FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2008
This morning news broke that effective as of January 26th, 2008 at 1:10pm, the Zambian Government has scrapped their visa waiver program and all visitors require a visa to visit or transit through the country.
The prices for a Visitors’ Visa are as follows:
BRITISH NATIONALS
SINGLE ENTRY: GBP75.00 or USD140.00
MULTIPLE ENTRY: GBP240.00 or USD442.00
UNITED STATES of AMERICA NATIONALS
STANDARD VISA: USD135.00
CANADIAN NATIONALS
STANDARD VISA: USD55.00
ALL OTHER NATIONALS
SINGLE ENTRY: USD50.00
DOUBLE ENTRY: USD80.00
MULTIPLE ENTRY: USD160.00
This information was received from Zambia this morning, Monday January 28, 2008 at 4:25am EST Local Time. 2AFRIKA, INC. assumes no responsibility for the actions of the Zambian Government and apologizes in advance to any of its passengers who are currently en-route to Zambia for not advising them ahead of time. Visas are issued at the Border Posts and only USD CASH is a legal tender for the purchase thereof. No other forms of payment will be accepted (Credit Cards/Travelers Checks/Local Currency etc.)
For further information on this Safari or any other Safari in the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Collection, visit us on the web at http://www.2afrika.com/
The ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA, INC. remains committed to Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism.
If you would like to comment on this Blog Post, please communicate directly with the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Founder & President, Kenneth R. Hieber, electronically via kenneth@2afrika.com
Monday, January 28, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
2AFRIKA's Dominik Zakrzewski launches Valentine's Day Special to Botswana
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 23, 2008
HEIGHTEN YOUR SENSES IN AFRICA – COUPLES ONLY – SAVE $600.00 PER COUPLE
Botswana never looked better – this year, 2AFRIKA, INC. in keeping with its tradition of Keeping Africa Affordable has created limited-space Botswana Special for Valentine’s Day.
Set to depart on February 12th, A SENSUOUS SAFARI will include scheduled air from JFK, 1 night in Johannesburg and 5 nights on Safari at Chobe Safari Lodge – Botswana with all meals included, 7-Safari & Cultural Activities in addition to a full day excursion to the Victoria Falls. This Safari will arrive back into JFK on February 20th and the price is ONLY $2,590.00 per person sharing + tax (a saving of $600.00 per couple). Also includes all Airline Fuel Surcharges and Mandatory Taxes. Only 40 spaces available (20 couples) and this is a ‘couples only’ departure – not an organized group tour.
For further information contact Dominik Zakrzewski Toll-Free on 1-866-462-2374 X 202 or via dominik@2afrika.com
For further information on this Safari or any other Safari in the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Collection, visit us on the web at http://www.2afrika.com/
The ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA, INC. remains committed to Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism.
If you would like to comment on this Blog Post, please communicate directly with the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Founder & President, Kenneth R. Hieber, electronically via kenneth@2afrika.com
January 23, 2008
HEIGHTEN YOUR SENSES IN AFRICA – COUPLES ONLY – SAVE $600.00 PER COUPLE
Botswana never looked better – this year, 2AFRIKA, INC. in keeping with its tradition of Keeping Africa Affordable has created limited-space Botswana Special for Valentine’s Day.
Set to depart on February 12th, A SENSUOUS SAFARI will include scheduled air from JFK, 1 night in Johannesburg and 5 nights on Safari at Chobe Safari Lodge – Botswana with all meals included, 7-Safari & Cultural Activities in addition to a full day excursion to the Victoria Falls. This Safari will arrive back into JFK on February 20th and the price is ONLY $2,590.00 per person sharing + tax (a saving of $600.00 per couple). Also includes all Airline Fuel Surcharges and Mandatory Taxes. Only 40 spaces available (20 couples) and this is a ‘couples only’ departure – not an organized group tour.
For further information contact Dominik Zakrzewski Toll-Free on 1-866-462-2374 X 202 or via dominik@2afrika.com
For further information on this Safari or any other Safari in the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Collection, visit us on the web at http://www.2afrika.com/
The ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA, INC. remains committed to Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism.
If you would like to comment on this Blog Post, please communicate directly with the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Founder & President, Kenneth R. Hieber, electronically via kenneth@2afrika.com
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
This Report Just In From Kenya
January 22, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today Nairobi was calm and all was operating as normal, apart from an incident this morning when a small crowd gathered in the city centre and attempted to hold a demonstration in support of the President. This was quickly dispersed by the police and all quickly returned to normal. There were no reports of any injuries and no tourists were reported to be in the vicinity of this demonstration. No problems were reported today in the Nairobi slums. The airports operated as normal and all roads were open as usual.
Mombasa and the coastal areas: all calm and quiet with business as usual in Mombasa town and all roads open as normal.
No problems were reported in any of the wildlife parks and reserves, with all tourist routes open for traffic as normal to all the leading parks and reserves including the Mara, Lake Nakuru, Aberdares, Laikipia, Samburu, Meru, Mt Kenya, Amboseli, Tsavo, Shimba Hills and the community wildlife conservancies.
Once again there were no reports of any problems affecting tourists staying in Nairobi hotels, beach resorts, on safari, or transferring between airports and hotels.
