Tracking Down the Big Five in Style
By Susan McKee
As I scanned the vastness of the East African horizon, memories of summer camp flooded into my mind. “Going on a squeegee hunt!” I could hear my counselor chanting, her hands beating a slow marching cadence on her thighs. “Gonna catch a big one. I’m not afraid.”
The children’s song, complete with hand gestures and sound effects, no doubt was inspired right where I stood – on a safari in Kenya. If we’d been on foot instead of cosseted in a Land Rover, perhaps we, too, would have been “going on a hunt,” rustling through waist-high grass and climbing the occasional acacia tree for a better view.
Like the colonial trophy-seeking hunters of the 19th century, we were stalking the “Big Five,” searching the savannah for elephant, rhinoceros, leopard, lion and buffalo. But, instead of guns, we intended only capture by camera.
During my week, we must have seen several hundred elephants, thousands of buffalo, a dozen rhinos and a half-dozen lions, but we never caught sight of a leopard. Instead, we followed herds of wildebeest and gazelles, compared the stripes on two different species of zebra, and used a spotlight to see the small mammals that came out after dark. All the while, we hoped the vultures circling overhead weren’t waiting for us!
Close Encounters with Wildlife
There are two ways to head out to see wildlife in Kenya. The usual way is to book passage with a company specializing in exploring the vast government game preserves, where wildlife roams unfettered, attracting tourists by the busload. Of course, that’s the problem – one van driver spots a lion, and suddenly 15 more vehicles will converge on the spot.
The second way is to spend time in one or more of the privately-owned game preserves. Access is controlled, and there are no government-imposed rules about driving off the marked roads or looking for game after dark. Here, safari “sundowners” are routine: guests enjoy cocktails out on the savannah as the sun sets, and then use a spotlight on the van on the way back to camp to look for the animals that have come out only after dark.
Each has its advantages and drawbacks, and each appeals to a different type of client. The first is, of course, more controlled. Accommodations are booked at resorts with swimming pools, three-star chefs preparing lavish buffets and reliable WIFI access. There are choices of activities for each day. Professional staff take care of guests’ needs to make sure the wildlife stays outside the complex and in the wild. This package is perfect for first-time visitors or someone skittish about traveling in Africa.
The second, such as Jax Fax’s tour with Gamewatchers Safaris, is almost as luxurious, but the accommodations are tents (albeit with indoor plumbing). Electricity is generated by solar cells. Neither the meals nor the activities offer choices, because the number of guests is kept small.
Visitors are, however, much closer to the action. Animals roam through the campsites at night – and sometimes during the day. (I had a visit inside my tent one morning from a small green frog.) The native staff mingles with the guests, giving a glimpse into the changing Kenyan tribal life. Our Masai guides – fluent in English — wore cell phones clipped to the belts holding their traditional red plaid robes in place.
In fact, cell phone service was available everywhere we went, except for one camp down in a valley. There, a bench next to a tree at the top of a rise just outside the complex was dubbed the phone booth – it was the closest spot with good reception.
My trip to Kenya began at Amboseli Porini Camp in the Selenkay Conservancy. In the East African language of Swahili, “porini” means bush – as in land remote from urban areas covered with dense vegetation.
To get there, we drove down the congested, bumpy Mombasa Road that connects the port city of Mombasa with Kenya’s capital of Nairobi. Much of the highway is under construction – it should be smooth sailing when it’s finished. On the portions already completed, there’s even a shoulder wide enough for bicycles.
Communal Conservation Efforts
The Amboseli region, in the country’s southeast, is often lush and green due to the water runoff from Mount Kilimanjaro (across the border in Tanzania). Still, periodic drought affects this area as well. Because wildlife is better adapted to survival than livestock, the native Masai entered into an agreement with the Selenkay Conservancy to limit grazing.
“The Masai are not bush meat eaters, so they are proud to live together with wildlife,” notes the warden, David Kitasho. “Since we started the project, things have changed for the better. The grass has returned, along with native trees and bushes.”
