New face for Intrepid Camps in Kenya
Mara and Samburu Intrepids Camps are ready to take the term ‘under canvas’ to a new dimension with their newly hand-built tents that are specially designed with generously spacious en-suite bathrooms. The new tents will not only have more space, but also oversized windows and a four-poster bed, a stylish desk, polished hardwood floors, a ceiling fan, and a coffee bar. Bathrooms will feature marble-topped sinks, large walk-in showers, bathrobes and a range of specially created luxury toiletries. The 31 Mara Intrepids tents and the 30 Samburu Intrepids tents will have been refurbished by the end of 2006.
Kakapel rock art site in western Kenya opens to the public
The ancient rock paintings first became available to visitors when the Kakapel National Monument was opened to the public on January 30, 2006. The remarkable site falls under the National Museums of Kenya and has art forms dating back more than 2000 years and maybe even 4000 years. ancient, combining many different styles and eras. For more information visit http://www.africanrockart.org
Horseback Adventures in Machame, Northern Tanzania
Makoa Horse Riding Adventures represents the best in horseback safaris. Based in Machame, the starting point of the most scenic route up Kilimanjaro, Makoa Farm is located along a steep and winding forest road. Here Elizabeth and Laszlo have made their home together with their beloved horses. The renovated old colonial house offers a breathtaking view of the plantation, rolling fields bordered by a river with the misty outline of the Blue Mountains in the distance. A mix of excellent breeds from Germany, Kenya and Zimbabwe, the horses are in perfect condition. The emphasis is on providing imaginative horseback safaris for the experienced rider. All the horses are well-trained in cross-country riding across Africa, but experience is needed to negotiate the rough terrain and river crossings, and the demanding hours in the saddle.
Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda
Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the most spectacular parks in Uganda. It is 1,442 square kilometers and is home to scenery unmatched by any other park in East Africa. Tucked away on the corner of Uganda’s border with Sudan and Kenya, the park offers stunning savannah landscapes, ending in a rugged horizon. An enormous latitudinal range and correspondingly wide climatic conditions have developed an extremely diverse flora. As a result, the variety of animal species in the park is equally abundant, including many found nowhere else in Uganda. The flora and fauna of the park are more typical of Kenya than the rest of Uganda. The landscape of the entire park is dotted with small hills, rocky outcrops and inselbergs from which stunning views can be had in all directions.
Fundu Lagoon Resort – Pemba Canal
For a long time, Pemba’s pristine beaches were only open to diving enthusiasts who chose shipboard itineraries to visit the area. However, with the completion of the Fundu Lagoon Hotel, divers and those who simply wish to have a true ‘Robinson Cruso’ experience, the doors have been opened! The hotel has been built to blend into this natural paradise without disturbing the environment.
The twenty luxury tented bungalows, all with beautifully constructed traditional Zanzibari roofs, are raised on wooden platforms, some directly on the beach and others high on a hill with magnificent panoramic views of the bay. Each tent room has a private balcony and private bathroom with an emphasis on comfort with style. Furnishings are made from natural materials with the added luxuries of a mini bar and ceiling fan.
There are two bars, the elegant restaurant bar for cool drinks and coffees during the day and pre-dinner snacks, and the jetty bar. Fundu Lagoon also has a fleet of boats designed specifically for sailing cruises, fly and deep-sea fishing, water skiing and diving, as well as a traditional 11m wooden dhow.
