Black Business News Travel Africa - Summer

Summer 2012 USD$5.00

Black Business News

Serving the Africa Traveler Community

Travel africa Want to Get Away?

Contents

Zambia Expects Tourism Growth Nairobi, Convention Capital Walk With the Lions, Really Namibia’s Coastal Region Shines Travel Industry News Travel Africa Golf Africa

7 19 58

page 25 page 38 page 44 page 57

In This Issue…

Features 7 Travel Industry News 16 Africa’s Top Lodging 19 Travel Africa Where to go, What to do 23 Hotel Review Mashariki Palace Hotel, Zanzibar, Tanzania 25 Tourism in Zambia Tourism and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo reports

26 Evo-Tourism Site Winner Maropeng, South Africa

Sierra Leone 55 Snow Day 2013 Johannesburg!!

28 A Journey to the Motherland South Africa

57 Visit Namibia’s Spectacular but Fragil Coastal Region

38 Kenya Sites ›Lake Nakuru Lodge ›Heart of a Lion ›Kenyatta International Conference Center

58 Golf Africa

44 Walk With the Lions Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 49 I’m Black and 4 I Travel Follow these t travelers via T Twitter and Blogs

57

53 5 Cruise Report ›West Africa C Cruise Includes SSocial Service in 3 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Culture 13 Folk Tale The Creation of the World 28 Nsolo, Traditional African Game 66 African Cuisine Chef Marcus Samuelsson explores the African Palate 69 Book Review Yes, Chef: A Memoir

by Marcus Samuelsson

Black Business News/ Summer 2012

Travel

Earl “Skip” Cooper, II - Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Black Business News Group Sarah Harris - Associate Editor Narishima Osei - Production Manager Sarah Harris, Phallu Morgan - Graphics La Sandra Stratton - Content Administrator Lion Communications - Layout/Typesetting Black Business News Group P.O. Box 43159 Los Angeles, CA USA 90043 1-323-291-9334 info@blackbusinessnews.net www.blackbusinessnews.net View the publication at: http://free.yudu.com (search: black business news)

Special Contributor Wilma Newchurch Journey to the Motherland page 28

africa

From the Publisher...

Earl “Skip” Cooper, II Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Black Business News Group

T

hank you for the positive response to the Premiere issue of Black Business News Group’s Travel Africa publication. We have incorporated many of your suggestions and ideas in this second issue. Please continue to help us provide you with an interesting and worthwhile publication.

There are more listings of highly rated hotels, resorts, lodges and camps in this issue to help you plan getting away from the crowd in style. We have two stories of humanitarian service tours - one to the Repubic of Cameroon and one to the Republic of Ghana.

The Black Business News Group will support the intent of the African Union’s call for Africans in the Diaspora to be united with Africans on the continent through the information and news in our publications.

Travel Africa will strive to entice those of you who have not visited the continent to take the plunge and to encourage those of you who have traveled to visit some place(s) new to you. There are 55 nations to explore.

Another first-person travel story describing an African journey will be included in the next issue. We would like to include your story in the future. Send your story to us at info@blackbusinessnews.net.

We hope Black Business News Travel Africa contributes to the upward growth of that important industry. 

5 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Travel Industry News New Survey Reveals New Challenges for Meeting Industry

A

survey of international meeting professionals reveals the top 10 challenges the industry will face over the next decade. The study of 877 professionals from 68 countries across six continents was conducted

by Fast Future and was released at the IMEX-Frankfurt trade show in Germany. The challenges identified: • creating a distinctive industry persona, separate from tourism; • establishing universal economic impact models; • proving relevance and value; • thinking and acting strategically; • nurturing agility and flexibility; • personalizing and deepening the learning experience, and capturing learner outcomes; • experimenting with business models and revenue streams; • adopting value-chain thinking; • acquiring, retaining and developing talent, and embracing diversity; and • developing tomorrow’s leaders and managers.  Lisa A. Grimaldi May 30, 2012 M&C 

GBTA Africa Created

T

he GBTA Foundation, the education and research arm of the Global Business Travel Association, is expanding Project

ICARUS, the travel sustainability program it acquired from the U.K.’s Institute of Travel and Meetings.

To broaden the reach of the program, the foundation has formed a global advisory board, made up of buyers, suppliers, academics and sustainability experts from around the world --

including company representatives from PwC, Cranfield University, Sabre Holdings, Wireless Advocates LLC and the Australian Federal Police.

Recognition and awards programs will reward the sustainability efforts of leading organizations.

The association also announced the creation of GBTA Africa. The affiliate will have the support of the Institute of Travel & Meetings Southern Africa, which will help develop the organization throughout the region.

GBTA will create a joint conference with ITMSA this September 2012, and will introduce education and training programs from the GBTA Academy.

“With a strong, local, buyer-led partner, and Africa predicted to boom in 2020, the creation of GBTA Africa makes perfect sense,” noted Michael W. McCormick, GBTA COO and Executive Director.  www.meetings-conventions.com/article_ ektid48678.aspx?cid=eltrMidWeek 

Delta Airlines Still Growing Africa Links

D

elta Airlines now operates flights to six African destinations including Monrovia, Liberia (Roberts International Airport); Accra, Ghana (Kotoka International Airport); Lagos (Murtala Mohammed International Airport) and Abuja (Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport), Nigeria; Dakar, Senegal (Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport); Johannesburg, South Africa (OR Tambo International Airport). Delta has plans to serve Cairo, Egypt; Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; Nairobi, Kenya; and Luanda, Angola.

These routes save customers a significant amount of time on flights.

Customers traveling between Atlanta and Johannesburg, for example, save an average of six hours each direction compared with connecting through Europe. 

Hilton to Open Two 7 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Properties in Egypt

H

ilton Worldwide has signed an agreement with long-standing business partner, Egyptian Touristic Resorts LLC, to introduce two new premium Hilton Hotels & Resorts properties to Cairo and Alexandria.

The dual signing for the 390-room Hilton Giza Pyramids and the 195room Hilton Alexandria King’s Ranch Resort represent the 19th and 20th Hilton Worldwide properties to open in Egypt.

In an announcement, Rudi Jagersbacher, president, Hilton Worldwide, Middle East & Africa said: “Hilton Worldwide has proudly served Egypt for over 50 years and today’s announcement is testament to our commitment and confidence in the country. The two signings will add significant value to our current, extensive network of hotels and reaffirm our position as the country’s foremost hospitality company.”

Hilton Giza Pyramids will include 18 suites and the property will feature amenities including a large function room, two boardrooms, four meeting rooms, a business center, a health club plus spa, and an outdoor swimming pool. The property will also host several restaurants including all day dining and three speciality options as well as a lobby lounge and destination bar. The hotel is expected to open in 2016.

Hilton Alexandria King’s Ranch Resort will feature a large function room, four meeting rooms, a business center, and an outdoor and indoor pool.

On site dining facilities will include a speciality restaurant and an all-day dining option as well as an executive lounge, a destination bar, and a lobby lounge. Hilton Alexandria King’s Ranch Resort is the brand’s second hotel in Alexandria and is expected to open at the end of 2013.

Mohamed Ragab, Owner, Egyptian Touristic Resorts LLC said: “Hilton see Travel Industry News on page 9

Safari Supreme

B

orn in Lansing, Michigan, Julien Dothard took to his heels early on in search of miraculous journeys to foreign countries.

His journeys have taken him to North America, South America, many countries in Europe, and Africa.

Starting out as a buyer for an importing business in Los Angeles in the early 1980’s, he has since created one of the most exciting foreign travel companies for African travel. With over 18 years of experience and a dozen African countries under his belt, he has become a wizard in safari travel.

From the plains of the Serengeti, the waters of Victoria Falls, the slave castles of Ghana, and the mountains of Rwanda he has travelled extensively, building lasting relationships with tribes, business leaders, politicians, and traveling clients. Julien Dothard has been given a title worthy of his journeys, a true world traveler.

To begin planning your next safari contact:

An adventure of a life time.

Bring a friend, share a memory.

The finest in safari travel.

Julien Dothard P.O. Box 1736 Hollywood, Ca 90078 Email: dothard@sbcglobal.net Phone: (818) 419-8639 8 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Travel Industry News, con’t. from page 7

Worldwide has proved to be an exceptionally good professional and productive business partner and we are delighted to continue our association

Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti worldwide development program.

The lodge has a gym, a spa and an infinity pool that overlooks an active watering hole that regularly attracts local wildlife.  www.meetings-conventions.com/article_ ektid49374.aspx?cid=eltrMidWeek

by bringing two new quality hotels to the Egyptian market.”

Hilton Worldwide’s 20 hotels in Egypt will comprise 19 Hilton Hotels & Resorts branded properties in nine locations across the country including Cairo, Hurghada, Luxor, Sharm El Sheikh, Taba, Marsa Alam, Alexandria, Dahab and Nuweiba. The company also operates Conrad Cairo in the capital. www.lodgingmagazine.com/News/ News/Hilton-Worldwide-Expands-EgyptPortfolio-1864.aspx

Four Seasons to Manage Tanzanian Safari Lodge

T

he Bilila Lodge (http:// bililalodgeserengeti.com), a resort in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, is now managed by Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts.

The property, which has 60 rooms, 12 suites and five villas, is being renovated and will be renamed the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Tanzania, when it debuts this fall. “The responsibility of taking over such an irreplaceable asset within the Serengati National Park is one that we take very seriously,” said Scott Woroch, vice president of the hotel’s

Travel Leaders Corporate Launches Meetings Division

T

ravel Leaders Corporate (www.travelleaderscorp.com), a travel management company, has launched a new division called Connections -- Meetings & Events Company. Connections offers oneon-one assistance in budgeting, planning and executing events.

Among the offerings are the ability to book group air through TLC’s agents, and software covering registration, surveys, room blocks and meetingmanager reporting. Connections also can handle hotel negotiations. TLC planned more than 180 corporate meetings in 2011, as well as numerous domestic and international incentive trips for its clients.

At the same time, Travel Leaders Corporate has expanded its Travel Leaders Global platform with a new partnership with RADIUS (www. radiustravel.com), Travel Leaders Corporate reports. The partnership enables Travel Leaders Corporate to provide its clients with access to the RADIUS agency network in 80 countries under the Travel Leaders Global brand. 

www.meetings-conventions.com/article_ ektid49404.aspx?cid=eltrMidWeek

Delta Air Lines, Expands to World’s Largest Wi-Fi Equipped Fleet

D

elta Air Lines starts offering early 2013 in-flight Internet services on its international fleet with more than 150 aircrafts. The expanded Wi-Fi service uses satellites to provide international coverage and complements the existing air-toground service for aircraft flying within the U.S. Delta is already the world’s largest Wi-Fi equipped fleet provider with more than 3,000 flights per day, including its 552 domestic aircrafts. More than 800 Delta aircrafts are equipped with in-flight Wi-Fi connections, allowing more than 390,000 passengers per day access to the Internet above 10,000 feet. When the expansion is completed in 2015, Delta will operate approximately 1,000 Wi-Fi equipped aircrafts worldwide.  www.delta.com

PreCheck Expanding to 27 More U.S. Airports This Year

T

he Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck initiative, which is currently see Travel Industry News on page 10

9 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Travel Industry News, con’t. from page 9

available to certain passengers at eight U.S. airports, will be expanded to 27 additional airports over the course of 2012, the TSA announced recently.

At the moment, the voluntary program is open to some frequent flyers from Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, as well as certain members of the Customs and Borders Patrol Trusted Traveler programs such

as Global Entry, SENTRI and NEXUS. Participants must be U.S. citizens and meet a variety of eligibility requirements. Airports already in the system are Atlanta (Delta only), Dallas (American only), Detroit (Delta only), Las Vegas, Los Angeles (American only), Miami (American only), Minneapolis and Salt Lake City (Delta only).

American Airlines will begin offering the service at New York City’s JFK International Airport on Feb. 28 and at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in March; Delta will launch service at Ronald Reagan Washington (D.C.) National Airport in March, as well.

O t h e r airports scheduled to begin offering the service this year include Baltimore/Washington, Boston Logan, Charlotte Douglas, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Denver, Fort LauderdaleHollywood, Houston’s George Bush, Honolulu, Indianapolis, New York City’s LaGuardia, Lambert-St. Louis, Louis Armstrong New Orleans, Luis Munoz Marin in Puerto Rico, Newark Liberty, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Pittsburgh, Portland (Ore.), San Francisco, Seattle-Tacoma, Tampa (Fla.), Ted Stevens Anchorage (Alaska) and Washington Dulles (Va.).

The TSA plans to expand the program to include additional airlines and airports as it becomes operationally ready to do so. For more information, go to www.tsa.gov/what_ we_do/escreening.shtm. 

