Uganda aviation news – Kajjansi at last gets AVGAS and JetA1 storage facilities

KAJJANSI FUEL TANKS FINALLY A REALITY
Information was received from the Kajjansi airfield and the Kampala Aero Club that they have finally been able to install their own AVGAS bowser and JetA1 fuel tanks near their hangar facility, allowing them to store sufficient fuel to cushion against the regular Shell induced shortages experienced over the past years.
Notably it the facility managed by a former Shell executive Francis Olul, leaving it is hell to deal with Shell according to a regular and outspoken aviation source wondering what happened through private initiative. Shell had for years promised to install fuel tanks in Kajjansi to support the increasing number of flights with light single and twin engined aircraft from that field, but not only failed to make good of the promise but repeatedly went backwards when reminded about it to the point of denying commitments altogether though made in front of witnesses, including this correspondent when mediating meetings between the protagonists.
AVGAS has been in notoriously short supply and regularly ran out in both Kajjansi and Entebbe, and with prices often half a dollar higher in Uganda than for instance in Kenya or Tanzania, again with feeble explanations by Shell, the sole importer of the commodity, they only ever made vague promises to look into it something which never happened.
No wonder that the sale of Shells African retail businesses were broadly welcomed but little if anything has changed since then, as even some of the key executives were retained who continue to mislead and agonize the aviation fraternity in Kajjansi. Well done KAFTC and barbs galore for Shell once more.

Kenya Tourism news – Porini / Gamewatchers win Skal International’s ‘Best Tour Operator’ Award

SKAL INTERNATIONAL HONOURS PORINI / GAMEWATCHERS WITH ECO AWARD
Following recognition for their superb conservation efforts in Kenya, East Africa and the Africa continent at large has Porini Camps / Gamewatcher Safaris now been globally rewarded for their boundless commitment to keep their camps pollution footprint small and to mitigate their environmental impact actively through a range of measures.
The ongoing SKAL International Congress, held this year in Turku / Finland, in its opening ceremony announced the honours and Skal Nairobi President Lucy Makumbi-Macridis received the award from the Skal International President Tony Boyle. Over 400 submissions from 18 countries around the world had been received by the selection committee of Skal and Porinis category win for Best Tour Operator is again a glowing endorsement, not just for Porini but for Kenya as a whole.

(Skal Nairobi President Lucy receiving the award in Finland from Skal International President Tony)
It was the 10th such award ceremony since Skal started recognizing the efforts of members companies around the world towards sustainable ecofriendly operations.
Well done again to Jake, Mohanjeet and their team in Nairobi and in the Porini Camps outside Amboseli, on their Mara conservancies and on Ol Pejeta. Visit www.porini.com for more details on locations, for rates and reservations.

Kenya tourism updates – Keekorok bags World Luxury Hotel Award

KEEKOROK BAGS WORLD LUXURY HOTEL AWARD
Kenyas oldest lodge in the Masai Mara, the grand old dame of the countrys safari lodges, was just awarded Luxury Lodge in the annual World Luxury Hotels Award ceremony in Croatia where winners of the 30 available categories were announced last week for 2010/11.
Rahul Sood, Group Managing Director of the Sun Africa Hotel Group was at hand to receive the award certificate and trophy which was determined through guest ratings, feedback by travel agents and tour operators and on site visits by independent hospitality consultants. It is understood that Keekorok was amongst the properties chosen for an award from over 1.000 nominations received for consideration from around the world.
Keekorok Lodge, which over the years regularly hosted visiting state guests and VIPs from the entertainment industry and the world of sports, is also a base for balloon safaris which take off from nearby the lodge and was in fact the site of the first commercial balloon operation in Kenya back in the 1970s. Formerly owned and managed by Block Hotels the lodge is now under the ownership and management of Sun Africa Hotels, which also got the Lake Naivasha Country Club and the Lake Baringo Club in its stable and only recently opened the Sovereign Suites in the green hills of Limuru outside the city of Nairobi.
Visit www.sunafricahotels.com for more information on the properties, for rates and bookings.