Seychelles tourism news update – Creole Travel imports new inter island ferry

NEW INTER ISLAND FERRY ARRIVES

Creole Travel Services, one of the archipelago’s leading destination management companies, has imported a sister ship to the ‘Cat Cocos’, the main catamaran ferry in use between Mahe’s port and the island of Praslin. The new ferry, ‘Isle La Digue’ will very likely run alternate scheduled services between the two islands, be used as back up and for charters and provide much needed extra capacity when big international cruise liners dock at Port Victoria.

The new ferry arrived from Australia, where it was built for Creole Travel Services and has similar facilities for passengers, i.e. a bar on board and two different classes as the larger ‘Cat Cocos’.

It was not immediately possible to confirm when the new ferry would enter full service while various inspections by the new owners and maritime authorities of Seychelles are being carried out before officially launching the new ferry in a public function.

Kenya tourism news update – MCTA elects Mohamed Hersi as new Chairman

MOHAMED HERSI NEW MCTA CHAIRMAN

The Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association recently elected Mohamed Hersi, previously Vice Chairman of MCTA, as their new figure head during their annual general meeting held at the famous Nyali Beach Hotel. Mohamed, an ‘institution’ in his own right by now, works as Regional General Manager Coast for Sarova Hotels, overseeing the operations of the Sarova Whitesands Resort and the Taita Hills Lodge and Salt Lick Lodge bordering the Tsavo West National Park.

He also served previously as Skal Chairman and as Chairman of the Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers, Coast Chapter while also serving in many capacities in tourism associations for many years.

He takes over from Capt. John Cleave of Mombasa Air Safari, who retired as chairman during the AGM.

MCTA is the Kenyan coast’s most prominent tourism association, cross cutting from hotels, resorts and lodges over restaurants to tour operators, operators of tourism attractions to deep sea fishing operators, including everyone with a stake in the tourism sector from Lamu over Malindi, Watamu, Kilifi, Kikambala and Mombasa to Ukunda and beyond to the Tanzanian border.

The lobbying organization has an illustrious history and this correspondent was privileged to serve under the chairmanship of the late Lorna Hayes MBE back in the 70’s and 80’s while posted in Mombasa.

MCTA often speaks on matters of great concern to stakeholders in public and in private with government and governmental bodies, providing crucial input and advice on matters of infrastructure, tourism development, zoning and governance issues as and when required.

Congrats Mohamed and all the best to MCTA under your leadership in coming years.

Uganda conservation news update – New trail for Mgahinga National Park

MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK GETS NEW TRAIL

The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has just opened its latest attraction, the ‘Batwa Trail’, which gives visitors the option to hike for several hours along the pathway with their guides, experiencing the inside of the mountainous rain forest ‘close up’ and coming face to face with trees and vegetation, forest insects and birds and an occasional glimpse at spoors or even game, hiding deep inside the forest.

Ordinarily visitors come to Mgahinga to track the mountain gorillas, but with the habituated groups prone to migrating across the common borders to Rwanda and even Congo that can often not be guaranteed. This has in the past left the park with fewer visitors than what it deserves, considering it scenic setting, and the opening of the ‘Batwa Trail’ has now added an attraction ‘nearly as good’ as one source from within UWA had described it.

The trail extends over 8 kilometres, and the guided walks reach elevations of about 2.700 metres above sea level but are comfortable nevertheless as no climbing is required. Notably is the Memorandum of Understanding the Uganda Wildlife Authority signed largely in favour of the local communities, where the guides are also drawn from, as they get a revenue share of 50 percent from the income accrued from such hikes, while of course in addition the communities get a further 20 percent of the gate receipts, which is mandated by law so as to give those living near national parks a stake and finance facilities which otherwise these rural communities would find hard to put up.

All round, this is good news for the Kisoro area, now well connected by tarmac from Kabale as recently reported here and with only a gap of 10 miles remaining in the completion of this scenic road, Kisoro and its natural attractions like Mgahinga, Lake Mutanda and Bwindi, all reachable from the township in a short time, can look forward to finally getting its own share of the growing stream of tourists coming to ‘The Pearl of Africa’.