Source: www.meetings-conventions.com/ article_ektid46474.aspx?cid=eltrMidWeek

GBTA Recognizes Five Sustainability Leaders

T

he Global Business Travel Association’s GBTA Foundation awarded five Project ICARUS Gold Medal awards to companies that are actively integrating sustainability efforts into their travel programs.

The InterContinental Hotel Group, Symantec Corp., Sabre Holdings, Enterprise Holdings and PwC received the top honor from the global Project ICARUS program. Recognized as “Committed” companies for their efforts were Dominion, the Carbon Accounting Co., Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, United Airlines, Barclays PLC, Portman Travel, Microsoft and Carlson Wagonlit.

These companies are working toward Gold Medal status, according to the GBTA. More information on the program and awards can be found at gbta.org/icarus.  www.meetings-conventions.com/article_ ektid49838.aspx?cid=eltrMidWeek

Loews Offers Global Entry Enrollment to Platinum Members

L

oews Hotels & Resorts is offering complimentary enrollment in the U.S. government’s Global Entry program to its premier loyalty-club members.

For a 60-day period beginning Monday, September 24, 2012. Loews YouFirst Platinum members are able to enroll in the Global Entry program, with the hotel company covering the $100 application fee. Global Entry, which is administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, allows expedited clearance for pre-screened, preapproved international travelers upon arrival in the U.S. Its members can use automated kiosks upon arriving in the country, instead of waiting in line for screening by an immigration officer. U.S. citizens approved for Global Entry automatically qualify to

participate as well in the PreCheck expedited screening program, which is run by the Transportation Security Administration.

That program, being offered at a growing number of U.S. airports, allows pre-approved passengers to pass through security more quickly. Loews is the first hospitality company to coordinate such a program with these government initiatives. “We are dedicated to improving our guests’ complete travel experience, from airport security checkpoints to hotel check-ins,” said Loews CEO and president Paul Whetsell in a statement.  www.meetings-conventions.com/article_ ektid50536.aspx?cid=eltrMidWeek

Room Key Signs New see Travel Industry News on page 11

10 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Key reports that its website, which launched in January, is getting 14 million visits per month, according to Google Analytics. 

Travel Industry News, con’t. from page 10

Hotel Chain Partners

H

otel search engine Room Key has partnered with three more hotel companies. The newest partners -- La Quinta Inns & Suites, Millennium Hotels & Resorts, and The Leading Hotels of the World -will double the number of properties on the site when their inventories are added later this fall. The new partners

join founding members Choice Hotels International, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels, InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International and the Wyndham Hotel Group. Room

www.meetings-conventions.com/article_ ektid50548.aspx?cid=eltrMidWeek

United Airlines Debuts First Boeing Dreamliner

U

nited Airlines has announced preparations to fly North America’s first Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Seattle to Houston.

This aircraft delivery is just the first 787 Dreamliner from Boeing of the 50 United has ordered.

“As the North American launch customer, we are delighted to be getting our first 787 Dreamliner.

As we continue to build the world’s leading airline, we are excited for our customers and co-workers to experience this game-changing aircraft,” said Jeff Smisek, President and CEO, United Airlines.

Arriving in Houston later this week, the Boeing Dreamliner will begin a month-long training and certification program which will include non-

Boeing Dreamliner

11 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

commercial flights to multiple United Airlines domestic hubs. Initially, the Dreamliner will be based in United’s Houston hub and is expected to start its domestic service in November while its international service will start in December. United expects the Dreamliner’s inaugural flight to be conducted from Houston to Chicago on November 4th at 7:25 am.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner offers customers 36 United BusinessFirst seats, 70 in United Economy Plus and 113 in United Economy.

“The Dreamliner will revolutionize the flying experience for United customers and crews while delivering unprecedented operating efficiency, comfort and lower emissions,” said United Airlines in an official statement.

“Customers will experience greater comfort with improved lighting, bigger windows, larger overhead bins, lower cabin altitude and enhanced ventilation systems, among other passengerfriendly features.”  www.businessreviewusa.com/ business_leaders/united-airlines-debutsfirst-boeing-dreamliner?utm_campai gn=northamerica%2Boct2012&utm_ source=northamerica%2Boct01-12&utm_ medium=newsletter see Travel Industry News on page 13

Come join us on October 16th through October 30th, 2012 for some of nature’s greatest wonders. An adventure of a life time, bring a friend, and share a once in a life time memory.

Kenya and Tanzania October 16th through 30th, 2012

Kenya Sites

Masai Mara National Game Reserve, Lake Naivasha, and a city tour of Nairobi’s favourite sites.

Cost $6,295.00

The cost of $6,295.00 is per person, and a 4% discount is offered to groups of four or more.

The Safari fees are base on double occupancy. For those

who desire single lodging an additional $150.00 per night fee is required.

Prices are subject to change without notice until a deposit or full payment is made. Money orders and Checks excepted. Visa/Master cards are excepted with a 3% bank processing fee applied.

Fly on the world’s best airlines.

Stay at some of Africa’s finest safari lodges.

Adventure Africa with one of Africa’s best safari guides, Julien Dothard, with over 18teen years of experience.

Tanzania Sites Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and Tanrangire National Park For more information or full Itinerary contact: Julien Dothard at safari Supreme (818) 419-8639 email: dothard@sbcglobal.net or Write to: Julien Dothard P.O. Box 1736 Hollywood, Ca 90078

Julien Dothard Safari Supreme 1-818-419-3639 dothard@sbcglobal.net P.O. Box 1736 Hollywood, CA 90078 USA

Price includes roundtrip airfare.

Transportation between countries, Lodging, Fees into national parks,

and Most meals are included.

A deposit of $3,000.00 is due no later than June 15th, 2012. The balance is due before September 15th, 2012.

We offer the finest in safari travel, with some of the lowest rates in the industry.

Travel Industry News, con’t.

next step to be a boost for in-flight connectivity and passenger comfort, but if you’re stuck in economy next to someone shouting into their cell for an hour, I’m not so sure.  from page 11

Emirates! In-flight calls are no problem

E

mirates says that passengers will be allowed to use their mobile phones on A380 aircraft.

The Dubai-based airline has announced that passengers onboard an A380 have leave to talk away on their phone — either to the delight of business travelers, or perhaps the chagrin of others who are catching a night flight.

The service will work on standard phones through a partnership wit OnAir, the company that supplies Wi-Fi capabilities to the airline’s craft.

Passengers will be able to make or receive calls using EDGE or GPRS connections as normal through their service provider.

However, in adherence to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), phones cannot be used when passing over United States soil — so the service is shut down when an aircraft is within 250 miles of the country, according to AllThingsD (http://allthingsd.com/20121008/for-betteror-worse-emirates-passengers-can-nowyammer-on-their-cell-phones-in-flight).

“Beginning in 1993 with first passenger satellite phone service to last year with our A380 Wi-Fi system, Emirates has always taken the approach that providing the latest in inflight service and connectivity is a key part of our passengers’ journey,” Patrick Brannelly, Emirates Vice President of Corporate Communications Product, Publishing, Digital and Events said in a statement.

“Emirates continues to invest in the most innovative technology possible and promises to keep pushing the boundaries of the in-flight innovation for the benefit of our passengers.”

Naturally, Emirates believes this

www.smartplanet.com/blog/bulletin/ flying-emirates-in-flight-call-noproblem/1956?tag=nl.e660&s_cid=e660

MPI, GBTA to Partner for Education

M

eeting Professionals International and the Global Business Travel Association announced a joint venture on Monday to co-create new education and training programs. The organizations are forming a limited liability company with an executive steering committee to operate and manage the new

educational curriculum, scheduled to debut in 2013. The program will consist of senior-level education derived from the GBTA’s Strategic Meetings Management Certification and MPI’s Certificate in Meetings Management program.

Each organization will continue to recognize the current designations as well, according to a press release. That said, GBTA ceased offering the SMMC designation when it established the GBTA Academy last year. “GBTA believes MPI is the right partner to reach the meetings-management industry and marketplace,” said GBTA executive director and COO, Michael W. McCormick, in a statement.  www.meetings-conventions.com/articles/ mpi-gbta-to-partner-for-education/c51086. aspx?cid=eltrMidWeek

The Creation of the World: A Yoruba Myth

T

his is the story of how the world was created according to the Yorubas of West Africa.

The entire world was filled with water when God decided to create the world. God sent his messenger Obatala to perform the task of creating the world. Obatala brought along his helper, a man named Oduduwa as well as a calabash full of earth and a chicken. Then they began their descent to earth from a rope.

Along the way, they stopped over at a feast where Obatala got drunk from drinking too much palm wine.

Oduduwa, finding his master drunk, picked up the calabash and the chicken and continued on the journey.

When Oduduwa reached the earth, he sprinkled earth from the calabash over the water and he dropped the 13 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

chicken on the earth. The chicken then ran around spreading the earth in every direction he moved until there was land. Oduduwa had now created earth from what used to be water.

Later when Obatala got out of his drunken haze, he discovered that Oduduwa had already performed his task and he was very upset. God however gave him another task to perform – to create the people that would populate the earth.

And that was how the world was created in a place now called Ile-Ife.  www.allfolktales.com/wafrica/yoruba_ creation.php

Winning Meeting Enhancement Software

by Michael J. Shapiro

B

OBtv, the universal online content platform under development by BXb Online (www.bxbonline.com), took top honors for this year’s EIBTM Technology Watch.

A panel of judges scored the entrants based on innovation, completeness of concept and the value of the product to the meetings industry. BXb has been developing BOBtv with the support of industry organizations ASAE (www. asaecenter.org), CEIR (www.ceir.org), IAEE (www.iaee.com), PCMA (www2. pcma.org) and the Virtual Edge Institute (www.virtualedgeinstitute. com). The platform is designed to be a technology-agnostic hub for hybrid meeting content — a home for

educational video content that may be streamed either live during an event or on-demand after the fact. Bxb first announced the initiative during the January 2012 PCMA Convening Leaders meeting and hopes to launch the site in early 2013.

Five additional finalists received honorable mentions from the Technology Watch judges: ATIV Software (http://ativsoftware.com), for its Event Pilot mobile app; Mera Labs (www. meralabs.com), for the NiceMeeting platform that streams presentations directly to mobile devices during face-

to-face meetings; EventMobi (www. eventmobi.com), for its use of HTML5 in event mobile apps; Zerista (http:// zerista.com), for its multifaceted event-specific social networking platform; and Sherpa (www.sherpasolutions.com), for its ultrasoundbased WaveLocator indoor positioning system.

EIBTM (www.eibtm.com) takes place Nov. 27 - 29 at the Fira Gran

Via in Barcelona, Spain. A BOBtv presentation will take place Nov. 28.  www.meetings-conventions. com/article_ektid51186. aspx?cid=eltrMidWeek

14 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

www.travel-42.com

Monrovia, Liberia www.rljkendejaresort.com

First-class amenities catering to international leisure travelers. For the business minded traveler, the RLJ Kendeja Resort & Villas offers full service business amenities along with meeting and function space for business and personal events. Amenities include ocean front beach, pool, spa, dining room, and relaxing bar.

