Natural Attractions in Kenya and Tanzania

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• TRAVEL

Čedok Travel Agency to Offer Direct Flights from Prague to Exotic Destinations​

BYPRAGUE MORNING
MAY 24, 2021

The first few hundred clients of the Čedok travel agency will be able to fly to one of the four exclusive holiday places Čedok has added to its summer package breaks today.

For the first time, Czechs will enjoy exotic holiday trips without a stopover aboard comfortable Airbus A330-200 aircraft operated by Luke Air.

Passengers will have the option to choose from interesting remote holiday destinations and fly from Václav Havel Airport Prague without a stopover to the Dominican Republic, the Maldives, Zanzibar, Madagascar and, in the winter season, to Cuba.

“I am very pleased we are able to offer our clients several ‘feel the vibe’ flights to exotic destinations this summer. Čedok customers will thus be able to experience the comfort of long-haul aircraft, which will become our travel standard to distant places this winter flight schedule,” Stanislav Zeman, Čedok CEO, said. “Today, we started selling week-long summer stays with departures scheduled on 3 July – to the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana Airport; on 21 July – to the Maldives; on 5 August – to Madagascar, Noise Be Airport, and on 22 August – to Zanzibar. We will launch the exotic holiday offer for the 2021/2022 winter season in the coming weeks.”

From the end of October 2021, working with Luke Air, an Italian airline from the Blue Panorama SPA Group, Čedok will fly to five exotic destinations using large-capacity Airbus A330-200 aircraft, which can cover long distances without a stopover, accommodating nearly 300 passengers.

The Airbus A330-200 aircraft will be based at Václav Havel Airport Prague from the start of effect of the winter flight schedule and used exclusively to transport clients of the Čedok travel agency. The Airbus A330-200 aircraft operations will increase the number of intercontinental connections from Prague Airport operated by a wide-body long-haul aircraft.

The Dominican Republic, Cuba, Maldives, Zanzibar and, as a new addition on the Czech market, Madagascar are the selected destinations where clients can travel directly with Čedok from October 2021.

Customers of the Čedok travel agency can choose from more than 100 hotels sold at intriguing prices. Additional information about package breaks can be found on the travel agency’s website www.cedok.cz.


The Luke Air’s Airbus A330-200 offers 277 seats in Economy Class and 12 seats in Business Class at a surcharge starting at CZK 18,990.

The price of the holiday package, naturally, includes complimentary refreshments including hot meals as well as hot and cold drinks. Business Class passengers enjoy the standard menu expanded with a choice of several meals and alcoholic beverages.

Economy Class passengers may bring on board one piece of carry-on baggage of up to 10kg in weight and one piece of checked baggage of up to 20kg in weight. Business Class passengers can travel with two pieces of checked baggage.

The aircraft is equipped with an in-flight entertainment system accessible via a mobile device using a Wi-Fi connection. Seats feature USB ports.

Čedok Travel Agency to Offer Direct Flights from Prague to Exotic Destinations

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Starting All Over Again​

May 24, 2021

Min Read

After decades of neglect the House of Wonders collapsed on Christmas Day 2020. Oman and Zanzibar have vowed to resurrect it. THE FUMBA TIMES spoke to experts and artists about the chances to save the iconic palace.

The naval bombardment during an attempted palace coup in 1896 couldn’t kill it, but decades of decay did. The House of Wonders, Zanzibar’s iconic landmark, lies in ruins since it partial collapse on Christmas Day which killed two construction workers and injured others.

The former sultan’s palace, built in 1883 by Oman’s Sultan Seyyid Bargash for ceremonial purposes, is considered one of the most important historic monuments of East Africa. While the debris is being sorted and huge wooden supporting pillars have been mounted to save what is left of the grand building, experts reckon that at least 25 per cent of the structure is gone and more could still be in danger especially during the rainy season.

Ironically, the “Beit al Ajaib”, as the building is called in Arabic, was already under repair when the tragic incident happened. In a first assessment of the crash which shocked not only ordinary Zanzibaris but heritage experts all over Africa and the Middle East, Zanzibar’s Minister for Tourism and Heritage, Lela Muhamed Mussa, concluded in February that „lack of care in the choice of the contractor and consultants and monitoring weakness of authorities led to the incident.“ Further investigations of UNESCO and Oman are still underway.