The conservancy built waterholes for livestock and primary schools for the Selenkay Group Ranch residents. Of the 183,000 acres in the ranch (communally owned by the Masai), about 12,400 are set aside for the conservancy area. “We’ve benefitted from the partnership,” Kitasho says. “This model is a good example for other Masai.”
Out on the plains there’s plenty of “nature raw in tooth and claw.” Protected from the predations of humankind, animals are free to play out their preordained roles in the food chain. Large herds of ungulates – impalas, waterbucks, gazelles, antelopes, wildebeest, zebras — are just dinner-on-the-hoof for the carnivorous predators. The massive herbivores – rhinos, hippos, elephants – graze undisturbed. There are wary groups of warthogs, occasional flocks of exotic birds, herds of graceful giraffe, and occasional sightings of the skittish dik-diks, a species of antelope about the size of a small dog.
The mix of animals changed as we moved from Amboseli to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Richard Bigne, conservancy director, said that the project near Mount Kenya was commercial – its purpose was to make a profit. “But,” he added, “the money is reinvested in conservation efforts.”
This area of Kenya used to be overgrazed by cattle production, and periodic drought cut into this previously profitable business. About 25 years ago, the conservancy started with about 19,000 acres with the goal of restoring wildlife to the area. The area has been expanded over the years. Now, its 75,000 acres are completely enclosed (the fencing electrified by solar power) — except for the wildlife corridors which are guarded 24 hours a day to keep out poachers. (It’s on a major migration route.)
Ol Pejeta has some unique areas within its fences, including the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa counting about 75 black rhino – a protected species, and one very special tame rhino, a “retired performer” who doesn’t mind being pet by humans. A chimpanzee sanctuary protects animals moved to Kenya when violence erupted in their native Burundi.
Livestock vs. Wildlife
And then there are the cattle. Bigne has designed portable fencing that protects the livestock from the wildlife. Each evening, the Masai herd their animals inside the modular steel pens for safekeeping. “Predators such as lions are good at summing up opportunities for a kill,” Bigne says. “They go hunting elsewhere.” The fencing allows cattle and wildlife to coexist, increasing the profit potential for both.
Our final safari stop was the Ol Kinyei Conservancy, adjacent to the enormous Masai Mara Game Preserve in Kenya’s southwest that borders Tanzania’s Serengeti. This park is the site of the annual summer migration of an estimated 1.5 million wildebeest and zebra across the Mara River. The land is leased from the Olempusia group ranch, providing its Masai owners with an opportunity to profit from tourism.
Gamewatchers Safaris was founded in 1989 by Jake Grieves-Cook, who’s been involved in Kenya’s tourism industry for more than three decades. A descendant of British settlers, he knew that wildlife in Kenya would be hunted out of existence if there were no way for the people to benefit from it. Cooperative ecotourism, he discovered, was a way to preserve the ecosystem.
Grieves-Cook is also a member of the Executive Committee and is the spokesman for the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF), the umbrella body for all the trade associations representing the tourism industry whose members include Kenya’s leading tour operators, travel agents, hoteliers, air operators, and eco-tourism operators covering all of Kenya.
“Conservancies allow the owner of the land – the Masai – to gain income from wildlife and environmental conservation,” Grieves-Cook reports. “We lease rather than buy, always advising the communal group ranches to hold onto their land. This is marginal land rather than good agricultural land, and by using it for ecotourism, it can generate income.
“For the Porini Camps, we maintain a ratio of one tent (for two to four people) per 700 acres,” he explains. “We don’t have permanent structures or generators in our camps, and we use solar power. The objective is to make a ‘light footprint’ so all can be undone when we move out.”
Nomadic Tourism
“The Masai is a nomadic pastoralist who just wants to look after his cows. He welcomes a partner using an ecologically sustainable model, and tourism doesn’t depend on rainfall the way rearing cattle does,” Grieves-Cook comments. “Wildlife is better adapted to changing climate than livestock. Lions do well during the drought. Populations of herbivores rebound when the rain returns.” The bottom line? “We all benefit from responsible ecotourism.”
