Natural Attractions in Kenya and Tanzania

Geza Ulole · May 11, 2018

Best for tourism: Tanzania opens its first embassy in Israel
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Apolinari Tairo - eTN Tanzania
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May 11, 2018
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Looking to strengthen tourist investments and business ties, Tanzania opened its first embassy in the State of Israel early this week.

The Tanzanian Embassy was opened in Ramat Gan, making it the 15th African state to open an embassy in Israel, and the fourth to open one in the last 3 years.

Tanzanian Foreign Minister, Augustine Mahiga, said the embassy signifies the importance this African country and attaches to its “renewed” friendship with the State of Israel.

Tanzania established diplomatic ties with Israel in 1963, but relations between the 2 countries were severed after the Yom Kippur War in 1973 which brought intense pressure from Arab and socialist states during those days.

Back in 1995, ties between the 2 states were restored at which time Cairo in Egypt and Nairobi in Kenya became the centers of diplomatic exchange before Tanzania opened its full operational embassy in Israel, the Christian holy land.

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, who attended the official opening of the Tanzanian Embassy and who visited Tanzania 2 weeks ago, said at the ceremony that she hoped one day to see the Tanzanian flag fly in Jerusalem.

She said Israel was grateful to Tanzania for opening the embassy and hoped the new embassy will significantly an upgrade of Israeli-Tanzanian cooperation.

The restoration of diplomatic relations with Israel had been seen a blessing to the tourist fraternity in Tanzania, looking to benefit from a high number of tourists and hotel investors from the Israelis, the best-known hotel investors in East Africa.

Kenya is the leading country in East Africa to attract Israeli tourists and hotel investors to develop luxury beach hotels and lodges developed on the Kenyan coastal tourist city of Mombasa.

Israeli hotel and tourism businesses in Tanzania were closed shortly after the total boycott of Israel trading activities and ban of travel between Tel Aviv and Dar es Salaam.

Before the breakup of diplomatic relations between the two countries, an Israeli management firm, Mlonot, was contracted to manage the former Hallmark Hotels in Tanzania, a subsidiary of the Hallway Hotels Overseas Limited of London.

Best for tourism: Tanzania opens its first embassy in Israel - eTurboNews (eTN)

Geza Ulole · May 13, 2018

RIU Hotels & Resorts Acquires Zanzibar’s Hideaway of Nungwi Resort & Spa from Emerald Hotels
April 18, 2018 12:08pm

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RIU Hotels & Resorts has just added Zanzibar to the catalogue of exotic destinations the chain offers to its loyal customers. The Riu Palace Zanzibar is a luxury hotel with 102 rooms and suites located on the northern tip of Unguja, the main island of the archipelago of Zanzibar, less than an hour from the airport and the capital, Zanzibar City, the centre of which is known as Stone Town.

RIU formalised the purchase of the hotel today, 18 April 2018, from the Emerald hotel chain, which up to now has operated the hotel as the Hideaway of Nungwi Resort & Spa. The New Riu Palace Zanzibar will be the perfect complement to RIU's offer in the Indian Ocean, where it offers two hotels in Mauritius and one in Sri Lanka.

The hotel belongs to the exclusive The Leading Hotels of the World collection thanks to its excellent location right on Nungwi Beach, one of the loveliest of the island, to the tasteful decoration on display in every room and space, and to its excellent service. It has three restaurants—the main one with a buffet serving international cuisine, an Asian restaurant and a grill—as well as two bars. And, the hotel has a full-service spa, a children's club, conference rooms, a gym and a tennis court.

RIU will maintain the characteristics of the hotel for this year's season and, in the coming 2018-2019 winter season, will introduce the RIU 24-hour, all-inclusive programme and adapt its offer to the exclusive line ofRiu Palace Adults-Only hotels.

Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous zone of Tanzania that has become very popular with travellers as part of a trip that combines a safari in the Serengeti National Park with a stay on the marvellous beaches of the island. Zanzibar has a fascinating history influenced by Persians, Arabs, Muslims, Portuguese and the African continent itself. The historic centre of Zanzibar City, the birthplace of singer Freddy Mercury, is known as Stone Town and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

For further information please visit: www.riu.com

Tags: zanzibar, riu hotels & resorts, riu, riu palace zanzibar

About RIU Hotels & Resorts

The international RIU chain was founded in Mallorca by the Riu family in 1953 as a small holiday firm and is still owned by the family's third generation. The company specialises in holiday resorts and over 70% of its establishments offer its acclaimed All Inclusive by RIU service. With the inauguration of its first city hotel in 2010, RIU is expanding its range of products with its own line of city hotels called Riu Plaza. RIU Hotels & Resorts now has 92 hotels in 19 countries which welcome over 4 million guests a year and provide jobs for a total of 28,894 employees. RIU is currently the world's 34th ranked chain, one of the Caribbean's most popular, the third largest in Spain in terms of revenue and the fourth largest in number of rooms.

For further information please visit: www.riu.com

prensa@riu.com / +34 971 74 30 30

RIU Hotels & Resorts Acquires Zanzibar’s Hideaway of Nungwi Resort & Spa from Emerald Hotels

Geza Ulole · May 16, 2018

TRAVEL
A Hyatt Hotel with Zanzibar Charm
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 2018 13:11

PARK HYATT IN ZANZIBAR. PHOTO | WENDY WATTA

By WENDY WATTA
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SUMMARY

- One of the impressive things about the design of the room is that the bathtub is placed in front of a wooden door which opens into the bedroom, offering a glimpse of the sea further beyond.
- If you fancy swimming in the sea, there is a beachside gate to access the sand shores where you can join the locals swimming, playing football, doing yoga or even fishing.
- The Omani influence can strongly be felt in the architecture and decor of Park Hyatt.

Right after checking into the luxurious Park Hyatt in Stone Town Zanzibar, I was shown to my room whose balcony offered an unmarred view of the beach.

One of the impressive things about the design of the room is that the bathtub is placed in front of a wooden door which opens into the bedroom, offering a glimpse of the sea further beyond.

If you fancy swimming in the sea, there is a beachside gate to access the sand shores where you can join the locals swimming, playing football, doing yoga or even fishing.

The Omani influence can strongly be felt in the architecture and decor of Park Hyatt.

The hotel which was opened early this year has a new and old building. Mambo Msiige mansion, for instance, was built in 1847 by a wealthy Omani tradesman. The government then took control of it after he took part in an attempted coup to overthrow ruler Seyyid Bargash.

Art lover

The building changed hands and had various functions in the following years, including being used as a hospital and later a British consulate, before being transformed into the luxury hotel it is today.

The new building, also known as Zamani Residence, houses the rooms and restaurant. At the lobby you will see towering ceilings with wooden beams, skylights and golden brass chandeliers.

The owner is an avid art lover and collector, and the hotel is therefore dotted with several unique pieces. There is even an entire gallery with a painter to give art lessons, for those who want to exercise their artistic thumbs.

For dining, an outdoor patio is the best place to enjoy their buffet breakfast while taking in all the boats and dhows in the sea.

It gets a little hot and humid in the afternoon, in which case the indoor restaurant with a show-kitchen comes in handy.

They have an impressive selection of fresh juices including tamarind juice. For lunch, I had a pan seared kingfish with french fries while my companion had a Jamaican roast chicken. For a true taste of Zanzibar, however, I would highly recommend their Zanzibar pizza or the ever popular Zanzibar mix, also known as Urojo.

At its Anantara spa, there is an expert South-East Asian masseuse. A cozy library overlooks the sea. There is also a cozy bar from which you can enjoy sundowners while getting a taste of the legendary Zanzibari warmth and hospitality.

From the hotel, you can explore the Unesco World Heritage Site that is Stone Town, with attractions like Forodhani Market, House of Wonders, the Arabian Fort and Harbor and more only being a short walk away.

https://www.businessdailyafrica.com...ibar-Charm/3815716-4354264-70r9bqz/index.html

Geza Ulole · May 19, 2018

AFRICA MIDDLE EAST
Tanzania's glamping adventures do wild with style
By Dorine Reinstein / May 18, 2018

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http://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-...zania-glamping-adventures-do-wild-with-style#

Mwiba Lodge recently introduced an experience where travelers can spend a night under the stars in a luxurious, temporary “fly camp” set up on an escarpment of the Great Rift Valley.

In a world of consumerism and noise, where everyone has a smartphone, travelers are increasingly looking for silence and calm. They want to disconnect from technology and reconnect with nature.

"We increasingly see that luxury travelers want to be as far away as possible from the crowd and the pressures of everyday life," said Henk Graaff, managing director of SW Africa Destination Management. "As the entire world is battling with overtourism and noise, Africa still offers raw natural beauty, vast open-ended landscapes and the luxury of silence."

Responding to the growing demand for such experiences, "glamping" (upscale camping) has become a popular trend, especially in Tanzania, with glamping camps opening up across the country.

