Seychelles aviation news update – Emirates set to recruit more Seychellois
EMIRATES TO RECRUIT MORE STAFF FROM SEYCHELLES As the award winning national airline of Dubai moves from its present 12 flights per week between Dubai and Mahe to double daily in the very near future, Emirates is also making good of a commitment made when announcing the upping of its frequencies, that they would employ substantially […]
Seychelles aviation breaking news – Etihad to join other Gulf airlines on Seychelles route
NOW ETIHAD WILL FLY TO THE SEYCHELLES Information was confirmed overnight that Etihad, the national airline of Abu Dhabi, has also decided to add the Creole Island Paradise of the Seychelles to their list of destinations. From November 01st Etihad will fly initially four times a week with an Airbus A 320 to the […]
Rwanda aviation breaking news – Rubavu / Gisenyi new domestic RwandAir destination
RWANDAIR STARTS RUBAVU/GISENYI SERVICES The national airline of Rwanda has now set the inaugural flight date for Rubavu / Gisenyi, their second domestic destination in Rwanda, for 02nd of June, at which time they will commence 4 weekly flights. The destination is only a ‘stone throw’ away from the border with the Congo DR, the […]
Indian Ocean breaking news – 3.6 million US Dollars ransom intercepted in Mogadishu
PAYMENT OF RANSOM TO OCEAN TERRORISTS INTERCEPTED Information was received yesterday via the Nairobi based ECOTERRA INTERNATIONAL organization, that authorities in Mogadishu reportedly intercepted two aircraft, crews and passengers, carrying what can only be described as ransom money worth millions of US Dollars, as the two flights appeared to have run short of fuel, or […]
Uganda news update – Pilgrims enroute to Namugongo Martyrs Shrine
MARTYR’S DAY PILGRIMAGES UNDERWAY From right across Uganda and other countries in East Africa are Catholic faithful making their long way to the Namugongo Shrine, where the annual ‘Martyrs Day’ is celebrated, a public holiday in Uganda since the church declared the victims of a savage ritual burning decreed by Kabaka Mwanga, the then King of […]
Uganda news update – Tragedy strikes travellers as flash flood hits their vehicle
TWO DOZEN UGANDANS DROWN IN SOUTH SUDAN RIVER FLASH FLOOD A group of Ugandan traders, returning home after completing their business in Southern Sudan, were reportedly swept away by a sudden flash flood, as they spent the night, probably unknowingly, in a dry river bed where their vehicle had gotten stuck. The horror news reached Uganda […]
Seychelles aviation news update – Delivery of second Twin Otter DHC – 600 deferred
AIR SEYCHELLES DEFERS NEXT TWIN OTTER DHC-600 DELIVERY Information was received from sources close to and at the national airline of the Seychelles, that a second brand new Twin Otter DHC-600 earmarked for purchase will not, for the time being, be delivered while the restructuring of ‘HM’ is ongoing. The first aircraft, the long round the world […]
Kenya aviation breaking news – Kenya Airways to add N’djamena / Chad from 19th June
KENYA AIRWAYS TO ADD N’DJAMENA / CHAD Effective 19th of June will Kenya Airways commence initially twice weekly flights on Sunday and Wednesday to N’djamena in Chad, via Cotonou / Benin. This 54th destination overall has reaffirmed Kenya Airways’ lead on the African continent and information from the airline’s head office confirms that by 2013 […]
Seychelles news update – ‘Sun Princess’ calls on Victoria with 1.900 passengers on board
SUN PRINCESS CALLS ON VICTORIA HARBOUR Princess Cruise Lines’ Sun Princess called on Victoria Harbour yesterday for a day long visit, during which many of the 1.900 passengers disembarked to stroll through the capital of the Seychelles while the ship was replenished with water, fuel and other supplies. The ‘new generation’ cruise liner towered over […]
East African aviation news update – Ash cloud ‘may affect’ departures and arrivals
