Edward Wanjala
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Naivasha
Natural Attractions in Kenya and Tanzania
- Thread starter Geza Ulole
- Start date
Edward Wanjala
JF-Expert Member
- Nov 3, 2016
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Marsabit
Edward Wanjala
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- Nov 3, 2016
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The Kenyan Beauty
Geza Ulole
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- Oct 31, 2009
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MASAI MARA / Can it be saved?
Posted April 27, 2017 by Aviation, Travel and Conservation News - DAILY from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands in Uncategorized. Leave a Comment
SERENGETI WATCH asks if the Masai Mara can be saved …
What is happening in the Masai Mara Reserve right now will decide its future
Dear ATC Reader,
We are either witnessing the demise of Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve, or a renaissance that will save it.
Massive Challenges Facing the Mara
The iconic Masai Mara Reserve is the northern part of the Serengeti ecosystem. The great migration moves into the reserve and surrounding areas each year in search of water and grass. The reserve itself, however, is relatively small and depends on a much larger land area of Maasai ranches, known as the Greater Mara. (See map below) Here human population is exploding, and already the impact has been dramatic. It’s estimated that just 40% of resident wildlife remains, and migration corridors are threatened.
Population growth: Kenya’s birth rate is among the highest in the world, 25 per thousand. But in the Greater Mara, it’s 91 per thousand. At this rate, an already high population will quadruple in 14 years! Livestock populations have soared as well, causing increasing land degradation. Not only does all this threaten wildlife habitat, but an entire way of life for Maasai pastoralists.
Fencing: Open Maasai grazing lands, historically shared with wildlife, are now being sub-divided into fenced ranches. Wildlife movement is hindered, of course, with disastrous consequences.
The title of a recent study says it all: Fencing bodes a rapid collapse of the unique Greater Mara ecosystem.
A Paved Mara Highway? The government of Kenya has approved a paved highway that would cross migration routes in the Greater Mara. So far there has been no legal opposition, as there was with the infamous Serengeti highway in Tanzania. Conservation advocates have proposed overpasses for wildlife corridors.
Hope
There is hope because there is emerging awareness and leadership. One movement in particular – locally owned and managed wildlife conservancies where pastoralists lease their land, share it with wildlife, take down fencing, and receive income and other benefits from wildlife tourism and cattle.
Learn more: Saving the Mara through conservancies
Fourteen conservancies have gathered together to form an association, the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association (MMWCA) that envisions community conservation as the savior of the ecosystem.
Learn more: Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association.
Partnering
With our local Tanzanian partner, The Serengeti Preservation Foundation, we are reaching out to MMWCA to find areas of common interest and support. Many of the issues in the Mara are happening right across the border in Tanzania.
Thanks for your continued support!
Please stay involved. Consider help with a donation.
Thank you!
The Serengeti Watch Team
MASAI MARA / Can it be saved?
Posted April 27, 2017 by Aviation, Travel and Conservation News - DAILY from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands in Uncategorized. Leave a Comment
SERENGETI WATCH asks if the Masai Mara can be saved …
What is happening in the Masai Mara Reserve right now will decide its future
Dear ATC Reader,
We are either witnessing the demise of Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve, or a renaissance that will save it.
Massive Challenges Facing the Mara
The iconic Masai Mara Reserve is the northern part of the Serengeti ecosystem. The great migration moves into the reserve and surrounding areas each year in search of water and grass. The reserve itself, however, is relatively small and depends on a much larger land area of Maasai ranches, known as the Greater Mara. (See map below) Here human population is exploding, and already the impact has been dramatic. It’s estimated that just 40% of resident wildlife remains, and migration corridors are threatened.
Population growth: Kenya’s birth rate is among the highest in the world, 25 per thousand. But in the Greater Mara, it’s 91 per thousand. At this rate, an already high population will quadruple in 14 years! Livestock populations have soared as well, causing increasing land degradation. Not only does all this threaten wildlife habitat, but an entire way of life for Maasai pastoralists.
Fencing: Open Maasai grazing lands, historically shared with wildlife, are now being sub-divided into fenced ranches. Wildlife movement is hindered, of course, with disastrous consequences.
The title of a recent study says it all: Fencing bodes a rapid collapse of the unique Greater Mara ecosystem.
A Paved Mara Highway? The government of Kenya has approved a paved highway that would cross migration routes in the Greater Mara. So far there has been no legal opposition, as there was with the infamous Serengeti highway in Tanzania. Conservation advocates have proposed overpasses for wildlife corridors.
Hope
There is hope because there is emerging awareness and leadership. One movement in particular – locally owned and managed wildlife conservancies where pastoralists lease their land, share it with wildlife, take down fencing, and receive income and other benefits from wildlife tourism and cattle.
Learn more: Saving the Mara through conservancies
Fourteen conservancies have gathered together to form an association, the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association (MMWCA) that envisions community conservation as the savior of the ecosystem.
Learn more: Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association.
Partnering
With our local Tanzanian partner, The Serengeti Preservation Foundation, we are reaching out to MMWCA to find areas of common interest and support. Many of the issues in the Mara are happening right across the border in Tanzania.
Thanks for your continued support!
Please stay involved. Consider help with a donation.
Thank you!
The Serengeti Watch Team
MASAI MARA / Can it be saved?
Mberoya
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- Mar 5, 2017
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Bwana Kakamega Kakanyau ni nini hiyo?Marsabit
Edward Wanjala
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Eti??