Recently, the Lake Natron Camp team announced two glamping treks featuring camps in Tanzania that are both scheduled to open in January. The Great Rift Valley Trek offers expeditions from Empakai Crater to Lake Natron, while Walking in the Footsteps of Early Man is a trek back through millennia of evolution from the relatively recent (less than 100,000 years old) hominid footprints right by Lake Natron Camp all the way to Olduvai, recognized as one of the most important paleoanthropology sites in the world.

Although Africa has seen a range of camps opening recently, glamping is not a new concept. Jim Holden, president of Holden Safaris, explained that Theodore Roosevelt went glamping when he was on safari in East Africa back in 1909.

"The archetypical glamping experience is the traditional and authentic mobile, tented safari first offered in East Africa in the Serengeti and the Masai Mara," Holden said. "A tented camp is erected for a select group of clients in a specially selected, remote part of Africa, [chosen] for its wildlife and stunning scenery."

Marguerite Smit, Travel Beyond consultant and a Safari Pros member, said that recently the traditional rustic, tented experience has been given a makeover and now ranges from luxury tents to glamorous pods. "Glamping experiences offer a uniquely different experience; no two are the same," she said, adding that what all these experiences have in common is that they aim to bring you as close to nature as possible in a luxury setting.

Said Smit: "Canvas walls allow you to hear the night sounds, experiencing nature up close and personal without feeling like you are roughing it. I often find when working with couples, one of the two may be an avid camper or naturalist, while the other only enjoys traveling with all the creature comforts and amenities accompanied with hotel travel. Glamping offers that happy medium."

The Highlands’ domes provide excellent views of the Serengeti in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Here is a roundup of some of the top glamping spots in Tanzania, according to travel professionals:

• An architectural masterpiece at the Highlands, Ngorongoro: Situated high on the slopes of the Olmoti Volcano, the Highlands raises the bar in terms of a low-impact, five-star glamping experience. "Architecturally, it blows your mind," said Smit. She said the camp consists of eight glass-and-canvas domes with breathtaking views all the way across to the Serengeti. The property has access to an authentic Masai village, where guests can interact with the community and learn about life in the highlands.

"The emphasis here is privacy, remoteness and merging yourself into a cultural experience that redefines your own way of life," Smit said.

• Follow the wildebeest with Alex Walker's Serian Serengeti South Camp:Alex Walker's Serian Serengeti South Camp is a mobile, tented camp that follows the migration. The focus is on a remote, private experience. "Travelers will get access to a prime location for watching the wildebeest give birth in the short grasslands," Smit said. "The plains are filled with millions of zebra and wildebeest following the first rains. Here they feed on the fresh, new, green grass, which starts sprouting after the rain. Based on statistics, [the] wildebeest give birth to more than 400,000 calves in a span of a few weeks."

• A cultural experience at Mwiba Lodge:Mwiba Lodge is a private safari camp far off the beaten track, which offers glamping in true style. Nina Wennersten, a Hippo Creek Safaris consultant and Safari Pros member, said Mwiba Lodge features 10 permanent tented suites sitting high on a cliff. The camp offers a wide array of experiences.

"From Mwiba, cultural experiences can be had in authentic tribal communities," Wennersten said. "Travelers can go on private game drives or embark on bush walks with immensely knowledgeable local guides, which makes this experience unforgettable. The camp owners work diligently supporting conservation and community development in Tanzania and support anti-poaching operations and innovative community projects. They are a very special team."

• An exclusive concession experience with Chem Chem Safaris: Chem Chem Safaris offers a glamping experience on an exclusive wildlife concession, the Burunge Wildlife Management Area, which is located between two parks, Lake Manyara and Tarangire.

Wennersten said the camp is incredibly private and conveys to its guests a feeling of being alone in the world. "Travelers will experience privacy, elegance and wonderful experiences, from sundowns on the shores of Lake Manyara, where they can enjoy the pink hue from the flamingos, to a visit to the local village where they will be welcomed heartily by the local people who benefit from the camp being nearby," she said.

• Jabali Ridge: Set high on a small, rocky hill, or kopje, overlooking a landscape dotted with spiky palms and bulbous baobabs, Jabali Ridge is a sophisticated base from which to explore Ruaha National Park, said Becca Fritz from Alluring Africa. "The remarkable beauty of Ruaha is not only in the landscape and its diversity of flora and fauna or the impressive big game but in the feeling of having the wilderness all to yourself," Fritz said. "With only a handful of visitors at any one time in an area the size of New Jersey, this is an exceptional safari experience."

Fritz said Jabali Ridge's eight suites are hidden among the rocky boulders that cocoon the property. An infinity pool, spa and plenty of places to laze ensure that time off is as memorable as time out in the bush.

Tanzania's glamping adventures do wild with style: Travel Weekly

Geza Ulole · May 20, 2018

#TBT#

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Hoopoe Safaris Hosts Former President Bill Clinton and The Clinton Foundation on their Safari Visit to CHAI Projects in Northern Tanzania.

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Hoopoe Safaris was very proud to once again host the Clinton Foundation here in Tanzania. We have had the privilege in the recent past to organise a major conference for CHAI (Clinton Healthcare Access Initiative) including safaris for the delegates. The Clinton Foundation team arrived in Tanzania for extremely important project visits by donors of foundation and we were thrilled and honored to host these delegates, along with Former President Bill Clinton, to take them to visit their extremely worthy projects and on safari to see some of the spectacular natural wonders of the East African Game Plains. It was an exciting, worthwhile adventure for everyone and something our team of professional guides will never forget.

We were, naturally, very delighted that the Clinton Foundation choose Hoopoe Safaris as their preferred ground handler. The very act of going on safari with us demonstrated their appreciation the joys and wonders of an authentic African Safari and thereby showing their understanding of, and support for, Responsible Tourism and the role it plays in sustaining this fragile and awe inspiring environment and supporting local community involvement and development – so necessary for its success. Maintaining the complex eco-system and helping to bolster efforts to fight the poaching of Elephants, Rhino and other endangered species – so that one of the last refuges of such a beautiful, awesome natural wonder does not perish from this earth.

The Former President Bill Clinton, The Clinton Foundation and their Donors visited projects which work and impact in economic growth and development, empowerment of women & girls, health and conservation. President Clinton and Chelsea Clinton continue to build upon their longstanding commitment to Africa through the work of the Clinton Foundation, providing investment, opportunity, and health access to underserved communities. In July 2012, both President Clinton and Chelsea Clinton travelled to Africa to visit Clinton Foundation and CHAI projects. The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) supports the government of Tanzania in a program that procures the pneumonia and rotavirus (the leading cause of diarrhoea) vaccines. The program has strengthened the supply chain for these vaccines, and ensures that they are effective by keeping them at the proper temperatures from delivery to health facility storage. This collective effort, CHARGE – Collaborative for Harnessing Ambition and Resources for Girls’ Education – has committed over $600 million dollars to reach 14 million girls over five years.

The Partnership to Save Africa’s Elephants is a CGI Commitment to Action launched in 2013 by Save the Elephants and other partners to prevent further elephant poaching by directly targeting the chief drivers of poaching. This commitment has facilitated anti-poaching enforcement in Africa, supported efforts to crack down on international ivory markets, and raise awareness of the impact and risks of ivory sales to the survival of the African elephant

Learn more about the Clinton Foundation at http://www.clintonfoundation.org and on Twitter: @ClintonFdn.

Hoopoe Safaris Hosts Former President Bill Clinton and The Clinton Foundation on their Safari Visit to CHAI Projects in Northern Tanzania.

Geza Ulole · May 24, 2018

A guide to sustainable conferences and events
5 min

Living Wall, Hotel Verde Zanzibarsource: Hotel Verde Zanzibar

With the continued and ever-increasing focus on the environment and the demand for sustainability around the world, green event and conference planning has become an established trend within the global tourism and convention industry. Conferences and events have a fundamental impact on the communities and the environment where they are hosted - some good, some bad. Whilst a boost to the local economy is welcomed, an influx of people can overwhelm local infrastructure or leave behind a significant amount of waste, environmental degradation, water and energy consumption, air pollution and habitat destruction to name a few.

Events can also generate a huge amount of greenhouse gas emissions, leaving behind a big carbon footprint - so what is the right way to address sustainability? 'Event greening' or 'sustainable event management' applies environmentally preferred practices that minimise the environmental burdens to all related activities like venue selection, accommodation, travel, catering, waste management, resources and suppliers, and energy.

The Venue
Probably the most important step towards implementing a green event is the choice of venue which will determine the overall environmental impacts of the event, such as energy and water used and the waste generated by delegates and catering operations. Selecting venues that have obtained environmental certification provides assurance that the environmental impact of the event will also be reduced.

SIMILAR STORIES

Andre Harms, a sustainability engineer and founder of Ecolution Consulting, says that travellers and conference delegates are becoming more and more attuned to green accommodation and actively look for hotels that are operated sustainably. Harms was an integral part of the building of Africa's greenest hotel, Hotel Verde Cape Town, and has just completed work on Hotel Verde Zanzibar, East Africa's greenest hotel, who opened their first phase on 21 March.

He continues to assist on all projects for Verde Hotels, who are the leaders in responsible and sustainable hotel development and operations worldwide.

Carbon offsetting
As climate change gains more attention around the world, renewed focus on carbon emissions has emerged. Consumers are becoming more and more conscious of their carbon footprint, and are beginning to look for ways to reduce their impact on the planet - to eventually becoming carbon-neutral.

The single biggest contributor to an event's carbon footprint is travel, therefore location and access are essential factors when selecting an event venue. Carbon offsetting enables anyone to offset or neutralise a specific carbon footprint (ie: an event or travel) by means of supporting projects, typically energy efficiency, renewable energy, tree planting, etc. that either reduce or off-set carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere. This effectively means that the negative amount of carbon created is apportioned to the offsetting entity, event or development.

Accommodation
When choosing accommodation from hotels and other accommodation providers, particularly suitable are those that have environmental certification as they demonstrate compliance with environmental standards and can guide the event planner on more precise impact assessment and carbon accounting.

Guy Johnstone, General Manager at Hotel Verde Zanzibar - Azam Luxury Resort and Spa, says that guests are also incentivised and encouraged to be "green savvy" whilst staying at the hotel by -

Making use of the power-generating gym equipment (Phase 2)
Re-using towels
Separating waste in the split bins for recycling
Taking the stairs instead of the elevator
Walking or cycling to see the sights

Catering
When it comes to menu planning, the choice of locally sourced organic and seasonal produce, even providing vegetarian dishes will reduce the environmental impact and benefit communities.

When arranging catering for an event, planning to prevent waste is essential. The number of delegates should be confirmed as precisely as possible, to avoid the preparation of too much food - half portion and children's menus should also be available.

Technology & Lighting
Many new technologies offer improved efficiency, size and power requirements, especially for AV equipment, speakers and amplifiers - use of older, less efficient systems should be avoided.

Using natural light as much as possible is preferential as lighting is a substantial user of electricity, and care must be taken to design a lighting solution that minimises the use of energy. The use of effective and efficient lighting control, for example, ensures lights are only on when and where, and to the extent they are needed, without sacrificing the needs of the event.

Event materials
Large volumes of printed materials are generated for most meetings and events but with information technologies widely available, most of the communication functions can and should be carried out electronically. Promotional emails, electronic invitations, registration, information packs and meeting documents can be provided on memory sticks or be available to download online.

If printing is necessary - print double-sided, using recycled paper and vegetable ink - font selection and printer settings can further reduce ink consumption. Any gifting or branded materials, such as pens, folders, etc. whilst best avoided, should be made of biodegradable, recycled and sustainably sourced materials, preferably from local suppliers.

There is no outright authority that tells an event planner exactly what to do and how to address sustainability when planning an event, but there are many associations at their disposal to assist and give guidance as to how to build sustainability into the event planning process. There are also easy-to-use carbon footprint calculators where you can enter details about attendee travel, the venue and meals to get an approximate measurement of the carbon impact created by an event.

Harms highlights the importance of incorporating environmental considerations throughout all stages of an event in order to minimise the negative impact on the environment and positively contribute towards the community. He adds that the hospitality industry should be incorporating green building practices, strategies and operations into its hotels to present a completely sustainable offering in support of the worldwide green movement and to assist in promoting responsible tourism.

"Sustainability profits not only the organisation, but the global environment too," he emphasises.

About The Bakhresa Group
Mr Said Salim Awadh Bakhresa is Founder of Said Salim Bakhresa & Co Ltd and serves as its Chairman. Mr Bakhresa is a well-known industrialist in the mainland of Tanzania and Zanzibar. With a humble beginning as a small restaurateur in the seventies, Mr Bakhresa created the business empire within a span of three decades.

He is the mastermind behind the success of all the businesses within the group. His vision and excellent managerial skills contributed to the growth of this group to great heights. The Bakhresa Group is one of the leading Industrial Houses in Tanzania, with its operations spread in Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa.

About Verde Hotels
Cape-Town based Verde Hotels is a responsible hotel operator that offers a turnkey hotel management model based on the principles of the growing global movement of Thrivability. Verde Hotels focusses on sustainability as the core of design, construction, refurbishment and operations of their hotels in order to showcase social, environmental and economical best practice.

Verde Hotels' flagship property, Hotel Verde Cape Town, set the benchmark for responsible and sustainable hotel development and operations worldwide and amongst many other awards, Hotel Verde earned the accolade of the first hotel in the world to be certified with a Double LEED Platinum certification from the US Green Building Council for design and construction as well as operations.

Hotels managed by Verde Hotels will always be positioned to offer luxury without compromising on comfort, environmental best practice and responsibility, convenience, quality, education, employee wellness and corporate social responsibility. Their standard holistic approach ensures all aspects of the design, construction and operation of a Verde Hotel is as sustainable as possible in order to create that region's greenest hotel.

Environment & Sustainability South Africa

A guide to sustainable conferences and events

Geza Ulole · May 30, 2018

4 of the most likely places for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's honeymoon
After a tumultuous wedding week, Harry and Meghan will be in need of a serious holiday...

SUSANNAH BUTTER
Tuesday 15 May 2018 16:10
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It’s a common refrain of the newlywed: “The wedding was lovely but the honeymoon was the best bit.” There are no more tricky guests to worry about, speeches to deliver or dresses to fit into. But, just as with the marriage, there is pressure to pick the right one.

For Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, that is magnified. It has to be private — Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge’s honeymoon on the private £4,000-a-night North Island in the Seychelles was marred by paparazzi intrusion. It should be consistent with their image — as Commonwealth youth ambassadors they are concerned about the environment so eco-tourism would be on brand. And crucially, it should be a barnstormingly good holiday.

Wedding planner Mark Niemierko, who arranged James Corden and Julia Carey’s wedding, says the honeymoon planning usually begins six months before the wedding and no one has just one anymore. Mega-moons are on the rise. “Couples go on a pre-wedding break to top up their tans, then a mini-moon after the wedding to regroup — Europe is popular, as is Marrakech because it’s sunny. A couple recently took 10 friends with them on a boating mini-moon in Croatia. Then later on they do a bigger break somewhere remote, which Harry and Meghan really need. Traditionally, the man arranged the honeymoon and this tradition has continued.”

Harry and Meghan have said that they aren’t going on honeymoon right away — they have royal appointments to keep, namely Meghan’s new father-in-law’s 70th birthday party. But they might get away for a few days and a Soho House destination is possible — the couple have a wedding list at the group’s shop and Markle has stayed at Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire.

READ MORE

Meghan Markle just visited this luxury Cotswolds hotel with her pals
They are a well-travelled couple. Roz Webster, owner of Cream Travel, says: “They are not lying on the beach people or the type who would necessarily go for the most popular place. People usually want to go somewhere that’s new for both of them on honeymoon. They are adventurous and will want to escape.”

On Markle’s lifestyle blog The Tig, she writes “not a week goes by without me finding my derrière on a plane”. So where might they jet off to?

The insider’s tip

(Alamy Stock Photo)
Botswana has special significance for the royal couple. Just four weeks after their first date, Prince Harry says he “persuaded” Markle to join him out there, camping under the stars and “being really by ourselves to get to know each other”. They went back for her 36th birthday and her engagement ring features a stone from the country.

READ MORE

Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Botswana
Staff at Roger Dugmore Safaris, who have been friends with Harry since he took a trip with them in 1999, say people there know who he is but respect his right to remain anonymous. They wouldn’t comment on whether they are expecting a visit from the royal couple. “Everyone knows who he is but they wouldn’t say anything. Our safaris are very small, with campfires in the evening, which honeymooners enjoy.”

“Africa is a popular choice for our clients who want to go off the grid,” says Jenny Graham, Director, Quintessentially Travel. “You can get a private jet straight into the smaller game reserves.” It’s only an hour ahead, so no jet lag, and interior travel is easy.

Harry has been going to Botswana since 1997, when his father took him and his brother there to escape the media circus after his mother’s death. He has said he feels more like himself there than anywhere in the world: “I have this intense sense of complete relaxation and normality here.”

The romantic favourite

The loudest rumours are that Meghan and Harry have picked the Hoanib valley camp in Namibia.

The Hoanib camp starts at £463 a night and is on the banks of the Obias river, surrounded by mountains. It passes the woke test — everything is solar powered and the camp is a giraffe conservation centre. May is the best time of year to go — it’s not too hot, there’s no rain and you have the best chance of seeing the wildlife.

Tatler’s travel editor Francisca Kellett wonders if Hoanib is too obvious. Her money is on Wolwedeans in the Namib-Rand. It has a private lodge, where they can glamp, do their own cooking and take hot-air balloon rides over red sand dunes to watch the sunrise.

Harry missed his niece’s christening to help with anti-poaching projects in Namibia but he did go on holiday there with his ex Chelsy Davy — a mark against the country for Markle?

Combination trips are an option. Graham organises a lot of Botswana to Mozambique holidays. There is also Segera Retreat in Kenya, which has an Out of Africa plane to get you in and Graham says is “super private”.

Webster thinks a gorilla trekking trip to Sabinyo in Rwanda is a possibility, with a beach holiday at Andbeyond Beguerra in Mozambique at the end or a trip to Thanda, a private island off Zanzibar.

The wild card

(Alamy Stock Photo)
Globe-trotting couples like Harry and Meghan often choose adventure honeymoons, says Graham. “They’ve already been to previously traditional honeymoon places like The Maldives so now they will want to push boundaries and make new memories together that aren’t just sitting on the beach.”

For this type of island exploit, Madagascar fits the bill, says Kellett. There’s even a new resort there, Miavana, from the team behind North Island in The Seychelles, where Wills and Kate went on their honeymoon. It’s a private island with a focus on authenticity and the environment — they are building a sanctuary for endangered lemurs.

Graham suggests combining Madagascar and the Seychelles. “Privacy will be an overriding concern. Intimate properties here are Vakona Forest Lodge, Anjajavy, Hotel Relais des Plateaux and the Maia Luxury Resort.”

If that’s too mainstream — the paparazzi managed to track down Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge on their honeymoon to a similar place — they could consider another off-the-beaten-track location. Mary-Clare Gribbon, director of GribbonBerry PR, says that Alaska, the Grenadines and Patagonia are on the rise. Petit St Vincent is a private island in The Grenadines with limited wi-fi (but it does have a resident expert yoga teacher).

The staycation

(Alamy Stock Photo)
In their new role as Commonwealth youth ambassadors, the couple will be travelling a lot so perhaps a staycation could be a relaxing change (and have a low carbon footprint with no flying required). It would also be a safe option if the rumours about Markle being pregnant are true — there’s no zika or malaria in the UK.

There is royal precedent for keeping it local. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip spent their honeymoon in Hampshire, at Philip’s Uncle Earl Mountbatten’s country pile, Broadlands. It’s still in the Mountbatten family. Prince Charles and Diana began their honeymoon there — before a comprehensive cruise that took in Gibraltar, Tunisia, Sardinia, Greece and Egypt.

Charles’s estate in the Brecon Beacons, West Range, would be a wholesome alternative. A mini-moon in Ireland has been mooted, but Charles and Camilla are going there in May — is the Emerald Isle big enough for a family affair?

Meghan Markle | Prince Harry | Royal Wedding | Honeymoon |Honeymoon destinations | Travel

4 of the most likely places for Harry and Meghan's honeymoon

Geza Ulole · Jun 1, 2018

Hotelogix helps Our Zanzibar Hotel Group to witness 35% increase in occupancy
Hotelogix, a leader in cloud-based Property Management System has announced its successful partnership with Zanzibar-based Our Zanzibar Hotel Group that has led to 35% increase in occupancy for the Group.
2 min

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Hotelogix, a leader in cloud-based Property Management System has announced its successful partnership with Zanzibar-based Our Zanzibar Hotel Group that has led to 35% increase in occupancy for the Group. This was possible as Hotelogix was instrumental in enabling the Hospitality Group to get more bookings via OTAs and from its own website.

With a combination of 3-star and 5-star properties, Our Zanzibar Hotel Group manages 11 hotels spread across the island. Apart from being recognized as one of the fastest growing hospitality entities in Zanzibar, the Group is also rated as one of the most preferred and recommended destinations.

SIMILAR STORIES

According to the management at Our Zanzibar Hotel Group, the Group was struggling to ensure real-time update of its rates and inventory on OTAs with the earlier PMS they had. They had to manually login on each OTA's extranet to do the same, which was time consuming, and prone to error. This also led to overbooking situations, resulting in guest disappointment. Moreover, they had deal with loss of business opportunities as available rooms could never get updated on all sales channels.

"However, with Hotelogix, we are no more worried about overbooking issues. Working with OTAs has now become simplified. We have witnessed a 25% lift in booking via OTAs. Moreover, the integrated web booking engine has helped us to generate 25% more direct booking through our website. All these have led to a 35% spike in our occupancy level," said Ayman Saleem, Group Director at Our Zanzibar Hotel Group.

According to Ayman, the reporting feature of Hotelogix PMS has enabled the Group to take data driven decisions that are vital to their business. They can now offer customized packages as per their guests' preferences. The Group now efficiently manages all the properties when their operations are on full throttle during 100% occupancy.

Speaking on this, Aditya Sanghi, Co-founder & CEO at Hotelogix said, "We are happy to see how our PMS has evolved to provide value to hotels in Zanzibar. The Group's accomplishment validates that we have successfully empowered them to grow their business."

About Hotelogix
Hotelogix provides a robust cloud-based Hotel PMS that helps hotels to automate and manage their end-to-end operations with ease. It also assists hotels to drive growth, increase revenue and to enhance their online reputation. The PMS is hosted on Amazon Web Services, and thus offers the much-needed stability and security to hoteliers. The company has rich experience in serving global markets with customers in 100 plus countries including developed geographies such as North America and Europe.

Contact
Debi Prasad Sarangi
Corporate Communications Specialist
Phone: +91-80-40936513 Extn: 1006
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About Hotelogix

Hotelogix is a

unique, cloud-based, end-to-end, hospitality technology solution, built to seamlessly manage hotels, resorts, serviced apartments or multi-location hotel chains, by providing a single window to manage all hotel operations and bookings (online and offline). Hotelogix is currently used by properties in 100+ countries.

Hotelogix helps Our Zanzibar Hotel Group to witness 35% increase in occupancy

Geza Ulole · Jun 1, 2018

From Zanzibar to Nairobi - four new hotel openings

In recent months, there have been a number of hotel openings in Africa

Melinda Healy
May 27, 2018

Updated: May 27, 2018 04:53 PM

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The Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport has 144 rooms and a rooftop swimming pool. Courtesy IHG
The tourist market in Africa is driving demand for hotels right across the continent. In recent months, there have been a number of openings – we have put together four of the best of the new properties, from Zanzibar to Nairobi and beyond.

Nigeria’s Lagos welcomes a new Raddison property

Radisson Blu has recently opened its third hotel in Nigeria, and its second in Lagos, the country’s biggest city. Located a few kilometres from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, the Radisson Blu Hotel Lagos Ikeja has 155 rooms ranging from contemporary standard and business class categories. Guests have a choice of two dining options, a specialty steakhouse and an all-day dining restaurant. There’s a 24-hour gym, an outdoor pool and eight meeting rooms within the property. Rates start from $226 per room per night (Dh829), including taxes. For more details, go to www.radissonblu.com.

Luxury resort opens in Zanzibar

A bungalow suite at the Zuri Zanzibar beach resort in Tanzania. Courtesy Design Hotels
Zuri Zanzibar has just opened its beachfront resort in Tanzania, and is fast making its way onto the bucket list for many travellers. The Design Hotels property is 55 kilometres from Zanzibar International Airport, in Kendwa village on the northern coast of Unguja, and has 300 metres of private beach. The 55 bungalows, suites and villas are surrounded by tropical gardens and have uninterrupted views of the coastline. The resort boasts three restaurants, a 32-metre infinity pool, a watersport and dive centre, and a yoga studio and spa. Stays start from US$560 per night (Dh2,056) including taxes. For more information, go to www.zurizanzibar.com.

Crowne Plaza expands its presence into Nairobi

If you’re heading to Kenya, Intercontinental Hotels Group has just opened the Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport. Located at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the 144-room hotel is a few minutes from the terminals and offers free pick-up and drop-off services to guests. It is also central to various locations within the city, including the Wilson Airport. The new Crowne property has a fully-equipped business centre, three large meeting rooms and a gym and rooftop pool, which offers a 180-degree view of the grasslands surrounding the Mombasa-Nairobi highway. Rates start from Dh648 per night, including taxes. For more, go to www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels.

Marriott debuts in West Africa

The exterior of the Accra Marriott Hotel in Ghana. Courtesy Marriott International
Ghana’s Accra Marriott Hotel is the first Marriott International hotel to open in West Africa. The hotel is located opposite the Kotoka International Airport, which makes it true to its moniker as the ‘Gateway to West Africa’. The 208-room hotel is situated about seven kilometres from Accra’s city centre and has three food and beverage outlets, a pool, fitness centre and business facilities. Rates start from Dh1,182 per night, including taxes. For more information, go to www.marriott.com.

From Zanzibar to Nairobi - four new hotel openings

Geza Ulole · Jun 1, 2018

TRAVEL
In Zanzibar, a tale of spice and slavery

SUDHA BALACHANDRAN
MAY 30, 2018 16:31 IST
UPDATED: MAY 31, 2018 14:13 IST

SHARE ARTICLE
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Zanzibar with its sun, sea and sand is also a witness to the shameful history of slave trading
We flew in to Zanzibar from Arusha in northern Tanzania on a small 40-seater plane run by a private airline called Flight 540. The view from 20,000 ft. above, as we approached Zanzibar, was spectacular - clear green waters of the Indian Ocean, dotted with small land masses filled with lush green vegetation. As the plane descended, it seemed as though we would touch down on water but we didn’t and the flight landed on terra firma and a moist, slightly cool breeze welcomed us as we stepped out made our way past the customs officials.

We found a taxi and headed into town. The driver was a friendly chap and went by the name of Ronaldo. He explained that his real name was Mohammed Naroor but took the pseudonym of Ronaldo after his favourite football player to ensure that European and American tourists find it easy to pronounce and remember his name!

The island was green, and beautiful; it reminded me instantly of Kerala and Goa. We caught glimpses of the sea through the trees as we drove through the town.

Most of the women wore a head-dress called hijab, that covered their heads and neck and fell down to the shoulders. We passed through a road called Bu-Bu-Bu Road, named after the train that used to run there in earlier times. There was a Bu Bu Bu Police Station, and a school named, yes, you guessed it, Bu Bu Bu School.

Spice plantation tour

Our first stop was at a spice plantation and it now definitely felt like we were in Kerala. Guide Habib, took us on a tour of the estate and pointed out the various spices. Our guide was impressed by our knowledge of spices - turmeric, ginger, pepper (called pili pili manga in Swahili), vanilla, cardamom. He twisted a few strands of leaves and made them into lovely objects - tapioca leaves (called cassava, locally) became a necklace, the pineapple plant leaves transformed into glasses while he made crowns from coconut leaves. My girls were mighty impressed and laughed gleefully when he placed mini crowns on their heads; we gave them nice titles to go with the crowns - the Spice Girls! He then showed us the lipstick plant - it had a pod that gave a reddish-orange colour gel when squeezed.

After the plantation tour, we headed to our hotel in the northern part of Zanzibar called Amaan Bungalows. Our room had a wonderful view of the beach. The balcony stood on four wooden pillars and a white sandy beach led out to endless expanse of water, whitish near the shore, light green, then dark green and so on till it extended to the horizon in hues of spectacular turquoise.

Beautiful sunset over the Indian Ocean

The next day, after spending the morning playing in the waves, we went out on a snorkelling and sunset cruise. One of the locals introduced himself as ‘Captain’ and offered to take us on the cruise. He asked, ‘You from India?’ When we answered ‘Yes’, he immediately declared, “Mujhe kuchchu kuchchu hota hay!”

We went along with the Captain in his dhow, into the Indian Ocean wearing life jackets and snorkelling gear and explored the colourful underwater world full of fish and coral. After a good hour of this, we clambered into the boat which swayed gently as the wind caught the sails. The sunset made us clap and sigh in wonder. The western sky turned red, then orange until the sun submerged into the sea after a spectacular show.

Slave Cave Tour

The next day, Ronaldo, took us out again . First stop was the Slave Cave. The place looked deserted and Ronaldo introduced a young guide to us who would take us on the tour. We followed our young guide down a few rugged steps into a a dark hollow cavern; we had to use torches to see our way down.

Even after slave trade was abolished Arab kings continued to hide slaves in this cave. There was a secret exit from the cave into the sea where waiting ships carried them away to bonded labour. The sea was some distance away , but it was not difficult to imagine how it must have been for the men and women chained and forced to walk the path towards the ship that would carry them far away from home to a life of untold misery.

Old Stone Town Tour

We visited the Old Stone Town with its extraordinarily narrow lanes where one could either walk or cycle. We stopped at the erstwhile slave market which now houses the Christ Church Cathedral in its premises. The altar of the church is supposedly built right on the spot where the whipping staff used to be!

We climbed down to the dungeons of the old building where the slaves were detained before they were auctioned. It was a hideous place - small and narrow with no windows. There were two rooms on either side, for men and women and children. Small square openings in the wall acted as ventilators. The room was otherwise dark and dingy. There were hooks embedded in the walls - presumably to chain the slaves. Missionary David Livingstone, who travelled and lived in Zanzibar, is said to have worked tirelessly to abolish slavery here. We visited the citadel that was constructed to commemorate the abolition of slavery. And on the way the area where slave auctions were held. Lest the world forgets, the site today has clay figures of slaves with their hands tied behind their backs and chains around their necks.

A palace has been converted into a museum and is called the House of Wonders as it was the first building in the area to have electricity and an elevator. It has one of the biggest door frames at the entrance. A massive sail boat is laid out in the middle of the front room to welcome visitors. It houses knives, clothes, pottery and other artefacts from the past.

Apparently, the shortest war in history took place here between the British and the Arab King and it lasted about 38 minutes as the Arab king surrendered quickly to the British forces. A part of his palace, the stables and other neighbouring buildings were ruined in the bomb attack but were renovated subsequently.

Walking through the narrow lanes one can see some some examples of the Indian architectural styles as quite a few Indians - mostly Gujaratis- came down to Zanzibar in the 1800s.

As we left the shores of Zanzibar on a ferry towards, we saw the white buildings of the Palace clearly outlined, standing silently and solemnly, looking out to the sea - a mute witness to history.

Kwaheri (Goodbye) Zanzibar!

In Zanzibar, a tale of spice and slavery

Geza Ulole · Jun 1, 2018

Zanzibar: A love story
This magnificent island off the coast of Tanzania changed for the worse when it lost its favourite princess to forbidden love
BRUNCH Updated: May 26, 2018 22:00 IST

Princess Nafiza looked out of the window of the fort in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Born to a concubine, she was the favourite daughter of the Sultan of Zanzibar, active, intelligent and popular in the royal household. The sunny morning, the beautiful silver sands and blue waters of the Arabian Sea beckoned her. “Let’s go riding,” she called out to her companions as she left the fort on her favourite horse.

Island of forts and palaces

Zanzibar is the main island in the Arabian Sea close to the African mainland in Tanzania. It has endless silver sand beaches, calm blue seas, historic architecture, friendly people and a past associated with wealth, greed, cruelty, sultans, princes and princesses.

Inhabited for around 20,000 years, it has been ruled down the ages by outsiders – in the 7th century BC by Sabeans of the Semitic civilisation of Sheba of Yemen, and then successively by the Persians, Portuguese, Arab and the British. As the main port of East Africa, it traded in gold, ivory, frankincense, ebony, turtle shells, silks, spices, corals, weapons and slaves.

A view of the Old Fort, also known as Ngome Kongwe, in Stone Town, Zanzibar (iStock)
The Persians arrived in the 12th century. They brought with them their thoughts and culture and built the Zoroastrian fire temples of Zanzibar, the first in Africa. The Portuguese replaced the Persians and ruled from 1498. When the Portuguese could not be tolerated any longer, the Zanzibari Africans took the help of the Sultan of Oman and overthrew them in 1698.

Zanzibar then became an Omani sultanate. The old fort of Zanzibar was built. Plantations of cloves, ginger, pepper,cardamom and vanillawere set up and Zanzibar became known as the ‘Spice Island’. Business boomed and a new Arab-African culture grew up, and from it a new language – the Kiswahili, which is today a major language of East Africa. The Omani sultans liked their life so much that they abandoned Muscat to settle in Zanzibar.

The stone town

The Stone Town is a cluster of buildings, roads and alleyways in the older part of Zanzibar. The name originates from the use ofreddish coral stoneas the main construction material for houses.With narrow alleys lined by houses, shops, bazaars and mosques, its architecture is a combination of Arab, Persian, Indian, European and African styles. It is a little like Dariba Kalan of old Delhi, or parts of old Jerusalem.

The roofscape of Stone Town at sunset (iStock)
To keep their interiors breezy and their appearance majestic, the houses have extensive balconies, embellishments, windows with shutter work and magnificently carved wooden entrance doors. Also, they often have a baraza, or a long stone bench running along the outside walls of the houses, which is used as an elevated sidewalk if heavy rains waterlog the alleys. At other times the barazas can be used as benches to sit down, smoke and socialise.

When Persians arrived in the 12th century, they built the Zoroastrian fire temples of Zanzibar, the first in Africa
The Stone Town of Zanzibar is a Unesco World Heritage Site. The majestic wooden entrance doors of stately houses for which Zanzibar is famous, have elaborate carvings and reliefs sometimes with big brass studs like in Mombasa, Muscat or Kutch. The carvings on the doors often feature verses from the Quran, or occasionally lotus flowers, betraying Zanzibar’s ancient connection with India. Sometimes one comes across a door where cultures meet; these doors have arches that are Indian and carvings in Arabic.