EUROPE FLIGHTS MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY NEW ICELANDIC ASH CLOUD Twice in as many years have warnings been sounded to airlines flying to and from European airport, or across European airspace, that the fresh outbreak of the notorious Icelandic volcano might bring with it resh misery, flight delays and cancellations. Travellers across Eastern Africa have […]
Kenya news update – Fix the Mara road, government told
TOURISM MINISTRY RESPONDS TO ‘TOURIST COMPLAINTS ON MARA ROAD’ The appalling state of the main road between Narok and the Masai Mara Game Reserve, the jewel in the crown of Kenyan game parks, has now reached parliament when questions were raised about the lack of repairs and upgrades on this key tourist access road to the […]
Uganda breaking news – New cabinet takes shape with VP and PM appointments
UGANDA’S NEW CABINET TAKES SHAPE WITH APPOINTMENTS OF VP AND PM President Museveni started the long awaited announcements of his new cabinet by appointing former Speaker of Parliament, the Hon. Edward Sekandi as his new Vice President after former Vice President Prof. Bukenya had tendered his resignation the day before. Also announced was the Right Honourable Amama Mbabazi’s appointment […]
Weekly roundup of news from the Eastern African and Indian Ocean region, Fourth edition May 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 Fourth edition May 2011 […]
Seychelles breaking news – President Michel sworn in for new term of office
PRESIDENT MICHEL SWORN IN THIS AFTERNOON (Crowds assemble at State House Victoria to witness the swearing in and celebrate ‘their’ election win) Late afternoon on Tuesday 24th of May saw the formal swearing in ceremony take place at the State House in Victoria on the island of Mahe, capital of the Seychelles following the announcement […]
Knocking on heaven’s gate – my return to the MAIA
KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S GATES – A RETURN TO THE MAIA LUXURY RESORT Very few resorts have captured my attention and admiration like the MAIA Luxury Resort which I was privileged to visit 15 months ago. Back then I said it was hospitality made in heaven and sent down to earth for us to enjoy, […]
Seychelles Regatta update – Watching the races on the Le Kir Royal
A DAY ON THE ‘KIR ROYAL’ www.lekirroyal.com Few opportunities arise which are as tempting to accept as spending two days on an ocean going yacht and shadowing a catamaran ocean regatta from the closest possible positions. An invitation by the Seychelles Tourist Board while on the archipelago to cover the presidential elections however did make […]
Seychelles news update – International regatta now underway till weekend
SEYCHELLES REGATTA NOW UNDERWAY WITH 6 MORE RACES TO DETERMINE FINAL WINNER The official opening of the Tourist Board sponsored ‘Seychelles Regatta’ saw also the other sponsors, including and importantly Air Seychelles being recognized, before the skippers and their crews were introduced to the sizeable number of invited guests and international journalists. Held at Eden House […]
Seychelles breaking news – Election results declare President
BREAKING NEWS – PRESIDENT MICHEL DECLARED RE-ELECTED At 12.58 a.m. did the Electoral Commissioner declare President James Michel as re-elected, after addressing a team of election observers and from the Diplomatic Corps. Out of the four contestants the main opposition candidate Wavel received 23.878 votes or 41.43 percent, against President Michel’s 31.966 votes, giving him […]
Seychelles election update – Live from Victoria / Mahe
ELECTIONS SEYCHELLES STYLE – IT TRULY IS ‘ANOTHER WORLD’ The slogan used by the Seychelles Tourist Board ‘Seychelles – Another World’ immediately sprung to mind when observing the elections on Saturday at the main island of Mahe, where this correspondent managed to visit about a dozen polling stations across the island and throughout the day, […]
Seychelles breaking news – Royal couple leaves for home
IT IS ‘BYE BYE SEYCHELLES’ FOR THE ROYAL COUPLE Having been amongst the very first to accurately predict the Seychelles as the honeymoon destination of the recently married Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, aka Royal Couple aka Prince William and his it was satisfying to be in destination, when officials on the archipelago finally broke […]
