KWS AND TANAPA CARRY OUT CARNIVORE CENSUS
The Kenya Wildlife Service has worked together with Tanzania National Parks and have started a game count for two week in the transboundary ecosystem of the Kilimanjaro and Amboseli region. The African Wildlife Fund is also part of the group and the reason to count is to have enough information about the animals which information will lead to organizing a longer term game and wildlife monitoring programme. The offi
SAANANE ISLAND TO BECOME A NATIONAL PARK
Saanane Island which is located in Mwanza on Lake Victoria has been recorded as one of the wonderful attraction on the Island. The Park had been the first zoo in Tanzania in 1964 with an aim of encouraging interest and conservation education in wildlife and to encourage leisure to the people of Mwanza town. The island has activities like picnics, gameviewing, bird watching and rock hiking. Tanzania National Parks A
STADDLE-BILLED STORK IN UGANDA
The Saddle-billed Stork is one of the large wading birds that belong to the stork family and can be found in Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Africa, Chad, Senegal and Cote d’lvoire. The stork is related to birds like Asian Black-necked stork and they are identical in female and male. These birds fly with the neck outstretched and the large heavy bill is kept sagging below the belly height which gives the birds a ve
UGANDA TO CLASSIFY HOTELS
The government of Uganda has finalized arrangements for classifying accommodation and restaurant facilities in the country like a measure to match the tourism and hospitality sector in East Africa. The main aim for this classification is to support non-star rated hotels, hostels, camping sites, guest houses. The rating will create confidence in potential visitors who will be willing to pay for quality facilities an
KWS AIMS FOR SH20 BILLION REVENUE
The Kenya Wildlife Service has an aim of increasing its revenue to Sh20 billion by 2020 by increasing its annual revenue return to 10-15%.the director if KWS Julius Kipng’etich said they have got one million hectare of land for conservation in Samburu,Marsabit and Isiolo which has been willingly given by the locals. He said KWS has invested a lot in community conservation and protection of wildlife and 300 loca
THE HIGHEST ANNUAL ELEPHANT GROWTH IN AFRICA IN TARANGIRE PARK
The number of elephants in Tarangire National Park in Tanzania has increased and according to statistics, the elephants increase to 7% every year which has been the highest record in Africa. The Director of the Tarangire Elephant Project, Dr Charles Foley has been studying the elephants in the park for almost twenty years and he said the increase in the mammals in the eco system reaching 175 mammals each year is th
TANZANIA SHOULD FOCUS ON FAITH TOURISM TO TAP AMERICANS
A number of advises have been given to Tanzania by Ms Lisa Simon who is the president of the North America’s National Tour Association(NTA)on how to attract American tourists and those from other countries to boost the sector. Ms Lisa Simon has been in Tanzania for four days training tour operators in marketing the East African countries in the US market and she said the country has to deal in culture, cuisine, w
LAKE MANYANYANGE TO BE PROTECTED
A number of tourists each year visit Queen Elizabeth National Park to view the different wild animals , see how people mine different types of natural salt from Lake Katwe which is famous for salt and others come to watch the birds at Lake Munyanyange which is located a few meters from Lake Katwe. Bird watching has become a scheme in the tourism sector in Uganda and Lake Munyanyange is among the best place where th
TOURISM FACILITIES DESTROY WETLANDS
The construction of tourism facilities in wetlands in Uganda has shown that the government has not protected wetlands. Ms Flavia Munaba the minister of state for environment said many tourism facilities, recreation centers, unregulated agricultural activities, drainage, infilling and poor waste management are sources of development that give and take the effects of wetlands to the tourism sector. During the World W
KWS INTRODUCES 20 RHINOS IN RUMA TO IMPROVE TOURISM
20 black rhinos have been re-introduced in Ruma National Park by the Kenya Wildlife Service to boost tourism in the western circuit. The animals had been in the park in 1950s but were then transferred because of poaching. Noah Wekesa the Forestry and wildlife minister said the rhinos have been removed from the Mugie Rhino Sanctuary and Solio Ranch in Laikipia to preserve them and for attracting tourists. The nation