New Lodge for Lake Mburu National Park, Uganda
A tented safari lodge is currently being built outside Lake Mburo National Park, overlooking Lakes Kachera on one side and Mburo on the other. The Mihingo Lodge, as it will be known, will feature 10 spacious, self-contained tents under tall shutters built from local deadwood and will have a pool and other amenities upon opening. Being located outside of the park, the lodge will offer guided hikes and mountain bike tours on the 200 acres of surrounding land that also belongs to the lodge. It is expected to open in early 2007. Information on this and other parks and reserves in Uganda on the site of the Uganda Wildlife Authority http://www.uwa.or.ug. Source: Uganda Wildlife Authority
More baby gorillas for Bwindi, Uganda
The Uganda Wildlife Authority reported additional births in recent days in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, one of two gorilla parks in the country. Even the Mgahinga group, who have gone AWOL across the border with Rwanda, reportedly added a baby a few weeks ago, as reported by Rwandan park authorities. The growth in numbers has been fairly sustained over the last decade due to improved habitat protection for the animals and the creation of an additional buffer zone around the park and the UWA has recorded an increase in the number of gorillas from about 10 percent. Information on this park and gorilla monitoring in the country can be obtained at http://www.uwa.or.ug. Source: Uganda Wildlife Authority
Lodging in the treetops of Tarangire, Tanzania
Tarangire Treetops has 20 luxurious en-suite bedrooms, built on treetop platforms, overlooking the Tarangire Sand River. The camp has been beautifully integrated into the surroundings with sleeping platforms built from a variety of baobab, mopani and wild fig trees. The dining room is located near the pool and the elephants’ watering hole. Each en-suite unit has a private terrace and living room, with panoramic views over the private conservation area.
Birdwatcher’s and hippo watcher’s paradise in Uganda
Home to more than 560 species of birds, Queen Elizabeth National Park is a 2,000 square kilometer area located in western Uganda that has become a Mecca for bird watchers from all over the world. Queen Elizabeth National Park also boasts the largest concentration of hippos in Africa. Bird watching adventures can be combined with safaris to
see the famous tree-climbing lions and the Big Five (elephant, lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo). In Queen Elizabeth National Park there are crater lakes filled with huge flocks of flamingos, soaring ospreys and perched vultures. Queen Elizabeth National Park is bordered to the north by the Rwenzori Mountains and to the west by Lake Edward.
Canoe safari in Arusha National Park, Tanzania
The canoe safari, yet another tourist attraction, was introduced around one of the world famous lakes located in the Arusha National Park. The canoe safari on one of Momela’s lakes, known as ‘Little’ Momela, has already taken off. The canoe safari allows visitors to get a closer and more natural look at hippos and birds not easily seen on ordinary hunting safaris. Located between the peaks of Kilimanjaro and Meru, Arusha National Park is an area of outstanding beauty with a wide variety of habitats, it forms a chain of crater lakes where many waterfowl can be seen through the montane highland forest to the imposing summit of Mount Meru.
Il Ngwesi, Kenya
In partnership with the local community: Kenya development and wildlife preservation outside the parks Il Ngwesi Lodge, on the Il Ngwesi Group Ranch in northern Kenya, opened in 1996 and involves the area’s Masai people in preservation of wildlife for the benefit of both with profits returned to local communities. The Ranch maintains the traditional use of the land, while offering safe haven and freedom of movement to wild animals. The Lodge overlooks the vast landscape of the Northern District of Kenya, virgin land where no light shines and only the African jungle choir is heard at night. A watering hole with viewing platform offers the chance to watch the animals come in to drink. Six spacious bands, each with a double bed and a single bed, therefore a potential of three people per band. They have thatched roofs with half walls at the front to keep rooms cool and allow uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape. Each band has a private bathroom with a toilet.
Ras Kutani, Tanzania
Ras Kutani sits on an undeveloped beach on the Indian Ocean; a 3-mile crescent of white sand and gentle waves, cooled by the trade winds, surrounded by a tropical forest full of colobus monkeys, next to a freshwater lagoon. Ras Kutani is the perfect hideaway away from the madding crowd in which to unwind after an exciting safari or just kick back for a week or two. There are facilities for sailing, windsurfing, diving and fishing. The accommodations are spacious cabins built with local materials. Each cabin is en-suite with its own large deck and all have great ocean views.
Kenya tourism top
The number of arrivals in Kenya in 2005 increased compared to 2004 by 24.5% to 825,000. This upward trend continues in 2006 as well. In the first 5 months, from January to May, the number of arrivals grew compared to 2005 by 17% to 357,000.
The International Primatological Society meets in Uganda
The society’s 21st world congress opened in June in Entebbe with nearly 1,000 participants from around the world gathered to discuss the future of primates. The congress was opened by Ugandan President Museveni.
