Zimbabwe raises U.S.$200 Million to Give Victoria Falls Facelift Ahead of the 2013 United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly

Zimbabwe has so far, raised over US$200 million to give the Victoria Falls a facelift ahead of the 2013 United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly and has availed several credit facilities for needy companies. The Government was taking the project seriously and is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the mega international event that brings together delegates from more 176 countries was successfully held. So far, the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe has been thrown a US$150 million lifeline to expand and refurbish the Victoria Falls International Airport with effect from next month.

The Victoria Falls Hospital has also been allocated US$6,9 million, roads rehabilitation and maintenance, US$3,7 million and upgrading of water supply system US$15 million. Work in all these projects is expected to commence in March.

Refugee Camp Tourism in Rwanda Is Tasteless and Must Be Condemned

New Dawn Associates (NDA) should be Public Enemy Number One. And if you don't have a beef with them, by the end of this article I certainly hope you shall. NDA is a tourism company which, in its own words, provides activities that are "life-enriching for the participating visitors as well as their Rwandan hosts".

But, in my humble opinion, instead of creating "culturally engaging, intellectually challenging and very intimate high-value experiences that offer unique insights, educate and provoke" (as its brochure promises) NDA is engaging in practices that are honestly disgusting and morally questionable.

On Sunday, I visited the Union Trade Center Bourbon Café for breakfast. I didn't think that I would leave the café with a bad taste in my mouth, but after reading a NDA brochure, which I found on the table, titled 'Humure: a visit to a refugee community near Akagera National Park' managed to do just.

With a photo of a young girl carrying a pot of rwagwa (local beer) on her head on the cover, children in of a real 'African experience' (smiling piss-poor people, dancing, moonshine and adventure).

The brochure introduces the people of Humure thus: "When they were thrown out of Tanzania rags doing Intore dances next to grass-thatched hovels and, of course, an attractive white woman taking in the 'ethnic atmosphere', the brochure cleverly ticked all the boxes from one day to another [sic] in late 2006, the Rwandan government offered several communities of Rwandan returnees to settle [sic] in inhospitable [emphasis mine] areas south of Akagera National Park. Talking about NDA's role, the brochure continues: "We are working with the villages of Humure and Ramiro in Ndego Sector to offer unique insights into the harsh [emphasis mine] lives of refugees whose only choice is to start a new in one of the driest parts of the country where very few things grow and regular invasions of game animals pose a threat to fields, houses and even lives [emphasis mine].

While NDA promises that the tourism empowers the people of Humure and Ramiro, socially and economically, I completely disagree. The NDA is hoodwinking both tourists and the community by pretending to act altruistically, for example, it says that according to its benefit sharing mechanism, the percentage of the profit sharing is seventy percent.

The only issue is that the brochure doesn't explain who receives the seventy percent and who receives the thirty. I am willing to bet almost everything I have that it isn't the good people of Ndego Sector.

With prices per person going as high as USD 80, there should be enough money going around but obviously there isn't. The returnees are not the only people being taken for a ride, so are the tourists. They naively think that they will improve peoples' livelihoods, but the only people whose lives they are improving are the NDA's owners. I have nothing against community tourism. In fact, I think that it is a great way to help people earn some money. What I am against is treating people like victims and basket-cases. The attitudes that the people at NDA have are both predatory and inaccurate. In one breath they say that the area the returnees live can barely support agriculture, and then in the very same breath, talk about milk and honey production cooperatives. And to insinuate that the returnees were offered inhospitable land, almost deliberately, by the Government is plain wrong. Sure, the area is quite arid, but so is almost the entire Eastern Province. Was the Government supposed to have offered the returnees choice real estate in Nyarutarama? Rwanda is the most densely populated nation in Africa, and land is at a premium. I understand that it's tough for tour companies to get customers, but good taste should not be sacrificed at the altar of the mighty dollar. We mustn't exploit our fellow Rwandans and their misery for money. These are human beings we are dealing with, we must not diminish their humanity.

South Africa Becoming World's Favourite Events Destination

South Africa is fast becoming one of the world's favourite destinations for big events, meetings, conferences and exhibitions. According to Van Schalkwyk, the country has already secured over 200 international conferences over the next five years, which are estimated to attract 300 000 delegates and provide an economic boost of more than R1.6 billion. "We will encourage business travellers to stay longer to explore our country's tourist offerings and of course, to return with their families..." said Van Schalkwyk. Meetings Africa is the biggest business-to-business tourism exhibition on the continent.

This year's event introduces the industry to the National Convention Bureau of South Africa, an entity that will give the larger industry a strategic and operational platform from which to boost the country's business tourism global competitiveness. The National Convention Bureau (NCB) will be central to South Africa's ambition to leverage the global opportunities to remain Africa's number one host of meetings and conferences. The NCB will officially start to operate in April 2012, but its work will be introduced at Meetings Africa to give all stakeholders an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the bureau and to learn more about its role as a strategic facilitating platform that enhances their work.

More than 200 international hosted buyers are attending Meetings Africa this year, engaging with the South African and regional industry to conclude deals which seek to grow business tourism arrivals. The buyers, hosted by South African Tourism, come from 18 markets which include the United Kingdom, USA, Australia, Kenya, Germany, Netherlands, China, Brazil and Nigeria. Van Schalkwyk said South Africa's capability and infrastructure for business tourism was superb. "Besides the three big national convention centres in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, our destination is home to numerous other facilities that give the world's meetings and conference organisers the same quality, variety and choice that South Africa offers across the larger tourism sector." Established in November 2011 and headed up by its Executive Manager, Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, the NCB will act as a 'one-stop shop' for independent information and assistance, giving neutral advice on all aspects of hosting and organising any business tourism-related event in South Africa.

Tourism in Africa Tightens Security

The Ministry of Tourism in Uganda has today launched the Tourism Police in a bid to enhance safety and security of tourists. Peter Okoshi Simon, commandant of the new force said that for Uganda to benefit from the industry, tourists both local and international should be protected. "The Tourism Police must work with the sector to ensure that their work is well regulated," Okoshi said. He added that the Tourism police are supposed to operate throughout the country in the different tourist destinations like the game parks, game reserves, and hotels among others. "The security force should be able to prevent crimes before they happen," he said. The ministry has passed 120 police officers but will recruit more and increase the number to about 900.

Lonely planet, voted Uganda as number one tourist destination of 2012 something that puts the future of the industry in a better position. Experts say Uganda wildlife authority and the ministry of tourism and other stakeholders have to moot measures to support the sector if Uganda is to realize more benefits from the sector. Early this year, the sector was threatened by political protests-the walk-to-work which left 10 people dead including a two year old and hundreds injured as police and protestors forced ends meet. The protests scared the would be visitors who feared for the lives.