15 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Travelogue

Africa’s Top Lodging…

Travel+Leisure Best Hotels in the World - 2012 The following hotels, lodges and camps are from the T+L 500 top hotels around the globe as selected by their readers taking the annual World’s Best Awards survey.

www.eagleislandcamp.com Mena House Oberoi www.oberoihotels.com KENYA Tortillis Camp www.tortillis.com &Beyond Kichwa Tembo www.andbeyond.com Fairmont Mara Safari Club www.fairmont.com

Eagle Island Camp

BOTSWANA Savute Elephant Camp www.savuteelephantcamp.com Mombo Camp/Little Mombo Camp www.wilderness-safaris.com Eagle Island Camp www.eagleislandcamp.com EGYPT Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano www.fourseasons.com Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza www.fourseasons.com Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence

G ’C Governons’ Camp www.governorscamp.com Mara Serena Safari Lodge www.serenahotels.com OI Donyo Lodge www.greatplainsconservation.com Fairmont The Norfold www.fairmont.com Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club www.fairmont.com MOROCCO La Mamounia www.mamounia.com SOUTH AFRICA Cape Grace

16 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

see Africa’s Top Lodging on page 17

Africa’s Top Lodging‌ from page 16

www.capegrace.com Mount Nelson Hotel www.mountnelson.co.za One&Only www.oneandolyresorts.com Table Bay Hotel www.suninternational.com Le Quartier Francais www.lequartier.co.za Saxon Boutique Hotel, Villas & Spa www.saxon.co.za

www.sabisabi.com Singita Kruger National Park www.singita.com Singita Sabi Sand www.singita.com &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve www.andbeyond.com TANZANIA &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge www.andbeyond.com Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge www.serenahotels.com Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge

Eagle Island Camp

Westcliff Hotel www.westcliff.co.za Lodolozi Private Game Reserve www.londolozi.com MalaMala Game Reserve www.malamala.com Royal Malewane www.malawane.com Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve-Bush Lodge

www.sopalodges.com Kirawira Tented Camp www.serenahotels.com Serengeti Migration Camp www.elewana.com Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge www.serenahotels.com Serengeti Sopa Lodge www.sopalodges.com

17 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

18 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Travel Africa Where To Go, What To Do Algeria

Burundi

Tamanrasset Camel Trekking Sahara Dune Skiing The Turquoise Coast CAPITAL: Algiers

Chutes de la Kagera waterfall Lake Tanganyika Craftwares Village at Giheta CAPITAL: Bujumbura

www.algerie-tourisme.dz

www.burunditourisme.com

Angola

Cameroon

Fort Sao Miguel Slave Depot Calandula Waterfalls Palmeirinhas Beach CAPITAL: Luanda

Mandera Mountains

www.angola.org

Benin Lake Village of Ganvie Nakoue Lagoon Pendjari National Park CAPITAL: Porto-Novo www.benintourisme.com

Botswana Okavango Delta Central Kalahari Game Reserve Transfrontier Park (Kgalafadi National Park) CAPITAL: Gaborone www.botswanatourism.co.bw

Burkina Faso International Arts and Crafts Fair, Oct-Nov Ranch de Nazinga game reserve Mare aux Hippopotames CAPITAL: Ouagadougou

Nzwani Island Hot Sulphur Springs at Lac Salé CAPITAL: Moroni Comoros National Tourist Board Office, Tel: 269 73 3044

(hiking, climbing) Bouba Ndjidah National Park Festival National des Arts et de la Culture (FENAC) in December

CAPITAL: Yaoundé www.cameroun-infotourisme. com

Cape Verde Baia das Gatas Biking in the Tibesti Mountains, Chad Festival Scuba Diving and Snorkelling at Boa Vista Democratic Republic of UNESCO world heritage old the Congo fort site at Cidade Velha Frère Gillet Botanic Gardens CAPITAL: Praia Ministry of Tourism, Praia, Santiago: world-famous rare orchids +238 615 697 Ruwenzori Range National Park Central African Republic Virunga CAPITAL: Kinshasa Boali Waterfalls Ministère des Affaires Foncières, Manovo-Gounda St Floris Environment et Tourisme, Tel: (+243) National Park 8802093. Lobaye Region Côte D‛Ivoire (Ivory CAPITAL: Bangui ministere_tourisme@yahoo.fr

www.ontb.bf

Chad Camel racing in the Tibesti Mountains Galawa Beach on Grande Comore Lake Chad CAPITAL: N’Djamena Office du Tourisme, Tel: 01 45 53 36 75

The Comoros Climb Mount Karthala (active volcano)

Coast)

The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, Yamoussoukro Mount Tonkoui (mountain climb) Comoë National Park CAPITAL: Yamoussoukro www.tourisme.gouv.ci

Djibouti Gulf of Tadjoura (snorkling/ diving) Lake Abbé Lake Assal (windsurf on

Mare aux Hippopotames, Burkina Faso 19 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

see Travel Africa on page 20

Travel Africa Where To Go, What To Do from Travel Africa page 19

wheels) CAPITAL: Djibouti www.office-tourisme.dj

Egypt (Kemet)

at Albreda and Jufureh Makasutu Culture Forest CAPITAL: Banjul

Watamu-Malindi Marine Park CAPITAL: Nairobi

www.visitthegambia.gm

Lesotho

Kakum Tree-Top Walkway, Ghana

Nile River Cruise, Aswan Temple of Ranses II, Abu Simbel Alexandria CAPITAL: Cairo

www.magicalkenya.com

Bushmen Rock Paintings Ski Lesotho Highlands (www. afriski.co.za) Sehlabathebe National ParkCAPITAL: Maseru www.ltdc.org.ls

www.tourism.misrnet.gov.eg

Liberia

Equatorial Guinea

Sapo National Park Kendeja National Cultural Center Firestone Rubber Plantation CAPITAL: Monrovia

Arena Blanca Pico Malabo Volcano (mountain climbing) Cascades of Moca

CAPITAL: Malabo

www.micat.gov.lr

www.embarege-londres.org

Eritrea Dahlak Archipelago Tour of Eritrea (bicycle race) Akordat CAPITAL: Asmara eritreantourism@tse.com.er

Ethiopia Rock Hewn Churches of Lalibela (New Jerusalem) Home of the Queen of Sheba, Axum African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa TOTAL Great Ethiopian Race

CAPITAL: Addis Ababa www.tourismethiopia.org

Gabon Cathedral of St Michael in Libreville Lopé-Okanda Reserve National Park (gorilla) M’Bigou (gold mines/crafts)

CAPITAL: Libreville www.legabon.org

The Gambia Deep Sea Fishing, Atlantic Ocean Exhibition of the slave trade

Ghana Cape Coast Castle Slave Fortress Mount Afadjato and Togbo Falls (Volta Region) Kakum Nature Reserve (treetop walkway and stay in a tree house) CAPITAL: Accra www.touringghana.com

Guinea Kindia (cloth market) Kinkon Falls Îles de Los CAPITAL: Conakry www.ontguinee.com

Guinea-Bissau Bijagos Archipelago Cantanhez Natural Park Museum of African Artefacts CAPITAL: Bissau www.guineabissautourism.com

Kenya Mount Kenya National Park Tsavo West National Park 20 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Severan Arch, Leptis Magna, Libya

Libya Akakus Mountains (prehistoric rock art) Ubari Lakes (dune surfing) Leptis Magna (tribute to African Roman Emperor Septimus Severus) CAPITAL: Tripoli www.libyan-tourism.org see Travel Africa on page 21

Travel Africa Where To Go, What To Do from Travel Africa page 20

Madagascar Fianarantsoa (Capital of Wine) Montagne d’Arbre National Park Queen’s Palace CAPITAL: Antananarivo www.madagascar-tourisme.com

Malawi Lake Malawi Marine Park Nyika National Park Liwonde National Park CAPITAL: Lilongwe www.malawitourism.com

Mali Festival in the Desert Timbuctou La Boucle de Baoule National Park CAPITAL: Bamako

www.tourisme.mr

Mauritius Black River Gorges National Park Ile aux Aigrettes Nature Reserve Rodrigues Island CAPITAL: Port Louis www.mauritius.net

Morocco Todra and Dades Gorges Talassemtane National Park Essaouira CAPITAL: Rabat www.visitmorocco.com

Mozambique Maputo Elephant Park Gorongosa National Park Bazaruto Archipelago CAPITAL: Maputo

www.le-mali.com/omatho/index.htm

www.futur.org.mz/index-en.html

Mauritania

Namibia

Parc National du Banc d’Arguin Chinguetti, a holy city of Islam Oualata CAPITAL: Nouakchott

Mahongo Game Reserve Etosha National Park Skeleton Coast CAPITAL: Windhoek www.namibiatourism.com.na

Niger Agadez ‘W’ National Park Igouloulef CAPITAL: Algiers www.niger-tourisme.com

Nigeria Cross River National Park Emir’s Palace, Kano Benin City CAPITAL: Lagos www.tourism.gov.ng

Republic of the Congo Loufoulakari Falls Loango (main embarkation port for slaves) Congo Rapids CAPITAL: Brazzaville Direction Generale du Tourisme et des Loisirs, Tel: 830 953

Reunion Piton des Neiges Plaine d’Affouches Le Voile de la Mariée (The Bride’s Veil) CAPITAL: Saint-Denis ot.saint-pierre@wanadoo.fr

Rwanda Cards From Africa, Kigali Parc National des Volcans Gorilla Trek Nyungwe Forest Canopy Walk CAPITAL: Kigali www.rwandatourism.com/

São Tomé & Principe Bom Bom Island Deep Sea Fishing Humpback Whale Watching Agua Izé Plantation CAPITAL: São Tomé www.saotome.st

Senegal African Renaissance Monument Retba (Pink) Lake Maison des Enclaves (House of

Skeleton Coast, Namibia

Slaves), Goree Island 21 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Travel Africa Where To Go, What To Do from Travel Africa page 21

CAPITAL: Dakar sentouroffice@aol.com

Seychelles Marlin Fishing in Denis St Anne Marine National Park Aldabra CAPITAL: Victoria www.seychelles. travel

www.nelsonmandela.org www.zulu.org.za www.southafrica.net

South Sudan Boma National Park Nimule National Park Nile River CAPITAL: Juba www.goss.org

Pyramids of Meroe, Sudan

Sierra Leone Outamba-Kilimi National Park Freetown Peninsula Bunce Island, Slave Trading Station CAPITAL: Freetown

Hargeisa National Park Neolithic Paintings Las Geel Indian Ocean Coastal Beaches CAPITAL: Mogadishu

Site)

Whale Watching, Gulf of Benin Fosse aux Lions (Lions’ Den) National Park CAPITAL: Lomé www.togo-tourisme.com

Tunisia Desert Trekking from Douz Matmata (Star Wars film site) Sidi Bou Saïd CAPITAL: Tunis www.tourismtunisia.com

Uganda Mountains of the Moon (Mount Rwenzori National Park) Bwindi National Park (view gorilla) Source of the Nile,Owen Falls Dam, Jinja CAPITAL: Kampala

www.welcometosierraleone.org

Somalia

Koutammakou (World Heritage

Sudan Port Sudan, The Red Sea Gemmeiza Tourist Village Pyramids of Meroe CAPITAL: Khartoum

http://visituganda.com/index.php

Western Sahara City of El-Aaiún Dakhla (surfing) CAPITAL: El-Aaiún

www.somali-gov.info/Tourism/index. html

www.sudan-tourism.gov.sd/english/ index.php

dajla47@hotmail.com

Somaliland

Swaziland

Walking Safari, South Luangwa

Hargeisa National Park Neolithic Paintings Las Geel Indian Ocean Coastal Beaches CAPITAL: Hargiesa www.somalilandgov.com (Ministry of Tourism & Culture 252-225-7917)

South Africa Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory & Dialogue, Johannesburg Great White Shark Festival, Cape Town/Gansbaai The Elephant Coast, Zulu Kingdom

CAPITAL: Johannesburg www.whitesharkfestival.org

Mkhaya Game Reserve Phophomyane Nature Reserve Usutu River (white-water rafting) CAPITAL: Mbabane www.welcometoswaziland.com

Tanzania Bagamoyo Slave Trail Katavi Plains National Park Ngorongoro Crater Stone Town, Zanzibar CAPITAL: Dodoma http://tanzaniatouristboard.com/

Togo 22 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Zambia National Park Musi oa Tunya (Victoria Falls), Livingstone

Zambezi White Water Rafting CAPITAL: Lusaka www.zambiatourism.com

Zimbabwe Great Zimbabwe Lake Kariba Chizarira National Park CAPITAL: Harare www.zimbabwetourism.co.zw Sources: www.worldtravelguide.net/africa www.internationaltouristboards.com www.worldtourismdirectory.com/directory/africa/index.html

An Historic Site Becomes a New LuxuryHotel

Mashariki Palace Hotel Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania

O

rnately carved door frames and Arabian canopy beds adorn the 18 rooms in the 19th century manse in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Mashariki Palace is surrounded by many historic buildings including the House of Wonders.

Stone Town is exotic and mystical, evocative of the centuries of sultans, traders, adventurers and explorers who came to these magical isles of Zanzibar off the Swahili East African coast, leaving a cultural and architectural fusion which echoes its proud history of Persian, Arabian, Indian, Colonial and African influences.

The Mashariki Palace Hotel was created by the first sultan of Zanzibar almost 200 years ago. The domicile of the Sultan’s religious councillor is now restored beyond its former magnificence into a privileged residence for travellers choosing refined hospitality in a historical setting.

Services Accommodation: All rooms include breakfast until 11 a.m. and are equipped with air conditioning, mosquito net, The Terrace spring box mattress, baby crib, hair dryer, internal phone, minifridge, laptop safe, flat screen tv, free wifi wireless internet access, anti-panic door lock and complimentary tea and coffee facilities.

An “al fresco” lunch or “starlight” dinner is available on request.

Tea Lounge: Daily, free, the pastry chef offers a selection of savouries and tea cakes to enjoy with Zanzibar traditional morning coffee or afternoon spiced teas.

