Africa Safari Blog

A three-person crew from Kanal Türk TV in Turkey arrived in Uganda on November 10 to film a four-episode series on Uganda’s tourism for their travel show named Dinyayi Geziyoum (I am visiting the world).

The crew who returned home on Monday night following a 15-day tour of Uganda visited several tourist and lodging sites, including the Source of the Nile, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.

The crew filmed tourism experiences such as wildlife safaris, community and cultural tourism experiences. “Uganda’s tourism will be on Turkish TV for one month,” said Ms Özlem Tunca, the presenter of Dinyayi Geziyoum.

Ms Tunca says the Dinyayi Geziyoum, which was recognised this year as the top documentary television show in Turkey, is viewed by 15 million Turks. She hopes that the episodes on Uganda will help draw the attention of more Turks to Uganda, recently named by travel website Lonely Planet as the world’s leading travel destination for 2012.

The journalists’ journey to Uganda is the brainchild of Turkish Airlines, which early this year launched direct flights from Istanbul to Entebbe Airport.

By Jean,

Africa Safari & Travel News

According to statistics from Rwanda Development Board (RDB), African tourists dominated visits to Rwanda in the first semester of 2011, a phenomenon that indicates the country’s increasing attractiveness to the region and the entire continent.

African tourists to Rwanda increased by 28 per cent to 340,379 compared to the same period last year with the figure representing 84 per cent of 405,042 visitors that the country received.

Rica Rwigamba, the Head of Tourism and Conservation at RDB said, “Emphasis is to increase the leisure market and position Rwanda as a major leisure destination. We have done a good job in branding Rwanda as a safe destination, so now we need to talk more about leisure.”

Majority of the African visitors were from East Africa, South Africa and the DR Congo.

RDB indicates that Akagera National Park and mountain gorillas were the dominant attractions in 2011, while the canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest was the best selling product of all Rwanda safaris.

By Jean,

Africa Safari & Travel News

To mark Tanzania’s 50th independence anniversary on the 9th of December 2011, more than 200 people are expected to scale Mount Kilimanjaro peak.

The Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) Public Relations Officer, Mr. Geoffrey Tengeneza said in Arusha last week that TTB was working with the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) to organize the historical event expected to be flagged off by the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Ezekiel Maige.

“TANAPA has agreed to waiver climbing fees to all local Tanzanians who will participate in the 50th Anniversary climb while a local tour operator is to play the role of identifying and recruiting potential climbers as well as to handle all the related logistics, including transport and accommodation,” said Mr Tengeneza.

While TTB are targeting to take 200 climbers up the mountain the massive interest being shown by people who keep knocking at the Tourist Board’s doors in Dar-es-salaam as well as those who have been applying online is reportedly overwhelming.

Kilimanjaro which is the world’s highest free standing Mountain is made up of three distinct volcanic cones, with Kibo escalating to 5,895 meters or 19,341 feet, being the highest point on the African continent. Other peaks are Mawenzi at 5,149 m (16,893 ft) and Shira 3,962 m (13,000 ft).

More than 25,000 people, mostly foreign tourists go on Kilimanjaro climbing tours every year at an average of 2000 climbs per month. Of late this Africa’s highest peak has been attracting charity expedition missions by celebrities from around the world.

By Jean,

Africa Safari & Travel News

Air France is set to start direct thrice weekly flights between Cape Town, South Africa and Paris, France this week.

The Western Cape Tourism Minister, Alan Winde, welcomed the announcement and is set to see off the first flight to Charles de Gaulle Airport at the inaugural ceremony at Cape Town International Airport hosted by Air France.

Air France is the 17th airline to fly direct into Cape Town, raising the average number of international flights into the destination to 12 per day.

The increase of direct flights to Cape Town opens further opportunities for business and leisure tourism, and also stimulate competition between airlines which results in lower fares.

“Cape Town has become a favourite destination for travelers around the world, scooping several international awards this year. Air France’s commitment reiterates this confidence in our tourism industry,” Minister Winde said.

By Jean,

Africa Safari & Travel News

Zambia is working towards hitting the one million tourist arrivals mark this year as it launches the ‘Let’s Explore’ brand on the international market in London next week.

Zambia Tourism Board (ZTB) marketing director Evans Muhanga said he was confident that the target would be met because of various packages prepared for exposition locally and abroad.

Mr Muhanga said the launch would take place at the World Tourism Market Fare in London from November 7 to 10, 2011. He said the launch would be important for marketing Zambia as a preferred tourist destination.

“We are going to avail the brand on the international market. We already did the launch locally but now we are going to the foreign market,” Mr Muhanga said.

Mr Muhanga said the development would boost the tourism arrivals from 850,000 to one million by the end of the year.

“We also need to be ready to improve our infrastructure in readiness for co-hosting the United Nations World Tourism Organisation with Zimbabwe in Livingstone and Victoria Falls town in 2013,” Mr Muhanga said.

By Jean,

Africa Safari & Travel News