Today, the country's security can be described as stable although the activists for change (A4C), the opposition pressure group continues to hold rallies addressing issues about the economy which continues to battle high inflation pressures standing at 25.7%-the highest in the East African Region. This time around the rallies are to a greater extent peaceful as Uganda police is trying to ensure that they don't turn violent like the walk-to-work protests.

BULLS FIGHT OVER FEMALES IN AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK

Two huge powerful elephants each 13ft high in Amboseli National Park in Kenya have fought for the love of females who disappeared in fear during the fight. The strong elephants crashed heads as they tried to pierce each other with their 5ft tusks that had been acting as blades.

The battle at the park had been seen by one of the visitors that had been in the park. Elephants mostly fight because of the females and the bulls have 40 years. This battle took only 10 minutes but can continue for an hour and sometimes the fights can be brutal to the extent of breaking the tusks. One of the bulls won and the females went with the winner.

Amboseli National Park is Africa’s best park where one can view the free ranging elephants and other animals like the giraffe, lion, cheetah among others .The Park has other attractions like the Mountain Kilimanjaro because it is located at the border of Kenya and Tanzania .

Two Bulgarians held in Africa over ATM thefts

Two Bulgarians have been charged with stealing money from Automated Teller Machines (ATM) from various Banks.  Fillip Aradzhien, 33year and Adrian Dimitrov, 24years were on Friday charged with theft of over sh30m from various Barclays Bank ATMs around Kampala between December 17 and 27, 2011.

While at the High Court, the suspects were informed that they face another charge of attempted theft of cash from Barclays and Standard Chartered banks in Kampala.

Court heard that the two and others at large hack into the system using a re-fabricated machine that collects data about clients before stealing money from the bank’s ATMs. The data is used to make duplicate ATM cards that are used to withdraw money, according to the charge sheet. The two were arrested on December 29, 2011 at the ATM of Standard Chartered Bank on Kampala Road. They were found in possession of a skimming device. Appearing before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Hellena Kayinza, the suspects, who looked unbothered, denied the charges. They were granted bail until March 9 when they are to appear for mention. Through their lawyer, Ivan Mugabi, the suspects were asked to deposit their passports and a sh50m non-cash bond. Their sureties were asked to pay sh1m cash each and deposit their travel documents in court for custody.

                                                                                                                                                 

Cab driver admits selling 'bad cocaine' to Amazing Race producer who died in Uganda

A cab driver has confessed to selling American television producer Jeff Rice the tainted drugs which killed him in a hotel in Uganda, it emerged today. Moses Kalanzi, a 23-year-old 'special hire driver', was arrested for allegedly supplying contaminated cocaine to Mr Rice and his assistant Kathryne Fuller, who has been left paralysed after taking the drug.

The driver is co-operating with police and could face charges for his role in the transaction, according to Ugandan newspaper the Daily Monitor.

'There was constant communication between the special hire driver and Rice on phone about the purchase of the drugs,' said a police spokesman. 'So we want to know the source of the drugs and how it is trafficked into the country.'

American producer on hit CBS reality show the Amazing Race 'poisoned to death in Africa by a gang of local thugs' after confrontation

Jeff Rice found dead in his hotel room in Uganda after a suspected poisoning, His female production assistant was found in a coma and remains in hospital he is remembered as 'a dedicated father' and 'a true adventurer.' Father-of-two Jeff Rice and his assistant were apparently poisoned after refusing to give up their belongings to local thugs. A source told the news site that after refusing to give in to the men, Rice and his female assistant 'ended up very sick with poisoning of some kind'. His wife Sally Blackman added that the woman, whom she did not name, remained in critical condition in hospital.

Uganda police are investigating the incident and no further details are available at this time, she added.

Rice and his assistant were part of a team that helped create challenges across Africa for the CBS show, The Amazing Race. They were not working on the show at the time of the suspected poisoning, but they had helped with the current season, which hit screens on Sunday.

Kilimanjaro Marathon Should Bring More Tourists

THE annual Kilimanjaro Marathon will be run again in Moshi municipality on Sunday. This is one of the most popular of the exotic global marathon destinations and is an unusual mix of rural African highland scenery and top flight international runners.

For the 10th consecutive year, Kilimanjaro Marathon has been the most exciting event in the Tanzanian athletics calendar. It has brought a whole new level of competition, international glamour to the sport of road running in Tanzania.

According to the organisers, the event brings together over 40 nationalities including a strong contingent from Kenya, who have dominated long distance running for the past four decades.

The race has always been amazing experience especially for foreign runners, who normally flocks Moshi and explore the adventure of running under the foothills of Africa's mighty and roof top, Mt Kilimanjaro. Many foreign runners are also attracted to the race, hoping to add Tanzania Safari on to their experience.

We hope this year's event would remain the same, with thousands foreign runners registering to compete in the 42.2km, 21.1 km and disabled race as well as the 5km fun-run. The race also attracts thousands of local runners both youngsters and experienced top runners.

History shows that the many top athletes who are representing the country in various international competitions have emerged through this race. The likes of Desdery Lucian Hombo, Sara Majah and Jumanne Tulway have all come through Kilimanjaro Marathon.

There will also be an addition economic benefit to the people of Moshi town because of the increase in the influx of people from outside the town and the country as well. All these people will need services such as communication, hotels bookings and food and this would definitely improve money circulation in town. It is from this fact that we call for organisers to make sure that the event remains nothing but a success. It is our hope that this year's event will be action packed to both locals and foreign runners.

http://www.ecoculturetoursafrica.com/

Kenya to Host Regional Tourism Conference

Tourism stakeholders from the East African region are set to converge in Nairobi in March to discuss ways of tapping into the growing online travel sales, organisers said. E-Tourism Frontiers CEO Damian Cook told journalists in Nairobi that some of the world's leading experts on online tourism will assist players in the region to make better use of the internet and social media in order to market and manage their destinations and businesses.

"The conference will assist the region to shift from reliance on traditional travel agents to online bookings by using technology to build growth in this emerging sector."

Over 200 delegates from the region are expected to attend the two-day conference in order to increase their understanding and investment into the online sector. The conference will focus strongly on the use of social media to leverage online bookings. "If the region can tap into technology, they can reduce reliance on generic brand statements and organize unique travel packages to suit individual tastes," he said. "With online tourism sales set to double to over 300 billion US dollars globally by the end of 2012, it is critical that tourism players in the sector switch to this lucrative sector," he said. "It is clear that online is now the arena of choice for travel sales, however only a small number of players in East Africa are really accessing and using these tools to their full potential," he said.