Edward Wanjala
JF-Expert Member
- Nov 3, 2016
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Beautiful Kenya
Edward Wanjala
JF-Expert Member
- Nov 3, 2016
- 8,122
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Kasmotwa Gardens Nandi Kenya
Nivlark
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- Jul 19, 2013
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wanjala have heard that story that marsabit name came after one mzungu said " this place look like mars a bit" hence marsabit i find it quite hilariousMarsabit
Matombo Mission in Morogoro region, Tanzania
Matombo Mission, Tanzania, 2hrs/50km drive from Morogoro. Old German mission outpost, built around 1905, most parts still original. Impressive to see and great day trip with waterfalls for bathing close-by.
Source: Samuel Schuster
Matombo Mission, Tanzania, 2hrs/50km drive from Morogoro. Old German mission outpost, built around 1905, most parts still original. Impressive to see and great day trip with waterfalls for bathing close-by.
Source: Samuel Schuster
Edward Wanjala
JF-Expert Member
- Nov 3, 2016
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Meru Sacred Lake
Lamu
Lamu
Geza Ulole
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Category: Africa Indian Ocean - Tanzania - Hotel projects
Press release published on 2017-05-23
Slated to open in 2021, the 90 room all-suite and villa resort will provide the quintessential Indian Ocean experience amidst an idyllic island setting
Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR) (www.Marriott.com) today announced the signing of an agreement with Pennyroyal Gibraltar Limited, to debut The Ritz-Carlton brand (www.RitzCarlton.com) in the exotic Zanzibar Archipelago. Slated to open in 2021, the 90 room all-suite and villa resort will bring the defining luxury experience of The Ritz-Carlton to one of the most magical destinations in the world. Located within a convenient 45-minute drive from Zanzibar International Airport, The Ritz-Carlton, Zanzibar will provide easy access to the fabled and magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site, Stone Town, often referred to as the cultural heart of Zanzibar.
The signing of The Ritz-Carlton, Zanzibar took place at an intimate ceremony attended by the owners, Mr. Saleh Said and Mr. Brian Thomson, Directors of Pennyroyal Gibraltar Limited and Mr Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International, along with other executives from both companies.
“Celebrated as one of the world’s most exotic destinations, Zanzibar, is a perfect destination for The Ritz-Carlton,” said Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. “The Archipelago has the potential to strengthen its position as a key leisure destination in the Indian Ocean and to effectively compete with the more established islands of Mauritius, Seychelles and Maldives. The Ritz-Carlton, Zanzibar will compliment Marriott International’s strong presence in the Indian Ocean and provide the necessary impetus to put the destination on the global itinerary of our guests.”
Mr. Saleh Said and Mr. Brian Thomson, Directors of Pennyroyal Gibraltar added, “We are delighted to partner with Marriott International to debut The Ritz-Carlton in such a culturally significant destination and are confident that the brand’s allure, coupled with Marriott International’s strong base of loyal guests, will entice the affluent travelers to visit this enchanting destination, making it one of the most coveted resorts in the region.”
The Ritz-Carlton, Zanzibar will be an all-suite and villa resort with 90 luxuriously appointed spaces including over water villas, each with its own private pool and a distinct contemporary design inspired by the island’s tropical tableau and unique culture. It will boast of a distinctive dining scene with four restaurants and bars allowing The Ritz-Carlton chefs to showcase their culinary versatility and engage with guests through curated and immersive dining experiences. Leisure facilities will include an outdoor pool, a Health Club, a Beach Club and a Kids Club. Guests will have access to a tranquil Spa with eight private Spa Suites offering individual and couple treatments as well as outdoor treatments. An intimate meeting facility will complement the resort facilities for personalized and bespoke events.
The hotel will be part of the Amber Resort complex expected to be the largest mixed use development in Africa occupying approximately 1,750 hectares of pristine Indian Ocean coastline in the north east of the island. The complex proposes to provide an integrated high end lifestyle experience with a marina, a signature golf course designed by Ernie Els, residential villas and condominiums as well as leisure and entertainment facilities including a water park, and an equestrian center.
The Ritz-Carlton brand currently operates 12 properties across Middle East and Africa and is gearing up to open hotels in Amman (Jordan), Tunis (Tunisia), Ras Al Khaimah (UAE), Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt) and three properties across Morocco – Tamuda Bay, Marrakech and Rabat. The Ritz-Carlton, Zanzibar will be a significant addition to this fast growing brand portfolio across the region.
About The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC:
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company (www.RitzCarlton.com), L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, MD., currently operates more than 90 hotels in over 30 countries and territories. More than 40 hotel and residential projects are under development around the globe. The Ritz-Carlton is proud to offer The Ritz-Carlton Rewards in which members can link accounts with Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest for instant elite status matching and unlimited points transfer. For more information or reservations, visit the company web site at www.RitzCarlton.com.
About Marriott International:
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) (www.Marriott.com) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 6,000 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 122 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts. The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards, and Starwood Preferred Guest. For more information, please visit our website at www.Marriott.com.
Alex Kyriakidis President and Managing Director Middle East and Africa Marriott International and Mr Saleh Said Director Pennyroyal Gibraltar
Marriott International to Debut The Ritz-Carlton in the Zanzibar Archipelago
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
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The Wellworth Hospitality Group of Tanzania – an overview of their portfolio
WHAT DOES THE WELLWORTH HOSPITALITY GROUP STAND FOR?
(Posted 24th May 2017)
Wellworth Hospitality owns & operates luxury lodges, resorts, a water park & furnished villas in Tanzania. Tanzania’s diverse, breathtaking, world renowned natural wonders which include rich wildlife spectacles, remote, unspoiled and untamed wilderness, pristine ocean beaches and fresh water lakes as well as the rich and diverse cultural heritage of its people make it a perfect tourist destination.
LAKE MANYARA KILIMAMOJA LODGE
Nestled on the rim of the Great Rift Valley with stunning views over Lake Manyara, Mount Meru and on a clear day, Mount Kilimanjaro, the lodge is set on pristine lush green gardens and local vegetation with over 130 species of birds.
