East Africa news: Single Visa for Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda

As of January 2014, three East African countries, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, will benefit from a single visa deal that was announced during the recent World Tourism Market (WTM) in UK. This will facilitate free movement of tourist and citizens alike.

Speaking after announcing the launch of the joint visa, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Mrs. Phylis Kandie, Uganda’s Tourism and Wildlife Minister Ms Agnes Egunyo and Rwanda’s High Commissioner to UK Ambassador William Nkurunziza said deal was a major boost to tourism.

“We have been in discussion over this matter for the last six months and we are proud today to announce that we finally have a joint visa that has made the three countries borderless. This is an opportunity us to increase tourist numbers as we will jointly offer diversified tourism products,” Says Kandie.

Tanzania, a competing country in Tourism and other economic pillars in the region was not represented in the launch.

First look at new Livingstone Airport, Zambia

Livingstone can be really proud of its stylish new International Arrivals and Departure Terminal which is a most impressive building.  Although already operational, staff is still being trained, additional seating installed and shops being fitted out. 

In the departures area there will be Premier Lounges and details will be communicated once finalised. 

Wi-Fi is complimentary throughout. Arriving passengers have to clear immigration and customs prior to making their way to the main arrivals hall where they are met by their driver at the front entrance to the Terminal.

It is possible to pay for a visa by Visa, Mastercard or American Express but there are occasions when networks are off line so we recommend passenger carry US$ cash for their visa.

There is a bank and ATM machine to one side of the main Arrivals Hall.

The World Mourns an Icon

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” — Nelson Mandela

As the news broke, in the late hours of 5 December 2013, that Nelson Mandela had passed away, a collective sense of grief descended on both the country and in fact, the whole world.

Nelson Mandela has been revered as the Father of our democracy and is affectionately known as “Tata” (Father in the ixhosa language) by most South Africans. He single-handedly embodied all that was good about our peaceful transition from apartheid to a fledgling democracy. For one who spent 27 years in jail he emerged incomprehensibly without hate or bitterness and started the process where the nation could heal itself through the first democratic elections to the Truth and Reconciliation process.

The days following his passing have been marked with an uncontrollable outpouring of love. Citizens from all walks of life, young and old, black and white have been united in their sadness and willingness to celebrate his life and what he personally sacrificed for his beliefs and our country.

Since Thursday night citizens have been holding vigil outside his Houghton home in Johannesburg, laying flowers, lighting candles, saying prayers and paying their respect.

Around the country, this coming week is dedicated to a celebration of his life. In Johannesburg a commemoratory service is to be held at the FNB Stadium. The service is to be attended by many heads of states, politicians, royalty and many well-known personalities as well as regular citizens from all walks of life. Mandela's body will lie in state in a glass coffin at the Union Buildings in Pretoria from Wednesday until Friday, and his coffin will be delivered each day from the nearby 1 Military Hospital in Thaba Tshwane, Pretoria.

In Cape Town a memorial service and musical celebration will be held at the Cape Town Stadium with free entrance and free public transport to all. The last few nights we have seen his image projected onto Table Mountain.

The final state funeral will be held on Sunday in Qunu, his home town in Eastern Cape, where he will be laid to rest.

My question is “What does this mean for us as South Africans?” Personally I mourn his passing. I was lucky enough to have met Nelson Mandela, and while I did not know him personally, his death still affects me deeply. My hope is that we, as citizens of the world, take the lessons we have learnt from this great leader and apply them to our daily lives both as individuals and as collective organisations.

“Nelson Mandela believed in harnessing the power of the collective to bring about change. Nelson Mandela has left us a legacy that will forever inspire the generations to come. He embodied all of humanity’s hopes and dreams. He saw what was possible before others could fully comprehend that one day South Africa would take a leap from being a pariah state and become a beacon of hope.” - Ellis Mnyandu

RIP Nelson Mandela

Robin Mcleod

"Tucked away Places" - South Luangwa

This month’s feature is on South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

South Luangwa National Park, in eastern Zambia in the valley of the Luangwa River, is a world-renowned wildlife sanctuary of unspoiled beauty. It is so unspoilt and natural that it has been described as what some of Africa’s other most famous parks looked like 50 years ago. Amongst many others, South Luangwa is a favourite place of best-selling novelist, Wilbur Smith. The Luangwa Valley is “off the beaten track” and a natural barrier to human migration and transport as no roads pass through it, a factor that has helped to conserve the wildlife and the precious solitude – the two major attractions that draw guests to the area.