He pointed out that the East African region has continued to lag behind other regions due to poor infrastructure. "In the past few years, East Africa has increased investments in information technology sector but the lack of an accessible payment gateway is hindering efforts for players to adapt modern marketing techniques," Cook said. "While over 50 per cent of travel sales in developed countries are conducted online, the figure is between five to ten per cent in the region," he said. Cook said that as online penetration growth in the more matures US and European markets slowly, travel companies are looking to the emerging markets as the next pot of gold. He added that the traditional method of travel agents in the west selling mass bookings to destination in Africa is an obsolete method of doing the business.

"As a region, the number of tourists' arrivals should not be the benchmark but the yield per tourist. Technology is the perfect tool that can be used to match the high value tourist to a premium destination," he said. Visa East Africa Country Manager Victor Ndlovu said that secure online payments are critical if the region will be able to tap into online travel bookings. "Most of the source markets for tourists such as the USA and Europe have developed secure online payments but these systems are not fully developed in the East Africa," he said.

http://ecoculturetoursafrica.com/

Kenyan Man Denies Defiling a Danish Tourist Girl

A 22-year-old man was yesterday arraigned before court for allegedly defiling a Danish minor. Stephen Otieno denied defiling the 17-year-old Danish girl at Asembo Bay in Rarieda district and was slapped with a Sh100,000 bond with a surety of the same amount. The prosecution stated that the accused had intentionally and unlawfully defiled the minor who is on temporary vacation in the country at Kanyakoo village in Omia Diere Sub location. The accused was charged with an alternative count of committing an indecent act with the minor by intentionally fondling her private parts contrary to the Sexual Offenses act. During the proceeding confined in the chambers, prosecution witnesses said the minor had stayed in the country since November last year and was in her farewell party before she was lured into the act by the accused.

The court was further told how the accused requested his unsuspecting victim to take him back to his room under the pretext that he had forgotten his mobile phone before he locked and defiled her repeatedly. Prosecution told the court that the duo had developed three month friendship a head of the night of the heinous act. Bondo resident magistrate Margret Nafula yielded to the request of bond and set mentioning date for March 8.

 http://www.ecoculturetoursafrica.com/

Experience Africa by Bicycle

Namibia offers a unique service - bicycle tours - to people who want to experience the scenery of Katutura. Mafwila started her Katu Tours six months ago and so far she has had more than a hundred customers. She has always worked in the tourism industry and she used to cycle to and from work.

After some brainstorming with Michael Linke of the Bicycling Empowerment Network Namibia, she decided to combine the two and start Katu Tours. "I love the tourism industry and wanted to do something for myself but I was not able to afford the cars but the bikes I could afford," says Mafwila.

The tours are offered seven days a week from Penduka and follow a route of about 8km through Eveline Street, the Soweto Market, the Single Quarters, the King's Daughters bicycle workshop and back to Penduka. People are free to stop along the route and to interact and talk to the community.

"We stop at a shebeen for water, we also stop at the Soweto Market to have some vetkoek and other traditional Namibian food. Some of my clients even have their hair cut at the market."

She can accommodate 18 people per tour and the tour usually lasts four hours. Although the tour follows a basic route, it can be adapted at the customer's request. "My clients' safety and their well-being and needs are most important," she added. "I have found a market and I know that people are very sceptical but if you don't try it you would not know how awesome it is," she says.

By being on bicycles and not in cars, interaction and communication with the community is much easier and people really get to experience Katutura. "In the beginning the community was very wary of the strangers cycling through their neighbourhood but now children and even adults on bikes join the tour for a while." Mafwila has also started with guided city centre tours on bicycles. The tours start and end at the Card Board Box and stop at all the main landmarks in Windhoek. She also rents out bicycles in the city centre. This year she plans to expand further and wants to offer team-building drives through Katutura. "Firstly people can experience a traditional market and traditional food like kapana and oshikundu and secondly the women selling their goods can make a little extra money," says Mafwila.

http://www.ecoculturetoursafrica.com/

Asmara One of the Top 10 Tourism Attraction Cities in the World- Lonely Planet Website

Lonely Planet website has named the Eritrean capital, Asmara, as one of the top 10 tourism attraction cities in the world for the second consecutive year. According to a detailed research that the website undertook in 2011, the Germany city of Berlin is listed as the first, followed by the Peruvian city of Ayacucho, Lebanon city of Beirut, the cities of Asmara, Glasgow of Scotland, Len of Nicaragua, and Rotterdam of the Netherlands, Volgograd of the Russian Federation, Yellowknife of Canada and Belgrade of Serbia respectively. In connection with Asmara City, the website called Asmara "Africa's most beautiful city", besides ranking first in the African continent and fourth at the global level for its beauty.

Lonely Planet website also referred to Asmara as being unique for its innovative art deco architecture, which was built in the days of Mussolini's unsuccessful campaign to create a second Roman Empire. Some of the art deco buildings include Fiat Tagliero, a futuristic fuel station shaped like a plane poised for take-off and Benito's old party headquarters (currently the Ministry of Education main office). Indicating that Eritrea has gone through protracted armed struggle for independence and for safeguarding its sovereignty after liberation, the website pointed out that due to the war situation, tourists could not visit the country. At present, however, the City of Asmara is among the major tourist-attraction cities mainly due to the prevailing peace and stability, Lonely Planet website elaborated.

http://www.ecoculturetoursafrica.com/

Bright Skies in Rwanda; The boom in Rwanda's air industry reflects the country's general economic growth

As Rwanda continues to attract foreign airlines to its landlocked country, previous challenges stemming from its disadvantageous geographical position are gradually disappearing. With more airlines connecting Rwanda to the rest of the globe, the country could see increased exports, especially horticultural commodities such as vegetables, flowers and fruits, which would help the import-dependent country lower its wide trade deficit.

The recently licensed airlines include Air Uganda, KLM Royal Dutch airlines, Turkish Airlines, South African Airways (SAA), as well as Emirates Cargo and Qatar Airways. These airlines compliment Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and Brussels Airlines, which already had licenses.

Some of the airlines such as Air Uganda, KLM and SAA have already opened Kigali route. Since Feb. 2010, Air Uganda has been operating flights between Kampala and Kigali, while KLM launched flights between Kigali and the Dutch capital Amsterdam towards end of the year.

