540 magazine - issue 6 - august 2012
DESCRIPTION
540, the in-flight magazine for Fly540 is published by Land & Marine Publications (Kenya) Ltd. on behalf of Fly540. Fly540 - Africa's low cost airline.TRANSCRIPT
ISSUE 06 AUGUST - OCTOBER 2012
ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE: KIDZ CORNER • 540 NEWS • ARUSHA CITY GUIDE
FESTIVAL FEVER HITS ZANZIBAR
MALINDI SPARKLES Casino Malindi welcomes Kenya’s fi rst-ever Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament
ABERDARE COUNTRY CLUB
MONKEYBUSINESS
Iconic property springs back to life
Happier times for chimps rescued from South Sudan
ProductReviewAmazon hots up its eReader
ZANZIBAR HOSTS EAST AFRICA’S LARGEST FILM, MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL
Eco
WORLD
273414
16
is published by
LANd & mArINE PUBLICATIONs (KENYA) LTdSuite A5, 1st Floor, Ojijo Plaza, 20 Plums Laneoff Ojijo Road, Parklands, PO Box 2022Village Market 00621, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 (0)20 374 1934Email: [email protected]
www.landmarine.com
on behalf of
fLY540 AVIATIONRiverside Green Suites, Palm Suite, Riverside Drive PO Box 10293-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 (0)20 445 2391/2/3/4/5Email info@fl y540.com
www.fl y540.com
Cover photo courtesy of: Peter Bennett
The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor, or any other organisation associated with this publication. No liability can be accepted for any inaccuracies or omissions.
©2012 Land & Marine Publications (Kenya) Ltd
SPECIAL FEATURES
03 IN THIs IssUE We welcome a new editor to the ‘fl ight deck’
04 540 NEWs The latest news from the 540 family
16 ZANZIBAr INTErNATIONALfILm fEsTIVAL
South Africa’s sweeping win at Zuku awards
30 COmmUNITY Kids and Kindles: School uses e-books to
encourage young readers
REGULAR FEATURES
09 SPORTREVIEW The mecca of long-distance running
11 BUSINESSHub Business briefs
12 MYWORLD You couldn’t make it up
14 LOOKINSIDE Hogmead country home
18 PrOfILEr Iconic property springs back to life
23 PHOTOFEATURE No juice is bad news
25 FOODFORTHOUGHT Spoil yourself at Tatu – but leave room
for dessert
1AfricA’s low cost Airline: www.fl y540.com
Issue 6 - AUGUST - OCTOBER
BOOK ONLINE AT:
www.fly540.com
AFAARFFICACCSLO
WOCOST AIAA RLRR INEE
CONTENTs
27 ProductReview Amazon hots up its eReader
28 LATEsT rELEAsEs Coming to a screen near you...
33 CITYGUIDE Arusha - Tanzania
34 CULTURE&ART Does Malindi sparkle at night? You bet!
38 EcoWORLD Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
41 FeelingGood Are you sitting comfortably?
- in-fl ight exercises
46 KIdZ COrNEr
USEFUL INFORMATION
36 THE fLY540 NETWOrK
42 TrAVEL INfOrmATION Essential travel and visa information
44 fLY540 fLEET
48 fLY540 CONTACTs
@fl y540aviation
www.facebook.com/pages/Fly-540
CONNECT WITH fLY540
LATESTRELEASES
Welcome to Issue 6 of ‘540’ magazine. In this edition we
cover a myriad topics and subjects as we seek to provide customers of Fly540 with an entertaining and informative magazine presented in an attractive format.
First of all, I would like to introduce our new editor, Jackson Biko. Jackson has a wealth of experience and a compel-ling writing style. I’m sure his editorial infl uence and direction will be felt in coming issues.
rEVIEWs
In our Sports Review we take a look at Kenya’s altitude training camp at Iten, in the Rift Valley, and see how local athletes have been preparing themselves ahead of the London Olympics and why this other-wise insignifi cant town attracts so many runners from across the world.
In this issue, and as part of our regular viewing of some of East Africa’s most desirable and iconic properties, we ‘look inside’ Hogmead in Karen. I thought I knew just about every boutique hotel in and around Nairobi, but this place is new to me and looks impressive.
It may not be quite Cannes or Venice, but down at the Indian Ocean the Zanzibar Film Festival has been wowing audiences and we report on who cleaned up this year in terms of prizes. Remember to book early with Fly540 for next year.
We also profi le the Aberdare Country Club, which reopened in July after a major refurbishment. Take it from me, it’s well worth a visit, even just for Sunday lunch (in fact, especially for Sunday lunch).
Speaking of food – and writing this is making me hungry – we review Tatu, the extraordinary eatery at Fairmont The Norfolk. It is certainly worth a try as long as your wallet will allow.
Finally, there is the new Kindle Fire, a bigger and better tablet for those who want their reading matter to be in 2D. Personally, I still prefer old-style books, but it’s prob-ably an age thing.
Anyway, enjoy reading ‘540’ and we wish you a safe and pleasant journey.
Gary GimsonPublisher, 540 magazine
LOOK OUT fOr...
Profi ler: A closer look a the newly refurbished Aberdare Hills Country Club
IN THIsIssUE
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IN THIS ISSUE
In our new “latest releases” section you can fi nd up to date information and reviews for the latest fi lm and book releases. One of the fi lms featured in this issue is The Dark Knight Rises. Eight years after Batman took the fall for Two Face’s crimes, a new terrorist leader, Bane, overwhelms Gotham’s fi nest and the Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that has branded him an enemy.
WE WELCOME A NEW EDITOR TO THE ‘FLIGHT DECK’
4
NEWs
Kenya’s Speed Dynamix skating team won 10 medals in the
East African Speed Roller Skating competition at the Mandela Stadium in Kampala.
The group was sponsored by Fly540, which fl ew the competitors from Nairobi to Uganda.
The Speed Dynamix sent a team of its fi ve best members including 23-year-old professional skater Richard Bett. He won three gold medals in the 10,000 metre 1,000 metre and 200 metre categories. Fifteen-year-old Teddy Andanje won gold medals in the junior 1,000 metre and 200 metre
groups and also received a silver in the 10,000 metre competition.
Evans Bett, aged 13, was awarded a bronze medal in the 12 to 13 category. Eleven-year-old Richard Owino also won two bronze awards in the 1,000 metre and 500 metre classes.
AIr TICKETs
Azarias Mehta, aged nine and the youngest member of the team, brought home silver medals for the 1,000 metre and 500 metre divisions.
Patience Mehta, an offi cial of the Speed Dynamix Skating Team, said: “We would like to thank Fly540 for
sPEEd sKATErs WIN 10 mEdALs IN UgANdA
providing the team with seven return air tickets. Kenya was represented by only fi ve members, who managed to bring back home 10 medals. These young men have made us and the country very proud.
AgA KHAN WALK
“Skating is becoming very popular in Kenya and I would urge young boys and girls to come and join the team. We practise at the Aga Khan Walk sunken parking and at the Kasarani Stadium. Richard Bett, who is our senior skater, turned professional in 2009. Teddy Andaje is the best junior record holder and won medals last year in competi-tions held in South Africa and China.”
Talking about skating as a sport, nine-year-old Azarias Mehta said: “Imagine being on skating wheels and moving at an incredible speed like a rally car, but without the help from a navigator. It is thrilling and this game gives us self-esteem. Skating also keeps us fi t.”
mEdAL WINNErs
Nine-year-old Azarias Mehta (left) and 11-year-old Richard Owino, members of the Kenya Speed Dynamix Skating Team, show Sammy Nzoka, the Operations Manager of Fly540, their skating shoes. The two were among fi ve competitors who won 10 medals in the East African Speed Roller Skating competition held in Kampala. They were sponsored by Fly540, who fl ew them from Nairobi to Uganda.
‘Skating is becoming very popular in Kenya
and I would urge young boys and girls to come
and join the team’
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NEWS
Following the recent expansion of Kisumu International Airport,
fast-growing regional airline Fly540 has moved its offi ces to the airport’s new terminal.
“Previously we were sharing check-in counters with other airlines,” said Jacob Otieno, the Kisumu manager of Fly540. “This caused confusion and passengers would queue for a long time. With the new premises, Fly540 now has its own dedi-cated counters. We also have a spacious sales, administration and dispatch offi ce and a luggage holding area.
EXPANsION PLAN
“Kisumu International Airport now has a longer runway and our CRJ twin jet is able to land and take off with ease. This has increased the capacity on the services from
Nairobi to Kisumu because the 50-seater CRJ has replaced the smaller Dash 8 turbo-prop aircraft. The airline operates two fl ights daily between Nairobi and Kisumu.
