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 […]
Kenya aviation news – KQ’s half year briefing on results and investors prospects
KENYA AIRWAYS ANNOUNCED HALF YEAR RESULTS GIVES PREVIEW OF FUTURE PLANS The Pride of Africa was in the news again yesterday when presenting the half year financial results and giving a broad investors preview and review over the months coming and past. Data given showed significant advances in most areas though words of caution over […]
Rwanda conservation and tourism news – Launch of new Congo – Nile Trail now set for 25th November
NEW CONGO NILE TRAIL OPEN FOR BUSINESS As of today, 04th November has Rwandas latest tourism product has been officially announced to the travelling public through media releases and the anticipated formal launch of the Congo Nile Trail is by the Rwanda Development Board will be on 25th November, with bookings already being accepted by […]
Tanzania conservation news – USAID supports community ‘owned’ wildlife management areas
USAID GIVES 6 MILLION US DOLLARS TO CONSERVATION The US government, through its international development agency USAID, has committed 6 million US Dollars to support a programme aimed to expand the concept of Wildlife Management Areas for communities living next to national parks and game reserves across the country. The move is hoped to provide […]
Uganda aviation news – Roger Wamara leaves SN to join Qatar Airways
ROGER WAMARA JOINS QATAR AIRWAYS Long serving Brussels Airlines Sales Manager Uganda, Mr. Roger Wamara, yesterday gave the green light to a secret kept for a little while already to be finally made public, that he is going to leave Brussels Airlines by the end of the month to join Qatar Airways, now flying daily […]
Uganda aviation news – Emirates announces more flights to Singapore
EMIRATES GETS ANOTHER A 380, ANNOUNCES INCREASE OF SINGAPORE FLIGHTS Information was passed to this correspondent yesterday by a regular source at the Emirates Kampala office that after taking delivery of yet another A380 recently the airline is now increasing its flights between Dubai and Singapore from 21 per week, i.e. three times a day, […]
Kenya aviation and tourism news – First charter from Moscow due to land in Mombasa this Friday
MORE CHARTERS FOR MOMBASA WITH INAUGURAL FLIGHT FROM MOSCOW The tourism fraternity in Kenya and especially at the Kenyan coast has taken fresh hope during this period of uncertainty when it was reconfirmed that the first of a series of weekly charter flights from Moscow / Russia would be landing at the Moi International Airport […]
Kenya aviation news – Royal Jordanian heading to Nairobi
ROYAL JORDANIAN HEADING TO NAIROBI Information was received overnight that Kenya will soon see another airline making regular visits to Nairobi. Starting on 16th December will Royal Jordanian commence flights to the Kenyan capital Nairobi, initially 4 times a week every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with the respective return flights taking off from JKIA […]
Kenya aviation and travel news – KQ sticks to domestic dollar fares as opposition begins to emerge
KQ STICKS TO ITS GUNS AS SOME HOTELIERS COMPLAIN ABOUT DOLLAR FARES Rumbles from within the tourism industry are slowly emerging over Kenya Airways recent introduction of US Dollar based domestic fares, which however, as on breaking the news immediately said here, can be paid with the equivalent of Kenya Shillings at the exchange rate […]
Tanzania news update – TShs on the slide again …
SHILLLING DROPS AGAIN, CAUSES FEAR FOR CURRENCY VALUES ACROSS THE REGION After a rally on the currency markets, induced by concerted central bank action last week, when the Tanzania shilling reached into the mid 1.600 hundred territory albeit briefly, has the slide and rot returned with a vengeance. Earlier in the week did the Tanzania […]
Kenya aviation news – ATC go slow and strike action impacts on flights across Kenya
WILD CAT STRIKE BY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CONTINUES TO IMPACT ON FLIGHTS The unauthorized slow go and wild cat strikes by members of the Kenyan air traffic control has led to a series of flight delays impacting on thousands of passengers. This country is at war with Al Shabab and air traffic control and surveillance […]
Uganda news update – Former Energy Minister makes sweeping allegations over Bujagali
FORMER ENERGY MINISTER ACCUSES HIS TOP STAFF AND BUJAGALI PROMOTERS OF LYING In another astonishing outburst has embattled Internal Affairs Minister Hillary Onek whose resignation parliament demanded over allegation of involvement in bribery told members of parliament that for all purposes did the Permanent Secretary in the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development mislead the […]