SAA, which had halted flights to Kigali for over five years, resumed the Johannesburg-- Kigali --Bujumbura flights mid January this year. Others, such as Turkish Airlines, which seeks to connect Rwanda to the Turkish capital Istanbul via Kampala, and Qatar airways, which promises to connect Kigali to Qatar's capital Doha via Kampala, are expected to launch a Kigali route in the next few months.

As airlines increase, Kigali has also been seeing a "significant jump" in terms of passengers according to RCAA Director General Dr. Richard Masozera. In an interview late last year Masozera said that passengers using Kigali International Airport (KIA), Rwanda's main international air traffic gateway, increased from 300,000 in 2009 to 330,000 in 2010 and was expected to reach 400,000 in 2011.

Birds in Africa: Saddle- billed stork

The Saddle-billed Stork is a large wading bird in the stork family. It is a widespread species which is a resident breeder in sub-Saharan Africa from Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya south to South Africa, and in The Gambia, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Chad in West Africa. It is a close relative of the widespread Asian Black-necked Stork, the only other member of the genus Ephippiorhynchus. It is spectacularly plumaged, identical in male and female.

They are silent except for bill-clattering at the nest. Like most storks, these fly with the neck outstretched, not retracted like a heron; in flight, the large heavy bill is kept drooping somewhat below belly height, giving these birds a very unusual appearance to those who see them for the first time.

The Saddle-billed Stork breeds in forested waterlands and other floodlands in tropical lowland. It builds a large, deep stick nest in a tree, laying one or two white eggs weighing about 146g each. It does not form breeding colonies, and is usually found alone or in pairs. The incubation period is 30–35 days, with another 70 – 100 days before the chicks fledge.

http://www.ecoculturetoursafrica.com/

Enriching encounter with the wild in Kenya

A walk into Haller Park is a walk into a rich nature park where flora and fauna peacefully co-exist. As we disembarked from our tour van, the sound of whistling pine welcomed us to this rehabilitated park on the north coast of Mombasa. At a stone’s throw away were monkeys playing about as they ran from one end of the compound to another. This forms the welcome point at Haller Park, a compound filled with brown and green leaves. You would least expect that this nature park, green and natural as it seems, was once an abandoned stretch where the only activity was making cement and basically a quarry.

“In the 1970s Rene Haller started a quarry rehabilitation drive with the backing of Bamburi Portland Cement Company,” Haller Park’s tour guide, James Mutua, explains to us as we register before officially starting on our adventure.

He adds that Haller, after whom the park gets its name, rehabilitated the southern part of the quarry that comprised 75 hectares and northern which was eleven square kilometres. The tortoise has found home at this former quarry and so have a lot more wild animals that are now tamed and accustomed to tourists’ visits.

Bosom buddies

Tortoises are a common sight at the park and they live quite freely with the monkeys which do not get intimidated even when tourists move one metre close to them. Among the tortoises is a celebrated one, called Mzee (elderly one). In 2004, Mzee met Owen, a distressed young hippo that has just been rescued from the Indian Ocean.

“The baby hippo had been rescued off the Ocean after a tsunami swept it away from its family, so he was shocked and when he was rescued by the Kenya Wildlife Service who brought him here and he was put in the animal rescue home where he met Mzee,” Mutua explains.

He says the two animals stayed together and Owen extended the first friendly gesture by going to rest with the tortoise that was wary of the new friend but after a few days, they got along. This unique friendship between two different animals became a tourism attraction until a few months ago when Mzee began a “risky” game of putting his head in Owen’s mouth.

 “We feared for Mzee’s life and we separated the two animals,” Mutua adds. Whereas Mzee will be missing, Owen might not be missing him that much after all, since he found a new friend and love in Cleo, a female hippo with whom he swims and plays with all day and night. The couple is becoming the new attraction at Haller Park, but not the only charm there is. There are other animals to see.

Every tourist would like to marvel at the tallest of all land-living animal species, the Giraffe. Feeding time is particularly amusing as the towering animals come to be fed by tourists. They are a sight to marvel at as they reach out with their long tongues.

You will also like the sight of the pretentious crocodiles as they pretend to sleep with their mouths open. Flies and smalls jungle and water animals that fall for the make-believe act will always end up being swallowed by these species.

Reptile haven

Haller Park is also has a small collection of reptiles from monitor lizards to snakes occupying different cages. Our guide makes good of our visit to also double as an educational tour as he explains to us about the different reptiles and what defines them, their poisonous levels.

All these different points are located in a cool environment, because there are old, wild trees, flowers that make this sojourn a sweat-free one with clean air to breathe in and carbon out for the benefit of the trees. There are a number of concrete fish basins with real fish and another good place you can relax rather than walking in humid Mombasa.

From a distance, across the main fish pond you will see some waterbucks as they enjoy their afternoon siesta in the tree shades. You will also see a few birds as you go along, touring the park.

 http://www.ecoculturetoursafrica.com/

Wildlife Adds Tourist Attractions to Saanane Island in Lake Victoria

Mwanza — SAANANE Island is an amazing attraction sight. For those interested in an adventure in the Island, boat excursions can be arranged on request at the National Park's offices based at Capri Point in Nyamagana district.

The Island was named after Mzee Saanane Chawandi, who was the owner of the island. The park, was established as the first zoo in Tanzania in 1964. The main objective was to promote interest and conservation education in wildlife, and also to promote recreation to the people of Mwanza town.

Some fascinating activities visitors to the Saanane Island can enjoy include, rock hiking, picnics, game viewing and bird watching, along the shores of Lake Victoria.Tanzania National Parks Authority state that between 1964-1966 different species of wild animal were ferried to the Island, and these included, buffalo, bushbuck, dik dik, elephant, eland, impala, black rhino, topi, warthog, and wildebeest.

Others were zebra, monkeys, giraffe, porcupine and crocodiles. However, wilder animals like rhinos were caged. It is important to note that the Island was upgraded to a Game Reserve in 1991. Last year, the Tanzania government through the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources, announced its intention to upgrade the Island from its previous status as forest reserve and wildlife aclimitization zone.

The move, officials says, is expected to increase the number of National Parks from the current 15 to 16 next year. It will be the second National Park to stride Lake Victoria, Africa's largest water body after Rubondo Island. TANAPA Public Relations Manager Mr Paschal Shelutete, says "The proposed National park would be a home to mammals like impala, rock hyrax, velvet monkeys, wild cats, clawless otters and De-brazzas monkeys.

The aquatic part of the park will offer all types of fish, crocodiles, water snakes and monitor lizards, other reptiles, including tortoises, grass snakes, pythons and agama lizards." Saanane Island park warden in charge of toursim, Ms Rukia Juma Mallya says the proposed park could be a role model to other game parks, "The island gets an average of 250 visitors per month and between 180 and 200 of those are locals," she says.

