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December 2006 ~ 1
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In this Issue...
Plus Regulars...Living the Cause - The Joy of Volunteering - Pages 38-39Extra Shots - The Picture Session - Pages 42-45Traveller’s Diary - We Hear From You - Page 53Must Know - Travel Tips - Page 54
Special Features...Adrift Madagascar - Pages 8-9Unleasing Mount Kilimanjaro - Pages 12-13 Walking With the Masai - Pages 15-16Water Rafting - Page 18Festival of the Desert - Pages 22-24Zambezi - The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park - Pages 26-27Cycling Malawi - Pages 28-29Matetsi Game Lodge - Zimbabwe’s Tourist Haven - Pages 30-31Designs on Africa - Pages 32-33Bujagali, the Falls that never sleep - Pages 40-41Akagera National Park - Page 46
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Whoever called Africa the Dark Continent without adoubt must have been blind. If there is anythingAfrica can proudly boast of, it is light. Even as the
day turns into night in Africa you can't help but notice theexcitement in the air.
It is for this reason that Africa Travel Extra is transporting youto and from Africa in this new must read publication. All youhave to do is turn the pages and feel the thrills as you discoverwhat Africa has to offer you.
In a matter of minutes we are giving you an unforgettableexperience of Africa. From the warm African sun, spectacularview, rich history of the African people to the stunning landscapesof nature we give you a delightful insight into the unseen.
Discover Ivory Coast's bigger than big church and get to knowwhy Mt. Kilimanjaro is the epitome of adventure.
Acquiring knowledge of what is in Africa without knowing howit revolves around the world is not enough believe me!
In this issue we give you an extra touch by revealing as much ofthis continent as we can.
Do enjoy the unfolding journey into Africa.
Africa Travel and Tours is an event exclusively for tourist andprofessionals, tour operators, travel agencies, and other professionalsrelated to the field. Growing in importance each year owing to its sharpindustry forecast, exhibitors include European, and African touroperators, carriers, car hire suppliers, hotels, and attractions. The eventwill be held at Alexander Palace in August 2007.
This event promises to be a major opportunity for all partners with anestablished interest in the European market.
Event Date: August 2007
VenueAlexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green, London N22 7AY
Registration DetailsFor the convenience of our delegates, application forms can bedownloaded from www.africatravelandtours.comKindly complete the application form and send it to: BMJ Solutions LTD,Unit 9 Georgian Village Walthamstow E17 3HX
Contact Details:Bmj- [email protected]: 0208 520 8931Fax: 0208 599 0292(Out of hours) 0787 648 2252
Editor: Josephine.K.Nakimuli
Managing Director: Ben Muchenje
Creative Director: Joey Kigozi
Graphic Design: Ian CurtisFirst Sight GraphicsEmail: [email protected]
Contributors:David CawleyDyton Ngondishaze.Flavia Nakagwa Garikai ChimukaRachael MooreRebecca FordRichard SmithRon ToftTawanda KanhemaThomas KageraTony HowardZion Mumbejja
Africa Travel Extra is published by:BMJ MediaUnit 9,100 Wood StreetWalthamstowLondon, E17 3HXUnited Kingdom
Editors Note...
Africa Travel and Tours
December 2006 ~ 3
THIS MONTHS FEATURED COUNTRIES ARE
1. Uganda2. Zimbabwe3. Zambia
4. Rwanda5. Tanzania6. Malawi
7. Kenya8. Madagascar9. Mali
Please see map above for locations
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Away
Faraway
Rivers Flow
In and Out
Casting
Awesome Scenarios
Time Stops
Revealing
Amazing
Views
Excitingly
Larger Than Life
Experience This
Xtra
Touch
Relax
And Take a Flight
See It All Here In TheExtra Touch Issue...
The global tourism market has recorded gradual growth trends in the pastthree years, and the industry is showing growing resilience to instability inmain tourism regions, with 236 million international tourist arrivals having
been recorded in the first four months of 2006, a 4,5 per cent jump from 2005. The global tourism industry, which had 226 million international arrivals during the same
period last year, recorded a 10 million jump in arrivals this year, with Africa and the MiddleEast leading the way.
However, with the resurgence of hostilities in the Middle East, especially in Israel andLebanon, whose tourism sectors had been growing impressively in the past years, tourismin the region is expected to take a dip, with prospects for Africa remaining uncertain.
The United Nations United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) reported thatthere had been a sustained growth in global tourism demand since 2004 and Africa and theMiddle East had both recorded an 11 per cent increase in tourism arrivals over 2005.
The scales are tilting towards Africa and the Middle East, which led the way while Asiaand the Pacific recorded a growth of 8 per cent thanks to the “disaster tourism” campaign.The Americas recorded a 2,7 per cent growth, while Europe had only 2,5 per cent.
Zimbabwe’s tourism industry, however recorded a dip in tourism earnings, with US$21,2million having been recorded in the first quarter of this year, down from US$30.5 millionrecorded in the same period last year.
In the Middle East, Israel registered a 30 per cent growth in tourism arrivals in the run-up to the outbreak of hostilities with the Lebanon-based Hezbollah movement, whileLebanon itself had registered the highest regional tourism with 49 per cent in internationaltourist arrivals.
African destinations, which has long suffered the impact of negative global media reportson security threats and crime rates on the continent, is beginning to benefit from therelative calm that now prevails in the region.
Tourism growth in Africa is reported to have been stronger in Sub-Saharan Africa, whereit recorded an excess of 12 per cent, with Kenya, South Africa and the Seychelles havingregistered remarkable growth.
The UNTWO maintained that the recent events in the Middle East would not mar thefuture of global tourism. The organization noted that 2006’s trends confirmed that the
disruptions would affect destinations at a local level, but would not alter globalor regional traffic flows.
“International tourism has now entered a more stable phase ofsustained demand without big peaks and troughs. Although the
rate of growth is slowing gradually, international tourism isfirmly on track to grow at a rate above the long-term
average of 4% for the third year in a row now – barringunexpected events, of course,” said UNWTO
Secretary General Francesco Frangialli. The major factors contributing to growth intourism were the favourable economic
conditions in main global source marketsand the efforts and initiatives to
expand the tourism industry bynational administrations.
World TourismUp in 2006,
Africa EmergesGlobal Favourite
By TawandaKanhema in Harare
December 2006 ~ 5
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Extra News
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As the final whistle for the2006 World Cup in Germanywas blown, attention
quickly focused on South Africa2010. To this end, Tourism andSports ministers in the SouthernAfrican Development Community(SADC) met in Botswana in August2006 under the auspices of RegionalTourism Organization of SouthernAfrica (RETOSA) to design acommon marketing and brandingstrategy for the event to ensuremaximum benefits to the region.
One of the issues to have emerged
The granting of the right to host the
World Cup to South Africa in 2010
created a massive euphoria and
excitement for Southern African
tourism. What with the expected 300
000 visitors to grace the month long
soccer jamboree and an estimated 4
billion of global viewers on television?
Southern Africa Tourism Gearsfor 2010 World Cup
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during the meeting was the fundamental need to introduce auni-visa system to facilitate easy entry of tourists in all thecountries. The role of tailor making regional tourismpackages was also emphasized.
It is thus hoped that the preparations will gathermomentum as the event approaches so that soccer fansand tourists can enjoy an African World Cup thus fullysilence some doubting Thomases who have beenquestioning Africa’s readiness to host the event.
Africa Travel extra will strive to keep you posted onthe latest events as Africa works towards producing aWorld Cup that will be immortalized in the minds of theglobal audience and future unborn generations
Extra News
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Extra Quirk
Fancy a papaya…you know where to get one now.!
When in Rome...Eat This
Coffee, latté, cappuccino…these beans tell you where to geta good cup.
Now you know where the goodold bananas come from
Market Scene in Madagascar:Fruit and Vegetables speciallytendered for you
8 ~ December 2006
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Extra Quirk
When in Rome...Dress Like This
Katherine Nabwire dresses in the Ugandan femaletraditional dress called gomesi or busuti by the Bagandapeople at her introduction ceremony one of the many
traditional ceremonies that come before the official marriage.Its special feature is the sharp pointed sleeves and the big attractive
belt ekitambala tied around it.It is widely worn around the country, and even though the tribes from
western Ugandan have their own specific wear the mushanana, they areglad on occasions to swap it for the gomesi.
It's made from six metres of cloth that can be of very colourful, plain ordecorated material depending on the one's taste.
It's very popular at traditional wedding give away ceremonies andpublic functions. It symbolises the virtual of a woman and its one of themust give gifts a husband gives his new bride.
December 2006 ~ 9
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Brighten those grey dayswith some of this accessory
Next time you feel like you want totake off those shoes and dance, youknow what to wear
Men, here is your dancing gearcomplete with shoes
Bad Hair day? This headscarfgives you the solution
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De s p i t ehaving 18o f f i c i a l
tribes and clans thatinhabit the island,
the country shares onelanguage helping to
contribute to the people’swarmness not only to oneanother but to tourists aswell. A few words fromBantu and Swahili are
incorporated into theMalayo-Polynesian dialect.
Malagasy people are a mixture of Asian andAfricans and have inhabited the island for over1500 years. Most of them migrated from India
and south East Asia moving across theIndian Ocean before settling
at the island.Marco Polo the great famouswestern traveler reported
Madagascar ‘sexistence
in the
narrative ofhis travels.
Madagascar has a wettropical feel and is usually warmwith moderate temperatures peaking above300 C.
Air Madagascar runs flights between Kenya andJohannesburg whereas Air France runs a direct flight fromParis. Inter Air also runs a flight from Johannesburg to IvatoAirport in Madagascar.
From the airport your first stop over in Madagascar is likely to beTana short for Antananarivo a pretty crowded noisy city inMadagascar. Built high above sea levelit has very colourfulhouses that are
Popular for its strongculture, oneness and
beautiful beachesMadagascar a SouthAfrican Island in theIndian Ocean east of
Mozambique, is slowlybecoming a reknownholiday destination.
Popular for its strongculture, oneness and
beautiful beachesMadagascar a SouthAfrican Island in theIndian Ocean east of
Mozambique, is slowlybecoming a reknownholiday destination.
