Three cheers for the Governors” - photo by Muguette Goufrani SAFARIS Governors Camp Collection has a selection of award winning safari camps and lodges in the heart of East Africa's best game viewing areas. From Loldia House in Kenya's magnificent Great Rift Valley we invite you to begin a safari adventure with us. We have our own Cessna Caravan aircraft that we use to fly clients between camps, from Loldia House we can fly you direct to the Masai Mara to one of our camps (Governors Camp, Little Governors Camp, Il Moran Camp or Private Camp) which are all located in the heart of the best game viewing area of the Masai Mara National Reserve. Being located inside the National Reserve gives us a unique advantage as you are situated in the heart of the wildlife action in an area famed for its abundance of wildlife notably the big cats. From the Masai Mara we can fly you direct to Lake Victoria and Mfangano Island Camp where you can finish off your safari with a relaxing island break in what must be one of the most secluded spots in the world. For those seeking a wildlife adventure of a different kind we run Rwanda's first ever community owned lodge Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge on the edge of the Parc National des Volcans, the home to the highly endangered and utterly enthralling Mountain Gorilla. Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge has broken new ground in Rwanda making a considerable difference to the lives of the community around the Park and to the conservation of the Mountain Gorilla. Our team of reservations staff can help you plan each stage of your safari with us to make this the most memorable holiday of a lifetime. We have a fantastic range of Special Offers on at the moment. These are available for 2016 safaris. (MARCH 2016 - JUNE 2016 ) MASAI MARA 25% DISCOUNT ON FLYING SAFARI PACKAGES & SEASON CHANGES  1st March - 31st March - 25% Discount at Mid Season Rates & Green Season Flight Rates Available  1st April - 30th June - 25% Discount at Green Season Rates & Green Season Flight Rates Available  Park Fees payable for every night accommodated No Single Supplement Valid for new bookings confirmed up until 30th June 2016.  Can be combined with Family Offer & Fly and Fly Offer  (JULY 2016 - DECEMBER 2016) EARLY BIRD RATES Early bird discounts are available for safaris from July 2016 - December 2016 as long as they are booked and confirmed before end of May 2016 at any of our Governors Camp Collection Kenya Properties depending on the month of travel. Contact Usfor details. LOLDIA HOUSE SPECIAL GREEN SEASON RATE APPLIES UNTIL 30TH JUNE 2016 Green Season accommodation rates apply for all new bookings accommodated until 30th June 2016  No single supplements Minimum 2 night stay Loldia Ranch fees are applicable for non residents FAMILY SAFARI OFFER Come on safari as a family of four or more and the first child receives complimentary accommodation at any of our Kenya Properties Park fees are payable for all members of the family for every night accommodated  Drinks are payable as extra Flights must be booked on Governors Aviation and flights will be charged for all family members Valid for safaris taken from 1st March 2016 - 31st July 2016 Governors' Camp wins award for World's Best WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE Governors' Camp Kenya is delighted to welcome back for the tenth year the BBC Big Cat Diary Film Crew for one of the BBC Natural History Unit's most ambitious live projects to date. The filming of Big Cat Live will be broadcast live for viewing on BBC One, bbc.co.uk and CBeebies from Sunday 5th October to Sunday 12th October.The Big Cat team has extensive experience from their many years of filming in this special corner of the Masai Mara Game Reserve. They will be monitoring the lion, leopard and cheetah families which are resident around the Camp and further afield, and sharing their fascinating lives and daily dramas with their viewers. Neil Nightingale, Head of the BBC Natural History Unit, says: "Big Cat Live is the BBC's most ambitious ever live international wildlife event. Audiences will be transported into the heart of wild Africa to experience the action in one of the world's most dramatic wildlife locations, as it happens".To keep up to date with all the action log on now to http://www.bbc.co.uk/bigcat/  where you can receive field reports from the team, a daily news bulletin and watch live 24 hour webcams straight from the heart of the Masai Mara. The setting is magical. So much so that almost a century ago it was reserved, exclusively for Kenya's colonial Governors. Governors' Camps nestles in the forest along the winding banks of