Already gazetted in 2011, the Island is also going to be the smallest National Park in both Tanzania and East Africa, with its territory measuring some 0.7 square kilometres comprising of both dry land and Water. The Park will command a 200 metres perimeter of water South and 100 metres aquatic corridor in the North. There is also a new proposal that would be released soon that include two smaller islets the Chandkende located in southern part of the main island into bargain, says the Acting Conservation Manager of the proposed Saa-Nane National Park Donatus Bayona.

"Local residents have asked us to take under our wing the two islands in order to curb illegal fishing, environmental degradation, as well as fighting rampant crimes because the waters surrounding the two land features on Lake Victoria will be manned and patrolled by TANAPA wardens," says the Manager. He says plans are also underway to introduce new animal species to boost islands's wildlife variety. Attractions to the zoo include the landmarks of Mwanza, huge rocks in the water.

http://www.ecocta.com/

Avis Confirms Its Support for Jumping Kids Charity in South Africa

Travelbags, an annual fundraising event sponsored and hosted by Avis, attracted nearly 350 people from the various sectors of the travel industry. The event, recently held at The Venue, Melrose Arch in Johannesburg had a 'Comedy Night' theme and was filled with unforgettable entertainment, much laughter and heartening giveaways to Avis' chosen charity, Jumping Kids.

Jumping Kids works within local communities providing prosthetic limbs to disadvantaged children. Chief executive of Avis, Wayne Duvenage, says that Avis was drawn to sponsor the Jumping Kids project due to the strong affinity between the company's slogan, "We try Harder" and the determination and courage expressed by the disabled kids to live normal lives despite their disabilities.

Providing a holistic service

Johan Snyders, from Icexpress Progressive Prosthetics, launched the Jumping Kids project in 2009 to provide revolutionary prosthesis to children who had lost limbs, and to date some 32 children have been fitted with new legs. Jumping Kids provides a holistic service including physiotherapy, rehabilitation, occupational therapy and monitoring and maintenance of the prosthesis.

The prestigious and internationally renowned Travelbags event is a monthly travel industry initiative that unites travel professionals and provides them with a platform to network, showcase their products, market their services and create awareness of their corporate social investment programmes.

"We embrace the opportunity to interact with the industry wholeheartedly," says Duvenage. "We are able to harness the energies, interest and corporate concern for those who are less privileged through fundraising, and make a positive and lasting contribution to individuals and communities that change lives, in many cases, quite radically."

MINI-MELEON, THE WORLD’S SMALLEST REPTILE

There are four new types of reptiles that have just been discovered by some Scientists and they are called the Brookesia micra and they were discovered from a small island a short distance away from the central island of Madagascar

Much as the Chameleons are good at changing color depending on the environment around it or to camouflage themselves, this small chameleon like living thing  is just as good the chameleon at that the same character.   It is just about 29mm long and can therefore fit on the head of a matchstick; this therefore means that it is averagely as big as a house fly which the usual chameleons feed on.  According to the finding so far available, this chameleon is currently among the smallest reptiles in the whole world.

However according to Ted Townsend from the San Diego State University who is the scientist that carried out the genetic studies mentioned that the size of this tiny creature indicates that the chameleons might have changed in Madagascar, developed from those tiny and not easily seen ancestors although are somewhat different the larger and more colorful chameleons which are commonly seen around the world.   Scientists suppose that the chameleons might have may have developed from Madagascar.

these chameleons can only be found in a small area on the island of just a few square kilometers in size some that leads the scientists to believe that probably they are only  able to survive under  particular environment conditions  and therefore so much responsive to home demolition.

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Oman Tour Firm to Promote Tourism in East Africa

A TOUR firm from Oman - Oman Adventures - is partnering with the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) to promote Tanzania's tourist attractions in the Arab country. The firm's six-man delegation which arrived in the country on Sunday vowed to increase the number of Oman nationals visiting Tanzania.The tour company's head of delegation, Mr Majid Addullah Al Anboori, told reporters in Dar es Salaam that they were impressed by Tanzania's tourist potential, pledging to play a big role in advertising the tourist potentials back in their home country.

"This is our first time to visit Tanzania's tourist areas - we have gone to Ngorongoro crater, Serengeti National Park, Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa, Tanganyika and Mount Kilimanjaro, all these areas look fantastic," he said.He said the delegation members will be good ambassadors in Oman, spreading all the information - pictures, videos and other publications - that they gathered during their visit to the media in Oman and mobilize more people to visit Tanzania and see for themselves all the beautiful natural resources.

TTB Director of Marketing Devota Mdachi said that her board was grateful for the visiting Oman nationals, expressing optimism that the partnership will increase the number of tourists from Oman."We are happy that Oman Tours has pledged to support us in advertising the country internationally. Our strategy is to see more tourists come to Tanzania,"

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Uganda Ivory, Animal Parts Bust: Officials Seize Hundreds of Pounds of Products at Border

Officials in Uganda say they have seized nearly 360 pounds (162 kilograms) of ivory and other animal parts and products that were being smuggled in and out of the country.

Sarah Banage, a spokeswoman for the Uganda Revenue Authority, said on Tuesday that the products could be worth up to $700,000. The seized goods include ivory, bones, teeth and animal skin. Ugandan officials say Chinese demand is behind the illegal trade in endangered species and animal products.

In 2010 wildlife authorities started a sensitization campaign that they say has led to increased awareness among customs agents of what is contraband. They said the latest seizure is a sign of progress.

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Uganda is a Gifted Country but Needs a Publicity Push

It is no surprise that the world's most famous travel bible Lonely Planet has recognised the nature, culture, beauty and hospitality that Uganda has to offer. The Pearl of Africa has many attributes, which make it the perfect holiday destination. Gone are the days when Uganda was associated with Idi Amin, HIV/AIDS and Joseph Kony.

So, are the relevant Ugandan authorities doing enough to promote the country as a tourist destination overseas? How should Uganda's being brought into the spotlight by Lonely Planet be built on? Is enough being done to market and sell Ugandan made products overseas?

Train stations in London are plastered with posters of South African scenery, inviting people to visit the country. Around the city are advertising boards saying, 'Incredible India', 'Morocco: the country that travels within you', 'Nigeria: There's more beneath the surface', and 'Turkey welcomes you', all aimed at potential visitors. However, missing are the tourism campaigns encouraging people to visit Uganda.