“The Fly540 aircraft leaves Kisumu via Eldoret at 7.40 am and arrives at JKIA at 8.45 am. The afternoon fl ight departs from Kisumu at 7.30 pm and arrives in Nairobi at 9 pm. These serv-
ices have become very popular with government offi cials, business people and tourists.”
Nixon Ooko, operations director of Fly540, said: “The move to relocate the new terminal at Kisumu International Airport is part of the airline’s 2012 expansion plan. We are now able to offer our passengers a comfortable waiting area and better service. This year we shall continue to respond to the needs of passengers with the introduction of more services domestically and regionally.”
Fly540 began operations in November 2006 with a daily fl ight between Nairobi and Mombasa. The airline’s value-for-money fl ights won instant popularity and Fly540 now has 14 desti-
nations in Kenya with regional services to Bujumbura, Entebbe, Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Zanzibar
and South Sudan.Tickets for the airline’s
destinations are available from travel agents and the Fly540 offi ces at Laico Regency and ABC Place. Full infor-mation on fares and services can be obtained from the website fl y540.com and passengers can book fl ights online.
fLY540 mOVEs TO NEW PrEmIsEs AT KIsUmU AIrPOrT
‘We are now able to offer our passengers a comfortable waiting area and better service’
fLY540 mOVEs TO NEW
NEWsCONTINUED...
CONNECT WITH fLY540 ON TWITTEr ANd fACEBOOKSocial media is a great way to keep passengers up to date with all the latest news. That’s why Fly540 have recently re-worked their online presence. You can now follow Fly540 on Twitter and Facebook.
‘This year we shall continue to respond to
the needs of passengers with the introduction
of more services domestically and
regionally’
9AfricA’s low cost Airline: www.fly540.com
SPORTREVIEW
It’s all systems go. The list of Kenya’s Olympic marathon runners
is locked and this formidable team, led by London Marathon winner Wilson Kipsang and the world’s best half-marathon runner, Mary Keitany, will hopefully ensure a sweeping victory at the London Olympics.
All eyes will be on Kenya because of its reputation for producing world-class marathon runners. Part of the secret of this gold-winning machinery lies in training in high altitude areas of Kenya such as the Ngong Hills, where the renowned Paul Tergat did his training, and the High Altitude Training Centre (HATC) at Iten in the Rift Valley.
HATC was founded by world champion Lorna Kiplagat in 1999. The centre’s original vision was to provide young women with an oppor-tunity to train and live under the best possible circumstances to nurture their athletic careers. That changed, however, and now HATC is open to athletes and tourists from all over the world including runners, triathletes and mountain bikers.
TECHNIQUE
At 2,400 metres above sea level, Iten – characterised by hundreds of miles of dirt roads and rolling hills – is the best place for distance runners to refine
THE PLACE TO BE
The training centre is at altitude
THE mECCA Of LONg-dIsTANCE rUNNINg
their technique. At any given time there are about 400 athletes training in Iten. They include world champions and world record holders. As well as offering technical support for runners, the centre is equipped with a state-of-the-art gym, a fitness centre, a sauna, a 25 metre solar-heated swimming pool and a restaurant.
At HATC they train only the best – the best who have been discovered and the best who have yet to be discovered. As resident coach Richard Mukche has been quoted as saying: “Here, if you can’t run a marathon in two hours 12 minutes, you don’t talk about it.”
© K
arue
Wac
hir
a
© K
arue
Wac
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BUSINESSHub
Kenya has discovered oil, it was announced recently by the
Minister of Energy, Kiraitu Murungi. The oil was discovered by London-based Tullow Oil plc, the same company that discovered oil in Ghana and Uganda.
Oil is Kenya’s largest import, so the oil fi nd is expected to propel the nation’s vibrant economy to greater heights and to help Kenya realise its Vision 2030 ambitions to become a middle-income economy by 2030.
The oil was found in Turkana in northern Kenya.
An important milestone has been reached by Kenya with the deci-
sion to go ahead with construction of a second seaport in Lamu. This major project will involve the construction of a deepsea port that will open up the north of Kenya as well as serving the emerging economies of South Sudan and Ethiopia.
Known as the Lamu Port, South Sudan and Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor, this multi-billion-shilling project includes a new road and rail link between Lamu Port and the South Sudanese capital, Juba, through a new resort city at Isiolo. An interna-tional airport will also be created in Isiolo. Another transport corridor will link Lamu with the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, through Isiolo. Kenya has invited the Chinese government to build an oil pipeline linking Juba with Lamu.
The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir.
KENYA dIsCOVErs OIL
LAPsETT Is LAUNCHEd
mAsTErCArd sETs UP sHOP IN NAIrOBI
WArId TELECOm TO EXPANd
AIrTEL ENTErs rWANdA
The global payments and technology company MasterCard Worldwide has established its East African regional head offi ce in Nairobi. This brings to fi ve the number of MasterCard offi ces across the African continent, along with Cairo, Casablanca, Lagos and Johannesburg.
The Nairobi offi ce will act as MasterCard’s liaison offi ce for customer banks, business associates and consumers in Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritius, Ethiopia, Uganda and the rest of East Africa, bringing to these markets the company’s knowledge of electronic payments best practice.
The telecommunications company Warid Telecom is to invest about US$2.5 million in an ambitious programme to expand its operations in Uganda and improve its services.
The Indian telecommunications giant Airtel has offi cially entered the Rwandese market. Its decision is likely to usher in a new era of strong competition between mobile phone companies.
Rwanda currently has a mobile phone penetration of only 41.8 per cent, the second-lowest in the East African Community after Burundi. The entry of Airtel is expected to boost the numbers.
Airtel Rwanda intends to roll out a 2G and 3G GSM mobile service.
BUsINEssBrIEfs
12 Issue 6
YOU COULdN’T mAKE IT UP?
‘I was introduced to cosmetics as a career by
chance. I always loved makeup and beauty and
would dabble in my teenage years, experimenting
on friends’
WELL, SUZIE DID AND FOUND SUCCESS
Suzie Wokabi’s entrepreneurial light-bulb came on when she
returned home from New York – having spent eight years there as a makeup artist – and was unable to fi nd decent makeup. That was back in 2001.
“I kept sending people abroad for makeup and at some point I tired of it and asked myself why I couldn’t start a Kenyan product for Kenyan women,” she says. And so, after months of feverish research and investment, the SuzieBeauty brand was born.
SuzieBeauty is unique because, according to Suzie, her products are made especially for African skin. The company specialises in the latest and most current natural products and exceptional colour ranges inspired by the African continent.
We caught up with her over coffee and picked her mind on the product.
Why cosmetics? What informed your decision to venture into this industry?I was introduced to cosmetics as a career by chance. I always loved makeup and beauty and would dabble in my teenage years, experimenting on friends. For work, I was fi rst hired by Clinique and later by MAC in the United States and trained by them, and the bug bit me. I was hooked and real-ised how much I loved cosmetics and knew I wanted to pursue it as a career.
How big or important is the Kenyan cosmetic market?The beauty industry (retail) is worth well over KES 15 billion. The industry itself is growing every day. We have so many events all the time – fashion shows, expos and so on. The Kenyan woman is defi nitely getting quite beauty-savvy.
Are Kenyans big on makeup? That is still on the upward growth curve. Many women I encounter do not wear any makeup, but for understand-able reasons: they don’t know how; they don’t know which product is good for them. This is where SuzieBeauty
comes in, as we offer a great quality, affordable product with education on how to use it.
Isn’t less the better in makeup?Less IS more. It’s always best to start light and add on as required or preferred. That’s certainly one of my mantras.
Does SuzieBeauty make business sense or do you have to supplement it with other ventures? SuzieBeauty is my only job. Before I was the CEO of my company, I was a freelance makeup artist. Cosmetics has been my bread and butter for many years.
How challenging is it in the business of cosmetics?The business of cosmetics is not chal-lenging but exciting. The response we have received in our product sales has been very encouraging. Business in general is challenging. I no longer just create beautiful products and colours and apply them on women; I deal
AVAILABLE NOW
BUY ONLINE: The company’s mission is to provide a wide range of high quality, affordable beauty products for all skin types and ages.
13AfricA’s low cost Airline: www.fl y540.com
MYWORLD: Suzie Wokabi
with employees, investors, lawyers, accountants and growing the business every day.
Who is your greatest competitor and what edge do you have over them?I would not be able to name any particular brand as my greatest competitor. All products in the market are my competition as they have existing customers. My edge over them is that SB is the fi rst Kenyan-created cosmetics brand that caters to the African woman in particular. For the quality of the product, there is no competition on SB pricing. We are a pioneer brand and are off to a great start and foresee a promising future.