Except for the first leg of our journey, made by van, we flew from region to region. Small planes are the fastest way to get around in a country with mostly substandard roads. Although Kenya is located on the equator, the weather on safari wasn’t tropical because of the altitude. Nairobi, for example, is almost as high as Denver. Sunscreen is a must, as is a hat and mosquito repellent. Anti-malaria pills are highly recommended. Call 303-886-6953; kate@gamewatchers.co.ke; www.porini.com
Kenya Airways is the 31-year old national carrier of the Republic of Kenya offering over 30 international and regional destinations, Other carriers operate flights from New York’s JFK to Nairobi include American Airlines, British Airways, Kenya Airways, Emirates, KLM, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
U.S. citizens need visas to visit Kenya either prior to departure or upon arrival. For details, download the visa form at www.kenyaembassy.com/visa.html and complete it in advance to save clients the time and hassle of doing so upon arrival. Cost per person is $50 cash payable only in U.S. dollars.
For more information, call the Kenya Tourist Board, 866-44-KENYA; or visit: www.MagicalKenya.com
Eye Witness: Why Visit Kenya Now?
By Mark Laiosa
Kenya may well be facing its biggest challenge ever as recent violence caused by a tightly contested presidential race dealt Kenya’s tourism industry a severe blow: surprisingly, overall, tourism in the first two months was down just a tad over 50 percent compared to the same period in 2007.
By April, a resolution was in place with the creation of a power-sharing government. Tourism, Kenya’s largest industry, was on a record breaking high in late December, surpassing the million-arrivals mark for 2007. Following this success, Kenya’s tourism faced what seemed to be insurmountable obastacles as badly timed as any could be. The strife struck the country while it was in the midst of improving and growing its infrastructure without putting its renowned wildlife and culture at risk.
“The strife was not near areas frequented by tourists, and we had zero tourist violence-related incidents with over 40,000 visitors on the ground during the crisis,” stated Rose Kwana, Public Relations Manager for the KTB in Nairobi. A Travel Warning was issued February 8 and later lightened March 21, after a power-sharing agreement was signed on February 28 and ratified and accepted by Kenyan parliament on March 18.
As Kenya’s second largest source market, the losses of arrivals from the United States, around 46 percent, deeply hurt Kenya’s tourism industry. According to the Kenya Tourist Board statistics, the U.S. nudged Germany aside, slipping in to second place, behind the British.
I visited in mid-April and walked unescorted through the downtown areas of Nairobi and the old town area of Mombassa. The streets were alive with the energy of daily life: In the Nairobi City Market, located in the central business district, produce sellers and food vendors were doing a brisk business.
Mombasa, which is set on the Indian Ocean, is Kenya’s second largest city; its inhabitants are friendly sellers and creators of beaded jewelry. In both cities my American-accented questions were greeted with wide smiles and answered politely and patiently. As tourists in any city, be alert and aware of your surroundings.
Best Road to Recovery
“The strongest way to help get Kenya back on its feet is to come out on safari and experience our wonderful country. We believe the people who have already visited us will become our biggest ambassadors, as they have been for the past 50 years. By coming to Kenya, they helped us make tourism the leading sector. We expect they will help again, one safari at a time,” said Dr. O’ngonga Achieng, Managing Director of the Kenya Tourism Board.
The best reason to go to Kenya now is the annual Wildebeest migration, a vast movement of animals across the plains of the Masai Mara from Tanzania into Kenya. It starts late July into August with Hundreds of thousands of wildebeests following about 500, 000 Zebras, and predators culling the herds. The experience is so incredible that WABC’s Good Morning America called the great migration the Seventh Living Wonder of the World.
For more information, call the Kenya Tourist Board, 866-44-KENYA; or visit: www.MagicalKenya.com
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Chief Executive Titus Naikuni
Kenya Airways Recovers
Kenya Airways (KQ) told JAXFAX it was recovering passenger numbers lost during post-election chaos.