There are no posters with images of the sun-setting on Lake Victoria, no pictures of Bwindi's mountain gorillas, no billboards informing people of the glistening Pearl of Africa. There are no media campaigns telling adventure seekers about white water rafting in Jinja, or targeting nature lovers through marketing the numerous national parks, or attracting lovers of luxury to the five-star Kampala Serena hotel.

The attractions of Uganda almost speak for themselves, meaning that any advertising need not be complicated. There is no need for gimmicks or celebrity endorsements; the gifts of nature speak for themselves. Perhaps lessons could be learnt from Rwanda, which after the horrors of genocide, has risen as a popular destination for tourists. There, the government created a tourism strategy focusing on all the country has to offer to potential visitors. They created a marketing strategy, which not only revamped the image of Rwanda as a destination for holiday-makers, but also as an attractive hotspot for international conferences and events.

How Olduvai Camp Provides the World with Insights into Tanzania

Stakeholders in Tanzania's tourism industry say the recent choice of the Olduvai Camp in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area as the best lodge in the world is a golden chance for the country to convince tourists across the world to visit Tanzania. "This is good news because it helps the world to open its eyes about Tanzania, and at the same time it convinces the government to put more attention on tourism," said the minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Ezekiel Maige, in an interview in Dodoma this week.In his congratulatory message, Mr Maige said: "The government should take advantage of this new development in the promotion of the tourism sector."

The Arusha-headquartered Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (Tato) has said the country's tourism industry stands to gain a lot after the Olduvai Camp was recently voted the best lodge in the world. The Olduvai Camp built and owned by Mount Kilimanjaro Safari Club was named the best lodge in the world by a French celebrated magazine called Hotel & Lodge at its annual awards ceremony at the Park Hyatt-Vendome in Paris, France, this January. Mount Kilimanjaro Safari Club, whose Chairman is Mr Gerard Pasanisi, is part of TAWISA Group and is on the scenic Olduvai Gorge within the spectacular Ngorongoro conservation area.

Interviewed by phone from Nice, France, Mr Pasanisi said he had dedicated most of his life towards the promotion of Tanzania's tourism, adding: "I knew that soon Tanzania would become the preferred tourism destination, thanks to the stability of the country, its efforts in wildlife conservation and the dynamism of the private sector."

In a congratulatory message to Mount Kilimanjaro Safari Club director Dennis Lebouteux, the executive officer of Tato, Mr Sirili Akko said: "Tato is very proud indeed for the Mount Kilimanjaro Safari Club's tireless efforts to promote Tanzania tourism industry overseas by providing the best quality services to clients." Mr Akko said through Olduvai Camp success story Tanzania tourism industry stands to benefit in terms of positive publicity in the international arena. He said Mount Kilimanjaro Safari Club justifies why the country should lobby and advocate more for the good course of the tourism industry and the private sector in general.  A statement issued by the magazine said its annual award event serves to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence of hotels and lodges across the world, especially in emerging markets. According to the statement, more than 450 industry professionals from around the world were invited to participate in the voting process that saw the Mount Kilimanjaro Safari Club owned Olduvai Camp emerge victorious. Initially, about 60 lodges were selected worldwide to compete, with the final listing conducted by an independent jury of journalists, photographers and designers. In the end three properties made the final cut.

After Olduvai Camp, those that followed were, Molori Safari Lodge in South Africa and The Ranch at Rock Creek in the United States was third. An incredible harmony of shapes and colours, the Olduvai Camp stands out as a remarkable adventure in hospitality. Set in an ideal landscape for history and art lovers, photo maniacs and walkers, the Olduvai Camp's exterior is sleek with a unique combination of an "industrial" and a natural look.The stylish interior, however, is in direct contrast - offering a warm, inviting and comfortable feel, according to the competition organisers.

The Lodge's chief editor, Ms AnneMarie Catellin le Du, said Olduvai Camp's face-lift and the unique atmosphere of Olduvai gave it an edge above the rest. "This is a true recognition of the passion and commitment of Mount Kilimanjaro Safari Club and a reflection of their owners' long dedication to Tanzania," Mrs Anne-Marie told The Citizen on Sunday.

On receiving the award, Mr Lebouteux said: "We are very proud and happy to have been chosen for this prestigious prize. I would like to thank the journalists and the photographers who came and made a superb job." He hailed Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority for offering a unique site, and all of Mount Kilimanjaro Safari Club staff, camp team and all those who worked hard in Arusha to make Olduvai Camp to be the world's best lodge. "It is their dedication and loyalty that has contributed to where we are today," he said in a statement. Early last month, The New York Times selected Tanzania among 45 places for tourists to visit in 2012, saying: "Tanzania is coming into its own as an upscale safari destination". The New York-based newspaper said in its January 6, 2012, edition that Tanzania emerged number seven out of the 45 selected places to go in 2012. The New York Times quoted East African travel specialists, as saying that for the last several years, the number of tourists going to Tanzania has been edging up.

Apart from Tanzania, other Africans countries picked by The New York Times as a place to go in 2012 were Morocco that emerged number 26 and Uganda which emerged number 33. Last year, 782,699 tourists visited Tanzania earning the country $1.3billion.

Tourism Cities to Be Built At the Coast and North Kenya

Kenya has set out an ambitious project to build three tourism resort cities at the Coast and in the North in the next two years to boost the industry. Toward this end, the government is dispatching a team of experts from the tourism industry and the Kenya Vision 2030 to Morocco to study the operations of resort cities there with a view to spearheading the construction of similar cities in Diani, Kilifi and Isiolo. Under the Vision 2030 economic blueprint, the government will develop three resort cities -- two at the Coast, in Diani and Kilifi, and one in Isiolo -- to deliver the target of increased bed capacity to cope with the anticipated growth in number of visitors. Morocco has three resort cities, attracting thousands of tourists especially from Europe, with three other facilities in the development stage.

Morocco records almost 10 million tourist arrivals a year, placing it at second position in Africa after Egypt while Kenya receives two million tourists a year, a figure it hopes to double once the resort cities are constructed. Specific areas where Kenya seeks to borrow from Morocco include product diversification, domestic tourism with a low cost accommodation model, golf tourism and community linkages to tourism, especially through small and medium enterprises (SMES).

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Korean Tourists Abducted in Egypt have been Released

Three Korean tourists and their tour guide, who were kidnapped in South Sinai, have been released, South Sinai Governor Khaled Fouda said on Saturday11/2/2012.

The four are in good health condition and will resume their trip in Egypt, he added, extending thanks to Sinai chieftains over cooperation on releasing the tourists.

