Prove that KIA receives more direct international flights than Moi or keep quiet idiot.
nimekutolea list ya direct overseas flights plying to KIA! U should mention which overseas7 airlines land at Moi aside ET n Turkish airline that also land in KIA! In addition Mango airlines fly from J'burg to Stonetown.
Zanzibar: Exotic, inexpensive and only three hours from Joburg (Part. 1)
TRAVEL / 15 JANUARY 2018, 12:41PM / HELEN GRANGE
Zanzibar it sounds exotic and far away, yet this tropical nirvana is only three hours flight from OR Tambo International Airport. That’s just one hour longer than Joburg to Cape Town, and the best part is that, on a package, you can do this holiday for cheaper than a Cape Town equivalent.
We went with AfricaStay on Mango Airlines, which flies direct to Zanzibar, having increased its flights there during peak periods due to demand for this value-for-money holiday.
As with Mauritius, it is sought after as a four- to seven-day package.
And like Mauritius, Zanzibar is an island replete with five-star resorts lining its perimeter, each one more heavenly than the next.
Our first stop was Diamonds La Gemma dell’Est, near Zanzibar’s northern tip, an eco-friendly resort with 138 rooms, all of which have a private terrace and a view of the sea.
Zanzibar resorts are defined by their fabulous wide jetties, complemented by a bar-restaurant at the end, and here is definitely where the sunset party is, with live entertainment and a menu of colourful cocktails to get into the swing of things.
There are five restaurants, including an oriental café which offers international and local cuisine, four bars, a spa and a dive centre at this resort.
We had dinner at The Pavilion, an expansive, lively buffet-style eatery that specialises in Italian delicacies, although I found the food here, particularly the seafood offerings, underwhelming, more so when compared to buffet spreads in comparable Mauritius resorts.
In the morning we took a guided tour to Stone Town, an unmissable touchstone of a Zanzibar holiday.
This shabby little town with its long narrow streets and stone houses originating in the 1930s is steeped in Zanzibar’s sad and evocative colonial history.
I caution that some of you may find the stop at the old Slave Market at the Anglican Church, presided over by Arab traders until it was shut down by the British in 1873, a unforgettably unsettling experience.
But do it nonetheless.
Over the centuries, Zanzibar has been visited and occupied by explorers, traders and settlers.
Persians, Arabs, Indians and Europeans have all had their time here, and left their impression, as well as their offspring.
Its notorious slave trade was in full swing under the rule of the Omani Sultan Barghash bin Said (1806-1856), whose magnificent 19th century home (House of Wonders) you must visit.
It was the first building in East Africa to have electricity and a lift, and is the largest and tallest building of Zanzibar, located on the seafront of Stone Town.
You’ll also see some activity around the house where superstar singer Freddie Mercury grew up.
The Queen band’s frontman was born Farokh Balsara of Persian descent, and only moved to England with his family in his teens.
Given what he became - an outrageously flamboyant performer who took on the world - it seems quite strange that his beginnings were here, in such a remote, exotic little piece of Africa.
Stone Town is an afternoon’s worth of wandering, to infuse all that history and to appreciate the fact that Swahili people are not much better off than they were.
They are poor, yet live on one of the most beautiful islands in the world.
It’s one of those stark paradoxes so characteristic of this wild continent, the one you can’t ignore.
Read part 2 here:
Zanzibar: Exotic, inexpensive and only three hours from Joburg (Part. 2) | IOL Travel
Mango launches additional flight to paradise
TRAVEL / 22 JANUARY 2018, 7:00PM / TRAVEL WRITER
Mango Airlines has increased its flight frequency to the stunning island of Zanzibar
Mango Airlines has increased its flight frequency to the stunning island of Zanzibar – one of its more popular routes. As of March 8th, a Thursday flight will be added to the existing Tuesday and Saturday departures from OR Tambo International Airport.
The 10h00 departure time on a Thursday will allow for seamless connections from other South African cities such as Cape Town and Durban. As the only direct airline to Zanzibar, the short flight of 3 ½ hours adds to the appeal of the destination.
Benediction Zubane, Marketing Head of Mango Airlines, details why the exotic island of Zanzibar has become increasingly popular with South Africans, “Zanzibar has captivated the hearts of holiday-makers and wanderlusts from all around the world, but no more so than the adventurous Africans who call it the “fabled land of spices”.
"It is said that during the Age of Exploration, the Portuguese Empire took control of the island until the 1600’s. Then came the Sultanate of Oman who took control of the island and who commanded that various spice plantations were cultivated."
So, it goes without saying that when visiting the island of spices … a spice plantation is a must-see. Stone Town offers a three-hour tour by a friendly, informed and professional tour guide. Far from a dull tour, it is dubbed a ‘sensation of the senses’ as you get the chance to touch, smell, and taste the many spices and the complementing tropical fruits all grown on the island. The tour will give you a good insight into what makes the local food so delicious.
If you are a Mango Millennial traveller, chances are that eco-tourism is high on your list. Eco-tourism refers to ecologically sensitive travel that uniquely combines being aware of your footprint on the land, and encouraging a sensitivity to traditional cultures of the people you encounter.
Part of visiting a new destination is trying new things, and by doing this in an eco-friendly manner you can make a difference by supporting tourism that is not harmful to the environment and is supportive of local communities. If you are interested in experiences that will encourage meaningful connections with local people, and offer a greater understanding of cultural, social and environmental issues, then Zanzibar will check all these boxes.
And when all else is done, beach, beach and more beach! This fun and vibrant exotic island offers kilometres of magnificent beaches, coupled with water delights such as scuba diving, snorkelling, deep sea fishing, kayaking, windsurfing, water-skiing and sailing on traditional local ‘dhows’. These are hand carved boats made by the locals as far back as anyone can remember!
"As the sun sets on your dream holiday, return home satisfied, knowing that you have filled your holiday with an adventure, and your heart with a piece of Zanzibar,” concludes Zubane.
Mango launches additional flight to paradise | IOL Travel