The airline saw numbers plummet when Kenya's disputed December 27 election sparked violence and instability, killing more than 1,200 people, paralyzing parts of the nation and scaring off tourists.
"We have improved, but London and Amsterdam have not picked up to where we expect them to be," Chief Executive Titus Naikuni (right) told reporters.
Naikuni said he expects tourism numbers to pick up in July when the next high season starts. He said the airline will restart its three times a week service to Paris in June. That service was cancelled in February after the
French government advised against travel to Kenya. Nairobi is a major
airways hub for east and central Africa. Kenya Airways is looking forward
as it has just placed an order for nine Dreamliners to arrive in 2010.
JF: What distinguishes Kenya Airways ?
Naikuni: What makes KQ different and unique is its growth from a loss making parastatal into a profitable and dynamic international carrier while remaining true to its African heritage. From a global perspective, KQ stands out as among the most profitable airlines in the world with a 28% return on equity.
Kenya Airways is the 31-year old national carrier of the Republic of Kenya offering over 30 international and regional destinations, moving more than 2.7 million passengers annually. Through our Nairobi hub we have a network to destinations across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Far East. Kenya Airways flies to more than 30 African destinations including the major African capitals of Lagos, Johannesburg, Kinshasa and Cairo.
Within Europe, we operate to and from three major cities, Paris, Amsterdam and London where passengers can connect from all over Europe using our code share partners KLM and Air France. KQ flies to major destinations in Asia including Dubai, Bangkok and Guangzhou.
JF: Which alliances are you in and if not, which may you be considering to join?
Naikuni: KQ carefully selects its partners. We seek to ensure that we get into partnerships that will give us a greater competitive edge, increase our revenue and grow our market share. KLM has been our strategic partner for the last 10 years.
This partnership has allowed us greater reach and helped us tap into the expansive KLM-Air France route network. Kenya Airways gained full SkyTeam Associate Airline Status in September 2007. The SkyTeam alliance is especially important as it will grow our corporate identity and give us greater recognition of as a world class airline. Our SkyTeam partners will benefit from our strength in Africa and we will also benefit from their strengths in Europe, Asia and South America.
JF: Can you give us an equipment update?
Naikuni: Kenya Airways boasts one of the youngest fleets on the continent. The 23 all Boeing Fleet comprises four Boeing 777s, six Boeing 767s, three Boeing 737-800s, among others.
KQ received two EMBRAER 170 jets in 2007 and another one is scheduled to be delivered in the middle of this year; we will also take delivery of three Boeing 737-800s later this year.
To complement this fleet, KQ has invested more than $8.1 million in a modern state of the art hangar at its
Embakasi base.
The modernization is further complemented by continuous training of staff and constant upgrades in technology and systems. At the moment, Kenya Airways has achieved 95% on e-ticketing across the network.
JF: Can you tell us of any major investments being made for future?
Naikuni: KQ has placed an order for nine Dreamliners to be received in the year 2010.
Last year, KQ also made huge investments in upgrading its airline reservation system from CORDA to ALTEA Sell. This investment in change will create seamless connectivity with our international partners and ensure maximum compatibility across various distributions systems.
Also in the year, a new learning facility named, “The Pride Centre” that cost the company $8.1 million was opened to provide ample training for more than 4,200 staffers across the network.
The year 2008 will see the company make more investments in improving operations in the Operations control Centre (OCC) and the Hub Control Centre (HCC) at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
JF: Where do you see KQ in the next five years?
Naikuni: The next five years will see KQ solidify its position as a major carrier in Africa by providing more linkages across African cities.
Through its partnerships and alliances with other carriers, it will also play a greater role in opening up Africa to the entire world. We hope to see the expansion and growth of Paris as another major hub for our European operations.
KQ hopes to become a major player in world travel through its partnerships with KLM, Air France and through its membership in SkyTeam.
JF: Is there any component of your company that pays agents a commission?