Solarium & massage: Treat yourself to a relaxing massage or hammam scrub, or have a nap on the sun beds in our open terrace.  www.masharikipalacehotel. com

The Kusi Bar 23 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

The Canopy Bed

www.gov.rw 24 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Tourism has Great Potential – Masebo the celebrations for artists (l-r) Maigo Zulu, President, ZAM, organised Tourism & Arts Minister Sylvia by the Masebo, Mulenga Kapwepwe, ChairZambia person, National Arts Council Association of Musicians (ZAM) for the OVERNMENT says the re-alignment of the ministry. tourism and arts industry This is in solidarity with Presihas the potential to dent Michael Sata’s decision to significantly contribute to the re-align the Ministry of Foreign economic growth of the country.

Affairs and Tourism which has Tourism and Arts Minister Sylhad the Tourism portfolio delinked via Masebo said in Lusaka recentfrom it to form the Ministry of ly that the private sector should join Tourism and Arts. hands with Government in exploitMs. Masebo said if the sector ing the natural resources Zambia was well managed, it could expand was endowed with. and create more jobs for the locals.

The new minister was speaking The nation, she said, could benin Lusaka when she officiated at

G

efit a lot from the contribution of artists.

Ms. Masebo said the re-alignment shows President Sata’s passion for the artists in the country.

The event attracted musicians, actors, comedians, painters and designers among others.

ZAM president Maiko Zulu said the onus remained on artists to work with the Government of the day in developing a fully-fledged and self-sustaining art industry.

Mr. Zulu, a renowned Zambian musician said Government and other stakeholders would now appreciate the contribution of artists in the development process of the country.  www.times.co.zm/?p=4719

South Luangwa National Park The thing to do in South Luangwa is, of course, to go on safari. All lodges organize game drives, where a trained guide takes visitors around by a safari jeep. Safaris are typically arranged at the crack of dawn (wake-up call before 6 AM), in the evening past 4 PM when temperatures have started to cool, and at night after sunset when high-powered spotlights are used to locate nocturnal animals like leopards, hyenas and civets. High-end lodges include drives in the price.

Some lodges organize walking safaris, where you actually walk through the bush on foot and track animals with the help of a guide — an altogether different experience.

Walking safaris can be as short as 4 hours, but multiday treks where you stay overnight in “bushcamps” (usually far more luxurious than you’d think from the name) are more rewarding.

25 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Maropeng in South Africa Named a Top Evo-Tourism Site

By Wilma den Hartigh, Media Club South Africa

L

ocal World Heritage site, The Cradle of Humankind, has been ranked as one of the top 12 evotourism destinations in the world, making it the only site in sub-Saharan Africa to have made the list.

Evotourism is a new term, coined

by The Smithsonian, to describe travel intended to promote awareness of evolution.

The Evotourism initiative functions as a travel information service to direct tourists to places and discoveries that have evolutionary significance.

As part of the initiative, 12 worldclass must-see Evotourism destinations were identified. Every site on the list was selected independently.

According to Charles Kimberlin Brain, a South African palaeontologist and curator emeritus at the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History (formerly known as the Transvaal Museum), South African caves have played a major role in the development of the world’s understanding of human evolution.

The Cradle of Humankind Being listed as one of the top 12

Evotourism destinations in the world is a great honour for South Africa. It also highlights the country’s contribution to research in the field of evolution.

The Cradle of Humankind, which was declared a world heritage site

by UNESCO in 1999, is one of eight World Heritage sites in South Africa, and the only one in Gauteng province.

Tony Rubin, MD of Maropeng, the visitors’ centre situated in the Cradle of Humankind, says the listing has given Maropeng great international exposure.

“It has highlighted the importance of the Cradle of Humankind’s fossil record and what it tells us about our evolution,” Ruben says. “I believe we have a unique and world-class interpretation centre at Maropeng.”

The Sterkfontein Caves, also situated in the Cradle of Humankind, are believed to have produced more than a third of all early hominid fossils ever found.

The most important and well-known of these fossils are “Mrs Ples”, a 2.1-million-year-old Australopithecus skull, and “Little Foot”, an almost com-

plete Australopithecus skeleton that is more than three-million years old.

Scientists believe that these finds, along with other important archaeological discoveries at the Sterkfontein Caves, are critical for the understanding of the history of human development.

Evotourism Gaining Momentum In recent years, Rubin has noticed that travellers are showing more interest in heritage, sustainability and evolution.

Initiatives such as the Evotourism listing play an important part in encouraging people to be curious about evolution.

“Listings such as these help to teach the general public about our past and the planet as a whole, thereby creating more interest in visiting places such as Maropeng,” he says.

“Since Maropeng’s opening, I believe the public is far more informed about our palaeo-heritage, and constantly expresses an interest to know and find out more.”  www.africagoodnews.com/brandafrica/travel-and-tourism/2854-maropeng-in-south-africa-named-a-topevo-tourism-site.html

26 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012



A Journey to the Motherland



By Wilma R. Newchurch

A

lifelong dream for Harold & Wilma Newchurch was realized when University Travel (http:// universitytravel.info, Chicago, IL) offered a trip to South Africa. Travel dates were arranged for September 13, 2011 – September 23, 2011 which is springtime in South Africa. The cities to be visited were Johannesburg (Joburg), Capetown and Pretoria South Africa. Our itinerary would include Table Mountain, Robben Island, an outdoor market, Nelson Mandela’s home, Winnie Mandela’s home, Lambano Sanctuary, Apartheid Museum, the town of Soweto, Hector Pieterson Museum, Freedom Park, African Craft Market of Rosebank, Sun City’s Palace Hotel, African Safari and Pretoria, the administrative branch of government.

Early morning on the thirteenth of September, the group met at O’Hare Airport to board United Airlines for Dulles Airport in Washington, DC. We arrived, to meet the remaining mem-

 bers of the group and proceeded to the International Terminal to board the South African Airline. At the designated booth, we noticed our flight number was unavailable. After three hours, an official from the South African Airline announced the flight was cancelled due to a terrible storm in Senegal. Our Travel Agent, immediately sprang into action to secure transportation, hotel accommodations and food vouches for the group. Luggage retrieval was not an option, as all had been stored away for the next flight. The group was transported by van to Tysons Westpark Hotel.

The accommodations were clean and the staff friendly. Across the street was a Mall consisting of restaurants, shops and stores.

Harold and I chose to walk to the Mall to have dinner and purchase some items for bedtime. After, returning to the hotel, our travel agent advised us of an early night as we would continue our journey in the morning.

Day1

Harold & Wilma Newchurch

The group was extremely excited about the continuation of our journey to South Africa. We boarded the huge jet, situating ourselves in preparation for the eighteen

hour flight. The flight attendants were of various hues of South Africans, very pleasant and accommodating. We were served numerous meals. We had an abundance of entertainment options, and plenty of sleep was available. We were almost there.

Day 2 The group disembarked in Johannesburg and boarded another South African plane for Capetown. This time, all of our group members were placed in business class. What a wonderful Table Mountain Cable Car

surprise? The trip was to take either two or four hours flying time. Finally, we arrived in Capetown, South Africa joyously happy and relieved.

Our bus arrived to take us to the Commodore Hotel, located near the

28 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

see Journey on page 29

Journey

By the way, our bus driver was one of Mr. Mandela’s prison guards.

He talked about his experiences with Mr. Mandela which included his change of heart, his compassion and his utmost respect that led him to believe in the cause of freedom. The last stop was the maximum security prison.

We disembarked from the shuttle to meet the guides who were former inmates. They took the group inside, into the main lobby

from page 28

beach, and situated in the heart of the business, restaurant and mall district.

We joined with some of the group that decided to find a restaurant. We walked to the mall to find, a treat, an authentic African Food Court. Most of us selected either fish or chicken from the menu. We talked, laughed and enjoyed our meal, immensely. After closing the mall, we returned to the hotel. Our journey would continue in the morning.

Nelson Mandela

Day 3 Table Mountain is often described as magical and mystical. This worldfamous landmark is visible from almost, any direction, in Capetown. It is also used as a beacon, by which, to find direction. The mountain is home to some 1500 species of plants, including 250 varieties of daisies. Table Mountain’s unique ecosystem enables these plants to survive on the mountain.

The group received their tickets, so that they could ride the cable car across the mountain. The exhilarating ascent of the mountain was enough to take your breath away. For those athletic and energetic types, there were some 350 recognized paths to the summit, some undemanding and suitable for kids and some extremely difficult. We were strongly advised that we could not climb the mountain without an experienced guide. None of our group attempted that task.

On the summit, there was a restaurant, and several souvenir shops. A short walk from the cable station took us through the flora of Table Mountain framed by the Atlantic Ocean. To the right of the mountain is Kloof Nek, a piece called Lion’s Head. Lion’s Head is an image of a lion’s backside known as Signal Hill. The name comes from a time when the hill was used as a post for communication for ships at sea. It was from there, that a noon cannon was fired every day. After dark, the hill is a popular site for couples to enjoy the sight of sparkling

city lights against the backdrop of a floodlit, Table Mountain.

Day 4 Anticipation, excitement and instructional were the words to describe our next venture. We were traveling to Robben Island, the famous site where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. The group arrived at the harbor by bus. Looks were quite deceiving, in that, the island is situated within a plaza of upscale shops, restaurants and famous historical artifacts displayed on the grounds. Upon disembarking from our bus, we walked a few blocks to the center of the pier to board the ferry. Our travel agent informed us, as we were a bit, two hours early. She suggested we eat, at one of the restaurants, of our choice and return at a specified time to board the ferry. After looking around, a few of us spotted a delightful Dutch restaurant. The proprietors were very pleasant and hospitable. They showed us to a table where we sat down, we talked, we laughed, we ate and we drank. Soon it was time to return to the meeting place to join our group. We walked down to the pier and boarded the ferry. The ferry ride was about thirty minutes. From there, we boarded a shuttle which took us along several historic sites on route to the prison. The leper colony, a church designed by Sir Herbert Baker, the lime quarry, where political prisoners endured lengthy hours of physical labor, a shipwreck strewn coast and the lighthouse were some the stops.

29 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Apartheid Museum Display of Many Phases of Mandela’s Life where the prisoners are initially taken upon arrival. It’s a cold, gray, concrete place with cold, gray, concrete floors.

We sat on benches to listen to the story of the political prisoners and Nelson Mandela, in particular, life.

About 1961, the Prisons Department took over and built an austere maximum security prison. It was there that see Journey on page 30

Journey

from page 29

Mr. Mandela was sent after receiving a life imprisonment sentence. Political and common-law prisoners were initially housed together. Contact with the outside world was limited to receiving and sending two letters a year. Ten years later, the political prisoners were further isolated to the infamous Bsection. Beatings, hard physical labor, prolonged solitary confinement and insufficient food, bedding and clothing were endured for many years. Hunger strikes, legal action and international pressure eventually brought better conditions for the prisoners and the release of Mr. Mandela. We toured his cell which was very small and open.

The other cells were locked. What an awesome experience?

Day 5 We departed Capetown, for Johannesburg (Joburg), South Africa by plane. We arrived and boarded our bus to the Da Vinci Hotel. It is located inside an upscale mall. There were shops, stores and restaurants surrounded by an outside garden.

Beautiful plants and flowers, outdoor lights, and brightly covered canopies make up this facility. We settled in with anticipating a full day of events on the next day.

Day 6 The group left the hotel on route to the Apartheid Museum. On the way,

Image at Lambano Sanctuary

we were able to see the past homes of Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela. Finally, we arrived at the Museum. It is an extremely powerful exhibition in which the atmosphere overwhelms you. Upon entering, you are given an admission card.

On the card is printed “White or Non-White� and with this you enter the exhibits, separated, and based on your card.

The first exhibit consists of rows of cages.

Each cage contains an enlarged copy of identity books and cards and racially tagged passbooks.

Moving along, are some very graphic images of the cruelty imposed upon Museum Ticket the South African people. One exhibit features 121 nooses hanging from the roof. These nooses represent the number of political prisoners hung during the Apartheid era. Another exhibit houses an armored truck which was used in many of the towns to further intimidate and drive the residents to injure them. A small theater is used to show the footage taken from those events. Television monitors, in different exhibits show several political interviews, several speeches and films retelling the story of the students killed in the town of Soweto. Another exhibit attempts to provide a layered glimpse of Mr. Mandela’s life. His life is explored through seven themes; character, comrade, leader, prisoner, negotiator and statesman. In each theme, the narrative was presented from visual wall displays of photographs, films and original artifacts.