‘My edge over the competition is that SuzieBeauty is the fi rst Kenyan-created cosmetics brand that caters to the African woman in particular’
14 Issue 6
WITH A TOUCH OF COLONIAL CLASS
INTImATE, HOmELY VENUEBy Jackson Biko
Certain things beg a question: What do German-born architect
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and the luxurious Hogmead country home have in common? Well, Ludwig coined the phrase ‘The devil is in the detail’ and Hogmead refi ned it.
Set in the leafi er part of Langata, Hogmead shares an electric fence with Giraffe Park. It’s a small property, consisting of only six expansive rooms. The aim was to offer guests a place with a homely atmosphere rather than the feel of a hotel.
TrANsfOrmATION
They seem to have succeeded in that quest judging by the snazzy but laid-back decor. There are vases of fresh fl owers and bronze animal sculptures on every table. Numerous books on safari are scattered about the lounge area. The main sitting area has large sofas and rugs.
At the beginning, Hogmead was a residential property owned by Peter Henderson. The new owners, Safari
and Conservation Portfolio, brought in Sarah Stevenson, an interior decorator, who, with a magic wand, transformed it into a classic country home with an old British quaintness
mArA sUITE
EVENINg ATmOsPHErE
Each of the six guest rooms is individually designed with unique soft furnishings
The exterior and grounds are lit up at night
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LOOKINSIDE
and just the right touch of class to make it homely and highbrow.
There is obsessiveness in their attention to detail. For example, all the sofa cushions and fabric in the rooms have delicately beaded decorations. In the bar is an old colonial clock that conjures up thoughts of times past while continuing to tell modern guests the correct East African time.
But what makes the place seem to pulsate – apart from the warthogs you may see prowling the grounds – is the picturesque artwork by the revered Tanzanian wildlife artist Michael
Ghaui. His work simply trumpets out of the canvas. Apart from his bronze sculptures, he makes use of clean white backgrounds and minimal strokes to breathe life into wild animals on his canvas. Most of his work at the lodge is for sale.
EXECUTIVE
Hogmead is a transition lodge, where people coming from safari make an overnight stop to catch their breath while they head for another destina-tion. Lately, however, owing to its private, homely atmosphere, it has become an ideal venue for executive business people looking for a private meeting place in an unobtrusive envi-ronment. In addition, Hogmead is an ideal place for couples who don’t want to travel too far out of town to spend quality time together.
Don’t miss the mornings on the balcony, ask for the upstairs rooms, overlooking Ngong Hills. Stand out there, with a cup of something hot and watch a cloud of mist slide across the hill, herded along by the sun.
‘Hogmead is an ideal place for couples who don’t want to travel too far out of town to spend quality time together’
16 Issue 6
sOUTH AfrICA’s sWEEPINg WIN AT ZUKU AWArds
© P
eter
Ben
nett
The Zanzibar International Film Festival – East Africa’s largest
film, music and arts festival – continues to call out to the creatives in the region. But whether those calls are heeded is a question with which, perhaps, the festival continues to struggle year after year. And if the region is making progress in film, is it doing so at a pace that reflects the festival’s 15 years of promoting this art form?
The principal guest at this year’s event, the American director Mario Van Peebles, framed those concerns when he enthused that African film could rise out of the ashes only if the players were ready to tell stories that “don’t win awards but tell your own tales”.
CHUNgU
If there is any hope for the film industry, it must be illustrated by the fact that the festival continues to receive many entries in various catego-ries. This year alone saw a total of 105 films from 35 countries, an improve-ment on last year. What unified these films was their proclamation of African cultures and a celebration of various art forms such as music, literature and poetry. In addition, not to run away from the realities of Africa, there were themes crafted around politics and bribery, as showcased in the movies ‘Chungu’ from Tanzania and ‘Malawi Awakening’ from Malawi.
In recognition of the technological advances made by the moviemaking industry worldwide, this year’s festival organised two film workshops aimed at digital content producers who are keen to enhance their camera and editing
skills. At hand to share their skills was Barry Braverman, a cinematog-rapher with 30 years’ experience in TV documentaries and feature films, and Nicholas Stampe, a high definition (HD) editing specialist who provided theoretical and hands-on training in editing in both office and field environ-ments.
As usual, the festival was also marked by exciting activities like dhow races, music and dance, and chil-dren’s activities. In addition, against a backdrop of famous buildings such as Stone Town, House of Wonders and Old Fort, the festival includes a huge open-air food market which comes alive at dusk. Here, countless vendors lay out Swahili and Zanzibar delicacies, attracting throngs of curious foodies keen to try new dishes. The mood is usually vibrant.
AWArd WINNErs
In a colourful closing night in the splendid setting of the 18th century Old Fort, this year’s festival experi-enced a notable upset. South Africa’s filmmakers swept away with a stag-gering eight out of 14 awards. Man of the night was definitely the South African filmmaker Ndaba ka Ngwane, who had a field day, walking away with five awards. His film, ‘Uhlanga’, is about a Zulu boy whose life is turned upside down when he watches his father doused with petrol and burned to death. The film shows the boy’s life through his struggles with poverty, abuse, prejudice and hope in the face of death and bedlam. Not only were three of the cast voted Best Female Actors, but ‘Uhlanga’ bagged the top award of the night, the Golden Dhow for Best Feature Film.
This sweeping win by South Afri-cans undoubtedly raised questions about East Africa’s creative compe-
sTAr sTUddEd LINE-UP
Sultan King, one of Zanzibar’s most popular recording artists takes to the stage at the years festival
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ZANZIBAR FILM FESTIVAL
tence, but even more poignantly, about South Africa’s advantage. The festival’s chairman, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, explained the region’s disadvantage. “They [South Africans] started earlier, they have more broadcasting and marketing channels, yes; but also they take pride in their own productions.
Our local television channels are full of foreign productions, but not in SA; they support their own industry.”
Even though Kombo somehow echoes Van Peebles’s sentiments about a more home-grown approach, it is perhaps Ngwane who puts it in better perspec-tive. “It’s about passion and belief,” he said soon after receiving the awards. “There are many reasons why I should have given up on this project; because of lack of funding we would stop shooting after every three months only to start again. I put my house down as collat-eral in order to get funding because I believed in the movie. I and my team believed in its quality and the fact that we were setting out to tell the story in a unique way.” The movie cost $235,000 to produce.
And so, as the festival’s ‘knight of long knives’ wound up with a sweeping triumph by South Africa, the region will hopefully pick up the gauntlet and have better luck next year.
fAmILY AffAIr
Star guests included Mario van Peebles and his son Mandela, promoting their new film, ‘We The Party’
‘Don’t win awards but tell your own tales’
© P
eter
Ben
nett
© P
eter
Ben
nett
18
PROFILER
Issue 6
haven in the hiLLs
Above: Horse riding is just one of the activity options available. All levels of riders welcome
Left: VIP Suite
icOnic PrOPerty sPrings BacK tO Life
Aberdare Country Club, which has more or less been closed for the
past few years, sprang back to life in July with the offi cial reopening of one of Kenya’s iconic heritage properties.
There are many reasons to visit the region around Mount kenya, and the Country Club, with its fabulous loca-tion and wonderful views, is certainly one of them. Perched on the side of kamatongu hill at a lofty 1,970 metres above sea level, the Club is set in 1,300 acres that include a wildlife sanctuary as well as a nine-hole golf course.
The property was bought in poor shape in early 2011 by uganda’s Marasa Africa and it has taken nearly 18 months of planning, refurbishment and hard work to restore the Club to its former glory.
histOry
In its heyday, the 48-room Club was a homely weekend retreat for wealthy Nairobi people as well as a delightful one-night stopover for foreign tourists.
Formerly known as The Steep, it was built in the early 1930s as a private six-bedroom house by a British family and today the Aberdare Country Club still conjures up images of a bygone age. The new owners are well aware
that they have bought a property with a history that is regarded with affec-tion by many.
eXteriOr
“Pretty much everything needed doing on the inside,” says general manager kenneth Mugira. “But the exterior was sound and we really only needed
restOred
The property and the grounds have been restored to their former glory
icOnic PrOPerty sPrings BacK tO Life
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PROFILER
‘In its heyday, the 48-room Club was a homely weekend retreat for
wealthy Nairobi people.’
to mend a few leaking roofs. Now all the rooms are being sympathetically upgraded to retain the essence of the property’s colonial past, but with contem-porary bathrooms. Our first priority is to bring the property up to standard, then to market it as good quality four-star; get the place profitable and then there’s a lot of room for expansion.”
Lush fairways
A new spa and gym have been installed, the swimming pool has been rebuilt and there is a new play area for children.
In addition to the refurbishment work, Marasa has rehabilitated the par-66 golf course – not used in earnest since 2005 – and brought the stables back into use, taking delivery of a string of horses.