The scenes of violent demonstrations and confrontations with police which have been frequently screened on international TV networks during the last fortnight have been sporadic and isolated, confined to certain parts of Kenya and have not occurred across the whole country. They have largely taken place in some of Nairobi’s slums and areas of Western Kenya around Kisumu-Kericho-Eldoret which are not often visited by tourists. These areas are at present off-limits for tourists and have been avoided by tour operators since the onset of the post-election crisis. The tourist resorts and wildlife parks have been unaffected and tourists continue to visit these areas without a problem.
The arrival of Kofi Annan is expected today and it is hoped that he will be able to assist as a mediator between both sides in the current political impasse to achieve an early settlement.
The British Travel Advisory was amended on Saturday so that it is no longer a blanket “non-essential travel” warning against the whole of Kenya and applies only to specific locations, in line with our own recommendations, and on similar lines to the US and German government advisories.
For further information on this Safari or any other Safari in the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Collection, visit us on the web at http://www.2afrika.com/
The ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA, INC. remains committed to Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism.
If you would like to comment on this Blog Post, please communicate directly with the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Founder & President, Kenneth R. Hieber, electronically via kenneth@2afrika.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today Nairobi was calm and all was operating as normal, apart from an incident this morning when a small crowd gathered in the city centre and attempted to hold a demonstration in support of the President. This was quickly dispersed by the police and all quickly returned to normal. There were no reports of any injuries and no tourists were reported to be in the vicinity of this demonstration. No problems were reported today in the Nairobi slums. The airports operated as normal and all roads were open as usual.
Mombasa and the coastal areas: all calm and quiet with business as usual in Mombasa town and all roads open as normal.
No problems were reported in any of the wildlife parks and reserves, with all tourist routes open for traffic as normal to all the leading parks and reserves including the Mara, Lake Nakuru, Aberdares, Laikipia, Samburu, Meru, Mt Kenya, Amboseli, Tsavo, Shimba Hills and the community wildlife conservancies.
Once again there were no reports of any problems affecting tourists staying in Nairobi hotels, beach resorts, on safari, or transferring between airports and hotels.
The scenes of violent demonstrations and confrontations with police which have been frequently screened on international TV networks during the last fortnight have been sporadic and isolated, confined to certain parts of Kenya and have not occurred across the whole country. They have largely taken place in some of Nairobi’s slums and areas of Western Kenya around Kisumu-Kericho-Eldoret which are not often visited by tourists. These areas are at present off-limits for tourists and have been avoided by tour operators since the onset of the post-election crisis. The tourist resorts and wildlife parks have been unaffected and tourists continue to visit these areas without a problem.
The arrival of Kofi Annan is expected today and it is hoped that he will be able to assist as a mediator between both sides in the current political impasse to achieve an early settlement.
The British Travel Advisory was amended on Saturday so that it is no longer a blanket “non-essential travel” warning against the whole of Kenya and applies only to specific locations, in line with our own recommendations, and on similar lines to the US and German government advisories.
For further information on this Safari or any other Safari in the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Collection, visit us on the web at http://www.2afrika.com/
The ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA, INC. remains committed to Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism.
If you would like to comment on this Blog Post, please communicate directly with the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Founder & President, Kenneth R. Hieber, electronically via kenneth@2afrika.com
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Kenya Tourism Federation Sees Calm Returning to Country
January 17, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In its continuing daily news updates since the unrest in Kenya that followed the contested presidential elections, the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) reported that the opening of the Kenya Parliament took place without any public disturbance. There was a strong police presence around parliament to ensure there was no disorder and the authorities decided not to close the Uhuru Highway so tourist traffic continued as normal past Parliament for airport transfers and for safaris departing or driving through Nairobi.
KTF said that the opposition party has a parliamentary majority, 105 seats to 102, which may mean the opposition can pursue its interests in Parliament rather than on the streets. KTF said it was encouraged by positive comments from the leadership on opposite sides of the political divide quoted by the BBC today: According to the opposition's ODM MP Najib Balala, "We want to prove to the world we are not going to act in an uncivilized way. We are going to parliament, we are going to show that we are controlling parliament." On the government side, Justice Minister Martha Karua told the BBC she believed cooler heads would prevail. "We are ready to navigate through a hung parliament through persuasion, through negotiations," she said. "We expect that eventually everybody will come to their senses, and realize that we've got to learn to live with each other."
The main opposition party, ODM, announced that they would hold rallies in different parts of the country today and on Thursday and Friday this week but issued assurances that that these are intended to be peaceful. KTF reported that several small groups attempted to assemble in different parts of both Nairobi and in Mombasa on Wednesday in response to the call for rallies, but were quickly dispersed after minor skirmishes with the police, with no reports of violence. It is reported that a more serious demonstration took place in the Kibera slum in Nairobi. but it did not spread beyond Kibera. In Kisumu. it is reported that there were violent confrontations between police and demonstrators which were dispersed by the police but at this stage KTF said it does not have further details. In Eldoret demonstrators are reported to have been dispersed by police. It should be noted that the Kisumu-Kericho-Eldoret area is considered off-limits for tourists and is being avoided by tour operators.
The security situation continues as before with no tourists affected at the beach resorts, in the international Nairobi hotels or in the wildlife parks and any violent confrontations between protesters and police confined to the slums and to places in Western Kenya far away from the areas currently visited by tourists.
