East Africa news – Cut fibre optic cables slow down internet traffic – may take weeks to restore full service levels

INTERNET TRAFFIC SERIOUSLY DISRUPTED AS CABLE CUT BY ANCHOR
Information is gradually spreading about the seriousness of the current disruptions of internet traffic and the time frame it may require to bring it back to life, after operators, one should say as usual, initially stonewalled and downplayed the extent and failed to reveal the reasons for the disruptions experienced as early as last weekend.
A ship dropping anchor, while waiting to get a berth assigned at the chronically overstretched port of Mombasa, reportedly cut the main cable of TEAMS short for The East African Marine Systems, which provides the bulk of data links to predominantly Kenya but also the hinterland countries of Uganda and Rwanda.
This latest development compounds an already difficult situation after EASSY The East African Submarine System, had experienced a cut of their cable off Djibouti, making extensive re-routing of data and voice traffic necessary. This now leaves the entire traffic jamming into the SEACOM cable network, the third such fibre optic link to the outside world from East Africa, causing substantially reduced speeds and network congestion in the entire region. While the cable repairs off Djibouti are due to be completed within days for the EASSY network the TEAMS cable repair may take as long as 3 weeks to accomplish. Until then, brace yourself for internet disruptions, slow speeds and delayed arrival of e-mails and data transmissions.

Zanzibar conservation news – More sea turtles released from Mnarani Marine Aquarium

TURTLE CONSERVATION GETS A BOOST IN ZANZIBAR

(Picture of a Hawksbill turtle courtesy of http://www.ioseaturtles.org/species_overview.php)

Information was received overnight that another batch of 25 tagged sea turtles has been released into the ocean off Zanzibar by the Mnarani Marine Aquarium. This brings the total number reared and released to over 170 since the programme commenced a few years ago.
The locally publicized release is now an annual event but lacks greater exposure as well as funding, the latter much needed in order to allow the aquarium, which also serves as a research centre, to increase its output and help to have the critically endangered species survive in the ocean. The aquariums public relations staff appealed to residents of the area, in particular fishermen, to help this cause by bringing in newly hatched turtles, few of which actually survive in the wild due to predatory birds and fish, so that they can be reared to a adolescence before being tagged and released into their natural habitat with a greater chance of survival. Normally grown sea turtles, a minute fraction of those hatching from the sandy beaches, take often decades to mature and mate before females then return to their own birth places to lay eggs on the beach, which are incubated by the sun heating up the sand.
Thumbs up to this remarkable and privately funded initiative which surely deserves more support and assistance to help in preserving sea turtles for future generations.

Kenya tourism news – Sun Africa Hotels set to launch balloon operations at Keekorok, opening new tented camp in Naivasha

SUN AFRICA HOTELS SET TO LAUNCH OWN BALLOON OPERATION

(Picture courtesy of Sun Africa Hotels)

Sun Africa Hotels has announced that they will launch their own balloon operation from their Keekorok Safari Lodge in April under the name Balloon Adventure now that the final test flights have been concluded by the manufacturers and the equipment is enroute to Kenya. Balloon Adventure more details about the company and its planned operations can be found via www.balloonadventure.co.ke will join a number of other companies offering early morning flights over the sprawling Masai Mara Game Reserve, where tourists can see the game from an airborne position, before completing the experience with a champagne breakfast at their landing site deep in the bush.
Sun Africa Hotels has also announced that their new luxurious Kiboko Camp on Lake Naivasha is on course for opening before the end of March this year. The new tented camp, located in a thorn tree forest at the lake shores, is a separate unit on the Lake Naivasha Country Clubs extensive estate, with its own reception, restaurant and bar, giving guests unrestricted and close up views over the lake from the terrace of their elevated tents. The opening of the new camp will take place alongside the opening of a new casino, which while privately owned and operated will be located at the Lake Naivasha Country Clubs main building. Next in line for a complete overhaul at the Lake Naivasha Country Club will be the swimming pool and Spa area, upon which completion the club is bound to become an even bigger attraction, not only for tourists from abroad but for expatriates and local visitors from the capital Nairobi, which is only just over 100 kilometres away. Expect more updates following a planned visit to the property over the coming weeks, so keep watching this space.