The golf course is an enjoyable but deceptively tough nine holes with postage-stamp greens and tight fairways comprising six par-fours and three par-threes totalling 2,412 yards. “It’s not as easy as it looks,” says Philip Nyagah, general manager at the nearby sister property, The Ark, who used to play the course.
sanctuary
The new owners will be looking to enhance the wildlife in the adjacent sanctuary. Although there seems to be no shortage of game in purely numerical terms, Marasa would like to expand the variety of animals on
view. At present, when walking out in the sanctuary, guests can expect to see leopard (if they are lucky), giraffe (reticulated), eland, gazelle
(both Thompson’s and Grant’s), impala,
ostrich, waterbuck and zebra as well as warthog and bushpig.
The Country Club has seven peacocks and peahens
living close to the main house. There were just two when Marasa took over.
Thanks to an ever-improving road link, the Country Club is no more than three hours’ drive from Nairobi, and Marasa is promoting it as a short-break getaway – a package that will be greatly enhanced once Nyeri’s Nyaribo airstrip opens. But whatever way you get to the Club, it’s well worth the journey.
BeautifuL gardens
PrOPerties
Above: Nine-hole golf course Below: Peacocks roam the green lawns
In addition to the Aberdare Country Club and The Ark, Marasa Holdings owns Mara Leisure Camp, in Kenya, as well as four properties in Uganda: Chobe Safari Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge and Silverback Lodge.
21AfricA’s low cost Airline: www.fly540.com
PROFILER
‘The golf course is an enjoyable but deceptively tough nine holes with postage-stamp greens and tight fairways’
land&MARINE
FOR MORE INFORMATION AS TO HOW YOUR COMPANY CAN ADVERTISE IN 540 MAGAZINE, PLEASE CONTACT:
TEL: +254 (0)20 232 4343EMAIL: [email protected]
www.landmarine.com
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on a visit to Lake Nakuru National Park, we came across
this male baboon struggling to open a plastic juice bottle he had found between the rocks at the park’s Baboon Cliff.
hoping for a juicy drink, the baboon tried unsuccessfully to unscrew the bottle top, then decided just to chew it open with his sharp canines.
Sadly for him, the bottle was empty, so he had to be content with licking the few remaining drops of juice.
nO Juice is Bad news
PHOTOFEATuRE
FOODFoRTHOUGHT
When it comes to fi ne-dining awards, one top Nairobi eating
spot seems to garner these with consummate ease.
This top spot is Tatu at Fairmont The Norfolk. you can expect to pay top dollar for the experience, too – but what an experience it is.
The spoilt-for-choice menu brings together a bewildering array of cooking styles, taking ideas from around the world to fuse into Tatu’s own unique offering.
seafOOd seLectiOn
For my starter I opted for the barbecued lavington quail (presumably reared locally in the upmarket suburb of that name) but I could easily have chosen the lamu crab cake or the Indian ocean tuna tasting (a plate of charred tuna, tuna tartare and tuna sashimi). The
quail came with a tangy citrus salad and a rather interesting mango sauce.
I have to confess I chose a mighty 900 gram spiny lobster for my main course with a delicious tikka sauce (one of four styles on the menu). This course alone will set you back a hefty kES 5,300. On refl ection, a half lobster would have been more than adequate as I struggled to fi nish the larger-than-anticipated crustacean. A selec-tion of neatly presented vegetables came as a side dish and, if you like your greens served this way, they were nicely al dente.
Alternatively, diners can choose from four types of steak and a quartet of sauces. The same goes for the seafood section, which offers no fewer than fi ve styles: pili pili, lemon garlic
sPOiL yOurseLf at tatu
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barter, thika pineapple, ginger sesame soy and a fi ery bullet sauce.
Dessert was a truly massive mango crème brulée with vanilla bean custard. Magnifi cent in itself, but argu-ably the portion size was just too large – at least for me, already wilting from the fi rst two courses.
Anecdotally, Tatu appears more popular with well-heeled hotel guests than with local people, which is a pity. That is not to say that kenyans are avoiding the place. Au contraire, at the next table, a party of six expensively clad and amply proportioned ladies, who clearly hailed from hereabout, arrived late and did not stint on the courses or fl inch at the bill.
Clearly, this is a great restaurant, hard to beat in Nairobi for style, ambi-ence and good cooking. Another award will surely be coming Tatu’s way some time soon.
– BuT lEAVE RooM FoR DESSERT
‘The spoilt-for-choice menu brings together a bewildering
array of cooking styles’
cOntemPOrary
Left: Interactive dining experience, featuring attentive service and open cooking stations
When you hear the word Kindle, you think eReader, right? Well, yes,
you can indeed store thousands of books on the new Kindle Fire – but Amazon’s latest gadget offers much more.
The kindle Fire has been designed like a tablet or iPad, enabling users to watch movies and TV shows, download apps, play games, listen to music and read magazines, with all content being stored on free cloud storage so you don’t need to worry about clogging up memory space. you can also access the internet with the power of Amazon Silk, an ultra-fast web browsing over built-in Wi-Fi.
gOriLLa gLass
The kindle’s notorious E Ink is long gone. The Fire has a vibrant 1,280 x 800 pixel full-colour display. The screen is built from gorilla glass, chemically strengthened to be 20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than
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ProductReview
plastic, making it extra durable and resistant to accidental bumps and scrapes. In general, the device feels exceptionally solid. Although smaller than other tablets, it is certainly comfortable enough to hold in one hand. In that respect, it remains true to its eReader roots.
BOOKsheLf
The user interface certainly differs from the norm. The homescreen takes the form of a bookshelf with the top shelf featuring your most recently viewed content and those beneath housing your favourite apps.
Compared with Apple products and other tablets currently on the market (Motorola’s hTC or Sony’s Tablet S), the kindle Fire is refreshingly cheap – less than half the price of an iPad 2. It does lack certain elements, however. There is no camera; and the built-in speakers are second-rate, so be sure to have a decent set of head-phones handy.
When it comes to books, though, kindle is the king and this device doesn’t let down those long-time Amazon loyalists who have been itching for a colour touch-screen device.
Kindle Fire:
amaZOn hOts uP its ereader
fOr the whOLe famiLy
This Amazon Fire Tablet is great for parents and children. Stir your child’s imagination with over 1,000 beautifully illustrated children’s books, including favourites like Brown Bear, Curious George and Circus Ship
mOre tO cOme...
In addition to Kindle Fire, Amazon is set to release a six-inch E Ink-based Kindle reader.
Scheduled to hit the stores in the third quarter of 2012, the device will also feature an integrated backlight.
‘The kindle Fire has been designed like a tablet, enabling users to watch movies and TV
shows, download apps, play games and read magazines’
LATESTRELEASES
28 Issue 6
BookWoRM
the hairdresser Of harare By Tendai huchu
cOcKtaiL hOur under the tree Of fOrgetfuLnessBy Alexandra Fuller
Vimbai is a hairdresser, the best in Mrs Khumalo’s salon. Her situation is reversed when the good-looking, smooth-talking Dumisani joins them. However, his charm and desire to please slowly erode Vimbai’s rancour and when he needs somewhere to live, Vimbai becomes his landlady. So, when Dumisani needs someone to accompany him to his brother’s wedding to help smooth over a family upset, Vimbai obliges. The ambiguity of this deepening friendship collapses in unexpected brutality when secrets and jealousies are exposed.
A story of survival and war, love and madness, loyalty and forgiveness, Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness is an intimate exploration of Fuller’s parents and of the price of being possessed by Africa’s uncompromising, fertile, death-dealing land. We follow Tim and Nicola Fuller hopscotching the continent, restlessly trying to establish a home.
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lATESTRELEASES
the ghOst Of sani aBacha By Chuma Nwokolo
a mOuth sweeter than saLt By Es’kia Mphahlele’s
The Ghost of Sani Abacha is a collection of 26 stories by the witty and satirical writer Chuma Nwokolo and has its setting in Nigeria. Seventeen of the stories are published here for the fi rst time. Contrary to its title, the book is not about Sani Abacha, the late president of the country, but rather it’s about the everyday occurrences of human life.
Toyin Omoyeni Falola, well known scholar of African history, has used his personal experiences to create a rich and innovative memoir, combining his growing up during that time with events in his community and the country as a whole. The resulting book gives the reader a vivid insight into a complex society with its intricate traditions, in particular those of the Yoruba culture.
Eight years after Batman took the fall for Two Face’s crimes, a new terrorist leader, Bane, overwhelms Gotham’s fi nest and the Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that has branded him an enemy.
