Safari Trails April Newsletter By African Travel Solutions

KENYA SEVENS RUGBY TEAM BEAT FIJI TO WIN THEIR FIRST SINGAPORE SEVENS TITLE

Kenya pulled off a stunning 30-7 upset victory over Fiji in the final of the Singapore Sevens on Sunday, 17th April, 2016 to capture their first World Series event. The East Africans, who had twice finished runner-up in tournaments, blew the Fijians off the park with four unanswered tries in the first half. They added two more in the second half while the South Pacific Islanders only managed a consolation touchdown from Jerry Tuwai.

Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa – these three traditional rugby powerhouses had won the last seven legs of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series between them, and nothing leading up to the weekend’s Singapore Sevens at the National Stadium suggested that this would change. But the Kenyan team thought otherwise. Having already defied expectations to reach the Cup final, they then went a step further as they overpowered a fatigued Fijian side 30-7 to clinch the Singapore Sevens title. Led by inspirational winger Collins Injera – who scored two tries – the Kenyans sent the 26,053 crowd into a frenzy as they raced into a 20-0 lead by half-time. And through a combination of disciplined defending and powerful attacking play, they managed to hold reigning champions Fiji at bay in the second half as they went on to consolidate their victory.

Jessica (who goes by “Jecca”) Craig married Jonathan Baillie, a conservationist, over the Easter weekend last month at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, located in Kenya. William dated Craig during his “gap year” before he enrolled in university, and he is said to be on very friendly terms with Craig and her family: he attended the wedding of her brother in 2008, and actually proposed to Kate on the Craig family safari reserve in 2010. Jecca also reportedly accompanied William and Harry on a hunting trip to Spain in 2014. William is a patron of Tusk Trust, and the trip to Kenya was made primarily so that William could see “first-hand some of the longstanding conservation and anti-poaching initiatives.” William met Craig when he was 16, during one of his trips to Africa, and she is frequently referred to in the press as “William’s first girlfriend.”

Kenya Airways has added a new destination to its network and will now fly to Cape Town South Africa. There will be three weekly flights between Nairobi and Cape Town beginning July 2016. It will be Kenya Airways’ second city in South Africa after Johannesburg and will be linked to Livingstone in Zambia, the gateway to Victoria Falls,  thus offering guests two holiday destinations on one route. Kenya Airways flight will depart Nairobi at 7.20am, arriving in Livingstone at 9.30am, departing Livingstone 10.20am to arrive Cape Town at 1.25pm. Return flight will take off from Cape Town International Airport at 2.15pm, arrive Livingstone at 5.10pm and depart Livingstone at 6pm and touchdown Nairobi 10pm. The service will operate on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Kenya Airways, which will be the only carrier to offer a direct service between Livingstone and Cape Town will be operated by Embraer E190 with a configuration of 12 business class seats and 84 economy class seats.

Precision Air Tanzania will next month start flying to Zanzibar’s exotic Island of Pemba, with three flights a week from May 24, this year. The scheduled flights follow Zanzibar Airport Authority’s (ZAA) upgrading of Pemba Airport to category four status that meets the international standards required for commercial flight operations. Using their state of the art aircraft; ATR72-500, Precision Air will be flying to Pemba via Zanzibar every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, departing from Dar es Salaam.

Jimi Kariuki, the Marketing & Sales Director of Sarova Hotels, Resorts & Game Lodges, was appointed as Chairman of the Kenya Tourism Board last month. Among his significant previous tourism industry contributions, Jimi served on the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) Executive Committee from 2003-2004, on the Board of Directors of the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) representing KTF from 2003- 2004, and on the Board of Directors of the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC) from 2004-2006. Jimi is passionate about growing the entire tourism sector and ensuring that it contributes significantly to Kenya’s economic future. The entire Safari Trails team wishes him success in this new endeavor!

All Kenya Airway’s flights into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport have been moved to the newly operational state of the art Terminal 1A. The terminal opened last month and KQ’s flights from Africa, Europe and Asia will now disembark at the terminal which is linked to Terminal 1A Departures. Kenya Airways Ground Services Director Francis Musila said, “T1A arrivals and departure facilities will be used exclusively by Kenya Airways and its partner airlines. They include spacious check-in area, central security screening for all departing and transferring passengers, bright and roomy waiting areas, world class lounges’.” The new arrivals terminal comes to life more than two years after a fire ravaged the international arrivals hall in August 2013.

Kenya’s North Rift region is on track towards establishing itself as a hub in the Western Kenya Tourism circuit after the official opening of ‘Rimoi National Game Reserve’ in Elgeyo Marakwet County. The County put 2 million U.S. dollars in the upgrading of the game reserve that boasts of the biggest elephants in the world and hosts over 600 jumbos. Najib Balala, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, while officially opening the reserve, reiterated that the region has great geographic, cultural and natural diversity that will offer tourists more of what is offered in popular tourist areas.

KENYA SHINES AT THE WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS

The 23rd edition of the World Travel Awards – Africa Ceremony was held on 9th April at the Diamond La Gemma dell’ Est Resort in Zanzibar.

The night proved to be victorious for many of Kenya’s leading tourism, hospitality and aviation brand names, some of which are mentioned below –

Africa’s leading Airline – Kenya Airways
Africa’s leading Beach Destination – Diani Beach, Kenya
Africa’s leading Cruise port – Mombasa Port, Kenya
Africa’s leading National Park – Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Africa’s leading Tourist Board – Kenya Tourism Board
Africa’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination – Nairobi, Kenya
Africa’s leading New Hotel – Radisson Blu, Nairobi
Africa’s leading Hotel Brand – Serena Hotels
Africa’s Leading Hotel – Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, Kenya

Kenya’s leading Hotel – Sarova Stanley Hotel
Kenya’s leading Safari Lodge – Sarova Shaba Game Lodge
Kenya’s leading Tented Safari Camp – Sarova Mara Game Camp
Kenya’s leading Business Hotel – Nairobi Serena Hotel
Kenya’s leading Resort – Leopard Beach Resort & Spa

Regarded as the “Oscars” of the travel industry according to the Wall Street Journal, the World Travel Awards acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global tourism and travel industry.

Congratulations to all the winners from the entire Safari Trails team!