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December 2006 ~ 11
well surrounded by the green of nature.This city is worth a tour as Southwest of it is Analakey where the post office, banks,restaurants and nightclubs are. Uphill you can find the ruins of Rova, the former
Queen’s palace. The district of Analakey is also packed with permanent streetmarkets, as swarms of off white umbrellas perched precariously on old tyre rims
shade the vendors.Another reknown site with the tourists is Nosy Be fondly called ‘Perfumed
Isle’. Nosy Be is surrounded by beautiful water and is premier resort island withseveral smaller islands including Nosy Kamba, Nosy Tanikely, Nosy Sakatia
and Nosy Mitsio nearby.Nosy Be is quite expensive but is popular for a resort style holiday
as it has plenty of restaurants, an electric nightlife and someexcellent dive spots.
The original capital of the Merina Royal familyAmbohimanga (Blue Hill) is another great
place to see in Madagascar.
Ambohimanga hosts acastle mountain and a large traditional gateway marks the site’s
entrance to one of the seven gateways to the eyrie like hilltop. Theking’s home the Betavo resembles a black wooden shed.
If you need a touch of the wild, Park National de L’Isalo is a great stopover fora true African feel.
It’s a major National park with beautiful scenery and its topography ischaracterised by alternating flat grass plains and sandstone ridges that shelter the
animals of the wild.Despite being the fourth poorest country in the world, the
Malagasy are a happy people, have a sense of onenessand appreciations of nature’s gifts. They
are warm friendly people, alwayshappy to help and many do
shelter tourists in theirhuts as they
make inland journeys.All Visitors do require a visa to Madagascar,
which can be acquired on entry and lasts up to 3months.The Time Zone in Madagascar is GMT/UTC.
Adrift Madagascar
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Unleashing Mt. Kilimanjaro 5895m By Flavia Nakagwa
Africa is blessed with a number of natural beautiful sceneries that sometimes may go unnoticedbecause of their abundance. Tanzania the biggest East African country mainly known for its
Tanzanites, (gem stones) many other natural sites have also added pride to patriotic nationals.
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Tanzania's Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest freestandingmountain in the world and the highest peak in Africa.Kilimanjaro is also the highest 'walk able' mountain in the
world and is a massive draw for trekkers. For those that havemanaged to reach this rewarding summit, the highest point in Africadeserve a standing ovation.
The extinct volcano of Kilimanjaro is one of the world's most recognizablepeaks. It rises dramatically above the dusty East African plains with theimpressive snow-capped summit awarding awe-inspiring views of thismagnificent landscape. The expedition travels through one of Africa's best-known game reserves and climbs through five ecosystems, offering a fullmountain experience with the ascent of the continent's highest peak.
Of the Seven Summits, Kilimanjaro with a rocky summit is the leastdifficult to climb. However, at over 19,000ft high, it is still a tough ascent andtrekkers will need to be in good physical condition in order for one to enjoytheir trek.
The trekking get better and better at the top where one is assured of asuperb view of the southern cliffs of Kilimanjaro towering up into the clouds.
For those of you who can't face the prospect of spending days on endclambering up a mountain, but are up for a serious day hike, then the
active volcano Oldonyo Lengai, the Maasai(Mountain of God) as its called, is one
adventurous good day out, which can easily be incorporated into a safariaround the Northern Parks.
With all the natural vegetation advancing from the fertile mountain soils,there must be few mountains in the world more alluring than Kilimanjaro.This snowy summit, floating above the plains of Africa, exudes anatmosphere of unparalleled remoteness and inaccessibility. The knowledgethat it is far from inaccessible and can be climbed with no technical problemslures walkers from all over the world, many of them perhaps tackling theirfirst mountain.
It is sad that many fail in the attempt and perhaps go away with a quiteunjustified hatred of mountains thereafter. The problem of course is heightbut if you are not adventurous enough you might miss to get into theGuinness book of record.
John Mallonga a Mt. Kilimanjaro porter/guide says, “A tourist routestarting from Marangu climbs to the summit in four days which for many istoo fast and results in mountain sickness and an unsettling retreat. Thisusually happens to many people who after the trek are not even able to feeltheir feet, due to the freezing conditions.
With clear stunning views of the Sunrise at Kilimanjaro, sections with inthe mountain have a rain forest where sometimes trekkers have a campingspot in the areas the vegetation turns to giant heather.
In several spots tiny huts used only for cooking are visible. Many touriststrekking up the mountain are taken through the rules and one of theimportant rules for acclimatization is to drink many litres of fluid although it
may not be possible to do so on some ascent when the water is frozenin the bottles. On that note remember to carry some hot tea
or coffee in strong flasks.
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Walking with
It is the middle of the night. I am sitting outdoors on a pit toilet,while a Masai warrior armed with a spear, stands guard nearby. Ipeer nervously into the inky darkness, hoping that the lion I heard
earlier has moved away from our camp, and wondering just what I'd doif suddenly confronted by a luminous pair of feline eyes. A crackle inthe undergrowth sends me rushing over to my guard, who escorts meback to my tent. I zip it up and climb into bed, heart pounding. A fewminutes later the roar of a lion shudders through the night.
I was on an eco-safari in Kenya and every activity - even a trip to the loo -was proving to be an adventure. Our camp was in the Masai Mara, home to theMasai people and boasting the greatest diversity of animals in Africa. Comehere and you can see everything from lions and leopards to giraffes and jackals.And on an eco-trip you get as close to nature as is possible, staying incomfortable camps in the bush - rather than the luxurious bubble of large safarilodges; and walking, as well as driving, through the wilderness.
It was a 45 minute flight from Nairobi to the Masai Mara. We were met by atall Masai warrior, wearing traditional scarlet robes and holding a spear. Hesmiled and introduced himself as William our driver /guide. It was the end ofthe migration period, and hundreds of wildebeest were still grazing on the aridplains, their clumsy hulks mingling with the muscular frames of zebras. As wedrove to Base Camp in an open Land Rover, William pointed out elegantgazelles, impala, a Secretary bird strutting slowly past, an olive baboon and aTawny eagle flying lazily overhead. Later we saw a male ostrich, his neck andlegs flushed a passionate pink, an indication he is ready to mate. It was my firsttrip to Africa and I was amazed at the proximity of the animals.
Eventually we reach Base Camp - 15 tents on raised platforms with
Walking with
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the Maasai
verandahs, large beds, bathrooms with open- to- the -skies showers and toilets - even hot water and electricity.The toilets are simple pits, but wooden seats preserve thewestern conceit. Situated on land leased from the Masai,the camp is solar powered and run on sound eco lines. Tomy relief, it is also very comfortable. We lunch in thecentral lodge, a feast of fresh bread, soup, meat andvegetarian stews, and lots of fruit.
Late that afternoon we take a game drive into theNational Nature Reserve (animals are most active at dawnand dusk). We quickly find jackals, hyenas, a bat earedfox, eland, impala, and a family of warthogs trotting acrossthe plain, their tails pointing skywards like fuzzyflagpoles. Everywhere we look there is some newcreature at which to wonder. Wildebeest edge cautiouslydown a riverbank to drink, then charge out wildly toescape any lurking crocodiles. Birds land on thorn treeslike animated jewels, while vultures circle in the distance- avian testimony to some recent drama. It all fascinatesme. And then we find a lioness and three young cubs.She is trying to lead them across a stream to join othersin her pride, but while two follow, another sits lookingdismally at the water. She growls encouragement, butrefuses to go back. It is five minutes before he plucks upthe courage to splash across. His mother rewards himwith generous licks of her thick pink tongue.
I hardly sleep that night, a mix of excitement andelephants tramping noisily in the nearby river. We rise atsix, and after coffee and biscuits, set off for another gamedrive. We are already blasé about the wildebeest andzebra, but squeal at a giraffe with a baby, still wet andwobbly from its recent birth. Then we find someelephants. They also have a tiny baby in tow, but have nointention of letting us near and vanish into some scrub.But we find more, and observe them until a large malesuddenly faces our vehicle and widens his ears as ifpreparing to charge. We drive on.
That evening we transfer to our Bush Camp. Aftertrying our hand at spear throwing - which the Masai findimmensely amusing - we eat delicious bean stew,
the Maasai
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then all sit round the fire, swapping stories in thegloom. Night brings the bush to life, and I hardlysleep again, ears alert to every rustle.
At dawn we set off on our first bush walk,accompanied by three Maasai: Daniel and Amos,who carry spears; and Ndorobo, ('the hunter') an expoacher and expert bushman, who is armed with abow and arrows. No-one has a gun. Amos tells usthe rules. If we meet a lion - stand close together,to look like one large animal. If we meet buffalo,climb a tree (I groan inwardly, I don't do agile) or lieface down. As for elephants, we'll keep well away,walking downwind as soon as the Maasai spot them- elephants have poor eyesight but an excellentsense of smell. Above all, we mustn't run. I feelincreasingly nervous. What was that - lie down forlions? No, that was buffalo. What if we meet along-sighted elephant? And what if my legs panic and run away before Ican stop them?
We set off, Daniel and Ndorobo out in front. As we walk I see impalaand Thompson's gazelle, but whereas in the Land Rover they wouldhave ignored us, now they scatter hurriedly. On foot we are just anothercreature of the plains. Then the Maasai spot three lionesses and severalcubs in the distance. My legs wobble. We could fend off one lion - butthree? We change direction and slip away. I start to imagine buffalo inevery bush and hope desperately that we meet nothing larger than awarthog.
We find an 'olpul' a fenced camp used by young Maasai warriors wholive for months alone in the bush, practising skills like spear throwing -and hunting lions. They show me acacia trees that are used to aiddigestion, and we come across a fresh kill. I still feel scared, but thebeauty of walking is that you see the small things. It is the best way ofgetting to understand a landscape. Eventually we return to camp, andbreakfast on fresh bread, beans, bananas and rich brown coffee. I shower, then laze outside my tent reading. After lunch the others leaveand I am alone with the Maasai. We are due to have an evening walk. I want to go, but feel my courage failing. I request a walk in which I meetnothing bigger than say, a mongoose. They say they'll try - but there areno guarantees in this wilderness.
We walk slowly, talking about their uses for trees and plants, like theAfrican greenheart tree, the roots and bark of which contain quinine andare used to cure malaria. I find an arrow head, and we examine large,fibrous mounds of elephant dung, dainty gazelle droppings, and chalky
hyena droppings - coloured by thecalcium in the bones they consume.