Peter Parker fi nds a clue that might help him understand why his parents disappeared when he was young. His path puts him on a collision course with Dr Curt Connors, his father’s former partner.
Suburban dads who form a neighbourhood watch group as a way to get out of their day-to-day family routines fi nd themselves defending the Earth from an alien invasion.
The story of the tragic relationship between the son of a property developer and the daughter of an auto rickshaw owner.
Manny, Diego and Sid embark on another adventure after their continent is set adrift. Using an iceberg as a ship, they encounter sea creatures and battle pirates as they explore a new world.
BloCkBuSTERS the darK Knight risesStarring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary oldman, Tom hardy, Anne hathaway, Marion Cotillard, and Morgan Freeman Genre: Action, adventure
the amaZing sPider-man Starring: Andrew Garfi eld, Emma Stone and Rhys Ifans Genre: Action, adventure
the watch Staring: Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah hill, Billy CrudupGenre: Comedy, Sci-fi
trishna Starring: Freida Pinto, Riz Ahmed, Anurag kashyap, kalki koechlin Genre: Drama
ice age: cOntinentaL drift Starring: Ray Romano, Denis leary, John leguizamo, Aziz AnsariGenre: Family, animation
Kids and KindLes
30 Issue 6
SChool uSES E-BookS To ENCouRAGE youNG READERS
No other continent has embraced the potential of information
and communications technology (ICT) as fully as Africa over the past decade or so. Today, remote villages that formerly were linked only by dusty footpaths are connected to the outside world via the internet.
Gone are the days when farmers in remote places were paid next to nothing for their produce. Today, thanks to the internet, they can check the latest market prices at the click of a button.
In recent years, kenya has made giant strides in adopting new technol-ogy. Its entrepreneurial spirit led to the world’s first mobile money transfer platform – now replicated in other parts of Africa, India and latin America.
Now, kenya is taking another big step towards Vision 2030 by identifying ICT as a key driver of the national economy. kenya wants to see this technology
adopted in schools in order to create a new generation of ICT-literate people.
KindLes in a ruraL schOOL
one such initiative is being piloted at Ntimigon Primary and Pre-School, in rural kenya, where pupils have been using e-book readers and kindles supplied
by The kilgoris Project since 2008.“Since we started the programme,
we have seen a huge improvement of learning at the school since the chil-dren are keen to learn,” said project director David lemiso.
This being a rural community in the
heart of south-west kenya on the edge of the Masai Mara National Reserve, the adoption of new technologies such as kindle makes a lot of sense compared with buying textbooks.
Head teacher Shadrack Lemiso said: “Since we brought the kindles, the children are devoting almost all their
time to reading. Even during the short and lunch breaks, the children will sit under the shade and read storybooks. This is a welcome technology, as the children have really improved in not only their reading skills, but also in their sentence construction skills. It is a revolution.”
The fact that kindle also has audio features has helped instil a reading culture in the children as well as in the teachers.
feeding curiOus minds
“World Reader worked with kenyan publishers to digitise local text and story books,” said Caren McCormack, president and co-founder of The kilgo-ris Project. “They trained our staff on the kindles.”
ntimigOn Primary schOOL
Teacher assists pupil in using the new technology
'Since we brought the kindles, the children are devoting almost all their time to reading. Even during the short and lunch breaks, the children will sit under the shade and read storybooks'
© J
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Community
World Reader piloted the programme at a high school in Ghana before bringing it to kenya, where it is now being used for the first time in a primary school.
“When we introduced the kindles, we had hoped our students would read more and read better,” said Caren. “The results have far exceeded our expec-tations. The students are choosing to read for pleasure, choosing books over football at breaks. It is a sign that they are feeding their curious minds and developing a love of learning. We are seeing an exponential return on our investment.”
One-Off investment
The kilgoris Project has invested uS$ 15,000 in the programme and Caren says they hope to add more kindles and more e-books.
“Each device can hold up to 3,000 books. That is a whole library in a child’s hand,” explained Caren. “kindles and e-books hold huge poten-tial for the kenyan education system.”
Shadrack lemiso points out that e-books are less expensive than printed books. “What is more, the e-books do not have to be shipped and, hence, they never wear out like tradi-tional textbooks,” he said. “This means they can be used for generations.”
David Lemiso added: “The beauty of using the kindles is that, since they can store many books, this could be a one-off investment for parents and the child can use the kindle all the way to university level. This is a technology that needs to be adopted for our educa-tion system.”
The kindles are linked with the inter-net via Safaricom, so the children can do research as well as accessing books.
To cap it all, the e-book reader will operate for up to three weeks on a single charge. That is a bonus, says David lemiso, especially for rural schools like Ntimigon with no mains electricity.
A total of 51 kindles are in use at the school, which has about 250 pupils. Enrolment at the community school has risen since the project began.
© J
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© J
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Arusha is one of Tanzania’s fast-growing cities and gateway to
the country’s northern safari circuit. Nestling in the foothills of Mount
Meru and surrounded by some of Africa’s most fascinating and varied national parks, Arusha offers a wide choice of activities and attractions for both local and foreign visitors.
Arusha is a multicultural city. In addition to the majority African popu-lation, it has large Arab and Indian minorities as well as many European and American expatriates.
QUICK FACTS
WHERE TO STAY
PLACES TO EAT & DRINK
• Currency: Tanzanian shilling (TZS)
• Country code: +255
• Population: 1,292,973
• Climate: Mild
• Transport: Main mode of public transport is daladala (minibuses). Note: accidents involving daladalas are common. Taxis are plentiful and cheap, but make sure you agree a price before leaving for your destination.
Arusha Coffee Lodgewww.elewanacollection.com
A convenient and comfortable overnight stop at the start or end of a safari.
Christina House2 km from the African Institute of Science and Technology, Tengeru Village, Arusha
Cuisine: African
Local food in a traditional atmosphere.
The Leaf Bay102 Vijana Road, Arusha
Cuisine: Contemporary, international
Not cheap, but has a good selection of wines.
The Blue HeronHaile-Selassie Road, Arusha
Cuisine: Continental
Well priced, lovely gardens and great atmosphere.
The River HousePO Box 13286, Arusha
Cuisine: African
Beautiful setting, but you need a reservation.
CITYGUIDE
ArushA - Tanzania
Worth a visit... Mount MeruVisitors can climb this mountain in two to four days, depending on their level of fitness. Climbers are not required to take guides and porters up Mount Meru, but they must be escorted by armed rangers. Temperatures can be freezing, so take warm clothing and sleeping bags.
Century Cinema Njiro Shopping Complex, Arusha
Showing the latest movies for TZS 5,000 to 7,000 (US$ 3 to 5), this cinema is part of a modern complex on Njiro Road that also contains upmarket restaurants.
MarketsThe markets in the centre of town are not to be missed. Bargaining is recom-mended.
Maasai MarketA one-stop shopping area for handicrafts made by local people.
Tarangire National Park Set in 2,850 sq km of thickish bush and slightly off Tanzania’s main northern safari circuit, Tarangire National Park is home to one of Africa’s densest popula-tions of elephant, especially in the dry season between June and December. Because it receives comparatively few visitors, Tarangire offers unrivalled opportunities to view the abundant wildlife close up.
Ngurdoto CraterLocated in Arusha National Park, this 400 metre deep volcanic caldera is the perfect destination for a walking excur-sion. In fact, Arusha is the only national park in northern Tanzania where walking is permitted (with an armed ranger). There is no road to the crater, which is under government protection, but visitors can view the crater floor from the rim and see Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance.
Natural History MuseumLocated at the Old German Boma in Arusha, the National Natural History Museum contains exhibits on early man, plants and animals of the Arusha region as well as the cultural history of the colonial period.
TANZANIA
UGANDA
Arusha
SOUTH SUDAN
KENYA
Onesea Housewww.onseahouse.com
Fantastic atmosphere and outstanding food.
The Arusha Hotelwww.thearushahotel.com
Boutique hotel in the heart of the city.
Arusha Crown Hotelwww.arushacrownhotel.com
Excellent service and well located.
Arusha Backpackers Hotel www.arushabackpackers.co.tz
Very good value and friendly staff.
34 Issue 6
KENYA POKER TOuR
Date for your diary:
The Kenya Poker Tour 2012 will take place on Friday to Sunday, 24 to 26 august, at Casino Malindi
DOES mALINDI SPARKLE AfTER DARK? YOu bET!By Jackson Biko
socially. In the 15th century there was the Arab connection, influenced by trade. Then Vasco da Gama dropped anchor in 1498, benefiting from the relationship with the Portuguese. Later, he was to leave for Mombasa, resulting in the decline of Malindi. But by 1930 European settlers were on the increase in the area, putting Malindi back on its feet once more. The first hotel was built in 1931 and now the coast has about 75 hotels, casting
it as an ideal holiday resort. It wasn’t long before the first charter flight was launched in 1965. Malindi hasn’t looked back since.