For further information on this Safari or any other Safari in the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Collection, visit us on the web at http://www.2afrika.com/
The ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA, INC. remains committed to Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism.
If you would like to comment on this Blog Post, please communicate directly with the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Founder & President, Kenneth R. Hieber, electronically via kenneth@2afrika.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In its continuing daily news updates since the unrest in Kenya that followed the contested presidential elections, the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) reported that the opening of the Kenya Parliament took place without any public disturbance. There was a strong police presence around parliament to ensure there was no disorder and the authorities decided not to close the Uhuru Highway so tourist traffic continued as normal past Parliament for airport transfers and for safaris departing or driving through Nairobi.
KTF said that the opposition party has a parliamentary majority, 105 seats to 102, which may mean the opposition can pursue its interests in Parliament rather than on the streets. KTF said it was encouraged by positive comments from the leadership on opposite sides of the political divide quoted by the BBC today: According to the opposition's ODM MP Najib Balala, "We want to prove to the world we are not going to act in an uncivilized way. We are going to parliament, we are going to show that we are controlling parliament." On the government side, Justice Minister Martha Karua told the BBC she believed cooler heads would prevail. "We are ready to navigate through a hung parliament through persuasion, through negotiations," she said. "We expect that eventually everybody will come to their senses, and realize that we've got to learn to live with each other."
The main opposition party, ODM, announced that they would hold rallies in different parts of the country today and on Thursday and Friday this week but issued assurances that that these are intended to be peaceful. KTF reported that several small groups attempted to assemble in different parts of both Nairobi and in Mombasa on Wednesday in response to the call for rallies, but were quickly dispersed after minor skirmishes with the police, with no reports of violence. It is reported that a more serious demonstration took place in the Kibera slum in Nairobi. but it did not spread beyond Kibera. In Kisumu. it is reported that there were violent confrontations between police and demonstrators which were dispersed by the police but at this stage KTF said it does not have further details. In Eldoret demonstrators are reported to have been dispersed by police. It should be noted that the Kisumu-Kericho-Eldoret area is considered off-limits for tourists and is being avoided by tour operators.
The security situation continues as before with no tourists affected at the beach resorts, in the international Nairobi hotels or in the wildlife parks and any violent confrontations between protesters and police confined to the slums and to places in Western Kenya far away from the areas currently visited by tourists.
For further information on this Safari or any other Safari in the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Collection, visit us on the web at http://www.2afrika.com/
The ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA, INC. remains committed to Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism.
If you would like to comment on this Blog Post, please communicate directly with the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Founder & President, Kenneth R. Hieber, electronically via kenneth@2afrika.com
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Kenya Tourist Board Update On Recent Events Over Contested Kenya’s 2007 Presidential Election
January 15, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kenya tourism officials are working diligently to ensure the safety and security of visitors to the country. In order to keep the traveling public up-to-date on the situation on ground in Kenya, we are sending out continual updates on the current state of affairs within the country with regard to the tourism infrastructure. Please be sure to monitor the situation on all fronts, as the situation is fluid and can change at any time. The KTB strongly urges travelers and travel suppliers to make informed decisions based upon all the information that is available on Kenya’s state-of-affairs by continually checking with all available informed sources. As always, all U.S. travelers into Kenya should register themselves through the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi at: http://travelregistration.state.gov.
Nairobi
Once again there were no security problems in Nairobi and it was a normal Monday with busy traffic in the city centre and all offices and banks open as usual.
There were no problems for any tourist vehicles driving through the city, no delays, and all transfers to and from the airport and to the Nairobi hotels operated as normal.
Mombasa
Everything is back to normal and there were no problems affecting tourists in any of the beach resorts or in Mombasa. The Likoni ferries are in operation as normal. Some tour operators have now re-introduced City Tours once again into Mombasa and all safaris and excursions out of Mombasa continue as usual. There have been no crowds or demonstrations apart from a small group of youths attempting to hold a peaceful procession at 11 am but who were dispersed by police without any violent confrontation. All transfers and safaris continue to operate as normal from Mombasa.
Parks and Reserves
There were no reports of any problems anywhere in the parks, reserves or tourist routes. All national parks and reserves may be visited by road or air as normal. The daily scheduled services linking all the parks continue to operate as normal.
Western Kenya
Although there were no reports of any problems in Western Kenya today, we recommend that the areas beyond Nakuru to Eldoret, Kericho, Kakamega and Kisumu continue to remain off-limits to tourists for the time being. However these are not areas normally visited by tourists as part of their safari itinerary. Kenya Airways continue to operate flights to Kisumu and have added a daily service to Eldoret.
Overall there is a feeling that things are quickly getting back to normal and calm has been restored.
There is now increased attention being given to people who were displaced by the unrest a week ago. The tourism industry is joining other organisations in supporting the Kenya Red Cross in providing food and shelter – details will be provided shortly. There are adequate stocks of food and fuel in Kenya and transport services have resumed so that deliveries are being made to areas where supplies had been disrupted.
The large rallies planned for Tuesday have been cancelled and the political parties now appear to be moving towards negotiation to try to resolve the current political crisis.
