Kenya tourism news – Cheli and Peacock now market ‘Cottars 1920 Private House’

CHELI & PEACOCK ADD COTTARS 1920 PRIVATE HOUSE TO THEIR COLLECTION

Not resting on their laurels, having just won several key tourism awards, Cheli and Peacock have just announced that they will now market the Cottars 1920 Private House, which is located just below the Olderikesi Hills, outside the Masai Mara Game Reserve on its own conservancy.
Not far from the already famous Cottars 1920 Camp the new property can sleep up to 10 people in 5 self contained rooms and will be available only on an exclusive basis, taking up either one or all of the rooms by one booked party. A staff of 8 are at their guests beck and call at all times and look after every detail to make a stay at this latest upmarket addition to Kenyas safari market truly an unforgettable experience.
Over 9.000 square feet in living space, the house offers an extensive upstairs lounge, as shown in the picture above, a dedicated dining room where culinary delights are served on a daily basis, and a game viewing deck with commanding views of the game on the plains. Notably does the house have full wireless internet access and also offers news channels via DStvs satellite connection, powered by solar panels, to provide connectivity for those who absolutely cannot do without their daily dose of social media and internet news. Vehicles and guides specially conversant with this part of the greater Masai Mara ecosystem are available for hire for guests. For more details contact charlotte or visit the C&P website where links to all their properties can be found via: www.chelipeacock.com

Uganda news – The Broadband Company packs it in as the battle for market share heats up

INTERNET BATTLE CLAIMS FIRST VICTIM
The Broadband Company, launched a few years ago with much fanfare in Kampala, is reportedly winding up its business in Uganda following a decision by the shareholders that it was no longer viable to continue operations in what has become a highly competitive market.
The immediate halt of operations has also raised bad memories, reminding many of the unceremonious closure of Pay TV operator GTV at the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008, when vendors and clients were stuck with equipment, some of it purchased only days before closure, leading to allegations of fraud and pending legal cases, still to be determined.
Some sources with knowledge of the sector have suggested that the UK owned Broadband Company would seek an agreement with FORIS, aka InUganda, to take over existing accounts and continue to provide services, but like with the Broadband Company, coverage in and around Kampala is greatly limited with some areas of the city, inspite of adverts to the contrary, hardly being able to pick a signal.
Amongst those affected by the sudden withdrawal of services is the Kenya High Commission in Kampala, which according to media reports had just paid a years advance subscriptions, only to be left stranded and unable to transact business via e-mode, having to resort to the olden days practice of come in person.
Voice and data business in Uganda is highly competitive, and with Uganda Telecom gradually reclaiming lost territory, now that the new Libyan government has reclaimed its stake in one of Ugandas leading telecoms companies, the stakes are even higher to capture market share.
When the most recent economic crisis struck Uganda, with inflation running wild into the double digit figures, all promotions by telecom companies stopped and the 1/- and 2/- Uganda Shilling tariffs per second for voice calls were literally doubled overnight, however now eating into revenues as consumers exercise restraint when using their phones. Data packages, inspite of the introduction of fibre optic technology, have also not seen tariffs come down further, limiting the market share and making the huge investments struggle to see decent returns being generated.
The exit by Broadband has now triggered a hunt for their clients by other service providers, aiming to capturing added business the company has talked in previous press releases of having 100.000 clients, a figure disputed though by industry observers before deals are struck to sell off the clients base lock stock and barrel. Not a happy holiday season for the staff of the company though, half of which have already been laid off and the other half looking at the same fate before the end of the year.
Remaining in the market now for internet services are Uganda Telecom, Orange, MTN, Airtel, Warid and such direct and specialised providers like Infocom and AFSat, amongst others.