In Malindi, because of its huge momentum in tourism, they seem not to be losing too much sleep over the latest terrorism cases. “We have been dealing with different forms of terror-ism over time,” says Daniela Cellini, of Malindi Casino, over a starter of grilled squid at the attractive La Griglia restaurant. “There has been
LA gRIgLIA RESTAuRANT
The outdoor garden atmosphere sets the mood for an enjoyable dining experience
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CuLTuRe&ART
the Taliban, the post-election violence, Al Shabaab. We are all aware of it, we even prepare for it and there is faith in the government’s security apparatus.” Then she summarises her thoughts in a phrase: “We like our peace.”
PRIzES
And peace is something the poker players who arrive on 24 August will need if they fail to win the tournament prize. But even if that prize remains
elusive, they will be assured of fun. They will have the choice of indulg-ing in deepsea fishing, Malindi’s most popular sport, whose past enthusiasts include Ernest Hemingway in 1934. And perhaps, later, they can sit in the casino’s Shogun sushi bar, the only floating sushi bar of its kind in East Africa, and fence with chopsticks. Or perhaps just have another shot at the big time in the Salle Prive, the casino’s private club, a first-class lounge bar where guests can fix their own drink.
The people of Casino Malindi love to say: “Go where the sun takes you.” It is more than an invitation to Malindi. It’s an assurance of freedom. So go ahead and follow the sun.
On the morning of 24 August about 100 colourful ladies and gentle-
men will wake up in Malindi with one thing in mind: winning €50,000. That is the prize in Casino Malindi’s first-ever Texas Hold’em poker tour-nament.
Of course it’s a big deal. The hype is already in the air and you could cut it with a knife. Invitations have been sent out to renowned players in Dubai, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya. On that day, these great minds will hold court at the newly refurbished casino and cross swords. It will be an epic.
muSICAL LEgEND
Casino Malindi – the only casino in Malindi – is more than just a place to gamble, it’s a local landmark and a mascot of the region. During the day it maintains a reserved demeanour along the seafront. But night falls and the chips call out to the gamblers, promis-ing better fortune, you will see a beeline heading to the doors of the casino.
These tableaux will be soundtracked by soothing piano music wafting from the bar by a pianist who has been around as long as the casino. Francis Njoroge is Casino Malindi’s musical legend, one of its virtuosic treasures. You have to sit at his feet, with a drink in hand, to fully comprehend his genius.
Malindi – just like its casino – deserves the vibrancy. It seems to have done the full circle, economically and
‘Of course it’s a big deal. The hype is already in the air and you could cut it with a knife. Invitations
have been sent out to renowned players in Dubai, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya’
TANZANIA
KENYA
UGANDA
Dar es Salaam
Nairobi
Mtwara
Zanzibar
Mombasa
Malindi
MwanzaLamu
KisumuEntebbe
Lodwar
Juba
Kitale
SOUTH SUDAN
Kilimanjaro
Eldoret
THE fLY540NETWORK
36 Issue 6
OVeR 15 DeSTINATIONS THROuGHOuT eAST AFRICA WITH MORe COMING VeRY SOON
BOOK ONLINE AT:
www.fly540.comAFAARFFICACCSLO
WOCOST AIAA RLRR INEE
AFRICA
TANZANIA
KENYA
UGANDA
Dar es Salaam
Nairobi
Mtwara
Zanzibar
Mombasa
Malindi
MwanzaLamu
KisumuEntebbe
Lodwar
Juba
Kitale
SOUTH SUDAN
Kilimanjaro
Eldoret
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NETWORK
Four chimpanzees were rescued from South Sudan in July 2011 after a
tip-off from a local tour operator. They had been smuggled by illegal pet traders. When the authorities in South Sudan learned of the chimps’ existence, they arranged for the ugandan government to fi nd them a secure home. And that is how they came to join the community at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
fuRTHER INfORmATION
Chimpanzee Sanctuary & Wildlife Conservation TrustPlot 1 Bank Close, PO Box 884, Entebbe, Uganda
Tel: +256 414 320662
www.ngambaisland.org
ChIMPs rEsCuED FrOM sOuTh suDAN
mEET THE NEW mEmbERS Of THE NgAmbA ISLAND fAmILY
mEDINA Sex: FemaleEstimated age: 7 yearsArrival at UWEC: 6 July 2011Arrival at Ngamba: 2 March 2012
Medina is a relatively tall chimp with a pink-brown face and little hair at the back of her palms because of constantly sliding on the fl oor during play. Medina is very creative and spends most of her time observing so she can learn from her environment. at arrival, her canine teeth had been removed and her front teeth smashed. She was malnourished, her stomach was big and hard and she was believed to have worms. Following treatment, however, she has recovered steadily.
Medina does not give room for boredom. She is very active most of the time and entertains herself. She is often observed washing her hands, face and feet with water from the drinking nipples in the holding facility. She also plays with any objects placed in the holding facility for enrichment. She likes picking items and handing them over to her carers, even if she expects nothing in return.
38
EcoWORLD: Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
HAPPIER TIMES FOr
As well as striving to conserve this and endangered species, the
sanctuary also offers a serene destination for tourists
SARAH
COCOA
mINNI
Sex: FemaleEstimated age: 2 years Arrival at UWEC: 6 July 2011Arrival at Ngamba: 2nd March 2012
Sex: FemaleEstimated age: 6 years Arrival at UWEC: 6 July 2011Arrival at Ngamba: 2 March 2012
Sex: FemaleEstimated age: 6 yearsArrival at UWEC: 6 July 2011Arrival at Ngamba: 2 March 2012
Sarah is a little chimp with a clear face. She was confi scated from a trader in South Sudan. at the time of her arrival, she was in poor condition. Her eyes were puffy due to dehydration and she had a big, hard stomach with no hair on it.
at the moment she is healthy and active with a good appetite. Sarah wants to own everything. She screams until she is given what she wants, including sticks and other small enrichment materials. When she is scared, Sarah runs to Minni or Medina for reassurance until she discovers the cause of the problem. She likes riding on Minni’s back and also spends time with Medina. Carers help Sarah to eat her porridge. Because of her age, she cannot hold the cup by herself. Because of her age, she cannot hold the cup by herself.
Cocoa is a well-built female chimp with a black mark on her face that makes it easier to identify her from the rest. at the time of her arrival, she was in fairly good condition compared with her companions.
Cocoa does not entirely trust people and when approached she tries to poke the person in the face before running off or climbing up high where she is out of reach. Cocoa plays rough with other chimps as well as humans. She enjoys playing ‘chase and run’ with other chimps.
Minni has a slender face with a long chin. at the time of her confi scation she was very small, with her canine teeth removed and some others smashed. it was evident that she has been mistreated for some time.
Minni likes to greet her carers and selfi shly scares Cocoa away by stamping on the fl oor whenever she sees her interacting with the carers. She also reacts to any intruder in a way she thinks is protective to Sarah. Minni is dominant among the four chimpanzees who were rescued from South Sudan and is the surrogate mother of the little chimp in the group, Sarah.
39AfricA’s low cost Airline: www.fl y540.com
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is
managed by the Chimpanzee Sanctuary &
Wildlife Conservation Trust. The sanctuary
looks after the welfare of 48 rescued, orphaned
chimpanzees in the heart of Lake Victoria, 23
km south-west of Entebbe. Covering a total
area of about 100 acres, the sanctuary has 95
acres of forest for use by the chimpanzees.
As well as striving to conserve this and other
endangered species of wildlife, the sanctuary also
offers a serene destination for tourists. During
the day, the chimps can be viewed at two feeding
times – 11 am and 2.30 pm – from a raised viewing
platform. You can also go on an excursion for two
or more days, staying at our exclusive permanent
tented camp, and have a closer experience with
the chimps through organised forest walks and
‘caregiver for the day’ arrangements.
bEAuTY
The island is also home to other wildlife, including
spotted-necked otters (eight groups), over 120
identifi ed bird species, monitor lizards and various
types of fi sh. Visitors can choose to enjoy a
guided trip around the island to view its beauty
and richness. Other activities include volleyball,
badminton, darts, shopping at the island shop,
sunbathing – or simply relaxing in a hammock with
a good book.
You can also stay overnight at our tented camp
and enjoy a one-on-one experience with the baby
chimps as you help introduce them to surrogate
mothers in an integration programme. You can opt
to help the carers as they clean, feed and write
in the chimp diaries in our ‘caregiver for the day’
programme’ or be a special visitor and enjoy one
or two weeks at the sanctuary in a long-stay visitor
programme.
