Ol Seki Mara Camp, Maasai Mara

Ol Seki Mara Camp was opened in July 2005 by Sue Allan and her son and daughter-in-law, Jan and Erin. Sue has been running luxury mobile safaris for 35 years in Kenya and East Africa and has used her extensive experience to create this unique seasonal camp.

Located on a wonderful rocky promontory, overlooking the Isupukiai River, the luxurious Ol Seki Mara Season Camp enjoys panoramic views in a beautiful wilderness area teeming with animals. East Koiyaki, north of Mara, provides a rare opportunity to enjoy wildlife viewing in a pristine setting. Simple modern architecture creates an exciting living space in the six spacious tents, each with a double and single bed, crisp linens, thoughtfully designed lighting, a walk-in closet, and en-suite hot showers and toilets.

Leleshwa Camp, Siana Community Conservancy, Masai Mara

Leleshwa Camp is situated in the Siana Community Conservation Area on the northeastern edge of the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. Nestled in a river valley between picturesque hills and rolling plains, Leleshwa Camp is a small, intimate camp that sleeps up to 14 guests. It consists of 7 well equipped 20 x 14 foot tents with en-suite bathrooms and a large terrace. Each tent has 2 single beds or 1 king bed with duvet and an additional canvas bed can be provided for children. The bathrooms are equipped with flush toilets and a traditional safari shower. Hot water is available at all times. Solar energy provides lighting inside the stores. At night, hurricane lamps bathe the camp in soft, warm light and Maasai warriors patrol to escort you. Food and drinks are served in a spacious dining room and comfortable lounge by very friendly staff. The camp is located on the outskirts of the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, giving guests the opportunity to enjoy a variety of other safari activities in addition to those permitted in the reserve itself.

IPU Congress held in Nairobi

Kenya hosted the 114th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) last month. The conference was attended by more than 1,500 delegates from 143 countries. Among the key issues discussed were how parliamentarians can be sensitized to help combat violence against women, how to enhance the ability of individual legislators to address challenges and meet the economic, political and social expectations of the electorate, the role of the parliament in strengthening controls on the trade in small arms and light weapons, and the responsibility of parliament in environmental management and the fight against global degradation. Visitors also got a taste of what Kenya has to offer as a key tourist destination and were pleased to return.

Tourist figures for the Zanzibar archipelago increase

Famous for its warm sandy beaches, spicy aroma, water sports and ancient Arabian architecture, the Indian Ocean island of Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania has seen a growing number of tourists. Tourist arrivals to the semi-autonomous archipelago had grown 36 percent between June 2005 and the middle of this year due to aggressive marketing strategies. Zanzibar received 125,443 tourists during the 12-month period compared to 92,160 the previous year. Italy was the main source market with a 40% share followed by the British with 10%, South Africans with 5% and Scandinavians, Americans (USA) and Canadians with 6%.

Precision Air begins flights to Entebbe

From July 15 there will be new air services between Entebbe – Mwanza – Kilimanjaro/Arusha. Precision Air, Kenya Airways’ partner airline in Tanzania, will fly the service with an ATR 42 aircraft.

Fairmont Hotels invests substantially in properties in Kenya

Fairmont Hotels, which took over the Lonrho properties in Kenya, is now spending $35 million to renovate and upgrade the Norfolk Hotel, Mt Kenya Safari Club, The Ark and Mara Safari Club properties. The Aberdare Country Club cabins will be closed, but the Club (the base station of The Ark) will remain open. Fairmont also intends to invest in Uganda and Tanzania, but first intends to strengthen its position in Kenya.

Tanzania asks Bill Gates to support its tourism advertising

Bill Gates is among the prominent Americans visiting Tanzania as a tourist, who is now being asked by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete to support Tanzanian tourism through various technological dimensions that would make Tanzania stand out among the top tourist destinations. Africans. Bill Gates is not a stranger to Tanzania because he had landed in this African nation in secret to avoid media interference on his private leisure visit. He is known to have spent days on the expensive Indian beaches of Zanzibar and gone on wildlife hunting expeditions in the game reserves of Tanzania.