All 50 suites and 2 bedroom luxury villas are tastefully decorated with inside and outside showers, bath, air-conditioning, fire places, Wi-fi, mini bar, safe and private balcony with panoramic views of the surrounding area. The main house features a lounge, grand hallway, dining room, spa, boutique, conference room, media room, outside fire place, rim flow pool, billiards room, internet car and children’s activity room. Dining options include the Acacia Restaurant and the Nyati Bar.
NGORONGORO O’LDEANI MOUNTAIN LODGE
A 5 star colonial lodge situated on a picturesque hill with spectacular views onto Oldeani Mountain and the Ngorongoro Crater Rim, the Ngorongoro O’ldeani Mountain lodge is elevated with 360 degree views that extend all the way to Lake Eyasi and Lake Manyara.
All 50 suites and the Livingstone Suite have infinite views of the surrounding area and are tastefully decorated. The Lodge provides food and beverage options at Crater Restaurant & Explorers Bar.
O’LE SERAI MORU KOPJES
O’le Serai Moru Kopjes is ideally located within Central Seronera area of the famous Serengeti National Park in Tanzania around the vicinity of the famous Moru Kopjes and Lake Magadi. The Camp site is perched between the Rongai Hills & Nyaroboro Hills, a few meters away from the banks of the Mbalageti / Seronera River having an abundant variety of resident wildlife (including all the Big 5) as well as a Hippo Pool located only a few metres away from the camp. The campsite is ideally located along one of the main migratory corridors used by the wildebeest during the Great Migration and home to a large variety of predators due to the year round availability of water and prey because of the close proximity of the nearby river.
The rooms and the guest areas have been specifically designed to offer the Guests an optimum 180-degree view from all parts of the camp. All 20 luxury tents include en-suite bathrooms, ultra luxury memory foam beds, spacious private verandah, in-room safe, 2-way radios, fans and 24 hours power supply.
KUNDUCHI BEACH HOTEL AND RESORT, DAR ES SALAAM
Built in a stunning Afro-Arabic design, by the Indian Ocean, boasting flawless white sandy beaches and waves breaking over coral reefs and sand bars offshore, the Kunduchi Beach Hotel & Resort is perfect for the ultimate, sun-kissed African get-away. The hotel is approximately 24kms from Dar es Salaam city centre, 18kms from Dar es salaam international Airport along the clean sprawling beach at Kunduchi off Bagamoyo Road.
The Resort has 136 Sea facing Rooms, each having its own private balcony openning to the beach front, with en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, telephone, satellite television, mini bar, internet connectivity, king size or twin beds, inter-connecting rooms and orthopedic beds available.
The Hotel provides five food and beverage options including Merikebu, The Jahazi seafood restaurant, Bongoyo Bar, the boat shaped Mawimbi Cocktail Bar by the beach-side and a Pool Bar.
Other amenities include the Wet ‘n’ Wild Water Park which is the largest Water Park in East and Central Africa boasting 22 slides, 7 swimming pools, 2 Fast food restaurants, Rain dance floor, Coffee shops, Prayer room, Shopping arcade, Day care Centre, Pool tables, Arcade games and Water polo. There is a Go Kart & Quad Bike track, a Sea Sports Centre with activities like Jet skiing, Parasailing, Wind Surfing, Water skiing, Hover crafts, Paddle boats, Banana boats, Kayaking, Deep Sea diving and Deep Sea Fishing. Health and fitness facilities include a gym, steam, sauna, tennis and squash courts among others. A fully equipped conferencing and business centre is also available.
ZANZIBAR BEACH RESORT
Situated on the south-west coast of Zanzibar, by the beautiful Indian Ocean, ten minutes from the historic exotic Swahili Stone Town and five minutes from the International Airport, the Zanzibar Beach Resort is set in a magical hand-picked stunning location with gorgeous landscaped gardens.
The Resort’s 90 rooms comprise of 20 sea facing chalets, 18 garden view rooms, 50 deluxe rooms, 1 honeymoon Suite and 1 executive Suite. Room Facilities include a Mini Bar, Bathrobes & Slippers, 24 hrs In-Room Dining, Laundry/ Dry-cleaning services, Internet access, In-room safes and Satellite TV. The Hotel provides five food and beverage options ie. Spice Restaurant serving authentic Zanzibari cuisine, SeaFood Speciality Restaurant, casual dining at The Baobab Restaurant, Discovery Bar and the Pool Bar. Health and fitness facilities include a fully equipped gym, Tennis court, Squash court, Table tennis and a Pool Table. A Business Centre and conferencing facilities are also available.
The Wellworth Hospitality Group of Tanzania – an overview of their portfolio
WHAT DOES THE WELLWORTH HOSPITALITY GROUP STAND FOR?
(Posted 24th May 2017)
Wellworth Hospitality owns & operates luxury lodges, resorts, a water park & furnished villas in Tanzania. Tanzania’s diverse, breathtaking, world renowned natural wonders which include rich wildlife spectacles, remote, unspoiled and untamed wilderness, pristine ocean beaches and fresh water lakes as well as the rich and diverse cultural heritage of its people make it a perfect tourist destination.
LAKE MANYARA KILIMAMOJA LODGE
Nestled on the rim of the Great Rift Valley with stunning views over Lake Manyara, Mount Meru and on a clear day, Mount Kilimanjaro, the lodge is set on pristine lush green gardens and local vegetation with over 130 species of birds.
All 50 suites and 2 bedroom luxury villas are tastefully decorated with inside and outside showers, bath, air-conditioning, fire places, Wi-fi, mini bar, safe and private balcony with panoramic views of the surrounding area. The main house features a lounge, grand hallway, dining room, spa, boutique, conference room, media room, outside fire place, rim flow pool, billiards room, internet car and children’s activity room. Dining options include the Acacia Restaurant and the Nyati Bar.