The “Tour Eiffel” of Zanzibar
For now, the clock tower is clearly missing from the historical skyline of Stone Town. Few people know, that it served as a watchtower for the port authority to control incoming ships and ferries for some years. A site fence of corrugated sheets surrounds the wounded territory in the heart of the historic city; a show vitrine with photos, constructions sketches and information about the dramatically interrupted “regeneration” efforts is still standing in front of the rubble.

The impressive three-storey former palace, a perfect rectangle with cast-iron pillars and broad verandas, was named House of Wonders because it was the first building with electricity south of the Sahara and even featured an elevator. In it’s heyday the interior had fine marble floors ands panelled walls.

But the miserable decline of the once glorious structure was set in motion when Sultan rule and colonial protectorate ended in 1964 and Zanzibar became part of Tanzania. It continued even as the majestic monument was converted into a National Museum in 2002. “The House of Wonders is for Zanzibar what the Tour Eiffel is for Paris”, said UNESCO consultant Ulli Malisius in an interview with the Bagamoyo friendship society.

All eyes on reconstruction
Now all eyes are on the resurrection of the monument as promised by the governments of Oman and Zanzibar soon after the collapse. “It is possible to reconstruct the building in its original style and shape”, architects and engineers from both countries unanimously agreed, “but it will cost more than the initial restoration”, consultant Graham Leslie said. The whole effort would be tied to a larger, long-in-the making regeneration program for the “unique living heritage” of Stone Town, he said. Architect Uli Malisius estimates the re-building costs to be ten million dollars.

“We cannot let go of the House of Wonders”, reaffirmed Mohamed F. Bhaloo, longtime chairman of the Zanzibar Stone Town Heritage Society. “It is an eye-opener for visitors because of its universal value.” His theory for the collapse: “Seafront water might have penetrated and damaged the building from underground.” UNESCO consultant Malisius supports the view that not recent negligence alone caused the enormous damage: “The scaffolding was insufficient but rainwater and humidity damages over the years did the rest.”

“Zanzibar is crying”, summed up a team of three European filmmakers who happened to be filming a documentary on the House of Wonders and Zanzibar’s heritage when the collapse occurred. Producer Friedrich Kluetsch of the film company Demax noted: “The tragedy has saddened everybody in town.”

Will a replica of the monumental building do it justice? Some artists are discussing alternative options like the erection of a modern museum celebrating the Oman-Zanzibar shared heritage. “An international architect competition should be called upon to produce ideas”, said filmmaker Kluetsch, who works for the French-German culture TV channel Arte, and has shown his recent documentary “Sons of Sindbad” at the film festival ZIFF in Zanzibar.

Among the artistic visions: A hologram of the original House of Wonder inside a modern building, a steel skeleton marking the monument’s former original dimensions. “What is important”, says Joachim Puls, another filmmaker, “that any future icon carries forwards the old symbolic of a meeting place of cultures. That’s after all what the House of Wonders stood for.”

Whatever the outcome of the discussion, it can provide a useful frame to reflect on the power of innovation in East Africa while truly honouring its heritage, this time around.

Heritage expert Bhaloo with a 1994 regeneration plan for Stone Town

Starting all over again | FUMBA TOWN

After decades of neglect the House of Wonders collapsed on Christmas Day 2020. Oman and Zanzibar have vowed to resurrect it. THE FUMBA TIMES spoke to experts

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48 Hours In Bagamoyo​

May 24, 2021

Min Read

By Rudolf Blauth
From colonial heritage to artsy hideaway: Coastal Bagamoyo is well worth a visit.

There is love at first sight and love at second sight. When you fall in love with Bagamoyo, it's mostly the latter. For first-time visitors, it is not uncommon to walk across the dusty roads of the coastal town and mumble disappointedly about 'crumbling old houses from a bygone area…” But in 48 hours, and with a knowledgeable guide, you will easily conquer the heart and spirit of Bagamoyo.