Zanzibar news update – Sauti Za Busara artist line up confirmed

SAUTI ZA BUSARA ARTIST LINE UP FOR 2012 ANNOUNCED
East Africas best known music and performing arts festival, Sauti Za Busara, held annually in February on the spice island of Zanzibar, has just announced the final line up of artists for next years edition. Africas big names are lined up again as the festival has become a magnet for performers but also for spectators, which will fill every last bed on Zanzibar as experience has shown from this years music fete.
Below are some of the highlights of the forthcoming festival which will run from 08th till 12th February 2012.
This is one of Africa foremost events for musical and other performances, including ever more side shows and not to be missed. Book your appointment with Zanzibar now before the fully booked signs go up and leave you to regret or else to wait till 2013.

Sauti za Busara 2012 artists confirmed

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The 9th edition of Sauti za Busara music festival takes place in Stone Town, Zanzibar from Wed 8 Sun 12 February 2012. 100% LIVE African music under African skies. Here is what you can expect to see on our stage in February.

Jagwa Music (Tanzania) Super Mazembe (DRC / Kenya) Lady Jaydee (Tanzania) Nneka (Nigeria) Tumi & The Volume (South Africa) Ary Morais (Cape Verde) Companhia Nacional de Canto e Dança (Mozambique) Bi Kidude (Zanzibar) Tausi Women’s Taarab (Zanzibar) Ndere Troupe (Uganda) Lumumba Theatre Group (Tanzania) Ogoya Nengo (Kenya) Chébli Msaïdie (Comoros) Kozman Ti Dalon (Reunion) Skuli ya Kiongoni (Zanzibar) Kidumbaki JKU (Zanzibar) Utamaduni JKU (Zanzibar) Shirikisho Sanaa (Zanzibar) Seven Survivor (Tanzania) Tunaweza Band (Tanzania) Hanitra (Madagascar) Jembe Culture Group (Tanzania) Leo Mkanyia (Tanzania) Swahili Vibes Band (Zanzibar) Qwela (Uganda) Tandaa Traditional Group (Zanzibar) Wanafunzi wa SOS (Zanzibar)

and more artists to be confirmed

Programme may be subject to change. Check www.busaramusic.org/festivals/2012 for regular updates on artists and events.

Carnival Parade

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Zanzibars BIGGEST Street Parade to date. The festival activities in the Old Fort kick off in style with the Carnival Street Parade happening on the 9th Feb. The parade features, beni brass band, ngoma drummers, mwanandege umbrella women, stilt-walkers, capoeira dancers and acrobats and plenty other surprises. Everyone is welcome to join in the parade a unique experience, and a great way to see StoneTown and surrounding areas.

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Busara Xtra fringe events

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During the festival, the island is buzzing with a range of Busara Xtra fringe events for you to truly enjoy the full Zanzibar experience. Ngoma drum and dance performances, fashion shows, dhow races, open-mic sessions, after-parties and open rehearsals of Zanzibars oldest taarab orchestras are all arranged by the local community.

This is also an opportunity for the local community to host events, and we help spread the word.
Let us know of your festival related activities and we can advertise it in the programme. For more details see Busara Xtra.

Ethiopian aviation news – A Star Alliance member, finally …

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES JOINS STAR ALLIANCE

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Yesterday marked the long awaited entry of one of Africas foremost airlines, Ethiopian, which successfully concluded the process of alignments and harmonization required to become part of the worlds leading airline group, STAR Alliance as its 28th member.
The other member airlines were represented in Addis Ababa for the party, let by STARs CEO Jaan Albrecht, who put pen to paper to make Africas third member after Egypt Air and South African Airways finally a reality. It was his last function as STAR Alliances CEO as he will be leaving the group after seeing it grow to the worlds most powerful alliance in terms of flights and destinations over the past 14 years. He will join the Lufthansa Group as Chairman and CEO of Austrian Airlines, moving from the helm of the alliance to the sharp end of airline operations.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes also used the event to showcase their B787 Dreamliner to those who had travelled to Addis for the event, by coinciding the aircrafts arrival with the entry celebrations. Ethiopian Airlines will be Africas first carrier to receive the B787 Dreamliner after more than 3 years delays, and according to details available the first of 10 ordered aircraft will be joining the ET fleet by mid 2012.
STAR Alliances presence in Africa, from Egypt via Ethiopia to South Africa, covers the continent like no other and is seen as taking the fight for market shares in Africa to a new level by offering the most comprehensive network across the continent for travelers from around the world. This is further supported by Ethiopians West African joint venture with ASKY, leaving the KLM / Air France led SkyTeam in a distant second place and the BA / AA led OneWorld trailing in the far distance as far as flights to and across Africa are concerned.
Ethiopian Airlines fleet is now proudly displaying the STAR Alliance logo on all its aircraft, opening a new chapter for Ethiopian but also African aviation. Well done ET and many happy landings!

