News from East Africa

Newsletter from East Africa May 2009

Dear Reader,

You are receiving now the newsletter for May 2009. Enjoy reading the newsletter, if you have comments and suggestions please write to me: straus@kenyaonetours.com

Warm greetings from East Africa

Karl-Heinz Straus

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Rwanda

Fifteen years after the genocide killed an estimated 800,000 people, Rwanda's tourism industry is growing thanks to the attractive gorilla tracking. The Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, which opened in 2007 is close Park National des Volcans. It has eight chalets built on the side of a volcano that offers views of the lush mist-laden hills that are home to the endangered mountain gorillas. Here allow visitors can admire golden monkeys frolicking in the bamboo forests that cover the Virunga mountain slopes.

Tourism marketers open Kenya’s beauty through circuits

To increase to number of tourists visiting Kenya, The Tourism Trust Fund has helped to create five regional associations, which are the Mt Kenya Tourism Circuit Association, Mid Rift Tourism Forum, Laikipia Wildlife Forum, Samburu Wildlife Forum for Northern Kenya and Lake Victoria Wildlife Forum for Nyanza and Western Provinces. Their purpose is to promote tourist attraction in their areas, while the Kenya Tourist Board is promoting Kenya as a whole. Each area with its own unique attractions, the new circuits have increased the country’s products for both the domestic and international markets. New ecotourism attractions such as bird watching, hiking, camping, mountain climbing and white water rafting have also received increased exposure as a result of these associations.

Kenya Tourism body to hold suppliers’ expo in June

In a bid to expand the supplier base, Kenya’s tourism industry is organising a major supplier’s expo in June. The expo, the first of its kind, will give suppliers of products and services to the tourism industry an opportunity to exhibit their products.
Most of Kenya’s tourism facilities are based outside the major towns where they can get supplies. This restricts their supplier base, limiting them to only a few products.
KTF, which is organising the event, is an umbrella body for the private sector in the tourism industry.

Kenya Wildlife Service faces major task in wooing tourists

The Kenya Wildlife Service is facing one of its toughest years in the recent past as it struggles to attract tourists to its parks and also fight increased poaching. KWS is facing the challenge of conservation as wildlife, livestock and humans have been competing for resources, especially during drought. In addition, KWS is struggling to attract tourists to its parks against the backdrop of a slump that began last year. The drop saw its income reduce by 24.4 per cent for the year ending June 2008. Income stood at Sh1.93 billion compared to Sh2.55 billion previously. Earnings from park fees reduced by 28 per cent to Sh1.58 billion. The decline was in line with the general performance of the industry last year which recorded a 30 per cent reduction in tourist arrivals. By June last year, earnings in the sector had dropped by 32 per cent to Sh23 billion.

Safarilink flies to Diani, Kenya Coast

Kenya’s premier domestic airline has added another link to its network coverage. As of 1 July, SafariLink will fly daily from various destinations throughout the region to Diani on the south coast. The service will operate seasonally, from July to October, and in December and March.

Kenya Tourist Board turns to movies in effort to market Kenya

The Kenya Tourism Board will take part in the largest film location exhibition in the US as it seeks to make Kenya an international film location. The annual exhibition that will take place this week in Santa Monica is organized by the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) and helps countries to promote their filming locations and production support. The Kenya Film Commission has been taking part in the exhibition for the last three years but this year hopes to focus on the tourism aspect of the film making industry.

Kenya sets its sights on African tourists

The fast growth of a middle class with disposable income in African countries has attracted the attention of Kenya’s tourism industry which has started a major marketing campaign to attract African visitors. Coupled with the shrinking western market, Kenyan tourist operators are now looking to African countries such as South Africa, Nigeria and North Africa to bolster visitor numbers.

Kenya Airways is offering flights to Mwanza again

Kenya Airways has re-introduced the direct flight NAIROBI –MWANZA-NAIROBI effective July 2009. The timings are as follows:
PW 750 NBO-MWZ DEP 0800 ARR 0920
PW 751 MWZ-NBO DEP 0950 ARR 1110

Kenya Airways resumes Malindi flights from Nairobi

From 1. July to 28. September 2009 Kenya Airways has a daily flight in morning from Nairobi to Malindi and return.

Kenya Airways has now an Australia connection from Nairobi

Until October 09 Kenya Airways flies you to Australia via Mauritius in cooperation with Air Mauritius. Air Mauritius has reinstated same day connections to Perth & Melbourne from Nairobi. Passengers traveling from NBO on KQ 1535 departing on Monday at 0010hrs can now connect MK 942 departing MRU for PER at 1205hrs.

Kenya Airways has now an Australia connection from Nairobi

New lodge to open in Serengeti

A new 75-bedroom safari lodge is due to open in June this year in the Serengeti National Park. The information was given by Kempinski Hotels in Dar es Salaam, who will manage the new property on behalf of the UAE-based owners. The Bilila Kempinski Lodge will likely be the last such development in the Serengeti, where environmental concerns are taken seriously over the impact of such fixed places.

Shocking game losses in Kenya's Masai Mara

A study published in the British Journal of Zoology found six species -- giraffes, hartebeest, impala, warthogs, topis and waterbuck -- had declined "markedly and persistently" throughout the 1,500 square km (580 square mile) reserve.
Growing human population in the area had cut wild animal numbers by taking over wildlife grazing land.

The Masai Mara, one of the world’s most visited wildlife sanctuaries, has lost almost all its giraffes, warthogs, impala and hartebeest in the last 15 years. Researchers at the International Livestock Research Institute say in a new study that the phenomenon could herald disaster for the local tourism industry.

How to save 5% on your next travel booking to Kenya and Tanzania

Kenya One Tours is offering a 5% discount on travel booking and insider travel information by registering on Kenya One Tours website. For more information please visit: http://www.kenyaonetours.com/travel-offer.htm

Further Information

Newsletter in Deutsch: www.kenyaonetours.de/news.htm
oder senden Sie uns eine Email: news@kenyaonetours.com
More information on the above can be obtained from us:
E-mail: kenyaonetours@africaonline.co.ke - safaris@kenyaonetours.com

Newsletter Archives