerned, falling half way between the launch of flights by Qatar Airways in early November and by Gulf Air in early December. SN […]
Tanzania conservation news – Uranium mining dangers downplayed, belittled by government officials with vested interests
DANGERS OF URANIUM MINING DELIBERATELY PLAYED DOWN Tanzanian officials continue to play down the dangers of the proposed Uranium mining project inside the UNESCOs World Heritage Site Selous Game Reserve, according to some experts consulted almost deliberately endangering the health of local populations for the sole motive of profits. They have been bought, that much […]
Uganda aviation news – Cancelled KQ flight enrages passengers
NOT PROUD TO BE THE PRIDE FOR A CHANGE Passengers reacted angrily earlier in the week when their scheduled Kenya Airways flight was first delayed and then cancelled altogether, prompting the country manager of KQ in Kampala to offer a formal apology to those affected. The development took place on Thursday, causing a sizeable number […]
Mauritius tourism news – MTPA to capture spiritual tourism niche
MAURITIUS TO PROMOTE SPIRITUAL HERITAGE TOURISM Hot on the heels of a report about the establishment of the Praslin Heritage Route in the Seychelles come news from Mauritius, another member of the Vanilla Islands, that they too will turn to their heritage in search of added attractions for tourist visitors. The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, […]
Uganda news update – Tourism Minister rubbishes Kanyeihamba report
TOURISM MINISTER CALLS KANYEIHAMBA A FAILURE Recently returned from attending the World Travel Market in London did Ugandas Minister of Tourism Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu finally speak out on the controversial report of the commission of enquiry, scripted by equally controversial retired Supreme Court justice George Kanyeihamba. The minister, cited in the report allegedly as a […]
Uganda aviation news – Air Uganda to increase Nairobi and Juba flights from early 2012
AIR UGANDA TO ADD MORE FLIGHTS Earlier this week did Air Ugandas new CEO Kayle Haywood announced plans for early 2012 to increase the airlines flights between Entebbe and Nairobi to 19 per week, arguably referring to their early afternoon departure which has so far only operated on those days seen able to support a […]
Seychelles tourism news – Praslin gets new ‘Heritage Route’
SEYCHELLES HERITAGE FOUNDATION MARKS HISTORIC AND CULTURAL SITES ON PRASLIN The Praslin Heritage Route, a trail covering some 25 sites and monuments, has been opened by the Seychelles Heritage Foundation earlier this week, offering locals and tourists like an insight into the history and culture of the Seychelles. The archipelago, comprising some 115 islands, is […]
Uganda aviation / tourism news – ‘Wild Skies over Kajjansi’ – the latest thrill Uganda has to offer
WILD SKIES OVER KAJJANSI (Posted 17th November 2011) (Strapped in and ready to ‘roll’) Uganda has many tourism attractions, some quite mundane and others quite unique and yet others quite thrilling, like spending time with the rare mountain gorillas, racing ‘quads’ through the mud along the banks of the Nile, bungee jumping with a baptizing […]
Rwanda aviation news – Qatar Airways eyes Kigali for early 2012
QATAR AIRWAYS EYES KIGALI The just concluded bi-annual Dubai Air Show brought interesting information to light, over and above the mega deals struck by Qatar Airways and Emirates and a number of other airlines too of course when it was learned that QR has set its eyes set on three more East African destinations. Sometime […]
Mauritius aviation news – Construction of new terminal and apron ‘on time’
NEW AIRPORT TERMINAL TO BE READY BY 2013 Airports of Mauritius have confirmed that the ongoing work on upgrading the countrys main international airport in Pt. Louis is on schedule and that in fact two aircraft parking positions have already been handed over by the contractor. The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolan International Airport is under the […]
Tanzania conservation news – Minister uses Lusaka Agreement forum to lobby for ivory sales
TANZANIA USES WILDLIFE MEETING TO LOBBY FOR IVORY SALE In a misguided but not entirely unexpected turn of events did host country Tanzania use the presence of experts in Dar es Salaam, discussing issues under the Lusaka Agreement on protection of wildlife, to lobby for permission to be given at the next global CITES meeting […]
Uganda conservation news – NEMA pounces on flower farm suspected of wetland encroachment
FRAUD ALLEGED OVER ENCROACHMENT SAGA OF LUTEMBE BAY Lutembe Bay, once a great wetland and much sought after resting place for migratory birds, has in recent years seen less and less feathered visitors to the dismay of birders and the conservation fraternity, who considered the location so near the capital city and international airport a […]
South Sudan news – Record inflation hits Africa’s youngest country
RECORD INFLATION HITS NEW COUNTRY While Ugandans are pondering the impact of a 30.5 percent inflation rate, across the Northern border in South Sudan the situation is much grimmer, it was learned earlier in the week. Driven by food prices and the cost of fuel, something the country has to import inspite of being a […]
Uganda conservation news – Mehta’s sugar company accused of massive pollution
SUGAR BARON ACCUSED OF MASSIVE POLLUTION The Mehta Group owned Sugar Corporation of Uganda, already in the bad books of local, regional and international conservation groups for their connivance to grab over 7.000 hectares of prime tropical rainforest to grow sugar cane on the land, has come under renewed fire this week. Reports emerged that […]
Global aviation news – Qatar Airways makes long awaited announcement, takes digs against manufacturers
QATAR AIRWAYS STEALS THE SHOW AT THE DUBAI AIR SHOW While Dubai based rival Emirates made the big money headlines with a firm order of 50 B777-300ER and a few more options, in a deal which could be worth 26 billion US Dollars, did Qatar Airways outspoken Chief Executive Officer make different waves at the […]