Outside of the museum, maybe a block away is the area reserved for searching, identifying and torturing

prisoners. The process shown and the methods employed were both gruesome and brutal. The group departed the museum, in a sober fashion, reflecting upon the reality of apartheid, reflecting upon the horrors which led to the genocide of the African people.

We boarded our bus onward to view the site and monument dedicated to the children and students who lost their lives during the apartheid struggle in the town of Soweto. Soweto is a place of contrasts: rows of shanties, luxurious mansions, and piles of garbage offset by green fields and streams. Soweto is also, a melting pot of South African cultures within its own subcultures of young people. African American culture runs deep in their dress, their hair styles, speech and their sense of city life.

Freedom Square was our next stop.

This is a place where the Freedom Charter was adopted as the guiding document of the Congress Alliance.

30 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

see Journey on page 31

Journey

from page 30

It’s very impressive, in that the document is carved from stone. There is an elderly gentleman sitting close by who relates the past in storybook mode to

open fired upon protesting students.

Hector was killed at the age of twelve.

By the end of that day, over five hundred students were dead. The group boarded our bus to continue our travel to Mandela House which is 8115 Or-

vations, carefully researched to reflect the history of the family living there.

The house was subsequently turned into a museum with Mr. Mandela, as a founder trustee of the controlling body, the Soweto Heritage Trust.

Lost Palace, Sun City

Lost Palace, Sun City

Lost Palace, Sun City

all those who stop to listen. We boarded our bus to continue on to the monument. This monument is situated in a park surrounded by a group of tenement buildings. This area includes the Hector Pieterson Museum. Inside there is a wall size photo by Sam Mzima of the dying Hector being carried by a fellow student. The police had

lando West, Soweto.

This was the house where Mr. Mandela lived with his first wife and son. They divorced and Mr. Mandela was joined in the house by his second wife Winnie. He did not spend too much time there because his role in the ensuring struggle was all consuming. Mandela House is a one story structure with several small rooms. There have been some reno31 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Day 7 Today, the group boarded the bus to travel to Lambano Sanctuary, a family-based home for HIV/AIDS babies in South Africa. The aim of the Sanctuary is to accept, in their care, young children who have been abandoned or orphaned, especially those with HIV. There is also a hospice resident as well. We entered a brightly colored, extremely clean house. There was a see Journey on page 32

Journey

from page 31

green front and back play yard surrounded by a tall fence. The staff was so friendly and so very warm. Some of the children were attending school.

There was bus transportation for them. Three to four children could not attend school because of the severity of their illnesses. Our visit ended after a short time. Before departing, the entire group left a generous contribution.

We returned to our hotel, in preparation for a visit to an authentic African supper club.

Day 8 “Legend Made Real” describes the Palace of the Lost City at Sun City.

It is the most exquisite piece of architecture and art in a hotel of the world.

The Palace is situated amongst the Pilanesburg Mountains. At the entrance are two uniformed men, in traditional African attire. Upon disembarking, the smiles from the group, on each face were as wide as a river. We were met by hostess carrying a welcome fruit drink.

Faux elephant tusks, sculptured

Elephant Encounter during Safari

bronze and crystal fixtures, richly woven materials covering the walls and floors were the makeup of the lobby.

The elegance was completed with two winding staircases surrounding the dining area. As the group received their individual room assignments, we hurried to see if our rooms were of the same elegance. Most of the rooms either faced the water or the manicured jungle. We opened our room door to a breathtakingly, beautiful sight. The main suite houses the sitting room with an elegant bed, complete with a sculptured headboard. On the mahogany table is a tea set complete with tea and condiments. There are two bathrooms with marble fixtures and floors.

The main suite is covered with a richly woven carpet depicting jungle scenes.

Sun City is an environmentally, friendly resort. All guests are asked to follow some easy guidelines to ensure a unique experience in the resort.

Those guidelines were: Not to feed or tease the monkeys or baboons. Keep all doors and windows locked when vacating the rooms. Not to leave children unsupervised. The animals, mentioned are from the African Bush and should be treated and acknowledged as wild. The resort is surrounded by restaurants, nightclubs, health spas, courtesy buses, BMW taxies and casinos. The magic of our stay, at the Palace will forever be remembered as one of God’s blessings.

Day 9 This day’s activities were to include an amazing journey on safari through the Pilanesburg National Park. The Park is made up with rolling plains, an extinct volcanic crater and creatures in their natural environment. The group boarded a canvas truck with a driver, fully armed. He then explained the rules for a safe trip. No loud talking, but whispering was allowed, remain in your seats at all times, if anyone sees anything unusual, for example, a herd running in different directions, alert the driver by passing the message in a whispered tone. At the first

Shanties in South Africa see Journey on page 33

32 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Journey

from page 32

checkpoint, there was a gigantic elephant moving toward the side of the road. He had the right of way. He turned very slowly toward our direction. The driver being ever so cautious quietly reversed our direction.

His left hand was resting on his rifle as he drove. The group was as silent as the wind. No one spoke or breathed.

The elephant suddenly stopped and

that the park has the largest game resettlement project in the history of South Africa. More than six thousand animals from other parks are resettled there. We returned to the Palace, tired, excited and happy over our safari adventure.

Day 10 On this day, the group was to be on their own. Some chose to see the crocodile farm. Others chose to interact with the elephants at a nearby

ria to the airport. Pretoria is a small city. Although, largely a governmentbased city, it is also a city of culture with museums, theaters and monuments. Pretoria is recognized as an academic, scientific and technological center of South Africa. It also has a highly developed research center. As we traveled, we saw the Voortrekker Monument, the University of South Africa, City Hall and one of city’s newest monuments, Freedom Park. The

Palace of Justice, Pretoria turned. He headed through the bush to the jungle. The driver waited until the beast was clearly out of sight.

We proceeded slowly down the road looking for other animals. Off in the distance was a river where we saw a group of hippos, some water buffaloes and some crocodiles. Farther along was a herd of zebras, white and black rhinos and some giraffes. There were a couple of hyenas, along with a lion and lioness. The driver continuously talked of the animals we saw while adding the background history. He told us of the variety of bird species which makes the park, a perfect place for bird watching. Finally, at the close of our adventure, the driver explained

Game Reserve. Still others chose to indulge themselves in a session of pampering at the hotel’s spa. Harold and I chose to sit and snooze, in the designated area for relaxing. This area was located poolside with the different cabanas offering beverages.

As we relaxed, we reflected upon the marvelous journey, the soul searching connections made with the South African people and God’s bountiful blessings that enabled us to travel. On tomorrow, we would depart South Africa after visiting Pretoria, the administrative city, to return to the United States.

Day11 As the group boarded the bus, our route would take us through Preto33 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Union Buildings were impressive in that Mr. Mandela’s inauguration was held there. It is situated on Church Street which is the longest urban street in South Africa. As we approached the center of the city, we saw the African Window Museum, Church Square, the Palace of Justice, the Old Capitol Theater, the Paul Kruger stature and the General Post Office. It has been said that while Johannesburg was the scene of many political incidents, Pretoria was the focus where apartheid was actually administered.

We left South Africa, in awe, of its rich history and of its rich culture. We arrived safely, home. 

Mathematical Analysis of the Nsolo ZambianAfrican Game

n u F r o Just F

by mtembo With a little practice before your next trip to the continent you may be ready to learn from and play with the experts.

T

he Nsolo Zambian an African traditional game is played in most parts of the continent of Africa. Glimpses of it can be seen occasionally in African documentaries.

These are scenes of men squatting and standing under a shady tree with dusty hands playing the game. There are various versions of the game.

The easiest and most commercially lucrative is known as the Mankala.

This is the small board game sold in toy stores. It is made out of small wooden boards with two rows of holes.

When playing the game, marbles are moved and spread from hole to hole according to the rules of the game.

The Nsolo Zambian traditional version is more elaborate. In Zambia in Southern Africa, the game consists of digging a number of holes in rows and columns in a rectangular shape on a flat ground in the dirt or soil. In some cases, some of the holes are made on a flat cement concrete slab. There are always four rows of holes but the columns can range from as small as 4x 12, 4x18, 4x40 up to as large as 4x 100 or more. The opposing players or teams of players sit on the opposite of the rows of holes. Each side controls only the two rows closest to them.

How to Play Nsolo Two stones are placed in each of the outside rows at the beginning of the game. The two sides flip a coin to determine who starts. The player can

then pick up any 2 stones from any of his holes and drop one in each hole. Where ever the player lands with the last stone, they will then pick up all the stones in that hole and continue to distribute them again starting from the next hole. They only stop is when they land with 1 stone in an empty hole.

The player then says aloud: “Chenti!�

This signifies that the player has finished their play and this prompts the opposing player(s) to take their turn.

The stones are always and without exception moved from left to right.

Normally, after 5 or 6 initial relatively routine harmless plays, they can now begin to score on each other. This is when serious mathematical strategy comes to play. Players have to count stones and holes and try to anticipate 2 to 3 or more moves ahead while the opposing player(s) will do and try to thwart, pre-empt or evade their opponents’ next possible moves.

Nsolo Rules and Terms The winner of the game has more than one stone to play with while the loser is the team or side that runs out of stones to play with. The Nsolo game has a built-in culture of both teams discussing and arguing strategy very openly before each crucial play. Laughter, friendly teasing, banter, bluffing an opponent, baiting, and feigning victimhood to trick or lure opponent(s) into over confidence, are all part of the friendly game of Nsolo.

After each game is over, the players will laugh, comment, and reminisce about perhaps the one move that lost or won the just ended game.

The opposing player(s) have to agree whether the game is touch and go or not. If they agree that it is touch and go, it means that if the player begins play and half way they discover it is a bad move they cannot retract the play.

Chenti - a term said loudly to indicate that the player has finished their turn.

Sula - when you score on the opponent, you penalize them by confiscating or putting out of commission of play all stones from 1 or 2 holes depending on whether the score is marley or changena. This is perhaps one of the most important actions that players have to take and must take sometime to think carefully before they make their move.

Marley - when you score or strike the opponent such that you can confiscate all stones only from one of any of their strategic holes.

Changena - when you score or strike the opponent such that you can confiscate all stones from any 2 of their most strategic holes.

Para - this is when intentionally or by accident, a player forces the opponent(s) to have only single stones in all their holes. This is generally resee page 35

34 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

NSOLO

from page 34

garded as dangerous or suicidal play.

But it is not uncommon for players also to use it as a strategic move.

Kuwalata - a strategy in which during the course of play, the player spreads the stones in as many holes as possible. This reduces the player or team’s vulnerability while at the same time bolsters the player or team’s strategic position.

Mphiri - since you can never play single stones until you have run out of a minimum of twos, mphiri refers to the unfortunate position of being stuck with a 2 stone hole-play towards the

to weaken them!”

Nsolo General Strategies 1. You have to kuwalata the stones (see above) as much as possible during the game. Avoid as much as possible bunching too many stones in one hole 2. The more you kuwalata during play along both your 2 rows, the less changena opportunity the opponent will have when they score.

3. You can shield you vulnerable stone(s) by escaping at an opportune time to the safety of the outside row.

4. Know when to stall, lay low, and wait to ambush your opponent as they are compelled to move toward you in a dangerous play.

5. Know how to sula (see above) so that you will maximize changena when you score again in the future.

6. Avoid to para (see above) as much as you can unless you are deliberately using it as a strategic move.

7. Know when and how to slow down an opponent.

8. Know when to use sacrifice play in order to gain and advantage in subsequent play.

Mathematical Analysis

end of the game. It is normally disadvantageous for the player or team.

The opposing player or team normally will capitalize on this condition of the opponent having or being stuck with a mphiri. The disadvantaged team will try their best to quickly get rid of their mphiri.

Mutu (head) - is a metaphor used to refer to the the front stone of the game that is used to strike the opponent as in excitedly saying during play: “Lets sula this hole to strike the head!”

Mchila (tail) - is a metaphor used to refer to the back or tail end of the game which is often the most powerful especially toward the end of the game.

A player might say or suggest excitedly: “Lets sula this hole to cut off the tail

The Nsolo uses many mathematical concepts. Some of the more complex may be beyond this article or are still to be discovered.

1. The Nsolo game uses simple subtraction, addition, and multiplication of stones 2. The game uses natural numbers as contrasted to whole numbers, as the concept of zero does not seem to exist. All the holes are always counted even though they may be empty. Since the game never goes backwards, negative numbers may be either inconceivable or the concept is merely ignored as a fundamental rule of the game.

3. It is unclear historically whether the ten base numbering system or what type of base system has ever been used as there are no fixed number of holes for the game or standard number of stones as a 35 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

requirement for the game except for the 4 rows.

The counting, piling up, and adding stones strategically seems to mimic the use of exponentials.