NGORONGORO O’LDEANI MOUNTAIN LODGE
A 5 star colonial lodge situated on a picturesque hill with spectacular views onto Oldeani Mountain and the Ngorongoro Crater Rim, the Ngorongoro O’ldeani Mountain lodge is elevated with 360 degree views that extend all the way to Lake Eyasi and Lake Manyara.
All 50 suites and the Livingstone Suite have infinite views of the surrounding area and are tastefully decorated. The Lodge provides food and beverage options at Crater Restaurant & Explorers Bar.
O’LE SERAI MORU KOPJES
O’le Serai Moru Kopjes is ideally located within Central Seronera area of the famous Serengeti National Park in Tanzania around the vicinity of the famous Moru Kopjes and Lake Magadi. The Camp site is perched between the Rongai Hills & Nyaroboro Hills, a few meters away from the banks of the Mbalageti / Seronera River having an abundant variety of resident wildlife (including all the Big 5) as well as a Hippo Pool located only a few metres away from the camp. The campsite is ideally located along one of the main migratory corridors used by the wildebeest during the Great Migration and home to a large variety of predators due to the year round availability of water and prey because of the close proximity of the nearby river.
The rooms and the guest areas have been specifically designed to offer the Guests an optimum 180-degree view from all parts of the camp. All 20 luxury tents include en-suite bathrooms, ultra luxury memory foam beds, spacious private verandah, in-room safe, 2-way radios, fans and 24 hours power supply.
KUNDUCHI BEACH HOTEL AND RESORT, DAR ES SALAAM
Built in a stunning Afro-Arabic design, by the Indian Ocean, boasting flawless white sandy beaches and waves breaking over coral reefs and sand bars offshore, the Kunduchi Beach Hotel & Resort is perfect for the ultimate, sun-kissed African get-away. The hotel is approximately 24kms from Dar es Salaam city centre, 18kms from Dar es salaam international Airport along the clean sprawling beach at Kunduchi off Bagamoyo Road.
The Resort has 136 Sea facing Rooms, each having its own private balcony openning to the beach front, with en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, telephone, satellite television, mini bar, internet connectivity, king size or twin beds, inter-connecting rooms and orthopedic beds available.
The Hotel provides five food and beverage options including Merikebu, The Jahazi seafood restaurant, Bongoyo Bar, the boat shaped Mawimbi Cocktail Bar by the beach-side and a Pool Bar.
Other amenities include the Wet ‘n’ Wild Water Park which is the largest Water Park in East and Central Africa boasting 22 slides, 7 swimming pools, 2 Fast food restaurants, Rain dance floor, Coffee shops, Prayer room, Shopping arcade, Day care Centre, Pool tables, Arcade games and Water polo. There is a Go Kart & Quad Bike track, a Sea Sports Centre with activities like Jet skiing, Parasailing, Wind Surfing, Water skiing, Hover crafts, Paddle boats, Banana boats, Kayaking, Deep Sea diving and Deep Sea Fishing. Health and fitness facilities include a gym, steam, sauna, tennis and squash courts among others. A fully equipped conferencing and business centre is also available.
ZANZIBAR BEACH RESORT
Situated on the south-west coast of Zanzibar, by the beautiful Indian Ocean, ten minutes from the historic exotic Swahili Stone Town and five minutes from the International Airport, the Zanzibar Beach Resort is set in a magical hand-picked stunning location with gorgeous landscaped gardens.
The Resort’s 90 rooms comprise of 20 sea facing chalets, 18 garden view rooms, 50 deluxe rooms, 1 honeymoon Suite and 1 executive Suite. Room Facilities include a Mini Bar, Bathrobes & Slippers, 24 hrs In-Room Dining, Laundry/ Dry-cleaning services, Internet access, In-room safes and Satellite TV. The Hotel provides five food and beverage options ie. Spice Restaurant serving authentic Zanzibari cuisine, SeaFood Speciality Restaurant, casual dining at The Baobab Restaurant, Discovery Bar and the Pool Bar. Health and fitness facilities include a fully equipped gym, Tennis court, Squash court, Table tennis and a Pool Table. A Business Centre and conferencing facilities are also available.
The Wellworth Hospitality Group of Tanzania – an overview of their portfolio
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
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This same group is to erect two new hotels at former Embassy hotel n Motel Agip
Sent from my SM-J320F using JamiiForums mobile app
Sent from my SM-J320F using JamiiForums mobile app
Geza Ulole
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- Oct 31, 2009
- 59,170
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Four Points by Sheraton to Debut in Tanzania
Thursday July 14th, 2016 - 9:32AM
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DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA—During the Africa Hotel Investment Forum in Togo, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., revealed plans to introduce its Four Points by Sheraton brand in Tanzania with the signing of Four Points By Sheraton Arusha and Four Points by Sheraton Dar es Salaam. Together, both hotels will add more than 230 rooms and expand the brand’s presence in East Africa.
“The entry of Four Points to Tanzania is a milestone addition to our rapidly growing footprint in Africa and reflects the strong traction the brand has gained in the region,” said Michael Wale, president, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “Tanzania has long been on travelers’ bucket lists and Four Points by Sheraton is reinventing travel by offering guests exactly what they need while on the road.”
Owned by Union Trust Limited, the historic Arusha Hotel founded in 1894 will be rebranded as a 108-room Four Points by Sheraton after completion of an ongoing renovation. Arusha acts as the major tourist gateway to the Serengeti Safari circuit and Mount Kilimanjaro, according to Starwood. Set within three acres of tropical gardens, Four Points by Sheraton Arusha is located a few kilometers from the famous Clock Tower in Arusha, known to be the Center of Africa.