Uganda news update – No cause for alarm, tourists told
NO CAUSE FOR ALARM FOR TOURISTS Officials in Kampala have confirmed that two more suspected Ebola cases were reported in as the measures of the Ministry of Health and WHO officials to contain the disease were intensified to prevent any further spread beyond the immediate areas where the present outbreak was found.Confirmation by the Uganda […]
Seychelles aviation update – Kenya Airways to add third frequency to Mahe
KENYA AIRWAYS TO FINALLY ADD THIRD FLIGHT While on the islands opportunity arose to also discuss air connections to and from the African mainland with my hosts at the Seychelles Tourist Board, which are grossly under represented compared to now double daily flights by Emirates from Dubai on A340’s and daily flights from Doha on […]
Seychelles news update – STA hosts 24 Irish students for next quarter
IRISH HOSPITALITY STUDENTS ON EXCHANGE VISIT TO SEYCHELLES As many as 24 students of hotel management courses at the Shannon College in Ireland have arrived in Mahe under an agreement to host student exchanges between the Seychelles Tourism Academy and the Shannon College of Hospitality Management. They will be deployed across several top class resorts […]
Kenya aviation news update – Jetlink drops Hargeisa
JETLINK DROPS HARGEISA – PROMPTS SOMALILAND REACTION Jetlink, one of Kenya’s privately owned airlines, has reportedly halted operations between Nairobi and Hargeisa, the capital of the selfproclaimed region of Somaliland, in the face of low passenger numbers and for added ‘operational reasons’. Last year East African Safari Air Express also withdrew from the same route, eventually halting […]
Seychelles news update – Seychelles International Regatta starts this weekend
SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL – THE SEYCHELLES’ INTERNATIONAL REGATTA When talking ‘regatta’ the mind is quick to conjure up pictures of several dozens of boats or yachts lining up, awaiting the horn sounded by the regatta officials and then swiftly crossing the starting line en masse, sails fluttering in the wind and soon turning into distant […]
Uganda conservation news – More controversy over Uganda Museum
MINISTER AT IT AGAIN OVER MUSEUM On the very day that the new parliament, after swearing in all newly elected members of parliament, was formally constituted, did outgoing Minister for Tourism, Trade and Industry Hon. Kahinda Otafire stir fresh controversy when he pronounced at his farewell party at the ministry – a new government is […]
Uganda conservation update – Rhino Fund puts fact right
RHINO FUND UGANDA PUTS FACTS RIGHT The Rhino Fund Uganda, a duly registered NGO, has taken exception to the blatant misrepresentation and factual errors floated in the Ugandan media in regard to statements allegedly made before the current ongoing Commission of Enquiry, headed by Rtd. Justice Kanyeihamba, which is tasked to look into the use […]
Seychelles news update – Elections or not, here we come …
ALL ROADS LEAD TO SEYCHELLES – ELECTIONS OR NOT Elections for the office of president are special anywhere around the world with the biggest exposure every four years given to the US presidential elections of course, around which an entire media circus has been created, which comes to the TV screens, like it or not, […]
Uganda aviation news update – FLY 540 offers Juba alternative
540 AVIATION OFFERS JUBA FARE VIA NAIROBI At a cost of US Dollars 398, terms and conditions apply, for a return flight has Fly 540 now gone into direct competition with Air Uganda for passengers to South Sudan’s capital Juba. Initial feedback has it that a number of passengers are ready to fly the slightly […]
Rwanda news update – Marriott team concludes Kigali visit
MARRIOT KIGALI TO HAVE OVER 250 ROOMS The visit of the Marriott delegation to Kigali, where they inspected the progress of the ongoing construction, has also brought clarity about the size of the new luxury city hotel. Mr. Billy Cheung, who let the delegation, spoke on Monday to the media and announced that the critical […]