The House of Wonders, the landmark building in Stone Town, is striking in appearance (Shutterstock)
When the old was new

Zanzibar was extremely modern in its heyday. It was the commercial capital of East Africa and the main gateway to the interior of the African continent. The House of Wonders, the landmark building in Stone Town with extensive balconies, is striking in appearance. Built in 1883, it was the first multistory building erected in much of Africa, with running water, electricity and a lift. The building has been restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and it houses the last Sultan’s furniture, artefacts and his motor car.

The majestic wooden entrance doors of stately houses for which Zanzibar is famous, have elaborate carvings (iStock)
There are many other magnificent buildings in Stone Town, some have been restored and turned into boutique hotels, upscale shops and restaurants. They remind the visitor of the original glory of Zanzibar, with their polished woodwork, brass inlay and stone and mortar walls. Some old buildings still carry the names of their past owners, like the one with the name ‘Currimbhoy’, who was perhaps a trader from India. The old forts on the beach are equally impressive with elaborate pillars and outhouses. There were hammams in the outhouses, where the Sultans had steam baths using huge copper vessels to generate steam.

To facilitate public transportation in Stone Town, the Sultan had set up a 12km railway line in 1879, which ran parallel to the beach and the town. After a few years, it was dismantled and another was built by the Americans. By 1906, long before even London had them, Stone Town had electric street lights. A brief period of socialism after the British left in 1964 resulted in the only major modification to Stone Town, when an apartment complex was built in a style reminiscent of Russian apartment complexes in East Europe or Central Asia.

The old prison courtyard on the Prison Island (iStock)
At the height of Zanzibar’s glory, it had German, French and American trading houses, and hosted any European or Arab of any importance to Africa. Major expeditions to Africa’s heartland like those of David Livingstone were financed by the Sultan. Much of East Africa was indirectly controlled by him and his wealth.

Princess Nafiza

Princess Nafiza returned to the fort, a little hot and breathless. She was accustomed to the life of royalty, but of late it bored her. Surely life must have something more to satisfy the soul, she thought. As she neared the fort she remembered that she would have to rest and dress up for the moonlit barbecue to be held that night on the beach.

At the barbecue that evening, Princess Nafiza sat with her companions languidly looking at the guests – among them an assortment of mostly young men from Europe. The royal women were served food inside the fort. The men and guests ate outside and discussed spices and the schedule of ships expected to call at the port.

The Stone Town is a cluster of buildings, roads and alleyways in the older part of Zanzibar (iStock)
One young man seemed familiar and Nafiza learnt that he was Karl, the representative of a German trading house from Hamburg. Nafiza asked her companions to find out if it was him she had seen riding on the beach. If it was, he was indeed a very good horseman. By coincidence she saw Karl again the next morning, when she looked out of the window of the west wing of the fort. Karl was standing at a balcony of the hotel opposite the fort. They waved and spoke across the buildings and met briefly on the beach a few days later when they went riding. Thereafter they continued to see each other.

Punishment and exile

It was forbidden by the Sultan for a member of the royal household to have such contacts. Princess Nafiza received 10 days to cut all relations with Karl or face the prospect of exile to Prison Island five kilometres offshore. Karl would have to leave Zanzibar immediately.

Today, Stone Town is crowded: one of the forts on the beach is an open air art gallery and hosts a film festival
The only alternative for the couple was Aden which was under the control of the British. Princess Nafiza and Karl left Zanzibar quietly for Aden where they married and embarked for Hamburg. An Arabian princess, she chose to live in Germany with a German name. She had no choice: the Sultan had sent word that she would never be allowed to set foot in Zanzibar.

The narrow streets of Stone Town (iStock)
The history of Zanzibar changed completely soon after Nafiza left. The Sultan died in 1896, and the new Sultan, Khalid bin Barghash, was seen by the British to be hostile to their interests. To bring Barghash to his knees, the British started shelling Zanzibar from the sea on August 27, 1896, in what became known as the Anglo-Zanzibar War. The Sultan capitulated within 38 minutes. The victorious British formally occupied Zanzibar. In 1964, Tanganyika in mainland Africa and the Zanzibar island secured independence from Britain, joined hands and named the new territory the nation of Tanzania with Dar es Salaam as its capital.

The sacred tree and ancient turtles

Today, Stone Town is crowded with people. One of the forts on the beach is an open air art gallery and holds the annual Zanzibar International Film Festival. The post office has fast Internet facilities. The African Grey Parrot at the entrance to the restaurant next to the post office cries out to guests who enter “Hello, welcome! Do come in and sit down.” The silver sand beach and the calm blue sea are unchanged. But there is nothing living today from the 1890s, when Princess Nafiza met Karl, except the sacred 1,000 year old giant baobab tree on the outskirts of Stone Town where people go to make a wish, and the dignified 150-year-old turtles that live quietly on the Prison Island where Princess Nafiza was to be exiled for falling in love with Karl.

Dr Amitava Chaudhuri is the former UN and World Bank Adviser to Africa

From HT Brunch, May 27, 2018

Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch

Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch

TRAVEL
In Zanzibar, a tale of spice and slavery
SUDHA BALACHANDRAN
MAY 30, 2018 16:31 IST
UPDATED: MAY 31, 2018 14:13 IST
- SHARE ARTICLE
- 0
- Zanzibar with its sun, sea and sand is also a witness to the shameful history of slave trading
  We flew in to Zanzibar from Arusha in northern Tanzania on a small 40-seater plane run by a private airline called Flight 540. The view from 20,000 ft. above, as we approached Zanzibar, was spectacular - clear green waters of the Indian Ocean, dotted with small land masses filled with lush green vegetation. As the plane descended, it seemed as though we would touch down on water but we didn’t and the flight landed on terra firma and a moist, slightly cool breeze welcomed us as we stepped out made our way past the customs officials.
  
  We found a taxi and headed into town. The driver was a friendly chap and went by the name of Ronaldo. He explained that his real name was Mohammed Naroor but took the pseudonym of Ronaldo after his favourite football player to ensure that European and American tourists find it easy to pronounce and remember his name!
  
  The island was green, and beautiful; it reminded me instantly of Kerala and Goa. We caught glimpses of the sea through the trees as we drove through the town.
  
  Most of the women wore a head-dress called hijab, that covered their heads and neck and fell down to the shoulders. We passed through a road called Bu-Bu-Bu Road, named after the train that used to run there in earlier times. There was a Bu Bu Bu Police Station, and a school named, yes, you guessed it, Bu Bu Bu School.
  
  Spice plantation tour
  
  Our first stop was at a spice plantation and it now definitely felt like we were in Kerala. Guide Habib, took us on a tour of the estate and pointed out the various spices. Our guide was impressed by our knowledge of spices - turmeric, ginger, pepper (called pili pili manga in Swahili), vanilla, cardamom. He twisted a few strands of leaves and made them into lovely objects - tapioca leaves (called cassava, locally) became a necklace, the pineapple plant leaves transformed into glasses while he made crowns from coconut leaves. My girls were mighty impressed and laughed gleefully when he placed mini crowns on their heads; we gave them nice titles to go with the crowns - the Spice Girls! He then showed us the lipstick plant - it had a pod that gave a reddish-orange colour gel when squeezed.
  
  After the plantation tour, we headed to our hotel in the northern part of Zanzibar called Amaan Bungalows. Our room had a wonderful view of the beach. The balcony stood on four wooden pillars and a white sandy beach led out to endless expanse of water, whitish near the shore, light green, then dark green and so on till it extended to the horizon in hues of spectacular turquoise.
  
  Beautiful sunset over the Indian Ocean
  
  The next day, after spending the morning playing in the waves, we went out on a snorkelling and sunset cruise. One of the locals introduced himself as ‘Captain’ and offered to take us on the cruise. He asked, ‘You from India?’ When we answered ‘Yes’, he immediately declared, “Mujhe kuchchu kuchchu hota hay!”
  
  We went along with the Captain in his dhow, into the Indian Ocean wearing life jackets and snorkelling gear and explored the colourful underwater world full of fish and coral. After a good hour of this, we clambered into the boat which swayed gently as the wind caught the sails. The sunset made us clap and sigh in wonder. The western sky turned red, then orange until the sun submerged into the sea after a spectacular show.
  
  Slave Cave Tour
  
  The next day, Ronaldo, took us out again . First stop was the Slave Cave. The place looked deserted and Ronaldo introduced a young guide to us who would take us on the tour. We followed our young guide down a few rugged steps into a a dark hollow cavern; we had to use torches to see our way down.
  
  Even after slave trade was abolished Arab kings continued to hide slaves in this cave. There was a secret exit from the cave into the sea where waiting ships carried them away to bonded labour. The sea was some distance away , but it was not difficult to imagine how it must have been for the men and women chained and forced to walk the path towards the ship that would carry them far away from home to a life of untold misery.
  
  Old Stone Town Tour
  
  We visited the Old Stone Town with its extraordinarily narrow lanes where one could either walk or cycle. We stopped at the erstwhile slave market which now houses the Christ Church Cathedral in its premises. The altar of the church is supposedly built right on the spot where the whipping staff used to be!
  
