Tanzania conservation news update – Now German environmentalists and conservationists protest Uranium mining plans
PROTEST AGAINST URANIUM MINING IN THE SELOUS GOES INTERNATIONAL As a taste of things to come, should the Tanzanian government go ahead with their controversial plans to reduce the size of the Selous Game Reserve and risk environmental degradation and significant pollution of land and water, have German activists began a campaign against the project. […]
Kenya aviation news update – Government struggles to raise funds to take up KQ’s share rights issue
PARLIAMENTARY VOTE PUTS GOVERNMENTS SHARE POSITION AT KQ IN DOUBT Information emerged from Nairobi that parliament slashed the budget estimate of the government to retain their significant 23 percent shareholding in Kenya Airways during the forthcoming rights issue in doubt, as only 2.5 billion of a requested 5.5 billion Kenya Shillings was passed. The Kenyan […]
Kenya conservation breaking news – Stakeholders demand halt to Wildlife draft bill in its current format
STAKEHOLDERS DEMAND MORE TIME TO REVIEW AND AMEND WILDLIFE BILL The attempt by the Kenyan government to rush through a controversial wildlife bill, with little time given to stakeholders to widely consult and contribute opinions and propose changes to the draft text, has obviously failed as growing opposition is now reported to be forming from […]
Tanzania conservation news – Another 700 tusks shipped from Dar es Salaam confiscated in Malaysia
ANOTHER IVORY HAUL FROM TANZANIA CONFISCATED IN MALAYSIA News just broke that Malaysian customs officials confiscated a shipment of 700 tusks destined for a final destination in China and reportedly coming from the port of Dar es Salaam. The blood ivory is thought to be worth over 1 million US Dollars on the black market. […]
Weekly roundup of news from the Eastern African and Indian Ocean region, First edition September 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 First edition September 2011 East Africa […]
Seychelles news update – Major anti piracy meeting begins on Mahe
SEYCHELLES HOSTS MAJOR ANTI PIRACY CONFERENCE The Government of Seychelles in conjunction with the South Asia and Africa Regional Port Stability Cooperative are hosting a meeting to discuss added anti piracy measures and review existing measures already implemented. Observers are also on Mahe from other Indian Ocean island countries affected by piracy, from the European […]
Kenya tourism news update – Premium park fees to go up as tariffs are revised
PARK FEES RISE AS LOW / MED SEASON TARIFFS SHELVED Visitors to Kenyas national parks now pay 80 US Dollars per person per day to enter into the prime national parks across the country, as a new set of tariffs became effective earlier in the week. The new rules appear to have discontinued the low […]
Uganda tourism update – Road link to Kidepo made difficult as bridge gets swept away
TORRENTIAL RAINS SWEEP AWAY BRIDGE TO KIDEPO PARK The present torrential rains in parts of North Eastern Uganda, which already claimed dozens of lives last week when another mudslide coming down the slopes of Mt. Elgon killed dozens of villagers, have now disrupted transport to the Kidepo Valley National Park. The Kaboong bridge was reportedly […]
Kenya aviation news – KCAA set to inflict whopping fee increases on aviation sector
KENYA CIVIL AVIATION PLANS FEE WHOPPER While aviation stakeholders have been locked in a seemingly never ending argument with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, with a near breakdown of relations when KCAA broke a gentlemans agreement on the implementation of hugely controversial new regulations last year, the stand offs are not about to end it […]
East African news update – Immigration to apply 6-month rule for EA citizens
FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT FINALLY COMING TO EAST AFRICA The East African Community has over the weekend announced that citizens of member states, wishing to reside in one of the other EAC countries, will now be guaranteed immigration clearance for 6 months at a go without the previously often used 30 days limit being continued. The […]
South Sudan aviation news – Southern Star gets first aircraft, commences operations
NEW AIRLINE FOR NEW COUNTRY South Sudans latest privately owned airline, Southern Star, took delivery last week of their first aircraft, a Dash 8 supplied by ALS of Nairobi Kenya on a long term contract. The new airline is reportedly planning to start operations with domestic flights across the vast Southern Sudanese territory, connecting Juba […]
Seychelles tourism news update – STB promotes honeymoons at ‘Bride and Groom’ exhibition in Kampala
SEYCHELLES WORKS UGANDAN HONEYMOON MARKET Weddings in Uganda are big business and so are honeymoons. Last week did the New Vision, Ugandas leading daily newspaper, organize a Bride and Groom exhibition, lasting for three days. Pearl Hoareau, Managing Director of the Uganda Travel Bureau and Tourism Ambassador in Uganda for the Seychelles, hosted Amia Jovanovic […]
Uganda travel news – Of airports and airports
OF AIRPORTS AND AIRPORTS As a frequent traveler I am probably in a better position to judge the functionalities of our regional airports, and the pain inflicted by overzealous security officials on those having to travel by air, or those simply coming to have a holiday of a lifetime. In Nairobi for instance, vehicles continue […]
Tanzania conservation news – New national anti poaching unit launched
TANZANIA ACTS ON POACHING Following growing concern amongst the conservation fraternity over the number of poaching incidents and seizures of blood ivory and other wildlife trophies has government at last, and many say rather belatedly acted late last week. A national anti poaching unit was introduced to be deployed as and where the situation may […]
East Africa conservation news – Telling the good news is apparently not always welcome news
TELLING THE GOOD NEWS IS NOT ALWAYS WELCOME NEWS The proverbial media paranoia, fed of course and nurtured by a repressive government in Dar es Salaam which has been clamping down on the local media, and equally hard on suspected informers, has reached a new level it seems. The scenario: one gets hold of newsworthy […]
Uganda tourism news update – Geo Lodges use ‘Bride and Groom’ exhibition to promote honeymoons