Codeshare between Kenya Airways and Turkish Airlines

Both airlines have signed the codeshare agreement which comes into effect on August 1, 2006. Passengers can now fly beyond Istanbul from Nairobi. Eastern European passengers can now fly to any destination in Africa from Istanbul.

Lawford’s Hotel, Malindi will reopen in November 2006

Malindi’s most popular hotel was founded in 1936 and was always in operation until 2003. Lawford’s will reopen in November 2006 completely renovated, refurbished and now managed by Overlook Management. Overlook Management has also now taken over the Lamu Palace Hotel and Petley’s Inn in Lamu. The Company already had Coral Key Beach Resort, Blu Key Beach Club, Tsavo Buffalo Camp and Tsavo River Hill in its portfolio.

Tanzania plans to establish a tourist police unit

Tanzania plans to set up a special tourist police unit responsible for maximizing security at key tourist sites and hotels to step up to protect the destination. When established, Tanzania will join Kenya in such an initiative. Kenya had previously formed a tourist police unit after waves of armed robberies hit its main tourist sites, including the famous Maasai Mara game reserve. Under the East African Community (EAC) integration, joint security measures have been designed to integrate regional police forces and other security organs to curb cross-border crime and expel armed Somali terrorists.

Kampala Serena Hotel opens Monday 31st July 2006

After almost 18 months of reconstruction, the new Kampala Serena Hotel will open its doors. The cost of the complete reconstruction of the old Nile Hotel reached 32 million dollars. In recent years, Serena has become the market leader in terms of quality, owning and managing an impressive portfolio of award-winning resorts, safari lodges and camps, and city hotels. A first for the group is running a major conference centre, which is expected to host the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth summit in Kampala next year and also the world group’s Executive Committee meetings, which are expected to bring together nearly 60 heads of state and government. to Uganda.

New carrier for the Mombasa route from August 1, 2006

East African Safari Air Express will start operating twice daily, with a morning and afternoon link between Nairobi and Mombasa. East African Safari Air Express is cooperating closely in Kenya with Jetlink, serving routes such as Kisumu, Malindi, Lokichogio and Juba in South Sudan.

Building ban in Kenya’s Masai Mara

The National Environmental Management Authority has now ordered a moratorium on any further building and expansion until a review and new management plan for the game reserve has been agreed. The large Mara ecosystem now reportedly has some 60 different developments, most of which have been built without an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) due, unlike other national parks in East Africa where EIAs are mandatory. . In contrast, TANAPA, the Tanzanian national park administrators, recently halted plans to establish a mega-resort in the heart of the Serengeti (which borders the Mara across the border) and garnered applause and praise from around the world for their effort to protect fragile ecosystems

The taking of the Kenya-Uganda railway concession is delayed for another two months
The Rift Valley Railway Consortium, which was to take over the concession to operate the Kenya and Uganda Railways, has to wait another three months on July 1 this year to have time to resolve the pending issues.

Kenya Tourism Board forecasts tourism revenue to grow 10%

Earnings from the tourism sector have risen 10 percent in the last six months, the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) said yesterday. The board said the sector earned Sh27 billion (approximately $375 million) driven by a rise in tourist arrivals from the country’s key markets of Europe and the US. The gains reflect an increase above Sh24 billion. shillings recorded during the same period. The increase was also influenced by the transformation of Nairobi as a key destination for conference tourism following the refurbishment of the Kenyatta International Conference Centre. The board projects growth to be sustained over the next six months with full-year profit expected to rise by 10 per cent from Sh49 billion ($680 million) recorded last year to Sh56 billion this year. During the period under review, receipts and arrivals from Kenya’s traditional markets continued to rise, with figures from Germany and France increasing by 15 and 25 per cent.