Suddenly we stop. Daniel and Ndorobo point to some scrub about ahundred yards away. They shout and I catch the word 'simba' - Swahilifor lion. Daniel and Ndorobo race forwards, shouting and waving theirspears. An enormous male lion stands up, opens his mouth and roars.With impressive speed I dart behind Amos. The lionroars again, then turns tail and lollops into the bush. Ido a cartoon character gulp and note withinterest the sound of my heart pounding wildlyin my ears. But, as we return to camp in thecool of the evening, I realise that Ican't wait to do it again.
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Eco-resorts offer a wide range of specialist safaris in Kenya - www.eco-resorts.com ranging in length from 4 days to 2 weeks. Theydonate 10% of their post tax profits to community projects in Kenya.
Kenya Airways - www.kenya-airways.com, fly from London Heathrowto Nairobi - their Premier World Class service has comfy seats thatconvert to flat beds, prices around £1,680 + tax; economy class pricesaround £411 + tax.
What you could see on a driven safariThe Big Five - lions, leopards, buffalo (more dangerous than all the others),rhino and elephants - also hippos and rarely, cheetahHerbivores - wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, Thompson's gazelle, Grant'sgazelle, Impala, Eland, Topi
and dik dik (Africa's smallest antelope)Small carnivores - hyenas, bat eared fox, banded mongooses, jackalsPrimates - baboons, sykes monkey, vervit monkeyBirds - hundreds of species such as black headed kites, tawny eagles,small bee eaters, marabou stork, hoopoe, vultures, ostrich, Secretarybird and Kori bustard - Africa's heaviest flying bird
What you might see on a walking safariYou might come across most of the above - but are unlikely to get close
to them (you hope in some cases). You also see trees and bushes likethorn trees and acacia, wild flowers, insects - including stunning butterflies, Maasai camps, animal tracks and animal droppings.
December 2006 ~ 17
Fact File
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White Water Rafting“Activity of the weekend”By Dyton Mupawaenda
White Water Rafting“Activity of the weekend”By Dyton Mupawaenda
December 2006 ~ 19
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Rafting on the Zambezi River, the fourth largest river in Africa, is anexciting experience but only for the daring traveller “adrenalin junkies”who enjoy living on the edge each time they perform.
The sport of white water rafting on the Zambezi, as we know it, started withthe North American Adventure Company, Sobek.
Their name comes from the ancient Egyptian River God, which they adoptedin 1973 when they first braved the Omo and the Awash rivers of Ethiopia.Sobek have pioneered 200 rivers in 60 countries.
Today white water rafting is a major industry in Southern Africa, the focalpoint of the annual Zambezi River Festival, and the main reason why many,especially young people visit the falls.
The concepts of water rafting appear to be simple but can actually turn out tobe for those who want to taste the characters.
River-runners, in groups of five to seven people, listen to a safety pep talk, donlife jackets and helmets, and tackle the water with one trained oarsperson atthe at the helm.
Each run usually covers 10 rapids, and up to 22 km of bucking, twisting,screaming adventure. The oarsperson calls out when to shift your weight andhow to pop out of the maelstrom if you are thrown overboard.
The ferocity of the Zambezi as you are blasted through the gorges is combatedby the flexibility of the big rubber rafts, growing confidence in your raftmates,and the sheer adrenalin rush of riding the roughest rapids in the world.
The quiet stretches stretches of water between the rapids, and the high cliffson either side, bring welcome contrast and relief, but soon the current builds upagain, the river rumbles and churns, and once again you are hurled over theprecipice or slammed into surging walls of green, white water.
Then suddenly it is all over as you drift across the calm, deep water of theBatoka Gorge, you realise, finally, that you have done it. You have joined theelite band of river runners that have challenged and beaten the Zambezi.
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Africa Travel Extra Magazine caught up with SanFrancisco-based movie producer, PaulGreenstone, and his wife Naomi Schnyder
Greenstone an attorney at Matetsi Game Lodges inVictoria Falls, Zimbabwe and the two gave a testimonialof their experiences in Zimbabwe, and other southernAfrican countries.
“The wildlife, sights, sounds and people of Mozambique,South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana made for the mostwonderful honeymoon and the perfect way to begin our lifetogether as husband and wife.” Paul Greenstone said.
“My wife, Naomi and I were married on March 26th in SantaFe, New Mexico surrounded by approximately 110 of ourclosest friends and family. On Monday, March 27th, we began athree-week honeymoon in Southern Africa, which was nothingshort of perfection.
Four days at Marlin Lodge on the beaches of Benguela Islandoff the Southern coast of Mozambique was a wonderful way tostart the honeymoon. This luxurious hideaway with about a 12beach front stand alone chalets served fantastic gourmet foodand had as many or as few activities as you could want.
Beach walking, snorkeling, a sunset dhao ride, and a special"bush bath" (complete with privacy, flower petals and bubbleson our deck) on the Indian Ocean helped us relax from thestress and excitement of the wedding weekend and the variousflights that got us from New Mexico to Mozambique.
Three days in Cape Town was our next stop. We stayed atAcorn Lodge at the foot of the Table Mountains and viewablefrom our window. We toured Robben Island (the prison whereNelson Mandela was held for many years) and we sampledfoods and wine at vineyards in Castancia and then at Cape Pointand saw penguins and baboons.
Matetsi Water Lodge was splendid; three nights at thisZimbabwe luxury lodge was incredibly breathtaking. Morningand afternoon/night game rides got us close to leopards,buffalo, giraffe, zebra and elephants, not to mention countlessimpala and many species of birds.
Victoria Falls views from both the Zimbabwe and Zambiasides, the arts and crafts markets, the magical sunsets,crocodiles and hippos at Zambezi River all gave us a brighterpicture about Africa.
Our final stop was CC Africa's Nxabega Okavango Lodge.One day, our tracker had to walk us back to our room becauseseveral elephants had "wandered" into our camp. Our luxurytent made it very easy to hear all the wildlife at night and in themiddle of our first night at the lodge while everyone was
“Honeymoon of alifetime in
Southern Africa”By Tawanda Kanhema inVictoria Falls, Zimbabwe
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sleeping, a leopard came into camp and killed and dragged away an impala. At the public areas where we dined and had tea, we got to enjoy baboons and monkeys resting
on the hammocks. Naomi had taken a tour of Eastern Africa in 2001 as a birthday gift to her father and she spoke
so fondly of that trip and it's because of her experiences in Africa and my love for photography thatwe chose it as our honeymoon destination.
The wildlife, sights, sounds and people of Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswanamade the most of our wonderful honeymoon and set for us perfect way to begin our life togetheras husband and wife.
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If ever a festival was 'far out', this is it, both musically and geographically. It started with a revival of thetraditional gathering or takoubelt of nomadic Tuareg families who, after the end of the Tuareg rebellion in1996, were able to meet annually at the oasis of Essakane, sixty kilometres out in the desert from Timbuktu
- itself two hundred kilometres from the nearest road. In the last five years it has become “the Woodstock of theSahara” and it's all thanks to the efforts of one Tuareg of whom Habib Koite, one of Mali's leading musicians said“I was thrilled that it was my friend Manny Ansar who had the power and the vision to make this happen”.
And what a vision! Who could have imagined it would be possible to create an international festival in such aremote place, difficult to reach, yet exquisitely beautiful, almost lunar, with its surreal snow-white dunes rollingwave on wave out of the endless tree studded sahel.
We heard about it when it first started back in 2001 but other trips intervened every winter so this year wedecided it was now or never, before the festival became too popular and lost its roots. We needn't have worried,over half the fifteen hundred visitors were local Tuareg, many coming in from the desert with their camels,
families and tents, creating a truly ethnic ambience that permeated every aspect ofthe festival. Manny wants it to
The Festival of the Desert
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stay that way.Getting there has its problems. Small planes fly to Timbuktu from
Bamako and Mopti, but unless you can get on the larger festival charter, you will be lucky to get aseat. That leaves two choices - a boat down the Niger from Mopti, or a long desert drive. The three-day rivertrip is a good option, but this year, as is usual, the last passenger-cargo boat sailed two weeks before the festival,which is in mid-January. After then, the river is too shallow for the boat to make the journey, so it's necessaryto hire a small pirogue, which entails spending a few days in Mopti trying to meet other travellers. You mightbe lucky - we weren't - the only alternative you are left with is to hire a vehicle for the four hundred kilometrejourney, half of which is across the desert.
If the vehicle and driver are good, as ours were, this is not a bad option and you really get to appreciate theremoteness of your destination. If you are lucky you may even make Timbuktu in a day, crossing the Niger byferry as the sun sets, turning the river red. Once there, your problems are still not over; unless you arrange afestival pass with transport to the site, you will have to hunt round for vehicles heading out west into the sands.Not that it matters unduly, Timbuktu is a laid back place in which to spend a few days - apart from the festivaland the end of the Tuareg rebellion, nothing much has happened there since the sixteenth century when it wasa centre of Islamic learning and Saharan trade. The day before the festival there will be plenty of vehicles goingyour way and, if like us, you've booked accommodation at the festival, there are goatskin benders concealedamongst the dunes with food tents not far away, all maintaining the Tuareg ambience. For this reason, if youbring your own tent, you will need to camp out of view in the trees on the perimeter of the site.
It's well thought out and organised and we were impressed. Living in a bender was great, the food was plentifulwith good breakfasts and main meals of Tuareg staples twice a day: rice, couscous or pasta with veg or meat.There were even toilet cubicles and showers (though water ran out in the showers after the first day, but whatdo you expect sixty kilometres beyond one of the Sahara's remotest towns!). Strangely some Belgians expectedmore - they left in mid-festival complaining that their bender had no door, the food and the toilets weren't up tostandard and the showers didn't work. How sad can you get!
We arrived there the day before the festival, to watch the Tuareg arriving in their indigo or otherwise colourfulflowing robes, swords slung over their shoulders, sitting high on their decorated camels. Tents and benderswere going up, fires lit, old friends gathering, musicians jamming together, a true festival atmosphere building.
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Mornings - as at all festivals - were lazy, music playing in the distance, Tuareg assembling for camel racesand demonstrations of riding prowess and swordsmanship. By mid afternoon, dancers, singers andmusicians including Tuareg groups such as Tiris and Tartit who have appeared internationally, werecoming together in tents and at the small Dune Stage. The women performing the Tinde dancing anddrumming were in their finery, their hands hennaed and silver jewellery braided into their hair. The men,flambuoyant in their coloured robes, assembled in a circle for the strange 'love dance' of Takamba,meaning “give me your hand” in which seated dancers make slow, sensuous Tai Chi-like movements ofthe arms and hands. The Songhai entertained us with a different version done standing and using thewhole body.