The satisfaction comes from the fact that
your visit contributes directly to the orphaned
chimps’ welfare as well as helping to conserve an
endangered species.
NGAMBA ISlAND OffERS A SAfE HAVENHAPPIER
TIMES FOr ©
Jac
k Jo
nes
ARE YOu SITTINg COmfORTAbLY?
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FeelingGood
It’s important to keep moving during short-haul and long-haul
flights to maintain your personal comfort and well-being. Keeping your joints flexible and ensuring good blood circulation will make you feel more relaxed during your journey.
SHOuLDER ROLL
Hunch shoulders forward, then upward, then backward, then downward, using a gentle, circular motion.
ARm CuRL
Start with arms held at a 90-degree angle, elbows down, hands out in front. Raise hands up to chest and back down, alternating hands. Do this exercise at 30-second intervals.
fORWARD fLEX
With both feet on the floor and stomach held in, slowly bend forward and walk your hands down the front of your legs toward your ankles. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds and slowly sit back up.
Changes in air pressure can cause discomfort in ears and sinuses. To minimise discomfort:
• Yawn or swallow frequently
• Pinch your nostrils together and blow firmly into your cheeks with your mouth closed.
WarNiNg: Don’t do any of these exercises if they cause you pain or cannot be done with ease.
• Don’t cross your legs
• Occasionally walk down the aisle
• gently bend your neck down towards each shoulder
• Move your shoulders upward, then lower slowly
• Wiggle your toes and then raise one foot at a time
• Exercise your calf muscles while seated by regularly flexing and rotating ankles for a few minutes
Take-off and landing:
TOP TIPS
KNEE LIfTS Lift leg with knee bent while contract-ing your thigh muscle. Alternate legs. Repeat 20 to 30 times for each leg.
NECK ROLL With shoulders relaxed, drop ear to shoulder and gently roll neck forward to the other side, holding position about five seconds. Repeat five times.
ugANDAN VISAS
VISA INfORmATION
The easiest way of getting a visa to Uganda is by purchasing it at the entry point, Entebbe Airport or any border station. This is very possible for tourists coming into Uganda. All you need to do is pay US$50, fill in the application form with passport dates and information. The visa issued is valid for 90 days.
You can also get a visa by applying online if you a citizen of the following countries, USA, UK, South Africa, Russia, Japan, Italy, India, Germany, France, Denmark, China, Canada, and Belgium. All you need to do is to download the application from the embassy website of your country of origin.
42 Issue 6
Most nationals require visas to enter east Africa. Citizens
from the five East African states require no visas while those from the Common Market of east and South-ern Africa (COMeSA) member states have relaxed entry requirements into east Africa.
However, East African member states have their own visa require-ments for various nationals.
KENYAN VISASVisas are required for most nationals and cost US$50. A visa can be obtained on entry, however we recommended one be obtained before arrival to avoid airport lengthy queues. Visa Application Forms are available online.
A visa is required by all visitors travelling to Kenya with the exception of those holding a re-entry pass to Kenya and citizens of Ethiopia, San Marino, Turkey and Uruguay.
Note that the reciprocal visa abolition agreements with Germany, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Spain, and Republic of Ireland no longer apply and nationals of these countries now require a visa.
Kenya Visa Requirements • Valid passport with sufficient number of unused pages for endorsements abroad. Passport must be signed and valid for at least six months.• Visa application form duly completed and signed by the applicant.• Two recent passport size photographs attached to the application form.• Valid round trip ticket or a letter from your travel agent certifying that the applicant holds prepaid arrangements.• A self-addressed stamped envelope for express mail, courier, registered mail, etc., if the visa is urgently required. Metered stamps are not acceptable.
• Home and work telephone numbers.
Please fill out the form correctly and enclose the photographs and payment to avoid delay and disappointment.
Standard Visa fees payable by cash to the Embassy of Kenya.
Visa fees charges:• Multiple entry: US$100 • Single entry: US$50• Transit Visa: US$20
1. Please note that all children below 16 years are not charged visa fees2. The reduced visa fees were effected on 1 march 2009, as directive from ministry of tourism on attracting more tourists in to the country.3. Passengers can pay in US dollars, British pounds, Euro or Swiss franc.For more information and to download a Kenya visa application form visit: http://www.immigration.go.ke/index.php
FL FFYLL540VISASS
INFNNORMRR AMM TA ION
TRAVEL INfORmATION
43AfricA’s low cost Airline: www.fly540.com
SOuTH SuDAN VISAS
All foreigners from non-Commonwealth countries are required to have a valid visa unless their countries have agreements with Tanzania under which the visa requirement is waived.
Exemptions: Citizens of Commonwealth countries are not required to obtain visas unless they are citizens of the United Kingdom, Canada, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand or Australia.
Tanzanian visas are issued by the following:• The office of the Director of Immigration Services, Dar es Salaam, and the office of the Principal Immigration Officer, Zanzibar. • Entry points to the United Republic of Tanzania: principally Namanga, Tunduma, Sirari, Horohoro, Kigoma Port, Dar es Salaam International Airport, Kilimanjaro International Airport, Zanzibar Harbour and Zanzibar Airport. • Any other gazetted entry point. • From Tanzania High Commissions or embassies abroad. For more information on Tanzanian diplomatic missions visit: www.tanzania.go.tz/tanzaniaembassiesabroad.htm
Any visitor going to South Sudan through Khartoum requires a valid visa. Visas are issued through the South Sudan Embassy.
The Republic of South Sudan has missions in Kenya, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Zimbabwe, Nigeria, South Africa, Australia, Norway, Belgium, the UK, Germany, France, Turkey, Libya, China, India, Italy, Canada and the USA.
Immigration regulations stipulate that anyone going to South Sudan and wishing to travel outside of Khartoum needs a travel permit from the Government of South Sudan. Those travelling to South Sudan from Kenya, should visit the South Sudan Embassy in Kenya.
Requirements: • All applicants to launch their visas in person• Passport must be valid for at least six month and presented on submission of application • Two recent colour passport-size photos• Yellow fever vaccination card• Letter of invitation and intent Standard Visa fees payable by balance transfer to: Government of South Sudan Special Permit Account Bank: Kenya Commercial Bank; Sarit Centre Branch A/C No. 402004247
Fees:• Multiple entry: US$250 (six months)/US$400 (one year)• Single entry for countries with common boarder with South Sudan: US$50• Single entry for other African countries: US$100• Single entry for European and US citizens: US$100
Processing period: Two working days
TANzANIAN VISAS
Vaccination requirements for international travellers
• No cholera vaccination certificates are required of travellers coming from all over the world.
• Only valid yellow fever vaccination certificates are required of all travellers over one year old, arriving from yellow fever infected countries mainly in central and West africa, South and Central america South East asia, india, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh.
• Vaccination for international travellers are obtainable from all international air and sea ports, city and major municipal councils
NB: Make sure you get your yellow fever shot in good time since the yellow fever certificate is valid for travel use 10 days after vaccination.
HEALTH
FLLFFYLL
540VAVV CA CINANN TA IO
NINFNNORMRRA
MMTAION
TRAVELINFORMATION
44 Issue 6
fOKKER f27
Type: Turboprop cargo airliner Number in service: OneCapacity per aircraft: 1336 x 210 x 190 cargo hold
bOmbARDIER DASH 8 102 SERIES ATR 72-500
CESSNA CARAVAN C208
208b gRAND CARAVAN
Type: Twin-engined, medium-range, turboprop airliner Number in service: ThreeCapacity per aircraft: 37 passengers
Type: Twin-engine turboprop short-haul regional airlinerNumber in service: TwoCapacity per aircraft: 78 passengers
Type: Single turboprop engine, fixed-gear short-haul regional airlinerNumber in service: OneCapacity per aircraft: 10 passengers
Type: Stretched version of the basic Caravan. Single turboprop engine, fixed-gear short-haul regional airlinerNumber in service: OneCapacity per aircraft: 12 passengers
Fly540 operates modern aircraft, and is constantly
updating and modernising its fleet. The company uses planes, such
as the ATR 72-500, which burn half of the fuel other models of aircraft and in turn emit less carbon into the atmosphere.
This illustrates that Fly540 is a ‘green airline’ which cares for the environment.
The crew and engineering team are professionally trained and certified to ICAO standards.
45AfricA’s low cost Airline: www.fly540.com
FLEETINFORMATION
THE fly540 AIRCRAfT flEET
HAWKER bEECHCRAfT AIRLINER b1900C
CANADAIR CL-600-2b19 REgIONAL JET
Type: Twin-engine turboprop aeroplane Number in service: OneCapacity per aircraft: 19 passengers
Type: Twin-engine regional jet Number in service: ThreeCapacity per aircraft: 50 passengers
fOKKER f28
DC-9
Type: Short range jet airliner Number in service: OneCapacity per aircraft: 67 passengers
Type: Twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner Number in service: OneCapacity per aircraft: 80 passengers
KIDZCORNER
46 Issue 646 Issue 6
KIDZCORNER
RIDDLE mE THIS...