KENYANS TO VISIT TANZANIA TO IMPROVE THE BOND
Tanzania has a number of attractions like Mount Kilimanjaro which is one of highest mountains in the world so the Kenyan High Commissioner has told Kenyans to visit the country to support the East African integration. Tanzania’s tourist sites have a number of unique futures and thee country is very safe in terms of security. It has a number of beautiful beaches and historical buildings in Zanzibar. If Kenyans vis
SWAMPS ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO TOURISM INCOME
Uganda has a number of swamps and they have contributed a lot to the tourism industry of the country.Bigodi swamp which is located near Kibale National Park in Kamwenge District was a thick mass of papyrus but after the interference of Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Development (KAFRED),it won a UNDP’s Equator Initiative Award in 2010. The wetlands act as wildlife corridors and homes to ov
KISUMU AIRPORT TO BE OPENED AFTER RECONSTRUCTION
The new extension of Kisumu International Airport in Kenya will be opened by President Mwai Kibaki. The construction of Kisumu International Airport started in 2009 but had been troubled by local clans because they wanted to be compasented for the land the government had taken from them. The airline had been criticize by airlines because of its runway has been in a poor state so it had to be extended so that it
ADVENTURE
Uganda is a classic adventure tourism destination. Indeed, Bujagali Falls, which lies downstream of the Source of the Nile an hour’s drive east of Kampala, is East African counterpart to more southerly adrenaline capitals like the Victoria Falls and Cape Town. Bujagali is the launching point for a commercial white-water rafting route that ranks as one of the most thrilling but also one of the safest in the worl
HIGH CHARGES AT ENTEBBE AIRPORT AFFECTING AIRLINES
According to different companies in Uganda, the high parking fee and cost of landing at Entebbe Airport has affected airline businesses. The fees according to the airlines have been the highest in the whole of East Africa therefore making it one of the most expensive airports for airline business in the area. Small aircrafts pay $110 and the big ones $320 at the airport for every extra hour after parking for six ho
RHINOS REDUCE IN NUMBER DUE TO INCREASED LOVE FOR THEIR HORN
Tanzania’s tourism industry has plans of increasing its foreign exchange from Sh73billion earned in 2010 to over Sh200 billion by 2015 and to increase on the country’s Gross Domestic Product. The Minister for Tourism Mr. Ezekiel Maige said the rhinos belong to the most endangered species in the world because of the increased business of the animal’s horn. The Rhino horn in the current market is very expensive
GERMAN TRAVEL INDUSTRY WARNS KENYA ABOUT SAMBURU EVICTIONS
The travel industry of German has warned Kenya that its image as a tourist destination will be affected if it does not find a quick solution for the current evictions of the Samburu tribe. A number of brutal evictions by the Kenya police have forced a big number of people that belong to the tribe from Eland Downs. Their houses have been burnt, livestock stolen and people have been beaten. Land has also been bought
THE FIRST ELDERY REACHES KILIMANJARO’S HIGHEST PEAAK
A tourist of 79 years identified as Raymond Walker from Canada has climbed mountain Kilimanjaro in Tanzania has currently reached the highest peak on the mountain Uhuru summit. He has been the first elderly to reach the highest peak and has encouraged Tanzanians to climb, enjoy and appreciate the beauty of Africa’s highest peak. Walker has said he is very proud to be the first person to climb the mountain at his
TANZANIA TO IMPROVE ITS AVIATION
The Galileo Travel port Ltd which is a private company in charge of ticketing has introduced a new system to boost effectiveness in the delivery of aviation and other tourism related services in Tanzania. The system identified as Travel port Smart Point has been opened in Dar es Salaam and has been set up to improve efficiency in the operations of travel agents and airlines. Chief Executive Officer, Eliasap
TANZANIA’S LODGE VOTED THE BEST IN THE WORLD