the Mara Rivers, it's waters teeming with bird-life, hippo and crocodile, in the heart of Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve   Some of the 37 tents line the riverbank, tucked into the forest they enjoy uninterrupted views over the Mara River, others have views across the sweeping plains of the Masai Mara. Created in 1972 Governors’ Camp set new standards in luxury for a tented camp. Today it’s still Africa’s best. Everything is under canvas, all tents have en-suit bathrooms with hot and cold running water and flushing toilets. There is a bar tent with deck overlooking the Mara River and dinning tent with views over the plains. Governors Camp has just been awarded a Silver Eco Rating from Eco- Tourism Kenya due to our sustainable tourism practices in place in camp. http://www.governorscamp.com/about-governors reservations@governorscamp.com Kenya Grand Tour- Part One . As editors and publishers of Africa Travel Magazine, our recent 40-day stay in Magical Kenya was the grand finale of a two-year effort that will result in 3 new issues designed to shatter the media myths and set the record straight on Kenya's return to world prominence as a tourism superstar. Our photographic profiles of people, places and events are linked from the selections on the navigation bar at the top of each page. Like National Geographic, Africa Travel Magazine issues are "keepers, still in demand up to five years after publication date. This demand has been proven at our series of travel expos in the USA and Canada, some attracting up to 22,000 enthusiastic visitors. Africa Travel Magazine's exhibits anchor the Africa Section at shows across the USA and Canada starting the first week of January every year. Features from our new Showtime Edition, the Africa Yearbook, Air Highways to Africa, and Sports Tourism Edition are previewed on the ATA web site and following publication, complete issues will be available in downloadable pdf files. The opening capsules on this and succeeding pages are from visits to Kenya in May and June 2004 and 2005, the most recent of which included the ATA 30th World Congress.. by Jerry W. Bird UN World Urban Forum: Africa's Cities- Gateways to Tourism Lake Naivasha, Hell's Gate and the Great Rift Valley Quick Now! What location in Kenya is a favorite weekend escape and holiday retreat for families and their guests from Nairobi? The nearby parks and lakes such as Naivasha are a natural, and facilities are quickly being upgraded. We considered ourselves fortunate to have enjoyed the attractions of Lake Naivasha and the Great Rift Valley Lodge on two separate occasions - our first visit was with the ATA Congress media group, and the encore was at the invitation of Phyllis and Dave Mwangi of Speedbird Travel, who own several residences facing the 18-hole golf course. They are introducing some exciting golf and tour packages this season. It is a pleasant one hour trip on excellent roads, via Nairobi's upscale residential areas, then stopping at a marvelous viewpoint on higher elevation before descending into the lush farmland of the Rift Valley, where we noticed a pleasant rise in temperature. Photo right: Attractive and spacious lobby at the Great Rift Valley Lodge. More photos of Lake Naivasha area and spectacular Hell's Gate. Several things I loved best about the lodge is the panoramic view from the dining room, most especially the broad patio that overlooks the golf course, with Lake Naivasha on the horizon. From here we enjoyed several day trips. One was a cruise along the shores of Lake Naivasha, where we encountered hippos and a variety of waterfowl. We stayed at the Great Rift Valley Lodge, followed by two additional nights at one of the private golf course residences owned by the Mwangis. It was an unforgettable experience, and there's much more to come on this topic. Speedbird Travel and Safaris is in Nairobi's Westlands area. E-mail speedbird safaris Kenya Wildlife Service On Guard. One of the important visits we made while in Kenya was to the Kenya Wildlife Services headquarters in Nairobi.Here our editors learned first hand of the many great works this worthy organization is doing. They left the offices with a wealth of material for Africa Travel Magazine library and photo archives. We take pleasure in publishing the latest KTS news releases which cover a variety of topics related to conservation and so many areas that impact on Ecotourism, one of our magazine's main topics. Currently there is a story on reforestation with a photo of Hon. Morris Dzoro, Minister of Tourism and Wildlife watering a newly planted tree. See KWS page. "This congress has achieved its main objective, which is to