Aviation news – B777 obtains expanded ETOPS approvals from FAA

ANOTHER FIRST FOR BOEING AS THE B777 GETS 330 MINUTES ETOPS APPROVALS
The FAA has announced that they have approved extended operations times for the B777 from the previous 240 minutes, or 4 hours, to now a maximum of 330 minutes or 5 ½ hours flying time, following years of data gathering and interpretation on the safe operation of this aircraft type when flown over extended stretches of ocean. This latest development will in the future permit airlines to fly more direct routes, no longer having to hug shorelines to be able to land the aircraft safely in case of an over water engine failure, substantially cutting flying times on very long haul routes and in the process saving fuel too.
The approval will undoubtedly aid sales for the B777 in its various versions, in particular the long range models, as their versatility compared to its nearest rivals has been greatly boosted by the expanded ETOPS permissions. Notably for the East African region has Kenya Airways ordered a further 3 B777-200LRs which are due to enter service from next year, thought to be deployed then on the very long routes over the Indian Ocean to Far Eastern destinations in China.
Watch this space for the latest in aviation news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands.

Kenya aviation news – It is B787 Dreamliner day at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

IT IS B787 DREAMLINER DAY AT JOMO KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL IN NAIROBI

(Today in the skies over Kenya, the new B787 Dreamliner. Picture courtesy of Boeing)

When the Dreamliner will land later this morning, at 10.45 hrs eta to be precise, in Kenyas capital Nairobi for the first time ever, and by the looks of the programme captained by a Kenyan pilot, history will be made for not just for the aviation fraternity, who will be cramming the area outside the security fence to see the B787 park outside the Presidential Pavillion, but for the nation at large.
Kenya Airways has 9 of these aircraft on order and a further 4 options, deciding to wait for this revolutionary new bird rather than going for intermediate solutions, when the delivery of the aircraft was pushed from initially 2010 to now 2013. The Pride of Africa will be showing off their dream bird as one staff put it yesterday to this correspondent, and from the programme now at hand even President Mwai Kibaki will make his way to the airport to see and feel the aircraft, which will in a few years become the long haul backbone of Kenya Airways expanding fleet.
The World Tour put together by Boeing Commercial Airplanes is therefore aimed to not just showcase the aircraft to key buyers, and their constituencies but is also a goodwill tour to make up for the delays and in the process bag a few dozen more orders, as was already announced from Etihad, one of the Gulfs leading carriers, where a deal for 10 more of the Dreamliners was inked two days ago, raising the entire order to now 41 aircraft.
The bird is a radical departure from the way how aircraft were being built, and are still being built, using composite materials for the first time ever on a large scale, hull and wings included.
This allows for larger windows, and as a result of increased stability better, more passenger friendly cabin pressure in flight, while at the same time significantly improving the cabin climate, with the traditionally dry atmosphere getting a few extra percentage points in humidity, crucial for the feeling well by travelers on board this plane.
Watch this space tomorrow for a report on the B787 Dreamliner and the inflight experience, as a demonstration flight has been arranged for by Kenya Airways for invited VIPs and a select group of media invitees, regularly reporting about KQ. Meanwhile has the arrival area, in particular the VIP pavilion, been decked out with national colours, befittingly only two days after the country celebrated its 48th Independence Day, giving Kenyans something to be truly proud of and showing East Africans what can be achieved by a good vision, a good strategy and a determined, and almost 100 percent homegrown management team.