Naikuni: Yes, we have attractive market fares for individuals and group travel with several interline partners such as NW/KL through our Amsterdam hub and United Airlines and Air Canada through our London hub.
JF: What would be your biggest wish for the carrier's future?
Naikuni: To see Kenya Airways become a major engine for change for the growth and opening up of Africa. That means that KQ should be able to bring the world to every part and capital in Africa and the vice-versa.
With the addition of 787-Dreamliners, we hope to provide airlines with unmatched fuel efficiency, resulting in exceptional environmental performance and phenomenal growth.
Call 866-536-9224; www.kenyaair.net
December 2007 Issue
Staying in Kenya Under the Stars or Under a Canopy
From youth hostels to five-star luxury suites, from pitching a tent in the wilderness to relaxing in a private beachside villa, clients’ choices of accommodation in Kenya should be dictated by their personal travel styles and budgets.
For some, sleeping under canvas in the Kenyan bush, by an open fire, surrounded by the night noises of wild animals, is a once in a life time experience that has greater value than the most costly hotel or lodge. For others, the experience of enjoying unparalleled luxury, fine cuisine and world-class service while surrounded by the wonders of the wild makes Kenya the ultimate destination. Here are some guidelines to matching clients with the most appropriate accommodations -- get this right and a safari may not be a once in a lifetime experience after all.
Camping
A camping safari in Kenya is one of the world’s great travel adventures. The romance of an open campfire under a sky full of stars is undeniable, and night in the wild is a magical time, when the air rings with the whooping calls of hyenas and the dawn is heralded by a lion’s roar.
Clear tent space and long drop latrines are often available. In some campsites, water and rudimentary shelters are also provided. Safari operators offer camping safaris through one or more of the Parks and Reserves. Vehicles, guides, tents and equipment, as well as food and a cook are all provided.
Tented Camps
For those looking for the Camping experience without the possible discomfort, then a Tented Camp is an ideal option. Tented Camps provide the visitor with large walk -in tents, complete with beds and furniture. The tent often has its own private bathroom with supplied water, showers and flush toilets.
In some cases, these camps are established on a mobile basis and fully stocked and equipped by a safari company. In permanent tented camps, tents are on large raised wooden platforms with private balconies and excellent views. Most Tented camps have a central mess tent, or a fully stocked restaurant and bar. Levels of luxury in tented camps vary from the basic to five-star tents with luxuries one finds at top-end international resorts.
Lodges
Safari lodges in Kenya offer hotel-style comforts and accommodation in the wilderness. Standards vary from the rustic to the modern, from the simply appointed to the last word in luxury.
Efforts are made to design lodges that blend into the environment, with an emphasis on all natural local building materials and use of traditional art and decoration. Most lodges serve meals, have lounges and bars, often with excellent views or overlook waterholes or salt licks that attract game. Resident naturalists and guides for organized walks or game drives are usually on-site.
Hotels
Almost every town in the country offers basic budget hotels and lodgings. In many tourist areas, private campsites and small hotels offer budget rates for backpackers. The cities and large towns all have a good range of hotel accommodation. Small boutique hotels are also becoming increasingly popular, in Nairobi, on the Coast, and in Wilderness areas.
Rental Homes, Apartments and Cottages
Throughout Kenya, it is possible to find excellent rental properties for short or long-term lets. These vary from rustic cottages in the bush to historic Swahili Mansions on the coast, from serviced city apartments to houses fronted by beautiful deserted beaches. Such properties can either be booked privately or through a travel agent or safari operator.
For more information,call the Kenya Tourist Board 866-445-3692; visit www.magicalkenya.com
SELLING KENYA
The KATS program is a travel agent education program that provides resources to travel agents to learn about Kenya and to help them sell the destination. After registering online at www.KenyaAgent.com, agents can read through the online lessons that provide information about Kenya’s history, culture, demographics, climate, in addition to target markets and selling tips. Once a travel agent is a KATS, they are eligible to become Master KATS, the next level of the program. Master KATS are KATS who have completed a minimum seven-day study tour in Kenya. The online and collateral material that KATS will receive from the KTB, including brochures, posters, lessons, photos, a pre-trip kit and frequently asked questions, can be used as resources when a travel agent is selling Kenya.