enhance cooperation in the promotion and marketing of our African destinations in the United States of America. I believe it would be a great idea to have an umbrella tourism organization such as the Africa Travel Association that can supplement our promotion and marketing efforts in other tourist-generating markets such as Europe and Asia." Hon. Morris Dzoro, MP, Minister of Tourism and Wildlife, Kenya / Stop and smell the roses. Talk about Aromatherapy! During our first tour, the scent of roses filled the vehicle and gave our spirits an added lift. Should you ever pass this way, be sure to breath deeply - it's one of the most delightful natural perfumes one could imagine. And here at the Central Kenya greenhouses, the scent is free. Thanks to a recent marketing effort, we are proud to report that Kenya is a major exporter of fresh, cut roses for the markets of Western Europe. It's a promising sign of the times for this agriculturally based country. On our second visit to Kenya we visited several of the large greenhouse complexes designed for the care and feeding of beautiful, sweet-scented African roses. Lake Nakuru - Birds and Buffalo: Approaching Lake Nakuru from the National Park gates, I had little idea of the unforgettable sight awaiting us. Some call it the "World's Greatest Bird Spectacle," and I can agree, having never experienced such a large concentration of pink flamingos on one body of water. Since the Lake Nakuru Lodge, our destination for the day, was on the opposite shore, we circled the lake and our driver soon discovered a relatively dry area where we could motor along the shore. We were soon positioned in the midst of a sizable flock -- an ideal photo op. Like a typical beachcomber, I spotted a sun-bleached buffalo skull lying in the sand, and by the time our photo session began, one very large buffalo presented himself directly in front of the camera lens. In the background, like a chorus line from the Follies, dozens of white pelicans took center stage and began their parade for the camera's waiting eye. We discovered that the reason flamingos are pink because their consumption of the blue-green algae in the lakes. Lake Nakuru Park is home to over 400 species of birds, from the more numerous flamingos and pelican, to herons, egrets, fish eagles, grebes and more. (see Birds of Kenya) Ark of the Aberdares We arrived at the Ark Game Lodge before dinner after a pleasant afternoon at the Aberdare Country Club, a 45-minute drive away. Aptly named, with reference to Noah, the Ark is located in Aberdares National Park, and seems to operate around the clock, as it overlooks a floodlit water hole. Being a salt lick , the area attracts a passing parade of wildlife, which seem to come in bunches, as if each group was allotted its own time on stage. For example, a horde of frisky baboons might be followed by a family of elephants, a herd of bushbuck, or a combination of characters. The management kept us informed by an en-suite buzzer system if anything unusual was happening at the water hole. Guests can watch the action from one of three observation decks. A bunker at ground level, offers the photographers among us an unobstructed view. The lodge, with its cabin style rooms, reminds me of some of my favorite hideaways in Northern Canada, and we felt at home immediately. As expected, the food in the dining room was outstanding, and I later assumed a position by the large stone fireplace. What a life! Photo - click for blow up Amboseli National Park Minutes after our Kenya Airways jet touched down at Nairobi International Airport, following a cross-continent flight from Cameroon - - we were Amboseli bound. Spectacular sights on the route south included a panoramic 'passing parade,' with a backdrop of grassy fields and rolling hills covered with a blanket of lily white blossoms as far as the eye could see. In the foreground, every few miles stood Maasai herdsmen, alone or in pairs. From nine year olds to great grandfathers, they were guarding their mixed herds of cattle, sheep and goats. Clusters of wildlife mingled with the herd as we drew nearer to the park gates. One of the most enduring, endearing and colorfully garbed of African tribes, the Maasai culture has flourished since earliest times. Directly south of Nairobi in the shadow of the legendary, snowcapped Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli National Park was first on our list of Kenya's must-see attractions. The most compelling reason is its large concentrations and wide variety of wildlife. Little time was wasted in getting us out 'on Safari, " as no sooner than we checked in at the Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, like