I can be cracked,
I can be made.
I can be told,
I can be played.
What am I?
Answer: A joke
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L CO SO EH TART COmPuTER SCHOOL bOOKSDESK mATHS PENS TEACHERCHAIR EXAm
SCHOOL LIfE WORDSEARCH
Can you find the words listed below in the letter grid?
KIDZCORNER
47AfricA’s low cost Airline: www.fl y540.com
in association with
47AfricA’s low cost Airline: www.fl y540.com
JOKE TImE!
Q. What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire? A. Frostbite
Q. What dog keeps the best time?A. A watch dog
Q. What did the water say to the boat?A. Nothing, it just waved.
Patient: Doctor Doctor I think I’m a moth.Doctor: So why did you come around then?
Patient: Well, I saw this light at the window...!
B EC TO RM A
M KF NK FR T
E LH AE OS H
G RS LT XA P
I IR PE UT J
D JO EC UA R DRAWINggRID Be an artist and learn how to draw a lion… Copy the drawing of the lion by making your lines cut through the boxes exactly the same as they do in the original.
DID YOU KNOW
For all of their roaring and growling, lions are family animals and truly social in their own communities. They usually live in groups of 15 or more animals called prides. Prides can be as small as 3 or as big as 40 animals. In a pride, lions hunt prey, raise cubs, and defend their territory together.
Heritage Hotels believes in the future of our youngsters. That is why we have highly trained and dedicated naturalists to educate and entertain your children while on safari. There is always something new for the youngsters to learn or explore at the Heritage camp or lodge on your African safari. Our clubs – Adventurers for children aged four to 12 and Young Rangers for 13 to 17-year-olds – are free at Mara Intrepids, Samburu Intrepids, Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort, Voyager Beach Resort and Voyager Ziwani Tsavo.
Learn more at www.heritage-eastafrica.com/kids-teens
B O A
M T
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G P
I J
D C R
FIVE FORTY AFRICA – HEAD OFFICERiverside Green Suites, Palm Suite, Riverside DrivePO Box 10293-00100Nairobi, KenyaTel: +254 (0)20 445 2391/5Fax/Tel: +254 (0)20 445 2396Sales: Tel: +254 (0)737 540 540Email: [email protected]
WILSON AIRPORT 540 SAFARI CIRCUIT SALESGround floor, Langata House Tel: +254 (0)20 254 0206Tel: +254 (0)729 540 540Tel: +254 (0)735 540 540 Email: [email protected]
ELDORET 540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONSTel: +254 (0)53 203 3570/80
ELDORET INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT540 Ticketing & Reservations OfficeTel: +254 (0)53 203 0814Tel: +254 (0)53 206 3823 ext 658
540 CALL CENTREABC Place, off Waiyaki WayTel: +254 (0)20 445 3252/6Cell: +254 (0)722 540 540; (0)733 540 540Fax: +254 (0)20 445 3257
JOMO KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS OFFICE, Unit 3 (Domestic Departures)Tel: +254 (0)20 827 523Tel: +254 20 827 366Cell: +254 727 532 273Unit 1 (International Departures)Tel: +254 (0)20 827 521
KAKAMEGA 540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONSHolden Mall - above NakumattTel: +254 (0)734 540 550Tel: +254 (0)711 908 330
KITALE TICKETING & RESERVATIONSTerminal Building, Kitale AirstripTel: +254 (0)770 639 429Tel: +254 (0)724 457 374Tel: +254 (0)735 540 547
LAICO REGENCY – 540 TICKET-ING & RESERVATIONS Mezz. floor, Shopping ArcadeTel: +254 (0)20 224 3211/3/4Cell: +254 727 540 540; (0)737 540 540Fax: +254 (0)20 224 3219
LAMU – NORTH COAST TRAVEL SERVICETel: +254 (0)42 213 0312Tel: +254 (0)42 463 2054Tel: +254 (0)725 942 444Email: [email protected]: [email protected]
MOI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, MOMBASATel: +254 (0)41 343 4821Tel: +254 (0)32 540 540; (0)722 555 730
MOMBASA 540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS OFFICEGround Floor, Mombasa Trade Centre, Nkrumah RoadTel: +254 (0)41 231 9078/9Mob: +254 (0)728 540 540; (0)710 540 540
UKUNDA 540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS Barclays Centre, Diani RoadTel: +254 (0)20 354 6532 Tel: +254 (0)726 453 246
TANZANIADAR ES SALAAM 540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS OFFICEPlot No 767/39, Samora AvenueTel: +255 (0)22 212 5912/3Sales: Tel: +255 752 540 540; (0)788 540 540Cell: +255 754 292 675; (0)784 292 675
ARUSHA 540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS OFFICEBlue Plaza Building, Indian StreetTel: +255 (0)27 254 5211Tel: +255 (0)784 410 233
KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTTel: +255 (0)756 540 540Tel: +255 (0)27 255 4282
ZANZIBAR 540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS OFFICECine Afrique Building, Stone TownTel: +255 (0)24 223 5110Tel: +255 (0)762 540 540
uGANDAENTEBBE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS OFFICETel: +256 (0)314 540 540Tel: +256 (0)315 540 540Sales: Tel: +256 (0)713 540 540
KAMPALA 540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS OFFICE1st Floor, Oasis Mall Tel: +256 (0)414 346 915/999Tel: +256 (0)312 540 540Sales: Tel: +256 (0)712 540 540; (0)776 540 540
SOuTH SuDANJUBA 540 TICKETING & RESER-VATIONS OFFICETel: +211 959 540540; +211 999 540540Email: [email protected]
CONTACT INfORmATION
48
Contacts
Issue 6
BeLGIuMAVIAREPS AGJ.E. Mommaertslaan 16b (2nd floor), 1831 Diegem
RESERVATIONS Tel: +32 (0)2 712 04 93Fax: +32 (0)2 725 83 92Email: [email protected]
SALES Tel: +32 (0)2 712 05 84Fax: +32 (0)2 725 83 92Email: [email protected]
GeRMANYAVIAREPS AGKaiserstrasse 7760329 Frankfurt am Main
RESERVATIONS Tel: +49 (0)69 770 673 076Fax: +49 (0)69 770 673 028Email: [email protected]
SALES Tel: +49 (0) 69 770 673 077Fax: +49 (0)69 770 673 235Email: [email protected]
ITALYAVIAREPS AGVia Monte Rosa, 20 20149 Milan
RESERVATIONS Tel: +39 02 4345 8346Fax: +39 02 4345 8336Email: [email protected]
SALES & MARKETING MANAGERMaria Rosa Cappelli Mobile: +39 335 778 5936Email: [email protected]
NeTHeRLANDSAVIAREPS AGBeechavenue 104 1119 PP Schiphol
RESERVATIONS Tel: +31 (0)20 654 79 29Fax: +31 (0)20 623 01 51Email: [email protected]
SALES Tel: +31 (0)20 520 02 82Fax: +31 (0)20 623 01 51 Email: [email protected]
RuSSIAN FeDeRATIONGSA AVIAREPS AGProspect Mira, 39 Bldg 2129110 Moscow
RESERVATIONSTel: +7 (495) 937 59 50Fax: +7 (495) 937 5951 Email: [email protected]
SALESTel: +7 (495) 937 59 50Fax: +7 (495) 937 5951 Email: [email protected]
SOuTH AFRICAAVIAREPS (PTY) LTD38 Wierda Road WestWierda ValleySandton, Johannesburg
RESERVATIONS Tel: +27 (0) 11 722 0229Fax: +27 (0) 11 783 8135Email: [email protected]
SALESTel: +27 (0) 722 0229 / +27 74 177 1596Fax: +27 (0) 783 8135Email: [email protected]
SWITZeRLANDAIRLINE & TOURISM CENTER GMBH Badenerstr. 15, CH-8004 ZürichRESERVATIONS & SALESTel: +41 (0) 44 286 99 62Fax: +41 (0) 44 286 99 63Email: [email protected]
uNITeD KINGDOMFLY540c/o AviaCircle, 28-29 The Quadrant Business Centre, 135 Salisbury RoadLondon, NW6 6RJ
RESERVATIONSTel: 0870 774 2250Fax: 0870 777 7172Email: [email protected]
SALESTel: 0870 774 2250Fax: 0870 774 2250Email: [email protected]
540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS
