Yellow Fever Certification for East Africa. In line with a recent statement from the Kenyan Ministry of Health, please be informed that it is no longer just recommended but now mandatory for travellers to Kenya, travelling FROM or THROUGH “endemic” countries, to have proof of the Yellow Fever vaccination. What is important to note is that Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda[…]
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Kenyan conservationist takes bird’s-eye view in fight against elephant poaching
In the wilds of Kenya’s Northern Frontier District, Martin Wheeler, aka ‘bird-man’, and team use paraglider, car and footwork in surveillance effort to help thwart illegal wildlife trade. Africa’s wild elephants are being killed at their fastest rate since 1979-89, the bloody decade in which their number more than halved from 1.4m to 600,000. Wheeler, like many conservationists, is on[…]
Read moreHONG KONG AUTHORITIES SEIZE OVER 1.100 ELEPHANT TUSKS
If anyone has any doubt about the absolute necessity of campaigns to combat elephant poaching this latest seizure drives home the seriousness of the issue. Bloggers like Jenny Karvunidis who criticized Hillary Clinton for declaring her support for the worldwide crackdown on elephant poaching should take the time to realise just how serious this issue is. Largest seizure since 2010[…]
Read moreKids on Safari – Get them involved
One of the key things about taking kids on safari is to get them involved. A few years ago I escorted a couple of family groups on migration safaris in Kenya. Having children on safari changes the whole dynamic of a group. Whereas adults are content to use the time between game drives to relax, read, update diaries or catch[…]
Read moreLEWA DOWNS MAKES IT INTO THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST
Years of hard work and dedication rewarded as Lewa Downs and Ngare Ndare Forest join Mt. Kenya World Heritage Site. The Mount Kenya World Heritage Site was recently expanded to include two additional conservation areas, namely Lewa Downs and the Ngare Ndare Forest. Lewa Downs, once upon a time a conventional cattle ranch owned and operated by the Craig family, has[…]
Read moreWe’ll trample elephant poaching – KWS
The Kenya Wildlife Service has assured the country that the fight against illegal trade in ivory has been intensified but noted the number of elephants killed was still high. More tough talk from KWS’s Paul Mbugua, but there is still a lot of work to do to reverse the inexorable march of the poachers. Click here to read Joseph Muraya’s[…]
Read moreGuns will not win the war against elephant poachers
Bigger fines and stronger penalties alone won’t be enough to stop poaching for ivory – but traditional values could help Dr Paula Kahumbu has written another thought provoking article for the Guardian. There are few more passionate campaigners – if any – for Africa’s elephants. Click here to read her latest piece. Please follow and like us:
Read moreCommon tourist Visa for East Africa still a distant dream
It is something that we would dearly love to see implemented – and which was due to be introduced in 2012 – but the common tourist visa for East Africa is still no nearer becoming a reality. As usual, politics and bureaucracy are standing in the way of plain common sense. While there is broad consensus among the tourism private[…]
Read moreSaving Elephants — conservation dilemmas
“Africa is facing an unprecedented crisis of elephant poaching that threatens to wipe out the species in a decade. As poachers gun down elephant matriarchs, and destroy their families, buyers of ivory in countries like China, Vietnam and Thailand purchase exquisite ivory carvings of their gods, and believe that they are somehow worshiping God. Don’t they know that their consumer[…]
Read moreKenyan poachers make a killing in ivory
“Right now the demand for ivory is very high. When that happens, the price rises and suppliers go into over-drive,” says Paul Mbugua, spokesman for the state-run Kenya Wildlife Services. “While there is demand for ivory, nothing will stop these poachers.” In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), teams of poachers hunt from helicopters, packing serious firepower – rocket-propelled grenades[…]
Read moreThe Best Beers in Africa
The Best Beers in Africa You know the feeling; you’re sitting in the bar after a long hot day of game viewing; you’re gasping for an ice cold beer but you don’t recognise any of the beers the barman offers you. We know how distressing a situation like this can be – you just don’t need to be faced with[…]
Read moreRare Roan antelope seen in Maasai Mara
A rare antelope that has been absent in the Mara has been spotted after a decade o absence. The single male Roan antelope was spotted near Roan Hill, to the south of the Maasai Mara reserve this week. “The hill named after this antelope has reclaimed its name,” said Paul Kirui, a Kenya Professional Gold Safari Guide. Kirui said the[…]
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