Throughout the period of civil unrest and even at the height of the problems when there was continual footage of riots on TV, no tourists were harmed in any way, in spite of over 30,000 international tourists being in Kenya. The tourism industry ensured that there was close liaison and communication 24 hrs a day to avoid tourists being endangered. Now it appears that tensions are being calmed and that normalcy has returned.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - The U.S. State Department has updated travel information for Americans travelling to Kenya on their website. For more information please visit www.travel.state.gov. Additionally, travellers can visit the U.S. Embassy site in Nairobi at www.kenya.usembassy.gov.
We will advise if there are any changes in the situation in Kenya, but at present, we continue to welcome North American travelers and all tourism infrastructure units are operating as normal. We are monitoring the situation carefully and will continue to distribute updates on the status of this situation if changes arise. For additional information, please contact the Kenya Tourist Board at 866-44-KENYA / infousa@magicalkenya.com.
For further information on this Safari or any other Safari in the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Collection, visit us on the web at http://www.2afrika.com/
The ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA, INC. remains committed to Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism.
If you would like to comment on this Blog Post, please communicate directly with the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Founder & President, Kenneth R. Hieber, electronically via kenneth@2afrika.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kenya tourism officials are working diligently to ensure the safety and security of visitors to the country. In order to keep the traveling public up-to-date on the situation on ground in Kenya, we are sending out continual updates on the current state of affairs within the country with regard to the tourism infrastructure. Please be sure to monitor the situation on all fronts, as the situation is fluid and can change at any time. The KTB strongly urges travelers and travel suppliers to make informed decisions based upon all the information that is available on Kenya’s state-of-affairs by continually checking with all available informed sources. As always, all U.S. travelers into Kenya should register themselves through the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi at: http://travelregistration.state.gov.
Nairobi
Once again there were no security problems in Nairobi and it was a normal Monday with busy traffic in the city centre and all offices and banks open as usual.
There were no problems for any tourist vehicles driving through the city, no delays, and all transfers to and from the airport and to the Nairobi hotels operated as normal.
Mombasa
Everything is back to normal and there were no problems affecting tourists in any of the beach resorts or in Mombasa. The Likoni ferries are in operation as normal. Some tour operators have now re-introduced City Tours once again into Mombasa and all safaris and excursions out of Mombasa continue as usual. There have been no crowds or demonstrations apart from a small group of youths attempting to hold a peaceful procession at 11 am but who were dispersed by police without any violent confrontation. All transfers and safaris continue to operate as normal from Mombasa.
Parks and Reserves
There were no reports of any problems anywhere in the parks, reserves or tourist routes. All national parks and reserves may be visited by road or air as normal. The daily scheduled services linking all the parks continue to operate as normal.
Western Kenya
Although there were no reports of any problems in Western Kenya today, we recommend that the areas beyond Nakuru to Eldoret, Kericho, Kakamega and Kisumu continue to remain off-limits to tourists for the time being. However these are not areas normally visited by tourists as part of their safari itinerary. Kenya Airways continue to operate flights to Kisumu and have added a daily service to Eldoret.
Overall there is a feeling that things are quickly getting back to normal and calm has been restored.
There is now increased attention being given to people who were displaced by the unrest a week ago. The tourism industry is joining other organisations in supporting the Kenya Red Cross in providing food and shelter – details will be provided shortly. There are adequate stocks of food and fuel in Kenya and transport services have resumed so that deliveries are being made to areas where supplies had been disrupted.
The large rallies planned for Tuesday have been cancelled and the political parties now appear to be moving towards negotiation to try to resolve the current political crisis.
Throughout the period of civil unrest and even at the height of the problems when there was continual footage of riots on TV, no tourists were harmed in any way, in spite of over 30,000 international tourists being in Kenya. The tourism industry ensured that there was close liaison and communication 24 hrs a day to avoid tourists being endangered. Now it appears that tensions are being calmed and that normalcy has returned.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - The U.S. State Department has updated travel information for Americans travelling to Kenya on their website. For more information please visit www.travel.state.gov. Additionally, travellers can visit the U.S. Embassy site in Nairobi at www.kenya.usembassy.gov.
We will advise if there are any changes in the situation in Kenya, but at present, we continue to welcome North American travelers and all tourism infrastructure units are operating as normal. We are monitoring the situation carefully and will continue to distribute updates on the status of this situation if changes arise. For additional information, please contact the Kenya Tourist Board at 866-44-KENYA / infousa@magicalkenya.com.
For further information on this Safari or any other Safari in the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Collection, visit us on the web at http://www.2afrika.com/
The ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA, INC. remains committed to Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism.
If you would like to comment on this Blog Post, please communicate directly with the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Founder & President, Kenneth R. Hieber, electronically via kenneth@2afrika.com
Monday, January 14, 2008
2AFRIKA, INC. Founder & President, Kenneth R. Hieber with a follow up ‘update’ relative to travel to Kenya
January 14, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
This just in from the Kenya Tourist Board . . .
As most businesses in Kenya get back to normal operations after the skirmishes that occurred after Kenya’s contested Presidential Election in late December, Kenya’s largest, most powerful, industry is beginning to suffer. Kenya’s tourism industry contributes an astounding US$900 million to the country’s economy, and for the first time ever this past year, tourism surpassed agriculture as the country’s top economic earner.
The effects of a downturn in tourism could be devastating. With tourism directly employing over 250,000 Kenyans in 2006, about 4.2% of the workforce and the tourism economy employing over 550,000 Kenyans indirectly (9.2% of the workforce)*, tourism is critical to providing a basic way of life and decent wages for thousands of Kenyans. On average, ten family members depend economically upon each employed person in Kenya. Any downslide in tourism will affect the livelihood of a huge percentage of the local population.