June 2007 Feature
Kenya The New Millennium’s Ecotourism Nation
By Maria Lisella
Jambo na Karibu!, Hello and Welcome are among the first words visitors hear when they first arrive in Kenya and are meant warmly in the country that is the original home of the Safari, and the ultimate destination for thousands of travelers every year.
Just visiting a place these days is not enough for a special breed of travelers that have emerged in great numbers in the new millennium. They are acutely aware of the environment and the need to leave a light footprint on the planet.
Nowhere are these efforts more evident than on the African Continent, which is rich with wildlife, endangered species, delicate and extreme environments and local cultures that are being infringed upon. Perhaps no country is balancing its best interests on a higher tightrope over the dual masters of sustainable tourism and impending development as is Kenya.
Following an aggressive marketing campaign during the last year, Kenya’s appeal has never been more apparent. Its plains, beneath the majestic snowcapped mountains are the stage for “The Great Annual Migration of the Wildebeest” that takes place from July to September when two million wildebeest accompanied by half a million zebras, and thousands of gazelles move steadily north from the Serengeti in search of the lush grass and water they need to survive have become easily identified icons.
They graze in the Serengeti until around October when the entire herbivore circus turns around and heads south again making this among the world’s most spectacular wildlife events in the world.
Stopping and starting many times in its moves toward becoming one of the world’s most visited places, Kenya is a year-round destination whose future is bound to alleviating poverty by providing employment and giving those employees a say in the developments while Kenya simultaneously throws its doors open to travelers followed by investors and entrepreneurs.
Last month, the popular ABC morning news show, Good Morning America featured Kate Snow, the Weekend Edition co-anchor, reporting live from the Mara covering the annual wildebeest migration, conservation projects in the Mara, a short history of the Maasai people and the Daphne Sheldrick Animal Orphanage marking it as the first live shoot from the Mara in the last decade.
But this high-profile popularity did not begin yesterday. Kenya has almost doubled its arrival numbers from North America since 2002. New air service is coming on line as international investments filter into the tourism industry spiking greater interest in the region.
The special breed of travelers has also spawned a new breed of entrepreneurs, such as Virgin Atlantic’s Sir Richard Branson, who are staging their entrance into Kenya with care. “Entrepreneurs are the backbone of any economy and I’m really impressed by the innovation and creativity shown by some of Kenya’s rising stars. We all have a responsibility to create the economic conditions that enable the entrepreneurial spirit to thrive and contribute to a much stronger future for the country,” he said during a recent visit to Nairobi. While announcing his intention to operate new service into Kenya, Branson visited the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s (DSWT) Elephant Orphanage to pledge his airline’s support for the DSWT’s work.
Last year, Americanvisitor arrivals reached 86,500 surpassing German visitors who have traditionally been the second largest number of foreign visitors to Kenya at a total of 83,400. The largest market, the United Kingdom, maintains its top rank with 171,400 arrivals in 2006, a number expected to grow.
Air Access on a Grand Scale
Destination development is contingent upon air access and the fight for air space over Kenya has just begun. With a record number of tourists visiting Kenya yet again, the country is wooing a variety of airline suitors, to help sustain tourism demand.
Earlier last month, Brussels Airlines announced service to Nairobi from Belgium six times a week hot on the heels of more announcements from Air France and the KLM Group, both of which will be replacing the Boeing 777 from their Nairobi – Amsterdam route with larger capacity Boeing 747-400s for this year’s summer schedule. Clearly, the fight for air space into Kenya’s capital of Nairobi has only just begun.
Although Lufthansa withdrew from the Nairobi passenger route in the late ‘90s citing low yields, but with its purchase of Swiss International Air Lines in 2005, plentiful connecting flights from any point in Germany via Zurich to East Africa put the carrier back on the Africa map.