As the dune shadows lengthened and the full moon rose, the Main Stage came into use, a hiddengenerator soundlessly powering amps and lights for the night-time gigs which continued into the earlyhours. There's even a beer tent, which can't be bad! How wacky can life be, crashed out opposite the stageon a silver dune one night and up close with Tuaregs on camels on other nights for the full-on audio-visualexperience of colourful and renowned Malian and African bands such as Takamba, Takrist, Dimi MintAbba, Baba Salah, Sekouba Bambino and Habib Koite. Magic!
The festival continues for three days of great music and culture with bands from across West Africa. ASouth American dance group gave a remarkable performance of Native American and African music anda couple of Irish bands with bodrum and didj brought a change of sound that fitted well with the Africanmusic as lovers of Afro-Celt will know as did the slide guitar playing of American Markus James,accompanied by members of Tinariwen.
We left early the morning after the festival, being amongst the lucky few with a plane to catch, butgetting back across the desert to Timbuktu proved tricky. Our beat-up car collapsed when it hit a bump.The rear spring connection had broken, which didn't bode well; if we missed our Timbuktu plane we wouldmiss our flight home!
The driver wasn't worried. Having chopped a small tree down, he cut it into two short pieces andhammered them into the joint, forcing it open and lifting the body of the car marginally off the wheel. Hethen tied the wood in place with a piece of rope and we limped into town in plenty of time for our flight.
It had been a great festival and an unforgettable celebration of the varied and vibrant Saharan culturein a remote and beautiful desert location. Truly far out!
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ContactsWest Africa Tours (who arranged our festival visit. The owner is the cousin of Manny Ansar,
the Festival Director) email Deo: [email protected]
Tuareg Tours also provided information, email Natascha: [email protected]
Saga Tours, Mali (not the UK Saga) email: [email protected]
Dogon adventures, website www.dogon-adventures.mali.com
Dogon Guide (at Maison des Arts) Abdina Lougué, email: [email protected]
Hotel Maison des Arts, Sevaré, Kay & Amadou Bedar Guindo. Tel 00223 242 08 53
Desert guide, Timbuktu, Mohamed al Hassane, known as Halis, email: [email protected]
Chaufeur driven ORV, Boubacar Mazour Cisse. Tel 00223 281 0000, mob 00223 639 2365
Sarah Castle, Secretary, Friends of Mali. Tel 07800 872051, email: [email protected]
Visas & International travel from UK and EuropeVisas - Consulat Général du Mali, 64 Rue Pelleport, 75020 PARIS, FRANCE
Afriqiyah Airways. Gatwick to Bamako. Website www.afriqiyah.aero, tel 0171 430 0284
Point Afriqe, charters from Paris to Mopti. Email: [email protected]
Imaginative Traveler, email: [email protected]
Dragoman, website www.dragoman.co.uk/
Guerba, email: [email protected]
Festivals & Festival related CDs and DVDsDesert Festival, annually in Jan. Website: http://www.festival-au-desert.org
Festival on the Niger, Segou. Feb. Website http://www.festivalsegou.org/homepage.htm Kidal
Traditional Tuareg Festival every Jan. Website http://www.kidal.info/ESSOUK/
Desert Blues 1 and 2. Two double CD sets of Saharan music including many festival performers
Savane. Ali Farka Toure. CD
Tinariwen. Tuareg 'rock' band. CD.
The Festival in the Desert. 2003. Lionel Brouet. DVD.
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For a rare experience of the world's best elephant, lion andleopard sightings in a mega-park straddling across thefrontiers of three countries without immigration hassles,
the newly established Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP)is the ideal destination.
Resonating with diverse animal species and gaping deepinto Zimbabwe's southern frontier with South Africaand Mozambique, Great Limpopo is oneof the last parks where wildlifecan be viewed in itsnatural habitat,with itsscenic,
craggy cliffs and meandering rivers. Spanning over 35 000 square kilometers, Great Limpopo is Africa's
largest mega-park, and encompasses Kruger National Park in SouthAfrica, Limpopo in Mozambique and the Gonarezhou National Park
in Zimbabwe. It has become one of the biggest touristattractions in the region, attracting more than 1,3 million
tourists annually. The park sits in the heart of a region that is home to
the World Cup 2010 soccer tournament to be held inSouth Africa, and international conservation unions,
tourist operators and investors have turned theirattention on the expansive sub-Saharan wildlife
habitat, with amazing results.
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Great Limpopo's Zimbabwean side, Gonarezhou (Shona for “the placeof many elephants”), has risen from over two decades of stony sleep,with over 10 000 herd of elephants and now has some of the region'sbiggest safari operations. The park has fascinating natural sceneriesalong the course of the meandering rivers that tear through it.
The Frankfurt Zoological Society this month (November 2006)pledged over US$4 million conservation and infrastructural support toassist in the development of the Zimbabwean side of GLTP, and thepark is going to get a facelift in anticipation of growth in tourist arrivalsin the region.
Tourism in southern Africa is mainly concentrated in the region's vastwildlife habitats. Before being incorporated into GLTP, Kruger NationalPark received an average of one million tourists a year, just aboutZimbabwe's annual tourist turnout for all resorts put together, andarrivals have grown significantly since the opening of the mega-park.
The three parks have pooled theirresources and are now operating as a“peace park” wherein tourists areable to tour
all corners of the park, camp and engage in photographic safariswithout having to go through immigration hassles.
So far, South Africa has already torn down the game fence on Kruger'sborder with Gonarezhou, making way for animals to wander to eitherside of the border. The park's development into the vibrant wildlifehabitat warranted by its vast animal population and diversity has led tothe creation of one of the best wildlife safaris in the region.
The Save (Sabi), Runde and Mwenezi rivers meander through thepark, forming scenic pools and oases along their course and in them canbe found the Zambezi Shark, Freshwater Goby, Black Bream and theturquoise killifish.
GLTP features some of Africa's largest tusked elephants, and rarepredators such as the king cheetah, and it easily qualifies as the world'smost diverse and scenic wildlife habitat.
• The total surface area of the Transfrontier Park is approximately 35,000 km.
• It is a link with Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, Kruger National Park in South Africa, Gonarezhou National Park, Manjinji Pan Sanctuary and Malipati Safari Area in Zimbabwe.
• The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park is a world-class eco-tourism destination that comprises a vast area of the lowland savannah ecosystem.
• Five major river systems cross this eco region in a generally west-east flow.
• The park is home to at least 147 mammals, 116 reptiles, 49 species of fish, 34 different species of frogs, and an incredible 500 or more species of birds. In addition, at least 2 000 species of plants have been identified.
• GLTP a great animal kingdom indeed.
Fact Box GLTP
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Riding the sometimes unpredictable hybridmountain bike northwards had begun early inthe morning to avoid the barbaric heat and
humidity. Every couple of hours it was necessary to reapply sun cream over filthy and sweat soaked skin,snack, drink and perform any maintenance needed onbike and body. People passed-by, many stopped tostare. Men wanted to practise their English while thewomen seemingly all with close cropped hairremained silent, coy yet prone to the occasionalpointing and giggling at our quite wretched state.
That evening was spent at the Nkotakhota Pottery Lodge,the first of the overnight pit stops by the lakeshore beforecontinuing our journey up the middle third of the lake.Across the water to the east, were the mountains ofMozambique and Tanzania. In the foreground, like smokeplumes from burning tyres, dense clouds of lake flies, knownlocally as Kungu, hovered over the surface. Godfrey, ourguide, told me they were caught in nets, crushed to a pulpand then eaten. I spent the week content to eat a steady,bland but always welcome diet of chicken and rice, followedby liberal applications of deep heat and the rather good localgin - the extra quinine in Malawi tonic was said to deterinterest from mosquitoes.
At sunset, wallowing in the warm lake water that gentlylapped an idyllic, pristine, white sandy beach was furtherrelief for complaining muscles. The therapy was short lived.While drying myself off, Godfrey then decided to warn me ofthe potential dangers from all the local aquatic creaturesgreat and small. Clusters of reed beds scattered along thebanks of the water can be colonised with snails infected withbilharzia. (A nasty parasite that will enter the body throughany orifice available, whether clothed or not). It may beworth - he also suggested rather too calmly and belatedly -staying out of the water between 6pm and 6am to avoid rarebut potential attacks from hippo and crocodile. Havingwitnessed the Keystone Cop nature of our abilities and slothlike characteristics of getting started in the mornings, it wasalmost surprising he was still around to give any advice at all,albeit belatedly.
Continuing north, the following days were spent cyclingthe undulating, almost traffic-free two-lane M5 highway. Pastsmallholdings of fruit and vegetables and larger fields ofcotton and tobacco from which decorated Shaman emergedhaving exorcised the evil spirits amongst the crops. Throughvillages and past remote thatched homes the constant shoutsfrom children in Chichewa of “Azungo”(Foreigner), ”Giveme money” (in English) was, like the heat, relentless. As thedays passed and with our spirits and energy running on
"It looks like Scotland” shouted one,“reminds me of Wales” responded another,voices quivering and shuddering from theimpact of ruts and pot holes on the larynx.Suddenly, landscape comparisons turned toyelps and profanities as unexpected andundignified separations from the saddlebrought a select few closer to this countrythan was really necessary. We werealready exhausted, both hot and bothered,covered in mud and three out of a group often inexperienced cyclists just had a taste ofsub-Saharan dirt amongst a tangled heapof limbs and bicycle parts. Having left thecapital Lilongwe on the plateau regionsome 5000ft (1500m) above sea level weplunged literally on the second day overpitted dirt tracks through deciduouswoodland to the fertile and lovely ShireValley and Lake Malawi below.
Cycling Malawi
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empty our once enthusiasticreplies became more and moremuted to eventually mumbledrudeness. What was onceharmless interactive fun andbanter soon became tiresomeand grated on the nerves. Thesight of the not so greatunwashed wheezing anoverweight and abused bodyalways brought crowds of thecurious and amused out.
Malawi has the highestpopulation in Africa with themajority of homesconcentrated around the morelowland areas, as the lake has a
valuable food source. Simple farming and collecting food appeared to be the major occupation for many of the inhabitants, though itwas sometimes difficult to distinguish working land from scrub.
In the hectic, dusty and generally run down larger towns we stopped at grocery stores to pick up a lunch usually made up of freshbread and tinned sardines before carrying onto find the always elusive secluded spot to eat away from prying eyes of the often hungryresidents. It's never easy to eat when being stared at. It's even harder when you know those looking on intently are so very hungry.I don't believe anyone of us ever completed a meal.