Dr. Doolittle, we were off to see the animals. The first Safari stop was at a nearby Maasai village, where we met and mingled with the chief and villagers; visiting their lodges, watching a fire-making demonstration, capturing some unique photos and bargaining for a seemingly endless selection of craft items. We ventured inside one of the dwellings, made entirely of indigenous materials, including dried elephant dung. This mixture keeps the homes cool in summer and protected from rain and biting winds in winter, as it has for generations. (see blowup map) At one point during our evening game drive from Serena's Amboseli Lodge, I was struck by the fact that you could look in every direction - 360 degrees -- and see some form of wildlife. A family of elephants on the horizon at 12 o'clock -- several frisky giraffes to the right - a herd of buffalo grazing on our left - and other grassland creatures bringing up the rear. George, our driver stopped for fifteen minutes as we watched two large Crested Cranes in attack mode. One was hopping about, spreading his wings and hunching his back defiantly as he approached a cobra, which lay by the side of the road totally unperturbed by all the cavorting and saber rattling. On the Road Again: Early in life, being a Boy Scout brought about my proudest moments, and each proficiency badge I earned was cherished like a purple heart. So heading north that afternoon from Nairobi, as we passed Nyeri, we learned that this beautiful agricultural area was the final resting place of Lord Baden-Powell, who founded the Scout movement . Knowing this fact brought a flood of gratitude for the great man and his legacy. We need heroes and he is one of mine. Our next trip's agenda will include a visit Baden-Powell's grave site, gardens and Paxtu cottage, which now houses a museum in his honor. East African Wild Life Society During our editorial team's recent 40 day visit to Kenya, we were fortunate to arrange a meetingwith the East African Wild Life Society, one of the pillars of conservation and ecotourism throughout a vast and highly important sector of Africa. We consider this one of the most important interview sessions in our fact finding mission. Here in brief capsule for is a profile of this worthy organization, which invites you to get involved. The East African Wild Life Society, EAWLS, was formed in 1961. The Kenya and Tanzania Wildlife Societies, both started in 1956, joined together with wildlife enthusiasts from Uganda, and thus EAWLS was born. EAWLS was established as a membership organization, as reflected in its constitution, and is registered as a Non-Governmental Organization, NGO, under the NGO Act of 1990. For over forty years now, EAWLS has been at the forefront of efforts protecting endangered and threatened species and habitats in East Africa. More details on this site., E-mail: info@eawildlife.org . Web ite: www.eawildlife.org- Alliance Hotels & Resorts When Africa Travel Magazine's editors paid their second visit to Kenya in the last two years, they became acquainted with the Alliance Hotels Group and will be writing about this fine selection of resort hotels and lodges in our next three issues. www.alliancehotels.com     Continued on Next Page -> -> ->  Notes: Amboseli lies immediately North West of Mt. Kilimanjaro, on the border with Tanzania. Amboseli was established as a reserve in 1968 and gazetted as a National Park in 1974. The Park covers 392 km2, and forms part of the much larger 3,000 Km2 Amboseli ecosystem. Large concentrations of wildlife occur here in the dry season, making Amboseli a popular tourist destination. It is surrounded by 6 communally owned group ranches. The National Park embodies 5 main wildlife habitats (open plains, acacia woodland, rocky thorn bush country, swamps and marshland) and covers part of a Pleistocene lake basin, now dry. Within this basin is a temporary lake, Lake Amboseli, that floods during years of heavy rainfall. Amboseli is famous The Lodge: In harmony with nature, the Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, being located in the center of Maasai territory, reflect the tribe's colorful culture in its architecture and interior design. (more to come) The Crested Crane of Africa resembles a peacock and flies in wedge shaped formation during migration. Its animated courtship dance involves bowing and hopping about noisily while circling its partner. The cranes we saw at Amboseli performed a similar version to scare off, or at least impress the cobra.
Go to Page Two for Hot News and Cool Ideas -> More Advertising Banners in Directory Section, Editorial Pages, African Destination Pages and our Top 20 Most Requested Pages