For example, a hole which has 3 stones suddenly becomes more powerful with the strategic addition of 1 more stone to make it 4 in order to score on an opponent.

The game has many elements of probability as well as conditional probability. This is because there are often numerous possible moves that depend on so many factors at once from the team playing and the team waiting their next turn. The choice of each one play depends on some luck combined with the nature of the skills for sula (if they had previously scored) the opponent made and may be the nature of their kuwalata.

The game seems to be linear as you never skip a hole and at the same time cyclical in structure.

The game may also have elements of infinity as the two rows that each opponent is designated to play in, go around in a continuous circle.

It is uncertain whether the game can be subjected to one or a series of moves based on known mathematical logical calculations and principles that would guarantee a win for the player. It seems as though there are too many unpredictable often disruptive factors and moves to make such a scheme infinitely complex.

It is often said that Chess may be the most complex game. But it is worth contemplating as to whether the 4 rows x 100 Nsolo Zambian game, for example, generates so many complex play combinations, on both defense and offence simultaneously, that it may be more difficult or challenging for even a talented, gifted player or mathematician to master the game easily. 

www.infobarrel.com/Mathematical_ Analysis_of_the_Nsolo_ZambianAfrican_Game#ixzz1xg7oMH4u.

Be in touch

Be in tune

Be independent

Nesting international standards with African hospitality.

Kuramo Waters, Victoria Island, Lagos | Nigeria Phone: +234 1 277 2700 | Fax: +234 1 270 4071 E-mail: reservation@ekohotels.com | info@ekohotels.com Website: www.ekohotels.com 36 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Another FIRST! Since 2006, Fleace Weaver has created unique travel experiences for fun-loving Black women.

Have you ever dreamt riding a camel in the dessert or coming eyeto-eye with the mighty Sphinx, Imagine standing the shadow of the great Pyramids of Giza or stepping back in time while visiting tomb collection of Pharaoh Tutankhamen at the Egyptian Museum which houses the largest collection of Ancient Egyptian artifacts in the world. Imagine channeling your inner-Cleopatra while having lunch floating down the Nile River.

Haggle like an ancient merchant in the 6 century old Khan El-Khalili Bazaar.

Imagine that is only the first HALF of your tour. Like a Jetsetter, board a 2nd international flight for the jewel of the east, the stunning Dubai just in time for the Dubai International Jazz Festival. Experience wearing an abaya (traditional robe) and shayla (headscarf) while you visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. It would not be BlakGirlTravel.com tour without hot nightlife. All we can say is ... get ready! ;-)

So grab your sisters, friends, soros or just come alone (we specialize in solo travelers) and join us Febuary 1119, 2013 for a tour of a lifetime.

ITINERARY: Feb 11-19, 2013 • Day 1 - Depart USA (Group Air Below or Book Your Own Flight)

• Day 2 - Cairo-Welcome Dinner/ Khan El-Khalili Bazaar • Day 3 - Giza - Pyramids/Camel Ride/Memphis and Sakkara • Day 4 - Cairo- Egyptian Museum / Nile River/ Shopping/Party • Day 5 - Dubai - City Tour/Burj Al Arab/Party • Day 6 - Dubai - Beach Day/Jazz Festival Evening • Day 7 - Dubai - Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall/Optional Jazz Fest.

• Day 8 - Abu Dhabi- Gold Bazaar/ Grand Mosque/Emirates Palace • Day 9 - Return to USA See the details, read about our past tours, look at pictures and videos from past tours: www.BlackGirlTravel.com.

Tour Information Ground Only Package (Without International Air) includes flight one-way flight from Cairo to Dubai: *$2693 With International Air From NY (Fly

into Cairo & Out of Dubai): *$3862 (No travel buddy? No problem!

A roommate can be assigned)

Payment plan available for a $49 set-up and processing fee. $399 Deposit required to reserve your space and $150 Group Air Deposit. $100 package discount with deposits by July 3rd.

Must be paid in full by Dec. 5, 2012

Full Package Includes: accommodations, scheduled group airport transfers, ***flight from Cairo to Dubai, continental breakfast daily in Cario, Cultural Tours, Lunch on the Nile, oneday Jazz Festival pass, mixers, and parties.

For information email your name and telephone number to: Egypt@BlackGirlTravel.com or call 1-323.252.1779.  *Package price is based on the current exchange rate and is subject to change if the rate increases more than 2% ** flight between Cairo and Dubai subject to increase until paid in full ***Fuel charges are included in air price, subject to change by the airline until paid in full BlackGirlTravel (CST #2094347-40) is a registered Seller of Travel under the California Seller of Travel Law.

37 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Lake Nakuru Lodge Great Rift Valley, Republic of Kenya

S

ituated in the Great Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru Lodge is an African Safari Accommodation in Kenya. Within a wonderland which lies in the heart of one of Kenya’s most densely animal populated wetland national parks (Ramsar Site), only two hours leisurely drive on first class roads from Nairobi, through some of the most exciting scenery to be seen anywhere in Africa. The 156 km Nairobi-Nakuru roads gives the visitor an unrivalled view of the majestic Great Rift Valley, winding through a series of lakes and forested

uplands all the way to the bustling market town of Nakuru. The views are equally impressive for the visitor who uses a charter aircraft for 25-minute flight to Lake Nakuru National Park airstrip situated at the southern side of the park at the Rhino Sanctuary Headquarters - Naishi. Situated in the South East Ecological niche of the park is Lake Nakuru Lodge, an

oasis of comfort and excellent service, with commanding views of the lesser flamingo dotted with the Greater Flamingo for which Lake Nakuru is justly famous. It is another world for the visitor, where one easily forgets the hustle and bustle of the city.

The lodge blends well with its surrounding and the animals often

38 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

see page 39

from Lake Nakuru Lodge page 38

browse peacefully close to the lodge and environs, much to the fascination of the visitors. There are accommodations for 180 people, either in family rooms, deluxe cottages, or suites. The service is unmatched anywhere in Kenya, a country renowned for hospitality. ď ‘

Contact Information: www.lakenakurulodge.com RESERVATIONS: Upper Hill, Mara Road P.O. Box 70559-00400.NAIROBI E-mail: reservations@lakenakurulodge.org

39 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Heart of a Lion Why not organise a holiday where you learn how to be Maasai warriors?

W

hether you are looking for a non-traditional vacation or looking for an exciting way to provide team building and leadership training for your staff the Bush Adventures offering may be just the ticket for you. Why not organise a holiday where visitors learn how to be Maasai warriors?

The Bush Adventure camp is located about five-hours drive from Nairobi, Kenya. During the day, Maasai warriors teach you the

and selecting then grinding plants for medicines. During the evening gather around the fire to exchange stories, enjoy a meal, discuss lessons learned, and appreciate the culture of the Maasai.

Bush Adventure organises exciting itineraries to beautiful wilderness locations in small, exclusive groups where you live and learn with the indigenous Maasai people in a way that brings a true exchange of ideas.

If you are ready for an exceptional

SILAS KOIYARENl

SAITA KITONGA

vacation or a great learning experience contact Bush Advertures.

Invitation From the Maasai Warriors

K

Teaching footprint types essential survival skills needed to succeed and thrive in the Kenyan wilderness. You try your hand at archery, cattle herding, defense techniques against wild predators,

enya’s Maasai’s have become an icon for the richness and diversity of our country’s culture, a people whose traditions, beliefs and routines have changed little since the dawn of our history.

The way we live now, even as so much is changing around us, the way our society is structured, the pride that binds us and keeps us strong, all of these look the same today as they

40 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

LEMPARIS TORONKOSl would have done to our ancestors long ago.

We are the warriors of our tribe, young men tasked with protection of our people and the safeguarding of our morals and traditions. We want to invite you to come and live and learn all of this with us, as guests of a unique new travel experience from Kenya’s own Bush Adventures.

We have been born and raised see page 41

Luxury Safari Tent from Heart of a Lion page 40

deeply entrenched in Maasai ways, and we want to show this to you, so that you can learn about our culture in an exciting, fun and entertaining new way. There will be plenty of opportunities to try new things, doing exactly what we do and living as close as possible to how we live, while not needing to sacrifice essential comforts.

At Maasai Warrior Training, we will bring small groups of outgoing travellers deep into the untouched bush of northern Kenya, to a 16,500 hectare conservancy rich in wildlife and ringed by sacred mountains.

You will stay with us and learn our ways – first you will watch us as we show you and teach you how, and then you will try it out for yourselves.

You will spend your days as we do – in the open under endless African skies.

You will learn how we track animals, how we protect our livestock with hand-fashioned weapons, how we dig water from river-bank wells and grind medicine from bark and plants.

After the sun sets, we will sit together around the campfire to share stories about our culture, learn about yours and discover that although our lives may seem far removed, there is much to find in common.

You will stay in luxury safari tents, wash in clean, hot water and eat food catered to Western tastes. But the sounds of the African night around you are the same as those always around us.

Come, you are welcome, join us for a holiday you will remember for the rest of your life. www.BushAdventures.com

Inside the tent

Bow and Arrow practice with Saita

41 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Kenyatta International Conference Center “Africa’s Premier Meeting Venue”

T

he Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC), is a MICE (Meetings, Incentive, Conferences & Exhibitions) venue in Nairobi, Kenya. It was purposely built for Conference Tourism. The 30-story land mark of Kenya’s skyline was built in 1969 and is the only building in the region with a helipad, boasts of a rich MICE heritage and has hosted high profile conferences which have shaped the destiny of mankind in all sectors of the economy.

The facility has 8 meeting halls and exhibition areas.

The meeting rooms are fully equipped with cutting edge, technologically driven installations.

KICC has ample parking and office space for both delegates and event organizers. Similarly, the Centre has round the clock security surveillance to ensure maximum safety for its customers.

The Centre has hosted high profile conferences like the ICANN Conference, AGOA Conference, 5th MIM Pan African Malaria Conference, 7th Global Conference on Health Promotions, the 2nd East African Investment Conference, Kenyatta Conference Center see page 43

42 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Kenyatta Conference Center from page 42

World Bank, COMESA, World Women Conference, 3rd Global YES conference, 56th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, ISOCARP Conference, among others.

KICC is an icon and a landmark of Kenya. It offers a wide range of state-of-the-art conference, exhibition events facilities and catering services.

KICC offers state-of-theart conference management system in the conference rooms complete with Simultaneous Interpretation Equipment and electronic voting system. The centre has outdoor facilities that offer a unique experience that is both refreshing and revitalizing.

The KICC view tower/helipad and 27th floor revolving restaurant gives delegates a unique panoramic view of Nairobi city in 360 degrees. It is also ideal for mini dinners and cocktails.

The KICC Corporation has professional and well trained Staff that always strive to surpass client’s expectations.

Facilities Overview

43 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Amphi Theater-represents the traditional African hut ideal for symposia and seminars. This tiered seating has a capacity of 771 people, seated on three balconies surrounding the auditorium. Tsavo Ballroom-is ideal for large international meetings, exhibitions, banquets and receptions.

It has observer galleries and its high ceiling is designed for elaborate decor, hoisting of banners and other promotional materials. Lenana & Aberdares-is ideal for medium-size conferences, meetings and seminars for 100 to 300 people. Shimba Hills-a spacious theatre with a sitting capacity of 100 people. Taifa Hall-is ideal for small discussion groups of 100 to 200.

VIP Lounge-located on the 1st floor of the building is ideal for VIP receptions and meetings. Impala- this room is ideal for small discussion groups for about 70 people. Lake Turkana-also ideal for small discussion groups of about 70. Delegates Lounge-is suitable for tea/coffee breaks, cocktails and exhibitions. Batian-is ideal for small sized meetings and disscusions of about 30 people. ď ‘ www.kicc.co.ke

Cultural Tourism

Walk With Lions Walk With The Pride......

W

alk side by side with the King of the Jungle. You are invited to take a walk on the wild side and interact with the rowdy adolescents as well as learn about the conservation issues on the walk with lions safari.

No leashes, no collars......

Come walk with the Pride....no leashes, no collars, and the pride roam freely with you through the African bush.

All clients will be given equipment for their Walk with lions (stick). On a walk with lions safari there are three lion handlers plus a Trip leader. All Trip Leaders carry a .458 rifle, and a communication radio plus a first aid kit.

• Passports, jewellery and valuables should be left in hotel safes.

Age Restrictions • Minimum age 15 years for walk with lions • Under 18 years will need to have indemnity signed by legal guardian • Height restriction of 1.5 metres (lions make that rule themselves)

lions in our care is a primary concern of the Shearwater team.

In recent times there has been considerable discussion and debate regarding the use of lions in the tourism industry and in particular relating to the canned hunting industry. In view of this Shearwater would like to make their position clear to our valued agents and clients.