Peeling off the tarmac onto dirt track for Njaya Lodge, we met up with children on their way home from school. Saddle sore, buthappy to be approaching the next gin and tonic, I got off and started walking with them. Within seconds I had surrendered my bikeand, too tired to care, watched as it carried on ahead wobbling dangerously under a boy less than half my size. The remaining childrenthen took turns to lead me by both hands wearing my crash helmet; their heads completely disappearing under its crown.
Later reunited with my bike, my feelings of disquiet towards nature returned when I had to share my bamboo hut with morecreatures of the night than you could shake that gargantuan stick insect on my bed at. But the fire red sunrise across the water anddistracting antics of Vervet Monkeys in the neighbouring trees was worth the uneasy penultimate night by the lake.
Just round the rocky coast, the small town of Nkhata Bay - the most northerly point on the Lake reached by David Livingstone -busily dedicated itself to fishing, ferrying across the lake and separating its few visitors from hard currency. A hectic street marketwas selling everything from postcards to coffins (a tragically thriving industry in these days of high HIV infection), while bars blastedreggae music in the warm late afternoon. There was hustling but it was half-hearted and certainly not persistent or aggressive. Backat my lodge, local entrepreneurs came to sell jewellery, boats trips, marijuana and wooden crafts or to watch European football on thebar's television. Business complete they were then quite happy to sit and chat for hours. Joseph a very polite and animated Arsenalshirt wearing 14 year old told me he was simply trying to earn enough to pay for hiseducation. He must be making money - his English was excellent.
For those who have never been to Central Africa, Malawi is the perfect introductionand often said to have the friendliest people and most diverse countryside on thecontinent. Don't go expecting to cycle across vast plains covered in big game. Malawi haslittle in comparison to its bordering countries. Do go for winning smiles and a genuinelywarm welcome from just about everyone, grand and varied vistas, lovely beaches,cycling, hiking, watersports and some very effective cheap gin.
A drinks stop attracts the curious
A repair and rest stop
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Spanning 15 kilometers of river frontage in an areawith abundant wildlife, the 50,000 hectare reserveeasily stands out as one of Africa 's best venues for
family holidays and photographic safaris with itsabundant water and wildlife safari.
Matetsi Game Lodges easily stands out as the ideal retreatand resort for game drives, game walks, canoeing, river cruisesand near-exclusive photographic safaris.
Matetsi Water Lodge, located just 38 kilometers upstreamfrom the Victoria Falls is one of the precious few places alongthe entire length of the Zambezi where one can have breakfast,lunch or dinner on the banks of the river.
The Game Lodges are made up of a Water Lodge, spanning aconsiderable length of the Zambezi and the Game Lodge,planted in the middle of a vast wildlife habitat with vast herd ofbuffalo, elephants and some of the best giraffe and zebrasightings.
Many other species roam the private reserve's 47 000 squarekilometers of safari. I spent a day in the wild at Matetsi WaterLodge with groups of tourists from the United Kingdom, theUnited States, Ireland and Australia.
I arrived at Matetsi by shuttle around 11am, and life was still,showing the sharp transition from the bristling life of urbanVictoria Falls to the tranquil wilderness.
The first thing that struck me was the density of wildlife atthe Game Lodge, where more than more than 2000 herd ofbuffalo and over 7000 elephants roam the salty swamps andforage across the vast private reserve.
Creatively designed lodges at Matetsi's West, North and Eastlodges give the resort a phenomenal elegance that leaves fondmemories with anyone who spends time in its tranquilenvirons.
Tourists spending time at Matetsi Water Lodge remarkedthat the lodge's hospitality was unexpectedly superb, givingthem royal treatment in an environment that has evidentlytaken a lot of resources and effort to create.
“I found Matetsi to be a pleasant surprise, theaccommodation is perfect and game viewing has beenexceptional,” said Carol Ward, an English tourist from theUnited Kingdom.
I was astonished to find my bath bubbling on my return from
At a time whenZimbabwe's tourismindustry is going throughone of its most challengingphases, Matetsi PrivateGame Reserve, an upmarket luxurious retreattucked in Zimbabwe's farwestern corner on thebanks of the mightyZambezi River, a fewminutes drive from VictoriaFalls, continues to hold upagainst the odds.
Matetsi Game Lodges,Zimbabwe's tourist haven Aggressive marketing pays off
By Tawanda Kanhema in Harare, Zimbabwe
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an early evening game drive on the first day, and other tourists onhoneymoons and anniversaries even had a bigger shock, with redroses, candles and bubble baths awaiting them.
Everyone wondered whether they had gone to the correctroom. “I am gob smacked as they would say in the UK,” said onetourist when asked what he thought of the Water Lodge's qualityof accommodation and catering facilities.
“We employ these small tactics to attach fond memories in theminds of our guests so that their holidays become memorable,guests will market our resort by word of mouth, and this is animportant component of our comprehensive marketing effort”Lovemore Chihota, Executive Chairman of ConservationCorporation Zimbabwe said.
The Namib Desert's sand dunes, Walvis Bay, Botswana'sOkavango Delta and Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls and safaris atMatetsi Game Lodges are combined in one safari package thatmarkets resorts irrespective of national boundaries.
CC Africa offers international tourists complete safari packagesbeginning from South Africa, where its central reservations aredone. Game lodges and other resorts in the CC Africa chaintherefore benefit equally from the group's central marketing.
From hunting, Matetsi Game lodge, took over to photographicsafaris after great concern, when it's Pretorious Westhood lionpopulation had been depleted in 1996.It has since established oneof Africa 's most abundant and sought after photographic safaris.
CC Zimbabwe's Matetsi Game Lodge operates on a three-hubsystem, which emphasizes on International adventure, wildlifeconservation and assisting communities living in areas near thegame lodges.
The group has so far assisted Monde, Sidobe and Chisumacommunities with health care and health training to reduce theimpact of HIV and AIDS.
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It was a suggestion that came completely outof the blue - and it changed Gillie Lightfoot'slife forever.
At a bit of a loose end after graduating from artcollege, 22-year-old Gillie was advised by a friend toconsider working in Africa.
“Africa was the last thing on my mind at that time,”said Gillie. “But the suggestion got me thinking andone thing led to another.”
A year later, much to her surprise, Gillie foundherself working at a safari camp in deepest Zambia.
“It was a complete change, but I loved it. It wasn't acountry I had ever dreamed of visiting, let alone livingin. There were no lifelong yearnings - nothing likethat.”
Zambia captured Gillie's heart. “It's such a colourful,friendly country with an amazing climate andlifestyle.”
She worked for several safari camps over the nextthree years, “doing whatever a girl in the bush wasallowed to do in those days, which was basicallycatering,” before heading down to South Africa whereshe bought and briefly ran her own horse safaribusiness.
Gillie then returned to Zambia. While living in aremote, game-managed area of the bush betweenNorth Luangwa and South Luangwa National Parks,she decided to set up a business making and selling
Designs On AfricaBy Ron Toft
Designs On AfricaBy Ron Toft
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indigenous textiles. “I had always been creative, though not in a fine art sense,
and I saw what I thought was an opportunity to use my artcollege background to produce textiles to sell to localpeople and safari camp visitors.”
Gillie undertook considerable research in museums,design studios and bookshops when she returned toEngland for a month or two at the end of each year.
“For the first five or six years, I experimented withvarious styles and colours. I was fascinated and heavilyinfluenced by the dresses worn by local women and theimagery on village huts.”
In the late 90s, Gillie decided to relocate Tribal Textiles toMfuwe on the outskirts of South Luangwa National Park.Today, the business is continuing to grow and now has aworkforce of 150 to 170 people.
“Sales are increasing and I think this year is going to bean excellent one in terms of exports,” continued Gillie.
Although Tribal Textiles is now a large concern, all of itsproducts - wall hangings, duvet sets, tablecloths, cushioncovers, sarongs, bags and children's goods, among others -are still made by hand.
The laborious process begins with the cutting, sewing andfraying of bleached calico cloth. After the material has beenwashed and ironed, designs - contemporary Africa, organic,floral, tribal/traditional, children and Christmas - are pipedonto the fabric with a starch paste just as icing is piped onto a cake.
Once the designs have dried naturally in the sun, they are
painted in a variety of colours. Next, the fabrics are 'cooked'in an industrial oven for about one-and-a-half hours to fixthe colours. They are washed once more before the flour-and-paste design outlines are scraped away.
The final stage of the production process is sewing andpressing. Goods are then graded and checked for qualitybefore being packed and dispatched to stockists in the UK,mainland Europe, the USA, Canada, South Africa, Kenya,Tanzania and Zambia itself.
Wall hangings, cushion covers and table linen are amongTribal Textiles' best-selling lines. “It depends very much onwhether the market is local or international. Wall hangingsare very popular within Africa, whereas bed covers, cushioncovers, table linen and such like are snapped up by theexport markets.
Gillie, who is in her early 40s, and married with twoyoung sons, laughingly described Tribal Textiles as “acottage industry that's gone wrong.
“I never imagined that what I started in the bush in 1991would turn into such a large business providingemployment for so many people.
“I came to Zambia to pursue a certain lifestyle, not to runa business. I told myself that if I managed to do somethingcreative, something artistic, along the way, then that wouldbe fantastic. I never visualised things turning out the waythey have.”
Each year, Gillie returns to England to see friends andrelatives. But there is no going back. “My home and future are now in Africa.”
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Louisa, who is 43 and from the UK, saw a gap in the market. A lot
of fairly traded and eco-friendly products sold in Europe are
badly made and tasteless. Louisa realized that there are plenty
of Europeans who want to help communities and the environment, but
who want a bit of flair and quality as well - and are prepared to pay for
it. This means that everyone benefits.
South African crafts, materials and designs provided Louisa'sinspiration, and disadvantaged South African communities provide herproducts.
Louisa fell in love with South Africa six years ago, when she visited CapeTown, Durban and Kwazulu Natal for a few weeks, looking for locationsto photo shoot garden furniture. That love affair changed her life. Shequit her job in the UK and within a few months was back in Cape Town,this time for half a year. She loved everything about it - the city, thecountry, the people - and by this time there was no stopping her. She soldher house in England, and used the cash to buy a run down house inLangebaan on the west coast.
