Seychelles news update – State House turns 100 today
STATE HOUSE TURNS CENTENARIAN (State House Victoria all decked out in national colours earlier this year ahead of the swearing in of President Michel for another term of office) The famous landmark State House in Victoria, now seat of the President and previously the mansion of the British colonial governors, is turning 100 years old […]
Seychelles news update – Government to use armed Ghurkas to protect fishing and cargo vessels
SEYCHELLES TO ARM FISHING VESSELS, OFFERS ARMED PROTECTION TO SHIPPING Information was received from Victoria yesterday that the government has in the face of a recent abduction by Somali ocean terrorists of two Seychellois fishermen stepped up the ante by granting armed escorts to all fishing boats under the national flag. Reportedly did Home Affairs […]
Tanzania aviation news – ATCL seeks salvation through manufacturer deals
AIR TANZANIA TURNS TO BOMBARDIER / CANDADIAN GOVERNMENT FOR LOANS Air Tanzania, presently flying a single Bombardier Q300 plane, has gotten creative in the face of adversity and reportedly approached the Canadian manufacturer with the aim to acquire aircraft from them, thought to be initially of CRJ200 makes. Usually well informed and reliable sources have […]
Kenya breaking news – Mara Marathon ‘barred from venue’ according to land owners
LAND OWNERS BAN MARATHON ROUTE FROM THEIR LAND In a stunning development it was learned overnight that the Kenya Airways sponsored Masai Mara Marathon might not take place on the 19th November as planned, since apparently the land owners have barred the route from crossing their land. Several of the directors of the landowning company […]
Uganda aviation news – Dubai Airshow traffic restrictions not to affect travellers from Uganda
EMIRATES FLIGHTS FROM UGANDA NOT AFFECTED BY AIRSHOW TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS The Dubai Airshow, which will once again take place between this coming Sunday and next Thursday, will according to a source at the Emirates office in Kampala not affect the timings of the daily flight between Dubai and Entebbe, as the restricted period has been […]
Zanzibar tourism – Sauti Za Busara needs sponsorships, arranges to meet tourism stakeholders
SAUTI ZA BUSARA BIGGEST EVENT FOR ZANZIBAR TOURISM Zanzibars globally renowned music and culture festival, Sauti Za Busara, is finally getting the official recognition it has always deserved, when official tourism sources announced that a stakeholder meeting will be held later in the week to discuss ways and means to further improve the festivals standing […]
Kenya tourism news – Mara roads a long way from completion as Roads Board asks for more money
KENYA ROAD AGENCY WANTS YET MORE MONEY FOR MARA ROADS In what can only be described a damning admission has the Kenya Roads Board now asked for a lot of more money to complete a series of road projects, both new and upgrades from the mudholes and craterscapes many have become. In particular the section […]
Uganda news – ‘Kanyeihamba report’ heading to court as conservation stakeholders vow to tear it apart
FALLOUT BEGINS OVER KANYEIHAMBA REPORT Leading figures, including at least one former chairperson of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, have already vowed to take legal action against the now dissolved Commission of Enquiry for being named in what to many looks a revenge attack by Kanyeihamba and his commission underlings. The entire uselessness of the report […]
Seychelles aviation breaking news – Singapore route to be dropped by end November
AIR SEYCHELLES DROPS SINGAPORE AS RESTRUCTURING CONTINUES News broke today that Air Seychelles will, effective 22nd November 2011, drop its once a week flight between Mahe and Singapore, throwing a spanner in the works of promoting the archipelago in this part of the Far East but at the same time keeping an eye on cost […]
Rwanda tourism news – Arrivals up by 28 percent compared with 2010
RWANDAS ARRIVALS UP BY 28 PERCENT The Rwanda Development Boards Tourism and Conservation division staff went to Londons WTM armed with good news: Arrivals are up, AGAIN, by over 28 percent compared to the previous year, manifesting the result of hard work and creative approaches to marketing the country and keeping it in the spotlight […]