“It is critical that Kenya rebounds from this crisis,” stated Jake Grieves Cook, spokesperson for the Kenya tourism industry and former Chairman of the Kenya Tourist Board. “We are actively working to ensure we won’t have permanent affects from this.” This week, officers and stakeholders from Kenya’s tourism industry, the Kenya Tourist Board and the Kenya Tourism Federation have been meeting to plan recovery efforts in order to begin wooing tourists back to this normally peace-loving, democratic country.
“We feel Kenya built Africa’s tourism, we’ve been in this business for over 75 years, welcoming visitors from all around the world. We’ve overcome many crises during these times, but no one has ever seen anything like this before,” stated Cook, “Kenyans are ready to get back to business. To those who have been to Kenya and fallen in love with Africa, we ask you to come back. Just by visiting you are helping the recovery that Kenya’s economy so urgently needs. This is the type of support we need right now. After all, Kenya’s tourism growth is due to our repeat clientele.”
What tourism stakeholders are most worried about is the unfortunate fact that the pictures and words transmitted by the international media have greatly damaged Kenya’s image during this past week. “The regrettable clashes that have occurred after the presidential election were atrocities and terribly dreadful to say the least,” said Grieves-Cook. ‘The media, of course, focused solely on that. In fact, only a small proportion of our country – which is greater than the size of France – was affected in any way and there were no problems at all in areas frequented by tourists. We have had no tourists be directly hurt or entangled in these skirmishes. We had over 40,000 tourists traveling in Kenya at the time this situation unfolded with not one harmed or even inconvenienced in any way.
Sunit Sanghrajka, Owner and President of a luxury operator focused on safaris to Africa, just arrived back from Kenya this week. “There were 33 of us in our party in Kenya for a family reunion. While we were following the election results since this was one hotly contested race that caused much excitement on the part of every Kenya. We felt safe… we were having ice cold beers on the beach and having great discussions with all the hotel employees who were still very optimistic about the future of the country. Not only that,” added Sanghrajka, “we had clients in Samburu, Nanyuki, the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Laikipia, Malindi, Watamu, Diani and Nairobi…. not one of them had any issues. Unless you were in Eldoret, parts of Mombasa or Kisumu or in a slum in Nairobi, you were probably completely oblivious to the violence. The international news scared us because the images we saw on the TV at the beach bar made it seem like we were on the brink of civil war, mentioning Darfur and Genocide in Rwanda! The situation was nowhere near that dire….what a bunch of baloney!”
Unfortunately, certain travel advisories issued out of Europe are making operators cancel charters to the country; which is specifically hurting the coastal beach resorts to the north and south of Mombasa, where many Europeans plan their beach holidays. Most coastal hotels are reporting cancellations of about 70-90% for the later weeks of January. Whether the good booking figures for February and March will remain depends on the status of those European travel advisories. Interestingly enough, some advisories, like Germany’s, still allow travel to Kenya. Guests who decided to carry on with their travel plans are in Kenya now, enjoying recreational activities, day trips to Mombasa and the coast and safaris to a variety of Kenya’s renowned game parks.
The United States, normally known for its strong travel advisories, issued a Travel Alert advising travelers to consider the risks of travel to Kenya but did not reissue a Travel Warning for the country. Although a Travel Warning for Kenya has been in place for almost four years with little to no change, Americans have been visiting Kenya in droves over the last few years. American travelers had always been the third largest group of visitors to the country but two years ago, even amidst the ever-present Travel Warning, U.S. visitors surpassed the German market to become the second most important market for Kenya (over 100,000 Americans visited Kenya in 2007). This week U.S. operators have reported they continue to send their tourists to Kenya and have only seen about an average of 10-30% cancellations versus the drastic European cuts.
“What is really exacerbating the problem is the fact that we’re in a global communications arena, and what the media is reporting on is localized to specific and small regions in Kenya. Some newspapers are stating all tour operators are canceling trips to Kenya; which is not the case. There have been no flight bans and no evacuations. Many companies including North American tour operators are still running their safaris. Of course there have been cancellations and rescheduling of travel dates, but all international and domestic flights are keeping to schedule, all airports are open (they have never closed) and groups of visitors are still arriving and having fabulous safaris,” says O’ngonga Achieng, Managing Director of the Kenya Tourist Board. “Obviously, in countries where non-essential travel advisories have been issued, like France and the United Kingdom, we’ve seen a substantial and damaging drop in arrival numbers but we do expect that these travel advisories will be amended and we can start, with the help of our American and Canadian visitors, to recover our position as a top destination. After all, we Kenyans know all about travel – this is where the safari originated.”
2AFRIKA, INC. remains steadfast in its decision! We will not put any of our valued passengers in harm’s way. At this time, we feel that there is no need for anyone to cancel or postpone their Safari arrangements. Our statistics show that passengers traveling with us have either departed and returned or will commence their Safari arrangements in March to which end, there is no need for immediate cancellation. As is typical of 2AFRIKA, INC. we will not penalize any passenger who wants to cancel their Safari arrangements. Whilst it appears relatively calm in Kenya, if any of our passengers wish to cancel their upcoming Safari’s, we will not force a cancellation penalty – rather, we will credit the passengers account for use at a later time or we will re-route passengers to other parts of the Continent.