Founded as a game reserve in 1938 and proclaimed a national park in 1972, the 9,050 sq. km South Luangwa Park offers visitors an array of small tented and thatched bush camps and lodges from rustic to luxurious, all-exclusive style.

The majority of the accommodation in the area is intimate tented or thatched camps catering from 6-12 guests, although one very worthy exception is Mfuwe Lodge. This camp consists of 18 thatched chalets and is set in a prolific game-rich area inside the Park, five minutes from the main gate.

Mfuwe is situated under a canopy of ebony and mahogany, it features an extraordinary occurrence every November when elephants regularly wander through the lobby, lured by a nearby wild mango tree as shown below.

Mfuwe International Airport is located just outside the park and most visitors arrive on scheduled flights (1hr 10min) from Zambian capital Lusaka. Lodges collect guests from the airport in safari vehicles.  South Luangwa is also a popular add-on destination from Livingstone after visitors have been to Victoria Falls, though the scheduled flight to Mfuwe is via Lusaka.

Lusaka’s Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) is the major gateway for international visitors and airlines such as Emirates (from Dubai), British Airways (from London), South African Airways (from Johannesburg), KLM (from Amsterdam) and Kenya Airways (from Nairobi).

Leading airlines offering scheduled flights are Pro-Flight (www.proflight-zambia.com), who operate Jetstream aircraft. Their fleet consists of two 29-seaters and three 18-seaters. Flights from Lusaka are currently on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The concentration of wildlife that lives around the Luangwa River, at the tail-end of the continent’s Rift Valley, is amongst the highest in Africa. The Luangwa, flanked by a spectacular escarpment, flows through the heart of the park on its way to the Zambezi River.

The park is famous for large herds of elephant and buffalo and the river supports big populations of hippos and crocodiles. It’s a wild and beautiful place and it is also usual for visitors to enjoy good sightings of leopard, lion, zebra, African wild dogs and two species unique to this area – Cookson’s wildebeest and Thornicroft’s giraffe. It’s a birding paradise with over 400 species recorded.

With no roads, the Luangwa is an excellent walking experience and night drives are also permitted, offering the best chance to spot a leopard. In the “green season” when the Luangwa is in full flow, boat trips on the river are a must.

East Africa News

The Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi, located within the larger commercial area of Nairobi, commenced operations 01st August 2013 with a soft opening. It’s rated 5 star and among the best of the Nairobi hotels.

The hotel has 200 rooms and suites elegantly presented in a fusion of European and Pan-African style distributed throughout 10 floors, including a Presidential Suite on the top floor.

In the Masai Mara, Kempinski took over the formerly Olare Ntiakitiak camp, now renamed Olare Mara Kempinski (located at Olare Orok conservancy, bordering the Masai Mara). It has 12 luxury tents as well as a honeymoon tent. Access is via chartered flight out of Nairobi.

Other properties at Olare Orok Conservancy are Porini Camp, Kicheche Bush Camp, Mara Plains Camp, and the now opened Mahali Mzuri belonging to the Virgin Group.

More Hotels take over Marataba Safari Lodge

The owners of Lion Sands and Madikwe Safari Lodge announced they are adding Marataba Safari Lodge to their fold. The Lodge comprises 15 luxury tents and operates in the Marakele National Park. Just a three hour drive from Johannesburg, this malaria-free, Big Five (Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Buffalo and Rhino) reserve, is a 23000 hectare private concession at the foothills of the Waterberg Mountains. The property will pair well with Madikwe Safari Lodge (1.5 hour’s drive away) in creating the ultimate family safari circuit. Early in 2014, they will be looking to create an upmarket 2 and 3 night walking trail product, as well as introducing a water-based safari activity allowing guests to view game from a boat, so watch this space…

The Table Bay hotel to launch their new restaurant in December

The Table Bay hotel is currently refurbishing the Conservatory Restaurant, and will open the doors for the new Brasserie and Wine Bar, ‘Camissa’ on 1 December 2013.

Camissa is the ancient Khoi name for Cape Town meaning “The Place of Sweet Waters.” The brasserie and wine bar will be a combination of many facets; a wine bar, brasserie, Captains private dining area and atrium lounge. The design, an authentic interpretation of a typical Brasserie with cast iron table and hints of art deco styled lighting and artwork. The new Wine Bar is adjacent to the restaurant, seen through a window which will be created in the Union Bar, the domed ceiling will accentuate arched shelving displaying a selection of wine and a beautiful wine tasting table.