Kenya aviation news – Africa’s top spot in aviation will be ours, claims regular aviation source from Nairobi
KENYA AIRWAYS TOO ASPIRES TO OCCUPY THE CONTINENTAL TOP SPOT No sooner had a report been filed here last week about Ethiopian Airlines aspiration to be the undisputed Number One airline in Africa, did a regular source from Nairobi rush material and input to this correspondent, claiming that it was in fact Kenya Airways which […]
Tanzania news update – Prince Charles raises conservation and biodiversity issues during State Dinner
PRINCE CHARLES ADDRESSES TANZANIAN CONSERVATION LEGACY The heir to the British throne, fresh back in Dar es Salaam after a day visit to Zanzibar, did not disappoint the conservation fraternity in his official State Dinner address, when he expressed his hopes to see Mt. Kilimanjaro during his one day visit to Arusha on Wednesday, weather […]
Uganda news – Kanyeihamba report finally out and promptly comes under ‘fire’
LONG OVERDUE KANYEIHAMBA REPORT FINALLY OUT After being denied yet another extension of the term of office for the controversial commission of enquiry into the UWA / PAMSU project has the long overdue report finally been submitted and was published yesterday. In a sign of dissent however did the secretary to the commission apparently not […]
Uganda aviation news – CAA Licensing Committee Meeting scheduled for 24th November
CAA LICENSING MEETING SET FOR 24TH NOVEMBER The upcoming licensing committee meeting of the Civil Aviation Authoritys Board of Directors will hear applications from 12 airlines on the 24th of November, when one of the rare meetings will take place at the Imperial Royale Hotel. Unlike elsewhere in the region, where for instance in Kenya […]
Weekly roundup of news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, Second edition November 2011
TOURISM, AVIATION AND CONSERVATION NEWS from the Eastern African and Indian Ocean region 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 – Helicopter Seychelles secures new AOC
HELICOPTER SEYCHELLES SECURES AOC, RESUMES OPERATIONS Following a bounced merger with Zil Air and a restructuring of the company has Helicopter Seychelles finally secured a new AOC from the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority, granting permission last Friday to resume operations forthwith. Commercial flights reportedly resumed already giving tourists added options to do sightseeing flights or […]
Uganda conservation news – Conservationists protest NFA’s give away of sections of Entebbe forest
FOREST MANAGERS UNDER FIRE Hapless comes to mind when thinking of the National Forest Authoritys management, which has come under renewed scrutiny and is facing yet more allegations, this time from the conservation fraternity in Entebbe. NFA has been in disarray in recent years following suspensions, arrests and a wide range of allegations over the […]
Tanzania tourism update – Serengeti Simba Lodge now operational
SERENGETI SIMBA LODGE OPENS NEAR IKOMA GATE Sitting majestically on top of a kopje, one of the distinct rock formations found across the Serengeti National Park, the new Serengeti Simba Lodge offers a 360 view into the national park and the Grumeti sector and reserves. Located just outside the Ikoma gate, the lodge is built […]
Burundi hospitality news – Novotel Bujumbura to become a ‘Doubletree’ Hilton brand
NOVOTEL BUJUMBURA TO BECOME A DOUBLETREE BY HILTON News have been confirmed over the weekend that Burundi is finally set to get its very first international branded hotel group enter the hospitality market. The Novotel, presently a 3 star property, is being taken over by Hilton and will after a substantial revamp and upgrading become […]
Tanzania breaking news – Prince Charles expected in Dar es Salaam today
PRINCE CHARLES ARRIVES IN TANZANIA TODAY Ahead of the Golden Jubilee, when Tanzania is celebrating its 50th anniversary of Independence from Britain later this week, will Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visit Tanzania and according to available details tour the country before representing Her Majesty the Queen on Independence Day. On the visiting […]
East Africa tourism news – New Seven Wonders top 10 see not one African ‘attraction’ amongst them, yet.