For further information on this Safari or any other Safari in the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Collection, visit us on the web at http://www.2afrika.com/
The ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA, INC. remains committed to Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism.
If you would like to comment on this Blog Post, please communicate directly with the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Founder & President, Kenneth R. Hieber, electronically via kenneth@2afrika.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
This just in from the Kenya Tourist Board . . .
As most businesses in Kenya get back to normal operations after the skirmishes that occurred after Kenya’s contested Presidential Election in late December, Kenya’s largest, most powerful, industry is beginning to suffer. Kenya’s tourism industry contributes an astounding US$900 million to the country’s economy, and for the first time ever this past year, tourism surpassed agriculture as the country’s top economic earner.
The effects of a downturn in tourism could be devastating. With tourism directly employing over 250,000 Kenyans in 2006, about 4.2% of the workforce and the tourism economy employing over 550,000 Kenyans indirectly (9.2% of the workforce)*, tourism is critical to providing a basic way of life and decent wages for thousands of Kenyans. On average, ten family members depend economically upon each employed person in Kenya. Any downslide in tourism will affect the livelihood of a huge percentage of the local population.
“It is critical that Kenya rebounds from this crisis,” stated Jake Grieves Cook, spokesperson for the Kenya tourism industry and former Chairman of the Kenya Tourist Board. “We are actively working to ensure we won’t have permanent affects from this.” This week, officers and stakeholders from Kenya’s tourism industry, the Kenya Tourist Board and the Kenya Tourism Federation have been meeting to plan recovery efforts in order to begin wooing tourists back to this normally peace-loving, democratic country.
“We feel Kenya built Africa’s tourism, we’ve been in this business for over 75 years, welcoming visitors from all around the world. We’ve overcome many crises during these times, but no one has ever seen anything like this before,” stated Cook, “Kenyans are ready to get back to business. To those who have been to Kenya and fallen in love with Africa, we ask you to come back. Just by visiting you are helping the recovery that Kenya’s economy so urgently needs. This is the type of support we need right now. After all, Kenya’s tourism growth is due to our repeat clientele.”
What tourism stakeholders are most worried about is the unfortunate fact that the pictures and words transmitted by the international media have greatly damaged Kenya’s image during this past week. “The regrettable clashes that have occurred after the presidential election were atrocities and terribly dreadful to say the least,” said Grieves-Cook. ‘The media, of course, focused solely on that. In fact, only a small proportion of our country – which is greater than the size of France – was affected in any way and there were no problems at all in areas frequented by tourists. We have had no tourists be directly hurt or entangled in these skirmishes. We had over 40,000 tourists traveling in Kenya at the time this situation unfolded with not one harmed or even inconvenienced in any way.
Sunit Sanghrajka, Owner and President of a luxury operator focused on safaris to Africa, just arrived back from Kenya this week. “There were 33 of us in our party in Kenya for a family reunion. While we were following the election results since this was one hotly contested race that caused much excitement on the part of every Kenya. We felt safe… we were having ice cold beers on the beach and having great discussions with all the hotel employees who were still very optimistic about the future of the country. Not only that,” added Sanghrajka, “we had clients in Samburu, Nanyuki, the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Laikipia, Malindi, Watamu, Diani and Nairobi…. not one of them had any issues. Unless you were in Eldoret, parts of Mombasa or Kisumu or in a slum in Nairobi, you were probably completely oblivious to the violence. The international news scared us because the images we saw on the TV at the beach bar made it seem like we were on the brink of civil war, mentioning Darfur and Genocide in Rwanda! The situation was nowhere near that dire….what a bunch of baloney!”
Unfortunately, certain travel advisories issued out of Europe are making operators cancel charters to the country; which is specifically hurting the coastal beach resorts to the north and south of Mombasa, where many Europeans plan their beach holidays. Most coastal hotels are reporting cancellations of about 70-90% for the later weeks of January. Whether the good booking figures for February and March will remain depends on the status of those European travel advisories. Interestingly enough, some advisories, like Germany’s, still allow travel to Kenya. Guests who decided to carry on with their travel plans are in Kenya now, enjoying recreational activities, day trips to Mombasa and the coast and safaris to a variety of Kenya’s renowned game parks.
The United States, normally known for its strong travel advisories, issued a Travel Alert advising travelers to consider the risks of travel to Kenya but did not reissue a Travel Warning for the country. Although a Travel Warning for Kenya has been in place for almost four years with little to no change, Americans have been visiting Kenya in droves over the last few years. American travelers had always been the third largest group of visitors to the country but two years ago, even amidst the ever-present Travel Warning, U.S. visitors surpassed the German market to become the second most important market for Kenya (over 100,000 Americans visited Kenya in 2007). This week U.S. operators have reported they continue to send their tourists to Kenya and have only seen about an average of 10-30% cancellations versus the drastic European cuts.