Virgin Atlantic’s maiden voyage on June 2, 2007 from London Heathrow into Nairobi, Kenya, looks to increase Kenya’s overseas business and leisure passenger rates by 25% once service begins. Virgin Atlantic’s special inaugural one-way fare out of the U.S. to Nairobi starts at $648 from several U.S. gateways. Virgin also announced its support for the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust through an onboard collection and other initiatives expected to generate $200,000.
“With the launch of services Virgin Atlantic will bring in tourists who will add around $100 million a year to Kenya’s tourist industry, with an impact of up to three times that amount on the broader Kenyan economy. We also aim to carry $100 million worth of Kenyan agricultural exports each year,” he said.
And on the Ground…
Once travelers hit the ground, they are likely to step into gleaming new airport facilities. The airport is currently undergoing major reconstruction to split international and domestic arrivals and standardize its infrastructure to become an FAA Category 1 airport by 2009 and airlines are showing their desire to tap into this valuable African hub.
Kenya Airways [see interview in this issue] is already preparing itself for the competition by boosting its orders to Boeing from six firm and six optional 787-8 planes to nine firm and four optional orders.
Hotel Investments
While airlines clamor for a stake of Kenya’s lucrative air-share, hoteliers are gearing up for one of Kenya’s strongest seasons in recorded history.
Domestic and foreign investors are swooping in to spruce up accommodations, purchase some of Kenya’s most infamous and historic hotels and resorts in need of remodeling and new management.
Last year, the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts purchased four new properties including Nairobi’s Norfolk Hotel and the Mount Kenya Safari Club, with plans to spend more than $35 million in remodeling.
Additionallly, Kenya saw the purchase of two of its most famous properties: the Taita Hills and Salt Lick Lodges by Sarova Hotels, Resorts & Game Lodges, one of Kenya’s leading independent hotel groups. At the same time, Nairobi’s Kenyatta’s International Conference Center has recently been completely refurbished and can accommodate 4,000 people in its amphitheater. A recent proposal suggests adding a 7,500 capacity facility, which would include an event and entertainment center and an art gallery; final decisions have yet to be announced.
Ecotourism Awards
The Ecotourism Kenya-managed Eco-rating Scheme was the first in Africa.
The scheme has three successive levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Up to March this year, there were 31 facilities that had been holding Bronze Eco-rating.
Base camp Masai Mara, Campi ya Kanzi and Malewa River Lodge are among the premier winners of the Gold Eco-rating. The eco-ratings signify excellence as well as innovation in environmental management, sustainable use of resources and efforts to forge community/ social links that give inhabitants a stake in the future of tourism.
It is the highest level of certification in the Eco-rating scheme while the silver and bronze categories aim to encourage further progression toward environmental friendly features within the tourism infrastructure.
Additionally, Amboseli Porini Camp, Mara Porini Camp, Olonana, Ol Seki Mara and Turtle Bay Beach Club were awarded Silver Eco-rating, which signifies a facility that is moving towards excellence in the areas of environmental management, sustainable resource use and community links.
Recently, Nairobi welcomed a new dining option to its cuisine scene, the Kenyan owned and operated Blanco’s Lounge and Grill. The menu promises to take visitors on a culinary journey through Kenya’s past while tantalizing them with the promise of the future to come. The décor is vibrant with warm colours and showcases the talents of upcoming designers. A highlight of the interior are some excellent pieces by renowned Kenyan artist, Kioko Mwitiki. A popular local cuisine writer has been quoted on the restaurant as saying, “Blanco’s is African cuisine in the 21st Century.”
In Kenya, tourism is being taken seriously and is showing that it is up to the role of helping to preserve this world for future generations to enjoy, visit and inhabit. As visitors and travel planners, we owe it to Kenya and ourselves to plan for a journey and visit respectfully.