Since then, Louisa has traveled back and forth between SA and the UK,fixing up the Langebaan “Loft House” house and renting it out when she'snot there. That's been a challenge, she says, but wasn't enough. Louisawanted to connect with SA in an even deeper way. That's when she hadthe idea for adila. Everywhere she went in SA Louisa found beautiful,hand-made crafts, materials and designs. Some were produced from“rescued” materials - intricately woven copper wire, beadwork, recycledplastic, discarded cardboard, satin, cotton - and some from naturalmaterials like mohair. Often they were made by poor and disadvantagedcommunities. How could she connect these communities and theiramazing products to buyers in the UK? The answer was simple - byseeking the highest quality workmanship and materials, adaptingtraditional styles to a pared down, contemporary European taste, andmaking them available on the internet. The idea for adila was born!
To turn the idea into reality, just last November Louisa headed out inher not so trusty 35 year old beetle in search of the first adila collection- interior products and accessories such as handbags, jewellery andscarves. With a bottle of water, a map (which Louisa can't read) and lotsof enthusiasm, she set off to find products and producers, not just inCape Town, but up and down the whole west coast.
That journey was a success. It allowed Louisa to meet the peoplebehind the products and to choose six remarkable partners to work with
Louisa Power had a bigidea. Adila, from the
Swahili for “just and fair”, is a web-based, fair
trade company with adifference. Fairly-traded
products, yes. Eco-friendly products, yes.But products that are also
stylish, contemporary, and made to a
very high standard. And all from South Africa.
AdilaAn Exciting New Fair Trade and Eco-Friendly Company
Abalone Ear piece
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- community projects, farmers, home workers, designers, each withtheir own story to tell.
At the helm of her farm, Bessie Visser is the driving force behindthe adila “darling mohair” products. During the past 25 years,Bessie has raised her family alongside those of her farm workers, acommunity now on it's third generation. Part of farm life involves theproduction of Bessie's luxury mohair wraps and comforters. Everyproduct is hand dyed and woven on traditional wooden looms, usingskills passed down from mother to daughter. The continued stabilityof community life through innovative employment has enabled aschool to be privately funded, ensuring all children at the farm haveaccess to an education.
A second adila supplier, “Kunye”, is the Xhosa word for "forwardtogether" and expresses the ethos behind the Kunye project.Founder and product designer Alison Coutras began Kunye 11 yearsago with the aim of providing employment and self sufficiency for
both local and rural communities of SouthAfrica. By taking traditional skills andapplying using waste materials (plastic) somefantastic modern designs have been created.
For adila's “Lime” designs, Lizrae Meyerhas combined her passion for design, withher vast enthusiasm and love of her country.Lizrae currently employs six Xhosa womenfrom the townships of Khayelistcha andPhilippi, Cape Town, South Africa. Many of thewomen are solely responsible for providingboth an income, and for the care of theirchildren. Lime only began in 2003, andalready has plans to build a new workshop toexpand it's current production of handcraftedabalone jewellery.
Adila's “Mielie” partner was created by designer and owner Adri.Their fabulous range of off-beat handbags are handmade usingwaste/unused cotton from the manufacture of t/shirts. They use aslittle machinery as possible, to create as many jobs as possible.Since starting in 2002 they have grown to a group of approximately30 people who work from home in the greater Cape Town area.Working from home means that mothers can be with their childrenand transport costs are kept to a minimum. Mielie is Afrikaans forcorn, the staple diet of most South Africans, and probably the firstitem on most of the weaver's shopping list.
Two young talented British [IRISH?] designers, Gemma & Lindsey,have applied their design skills to create a fantastic “Ollymolly”product that not only makes use of waste materials, but alsoprovides employment for 8 women on the West Coast of SouthAfrica. Housing production in a local community centre keepsoverheads to a minimum, avoids the use of transportation andensures the weavers are fairly paid for their time and expertise.
Abalone Multi Disc Necklace
copper wire andbead earrings
Recyled plastic pompom mat
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Adila's final South African designer,“Xhenoga”, is an independent empowermentand skills training program founded bydesigner Jeannette Gibson. Xhenogaemploys thirty women from the surroundinginformal settlements of Cape Town. Thestudio is filled with laughter, song and plentyof chatting as the women weave and crochetthe extraordinary designs created byJeannette. Xhenoga not only creates muchneeded employment, but also provides abase for the traditional community spirit toflourish.
In addition to accessories and interiorsfrom adila's six South African suppliers anddesigners, adila also offers contemporaryfine art from Europe. Altaf Kramer is a Dutchartist based in Amsterdam whose workcontinues to evolve as he explores the use ofcolour, abstract forms and symbolism tocreate works of true beauty and emotion.Ten percent of the profit from adila sales ofAltaf's paintings are given to adila's newestconnection to South Africa - the Miqlatsponsored project in Paarl.
Miqlat was founded in 1994 and operates asa non-profit organisation in South Africa. Theaim and ethos behind Miqlat is to break thecycle of poverty and desperation throughsocial development and education. AmongstMiqlat's numerous community programsadila has chosen to focus on two.
The Bowy House provides care forinfants/children diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.Medical care, nutrition, pre-schooling, loveand attention is provided 24 hours a day,ensuring the highest quality of life isobtained. Since opening in 2002, 35 childrenhave been cared for at Bowy House. 14babies born to HIV+ mothers have beenadopted by families from a number ofcountries. 7 children have been re-unitedwith their families, and are now in the 'HomeBased Care' program.
The Miqlat Centre provides various servicesto enable change and hope for a communityfacing the realities of poverty. Feedingprograms, literacy classes, life skillstraining, vocational skills, assist the peopleof Paarl towards self sufficiency and future
Paintings by Altaf Kramer
development of the community as a whole. All of adila's products can now be viewed and bought from anywhere in the world on
the adila website (www.adila.co.uk), which was launched just three months ago. On thewebsite you can also find out more about adila, its history and its partners. And if youdecide to buy an adila product, you will be in for another pleasant surprise. Not only willyou receive a desirable, high-quality product that is helping support people and theenvironment in SA, it will also arrive at your door in beautiful packaging - just anotherlittle touch that distinguishes adila from its rivals and promises success for the future.
The 'M
issy' bag pink handles
The 'M
olly'
The 'B
eth'
Poppy Purse
Boozey box
The 'E
llie' Red
flower on G
reen
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The hospital where I was to work was inthe Southwestern part of this beautifulAfrican country popularly known as the
pearl of Africa. I squashed onto a southwestbound coach with about a hundred other peopleand a few hens to take the seven-hour journeyto Kisiizi Hospital. We were out of the city athigh speeds pausing at lots of small villages onthe way. I got a few amazed stares from thechildren who crowded round the bus sellingfoodstuffs at each stop.
The bus eventually swung onto a very bumpy dirttrack for an hour that I learnt led to Kisiizi where Iwas to be living for the next few months. Kisiizihospital, run by the Church of Uganda is in a beautifularea of rural South West Uganda, at the foot ofmountains, and near a waterfall.
I was warmly welcomed and showed my livingquarters a basic squeaky clean room with lots ofreligious art on the wall. I started to feel home sickalmost immediately but the feeling wasn’t to last.Certainly not with the friendly staff and children atthe hospital not to mention the villagers. I met lots ofpeople that night and despite no television oranything that occupies the eyes in the world I knew,
The Joy Of Volunteering
Having Ugandan friends in the UK, we
always talked about making a trip, but it
never got off the ground. Hearing from
visiting speakers at my mum and dads
church in Stafford, who worked in a rural
hospital in Uganda captured my interest
more. I then dedicated the next few weeks
testing the waters to see if a trip over there,
to work in the Rehabilitation Unit of a
hospital, could become a reality. Things
came together nicely, and I flew out from
Heathrow in September 2004 and arrived in
Entebbe to a beautiful purple and red sunrise
feeling. I had definitely arrived in Africa.
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the night went fast as thecommunity had organisedspecial dances to welcome us.The campfire outside made it allmore exciting and it seemed I was living off a story in a fairy tale.
The Rehabilitation unit whereI worked covers psychiatry,medical, children’s' and surgicalward, and offers occupationaltherapy and physiotherapy. TheRehab school consists of mainlythe rehab kids. They have tocome in for a “camp” thathappens 2 or 3 times a year.This particular ‘camp’ was anoperation to treat clubfoot andthe children had to live at thehospital for a few weeks andhave exercise classes andtheir plasters changed. The children wrote and drewfascinating pictures about their lives, what they did at school and what they did at home. The activities in the stories included herdingcattle, building houses, fetching water and digging.
The hospital runs a chapel at 8am every morning where prayers and Bible teaching are held. Fellowship services are a regular featureof Kisiizi life, characterised by absolutely amazing singing with the back up of drums.
Kisiizi hospital treats patients from a catchment area roughly the size of Wales, who come, on foot or on the back of a pick-up truckto receive high quality care from the doctors and nurses who work so hard, with far less equipment that
would be the standard in a UK hospital.Each day came with a different story
and I certainly had a few learning pointsduring my stay that I wouldn’t trade foranother experience. This kind ofexperience is not only for the free spiritedcause even as conservative as I though Iwas I had a humbling fun time.
During my stay I also visited BwindiImpenetrable forest, a natural habitat ofGorillas, that is five hours away fromKisiizi and is visited by tourists from allover the world. I also visited nearby LakeBunyoni which is really beautiful but thatis another story altogether.
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Every country is unique in it’sown way, but the uniqueness ofsome countries is more overtthan that of others.Uganda’s great natural beautyled Winston Churchill to call it‘the pearl of Africa’. It is well endowed withabundant wildlife (including thefamous mountain gorillas), anexcellent climate, cultural sitesand natural sites, which are ofgreat archaeological andtourist importance.
Bujagali, the
The uniqueness of Uganda can be felt quite readilybecause of some natural sites like the River Nile thatcomes out of Lake Victoria, the world’s longest river
(4180 miles) long at Jinja the second largest town.It’s the sight that will attract you for hours, the roar of the
waters, the sight of the fish leaping at the falls with all theirmight, the hippos and the crocodiles swimming through thewaters providing a beautiful scenery for one to see.
More than 140 years have passed, but hordes of touristscontinue to flock the source of the River Nile. However, on its
way, the Nile has created some of the world’smost breathtaking rapids and water
falls; Bujagali and Itandaconsidered among the worlds
most spectacular
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falls that never go to sleepBy Flavia Nakagwa
White Water Rafting locations.Although, the Nile and the Bujagali Falls have been in existence
for as long as the Almighty God endowed Uganda with this worldwonder, the white water rafting sport on the Nile has just been discovered, thanks be to the peace and stability in thecountry now.