“What is really exacerbating the problem is the fact that we’re in a global communications arena, and what the media is reporting on is localized to specific and small regions in Kenya. Some newspapers are stating all tour operators are canceling trips to Kenya; which is not the case. There have been no flight bans and no evacuations. Many companies including North American tour operators are still running their safaris. Of course there have been cancellations and rescheduling of travel dates, but all international and domestic flights are keeping to schedule, all airports are open (they have never closed) and groups of visitors are still arriving and having fabulous safaris,” says O’ngonga Achieng, Managing Director of the Kenya Tourist Board. “Obviously, in countries where non-essential travel advisories have been issued, like France and the United Kingdom, we’ve seen a substantial and damaging drop in arrival numbers but we do expect that these travel advisories will be amended and we can start, with the help of our American and Canadian visitors, to recover our position as a top destination. After all, we Kenyans know all about travel – this is where the safari originated.”
2AFRIKA, INC. remains steadfast in its decision! We will not put any of our valued passengers in harm’s way. At this time, we feel that there is no need for anyone to cancel or postpone their Safari arrangements. Our statistics show that passengers traveling with us have either departed and returned or will commence their Safari arrangements in March to which end, there is no need for immediate cancellation. As is typical of 2AFRIKA, INC. we will not penalize any passenger who wants to cancel their Safari arrangements. Whilst it appears relatively calm in Kenya, if any of our passengers wish to cancel their upcoming Safari’s, we will not force a cancellation penalty – rather, we will credit the passengers account for use at a later time or we will re-route passengers to other parts of the Continent.
For further information on this Safari or any other Safari in the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Collection, visit us on the web at http://www.2afrika.com/
The ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA, INC. remains committed to Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism.
If you would like to comment on this Blog Post, please communicate directly with the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Founder & President, Kenneth R. Hieber, electronically via kenneth@2afrika.com
Friday, January 4, 2008
2AFRIKA Founder & President, Kenneth R. Hieber with an update monitoring Kenya
January 04, 2008
Dear Friend of 2AFRIKA – Happy New Year to you and yours. As you are probably aware, I am currently in Africa scouting around for the next best ‘destination’ having just enjoyed the most splendid Holiday Season with my family.
It saddens me to learn of the unnecessary strife currently taking place in Kenya – such a shame when people cannot live alongside each other in harmony. Particularly since my late 2007 visit to the Kingdom of Lesotho was such a ‘simple’ delight.
Please know that during our 13-years operating in the United States, our paramount consideration has always been and always will remain your ‘safety’ whilst on Safari with us.
To that (continuing) end, I would like you to rest assured that at this time, we are monitoring the unfortunate situation and will NOT (permit me to repeat) NOT put any one of our very valued passengers in harm’s way under any circumstances what so ever.
As I am currently in Africa, I will be making a side-trip to Kenya prior to returning to the United States where I will arrive on 1/14 at which time I will update you on the situation as I see it and where adjustments to itineraries need to be made, so will it be done. No one will be put in harm’s way and no one will loose – we will negotiate with the airlines and the lodges to ensure that everyone who has paid in full for a safari will always have a credit to use with us in the future toward another Safari of the same equal value.
Moving forward, I see no immediate need for concern but assure you that I will be personally monitoring the situation and will keep you apprised of my decisions concerning your safety!
During this period, thank you for your patience, understanding and cooperation.
Kenneth R. Hieber
President
2AFRIKA, INC.
For further information on this Safari or any other Safari in the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Collection, visit us on the web at http://www.2afrika.com/
The ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA, INC. remains committed to Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism.
If you would like to comment on this Blog Post, please communicate directly with the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Founder & President, Kenneth R. Hieber, electronically via kenneth@2afrika.com
Dear Friend of 2AFRIKA – Happy New Year to you and yours. As you are probably aware, I am currently in Africa scouting around for the next best ‘destination’ having just enjoyed the most splendid Holiday Season with my family.
It saddens me to learn of the unnecessary strife currently taking place in Kenya – such a shame when people cannot live alongside each other in harmony. Particularly since my late 2007 visit to the Kingdom of Lesotho was such a ‘simple’ delight.
Please know that during our 13-years operating in the United States, our paramount consideration has always been and always will remain your ‘safety’ whilst on Safari with us.
To that (continuing) end, I would like you to rest assured that at this time, we are monitoring the unfortunate situation and will NOT (permit me to repeat) NOT put any one of our very valued passengers in harm’s way under any circumstances what so ever.
As I am currently in Africa, I will be making a side-trip to Kenya prior to returning to the United States where I will arrive on 1/14 at which time I will update you on the situation as I see it and where adjustments to itineraries need to be made, so will it be done. No one will be put in harm’s way and no one will loose – we will negotiate with the airlines and the lodges to ensure that everyone who has paid in full for a safari will always have a credit to use with us in the future toward another Safari of the same equal value.
Moving forward, I see no immediate need for concern but assure you that I will be personally monitoring the situation and will keep you apprised of my decisions concerning your safety!
During this period, thank you for your patience, understanding and cooperation.
Kenneth R. Hieber
President
2AFRIKA, INC.
For further information on this Safari or any other Safari in the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Collection, visit us on the web at http://www.2afrika.com/
The ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA, INC. remains committed to Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism.
If you would like to comment on this Blog Post, please communicate directly with the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Founder & President, Kenneth R. Hieber, electronically via kenneth@2afrika.com
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
WHAT A WAY TO SPEND THE FIRST EVENING OF THE NEW YEAR – A ROVING REPORT FROM KENNETH R. HIEBER
Verulam, KwaZulu/Natal
Republic of South Africa
January 02, 2008
Hello again and now officially Happy New Year!