For more information, call the Kenya Tourist Board 866-445-3692; visit www.magicalkenya.com
INTERVIEW
Titus Naikuni, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive, Kenya Airways
By Maria Lisella
Mr. Titus Naikuni, group managing director and the chief executive of Kenya Airways in Nairobi addressed the carrier’s need for growth and flexibility in the near future for the long-range.
JF: What distinguishes Kenya Airways from other carriers?
Naikuni: Kenya Airways (KQ) has been operating for 30 years and we have the widest network within Africa – we carry about 2.5 million passengers annually.
Through our Nairobi hub we link to destinations across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Far East. Kenya Airways flies to over 30 African destinations including capital cities such as Lagos, Johannesburg, Kinshasa and Cairo. Within Europe, we serve Paris, Amsterdam and London where passengers can connect to our code share partners KLM and Air France. KQ flies to major destinations in Asia including Dubai, Bangkok and Guangzhou.
Further, KQ has transformed from a parastatal into a profitable and dynamic international carrier.
JF: Can you give us a little background on KQ?
Naikuni: The airline was founded in 1977 following the collapse of the East Africa Community and the subsequent disbanding of the jointly owned East African airways. Up to 1995, Kenya Airways was wholly-owned by the Kenyan government. During this time, it operated at a loss within a lackluster outfit. Since then, the airline was privatized, and has become a highly profitable business in one of the world’s least developed markets: Kenya Airways’ revenues have grown from $365 million in 2002 to $818 million in 2006. From a global perspective, Kenya Airways stands among the most profitable airlines in the world with a 28% return on equity.
JF: Which alliances are you considering joining?
Naikuni: We signed our intention to join the Skyteam alliance on Feb. 1, 2007 and we are working on gaining full Associate Airline status by this month. The Skyteam alliance is especially important as it will grow our corporate identity and give us greater recognition as a world-class airline.
KLM has been our strategic partner for the last 10 years, which has allowed us greater reach and helped us tap into the expansive KLM-Air France route network.
JF: Can you give us an equipment update?
Naikuni: KQ boasts the youngest fleet on the African Continent: The 23 all-Boeing Fleet comprises four Boeing 777s, six Boeing 767s, three Boeing 737-800s among others. KQ is also scheduled to receive three Embraer 170 jets in mid 2007, which will serve our domestic and regional markets.
The airline has placed an order for nine Dreamliners to be received in the year 2010.
JF: Any new investments being made for future?
Naikuni: To complement this expansion, KQ has invested over $7.3 million in a modern state of the art hangar at its Embakasi base. This year, KQ has also made huge investments in upgrading its airline reservation system from Corda to ALTEA Sell.
JF: Where do you see Kenya Airways in the next five years?
Naikuni: KQ will solidify its position as a major carrier in Africa by providing more links across African cities. We hope to see the expansion and growth of Paris as another major hub for our European operations. KQ hopes to become a major player through its partnerships with KLM, Air France and its membership in Skyteam.
JF: Do you have code shares in place with U.S. carriers, if so with whom?
Naikuni: We do not have any code shares to the U.S. with any carrier, however, we have entered into Special Prorate Agreements with Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines, Air Canada and Continental Airlines, which allow seamless connections from North America via our gateways in London (Heathrow Airport), Amsterdam and Paris (Charles De Gaulle Airport) to Nairobi and points beyond in Kenya and all over Africa.
JF: Does your company pay agent commissions?
Naikuni: Yes, KQ offers commissions to our agents, which varies from market to market.
JF: Any new products from KQ?
Naikuni: For our up market travelers, we have Premier World that offers top service and preferential treatment in check-in and baggage and flatbeds.
SkyTrax voted this class of service as the Fifth Best in the world. We are also developing a new theme to harmonize with the other top carriers in the world.
JF: Do you work with private label operators?
We work with ground operators to arrange for tours to Kenya but have no plans currently to create a separate tour division.
For more information, agents may contact KQ sales offices in New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Toronto and Vancouver.
Call 866-KENYAAIR (866-536 9224); www.kenyaair.net