ULTIMATE
AFRICA SAFARIS
Ultimate Africa travel and wildlife news archive February 1998 Tourism Slump Puts Squeeze on Kenyan Camps, February 1 1998 Kenya's worst slump in tourism, a 60% downturn blamed on political violence and floods, forced wildlife officials to announce major cutbacks. Already, hotels have laid off many workers, and some Indian Ocean coastal hotels and game park camps have closed. "We don't expect any immediate turnaround," said David Western, Director of the Kenya Wildlife Service, a government agency responsible for overseeing the country's wildlife sanctuaries. In the past six months, visits to parks had fallen 60% below expectations, he said. Because the wildlife service depends entirely on tourism to cover operating costs, the Kenya Wildlife Service has announced a series of money-saving moves, including strict financial controls, a hiring freeze, cuts in the headquarters' budget and the sale of most spare parts for vehicles. Already 567 staff have accepted deals to take early retirement. The figure will rise to 1 000. An unspecified number of senior managers have agreed to take pay cuts of up to 30%. Western added that the cutbacks would not harm wildlife. Alex Rono, deputy director of security, said extra money would be spent to beef up antipoaching and other security operations because of an expected rise in banditry as the economy declined. Altogether, the moves will save more than 20% of the projected operating budget. Kenya Sets $1.6m Publicity Blitz to Rescue Tourism, February 1 1998 The Kenya Tourist Board plans to spend Ksh100 million (US $1. 6 million) on an aggressive publicity and media campaign to counteract a disastrous slump in tourism. Mr James Flannery, technical adviser for the Kenya Tourist Board said Kenya's campaign will last six months, ending in June, and will target Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Switzerland and the United States. The drive will involve the government as well as private sector players such as hotels, tour operators, travel agents and airlines. Foreign travel writers will be invited to Kenya and the Kenya Tourist Board will advertise widely in European and American publications. Kenya's tourism sector is facing extreme problems, with business as much as 70 per cent down as a result of violence and flooding. At the end of 1997, floods made travel impossible within and outside of many game areas and some lodges flew in visitors at their own expense. With the floods came waterborne diseases. A decision by the Kenyan government to introduce visa charges for British citizens, as a reciprocal measure, caused further apprehension. Mr Dedan R. Kamau, Chief Executive of the Kenya Association of Hoteliers and Caterers said that crumbling infrastructure was causing major concern and should be addressed urgently. Road, power and communications problems, and a lack of incentives for foreigners to visit Kenya were major drawbacks. According to Mr Flannery, the Kenya Tourist Board may consult with the government about visa requirements. "Considering that various competing destinations in the region do not impose visa requirements, we have to review our position in order to stay ahead," he said. The industry is keeping an eye on the weather. The Kenya Meteorological Department said heavy rains would probably continue through April. For several days, Mombasa was cut off from the rest of the country when torrential rains swept away bridges on the road to Nairobi. Floods killed over 86 people countrywide and are blamed for severe outbreaks of malaria, cholera and Rift Valley Fever. One new fear is that Rift Valley Fever could kill wildlife, especially the antelope species, in game reserves and private ranches in Tana, Isiolo, Garissa and Wajir districts. The Kenya Wildlife Service dispatched a team to the affected areas last December after deaths were observed among gerenuks (an antelope specie). Experts fear that impala, Grants gazelles and dik dik might be particularly vulnerable to the virus. Although most tourists fly between Nairobi and Mombasa and thus were not seriously affected by the highway closure, access to lodges in the Maasai Mara, Samburu and Amboseli game re serves has been next to impossible due to impassable roads. The Kenya Association of Tour Operators and the Kenya Wildlife Service worked together to identify roads within the parks for emergency repairs and to map out new safari routes. Egypt Launches Marketing Effort, February 1 1998 Egypt, which suffered a catastrophic terrorist incident involving tourists, has set aside $35 million for a marketing effort. The Egyptian government announced free visas for the next three months, suspension of air port taxes, a 50 per cent reduction in all Egypt Air domestic fares, and the suspension or halving of landing and handling fees for charter flights. The costs of insurance against risks related to terrorism were assumed by the Egyptian Reinsurance Company and the Minister of the Interior was sacked. Benefits for Tourists When Zimbabwe Express Expands, February 1 1998 Following the renegotiation of the bilateral air treaty between South Africa and Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Express Airlines, subject to government approval, will operate daily flights from Johannesburg (JNB) to Victoria Falls from February 1, 1998. Flights will now depart JNB between 11:00 AM and 11.30AM. Depending on the day of the week, return flights will depart at 3:30 PM.. Rod Murphy, Zimbabwe Express's chief commercial officer said these new arrangements will maximize the tourist's time on the ground in Victoria Falls. Simultaneously, Zimbabwe