White water rafting has become a very popular sport for bothlocal Ugandans and Uganda's tourists.
This spectacular falls are the only one of their kind in the wholeof the world, with waterfalls throughout the year.
Bujagali falls are distinctive because of the sheer volume ofwater cascading over the series of low rapids that wouldotherwise be unremarkable. The abundant vegetation coveringthe riverbanks and islands, and the startling diversity of bird lifeattracted by the multitude of fish, complete the stunning scenery there.
Uganda is heir to a rich and varied heritage of Art and craftswhich are also showcased at Bujagali falls. Many of the tourists
that visit the falls get them as souvenirs.
The art and craft pieces sold at Bujagali falls correspond to andreflect the different lifestyles of Uganda’s communities. There arein different shapes and sizes ranging from woodcarvings, mats, baskets, backcloth rugs, walking sticks, drums and spearsamong others.
The falls are however said by local residents to be the site of aspirit, called the "Spirit of Bujabald (Now commonly know asBujagali)," who protects the community by performing rituals atthe falls. The spirit is embodied in a man, Jajja Bujabald, wholives next to the falls; he is the thirty-ninth person to be the spirit.
Jajja Bujabald now over 80 years old works at the same time asa doctor using preferably local plants and herbs. Lots of peoplereport to have seen him walking over the water over the years.Indeed he seems to be able to pass the falls where others don't dare to go.
During the Rwandan genocide in 1994, dead bodies that weredumped in Lake Victoria sailed up to Bujagali falls even beyondand some remained stuck in between the rocks of the falls, butBujagali removed them and buried them.
Bujagali-Find out more
The beautiful white falls are
found in Jinja a district on
the shores of Lake Victoria
80kms north east of Kampala
Uganda’s capital city.
The falls are the site of a
proposed dam, the Bujagali
Hydro-Power Dam. If built
the Bujagali power station
would be one of a number
of hydro-electric power
plants scattered along the
upper reaches of the Nile.
The falls are said by local
residents to be the site of a
spirit, called the "Spirit of
Bujabald," who protects the
community by performing
rituals at the falls.
Lots of people report to have
seen him walking over the
water. Indeed he seems to be
able to pass the falls where
others don't dare to go.
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The drums, an Africa symbol of cheer, communication,
summoning and beckoning people seem to be calling us to
this great continent.
In some countries the drum is a super projection of the
human voice.
A much called for rest - Tiredness killsThe sound of cheer
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These colours cheer me up for the roadToo much love will kill you
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Rejoice, a new day has comeThe River Nile, a gift of nature indeed
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The beauty of NatureWhat’s calling on that side of Kampala, Uganda’s capital
Drums speak; they have been used to recite prayers andpoetry. Make announcements, jokes and praise.But since they wont do this on paper, these images will.
AkageraNational
Park:
Wheregrace
andbeauty
triumph By
Thomas Kagera
Rwanda, remembered for the 1994 genocide that left thousandsof people dead and millions of people’s lives shuttered andtraumatized, is also home to many tourist attractions.
Traveling East of Rwanda, Akagera National Park stands out as one of themost adventurous and audacious budge site that is worth every momentspent there. The rolling plains interspersed with ridges and saddles providingone of the most fascinating sceneries in Rwanda.
With its patchwork of grassy, wooded and bushy savannah, of marshlandsand lakes, the park offers an enchanting and adventurous environment.
Akagera National Park a two hours drive east of Kigali city, is endowed withboth a striking variety of flora and a delightful horde of fauna.
The scanty thickets and short stunted tree communities allow the touriststo view what lies in tens of kilometers and beyond. This continues for aboutseven kilometers, dotted with few individuals here and there.
Akagera National Park has more than 525 bird species, of which 345 arenesting species. The shoebill and the papyrus gonolek or sizeable flocks ofresident as well as migrant birds, attracted by the seasonal fluctuations in thewater levels are evident. The most prevalent species are the ibis, jacanas,herons, plovers and sandpipers among others.
A remarkable 500 selection of beautiful coloured bird life flying around andswimming in the lake while others enjoy the waters of the swamps andwetlands are seen down on Lake Ihema
The measly traffic flow gives the journey serenity and quietness. It is onlythe tourists’ vehicles and produce buyers that slowly stream in thesesparsely populated vicinities. It is about five kilometers as you start enjoyingthe exemplary African savannah landscape of tangled acacia woodlandinterspersed with open grassland. Yes! You can now start seeing thornythickets, after leaving behind the windswept cultivated hills that characterizemuch of Rwanda.
The road goes on rolling with the plains. As the king of the jungle gives athunderous roar, captivation by the beautiful birds fluffing and flapping theirwings, soaring high up and up in the azure horizons of the sky sets in. Onemay think the birds are rehearsing for an imminent show of beauty andceremony. And, yes, beautiful they are and full of pageantry they live and veryflamboyant and ostentatious these birds seem to behave.
With the triangular shape of the park pointing northward, the ‘animalkingdom’ has enjoyed its beauty and glamour for a long time. Present in thepark are Lions, baboons, leopards, buffalos, hippos, elephants, zebras, giraffesimpalas and just one Rhino among other animals.
Mukamutoni a warden at the park says that the 37-year-old MutwareElephant, the oldest and tallest that survived the 1994 genocide is what manytourists long to see. “He started roaming the park after losing care and in theprocess was domestically reared during the war.”
Known for its natural beauty, landscape, scenery and animal life, the un likeother zebras in Africa, the ones in Akagera National park stand out with theirdark and faded blue stripes make them the most beautiful and most adored onthe continent.
“Their coloured stripes don’t look like those of elsewhere in Africa for theyhave dark bluish faded colour which differentiates them from others,” shesays with pride and satisfaction.
Tourists from outside Rwanda have to pay US$30 for entry. Foreignersresiding in Rwanda pay US$20.Mukamutoni says that about 100 visitors arereceived on weekends. It’s definitely a place worth paying a visit.
The author is the Features Editor with The New Times based inKigali Rwanda. E-mail: [email protected]
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The New African dawnRwanda
Rwanda on her small size is endowed with a wealth of natural and manmade attractions unparalleled with any country on the African Continent.
The “thousand hills” characteristic of Rwanda provide unique scenic beauty, while the outstanding mountain features in the westand the plains of the east with their unique flora and fauna are part of the exquisite beauty that blankets Rwanda and makes it so special.
Rwanda has substantial natural resources for tourism with variety of landscape and ecosystems, climate and culture. Some of its features are outstanding by international standards others are unique.
The main attractions so far visited by most tourists are:The Volcanoes National Park famous for the rare mountain gorilla and it is in the process of being accorded world heritage status. Only two hours drive from Kigali, there you can visit the Golden Monkeys, Dian Fossey Tomb, there is Muhabura and Bisoke Hiking, nature walk and you enjoy the warm climate of the high altitude and for gorilla trekking you have to be at Kinigi office at 7.00 a.m.
Nyungwe Forest which is the largest Afromontane forest in Africa has been declared a national park. It is four hours drive from Kigali and For Primate lovers you find 13 types of them among which the famous Chimpanzee, the Colobus etc. There are many types of birds like the rare Blue Turacco, waterfalls and many types of orchids.
The Akagera National Park which is the place to be for safari with its complex mix of terrains, marshlands and lakes, vegetation and animal life plus the conducive “spring like” climate and offers an enchanting and adventurous environment. Here you can meet big mammals such as zebras, buffaloes, antelopes, giraffes, or elephants. During a boat tour, you could enjoy the calm of Lake Ihema, or discover hippopotami and crocodiles. As for birds, it has more than 525 species. You could encounter unique species such as shoebill and the papyrus gonolek,. Among the endemic species, there are the ibis, jacanas, herons, plovers, sandpipers, and many others.
Nyungwe Forest Akagera National Park
Lake Kivu
Rwanda’s fresh water lakes such as Kivu, Muhazi, Burera, Ruhondo and the numerous lakes in Akagera National Park offer opportunities for water activities and sports. The plains of the eastern Rwanda which make up the Akagera National Park, the Nyabarongo/Akagera River line region all display unusual habitats of great diver-sity, offering opportunities for a wide range of recreational activities.
Coupled with these Rwanda to reinforce the already magnificent country with an assur-ance of social comfort, rich cultural variety and rare smile that all tourism world wide should not miss. The culture is also shown through the arts and crafts made by rwan-dese artisans, and you can learn more about the culture when you visit the National Museum of Butare.
Accommodation is available for the people visiting the parks and other tourists attrac-tions.
The City Tourism offers now to visitors the chance to discover the Capital City before they drive around the country and they are taken away by the 1000 hills that overtake one’s breathe. Kigali City Tour takes the visitors around the busy town where they are able to learn about the history of the town from the colonial era to democracy, from the slums to the suburbs. This tour takes about four hours and you can buy souvenirs after tasting Rwandan food in one of the fine restaurants in Kigali.
Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN)
Tel: (+250) 576514 / 573396
Fax number: (+250) 576515
E-Mail: [email protected]
Reservations: [email protected] Log on our website: www.rwandatourism.com
For Kigali City Tour:
Foreigners: $ 20 per person, minimum of 4 persons
Nationals: FRW 5.000, minimum of 4 persons
Special rates for children below 10 years (50% reduction)
NB: Guide included in the fee
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Razor-sharp teeth, fearsome tenacityand a fighting spirit second to nonecombine to make the Tiger fish one
of the most sought-after angling quarries insouthern African rivers and lakes.
Described as the roughest and toughest gamefish in Africa, the ‘tiger’ (Hydrocynus forskalii)can snap steels traces, swallow swivels, and canthrow practically any hook with impunity. With alot of speed, courage and strength the Tiger fishmake its self a worthy opponent for the skilful angler.
To give anglers excellent opportunities to pittheir skills against this voracious stripped
The tiger fish, considered by many to be
one of the finest game fish ever have
flourished in the rich waters of Lake
Kariba. Tiger fishing stands out to be
one of the most fearsome but
exhilarating adventure activities in the
rivers of the southern hemisphere.
Tiger FishingBy Dyton Mupawaenda in Harare, Zimbabwe
Tiger FishingBy Dyton Mupawaenda in Harare, Zimbabwe
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predator, several fishing camps were established along the Zambezi, Limpopoand Hunyani rivers, and along the lower reaches of the Save, Runde andPungwe rivers in Zimbababwe.
