Rwanda aviation breaking news – RwandAir signs extensive agreements with Turkish

RWANDAIR AND TURKISH SIGN ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

A delegation of senior Rwandan officials, led by the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Hon. Alexis Nzahabwanimana, but also comprising the CEO of RwandAir John Mirembe and the Director General of the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority Dr. Richard Masozera and other senior RwandAir staff was in Istanbul during the week negotiating yet more agreements between the Rwandan national airline and Turkish, one of the fastest growing members of the globally leading Star Alliance.

New is the synchronization of the RwandAir schedules to fit into the arrival and departure times of Turkish Airlines, codesharing between the two airlines which will include through ticketing from Kigali to a number of destinations in the THY network and vice versa of course into the RwandAir network and significantly technical support and training for RwandAir personnel.

The agreement was formally signed by Dr. Temel Kotil for Turkish Airlines and John Mirembe for RwandAir.

 

(RwandAir’s John Mirembe seen here with Dr. Temel Kotil of THY)

 

The airline also reaffirmed that the first of two brand new B 737-800’s will commence the long ferry flight from the Boeing assembly plant near Seattle to Rwanda later this week and the formal ‘unveiling and naming’ is scheduled for Saturday 27^th of August at the Kanombe International Airport in Kigali. The aircraft will be the very first with Boeing’s new ‘Sky Interior’ on the African continent and have a state of the art entertainment system on board to provide the latest news, series and films for passengers on the routes between Kigali to Johannesburg, Dubai via Mombasa and to Kinshasa, Brazzaville and Libreville.

Watch this space for updates from Kigali at the time ‘live on Twitter’ and subsequent reports and pictures right here. 

 

Uganda tourism news update – Amuka Lodge / Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary now open

AMUKA LODGE NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Uganda’s latest addition to the safari circuit, the Amuka Lodge on the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, is now open for business it was learned during the week, as Johan Genade welcomed his first guests. Built with predominantly timber and local stone, the other ‘visible’ material is canvas, creating exactly the feel visitors expect when ‘going bush’ for an African safari.

The new lodge will complement the existing but more basic facilities for overnight accommodation and meals at the head quarter of the Rhino Fund Uganda / Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where  individual visitors, driving their own cars, can pitch their tents or else use dormitory rooms or the more private family units which have between two and three bedrooms and a sitting room.

The new lodge is aimed at the ‘traditional’ safari market, offering all the facilities and amenities tourists expect while touring the country, and being small enough Johan and his staff will ensure that their guests are well looked after.

The Rhino Sanctuary has become increasingly popular with tourists visiting the Murchisons Falls National Park as it is conveniently located just over 100 miles from Kampala, enroute to the park. Ziwa is the only place where rhinos can be seen in the wild in Uganda. Presently 10 Southern White rhinos are found on the nearly 17.000 acres of the sanctuary, with the land provided by Capt. Joe Roy on a long term use right agreement to RFU. There are 3 adult males, 3 adult females, three adolescent males born on the sanctuary just over two years ago and a more recently born female calf. Two of the adult females are also ‘in the family way’ again and are expected to give birth over the next few months.

Watch this space for details but in the meantime, for more information, write to them via johan@amukalodgeuganda.com

Rwanda conservation news update – Akagara fencing work ahead of schedule

AKAGERA FENCE ‘AHEAD OF SCHEDULE’

Construction of the electric fence along the boundaries of the Akagera National Park in Rwanda is according to the latest reports proceeding ahead of schedule, as a recent inspection revealed. The work is carried out through the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission, which offers employment opportunities to army veterans and erstwhile rebels who laid down their arms and sought amnesty.

Fencing the park became a priority for  the joint venture between the Rwanda Development Board – Tourism and Conservation and their partners African Parks, when an increase in wildlife raiding the farms near the park were reported and injuries and deaths caused by marauding buffalo and other game. Akagera is Rwanda’s only ‘savannah’ national park and popular with tourist visitors keen to see plains game after tracking gorillas or hiking in the Nyungwe Forest National Park.

The project, worth over 2.7 million US Dollars, is due to be completed by February next year but with work well ahead of schedule area residents can look forward to see themselves and their crops better protected much earlier than initially thought.

Visit www.rwandatourism.com for information on the latest developments in Rwanda’s national parks or simply google ‘Akagera National Park’ for more details on the flora and fauna of this unique area.