  We climbed down to the dungeons of the old building where the slaves were detained before they were auctioned. It was a hideous place - small and narrow with no windows. There were two rooms on either side, for men and women and children. Small square openings in the wall acted as ventilators. The room was otherwise dark and dingy. There were hooks embedded in the walls - presumably to chain the slaves. Missionary David Livingstone, who travelled and lived in Zanzibar, is said to have worked tirelessly to abolish slavery here. We visited the citadel that was constructed to commemorate the abolition of slavery. And on the way the area where slave auctions were held. Lest the world forgets, the site today has clay figures of slaves with their hands tied behind their backs and chains around their necks.
  
  A palace has been converted into a museum and is called the House of Wonders as it was the first building in the area to have electricity and an elevator. It has one of the biggest door frames at the entrance. A massive sail boat is laid out in the middle of the front room to welcome visitors. It houses knives, clothes, pottery and other artefacts from the past.
  
  Apparently, the shortest war in history took place here between the British and the Arab King and it lasted about 38 minutes as the Arab king surrendered quickly to the British forces. A part of his palace, the stables and other neighbouring buildings were ruined in the bomb attack but were renovated subsequently.
  
  Walking through the narrow lanes one can see some some examples of the Indian architectural styles as quite a few Indians - mostly Gujaratis- came down to Zanzibar in the 1800s.
  
  As we left the shores of Zanzibar on a ferry towards, we saw the white buildings of the Palace clearly outlined, standing silently and solemnly, looking out to the sea - a mute witness to history.
  
  Kwaheri (Goodbye) Zanzibar!
  
  Zanzibar: A love story

Geza Ulole · Jun 1, 2018

Lion around on our honeymoon: Rugby star Nick Easter discovers the thrills and beauty of Kenya and Zanzibar

The couple's first stop was Naibor Camp in the Masai Mara National Reserve
They watched a lion feast on his breakfast during an early morning safari
The newlyweds also stayed at the White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa in Zanzibar

By NICK EASTER FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

PUBLISHED: 22:00 BST, 26 May 2018 | UPDATED: 08:49 BST, 28 May 2018

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A honeymoon is meant to be a memorable, once-in-a-lifetime experience – and ours certainly delivered. After an eight-hour flight, Kerry and I were met in Nairobi by our beaming driver who took us through the chaotic city to the grand elegance of House of Waine, an 11-bedroom hotel set in gardens, 20 minutes from downtown Nairobi in the quiet suburb of Karen.

Our room had a four-poster bed covered in rose petals and there was a bottle of champagne waiting for us. Our candle-lit, private dinner was by an open fire.

Early the next morning, we boarded a small propeller plane for an hour’s flight to the vast Masai Mara, during which our eyes were glued to the breathtaking beauty and wandering wildlife below. We landed on a small, dusty strip and were greeted by Masai warriors in full tribal dress.

+3
Up close and personal: A pride of lions takes a rest in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve

After a short drive, we entered our new home, the Naibor Camp, a contemporary tented camp in the heart of the Masai Mara National Reserve, by the Talek river, home to about 50 enormous hippos who would be vocal neighbours for the next four days.

Our large tent had its own veranda with a day bed and a private dining area overlooking the river, and our bedroom had a large, beautifully crafted wooden bed and en suite with a hot safari bucket shower.

After a delicious lunch within 30 yards of the bathing hippos, we were set for the first safari with the worldly-wise Jackson, our private guide. It didn’t take us long to encounter two lions in the middle of a late afternoon snooze, the wedding-present camera being put to good use. The feeling of being out in the Mara, encountering wildlife in their natural habitat, was magical.

+3
Honeymoon bliss: Nick with his wife Kerry (above) in Zanzibar where they spent five nights

Back at Naibor Camp, we chatted to the other guests around an open fire and compared notes before supper. Exhausted and awestruck from our day, we were escorted to our tent in the pitch-black darkness by a Masai warrior.

Morning safaris are early but we have never been so excited to wake at 5.30am. We were out for between four and five hours in the morning and three and four in the afternoon, with a chance to chill at lunch.

Each day was a new adventure –from following the wildebeest and zebra on their own epic adventure, to crossing the crocodile-infested river and observing cheetahs stealthily plan their next kill.

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We watched a lion feast on his breakfast 3ft from our truck, then stroll, at his own pace, to rejoin his brother, seemingly for a kip under a tree. But then he was up like a flash and gave a deafening roar, and those amber eyes weren’t messing.

This was the one time I felt a little nervous, much to my wife’s amusement. During my England career, we had a psychiatrist go through the fight, flight or freeze survival scenarios with different predators, and when it came to a lion he told us to stare him out and approach him. Having now been in this situation, I believe this advice to be ********!

Having made a swift exit, we took it more calmly watching giraffes eating from the tops of the trees, hyenas scavenging for leftovers, and enormous, cantankerous buffalos. There were also multiple sightings of leopards.

Wild time: An elephant strolls past during a safari at Naibor Camp in the Masai Mara National Reserve

We visited one of the Masai villages and were proudly shown around the homes, made by the women out of cow dung and mud. We danced and sang with them, learning about their way of life – a heart-warming experience.

We also saw the Masai Mara from above in a hot-air balloon. It was slightly terrifying but also exhilarating, and an extraordinary experience. Our incredible memories did not finish out on the safari. In camp we enjoyed private dinners held in the gardens by our tent on the edge of the river.

We were sad to leave Jackson and the team but knew we had another amazing place to explore. So it was a flight back to Nairobi, a quick stopover at House of Waine to freshen up, and then a 90-minute flight to the island of Zanzibar where we would spend the next five nights at the White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa.

To say the hotel exceeded our expectations does not come close to describing how speechless we were when we were shown around our huge villa. We had our own exotic garden, with ‘his and hers’ hammocks to enjoy the star-lit sky at night, a rooftop terrace, pool and outdoor bathtub, all with stunning views of the brilliant white-sand beach – plus a private butler. This was paradise and the perfect tonic following the safari.

+3
Lap of luxury: The beach at White Sand resort boasts wonderful white sand and turquoise sea

After a guilt-driven workout at the quaint outdoor gym, we took full advantage of the secluded spa and enjoyed a couple’s massage, drifting off into pure relaxation with only the sound of the soothing waterfall in the background.

Then we were keen to explore Zanzibar and we organised a boat trip, heading to Mnemba Island, somewhere we had been told was brilliant for snorkelling and the stuff of tropical-island dreams. En route we enjoyed some deep-sea fishing while soaking up the sun.

Mnemba was fringed with palms and powdery sand and surrounded by the most stunning cerulean sea, the most pure, beautiful water we had ever seen, and we were soon exploring the colourful reefs and tropical fish. To cap it all, on the way back our boat was surrounded by a pod of dolphins, so there was only one thing to do: jump in for the swim of a lifetime at the end of a trip of a lifetime.

And so, after ten action-packed days, our honeymoon all too quickly came to an end and we returned to London ready to begin our lives as Mr and Mrs Easter.

Read more: Rugby star Nick Easter honeymoons in Kenya and Zanzibar | Daily Mail Online
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Geza Ulole · Jun 1, 2018

MAY 15, 2018
The Escape | The Residence Zanzibar

The Residence
Built on a beautiful mile-long stretch of beach, nestled under never-ending palm trees and fringed by the ocean’s clear aquamarine waters is postcard-perfect resort, The Residence Zanzinar

The Hotel
With 66 large luxury villas set over 32 hectares of tropical (yet manicured) gardens and white sandy shores, The Residence Zanzibar is the ultimate destination for luxuriating in five-star style. You could easily spend your entire stay within the privacy of your bungalow – especially if you’ve opted for your own pool.

The Restaurants
Quality prevails over quantity here. The hotel boasts a humble two restaurants to choose from: the elegant beachfront Dining Room serves up an expansive breakfast buffet and à la carte options in the evening – the fish curry is a total game changer, we promise. Meanwhile, Middle Eastern meets Mediterranean at The Pavilion, where dishes are peppered with Zanzibar’s signature spices.

The Spa
R&R comes naturally here. The stunning spa offers a gym, sauna and steam room, as well as a long menu of massages, facials and beauty treatments all carried out by highly experiences spa specialists - just how relaxed is too relaxed?

The Activities
From snorkelling excursions to dolphin watching, the resort offers an array of family friendly activities. Farther afield, the hotel can organize guided day trips to the neighbouring fishing village, located a 20-minute boat ride on the south-western coast of the spice island. Explore the lay of the land, visit the local school and meet the island’s sweetest little residents.

The Packages

Honeymoon Package
Newlyweds will receive 35 percent of their bill when staying for four or more nights. The package also includes and exotic fresh fruit bowl, a beach bag, one local Pareo ‘Kitenge’ and a romantic dinner for two. Don’t forget to provide your marriage certificate to redeem the offer.