GEOLODGES AT BRIDE AND GROOM EXHIBITION TO PROMOTE DOMESTIC HONEYMOONS The current exhibition ongoing at the UMA Lugogo Showground, focusing entirely on weddings and what it needed to make them a success, and affordable by the way, has been used by Geo Lodges Uganda to promote their lodges, the Rain Forest Lodge in Mabira, the […]
South Sudan news – New currency only from now on
NEW CURRENCY ONLY FROM NOW ON The one month transition period of using both new and old outgoing currency notes in South Sudan came to an end during the week. After exchanging nearly 750 million US Dollars worth of old currency notes against the new notes introduced upon independence from the oppressive regime in Khartoum, […]
Seychelles news update – Fibre Optic Cable project ‘on track’
FIBRE OPTIC CONNECTION REMAINS ON TRACK Information was received from Mahe overnight that a meeting of contractors and project promoters established that the planning for the laying of the fibre optic cable was on track and on time. Work is expected to commence in February 2012, when a specially equipped ocean vessel will begin the […]
Rwanda aviation news – RCAA trains more personnel at Kanombe International Airport
RCAA TRAINS MORE IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE Airport personnel at Kanombe International Airport but also staff from several airlines, including RwandAir and Akagera Aviation amongst others, were trained during the past two weeks in emergency response protocols and firefighting techniques, to overall improve the safety standards at Rwandas main international aviation gateway. While the airport reportedly […]
Tanzania aviation news – Precision to launch IPO in October, finally
PRECISION AIRS IPO FINALLY GETS TAKE OFF CLEARANCE Regulatory authorities in Tanzania have finally bowed to increasing pressure to allow Precision Air, Tanzanias premier privately owned airline and partner of Kenya Airways, to go ahead with their long planned and often halted initial public offering of shares. Government in Dar es Salaam had come under […]
Tanzania tourism news – Grading and classification work gets a boost with more assessors graduating
HOTEL ASSESSORS GRADUATE 17 course participants graduated during the week from a two month training exercise aimed to equip them with knowledge and skills how to rate and grade hotels, resorts, safari lodges and other hospitality businesses. The East African Communitys effort to harmonize the standards of the hospitality industry in the region is gradually […]
Uganda conservation news – Keep Mabira, we don’t want it says Mehta
MEHTA NOW DECLINES MABIRA FOREST OFFER In an unexpected turn of events has the head of the Mehta Group family publicly turned down an offer from government, to give the ailing sugar company over 7.000 hectares of prime rain forest to expand their sugar cane plantations. The comments were reportedly made at a meeting of […]
Seychelles news update – Record arrivals from China this year confirm STB strategy
RECORD CHINESE ARRIVALS FOR SEYCHELLES With several months still to go in 2011 the arrival of Chinese citizens have already exceeded the entire arrival number for 2010, itself a record breaking year, and the current trend shows an increase of more than 75 percent compared to last year. Active promotion, by the Seychelles Tourism Board […]
Seychelles news update – Election time, new party new game?
SEYCHELLES ELECTION TIME NEW PARTY NEW GAME? With the general election just a few weeks away now the Seychelles politics are set to change as a new political party, the Popular Democratic Party is entering the main arena of an election fight for the first time. Long time opposition leader Wavel Ramkalawan, following his significant […]
South Sudan news update – ‘Put us on global maps please’
WHEN WILL SOUTH SUDAN GET ON THE MAPS Ever tried to get the Weather Channel show you the temperatures and daily weather updates from Juba, the capital of the newly independent South Sudan? Think again. The relentless propaganda by the former slave regime in Khartoum has managed to keep Juba off the Weather Channel map, […]
Seychelles news update – La Digue meeting assures tourism stakeholders of better policing
GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES MORE RESOURCES TO POLICING The Seychelles government has responded swiftly to calls by the tourism fraternity to strengthen security measures, acknowledging that the safety of tourists and citizens alike was a high priority and needed extra input, also in line with President Michels commitment to vigorously combat crime and social ills across the […]
Seychelles aviation update – Air Seychelles confirms Dreamliner commitment and moves towards EU emission compliance
AIR SEYCHELLES CONFIRMS DREAMLINER FOR 2013 Information was received from Mahe overnight that Air Seychelles will begin receiving their ordered B787 Dreamliner aircraft as of 2013, with no specific delivery date however confirmed as yet, probably because Boeing is still struggling to get production of their latest commercial aircraft revved up. Other African airlines like […]
Kenya news update – Malindi hoteliers want modern fire fighting equipment
MALINDI HOTELIERS WANT FIRE BRIGADE UPGRADED A recent fire in Watamu, which reportedly destroyed several holiday villas and nearby buildings, brought renewed demands from members of the coast branch of the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers to improve the fire fighting capabilities. Tourism is the most significant business in Malindi and Watamu and the […]
Kenya tourism news – Stakeholders furious over state of Narok – Mara road
FIX THE MARA ROAD OR ELSE Tourism stakeholders have once again demanded that the Kenyan government finally lives up to its often made and yet to be delivered promises, to have a crucial tourism road fixed up. The section of road between Narok and the Sekenani gate, a major entrance to the world famous Masai […]
Uganda news update – Airtel follows MTN with higher tariffs
AIRTEL FOLLOWS MTN WITH 4/- PER SECOND TARIFF The honeymoon clearly is over now amongst Ugandas Telecom companies as the number two in the market, Airtel, also moved their tariffs to the 4/- Shillings per second range with immediate effect. Also citing higher cost in a statement literally copied and pasted from the one MTN […]
