KENYA
East Africa Travel And Tourism News
Captain Irene Koki To Fly Kenya’s First Ever Direct Flight To US
Africa’s first female Dreamliner captain, Irene Koki, will fly President Uhuru Kenyatta to New York on KQ’s inaugural flight to the US.
Captain Irene Koki, 42, will once again make history after she became the first African female pilot to become certified as a Captain of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
The Kenya Airways pilot became one of the most popular captains in Africa after landing at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the airline’s fourth Dreamliner.
Uhuru will depart in business class from the Nairobi airport at 11.25 pm on October 28. He will land at the John F Kennedy International Airport in New York at 6.25 am the next day.
“The ultra-long-haul flight, unique to Kenya Airways network, will require 4 Pilots and 12 Flight attendants as well as 85 tons of fuel each way, making it an exceptional operation. The airline will operate its Boeing 787 Dreamliner with a capacity of 234 passengers,” a statement by Kenya Airports Authorities (KAA) read.
KQ has started selling tickets for its maiden direct flight to New York, for which economy class fliers will pay Sh89,000 both ways.
In January, KQ CEO Sebastian Mikosz announced that that business class customers will pay Sh. 257,634 both ways and that the tickets will be subject to government approval.
Kenya Airways said the timings were set to allow connections to and from 40 African destinations.
“The move will cut the flight time between the two cities by more than seven hours,” he said, noting it will take 15 hours eastbound and 14 hours westbound.
Economy fliers on Qatar Airways will pay Sh. 93,000 from Nairobi to New York but they will stop at Doha for two and a half hours and the trip will take 22 hours and 30 minutes long.
The KQ planes will carry 234 passengers, with 30 at the premium world class and 204 in the economy section. They will have four pilots, 12 flight attendants and 85 tonnes of fuel loaded one way.
Website
Airkenya Announces The Resumption Of Services To Kichwa Tembo Airstrip
News has just come in that Air Kenya has, with immediate effect, began to serve the Kichwa Tembo airstrip again, after it was closed due to weather conditions.
Wrote Air Kenya:
We are pleased to advise the resumption of service into the KICHWA TEMBO AIRSTRIP, MASAI MARA with immediate effect.
For further information or for any clarification
Call AIRKENYA on +254203916000
Courtesy of Wolfgang
KQ Recalls Its Leased Planes Ahead of Direct Flights To US
Kenya Airways is banking on its aircrafts currently on lease to Oman and Turkish Air for route expansion and the launch of its direct Nairobi-New York flights in October.
Oman Air is expected to surrender one of the Boeings in its possession in September and the remaining early next year.
“They are coming back. We will use them for network expansion for the New York flights and new destinations to be announced in the next two months,” KQ boss Sebastian Mikosz said.
The three 777-300ERs being used by Turkish airlines will be surrendered between 2019 and 2020.
Once the two aircrafts leased to Oman are received, the airline will have at nine aircraft deployed to new destinations.
JKIA hosts 7.5m passengers
Mikosz told the Star on the sidelines of a luncheon hosted for visiting US undersecretary for International Trade Gilbert Kaplan only two aircrafts will be deployed on the US route. He said American investors should take advantage of the direct flights to set up operations in Kenya.
Currently, there are about 48 US companies and organisations that have hubs in Nairobi.
Kaplan said the direct flights will boost commercial and cultural links. He said KQ should fly directly to Washington DC as it’s next destination, a request Mikosz said will be considered in their next new destination announcement.
Kaplan, who was in the country for three days, was accompanied by a 60-person delegation consisting of the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa, senior state officials, investors and business executives.
Transport CS James Macharia said the flights would help remodel JKIA which hosts about 7.5 million passengers annually.
“In the coming months, we are going to remodel terminal B, C and D to ensure the ability for JKIA to host more passengers moves up to 12 million and increase the sector’s share to GDP from five per cent to 7.5 per cent,” Macharia said.
SOURCE
Courtesy Of KATA
UGANDA
East Africa’s Latest 18 Hole Golf Course Set For Launch In October At The Lake Victoria Shores
The Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa in Uganda is set to complete the second 9 holes to make it an 18-hole golf course by October 2018. This one of a kind golf course in Uganda has been designed by Golf Plan USA under the guidance of the Principal Architect – Kevin Ramsey and boasts of sweeping views of Lake Victoria. Its unique features include a finishing hole with an Island green that is rare in many courses around the world and is the first golf course to have bentgrass in Uganda.
The Lake Victoria Serena Golf Club is a private club offering a challenging layout for the discerning golfer looking for an enjoyable but also challenging golfing experience. The course also has a Golf Academy with 780m² of putting green which acts as both a teaching and practice facility designed to replicate various shot areas such as short game area, a practice bunker and chipping green.
Currently, seven of the remaining 9 holes are complete with the last two now being planted. The expected launch of the new 18-hole golf course is set to take place in October during the Serena Open. Constructed to full USPGA specifications, this beautifully designed golf course is suitable for all level of golfers with each hole presenting a different encounter.