The release came after negotiations carried out by South Sinai governor and Armed Forces commanders along with Bedouin chieftains to secure the release of the four.

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Mystery surrounds Dutch national's death

THE Police in Sheema district are investigating circumstances under which a 49 year old male Dutch national died at Kyalimanya social centre, Kitojo trading centre in Kyangyenyi sub-county.

According to the Police, Mack Niterop on Saturday evening went to the hotel and had a drink before retiring to bed. Sources said the deceased was served with some beers and a chapatti. He was, however, discovered in a coma on the hotel verandah on Sunday morning. Minutes later, he was declared dead at Kampala International University teaching hospital.

Niterop was a brother to Bastian Niterop who runs the Second Home project in Sheema. The deceased had paid a visit to his brother and has been in the area for three months. Mid south-western region Police commander Hillary Kulayigye, quoting preliminary investigations, said the deceased could have been poisoned, adding that the medical report indicates that he had neither sickness nor injury.

“The way the hotel people reacted is suspicious, because they left him there. It is a young boy who told the Police that a white man was lying unconscious on the verandah steps at the hotel. Samples have been taken to Wandegeya forensic laboratory to ascertain the cause of the death,” Kulayigye said.

Six hotel staff and Sylivia Kemigisha, the deceased’s girlfriend, have been arrested for interrogation while others are on the run.

Frank Kacunguzi, the Kitojo LCI chairman, said during his stay, the deceased frequented several local bars. Bastian told the Police that he had warned his brother about loitering in the area specifically the hotel where he met his death.

KCB golf tour now Kenyan affair

The 2010 regional Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) golf tour, marked a new dawn in golfing circles. The game was taken a notch higher as the East African KCB Golf Tour gave professionals from Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi a rare opportunity to face off with their experienced rivals from Kenya. The last two editions were marked with great improvement as games were played in courses in Arusha, Kigali, Kampala and Kenya. New players rose to keep a check on seasoned Kenyan players like Dismas Indiza, Ali Kimani, Richard Ainley, Anil Shah and Jacob Okello.

Uganda’s Deo “Yellow Boy” Akope, proved to be a thorn in the flesh of the Kenyans by winning events in the Tour. He won the KCB East African Tour in Arusha in 2010 before cashing in on the home course advantage to win the KCB East African Tour last year. The rise of the Tour has seen youngsters like Simon Ngigi — who won the 2010 Tour on his debut as a pro — and Greg Snow sprout to challenge seasoned golfers. Over the years Kenyans have reigned supreme. Indiza won the Tour back-to-back in 2006 to 2008, Ngigi won in 2010 while Ali Kimani went for top honours in 2009 before Indiza claimed the title last year.

The Tour has played a key role in developing local professionals ahead of the annual Kenya Open Golf Championship and to some extent the PGA Sunshine Tour in South Africa. However, things changed this year with KCB reverting the event to generally be a Kenyan affair. The Tour that will be known as KCB Advantage Banking Challenge will feature six events with a total prize fund of Ksh6.4 million ($77,298). KCB’s director of marketing and communications Angela Mwirigi said that the move has been necessitated by the need to revamp and popularise local events before the tour returns to other countries in the East African region.

There has been a change of structure in the bank, so that instead of having direct funding from Nairobi, KCB wants to decentralise its activities so that the Nairobi headquarters will deal with the Kenyan market. This will encourage other branches across the border to handle their own activities so that branches in Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda will come up with events and fund them directly.

Golfers from Uganda and Tanzania will be invited for two events to be played at the Muthaiga Golf Club on February 29 to March 3 and the Grand Finale at Nyali Golf and Country Club on August 8 to 10.

The Grand Finale has a prize fund of Ksh3 million ($36,233) while Ksh2.6 million ($31,402) will go towards administration and prizes for amateurs. The Nyanza and Nakuru events will have a prize tag of Ksh500,000 ($6,038) each while Ksh1 million ($12,077) will be set aside for pros at the Muthaiga contest.

Mwirigi says KCB is still committed to the development of professional golf in the region. “Our objective is to continue to grow this championship to a level where it will attract top regional and continental golfers to Kenya hence promoting KCB Group as a continental brand and regional countries as a destination for golf tourism,” Mwirigi said. “We are looking forward to having each country hosting its event supported by local branches in order to enhance regional growth both in banking and the game.”

Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) chairman Charan Thethy said the KCB series that started as a small pro-am series offering a mere Ksh950,000 ($11,474) in 2007 has had a great impact on the development of the game in the region. “Not only has it grown to become a sub-regional tour with a prize fund of Ksh8.7 million ($105,077) last year but it has created intense rivalry among regional golfers hand thus improved the standards,” says Thethy.

Thethy notes that some of the local professionals like Indiza, Anil Shah, Ajay Shah have gone on to feature in various events in the European Challenge Tour besides the Sunshine Tour in South Africa. Thethy says its PGK’s hope that the co-operation between PGK and KCB will continue to grow. “A number of young golfers have turned professional over the past one year because they have faith in pro golf,” adds Thethy.

There have been mixed reactions from professional golfers over KCB’s move. Anil Shah, who set the pace by winning the opener in Thika said the pros should take the changes as a blessing since it challenged other regions to organise their local tours. Akope reckons that it will be a big blow to professionals from other countries. “We thought they would double the prize money and increase the events. It’s the only real pro Tour we had in Uganda but now we have been taken aback,” he said. The pros feel it’s time for regional bodies to put their houses in order and come up with plans that will help secure more sponsorship for a fully-fledged regional tour event. “For us it was a bit expensive travelling all over the region if the current economical situation is to go by. Other countries should take the initiative by develop their local game first,” says Shah, who has won 23 regional tournaments including the 2011 Lusaka Open and 2001 Uganda Open. Shah, who also won the 2004 South Africa

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Tanzania raises entry fees to historical sites

Tanzania has increased entry fees to its historical sites by 900%, a move investors fear could scare away tourists.  From February 1, tourists will pay $18 per person a day, up from $2.

“We have raised the entry fee in a bid to make the sub-sector contribute meaningfully,” said Donatius Kamamba, Director of Tanzania’s Antiquities department — the agency responsible for the historical sites.

However, the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (Tato) argues that the sudden increase in the fee rate – coming as it does in the middle of the tourism season – could hurt the sector’s revenue prospects.

“This is against good business practice, and could seriously damages the reputation of Tanzania tourism operators,” Tato chief executive secretary Mustapha Akuunay said.