My friend Nkwabi, 66, has lived here for 40 years. Originally from Mwanza, Nkwabi is the leading actor in a popular TV series; almost everyone in Bagamoyo knows him. He completed a degree in pantomime in Sweden, and his three daughters Misoji, Nshoma and Sami took 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in a national talent show called “Bongo Star Search Competition”. Nkwabi laughingly confirms my impression that you have to spend at least two days in Bagamoyo to "lay your heart down" in the historic city.

He tells me the name of the city dates back to the time when caravans of explorers and traders moved from here towards Lake Tanganyika and the porters had to leave their families behind on the coast for many months with a heavy heart. Slaves brought from all over also left “their hearts behind” in Bagamoyo: They were irrevocably deported to the slave market in Zanzibar at night with dhows.

Today the Old Caravanserai and the Catholic Mission Museum in Bagamoyo give testimony to this dark time. Ransomed slaves helped Bagamoyo to gain papal recognition as a place of pilgrimage by building a holy grotto on the mission site.

Day 1: A stroll through the past
Strolling down narrow India Street is like walking back in time. But without a guide, visitors will hardly understand the cultural value of the coastal town 60 kilometres north of Dar es Salaam. According to international experts, Bagamoyo is on a par with Lamu, Mombasa, Kilwa and Zanzibar in terms of historical importance. The town with around 50,000 inhabitants is still a sleepy town, a long-planned construction of a mega container port currently on hold. But a new overland road to Pangani, Tanga and Mombasa in Kenya will almost certainly pull Bagamoyo out of its isolation, construction is to start this year. In no other city in East Africa the testimonies of Islam as well as of Christian missionaries, the influence of Persians and Arabs, the reminders of slavery, of European explorers such as Livingstone, Speke or Burton and the traces of German as well as British colonialism accumulate as visibly as in Bagamoyo.

Abdallah Ulimwengu is one of the few qualified city guides in Bagamoyo. He needs at least three hours only for the almost one kilometre long section of India Street from the Old German Fort to the Old German School. The Old German Boma and the first German Post Office in East Africa are right here. Abdallah makes short, worthwhile detours such as to the German Colonial Cemetery, the national monument "Hanging Tree", a small dhow shipyard or the fish market, which awakens to an incomparably lively and colourful life every day when the dhow fishermen arrive.

Abdallah, Nkwabi and I take a short break at the “Poa Poa” Restaurant. With its cosy inner courtyard, pizza, curry dishes and grilled fish it’s a welcome stop-over for us. Delicious milkshakes refresh us for the onward journey with a bajaji - as tuk-tuks are called her - to the Bagamoyo College of Arts.

Day 2: Arts and beach
It is not without reason that Bagamoyo is called the “home of arts & history”. The College of Arts (TaSUBa) located on the southern edge of the city center, where my friend Nkwabi worked as a theatre lecturer, has the largest covered theatre in East Africa with 2000 seats. Their ensemble, the Bagamoyo Players, have performed worldwide over the past few decades. The International Bagamoyo Arts Festival, held annually in October/November, is considered the most important festival on the Tanzanian mainland. The college is available for a tour or for small music and dance workshops by prior arrangement.

In the afternoon, I decide to relax on the beach in the big bay of Bagamoyo. Swimming is best just south of the College of Arts or towards the northern end of the beach near Traveler’s Lodge. Most of the hotels are located here.

Before I say goodbye to Nkwabi, his musical daughters and Abdullah after two days, I take the time and let myself drift through the town again without a guide. And it's worth it: Bagamoyo has not lost its charm as the home of fishermen, traders and funders to this day.

The author Rudolf Blauth, 67, has visited Bagamoyo more than 30 times. He is chairman of the Bagamoyo Friendship Society/Germany, founded in 1992.

BOX
Exploring Bagamoyo
How to get there:
From Dar es Salaam, 1-3 hour car transfer (mmakupa@yahoo.com). Charter flight with Coastal or charter ferry from Zanzibar to Bagamoyo (especially interesting for groups: info@fireflybagamoyo.com).
Accommodation:
Traveler’s Lodge (on the beach, large botanical palm garden), Fire Fly (in the village with pool), Ella's Swahili House (Swahili-style holiday home in the village for max. 9 people)
Guides/Boookings:
Abdallah Ulimwengu: batrentz@yahoo.com (can also book bicycles and Bajajis in advance). Colleg of Art TaSUBa: http://tasuba.ac.tz
Event: 39th International Bagamoyo Arts Festival, 25 - 30 October 2021
Information:
Discover Bagamoyo sights, a complete hotel directory and news on the very useful website of the Bagamoyo Friendship Society e.V. The NGO supports cultural and social projects since almost 30 years. www.bagamoyo.com

• Tracing history at the colonial graveyard of Bagamoyo

Buying freshly caught fish on the market

48 hours in Bagamoyo | FUMBA TOWN

By Rudolf Blauth

fumba.town

 

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CHALET LIVING in Tanzania


Arusha Ngaramtoni Chini, Tanzania
Source : Osse Greca Sinare

 

[bagamoyo]

Arusha Napuru Forest Tanzania



Hiking, Camping, the best picnic spot in Arusha, definitely a place to give it a go if you want to chill out and relax
Source : Osse Greca Sinare

 

[Geza Ulole]

 

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Four lions team up to DROWN a buffalo after dragging their prey into a watering hole in Tanzania​

• Shocking pictures show the moment four lions teamed up to drown a buffalo in a watering hole in Tanzania
• Snaps show a lioness stalking up to the animal in the Kogatende region of the Northern Serengeti
• In one of the snaps, two lionesses clung onto the buffalo's back, sinking their claws and teeth into the animal

By GEORGIA SIMCOX FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 11:56 BST, 3 June 2021 | UPDATED: 12:05 BST, 3 June 2021



These pictures show the moment four lions teamed up to drown a buffalo after dragging their prey into a watering hole in Tanzania.
The snaps show the a lioness stalking up to the buffalo who was relaxing among the grass in the Kogatende region of the Northern Serengeti, Tanzania.

In one of the snaps, two of the 400-pound lionesses clung onto the 1,900-pound buffalo's back - dragging their prey down as they sunk their claws and teeth into the animal.


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In another, the lionesses were joined by a further two members of the pride as they pulled the buffalo into a nearby watering hole and drowned it below the water's surface.

Photographer Marc Mol, 62, from Cairns, Australia, stood just 80 feet away as the 'Gardenia' lion pride tackled and overpowered the unfortunate buffalo in just over 20 minutes.

He added that the buffalo also landed a few injuries on the lionesses before it was drowned in the watering hole, continuing: 'With eight young cubs in the pride, this was a welcome meal that would feed the pride for a few days.'

Pictures show the moment four lions teamed up to drown a buffalo after dragging their prey into a watering hole in the Kogatende region of the Northern Serengeti, Tanzania, including one picture where two lionesses clung onto the buffalo's back, singing their claws and teeth into the animal

The snaps show the a lioness leading the pride as she stalked up to the horned animal who was relaxing among the grass and closed in on it

The lionesses were seen dragging the buffalo down in a watering hole, using their teeth and claws, as other members of the pride stood nearby

In another snap, a lioness can be seen leaping from the grass towards the buffalo which is standing in the watering hole, while the other lions stand on the bank

They were joined by two further members of the pride who stood on the bank while the another lion sat on the back of the buffalo

The other lions joined as the buffalo was brought down and could be seen lying down in the watering hole as two lions remained clinging to the animal while another swam up

The buffalo was pictured lying in the water with its legs in the air while the four ruthless lionesses tucked in to their prey in Tanzania

Lions team up to DROWN a buffalo in Tanzania

The snaps show the a lioness stalking up to the buffalo who was relaxing among the grass in the Kogatende region of the Northern Serengeti, Tanzania.

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WILD LIFE AND PURE NATURE: KEMPINSKI EXPANDS INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIO WITH TWO SAFARI LODGES AND A LUXURIOUS TENTED CAMP IN TANZANIA​

Geneva, 15 February 2020 – Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Tarangire are only a few highlights attracting travellers to visit the African country of Tanzania, where more than a third of the landscape is under conservation protection. With its 22 national parks, this year-round destination guarantees wilderness seekers a stay in harmony with nature and the world’s most diverse safari experiences. Amidst the well-known „Northern Circuit“, Kempinski Hotels has now signed management contracts for three outstanding luxurious properties, two elegant lodges and a high-end tented camp, which will be open to wildlife lovers and guests as of 2023.