VOTING FOR NEW SEVEN WORLD WONDERS LEAVES AFRICA TRAILING East Africas tourism attractions, like the gorilla national parks in the Virunga mountains, Mt. Kilimanjaro or the Masai Mara are presently not featuring in the intermediate top 10 positions, which are held by front runners Dead Sea, Grand Canyon and Great Barrier Reef with many other […]
Uganda news – Higher electricity bills in the offing
BROKE GOVERNMENT TO DITCH POWER SUBSIDIES? As the much awaited Bujagali hydro electric power plant is due to go into production later this month with an initial output of 50 MW, gradually rising to a full 250 MW at peak demand periods by April next year, have news emerged that government is considering to expire […]
Uganda news update – Museum case is heading back to court
UGANDA MUSEUM CASE HEADS BACK TO COURT The leftovers of the controversial reign of Kahinda Otafire as Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry up to the elections earlier this year and the formation of a new government, are coming back to haunt as the case brought by friends of the Uganda Museum is going back […]
Kenya conservation news – KWS gets new Bell 407 helicopter
KWS BOOSTS AERIAL CAPACITY WITH PURCHASE OF A BELL 407 HELICOPTER Kenya Wildlife Service last week took delivery of a brand new Bell 407 helicopter at their air wing base at Wilson Airport Nairobi, substantially boosting their internal capacity for aerial surveys and rapid deployment of personnel to deal with critical incidents. While taking delivery […]
Uganda news – Rhino Fund Uganda / Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary publish 2012 tariffs
RHINO FUND UGANDA / ZIWA RHINO SANCTUARY PUBLISH 2012 RATES As earlier indicated here has the Rhino Fund Uganda now published its tariffs for activities at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, which covers an expanded range of options for visitors. Entrance to the conservancy remains free but those going out on gamedrives or the guided walks, […]
Uganda news – MTN Marathon set for 27th November
KAMPALA INTERNATIONAL MTN MARATHON ATTRACTS 25.000 Registration for the annual MTN Marathon this year will end on the 14th of November giving MTN and its volunteer army including the Uganda Red Cross Society, the opportunity to make final arrangements for the massive logistics which have to be put into place before the races are taking […]
Uganda news update – Second major flooding in a week hits Kampala
SECOND FLOODS IN A WEEK SHOWS THE ROT IN DRAINAGE SYSTEMS Kampala is flooded was the essence of communications from the city for the second time within a week, when thunderstorms of biblical proportions his the Ugandan capital and the skies opened up, causing metre deep floods and worse within an hour. Low lying areas, […]
Uganda aviation news – Qatar Airways CEO meets the media in Kampala
QATAR AIRWAYS CEO AL BAKER GRACES LAUNCH OF DAILY FLIGHTS, MEETS MEDIA The outspoken Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al Baker, was in Kampala for the inaugural flight between Doha and Entebbe and took the opportunity to address local, regional and global media representatives at the Kampala Serena Hotel, where the various launch […]
Kenya aviation news – Kenya Airways’ LCC ‘Jambo Jet’ to bring ‘shock and awe’ to domestic market
KENYA AIRWAYS JAMBO JET TO BRING SHOCK AND AWE TO RIVALS Kenya Airways own new low cost carrier is likely to take to the skies by late Q2 or earlyQ3 according to an announcement made by Dr. Titus Naikuni, KQs CEO and Group Managing Director. The airline will commence operations with at least some planes […]
Ethiopia aviation news – ET sets eyes on Africa’s top spot in aviation
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES AIMS FOR AFRICAN TOP SPOT Only a day after reporting here about Kenya Airways ambitions in the months and years ahead did information reach from a periodic source in Addis Ababa, putting Ethiopian Airlines also into the frame and into the race for top honours in Africa. Already one of the continents leading […]