Ideal times to go for tiger fishing adventures are during April to May,September to early October and now that it is summer in Southern Africa, itis the best time to take on the adventure.
The largest Tiger fish are usually caught at the trollat low speed of fishingboats, using a spinner and ball bearing swivel. Bright-bladed lures are the best.
The Tiger fish known to like noise, a characteristic not common in other fishspecies, they are also very elusive, hard fighting, and can grow to more than30 pounds.
Every year game fishermen from all over the world converge at Lake Karibafor the international Tiger fishing tournament held annually at Lake Kariba isa tournament that is widely recognized as the biggest freshwater anglingcompetition in the world.
The competition has been held since 1962, usually attracts close to 300teams with about 500 boats beating the fresh waters of Lake Kariba to honoursas to which team catches the biggest fish of the tournament.
The 44th edition of the of the competition will be held this year at it’straditional venue, Lake Kariba and it on the 17th - 21st October.
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There is only one thing that stands out in thebizarre lively city of Cote d’Ivoire,Yamoussoukro. Indeed even bigger than St.
Peter’s Basilica is Ivory Coast’s Basilica of Our LadyPeace of Yamoussoukro. And Pope John Paul II rightfullyconsecrated this holy place on the 10th of September 1990.
The Basilica is not only very fascinating but is the largest andtallest place of worship in Africa. For this great place in historyThe Basilica cost over three hundred million pounds toconstruct and the maintance costs are estimated at £ 1.5 perannum. It is indeed very colourful with Italian marble and glassfrom France making it worth every penny.
Of course having such a magnificent place had to come withendowments. The 200,000 population city has 8 lane
highways and is adorned with over 100,000 lights giving it awell lit scenery. A beautiful view by any standards. And wellif you thought Yamoussoukro has only the church to show offthere is more. It is the only International airport in Africa thatcan accommodate the Concorde.
Standing on rolling hills and plains Yamoussoukro has lots ofhotels and boasts of a rich perfume industry. Since it was thehometown of long term President, Felix Houphonet Boigny,he sponsored the city with rapid growth. As such there arelots of schools and hospitals all great tourist attractions inthe memory of President Felix.
Staying In Yamoussoukro is relatively cheap. A night inthe five star Hotel President goes for only £500 a night.
All year round Yamoussoukro has humid weather witha temperature of 30o with the occasional rain.
If this doesn’t intrigue you then just go and see ifthese people’s art, history and music doesn’t draw
you in. I would go just to breathe in the site of thebeautiful basilica-truly a Rome down in Africa.
BeholdYamoussoukro
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Base Fare: This is the fare on an airline ticket, before tax has been added. Commissions are calculatedon the base fare. Do not base your budget on the base fare but on the full fare with taxes includedto know how much your trip will cost.
Cancellation Charge: This is the fee one has to be pay after cancelling a reservation. It is usuallyassessed on reasons for cancellation and is applied by both hotels and airlines. For Airline tickets,the cancellation penalty is usually collected by refunding only a portion of the ticket price whereaswith a hotel reservation, the cancellation penalty is charged to the credit card or deposit used tosecure the reservation.
Airport Tax: This is a local tax imposed on air tickets and passed along to passengers in the fullfare. It is generated to be used to fund airport maintenance, expansion, and similar expenditures. Foreign Independent Travel (FIT): An individual trip arranged specifically for the client by a travelagency or perhaps by the traveller him or herself. This is generally the most flexible, but can be themost expensive way to travel.
Seasons: Mainly defined as peak and low season they simply give a guide on the most and leastfavourable times for travel to a given destination. Peak or high season when the weather is mostfavourable or when there is some holiday or event in the area which makes travel to the location moreattractive. It is during peak season that demand and prices are highest and facilities are most crowded.Off or low season is when the location is less desirable for whatever reason, thus prices are lower.The period in between is the Shoulder season and may be an excellent time to travel when crowds arethinner, weather not too bad, and prices are quite low and reasonable.
Tour Operator/Wholesaler: This is the creator of tour packages and offers which are sold by travelagents to the public.
Travel Agent: A retailer who sells independent tour offers and packages created by tour operators tothe public. Originally, the client did not pay for a travel agent's services because agents receivecommissions from hotels, airlines, wholesalers on packaged tours, and other travel vendors. Sinceagent commissions have now been dramatically reduced, especially by the airlines, many agents chargea fee for their services and that’s is why ticket prices vary from agent to agent.
Land & Cruise/Fly & Cruise packages: This is a package that includes the cost of hotel or resortaccommodations, airfare to and from port of departure, and other included land activities in theadvertised price. The customer should determine exactly what is and what is not in the package price
Circle Trip: A routing that involves two or more stopovers, after which the passenger returns to thepoint of origin.
Computerized Reservation System (CRS): Any of several proprietary computer systems allowing real-time access to airline fares, schedules, and seating availability and offering the capability of bookingreservations and generating tickets usually with the Internet as a link.
Open-Ticket: A ticket valid for a travel between specified points without a reservation or a specificflight number. It can be altered within that period with out any extra charge provided there are flightseats available.
Non-stop flight: A flight that flies directly to your destination with no stops in between. In otherword’s a direct flight from pint of destination to point of arrival with no stopovers.
Travel Terminology-Be In The Know
Travel Science
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Test Your Travel InformationWhat must you have to travel and enter another country?a) Passportb) Vaccinationc) A Plane.
What are Private Tours?a) Seat In Coach Toursb) Fully Escorted Package Tours.c) Flexible Tours
What are Souvenirs?a) Friendship gifts.b) Something you buy or keep to remember a holiday or special event.c) Speciality goods.
What is the best thing about group travel?a) You save more money.b) Experiences are enriched when you share them.c) It teaches you to be tolerant of other people’s interests.d) All the above.
What is being jet lagged?a) Getting up early on day of departure.b) Being sleepy on the plane.c) Feeling tired and confused about time after a plane journey.
Why should you check in at least 2 hours before your flight?a) Because of heightened security measures at airports.b) To beat the air traffic.c) To have time to do some personal shopping in the duty free shops.
Ans
wer
s:a,
b, b
, d, c
, a
Travel Quiz
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Travel Diary
Travel DiaryThe impression I had formed before going down to Uganda, isthat save for the dirty children and the wild animals, therewasn’t anything worth seeing.I had chosen this particular African country because I had likedthe fact that it was labelled the Pearl of Africa.And indeed just like the pearl depends on reflection andrefraction of light to show its beauty, there was a lot thelight down there showed me.Instead of going through the ritual of my day-to-day visitdown there am going to mention two things that really stoodout for me.I went with impression of helping some orphan and seeing alion at cklose range but saw and learnt much more.
Hope my two sceneries teach you something too;
The Immense Stretch of Lake Victoria. A few miles from the airport this is the most welcoming siteI have ever seen.Surrounded by gently rolling green hills that dip down the bluewaters of the lake anyone who has seen it can’t help but becarried away.As you stand at the shoreline, there are Small Islands thatstand out in the middle of the lake giving it scenic beauty.And of course if you feel like a swim or a boat ride thisawesome lake is only too welcoming.
The Kasubi TombsI know its sad to think of burial grounds as a touristattraction but the Kasubi tombs in a little suburb of Kampalajust about arouse anyone’s interest.The tombs are the official burial site for Baganda kings and areon a hillside. Built in a traditional reef and bark cloth, youcan’t help but admire the simplicity of this natural designEntrance to the tombs is through a small straw heart guardedby men dressed in bark cloth.Perhaps what stands out most from these tombs is thecultural value expressed through the people who work at thesetombs. Seeing how proud they are of their heritage made merealise that I always have to be proud of my sense ofbelonging.
That’s what I got to appreciate most. I don’t know what itwill be for you but all I can say is definitely pack those bagscause different experiences speak to people differently.
Jo King
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Must Know
Much as travel insurance is not a prerequisite for Africa travel its always better toacquire one to cover any possible losses. Be wise do cover your vacation causeit is an investment
When travelling keep your important particulars in your hand luggage, at least then youare assured they are safe and will get with you to the destination.
Travelling with company is not only much more fun but it is also safer. Travellingwith a tour guide who knows the local area is a rewarding experience as each placecomes with a different story to tell.
Check the language used in your area of tour as in some areas a translator mightbe needed.
Avoid driving through back streets and always ensure main routes are used to anydestination. Rural areas and deserted areas should be avoided in the dark.
Plan your days, most African countries have hot days through out the year but have shortlight spells, an average of 8 hours a day so plan for the daylight period.
When in Rome do as the Romans do. This especially applies to dressing sensibly andconfirming to a modest dress sense especially for the women. Very short pieces ofclothing may be offensive in some regions.
Keep your communication lines open. Inform your friends and family about yourwhereabouts as often as possible.Visit a museum and purchase a map to get to know more about your area ofdestination. Keeping in touch with your local embassy is also recommended, as theywill have more information to guide you around.
Be warm, friendly and eager to ask cos there is always someone happy to help.
Since most of Africa is mainly tropical, get a malaria jab to protect you from themosquito bites. Mosquito repellents are always available in tourist shops. To ensurefurther safety ask your doctor about any other precautions you might need to take.
If you need to change currency do it from a reputable forex bureau, preferably one atthe airport and always ask for a receipt.
Lose the fear, Africa is just as safe, if not more safe than most places in theworld, so lose the fear and enjoy your trip to a great continent.
Travel TipsStay tick-tock in Africa
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56 ~ December 2006
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In the next issue, look forward to a touch of The Gambia. Six hours away from mostEuropean destinations get those bags packed as our juicy tips and stories will definitelycarry you to a land of sun, sand, sea and cultural experiences.
Also look forward to a thorough update following the current transformation ofJohannesburg to Josie. Most tourists use this city purely as an arrival or exit destination;warned off by stories of high levels of crime and lots of negative publicity. However this isnot so and this article and a photo-journal, will look at the city in a genuinely surprising,fresh and unusual way.
We will also be going north bringing you news from Tunisia, Egypt,the controversial Libya and of course
the land of wonder, Morocco. Withthis will also come special holiday
deals and how you can ensureyou get the best deal out there
without any catch. Getready to be north bound.
More details into theforthcoming all Africa
travel and tours exhibitionwill also feature. The exhibition
promises to link people in the tour industry answer your questions
and convert you into professional tourists.
Do not miss it...
In Your Next Issue...
Extra Posterior