Also a conversion from an existing independent hotel, the 126-room Four Points by Sheraton Dar es Salaam is owned by New African Hotel Limited and is located in the central business district of Dar es Salaam, close to the docking area known as the “Harbor of Peace,” according to Starwood.
Four Points by Sheraton to Debut in Tanzania | HotelBusiness.com
Thursday July 14th, 2016 - 9:32AM
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DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA—During the Africa Hotel Investment Forum in Togo, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., revealed plans to introduce its Four Points by Sheraton brand in Tanzania with the signing of Four Points By Sheraton Arusha and Four Points by Sheraton Dar es Salaam. Together, both hotels will add more than 230 rooms and expand the brand’s presence in East Africa.
“The entry of Four Points to Tanzania is a milestone addition to our rapidly growing footprint in Africa and reflects the strong traction the brand has gained in the region,” said Michael Wale, president, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “Tanzania has long been on travelers’ bucket lists and Four Points by Sheraton is reinventing travel by offering guests exactly what they need while on the road.”
Owned by Union Trust Limited, the historic Arusha Hotel founded in 1894 will be rebranded as a 108-room Four Points by Sheraton after completion of an ongoing renovation. Arusha acts as the major tourist gateway to the Serengeti Safari circuit and Mount Kilimanjaro, according to Starwood. Set within three acres of tropical gardens, Four Points by Sheraton Arusha is located a few kilometers from the famous Clock Tower in Arusha, known to be the Center of Africa.
Also a conversion from an existing independent hotel, the 126-room Four Points by Sheraton Dar es Salaam is owned by New African Hotel Limited and is located in the central business district of Dar es Salaam, close to the docking area known as the “Harbor of Peace,” according to Starwood.
Four Points by Sheraton to Debut in Tanzania | HotelBusiness.com
Geza Ulole
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- Oct 31, 2009
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Zanzibar mega-resort offers expats an opportunity
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Zanzibar mega-resort offers expats an opportunity | The National
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Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania is made up of 51 islands. Courtesy Melia Zanzibar
Text Size chnelson@thenational.ae
Follow The National’s Business section onTwitter
Zanzibar mega-resort offers expats an opportunity | The National
Geza Ulole
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Ati kuna watu hujaribu kufananisha Mombasa na Zanzibar in tourism. Niliweka thread ikafutwa baada ya Nyang'au kulalamika. ..
Geza Ulole
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Zanzibar: The tropical paradise David Livingstone called 'the most beautiful place on Earth'
LivingVrushal PendharkarApr, 09 2017 16:53:31 IST
From a few hundred feet as the aeroplane nears touch-down, the view is spectacular. Long bars of white sand trace the outline of the island. Waters of teal blend with turquoise, turquoise mixes with azure which turns deep cobalt in the vast ocean. From above, a carpet of emerald green covers the island. Whiffs of salty ocean air fill the plane cabin. You may be a resident of a bustling sea-side metropolis familiar with such aromas but there is something inviting in the sights, sounds and smells of Zanzibar that promises to be a memorable adventure taking you back in time to its torrid past, letting you dive in its colourful waters and lulling you to slothful indulgence.
Zanzibar is an archipelago about 40 km off the coast of Tanzania in East Africa. It consists of two main ear-shaped islands that look like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle: Zanzibar, the main island housing the capital city with its historic center of Stone Town and Pemba, known as the green island due to its hilly terrain and lush greenery.
Zanzibar offers everything you might want from a summer getaway. Photo: Vito Palagano/Freeimages
A good vacation can start with a hassle-free visa process, where winding queues for in-person interviews are not mandatory. But if your idea of a great vacation is simply booking a flight and showing up at the destination, Zanzibar should be on top of your list. The visa is on arrival and the one terminal airport is small enough for you to get through immigration before Usain Bolt crosses the 1oo meters tape. Driving out, the view of the beautifully clear ocean water is never too out of sight. Close to the airport, the roads could be bumpy with sand from the beaches filled in them but they get better as you navigate the short distance of 5 km to the center of Zanzibar City or to any of the hotels dotted along the many beaches around the island.
There is a mix of hotels to choose from — Zanzibar being one of the older cities in Africa, there are historic hotels that have been renovated recently, new posh ones but also plenty of budget accommodations. Many of these will have a room with a view of the vast blue expanse of the ocean or the shoreline of the Tanzanian coast. We checked into a gorgeous airy accommodation right on top of the ocean. From the comforts of a spacious balcony that had a swing to take in the balmy currents, we watched beautifully crafted dhows with crisp masts gently sail with the winds.
Photo: Vito Palagano/Freeimages
Dhows are a ubiquitous part of the seascape here. They transport most of the essentials and people from one part of the island to the other. Some scholars suggest that dhows are an import from India many centuries ago when traders began to settle in Zanzibar. But with Zanzibar having been shaped by many hands, it is difficult to assert such appropriations. Try getting on a dhow, nonetheless, to get a feel of life in slow motion.
The most obvious thing to do for lunch while on an island is to have some fresh seafood like lobster, clams and oyster. Zanzibar has many excellent restaurants that serve fresh seafood from the catch in the morning and it goes well with light couscous washed down with coconut water.
The other certain thing to do while on an island is to sleep off the lovely seafood. It is muggy to be walking around so siesta doesn’t do any harm. As the sun begins to lose its intensity, it is a good time to check out the many curio shops in the old part of town that stock all kinds of Africa inspired souvenirs, from masks to beautifully painted portraits of Masai tribesmen.