"We are delighted to be extending our international Kempinski portfolio in such an incredible country," said Bernold Schroeder, Chief Executive Officer ad interim and Chairman of the Executive Board of Kempinski Hotels at the signing of the management agreement with the owners. "In line with our brand promise of highest quality standards and to cater to our guests with outstanding destinations, we are continuing our selective expansion by adding high-class hotels in exciting parts of the world. While we are happy to be currently extending long term contracts within Europe in partnership with our highly respected owners, we are at the same time moving forward with our expansion around the globe."

Lachezar Todorov, CEO of Helios Lodges Company, comments on the agreement: "With Kempinski Hotels we found a highly reliable and experienced partner, who since many decades delivers luxury experiences to guests around the globe. Their commitment and expertise in the hotel industry meets our vision of a long-term partnership for our new projects in Africa, which we hope to become a market leader and a trendsetter in this evergrowing market."

Set in extraordinary wilderness sites, the three new Tanzanian Kempinski properties will be ideal to be combined in a roundtrip and offer a luxurious stay in close vicinity to the most demanded attractions in the country. Inspired by the natural elements of surroundings and with a focus on sustainability, each lodge has its own expressive architectural language and distinctive character that is unique to its particular, protected environment. With reference to the remarkable tree canopies of Africa, the architecture is dominated by expansive roof structures and projecting shade canopies which provide shelter from the African sun. Spacious terraces and magical outdoor living areas allow the guest to immerse themselves in nature.

19 tents with terrace and outdoor showers, two junior suite tents with an outside pool as well as two family tents with two rooms with more than 200 sq m await guests in the high-end Kempinski Msasa Lodge Lake Manyara. Placed on a ridge overlooking the lake and deep gorges, this luxurious tented camp offers access to world-class game viewing and an exceptional birdlife variety.
A World Heritage Site and the world’s most well-known wildlife conservation area, Serengeti National Park will be home to the 75 rooms Kempinski Longosa Lodge Serengeti. While the smallest guest rooms start at 71 sq m, the suites start from a size of 98 sqm followed by a three-bedroom villa of 270 sq m and a Presidential Villa of 400 sq m. Bars and lounges, dining area with decks and outdoor cooking, fire pit, outdoor pool, children‘s play corners and wellness area round off the facilities in the middle of an unspoiled setting of the animal migration corridor.

The third of the new Kempinski properties, surrounded by splendid Baobab trees in the heart of Tarangire National Park, is not only a haven for wildlife viewing, but also for bird enthusiasts who will be amazed by more than 550 species. With 75 guest rooms, suites and villas the offer at Kempinski Kitbong Hill Tarangire is similar to one of the lodges at Serengeti allowing guests to stay in highest comfort in a scenically attractive environment and to relax in luxury after an exciting day in the wilderness.

"More than ever travellers are longing to reconnect with the earth and to spend their precious vacation time to immerse themselves in nature", adds Bernold Schroeder. "With these new Kempinski destinations in Tanzania, we are able to offer the best of both worlds to our guests by combining a stay in harmony with nature and the highest quality standards our brand has been known for over the last 125 years."

The main entry point for visitors to the Kempinski Lodges is Kilimanjaro International Airport or the airport of Dar Es Salaam with connections to Arusha or Lobo. Another option would be flights from Zanzibar.

https://www.kempinski.com/en/hotels/press-room/kempinski-expands-international-portfolio-with-two-safari-lodges-and-a-luxurious-tented-camp-in-tanzania/

 

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Tanga Tanzania : A Unique Tourist Destination full of surprises

Explore the exotic under the water life, scuba diving in superb blue water full of incredible marine biology creatures, mind blowing scenic seaview, amazing historical sites from WWI and many more like traditional baikoko dance to mouth watering local cuisines...

Source : Charlie's travel

 

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