The lions that Shearwater use in their Walk with Lions activity at Victoria Falls come from, and belong to, The Lion Park in Harare.

This facility has been owned and operated by the Bristow Family for three generations. The park was started by

About the Shearwater Lions Shearwater Adventures (www. shearwatervictoriafalls.com/safaris) operate their Lion Walks in their very own Victoria Falls Private Game

Trips Include • Transport to and from your hotel or accommodation • Experienced, armed guides will accompany every walk with lions and carry with them a first aid kit and communication radio.

• A safety talk introductions to the “pride” and how to behave around the King of the Jungle.

What To Bring • • • • • •

Cameras Sun block Hat Neutral colour clothes Comfortable walking shoes Booking voucher

What Not to Bring • • • •

No open sandals No dresses or skirts No white or bright colour clothing No dandling objects or clothing that would attract the lions to you

Reserve. Shearwater started operating walk with lions at Victoria Falls in September 2005. The well being of the 44 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Mr. Ozzy Bristow in the 1960s when farmers, who had shot lions that were raiding their livestock herds, would bring him cubs that they had found. Ozzy had a passion for wildlife and in particular lions, and rather than let the cubs die he took them in and cared for them. As the number of lions in his care grew it became exWalkWith Lions see page 45

Walk With Lions from page 44

pensive for him to provide for them so in an attempt to raise funds he opened

Lion Park.

2. A portion of revenue generated at Victoria Falls is paid to the Lion Park which helps them sustain their fa-

the park to the paying public.

Along the way the park was relocated just outside Harare and later Ozzy was approached by a number of filmmakers who needed trained lions for their films. Subsequently the lions appeared in a large number of movies, documentaries, and television advertisements.

This secured the future of the park and the welfare of the animals there. In addition the park focused on receiving school groups from urban and rural areas which gave them the opportunity to educate the children about lions and the importance of preserving their habitats.

In addition to operating the Lion Park the Bristow Family also operate the Pamuzinda Safari Lodge where they have offered lion walks to their guests for the last twenty years.

In early 2005 Shearwater were approached by the Park with regards to setting up an operation at Victoria Falls. After a thorough feasibility study Shearwater and the Lion Park entered into a Joint Venture and the product was launched in September 2005.

The facts pertaining to the utilisation of the lions includes: 1. All of the lions are owned by the

cilities. This has been a great help as the Park has generally fallen on hard times due to the lack of demand from the movie industry and as a result of the general economical downturn in Zimbabwe.

3. All the lions are bred in captivity and hand reared.

4. Generally the lions come to us at an age of around 3-4 months.

5. Generally the lions are returned to the Lion Park at an age of around 18 months.

45 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

6. Once the lions have outgrown the operation in Victoria Falls they are returned to the Lion Park in Harare where they are either used for advertising and film making purposes, captive breeding, or released into the Lion Park.

7. We are aware that a number of other organisations are investigating the feasibility of releasing captive bred lions back into the wild. We support these efforts and if such a scheme can be a success we would not hesitate to seek the same for the lions used at Victoria Falls.

The lion walks which are operated by Shearwater are safe, exciting, informative, and enjoyable experiences. They provide the perfect platform for educating tourists about the conservation challenges facing what remains

of Africa’s wild lions.

The activity is enjoyed by a large number of visitors each year the vast majority of whom thoroughly enjoy the experience. As a result, the funds raised for the Lion Park help to provide for the lions in their care, all of which are descendants of orphaned lions.

Shearwater would be happy to answer any further questions and the operation at Victoria Falls is open daily for morning and afternoon lion walks for those wanting to experience the lion walk at first hand. ď ‘

46 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

The UK’s Air Passenger Tax is the Highest in the World. Tell the Chancellor!

British Airways Campaigns to Reduce ADP Dear International Traveller, As a frequent flyer, you will know as well as anyone that taxes on air travel are higher in the UK than anywhere else in the world - so I wanted to tell

you about a campaign aimed at changing that.

In the last six years, Air Passenger Duty (APD) the tax paid by airlines for each passenger departing a UK airport - has risen more than 300 per cent on many routes - while inflation has increased barely 20 per cent.

Some customers are now paying £184 for a single journey, while the cost for families taking their annual holiday has sky-rocketed: In 2006, a family of four flying from the UK to the Caribbean would pay £80

in APD - today they would pay £324 in World Traveller, or £648 in World Traveller Plus, Club World, or First.

This level of increase has no justification and no international parallel. Yet the UK Government has firm plans to keep on raising APD every year to 2017.

This tax also acts as a brake on growth and jobs for the whole economy by making it more difficult for businesses to reach new markets, and making the UK less attractive to overseas visitors.

How can you help? Just take a few seconds to visit www. afairtaxonflying.org and click on “Not a UK Resident?”. This will generate an automatic letter to the UK minister responsible for APD, George Osborne, calling for action on a tax that is now far too high and inflicting real damage on the UK’s efforts to move out of recession.

Add your name, send and you’re done.

This is an important campaign - and I hope you will support us in it.

Best wishes, Keith Williams, British Airways CEO

47 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Introducing the .....

Agriculture Education Energy Manufacturing

• • • • •

Key Investment Sectors Mining Transport Health Tourism

Basic market research Partnering Identifying opportunities Information on economic performance Information on rules, regulations, licensing

• • • • •

Information Communication Technology Construction, Real Estate

Industry specific support General information through Conference, lectures, events and seminars Trade missions Networking and Net-weaving Advocacy with local and state governments

CONTACT

CONTACT

Zambia USA Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 13541 Torrance CA 90503

www.zambiausachamber.org info@zambiausachamber.org 424 777 6474

I’m Black and I Travel! …on the radar!

Greg Gross @imblacknitravel This is a blog entry from I’m Black and I Travel! Enjoy. lack Enterprise recognizes “I’m Black and I Travel” as one of seven black travelers to follow on Twitter. Makes me want to start packing again…for anyplace!

It looks as if the three years of toil that have gone so far into this travel

travelers, travel writers and bloggers in their own right: • Kiratiana Freelon @kiratiana • Mario Nicholas @MarioTravels • Andrea Adams and Teri Johnson @ travelistastv • Brian Peters @brianepeters • T Davis-Merchant @tryitfoodtravel On behalf of all of us, thanks and much love to Black Enterprise for the social media shout-out. The only thing

blog are paying off. I’m Black and I Travel is starting to hit the bigtime.

Recently, the online edition of Black Enterprise magazine published a slideshow entitled “7 Black Travelers to Follow on Twitter.”

Guess who’s Number Two in the batting order? Yep! “What makes Greg Gross’ Twitter stream so unique is the narrative and context he provides during his travels…”

I had no idea they were going to do that. I only found out through fellow African-American travelers on Facebook who happen to be friends of mine. Are we deep into social media or what?

Speaking of friends, the other six black travelers deemed worthy of following on Twitter also happen to be friends of mine, and damned good

Greg Gross @imblacknitravel

B

49 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

cooler than this would be to see an even longer list of black travelers singled out by Black Enterprise for 2013.

So get that passport, come on out here and join us. It’s your world. Get into it! 

Travel Tips

Travel Fitness: A Few Exercises to Help You Keep Fit on the Go…

by Carl Germano, Celebrity Nutritionist Improving Traveling Tips

S

taying fit may be one of the last things to cross your mind when booking a vacation or a business trip but it should definitely not be forgotten. While a vacation should include some breaks from your diet, to throw all of your hard work away would be a major mistake.

When you get to your hotel room, it’s time to get a real workout in. Obviously, if the hotel has a gym, use it but if not, no worries, we’ve put together a quick and simple workout that will keep your body on point while taking a break form reality. This 20-minute super set workout with no breaks in between will have you in a bikini or shirtless about 80% of your vacation, it’s designed to shred you up while burning fat at the same time.

Shadow Boxing Repetitions: 50 Punches Rest: 1 Minute Sets: 2 Throw punches while bobbing on your feet like a boxer: 10 right jabs, 10 left hooks, 10 right hooks, 10 left

Boot Slappers Repetitions: 8 Rest: 30 Seconds Sets: 2 Stand with your legs slightly wider than shoulder-width, squat down, slap the sides of your ankles, and then stand back up. Repeat 10 to 20 times.

Reaching Lunge Repetitions: 6-8 each leg Rest: 30 Seconds Sets: 2 Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. In one motion, take a lunging step forward as far as you can with your left foot and reach forward with both hands to touch the floor in front of you. Quickly reverse the motion to return to the starting position, then switch legs.

Bench/Chair Dip

Skiing Wall Squat Repetitions: 5 Rest: 30 Seconds Sets: 2 Lean against a wall, with your feet 18 to 24 inches away from it and shoulder-width apart. Bend your knees slightly and hold that position for 5 to 10 seconds. Bend deeper and hold.

Repeat until you’ve hit five different positions; go as low as you can.

push your body back up to the starting position.

Skiing Wall Squat uppercuts, 10 right uppercuts.

Diamond Pushup Repetitions: 10-12 Rest: 30 Seconds Sets: 2 Get into traditional pushup position, but place your hands directly under your chest with your index fingers and thumbs spread and touching; that’s the diamond. Keep your back flat throughout the movement. Lower your body until your chest nearly touches your hands. Pause, and then

Repetitions: 10-12 Rest: 30 Seconds Sets: 2 Place your hands behind you on the edge of a bench or chair and your feet on another bench or chair (or the floor) a few feet in front of you. Lower your body until your upper arms are nearly parallel to the floor. Pause, then press back to the starting position.  Carl Germano, Chief Science Officer of SURGEX, is a registered, certified clinical nutritionist appointed as Chief Science Officer for Inergetics.

With over 27 years of experience using innovative, complementary nutritional therapies in private practice, he has dedicated his efforts to research and product development for the dietary supplement and medical foods industries, where he has been instrumental in bringing unique nutritional substances and formulations to the health/dietary supplement industry.

http://soulofamerica.com/international-guides.phtml 50 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

51 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Welcome to the

Djibouti Palace Kempinski Experience the extraordinary... www.kempinski.com/en/djibouti

52 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Cruising

Zegrahm Expeditions

by Larry Bleiberg, USA Today

Zegrahm Expeditions (www.zeco. com) was founded more than 20 years ago. Adventure travel, was – and remains – the company’s sole focus. You won’t find crowded venues like Barcelona and Cabo San Lucas on Zegrahm itineraries.

You will find unfrequented Northwest and Northeast Passages, the great continent of Antarctica, Himalayan

West Africa Cruise Includes ‘Inspiring’ Visit to Sierra Leone

Island Sky

L

ooking for a change from the usual African tour?

An 18-day Zegrahm Expeditions voyage calls on littlevisited West African nations, stopping at three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Cape Coast Castle, Ghana; James Island, The Gambia; and Gorée Island, Senegal.

The “Tracing the West Coast of Africa” voyage also includes an emotional visit to a clinic in Sierra Leone, where amputees will play a soccer game and meet with their visitors. The facility is run by the Seattle-based Greatest Goal Ministries, which provides training and health services to war victims and uses soccer to build self-confidence.

“Many of our guests said visiting the clinic and watching the soccer match was the highlight of the trip and was truly inspiring,” Zegrahm president Jon Nicholson said in a statement about the line’s inaugural cruise to the area in April.

Other highlights of the nine-nation small-ship journey include: • A traditional voodoo ceremony in Togo and a chance to browse the talismans and potions in the fascinating fetish market.

• The fantasy coffin shaped like fruit, animals, cars, and more in Accra, Ghana.

• The Abuko Nature Reserve in The Gambia, where more than 290 bird species have been recorded.

• A cruise through Africa’s largest lake village in Ganvie, Benin, which has wood and thatch houses on teak stilts.

• A chance to walk the longest and highest suspended rope bridge in the world at Ghana’s Kakum National Park.

The cruise on the 114-passenger Island Sky leaves from Douala, Cameroon, and ends in Dakar, Senegal. It runs from Nov. 28 to Dec. 15, 2013. Prices begin at $13,980 per person. For more information, visit zeco.com.

53 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

treks, Botswana safaris, and in-depth sojourns in the islands of the South Pacific and Indian Ocean. Indeed, many of Zegrahm’s expedition cruises and land-based adventures are in areas so remote, they are rarely, if ever, visited. And therein lies the appeal of Zegrahm Expeditions: You travel as an inquisitive, fully-engaged explorer, rather than a casual-observer tourist. 

Cruise Industry Tightens Safety Rules

by Lisa A. Grimaldi

I

n the wake of the Jan. 13 foundering of the Costa Concordia cruise ship, which took the lives of 32 passengers and crew, several key cruise organizations have taken measures to bolster safety and standardize emergency procedures for the industry.

