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Dear Reader,

You are receiving now the newsletter June 2010. Enjoy reading the newsletter, if you have comments and suggestions please write to me: straus@kenyaonetours.com

Best wishes from East Africa

Karl-Heinz Straus

Wildebeest Migration Has Begun in Masai Mara

The annual wildebeest migration from Serengeti to Masai Mara in Kenya has started two weeks ago. They are moving now across the south Mara plains. The herds split before entering the Central Plains with one herd heading west and the other to the north. Having crossed the Sand River, the wildebeest with the zebras now move from Keekorok to the Mara Bridge covering a distance of about 25 to 30 kilometers in a few days.

Planned new highway will cut the Serengeti in half

The Serengeti in Tanzania and Masai Mara in Kenya are part of the Serengeti eco system and most famous for the vast herds of wildebeest that follow a migration route around the Serengeti and into the Masai Mara, and the big cats that accompany them. But this world heritage is in danger if the government of Tanzania goes ahead with its recently approved plan to build a major commercial truck highway across the Serengeti.

The US$480 million highway is planned to link Arusha and the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya through the Serengeti National Park. If the highway goes ahead, it could potentially halt the famous wildebeest migration which would have dire consequences. If the wildebeest numbers are massively reduced, the numbers of big cats and other predators will crash in a similar manner. If the road prevents the wildebeest reaching the Masai Mara, there will be major implications for the environment there, as well as the communities that rely on tourism.

Travel companies, associations, and travelers around the world are asking the government of Tanzania to stop these plans. Conservation organizations have warned that the highway would be destructive to the Serengeti ecosystem, as it cuts across the path of ancient wildlife migration routes. The Frankfurt Zoological Society, which has been the main supporter of the Serengeti for the past fifty years, stated, "The entire Serengeti will change into a completely different landscape holding only a fraction of its species and losing its world-class tourism potential and its status as the world's most famous national park - an immense backlash against the goodwill and conservation achievements of Tanzania.”

Tour companies, associations and individuals interested in signing the petition should go to the following web site: http://www.savetheserengeti.org/issues/stop-the-serengeti-highway/
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/15/road-kill-in-the-serengeti/

Mombasa welcomes new ferries

Two new ferries which arrived in Mombasa recently will ease the congestion and delays at Likoni Channel, the connection to South Coast of Mombasa.

Kenya Airways will fly to Rome again

After many years Kenya Airways has included Rome again in its schedule. Increased demand by both passengers and for freight makes this connection viable again.

New link from Masai Mara to Migori

Safarilink is offering a connection from Masai Mara to the northern circuit in Tanzania with a flight to Migori close to the border point of Isebania. The service will be available from 01 July to 31 October 2010 and subject to review thereafter.

Hippos and gorillas the innocent victims of DR Congo violence

The conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo has caused more deaths than any war since the Second World War - some 3.3.million between 1998 and 2002 alone. Despite a peace agreement the sporadic fighting continues and rangers in the national parks that house some of the most endangered wildlife in the world do not escape. Rangers are not only battling to keep away poachers but also find themselves in hand-to-hand combat with rebel groups and rogue military elements.
The southern shores of Lake Edward are known as the killing fields - thousands of hippos have been slaughtered over the years. From a population of about 27,000 hippos 20 years ago only about 300 remain. Core protected areas coupled with uncompromising anti-poaching efforts are critical for maintaining populations of forest elephants, western lowland gorillas and chimpanzees according to a recent study. Chimpanzees and elephants are particularly sensitive to human disturbance outside the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, which plays a major role in their distribution. In fact, the park may be one of the most important sites for chimpanzees in the Congo Basin with some of the highest densities recorded in Central Africa.

Six black rhinos to be released on the Serengeti

32 Eastern black rhino are to be released into the Serengeti. The 32 eastern black rhino will be moved from South Africa to Tanzania during the next five years. The eastern black rhino (Diceros bicornis michaeli) is the most endangered of the three remaining subspecies of black rhino, with around 700 remaining in the wild, and less than 70 in Tanzania. This reintroduction will bolster the transnational Serengeti-Mara population, making it the largest free-ranging population of eastern black rhino anywhere. The rhino being returned to the Serengeti are the descendants of animals that were captured in Tsavo in Kenya in 1961 and moved to South Africa. Over the last sixty years, Africa's black rhino population plummeted by more than 90%. As recently as 1970, 60,000 black rhino roamed the continent. By 1993, uncontrolled poaching for rhino horn had reduced this to fewer than 2,300.

Kenya bags top global ranking in tourism

Kenya is the fourth best destination for meetings and conventions in Africa, according new rankings by the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA). In the 2009 rankings, Kenya joins the top league globally moving up to position 60, from 623 in 2008. According to the ICCA rankings, Kenya clinched position four in Africa after South Africa, Egypt and Morocco.

Fly540 keeps expanding domestic network in Kenya

Fly540 is adding Kakamega in Western Kenya now in addition to Eldoret, Kitale and Kisumu. The aircraft used on the Kakamega route will be a Beechcraft 1900 or, depending on demand, a Bombardier Dash 8, which are also used for the newly-added, off-peak flights to the coastal destinations of Mombasa and Malindi and, of course, to Lamu.

Further Information

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More information on the above can be obtained from us:
E-mail: kenyaonetours@africaonline.co.ke - safaris@kenyaonetours.com

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