KNOW EAST AFRICA BETTER – BEFORE YOU VISIT
(Posted 01st February 2015)
Week in and week out arrive e-mails and in growing numbers messages via my social media accounts, paying compliments about the wide range of news from the region and then often ending ‘but where do I find out more about … ‘. The ‘about’ of course then reads Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Kigali or Bujumbura, places readers intend to visit and want to learn more about it before landing.
Starting with Uganda, we are blessed to have, free of charge, a printed version of ‘The Eye’, which I consider one of the most comprehensive guides on the market in the region. Besides Kampala, a detailed map included, does the publication also cover Entebbe and Jinja, again with maps of the core areas of the two towns. Hotels, resorts, safari lodges, inns, B&B’s, restaurants, leisure and adventure activities, topical articles on places to visit, national parks, diplomatic missions, airlines, bus services, travel agencies, shopping tips and a range of specialized services like schools, doctors and more, it is all found in ‘The Eye’. Published bi-monthly is it distributed through a wide range of outlets and when the print versions run out are current and past editions accessible on the web by clicking on www.theeye.co.ug. In addition has the ‘Pearl Guide’ emerged and taken hold, where, partly print but largely web based, are regular updates on events and ‘happenings’ accessible for visitors and locals at www.thepearlguide.co.ug.
They also launched Uganda’s first ‘travel app’ which can be downloaded for free through a link on their website.
The Eye also dominated the scene in neighbouring Rwanda and Burundi, where the A5 sized four colour magazine is published every three months, with similar content. The web address for ‘The Eye Rwanda and Burundi’ is found via www.theeye.co.rw.
In Tanzania is such value added information available today through the monthly ‘What’s Happening in Dar’ which also contains an Arusha section, leaving out however such other cities and towns like Mwanza. From restaurant reviews to new lodges, resorts and camps does the 120+ pages magazine give a broad overview of things a visitor ought to know or be aware of before coming to Dar, be it on business or on pleasure. To see content on the web click on www.whatshappeningtz.com.
For the island of Zanzibar can the ‘Swahili Coast’ be recommended, which, published bi-monthly by Javed Jafferi, offers an events guide, an ‘inside’ guide, a map of the ‘Stone Town’ and listings of hotels, resorts and restaurants. The magazine’s information is available on the web via www.swahilicoast.com.
And then there is Kenya of course, where ‘KenyaBuzz’ continues to provide weekly updates on the web only. The company reaches a global audience through their mail shots and of course their website www.kenyabuzz.com. They were one of the first in Kenya to launch an ‘app’ which can be downloaded from their web page and will prove to be an invaluable help for visitors to Nairobi and beyond.
‘Go Places’ is the arguably longest ‘serving’ printed guide, now also available of course on the web, and covers all aspects of importance to visitors in a handy format. Most hotel receptions or concierge desks have copies to spare for guests, leaving no one to wonder where to go or what to do when in Nairobi for the weekend. Check them out via www.goplaceskenya.com.
Of course there are other ‘apps’ available today for the region, as are more publications, and those who feel the above selection is not extensive enough, can always ‘Google’ or ‘Bing’ for additional information, what is happening across Eastern Africa. Plenty to look forward to, from festivals like the annual gorilla naming in Rwanda to horse racing in Nairobi to rafting the upper Nile in Jinja, sporting events like golf tournaments, marathons and more, are now all available on the web to help make a trip to any or all countries in our region an even better experience.
For added information about the five East African Community member countries click on www.visituganda.com, www.magicalkenya.com, www.tanzaniatouristboard.com, www.rwandatourism.com and www.burundi-tourism.com