Eid Getaway Package
Stay with The Residence Zanzibar for four nights or longer and receive 25% off your stay until 06 January 2019.

www.cenizaro.com/theresidence/zanzibar

The Escape | The Residence Zanzibar

Geza Ulole · Jun 1, 2018

Africa’s hotel industry is booming—but only in a small number of markets
Abdi Latif Dahir
May 31, 2018 Quartz Africa

Concentrated. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)

The hotel sector in Africa is thriving, recording a steady improvement in demand and performance, drawing financier interest, and constituting an active segment of the real-estate investment market.

But as a new study from real-estate consultancy Knight Frank shows, the current supply is concentrated in a small number of markets, with several nations hosting the largest number of hotel networks. South Africa’s major cities, Johannesburg and Cape Town, are together home to 30% of the continent’s branded hotels. This is followed by chain hotels and resorts in major cities in Morocco, Egypt, and Tunisia, besides the tourist islands of Mauritius, Seychelles, and Zanzibar, where the demand is driven by both business travelers and vacationers.

In total, more than half of the continent’s capital cities have fewer than five chain hotels each.

Over the last decade, global and local hotel chains have targeted Africa as a growth region due to the relative scarcity of quality hotels and the undersupply in room provisions. Africa is also home to fast-growing cities with large populations and strong economic footing, who are increasingly drawing a record number of tourists.

As such, brands like Hilton and Marriott have been expanding their portfolio, going as far as converting existing hotels into branded properties. Groups like Switzerland’s Mövenpick, the UAE-owned CityBlue, Thailand’s Dusit, and the Barcelona-headquartered Mangalis have also embarked on projects to actively grow their presence in Africa.

Yet the African hotel sector still faces challenges that keep undermining its true potential. Delays in approvals, access to finance, high construction costs, and severe power problems hamper the kickstarting of some of these projects. The sector is still dominated by upscale hotels, too, pushing the average daily rates to $107, a fee that could hamper the burgeoning domestic tourism boosted by a growing middle class.

Airbnb, the hotel industry’s bête noir, has also spread across the continent boosting its listings to over 100,000. But with hotel occupancy rates standing at 62% as of April, Knight Frank says the home-sharing platform is “yet to have a discernible impact on African hotel performance.” Yet its rise as an alternative option has demonstrated there’s “demand for new, flexible, and affordable accommodation types across the continent.”

Sign up for the Quartz Africa Weekly Brief — the most important and interesting news from across the continent, in your inbox.

Geza Ulole · Jun 2, 2018

Geza Ulole · Jun 2, 2018

Manuel Neuer Sony Alpha 7 camera advert in the Serengeti

Geza Ulole · Jun 3, 2018

JAFFERJI BEACH RETREAT JOINS JAFFERJI HOUSE & SPA

(Posted 03rd June 2018)

Javed Jafferji, renowned photographer, writer and publisher from Zanzibar, has now launched his latest venture in tourism when the brand new luxurious ‘Jafferji Beach Retreat‘ opened its doors to the public.

(Interior view of one of the suites at the Jafferji Beach Retreat)

(Unadulterated luxury with classic Zanzibari furnishings supplemented with state of the art technology)

Food served at the resort matches the quality seen in the rooms and public areas and takes much inspiration from the Zanzibari way of cooking and preparing seafood though special culinary requirements are met by the chef and his kitchen team at a moment’s notice.

Located along the sandy Matemwe beach does the resort offer great views of Mnemba Island, one of the smaller islands making up the Zanzibar archipelago.
The resort’s 14 suites are spread over 3 villas with the decor authentic Swahili and Zanzibar styles of furniture, wall hangings and artefacts.

(Pool view from the Jafferji Beach Retreat on Zanzibar)

(Splendid setting on the beach makes a visit worth the while)

The resort’s many facilities are complemented by the ‘Cinnamon Spa‘ which offers a wide range of treatments, exclusively for inhouse guests.

Jafferji House, the original venture of Javed into the hospitality industry, is in contrast located within the Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and within walking distance to such attractions like the House of Wonders, Forodhani Gardens, the Palace Museum, the old fort and the former slave market.
Part of the building is now over 150 years old and was purchased by Javed’s grandfather in 1945. It has since then remained in the family and been extensively renovated and modernized before the hotel was launched in 2011 – after Javed had acquired sole ownership from other family members.

With just 10 suites is this property highly valued among discerning travelers who seek personal attention in luxurious surroundings – something engrained in the fabric of Jafferji properties.

The Jafferji Photogallery and a small jewelry shop are also located at the house’s ground floor, giving guests and insight into the past and the present while browsing for gifts.

[HASHTAG]#Jafferji[/HASHTAG] empire on [HASHTAG]#Zanzibar[/HASHTAG] has grown

Geza Ulole · Jun 4, 2018

New tourism centre set to boost earnings, revenues

ippmedia.com/en/news/new-tourism-centre-set-boost-earnings-revenues

June 4, 2018
04Jun 2018

Edward Qorro

News
The Guardian

New tourism centre set to boost earnings, revenues

A one-stop tourist centre whose construction is still ongoing is set to spur tourism in the northern circuit and boost earnings and revenues.

Named after former President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, the towering Jakaya Kikwete Ngorongoro Tower (JKNT) is owned and managed by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA).

Speaking here at the weekend, Permanent Secretary in the Tourism and Natural Resources ministry Major General Gaudence Milanzi said the 35m/- investment is expected to cater for all tourism related activities.

Besides promoting tourism, the centre will also boost revenues prospects to the government, according to Milanzi.

“It will create additional source of revenue to the Authority as envisaged, create direct and indirect employment to the Arusha community, and generate taxes to the City as well as to the central government. It will contribute accommodation facilities add to the beauty to the Arusha city and attract more local corporation and international organisation to settle in Arusha,” explained the permanent secretary.

He further commended the authority for constructing the facility saying it will complement NCAAs core business of conservation.

The design of the 14-storey building which was prepared by Afri-Arch Associates exemplifies Maasai traditional houses popularly referred to as Emanyata.

Its life span is expected to last for more than 100 years once it becomes complete, according architect Dr Camilius Lekule who designed the buildings master plan.

On his part, NCAA chief conservator Dr Freddy Manongi said the authority had started servicing the loan they acquired from CRDB in constructing the building.

Once completed, the building is set to rule the city’s skyline by coming the tallest building in Arusha.

It is expected to house two parking floors and an ample space for 60 cars, areas for water tanks, storage, services and circulations.

The building will also have commercial floors which will also house the NCAA’s information centre, commercial banks’ branches, bureau de change, jewellery shops and one-stop shopping centre where customers will find business and health centres, restaurants, high class hotel and retail shops when it is completed.

Geza Ulole · Jun 7, 2018

TRAVEL NEWS
Lonely Planet Writer
16 HOURS AGO
Ten best countries for avoiding tourists

If you want to get off the beaten path and feel like a true explorer, consider planning your next trip to one thecountries with the lowest tourism density.

1. Tanzania. The African country sees 1.28 million tourists each year to its 55.6 million locals. While the overall percentage of tourists is low, it actually boasts some pretty incredible attractions for travellers like Mt Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park and the island paradise of Zanzibar. Image: Lockenes/Shutterstock
2. Papua New Guinea. Just a short flight from Australia the country receives 198,000 tourists – just a slim percentage of its eight million locals. Image: Christopher Michel
3. Kenya. With 1.3 million tourists to 48.4 million locals, Kenya joins its neighbour Tanzania in being an excellent safari destination with a low percentage of tourists. Photo by Martin Harvey/Getty Images/Gallo Images
4. Indonesia. The thousands of islands that make up Indonesia lure in 11.5 million people each year, just a small number in comparison to 261 million local. Image: Danita Delimont
5, Egypt. With instability in recent years, Egypt saw just 5.4 million tourists to its 95.7 million locals. But tourism is rebounding and travellers are seeking out the incredible destination for its rich history, beaches and more. Image: Getty
6. Mozambique. The African coastal country is off the tourist track – seeing just 1.7 million tourists to its 28.8 million locals. Image by: Adrien Barbier/Getty Images
7. Iran. There are only 4.9 million tourists to Iran’s 80 million locals – but those locals are known for being some of the friendliest in the world. The country also has incredible architecture, something that may have some travellers wanting to see it for themselves. Image by Stephanie Rabemiafara//Getty Images
8. Colombia. The South American country sees only four million tourists for its 48.6 million locals. But it has a Caribbean coast, Amazon rainforests, the Andes mountains and of course, coffee. Photo by: Daniel Garzon Herazo/ Getty Images
9. Sri Lanka. Already viewed as a destination on the rise, Sri Lanka still only sees 2.2 million tourists for its 21.2 million locals. But that could change as travellers take note of its beaches, delicious food and elephant population. Image: Shanna Baker/Getty Images
10. China. While China receives a staggering 141.8 million tourists, it also has a population of more than 1 billion. It also has a vast land area, so you can avoid the crowds (of other tourists at least) by getting off the beaten path. Image: Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images
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