The Olduvai Gorge camp in Ngorongoro conservation area in Tanzania has been selected the best lodge in the world by Hotel and Lodge magazine based in Paris therefore taking Tanzania’s tourism to international level. Over 45 tourism professionals from different countries of the world to contribute in the voting process where around 60 lodges were selected to join the competition and Oldivai Camp emerged the winner
UWA GETS ANTI POACHING GADGETS
The Uganda Wildlife Authority has received a donation from Bush Meat Eastern Africa that is worth Shs 7.5 million to control poaching. The donation included ivory detectors to detect ivory in every way it has been carried out, computers to track animals through the Global Position and security torches for the rangers. Mr. Tumwesigye said poaching has not been controlled 100% because of the lack of enough equipment
GORILLAS AND PRIMATES
Uganda’s most attraction is the endangered mountain gorilla,the bulkiest of living primates and among the most peaceful.Staring into the pensive brown eyes of these gental giants who share 95% of their genes with humans is thrilling,no less so when one realizes that the few remaining 700 gorillas can be found in Bwindi in Uganda and in Virunga mountains in Rwanda and DR Congo. In Uganda,there are nine hab
RWANDA TO INTRODUCE CONVENTION TOURISM
Rwanda will target business travelers to boost on revenue from the tourism industry by launching conventional tourism in 2012. The convention bureau will market Rwanda as the best destination for meetings and conferences. This was discussed by stakeholders in 2008 with the On The Frontier group which a consulting firm in America. The firm said the country will earn a lot from the kind of tourism but a conventio
RHINO GETS ANOTHER BABY
Another baby at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary has been born by the third female adult. The executive Director of the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary has received the news from the ranger that Kori that had not been expected to give birth soon has delivered a baby girl. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was brought into existence by the donation of land use rights by Capt. Joe Roy and was set up by the Rhino Fund Uganda where 1 million dollars was
TANZANIA TO DISCUSS ON HOW TO MARKET THE COUNTRY AS A TOURIST DESTINATION
A seminar about marketing Tanzania as a tourist destination for the US market will be organized in Dar es Salaam and Arusha. It will be attended by over 50 stakeholders in the tourism industry at Peacock Hotel in Dar es Salaam and the speaker will be the President of the North America National Tour Association, Lisa Simon. In Arusha,it will be held at Kibo Palace hotel and tour operators have been invited to exchan
AIRLINES IN AFRICA JOIN TO REDUCE ON FUEL COSTS
African airlines have come together for jet fuel to reduce costs in the changeable international oil market. The nine African airlines and all the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) have accomplished tender bids from fuel companies. The project will lead to better savings and the nine airlines include Ethiopian Alines, Air Malawi, Kenya Airways, Precision Air, LAM Mozambique Airline, Air Seychelles and Air Namibi
TANZANIA RANKED THE HIGHEST IN AFRICA
NY Times which is a famous newspaper has ranked Tanzania the highest in the African countries as a tourist destination. Among the 45 places for tourists to visit in 2012; Tanzania took the seventh position and Uganda the 33rd. The Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) managing director, Dr Aloyce Nzuki, said they have a number of plans put in place to make the country among the most loved place to visit in 2012.there has be
RWANDA’S TOURISM SECTOR SETS NEW APPROACHES
The Private Sector Federation (PSF) through its Tourism Chamber in Rwanda has held US$300,000 from Trademark East Africa to use it in the designing of an integrated approach that will improve and increase on the earning in the tourism sector. The new approach has been organized by the Quality Standards Task Force, which consists of Rwanda Development Board, The presidential task force on Tourism, Tourism Chambe
GOVERNMENT TO FENCE NATIONAL PARKS
Uganda has decided to build fences around the park to prevent human-wildlife conflicts in the neighboring areas. The Minister of tourism wildlife and heritage Mr. Ephraim Kamuntu said the task is not an easy one but it has to be done to because the animals have continuously escaped from the park and have invaded the peoples gardens and have also attacked people. The people have in revenge killed the
RESEARCHERS DISCOVER A NEW SNAKE SPECIE IN TANZANIA
New snake specie has been discovered in Southern Tanzania identified as bush viper during the present biological survey. The snake has been kept in a secret place to protect it from unlawful pet collectors. The snake has unusual black and yellow color with hornlike scales above the eyes and is 60cm. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) researchers that discovered the snake have named it Matilda after the daughte
ELECTIONS IN PEAK SEASON TO AFFECT TOURISM SECTOR
Players in the tourism sector of Kenya have disagreed about the different plans to hold general elections in August or December because they are both high seasons for tourists therefore it could scare them away. The Chairman of the Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association, Mohammed Hersi said if the elections are held during one of those two months, it could ruin the sector like in 2007 yet it has taken them a long ti
KENYA TO INTRODUCE UNDERWATER MUSEUM
Kenya will introduce underwater museum to attract more tourists to the country and protect cultural heritage because the study on shipwrecks is successful. Kenya and Egypt are the only countries in Africa carrying out the studies to apply the under water cultural heritage projects .The head of Underwater Archaeology at the National Museum of Kenya Ceasar Bita has been undertaking a search in the Indian Ocean to
DOMESTIC TOURISM IN KENYA INCREASES DURING THE FESTIVE SEASON
The Christmas season of 2011, has been the best of domestic tourism compared to 2010 according to the hoteliers and stake holders in the tourism industry. The number of holiday makers has increased in 2011 compared to the last season. The Kenya Association of Hotel keepers and caterers coast chair person Titus Kangangi said the inbound tourists have preferred smaller accommodation like the small hotels and apar
14 BEACHES TO BE CLOSED BY NEMA
14 beaches in Uganda will be closed by the National Environment Management Authority. These beaches had to be closed on December 3rd but they operated during the whole festive system because the owners of have never been given any notice. The spokesperson of NEMA Naomi Karekaho said they will be called for a meeting to inform them to clear their property in 21 days because they are degrading the environment, carryi
BOAT SINKS AT LAMU
2011 will not be forgotten by the tourism stakeholders in Lamu because, two foreign tourists from Kiwayu and Manda Island were abducted and the number of tourist arrivals dropped. During the festive season, after promising the local people and the foreigners that serious security has been put in the country the number increased. In Lamu on the New Year’s Eve, a boat that had been carrying 80 people sunk. A number
TRA TO REFUND VAT TO TOURISTS IN 2012
Tourists on departure from Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro International Airport near Arusha will be refunded VAT beginning from 2012. The goods that have been bought by non resident foreign tourists will be given a VAT refund from Tanzania Revenue Authority offices at both the airports as long as the bought goods are at least 400,000 Tanzania Shillings. Some problems like logi
KENYA OPENS A NEW 5 STAR RESORT
A new 5 star resort has been opened after a long period of time in time for the Christmas and New Year season at Diani Beach which is located south of Mombasa. The resort has 140 suites and the rooms are designed by the coastal architects Tibor Gaal and Associates who have been designing hotels along Kenya beaches from Mombasa to Malindi for a long period of time. The 5 star resort has roof top terraces for som
MOMBASA PORT TO REPAIR TWO BERTHS TO ATTRACT CRUISE SHIPS
Two berths at the Mombasa port will be changed to hold cruise ships so that Kenya can increase its earning from the profitable tourism section plus improving security off the Somali coast. The plans for the port have been in existence since 2009 but increased piracy on the ocean affected the future of the business. The general manager of Kenya Ports Authority Khamis Twalib said the project will cost Sh100 million.
LACK OF FUNDS MIGHT AFFECT UGANDA’S TOURISM INDUSTRY IN 2012
During the opening of a new privately owned heritage museum in Mbarara, the minister of tourism, Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu said there is lack of funds in the tourism sector yet the sector contributes 9% of the GDP.The sector has always been allocated 0.13% from the national budget which is not enough. In 2011, Lonely Planet ranked Uganda the best destination to be visited in 2012 but due to the lack of funds compar
HERSI DECLARES KENYA A SAFE DESTINATION
Kenya has been recognized as a safe country to visit as a tourist destination because of the improved security in the area. Mombasa and Coast Tourists Association chairman Mohamed Hersi said the government has put strong security to make sure the country safe and so everyone. He said al-shabaab had tried to destroy Kenya’s tourism industry but the industry has continued to have a great performance which has led t
KENYA CONFISCATES MORE IVORY HEADING TO ASIA
727 pieces of ivory and elephant tusks in a container heading for Asia have been captures in Kenya. The customs officials at the Mombasa port said the smuggled goods had been hidden in bags of plastic chips and during the scan of the container before being shipped that’s when they discovered them. Rose Gichira, deputy customs commissioner at the Port Said they have discovered the tusks and ivory but they do not
ELDERS OF MASAI COUCIL AGREE WITH THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM
The elders of Masaai Council have agreed with the electronic system of payment of park entrance at Masai Mara game reserve because it will bring effectiveness and clearness in revenue collection at the gate. The chairman of the council Maital said the system will cease individuals and cartels that play with the council’s income and it will increase on the revenue by stopping all corruption plans. He said those di
VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Volcanoes National Park is positioned in the far northwest of Rwanda, near Mgahinga National Park of Uganda and Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo. The park is a home of the rare mountain gorillas and the rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which embrace evergreen and open grassland, swamp bamboo forest, and heath. Because the park is on 4,500m altitude, this enables an exciting trek through the c
MINISTRY OF TOURISM CLASSIFIES HOTELS IN MOMBASA AND NAIROBI
Since March 2011, the ministry of tourism in Kenya has been grouping hotels in Mombasa and Nairobi. 68 hotels have been grouped and more 90 are expected to be group until June 2012. The tourism Permanent Secretary, Leah Gwiyo said the process started in March 2011 and will end in June without any delays because grouping of the hotels will lead to an improvement in service delivery, revenue and satisfied customers
AN INCREASE IN FOOD PRICES LEADS TO AN INCREASE IN TOURISM SECTOR EXPENSES.
The increase in prices of essential commodities have led to an increase of operation cost in the tourism sector by 30% which has led to an increase of prices for goods and services in home hotels. This has worried the stakeholders and they are calling the government to interfere and turn back the cost. The tourism sector depends on foodstuffs and has been operating under stiff conditions because of the incr
TANZANIA BANS EXPORT OF WILDLIFE
The detaining, exportation and importing of wildlife has been barred in Kenya so all licensed traders with valid permits have to make sure they export their animals before the date of the notice. Tanzania will still use wild animals and other similar products for non- business activities like researching. The time that has been given by the traders to sell wildlife they legally own has been in agreement with the Wi
300 TOURISTS BLOCKED AT MARA BY PROTESTORS
Over 300 tourists have been refused to enter Masai Mara National Park at Sekenani gate which has to fights between the police and protestors for around seven hours. The locals have been protesting for the last three weeks because the Narok County Council has signed a ten- year agreement with Equity Bank to gather revenue at the park on its behalf. The protestors have blocked the Nark-Mara road with trees, burni
EAC TO SET UP WATER TRANSPORT REGULATIONS
All countries in the East African Committee will have same rules and regulations governing their water bodies to reduce on the serious marine accidents. Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania have been using the same laws under the Lake Victoria Transport Act of 2007 and Rwanda and Burundi have joined the Lake Victoria Basin Commission, a body that controls the waters. If the rules have been followed, all lakes and rivers in R
HOTEL AGENTS TO GET DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS TO MARKET THEIR HOTELS
Hotel owners have to employ private marketers in foreign countries to promote their businesses in the foreign countries. The foreign Affair minister Moses Wetangula said they should deal with the government diplomatic missions in foreign countries. Kenya as a tourist destination has been advertised by the government through Kenya Tourism Board so hoteliers should employ people who will offer modified services in ma
CONGO NILE TRAIL TO CREATE US$150,000 IN ITS OPENING YEAR
Rwanda Development Board will earn US$154,667 from the new opened Congo Nile Trail in its first year because over 200 tourists expected to walk the 227km trail along the western part passing through five districts from Rubavu to Risizi. The food that will be needed by the tourists will be supplied by farmers staying around the trail. The Chief Operations Officer at RDB, Clare Akamanzi said 100 homes will earn a
KENYA’S TOURISM REVENUE INCREASE BY 11%
Kenya’s tourism revenue has increased by 11% during the 10 months of 2011 compared to a similar time of 2010 and the number of tourist arrivals increased to 0ne million compared to 896,000 for last year. The tourism business has recorded shs 81.6 billion in revenue while last year it recorded 73.4 billion therefore making 2011 the best year in tourism for Kenya. The abduction of tourists by the Somalia militias a
A LUXURY CAMP TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN THE NEW RESERVE
A luxury camp will be constructed in a new reserve near Masai Mara Park which is the most famous park in Kenya by the British billionaire Richard Branson. Masai Mara Park is known for one of the wonders in the world which is the migration of different wildlife like the wildebeests, gazelles, zebras from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park in the north into Masai Mara every year. Branson said his project will help
WILD LIFE RESEARCHERS ASKED TO EXPLAIN THE CLIMATIC CHANGES.
The Kenyan wildlife researcher team was called upon by the Kenya minister of Tourism and natural resources Ezekiel Maige to identify research areas and consider that first so that they can have a concrete report about the recent change in the climate. Maige said this while addressing the wildlife researchers from a number of African countries and other parts of the world who came who attended the 8th scientific con
KWS TO DEVELOP THE MARINE PARK
Pilot programme has been planned by the Kenya Wildlife Service because of the strong consultations between affected people like the tour operators, KWS and hotels. Tourists have complained about the beach boys at the beaches who behave like common pests making foreign tourists uncomfortable and some are harassed by vendors of curios, souvenir and also forced to make illegal transactions. Conservations measures have
LOCAL COMMUNITIES GET THEIR SHARE OF THE TOURISM REVENUE
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has given the park communities to share Rwf 113 million amongst three districts bordering the Volcanoes National Park as part of the 2010 revenue. During the meeting in Musanze, Prosper Uwingeri, the Chief Park warden, said community projects to be financed have to be selected. The meeting consisted of the park officials, local government officials representing as NGOs and 12 sect
UWA WORRIED ABOUT INCREASED POACHING OF ELEPHANTS
According to statistics released by Uganda WildlifeAuthority (UWA), a number of elephants have been killed in national parks in 2011 and this has led to worries. In the last previous years, 33 elephants have been killed at Murchison Falls National Park and 25 in 2011. The acting conservation manager of Murchison Falls National Park, Mr Louis Onzima, said the poachers have always killed elephants, removed their skin
A NEW BIRD SIGHTED IN QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
The number of birds in Queen Elizabeth National Park has increased to more than 600 because new bird species like the Grey Pratincole have been sighted. Some birds migrate from Congolese rainforest to Uganda and make the park their habitat. Bird watching has been added on the list of attractions in Ugandaso that birders from different parts of the world can come and view the different bird species both resident and
SERENGETI HOTEL NOMINATED THE WORLD’S FIFTH BEST HOTEL
A Serengeti National Park luxury tented camp identified as Kirawira has been nominated the fifth best hotel in the world by Conde Nast Traveler 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards. The other luxury properties in Tanzania that have been nominated include Serena Safari Lodge, Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge and Arusha Mountain Village and Gibb’s Farm. Tanzania Tourist Boar
THE CONGO NILE TRAIL LAUNCHED
The Congo Nile trail is a recently developed tour project intended to improve on the performance of the tourism industry and it covers 227 km and has been officially opened by the Rwanda Development Board. This trail connects the Rwanda western corridor covering the five districts beginning from Rubavu and ends at Rusizi. Rica Rwingamba who is the head of tourism and conservation in Rwanda mentioned that the touris