Photo: Pasqualantonio Pingue/Freeimages
By the time evening winds down over Zanzibar, you’d feel the need for quick refueling stopover. The best seat in town to watch the African sunset is from the historic Africa House hotel. It offers bang-on view of the sun drowning in the ocean. With a sprawling desk and a fully loaded bar made out of ageless teak, it is a place where every traveller worth his salt gathers to soak their parched throats with a cold beer or a cocktail and behold the everyday spectacle of sunset. Sometimes if there is a sporting crowd, there is so much revelry the evening could be mistaken as New Year’s Eve – until the dark of the twilight takes over. Yes, it is a touristy spot where none of the locals hang out but is filled with sun-tanned foreigners out to calm their nerves but it is a beautiful experience to have a cold sundowner with a bunch of strangers taking in a natural phenomenon.
Zanzibar was put on the map by the tradelines between the Indian subcontinent, Europe, Africa and the Middle-East. Thus it came to be a melting pot of Persians first who were joined by Indians, and later by Malays, Chinese, Arabs, etc. This mix of people continue to Zanzibar their home. They came together as traders and merchants dealing mostly in many coveted spices like the cloves, pepper, cash crops and ivory. Later in the 1600s onwards when Zanzibar fell in the hands of the Omani sultanate, slave trade was rampant with slaves being caught in large numbers and transported for the Arab rulers and Europeans.
Spices in Zanzibar. Photo: Alessandro Marchetti/Freeimages
Much of this history can be experienced today on foot by walking around Stone Town. From the Sultanate’s residence of the Palace of Wonders, the Old Fort built to guard the city in 1700’s from European invasions, Old Dispensary that a wealthy Indian trader built to the Slavery memorial, large part of the old town is preserved for tourists to get an understanding of what it must have been like in the past. The lanes in Stone Town are narrow and full of colourful houses with large wooden door that have nails on them. They now house spice shops of merchants from India selling everything from rugs to artefacts to spices and nuts. It is great to strike up conversations with several of them about their ancestry, how was it growing up on an island, do they have family back in India. If an Indian could go on a vacation abroad and still travel back in time before Independence, it would be possible only in Zanzibar.
But apart from travelling back in time, you could also travel down in space. Space that is fluid and blue. Zanzibar offers some fantastic dive sites in the world. And it is easy to book a scuba package or snorkelling one from many dive centers that operate along the islands. The boat ride to Pemba offers some good diving too – schools of dolphins, octopuses, parrot fish, groupers, corals of incredible shapes, sizes and colours, it is a great sport that the whole travelling party can try.
Zanzibar has a bit of everything for everyone – for the history buff, the adventurer or a leisure seeking traveller. It has seen explorers like David Livingston set sail and come back to its shores to proclaim “it is the most beautiful place on the earth.”
So take a cue from Billy Joel who sang:
I’ve got the old man’s car,
I’ve got a jazz guitar,
I’ve got a tab at Zanzibar,
Tonight, that’s where I’ll be…
Published Date: Apr 09, 2017 11:12 am | Updated Date: Apr 09, 2017 04:53 pm
Zanzibar: The tropical paradise David Livingstone called 'the most beautiful place on Earth'
LivingVrushal PendharkarApr, 09 2017 16:53:31 IST
From a few hundred feet as the aeroplane nears touch-down, the view is spectacular. Long bars of white sand trace the outline of the island. Waters of teal blend with turquoise, turquoise mixes with azure which turns deep cobalt in the vast ocean. From above, a carpet of emerald green covers the island. Whiffs of salty ocean air fill the plane cabin. You may be a resident of a bustling sea-side metropolis familiar with such aromas but there is something inviting in the sights, sounds and smells of Zanzibar that promises to be a memorable adventure taking you back in time to its torrid past, letting you dive in its colourful waters and lulling you to slothful indulgence.
Zanzibar is an archipelago about 40 km off the coast of Tanzania in East Africa. It consists of two main ear-shaped islands that look like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle: Zanzibar, the main island housing the capital city with its historic center of Stone Town and Pemba, known as the green island due to its hilly terrain and lush greenery.
Zanzibar offers everything you might want from a summer getaway. Photo: Vito Palagano/Freeimages
A good vacation can start with a hassle-free visa process, where winding queues for in-person interviews are not mandatory. But if your idea of a great vacation is simply booking a flight and showing up at the destination, Zanzibar should be on top of your list. The visa is on arrival and the one terminal airport is small enough for you to get through immigration before Usain Bolt crosses the 1oo meters tape. Driving out, the view of the beautifully clear ocean water is never too out of sight. Close to the airport, the roads could be bumpy with sand from the beaches filled in them but they get better as you navigate the short distance of 5 km to the center of Zanzibar City or to any of the hotels dotted along the many beaches around the island.
There is a mix of hotels to choose from — Zanzibar being one of the older cities in Africa, there are historic hotels that have been renovated recently, new posh ones but also plenty of budget accommodations. Many of these will have a room with a view of the vast blue expanse of the ocean or the shoreline of the Tanzanian coast. We checked into a gorgeous airy accommodation right on top of the ocean. From the comforts of a spacious balcony that had a swing to take in the balmy currents, we watched beautifully crafted dhows with crisp masts gently sail with the winds.
Photo: Vito Palagano/Freeimages
Dhows are a ubiquitous part of the seascape here. They transport most of the essentials and people from one part of the island to the other. Some scholars suggest that dhows are an import from India many centuries ago when traders began to settle in Zanzibar. But with Zanzibar having been shaped by many hands, it is difficult to assert such appropriations. Try getting on a dhow, nonetheless, to get a feel of life in slow motion.
The most obvious thing to do for lunch while on an island is to have some fresh seafood like lobster, clams and oyster. Zanzibar has many excellent restaurants that serve fresh seafood from the catch in the morning and it goes well with light couscous washed down with coconut water.