“This is more than just a golf club; it is a premier golfing complex with improved facilities to encourage both the golfing and social aspect of the club. We hope to fulfill the aspirations of golfers and entice visitors to consider the membership to either the golf club or golf academy,” says Mr. Frankline Nyakundi, General Manager of the resort.
While construction is ongoing, there has been no interference with daily operations of the club with the existing 9 holes being used by players. The Lake Victoria Serena Golf Club has set the trend as the only Clubhouse in Uganda with a fully-fledged Pro-Shop selling world class golfing merchandise. It also hosts a clubhouse, a restaurant, bar, one halfway house, a conference room, locker rooms as well as ladies and gents steam rooms.
“The construction boom of golf courses and its related facilities in East Africa is a clear indication of an unexploited market for golf tourism. As we pursue our golf expansion plans, we encourage the public to take up golfing as a sport as well as the private sector’s support through association initiatives and sponsorships,” added Mr. Nyakundi.
The Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa nurtures the growth of golf by hosting bi-annual sports camps for children in April and August every year. This opportunity enables young players to acquire great skills in the game at an early age, mentored and trained by a US Kids Club Certified Coach.
With the opening of the Kampala – Entebbe Expressway, the Lake Victoria Golf Resort and Spa is now more accessible to golfers, business and leisure visitors than ever before with transfer time from the Entebbe International Airport to the gates of the resort taking just over half an hour.
Travelers who are not golf enthusiasts can indulge in the other facilities at the resort with a raft of activities to choose from nature walks to take in the beautiful panoramic views of the golf course and surrounding lake view, dine at the Marina and Lago (Fine Dining) Restaurants, set out for a romantic picnic cruise on the Lake Victoria, visit the neighbouring Chimpanzee Island, or enjoy some relaxing moments at the Maisha Spa where a range of different massage and signature beauty treatment can be enjoyed. There are activities suitable for families as well.
The 45,070 m² Marina can accommodate up to 24 boats, each with a service station for electricity and water.
Mr. Anthony Chege, Country Manager, Serena Hotels Uganda and also General Manager of the Kampala Serena Hotel, added his own voice when he said “The Lake Victoria Serena Golf Course is one of the most beautiful courses in the region could not be more proud to have it on our property and simply cannot wait to be positioned as the best golf and spa resorts in Africa.”
For More Information
Serena Hotels
Lake Victoria Serena Golf Course
Courtesy of Wolfgang
TANZANIA
Coastal Has Recently Relocated Our Dar-Es-Salaam Terminal 1 Check-In Counter
Coastal would like to inform you that as of June 29th, at our Dar-es-Salaam domestic terminal, we have relocated our check-in counter from our classic location in main departure hall to the hallway leading to the departure gates. You will find our check-in staff ready to meet you, our esteemed guests, at the end of the hallway before entering the departure hall. Your luggage will be checked in, weighed and taken to your aircraft in the typical secure speed and precision Coastal has always maintained.
All passengers flying into/out of Rwanda on Coastal are required by the authorities to provide passport copies for each passenger traveling. This is a legal requirement by Rwandese authorities whereby Coastal is to apply for passenger clearance at least 7 days prior to departure to be granted entry/exit to the country. Passport copies need to show full names of passenger, date of birth, passenger nationality, passport number, place and date of issue and expiry date.
All the above information is to be sent by the individual(s) or travel agents to arushadutyops@coastal.co.tz.
We would like to thank you once again, esteemed friend, colleague, and guest for choosing to fly Coastal and we wish you a fantastic adventure! Safari Njema!
RWANDA
Celebration Through Conservation: To Celebrate Liberation Day 2018 Will RDB Award 100 Youth With Gorilla Permits
The liberation of Rwanda has brought prosperity and security to Rwanda but it has also played an essential role in the conservation of the country’s natural resources. As a result, tourism in Rwanda has grown in leaps and bounds
To celebrate the 24th anniversary of the Liberation Day, RDB, short for Rwanda Development Board – under which tourism and conservation fall – will give 100 young Rwandans, who turn 15 years old this year, the once in a lifetime opportunity to trek the endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in December. This is part of RDB’s policy to encourage domestic tourism in Rwanda and cultivate a culture of conservation among the youth.
How To Participate
Everyone turning 15 years old this year is encouraged to visit RDB’s information and sales offices throughout the country and fill in a form that will give them the opportunity to participate in a raffle draw. 50 winners will be selected from the raffle competition.
The next 50 will be nominated through Twitter
To participate in the Twitter competition, the general public is encouraged to nominate anyone turning 15 this year by simply drafting a special message, making sure to include the nominee’s name and photo. Then add the hashtag #TemberaURwanda15 and tag @visitrwanda_now.
All the winners will be able to undertake the magical trek with one person of their choice.
The competition will close on 18th July.
Transport to Volcanoes National park will be provided by RDB and Terms and Conditions will apply accordingly.