With a growth rate of 12%for the past four years, tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries, contributing 17.2 per cent of the GDP and 41.7 % of the country’s foreign exchange inflows in the past five years. Available records show that Tanzania earned $4,987.5 million from the tourism sector in the past four years. The industry employs nearly 200,000 Tanzanians directly. Renowned for its relative calm in the region, the nation of about 40 million people aims to earn $1.5 billion annually by attracting 1 million tourists per annum from 2011.

Prospects

 There are great prospects for expansion and growth in this sector. There is a huge demand for hotels, trucks, more restaurants, more local and international flights, and more tour operators. Tourists come to Tanzania to enjoy the beaches on its eastern coastline and the Zanzibar archipelago, its national parks such as the Selous in the southeast, the Serengeti in the north, and to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

Prime historical sites include; Olduvai Gorge, Laetoli Footprint, Isimila Stone Age site, Engaruka, Kaole, Kunduchi , Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara Ruins.

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TANZANIA SHOULD FOCUS ON FAITH TOURISM TO TAP AMERICAN TOURISTS

Ms Lisa Simon the president of the North America’s National Tour Association (NTA) has advised on how to attract American tourists and those from other countries to boost the sector.

Ms Lisa Simon has been in Tanzania for four days training tour operators in marketing the East African countries in the US market and she said the country has to deal in culture, cuisine, wildlife adventure packages and language because Americans want real experiences. She said the country should also include faith-based tourism packages like mission groups as well as people of a shared faith who want to travel together. The tourists can discover the faith history and heritage of Tanzanians, work together with the local church community and volunteer with church and mosque projects in health centers and in schools.

According to the current study from the tourism industry, a third of the Americans are interested in taking faith-based trips so the tour operators should focus on this package. The package should not include religion only because a number of groups travel together for fellowship so even if the package does not have specific religious elements, people of this type can still have the package. She also said the country should also focus on Americans born between 1946 and 1964 because they prefer traveling in smaller groups; they are more adventurous and experienced travelers.

Ms Lisa said she will support the government to make sure it encourages what Tanzania has in America.NTA  is the leading association for businesses serving travelers to from and within US  and has around 3,000 members in 44 countries.

GERMAN TRAVEL INDUSTRY WARNS KENYA ABOUT SAMBURU EVICTIONS

The travel industry of German has warned Kenya that its image as a tourist destination will be affected if it does not find a quick solution for the current evictions of the Samburu tribe. A number of brutal evictions by the Kenya police have forced a big number of people that belong to the tribe from Eland Downs. Their houses have been burnt, livestock stolen and people have been beaten. Land has also been bought by The Nature Conservancy and the African Wildlife foundation. 17,100 hectares of land has been endorsed so that the Kenyans can create a new national park to boost tourism.

DRV’s President Jürgen Büchy in German said the Germans have always considered Kenya as a very important tourist destination. When the tourism is developed at the cost of human rights and local communities, the German travel industry does not support it.

The DRV represents 80% of the Germany tour operators and travel agents and in 2010; the Germans spent $600 billion Euros on foreign trips compared to other countries. The president of DRV has told the governments of Kenya to allow the Samburu go back to Eland Downs and to let them contribute in the preservation of the wildlife in Laikipia.

The government has not yet said anything about the above to the German Travel Association and Stephen Cory a director said it has been wonderful for the German travel industry to take the issue of human rights in Kenya very seriously. So the government does not have to abuse human rights in the name of tourism so the Samburu should be allowed to resettle on their land and any tourism that may happen on the land should be with their permission.

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Mountain Climbing/Trekking for Disabled People in Africa

People with disabilities just like any other people enjoy going for holidays and Vacations. However some of the holiday activities and Safaris in Africa are physically very challenging. However, this does not imply that the disabled should be excluded from such activities such as Mountain climbing or trekking. Eco Culture Tours and Adventures organises such activities for the disabled people. We believe that whatever safari adventures the able bodied can do, even the disabled can do.   Our major goal is to give them more confidence, get them in the outdoor and share with them African Nature and Culture in a meaningful and responsible way. Also really important is to show them that they can do whatever they want in their life with the proper support and the will to succeed.

Norwegian Tourist Injured By a Cheetah at Harnas in Namibia

A 22-year-old Norwegian woman was scratched by a hungry cheetah on Saturday morning on the Harnas game farm and wildlife rehabilitation centre, 112 kilometres east of Gobabis in the Omaheke Region. Kristel Johanson, who was on a morning tour with eight other people, got out of the tour vehicle to help tour guide Joshua Shilongo feed the cheetahs, when one of the cheetahs scratched her on the thigh, tearing her shorts and causing a minor injury. Johanson continued the tour with other visitors to see lions, wild dogs and leopards kept on the farm. Johanson was scratched because she turned her back on a hungry cheetah. He urged all inhabitants of Namibia to learn to live in harmony with wild animals. On Farm Harnas, people live in harmony with cheetahs, lions, wild dogs, leopards, monkeys and baboons and the most dangerous carnivores like lions have learnt to live alongside human beings at Harnas.

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Conference on Gender, Tvet and Sustainable Tourism in Gambia Ended

The final meeting on the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) curriculum for Sustainable Tourism Project, which focused on the appropriation and dissemination of the results, was organised by International and Ibero-American Foundation of Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP) in Madrid, Spain recently. In collaboration with ASSET, the (NTA) partnered with FIIAPP and through the support of the European Union contributed significantly to the development of the curriculum document. The partnership in this venture also included four other countries, namely: Bolivia, Morocco, Nicaragua and Senegal. The curriculum for sustainable tourism was first validated in Santa Cruz, Bolivia and then piloted in The Gambia in June 2011. The University of Don Carlos III in Spain, two local teachers and 20 students participated in the piloting phase, which was facilitated by NTA and ASSET.

Addressing the conference on the theme "Gender, Sustainable Tourism and Training", Minister Sarr-Ceesay deliberated on main-streaming gender in all aspects of development which features in the Project.She dilated emphatically on gender and skills acquisition while contextualising the importance of poverty reduction and the Millennium Development Goals.

She argued that "Sustainable Tourism cannot be sustained in the absence of women" and challenged the participants to devise strategies of making tourism sustainable through responsible tourism. This will ensure that all stakeholders including tourists take care of the environment and desist from the abuse of girls and women.

The Minister referred to TVET as the "the engine of growth and development for all countries especially the third world". She highlighted the challenges of the mindset towards TVET in the Third world with specific reference to the Gambia and further encouraged the Conference to work together in this venture.

The General Manager of ASSET and NTA's Standards Development Specialist also presented papers on good practices on Gender and Sustainable Tourism and the appropriation and dissemination of the outcomes of the project.