The other certain thing to do while on an island is to sleep off the lovely seafood. It is muggy to be walking around so siesta doesn’t do any harm. As the sun begins to lose its intensity, it is a good time to check out the many curio shops in the old part of town that stock all kinds of Africa inspired souvenirs, from masks to beautifully painted portraits of Masai tribesmen.
Photo: Pasqualantonio Pingue/Freeimages
By the time evening winds down over Zanzibar, you’d feel the need for quick refueling stopover. The best seat in town to watch the African sunset is from the historic Africa House hotel. It offers bang-on view of the sun drowning in the ocean. With a sprawling desk and a fully loaded bar made out of ageless teak, it is a place where every traveller worth his salt gathers to soak their parched throats with a cold beer or a cocktail and behold the everyday spectacle of sunset. Sometimes if there is a sporting crowd, there is so much revelry the evening could be mistaken as New Year’s Eve – until the dark of the twilight takes over. Yes, it is a touristy spot where none of the locals hang out but is filled with sun-tanned foreigners out to calm their nerves but it is a beautiful experience to have a cold sundowner with a bunch of strangers taking in a natural phenomenon.
Zanzibar was put on the map by the tradelines between the Indian subcontinent, Europe, Africa and the Middle-East. Thus it came to be a melting pot of Persians first who were joined by Indians, and later by Malays, Chinese, Arabs, etc. This mix of people continue to Zanzibar their home. They came together as traders and merchants dealing mostly in many coveted spices like the cloves, pepper, cash crops and ivory. Later in the 1600s onwards when Zanzibar fell in the hands of the Omani sultanate, slave trade was rampant with slaves being caught in large numbers and transported for the Arab rulers and Europeans.
Spices in Zanzibar. Photo: Alessandro Marchetti/Freeimages
Much of this history can be experienced today on foot by walking around Stone Town. From the Sultanate’s residence of the Palace of Wonders, the Old Fort built to guard the city in 1700’s from European invasions, Old Dispensary that a wealthy Indian trader built to the Slavery memorial, large part of the old town is preserved for tourists to get an understanding of what it must have been like in the past. The lanes in Stone Town are narrow and full of colourful houses with large wooden door that have nails on them. They now house spice shops of merchants from India selling everything from rugs to artefacts to spices and nuts. It is great to strike up conversations with several of them about their ancestry, how was it growing up on an island, do they have family back in India. If an Indian could go on a vacation abroad and still travel back in time before Independence, it would be possible only in Zanzibar.
But apart from travelling back in time, you could also travel down in space. Space that is fluid and blue. Zanzibar offers some fantastic dive sites in the world. And it is easy to book a scuba package or snorkelling one from many dive centers that operate along the islands. The boat ride to Pemba offers some good diving too – schools of dolphins, octopuses, parrot fish, groupers, corals of incredible shapes, sizes and colours, it is a great sport that the whole travelling party can try.
Zanzibar has a bit of everything for everyone – for the history buff, the adventurer or a leisure seeking traveller. It has seen explorers like David Livingston set sail and come back to its shores to proclaim “it is the most beautiful place on the earth.”
So take a cue from Billy Joel who sang:
I’ve got the old man’s car,
I’ve got a jazz guitar,
I’ve got a tab at Zanzibar,
Tonight, that’s where I’ll be…
Published Date: Apr 09, 2017 11:12 am | Updated Date: Apr 09, 2017 04:53 pm
Zanzibar: The tropical paradise David Livingstone called 'the most beautiful place on Earth'
Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 59,170
- 79,337
- Thread starter
- #1,020
Lesson for East Africa: In tourism, the race is not to the swift
Tourists at the Kenya Coast. Kenya’s travel and tourism sector is ranked as the most competitive in East Africa. PHOTO | FILE
IN SUMMARY
Rwanda recently increased fees for gorilla trekking permits — to target high-end tourists and raise money for development of communities living around the Virunga Mountains.
Foreign tourists will now pay twice as much as before for visiting the gorillas, from $750 to $1,500, while East Africans will pay the same amount as foreign tourists, up from $36 — a comparative increase of 4,000 per cent.
The move has been criticised for potentially locking out local tourists, and it is feared it will dampen Rwanda’s competitiveness against the gorilla experience in neighbouring Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Still, that is not the whole story. Attracting tourists and generating tourism revenues in East Africa is not as straightforward as that — there is some method in the madness, and it sometimes seems more of an art than a science, if recent data from the World Economic Forum is anything to go by.
WEF’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index is an annual ranking of over 130 economies, analysing a host of factors that have an impact on the tourism sector, including a country’s overall business environment, infrastructure, safety and security, labour market, visa regulations, environmental sustainability and price competitiveness.
Punching far above its weight
A scrutiny of the four East African countries with the most vibrant tourism sectors (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda) brings up some surprises.
The research reveals that Uganda is punching far above its weight, despite (or perhaps, because of) government neglect of the sector, and although Kenya has some of the strongest fundamentals and logistics, it is underperforming for a country of its potential.
Tanzania, on the other hand, has majored in the high-end approach — which is highly lucrative and efficient from a business perspective, but with fewer jobs created on the ground, Tanzania’s tourism model may suffer from lack of meaningful linkages with local communities.
And Rwanda — now looking to double down on Tanzania’s strategy — has the greatest aspiration, with dazzling marketing campaigns and strategic positioning, though may find itself constrained by factors it has little control over — such as its small size.
Overall, Kenya’s travel and tourism sector is ranked as the most competitive among the four East African economies, according to the 2017 Index, at 80th position globally (see table titled “WEF 2017 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index”). Second is Tanzania at 91st place, followed by Rwanda at 97th place. Uganda is in fourth place at position 106.
However — and perhaps paradoxically — even with Uganda’s low ranking overall, the country had the highest number of international tourism arrivals in 2015, which is the year with the latest available data (see table titled “International Tourism Arrivals”).
Uganda hosted over 1.3 million international visitors in 2015, surpassing Kenya and Tanzania, both of which recorded just over 1.1 million international arrivals.
Rwanda, despite its small size, was not far behind, hosting an impressive 987,000 visitors in 2015.
When it comes to earnings from tourism, Tanzania is in first place. In 2015, Tanzania made $2.2 billion from the tourism sector, the highest in East Africa (see table titled “International Tourism Inbound Receipts”). Uganda is in second place at $1.1 billion; Kenya is third at $723 million. Rwanda clocks in fourth, at $317 million.
Tanzania seems to have successfully developed a premium tourism model that targets high-spending tourists; the country makes an average of $2,020 per arrival, the highest by far in East Africa (see table titled “Average receipts per arrival”)). This is more than twice that of second-placed Uganda, where the average visitor spends $881.
And when it comes to jobs, Kenya is clearly the most dependent on employment created by or associated with the industry (see table titled, “Travel and tourism employment”). Tourism accounted for more than half a million jobs in Kenya, or 3.5 per cent of the country’s total employment.
Uganda is second in absolute terms at nearly 470,000 jobs, making up 3.1 per cent of its total labour force. Tanzania comes in third at just over 386,000 jobs, corroborating the view that the country has developed a particularly high-end product offering that does not require as many local jobs to bring in foreign exchange from visitors.
What is driving these highly divergent performances in the tourism sectors of the four countries? What are the unique strengths and competitive advantages of each country? And which opportunities can each of the four seize going forward? The factors underlying performance in the index give us a hint.
Lesson for East Africa: In tourism, the race is not to the swift
Tourists at the Kenya Coast. Kenya’s travel and tourism sector is ranked as the most competitive in East Africa. PHOTO | FILE
IN SUMMARY
- A scrutiny in a worldwide survey of the four East African countries with the most vibrant tourism economies covered brings up some surprises.
Rwanda recently increased fees for gorilla trekking permits — to target high-end tourists and raise money for development of communities living around the Virunga Mountains.
Foreign tourists will now pay twice as much as before for visiting the gorillas, from $750 to $1,500, while East Africans will pay the same amount as foreign tourists, up from $36 — a comparative increase of 4,000 per cent.
The move has been criticised for potentially locking out local tourists, and it is feared it will dampen Rwanda’s competitiveness against the gorilla experience in neighbouring Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Still, that is not the whole story. Attracting tourists and generating tourism revenues in East Africa is not as straightforward as that — there is some method in the madness, and it sometimes seems more of an art than a science, if recent data from the World Economic Forum is anything to go by.
WEF’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index is an annual ranking of over 130 economies, analysing a host of factors that have an impact on the tourism sector, including a country’s overall business environment, infrastructure, safety and security, labour market, visa regulations, environmental sustainability and price competitiveness.
Punching far above its weight
A scrutiny of the four East African countries with the most vibrant tourism sectors (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda) brings up some surprises.
The research reveals that Uganda is punching far above its weight, despite (or perhaps, because of) government neglect of the sector, and although Kenya has some of the strongest fundamentals and logistics, it is underperforming for a country of its potential.
Tanzania, on the other hand, has majored in the high-end approach — which is highly lucrative and efficient from a business perspective, but with fewer jobs created on the ground, Tanzania’s tourism model may suffer from lack of meaningful linkages with local communities.
And Rwanda — now looking to double down on Tanzania’s strategy — has the greatest aspiration, with dazzling marketing campaigns and strategic positioning, though may find itself constrained by factors it has little control over — such as its small size.
Overall, Kenya’s travel and tourism sector is ranked as the most competitive among the four East African economies, according to the 2017 Index, at 80th position globally (see table titled “WEF 2017 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index”). Second is Tanzania at 91st place, followed by Rwanda at 97th place. Uganda is in fourth place at position 106.
However — and perhaps paradoxically — even with Uganda’s low ranking overall, the country had the highest number of international tourism arrivals in 2015, which is the year with the latest available data (see table titled “International Tourism Arrivals”).
Uganda hosted over 1.3 million international visitors in 2015, surpassing Kenya and Tanzania, both of which recorded just over 1.1 million international arrivals.
Rwanda, despite its small size, was not far behind, hosting an impressive 987,000 visitors in 2015.
When it comes to earnings from tourism, Tanzania is in first place. In 2015, Tanzania made $2.2 billion from the tourism sector, the highest in East Africa (see table titled “International Tourism Inbound Receipts”). Uganda is in second place at $1.1 billion; Kenya is third at $723 million. Rwanda clocks in fourth, at $317 million.
Tanzania seems to have successfully developed a premium tourism model that targets high-spending tourists; the country makes an average of $2,020 per arrival, the highest by far in East Africa (see table titled “Average receipts per arrival”)). This is more than twice that of second-placed Uganda, where the average visitor spends $881.
And when it comes to jobs, Kenya is clearly the most dependent on employment created by or associated with the industry (see table titled, “Travel and tourism employment”). Tourism accounted for more than half a million jobs in Kenya, or 3.5 per cent of the country’s total employment.
Uganda is second in absolute terms at nearly 470,000 jobs, making up 3.1 per cent of its total labour force. Tanzania comes in third at just over 386,000 jobs, corroborating the view that the country has developed a particularly high-end product offering that does not require as many local jobs to bring in foreign exchange from visitors.
What is driving these highly divergent performances in the tourism sectors of the four countries? What are the unique strengths and competitive advantages of each country? And which opportunities can each of the four seize going forward? The factors underlying performance in the index give us a hint.
Lesson for East Africa: In tourism, the race is not to the swift
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