Here in Africa, we ushered the New Year in very quietly without pomp and ceremony – but I’d be lying if I told you that a few Champagne corks were not popped. Indeed they were.
Now I am heading up the Dolphin Coast of this lovely Province toward the Elephant Coast and the Mkuze Falls Private Game Reserve where I will be on Safari in search of the Big 5 for the next three days. Part of my journey will bring me to the Lake St. Lucia area and particularly Cape Vidal, well known for its nesting turtles. Of course I will report as I move along.
But I wanted to share with you a most amazing phenomenon that I had previously heard of but never experienced. Last evening, January 01st, 2008, together with my family, we headed north toward the Dolphin Coast and in particular a tiny town called Mount Moreland. It was about 1 hour before sunset – our mission – to experience and witness first-hand the Barn Swallow roost, a phenomenon that is quite unbelievable but true.
During the South African summer months, an estimated 3 million barn swallows roost in the reeds on the Lake Victoria wetland at Mount Moreland. Just before sunset, the swallows return from foraging for insects and gather in great swirling clouds before dropping into the reeds, where they spend the night. Barn Swallows migrate from Russia each year to follow the warm weather and the insects they feed on are only around during the South African summer months. According to the Roberts Bird Guide, a distance of 7,057.5 miles was recorded when a swallow ringed in Mossel Bay in the Cape Province was found in Petrovsk, Russia. Flying only during the daylight, it took the bird 34 days to cover the distance.
Of course I have photographs to share with you and will the moment I return to the United States. They are not ‘perfect’ shots but astonishing nonetheless.
Seeing this swirling, swooping spectacle first hand was one of the most unique experiences I have ever had. You ought to experience it for yourself. The sad side to this tale is mans lust for modernization yet again. The King Shaka International Airport is being developed at nearby La Mercy. It could spell disaster for the roost site, which is the flight path for the proposed runway. Destruction of this major roost would have global repercussions and affect barn swallow populations not only in South Africa but also throughout the northern hemisphere, where they breed.
It is such a shame in my opinion that we’ll go to the utmost degree in our eternal lust for modernization paying no respect to the Earth and all its inhabitants. With my Lesotho experience behind me, I have come to re-comprehend the simplicity of life and how we constantly complicate this journey we call life!
Kenneth R. Hieber
President
2AFRIKA, INC.
For further information on this Safari or any other Safari in the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Collection, visit us on the web at http://www.2afrika.com/
The ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA, INC. remains committed to Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism.
If you would like to comment on this Blog Post, please communicate directly with the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Founder & President, Kenneth R. Hieber, electronically via kenneth@2afrika.com
Republic of South Africa
January 02, 2008
Hello again and now officially Happy New Year!
Here in Africa, we ushered the New Year in very quietly without pomp and ceremony – but I’d be lying if I told you that a few Champagne corks were not popped. Indeed they were.
Now I am heading up the Dolphin Coast of this lovely Province toward the Elephant Coast and the Mkuze Falls Private Game Reserve where I will be on Safari in search of the Big 5 for the next three days. Part of my journey will bring me to the Lake St. Lucia area and particularly Cape Vidal, well known for its nesting turtles. Of course I will report as I move along.
But I wanted to share with you a most amazing phenomenon that I had previously heard of but never experienced. Last evening, January 01st, 2008, together with my family, we headed north toward the Dolphin Coast and in particular a tiny town called Mount Moreland. It was about 1 hour before sunset – our mission – to experience and witness first-hand the Barn Swallow roost, a phenomenon that is quite unbelievable but true.
During the South African summer months, an estimated 3 million barn swallows roost in the reeds on the Lake Victoria wetland at Mount Moreland. Just before sunset, the swallows return from foraging for insects and gather in great swirling clouds before dropping into the reeds, where they spend the night. Barn Swallows migrate from Russia each year to follow the warm weather and the insects they feed on are only around during the South African summer months. According to the Roberts Bird Guide, a distance of 7,057.5 miles was recorded when a swallow ringed in Mossel Bay in the Cape Province was found in Petrovsk, Russia. Flying only during the daylight, it took the bird 34 days to cover the distance.
Of course I have photographs to share with you and will the moment I return to the United States. They are not ‘perfect’ shots but astonishing nonetheless.
Seeing this swirling, swooping spectacle first hand was one of the most unique experiences I have ever had. You ought to experience it for yourself. The sad side to this tale is mans lust for modernization yet again. The King Shaka International Airport is being developed at nearby La Mercy. It could spell disaster for the roost site, which is the flight path for the proposed runway. Destruction of this major roost would have global repercussions and affect barn swallow populations not only in South Africa but also throughout the northern hemisphere, where they breed.
It is such a shame in my opinion that we’ll go to the utmost degree in our eternal lust for modernization paying no respect to the Earth and all its inhabitants. With my Lesotho experience behind me, I have come to re-comprehend the simplicity of life and how we constantly complicate this journey we call life!
Kenneth R. Hieber
President
2AFRIKA, INC.
For further information on this Safari or any other Safari in the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Collection, visit us on the web at http://www.2afrika.com/
The ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA, INC. remains committed to Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism.
If you would like to comment on this Blog Post, please communicate directly with the ORIGINAL 2AFRIKA Founder & President, Kenneth R. Hieber, electronically via kenneth@2afrika.com
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