Express will offer businessmen daily flights between JNB and Harare, Monday through Friday, departing JNB 8:00 AM and departing Harare at 4:00 PM. Zimbabwe Express is also currently waiting approval from the relevant authorities to start services between Victoria Falls and Kilimanjaro, Nairobi and Windhoek. They hope to receive these approvals shortly and have already added an additional B727-100 to their fleet in anticipation Project Launched in Zanzibar to Study Dolphins, February 1 1998 Zanzibar's Foundation Oceania International (FOT) has launched a project to study dolphins. A statement released from FOT said the project will be executed in three stages. The first phase which began in October 1997 has researchers studying dolphin behavior and is looking at the impact of tourist activities on the animals near Kizimkazi village, in the south of the Unguja Island. Three observation centers, two on the Unguja Island and one on Pemba Island, will be built during the project's second phase. The project's final phase is to establish a center for the experts who will study dolphin behaviors under strict supervision. The project has won support from the Zanzibar Commission for Natural Resources as the number of dolphins and turtles in the area has been declining in recent years. Kenya's Flamingos in the Pink, February 8 1998 Kenya's Lake Nakuru is once again fringed with pink as more than a million flamingos take advantage of ideal weather caused by El Nino's rains and flock to the ancient soda basin. The flamingos, largely absent from Lake Nakuru in the Rift Valley for the last decade, have returned in force and an official count in January recorded more than 1.5 million. "They are back and it is very nice to have them,'' said Daniel Kilonzo, senior warden with Kenya Wildlife Services based at Nakuru National Park, which surrounds the lake. Lake Nakuru has long attracted flamingos, but falling water levels from the mid-1980s until late last year affected its salinity and the flamingos deserted Nakuru for richer feeding in more remote waters to the north. The healthy El Nino rains mean Nakuru is not in danger of drying up again for a few years at least, leaving experts to predict that the flamingo population will once again top the two-million mark attained in the mid-1960s. The heavy rains have also proven a boon for dozens of other bird species in this wildlife-rich East African country. More than 100 species were spotted on a recent visit to Nakuru including shy augur buzzards, stilt-legged secretary birds and dozens of dazzling starlings. Tourists attacked in Kenya's Masai Mara, February 8 1998 The Kenyan government has rushed a security team to the world-famous Masai Mara Game Reserve following a series of violent attacks on tourist there by armed robbers. Tourism and Wildlife minister Henry Kosgey said a combined force of regular Kenya Police and Game Rangers are currently on the ground patrolling around the reserve. Nine tourists were last week attacked and injured by heavy armed robbers on the way to the Masai Mara last week-end. The tourists were robbed of money and personal effects, including gold rings and chains. This was the fifth attack in less than one week in the same area and tourists and their drivers have since been avoiding the area. Ethnic Violence Threatens Kenyan Tourism, February 8 1998 Ethnic unrest in parts of Kenya has dealt added to the woes of its tourist industry, which has been grappling with other ills as it struggles to recover from years of depression. The Kenya Association of Tour Operators urged the government of President Daniel arap Moi to urgently restore security in the troubled Rift Valley Province to prevent a further decline in tourism. At least 61 persons have been killed in the past two weeks near the famous Masai Mara Game Park and Lake Bogoria, which is popular for its springs and flamingos. Normally, more than 750,000 foreign visitors travel to Kenya each year, but according to the director of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), David Western, there has been an unprecedented slump in arrivals over the last few months. ''Figures released by the Kenya Tourist Board estimate that visitor numbers for the latter half of 1997 fell by 60 percent of expected holiday arrivals. He attributed this to ''the skirmishes experienced in the Coast province, the uncertainty running up to the (Dec 29, 1997) election and most recently El Nino with its attendant floods, destruction of infrastructure and spread of disease''. Mombasa Road Closed Again, February 8 1998 The Nairobi-Mombasa Highway was closed once again after the Thange Bridge, between Kibwezi and Machinery towns, collapsed under the force of raging flood water. The closure comes barely two weeks after the swollen Kambu River swept away its bridge at Kibwezi on January 16, cutting off Mombasa from the rest of the country. A traveler from Nairobi to Mombasa said the highway had "ceased to exist" as it resembled a muddy path leading to a farm house. Thankfully most tourists traveling to Mombasa do so by air from Nairobi. Tanzania to Launch New Policy on Tourism, February 8 1998 A new national tourism policy for Tanzania will be published this year urging the development of new and varied tourist products and services. It will replace a document authored in 1961 and amended in 1991 which reflected a socialist ideology and focused on the state as the prime provider of tourist services. The Tanzanian minister of tourism, Zakia Meghji, promised that the new blueprint would set out key areas to promote a sector which has remained under-developed for many years. Under the new policy, more powers will go to private sector and efforts will be made to establish a favorable business environment for private entrepreneurs and to encourage local and foreign investors. Central government will effectively abandon active participation as a service provider. The government already has privatized almost all 16 of its tourist class hotels and lodges and disbanded the Tanzania Tourist Corporation of which it was the biggest stakeholder. New products identified for development include water sports and beach tourism, and culturally-oriented, historical and archaeological tourism. Ministry officials say tourism could grow at about 6 percent per year if Tanzania's vast resources are properly utilized. Tourism Earns Tanzania $16 million, February 8 1998 Tanzania earned $ 16 million from 485,496 tourists who visited the country between July and December 1997, Tanzanian National Resources and Tourism Minister, Zakia Meghji said. Meghji said that the increase in tourist numbers was attributed to the Kenya's uncertain political situation in 1997. Last year's visit to Tanzania by the US President's Bill wife, Hillary, also helped to boost tourist confidence to Tanzania. Air Zimbabwe Takes Delivery of New Catering Equipment, February 8 1998 Air Zimbabwe took delivery of new catering equipment to be used on its domestic, regional and international flights. Air Zimbabwe's spokesman David Mwenga said the new equipment would enhance the airline's image in a highly competitive market. The equipment includes chinaware, melamine and stainless steel cutlery. "The equipment is light, durable and is of very high quality. In designing some of the equipment, we have had to take into consideration ethnic colors that are rich, bold and unique to Africa," Mwenga said. More Women Book Overland Safaris, February 15 1998 Ken Hill, of Drifters Overland, has noticed a trend that more and more single females are booking the participatory camping tours. In the early days when Drifters - whose motto is 'Roughing it and loving it' - was catering 70 percent for the domestic market and 30 percent for the international market, clients were made up mainly of couples and groups of friends. Of these, the split was 60-40 in favor of males. But now that its client base is more international, it reflects an average 65-35 percent female base. Hill adds that many of the ladies traveling on their own are often right up front in the queue when it comes to adventurous pursuits such as white water rafting and bungi jumping. Drifters offers a wide range of affordable safari/adventure products throughout southern Africa, using its own lodges wherever possible. Ultimate Africa works directly with Drifters and the complete collection of overland safaris may be seen at http://www.aa.net/~ultimate/trips.htm Victoria Falls to Remain Natural, February 15 1998 The new Victoria Falls town master plan will control the number of visitors to the world's largest waterfall in order to keep the Falls' environment natural. The plan is to be implemented by the end of June. The plan will also ensure the town is not overdeveloped and will also prevent further development close to the Zambezi River and the Falls themselves. The plan has been funded by the Canadian International Development Agency. New Airline for Namibia, February 15 1998 A new Namibian airline is expected to begin servicing the Cape Town/Windhoek and Johannesburg/Windhoek routes within the next two months. The airline, Kalahari Express Airlines, will join South African Airways, British Airways Comair and Air Namibia in servicing these routes. Kalahari Express will fly twice daily to Johannesburg and once daily to Cape Town. New Lodge to be Launched on Lower Zambezi River, February 15 1998 Late April 1998 has been set as for the opening of Safari Par Excellence's Mwambashi River Lodge, in the untamed wilderness of the Lower Zambezi National park in Zambia. Accommodation will cater to 16 guests in large, stilted walk-in en-suite tents. A bar and raised dining room with open balcony are situated centrally under thatch. Activities include game viewing by boat, day and night game drives, canoeing, fishing (rod and tackle not provided) and sundowner cruises. The lodge carries a minimum age restriction of 15 years. Zimbabwe President unveils Strategy to Boost Tourism, February 15 1998 According to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe is formulating a strategic plan to sustain a long term vision for the development of tourism. Officially opening the Zimbabwe International Travel Expo, he said a tourism revolving fund would be established soon to enable further investment by indigenous entrepreneurs in the industry. Government, he said, also intended to launch massive rehabilitation of national parks as the pillars of the country's tourism. First International Bird Festival in Africa, February 22 1998 The International Festival of Ornithology will be held in Africa for the first time since its inception in 1879. Durban, South Africa will be the host city for the festival which will be held during August at the new Durban International Convention Center this year. Activities will be centered around a congress, which will allow birders from around the world to hear some of the best speakers in the field. There will also be an exhibition featuring books, bird destinations, an art exhibition, bird photography, equipment, curios, clothes, etc. The Festival is expected to attract 2,000 international scientists, apart from the birders and other interested members of the public. Return to Weekly Update Archive |