Earlier this year, members of the Fort Lauderdale-based Cruise Lines International Association, the European Cruise Council in Brussels and the London-based Passenger Shipping Association adopted a new mandatory muster policy requiring emergency drills for passengers to take place prior to departure from port. The mandate replaced existing legal edicts, which required drills to be held within 24 hours of passenger embarkation.

Last month, CLIA and the ECC adopted two additional safety policies: the Nationality of Passengers policy, which stipulates that the nationality of each passenger onboard a cruise ship be recorded and made readily available

to search-and-rescue personnel in the event of an emergency; and the Common Elements of Musters and Emergency Instructions policy, through which member cruise lines of both associations have specified 12 common elements to be communicated to passengers during muster drills and emergency instructions. The 12 elements are: • When and how to don life jackets; • Emergency signals and appropriate responses; • The location of life jackets; • Where to muster following an emergency signal; • How passengers will be accounted for at training drills and real emergency musters; • How updated information will be communicated to passengers and crew; • What to expect if the captain orders an evacuation of the ship; • Additional passenger safety information; • Instructions on whether

passengers should return to cabins prior to mustering, and specific directions on whether they should gather medications, clothing and life jackets; • Important safety systems/features; • Emergency routing systems and emergency exits, and • Who to seek out for additional information.

Following the adoption of the latest measures, Christine Duffy, CLIA’s president and CEO, said, “Our industry continues to actively identify a range of measures that will improve the safety of passengers and crew, which is the top priority of the cruise industry. We are fully committed to continuous improvement in shipboard operations and safety. We are taking a holistic look at safety, as has been evidenced by the breadth and scope of the numerous policies that have been developed and adopted this year.”

54 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

www.meetings-conventions.com/ article2_ektid49496.aspx

2nd World Snow Day in Johannesburg on 20th January 2013

T

he International Skiing Federation (FIS) is pleased to confirm that following the first successful edition of World Snow Day 2012, the second global celebration of all things snow will take place on Sunday 20th January 2013.

Fantastic stories, news and accounts have reached the FIS office from many of the 225 events organizers in 39 countries around the world. Photos

and films are on display on the World Snow Day channels on Facebook (www.facebook.com/worldsnowday) and videos (http://world-snow-day. com/en/WSD/Videos).

World Snow Day 2012,

Johannesburg To most, the hosting of World Snow Day in Johannesburg in the middle of summer was a big surprise!

Sunday was a really hot summers day with temperatures reaching 32C and sadly for the organisers, followed by a massive thunderstorm in the afternoon that kept many of our loyal snow supporters at home.

The day however was a success with the artificial ski slope bustling with children tubing followed by a ski and snowboard demo and free skiing session for the rest of the afternoon. It was also a great chance for the small South African ski community to meet and discuss upcoming plans for the local winter season.

World Snow Day was also the perfect platform to launch the first local Junior Snowboard development program and we found that the concept stimulated discussion and was a great talking point.

World Snow Day 2013, Johannesburg It goes without saying that there is already great anticipation for an even bigger and more exciting 2nd World Snow Day on 20th January 2013. For more information visit www. world-snow-day.com and World Snow Day Johannesburg, Snow Sport South Africa, Norkem Park 1631, Johannesburg, South Africa. Contact via e-mail at oliver@snowsports. co.za. ď ‘

55 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

www.airnamibia.com.na

Namibia: Focus On a Fragile Coast

by Hilma Hashange

T

he Namibian Coast Conservation and Management Project, NACOMA, recently published an exceptional book on the coastal environment.

Titled “Namibia’s Coast: desert treasures”, it covers in depth, the many different spheres associated with a coastline that stretches 1570 kilometres from the Orange to the Kunene Rivers and is about 132 million years old.

The book, launched in June 2012, aims to bring all the information collected over the life of the Namibian

Coast Conservation and Management project and other published information from both the Namib and the Benguela in one publication highlighting the importance of the meeting point where the icy waters of the south east Atlantic meet the burning shores of the desert.

The book contains 192 pages and seven chapters of well illustrated useful content for multiple end users. It is produced by RAISON (Research and Information Services of Namibia); published by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, commissioned through its NACOMA project and authored by Tony Robertson, Alice Jarvis, John Mendelsohn and Roger Swart, the same authors responsible for the publication of the Namibian Atlas.

According to Rod Braby, Coordinator of the Namibian Coast Conservation and Management project, their objective is to improve awareness about

Dunes from the Namib Desert meet the Atlantic Ocean

The Namib desert is considered to be one of the oldest coastal biodiversity, deserts in the world. It is located on the South Western environmental coast of Africa and stretching more than 1,000 miles. challenges and the exploitation of coastal resources. The ultimate goal is the In 2010, the entire population of the design, implementation and monitoring coast numbered approximately 143, of an Integrated Coastal Management 000 residents, three-quarters of whom system. were in the central section of the The book provides a broad coast. The coast is the heart of the introduction to the coast which is economy. It is at the coast that high portrayed as a rugged, sometimes proportions of the country’s income bleak or forbidding, and largely are derived from mining trade through uninhabited area that is a fascinating its harbours, marine fishing and fish and complex mix of richness and processing as well as tourism. The paucity. The warm and dry Namib last chapter of the book deals with desert stands in stark contrast to the the issues related to the future of the cold waters of the Benguela current coast. External influences such as which is extremely biologically economic, climatic, oceanographic productive. and political all have great impact on Although the coastal population is the coast. The major potholes, pitfalls relatively small, its size has grown or dangers associated with the coast enormously in recent decades, with are adressed in the last chapter.  Walvis Bay becoming the second http://allafrica.com/ largest urban centre after Windhoek. stories/201209070909.html 57 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Golf Africa www.golfworldmap.com/africa/#9.622414142924805,17.05078125,3

Botswana Gaborone Golf Club at the Gaborone Sun Hotel Phakalane Golf Estate Hotel Resort

Egypt Alexandria Sporting Club, Alexandria Cascades at Soma Bay Golf and Country Club

www.dreamlandgolf.com

Golf City, Cairo Katemeya Heights Golf & Tennis Resort, Cairo

www.windsorgolfresort.com

Mauritius

www.katameyaheights.com

Ile aux Cherfs, Trou d’Eau Douce Le Paradis Hotel & Golf Club, Le Morne Peninsula

Madinat Makadi Golf Course, Madinat Makadi www.madinatmakadigolf.com

Mena House Oberoi Golf Course, Cairo

Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel, Hurghada

http://lesaintgeran.oneandonlyresorts. com

Railway Golf Club, Nairobi Royal Nairobi Golf Club, Nairobi The Golf Park at the Jockey Club of Kenya, Nairobi Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club, Nairobi

Dreamland Golf & Tennis Resort, Cairo

www.golf.jwmarriottcairo.com/golf

Kenya

www.nyaligolf.co.ke

www.residencedescascades.com

Mirage City Golf Club, Cairo

Course, Poste de Flacq

Karen Country Club, Nairobi Kiambu Golf Club, Kiambu Leisure Lodge Beach & Golf Resort, Mombasa Muthaiga Golf Club, Nairobi Nyali Golf & Country Club, Mombasa

www.phakalane.com

www.oberoihotels.com/oberoi_menahouse/index.asp

www.steigenbergeraldaubeach.com

www.paradis-hotel.com

Legend Golf Course, Poste de Flacq www.bellemareplagehotel.com

Links Golf Course, Poste de Flacq www.princemaurice.com

Shandrani Golf Club, Blue Bay www.shandrani-hotel.com

Troux aux Biches Golf Club, Troux aux Biches www.trouauxbiches-hotel.com

Morocco Anfa Royal Golf Club, Casablanca Cabo Negro Royal Golf Club, Tetouan Royal Golf of Dar es Salam, Rabat www.royalgolfdaressalam.com/english/index.cfm

Club Med les Dunes, Agadir El Jadida Royal Golf Club, El Jadida Fes Royal Golf Club, Fes Marrakech Royal Golf Club, Marrakech Meknes Royal Golf Club, Meknes Mohammedia Royal Golf Club, Mohammedia Settat University Royal Golf Club, Settat Tangier Royal Golf Club, Tangier

One&Only Le Saint Géran Golf

58 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

see Golf Africa on page 59

Golf Africa www.golfworldmap.com/africa/#9.622414142924805,17.05078125,3

Senegal

from Golf Africa page 58

Golf de Saly, Mbour

Nambia Keetmanshoop Golf Course, Keetmanshoop Okahandja Golf Club, Okahandja www.okahandja.net/sport/default.html

Orandjemund Golf Club, Oranjemund Rossmund Golf Course, Swakopmund Tsumeb Golf Club, Tsumeb Walvis Bay Golf Course, Walvis

tate, Olifantsfontein www.bluevalley.co.za

www.golfsaly.com/intro/presentation_fr.htm

Bryanston Country Club, Bryanston

Golf International du Technopôle, Dakar Le Méridien President Resort & Golf Club, Dakar

www.bryanstoncc.co.za

www.starwoodhotels.com/ lemeridien/property/overview/index. html?propertyID=1821&EM=VTY_ MD_1821_DAKAR_OVERVIEW

Centurion Country Club, Centurion www.centurioncountryclub.co.za

Champagne Sports Resort, Winterton www.champagnesportsresort.com

Clovelly Country Club, Cape Town www.clovelly.za.net

Crown Mines Golf Club, Johannesburg www.g-i.co.za/clubs/?c=274

Darling Golf Club, Darling www.darlingtourism.co.za/sportdetail. htm#golfclub

De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate, Stellenbosch www.golfdezalze.com

Devonvale Golf & Wine Estate, Stellenbosch www.devonvale.co.za

Durban Country Club, Durban www.dcclub.co.za Port Shepstone Country ClubKwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Bay Windhoek Country Club Resort, Windhoek

Sierra Leone Freetown Golf Club, Freetown

Durbanville Golf Club, Durbanville www.durbanvillegolfclub.co.za

East London Golf Course, East London www.elgc.co.za

www.windhoek.co.za

South Africa

Nigeria

Akasia Golf Clue, Pretoria www.akasiacountryclub.co.za

IBB Golf Course, Abuja IITA Golf Club, Ibadan Ikeja Golf Club, Lagos

Atlantic Beach Golf Club, Cape Town

Fancourt Hotel & Country Club Estate, George

www.atlanticbeachgolfclub.co.za/ capetown/index.asp

www.fancourt.co.za

www.ikejagolfclub.org

Reunion

Bellville Golf Club, Cape Town

Golf du Bassin Blue, St Gilles les Hauts Golf Club de Bourbon, Etang Sale les Bains

Benoni Country Club, Johannesburg

www.golf-bourbon.com/spip/spip. php?lang=en

Club du Colorado, La Montagne

www.bellvillegolf.co.za

Emfuleni Golf Estate, Vanderbijlpark www.emfulenigolfestate.com

Gary Player Country Club Golf Course, Sun City www.suninternational.com/Destinations/Resorts/Golf/Pages/Golf.aspx

George Golf Club, George

www.benonicountryclub.co.za/pro/ Default.aspx

www.georgegolfclub.co.za

Blair Atholl, Fourways

www.germistongolf.com

Germiston Golf Club, Germiston

www.blairatholl.co.za

Blue Valley Golf & Country Es59 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

see Golf Africa on page 61

Golf Africa www.golfworldmap.com/africa/#9.622414142924805,17.05078125,3 Paarl Golf Course, Paarl

Franklyn Stephenson at Legend Golf and Safari Resort South Africa

www.paarlgolfclub.co.za

Pearl Valley Signature Golf Estate and Spa, Cape Winelands www.pearlvalley.co.za

Pecanwood Golf & Country Club, Hartbeesportt www.pecanwoodgolf.co.za

Plettenberg Bay Country Club, Plettenberg Bay www.plettgolf.co.za

Pretoria Country Club, Pretoria www.ptacc.co.za

Randpark Golf Club, Randburg www.randpark.co.za

Reading Country Club, Alberton www.readingcc.co.za from Golf Africa page 61

Glendower Golf Course, Johannesburg www.glendower.co.za

Leopard Creek Country Club, Malelane

River Club Golf & Conference Center, Cape Town

www.leopardcreek.co.za

http://riverclub.co.za

Lost City, Sun City

Riviera on Vaal Country Club, Vereenigning

www.suninternational.com/ Destinations/Resorts/Golf/Pages/Golf. aspx

Hermanus Golf Club, Hermanus www.hgc.co.za

Houghton Golf Club, Houghton

Malmesbury Golf Club, Malmesbury

www.houghton.co.za

Humewood Golf Club, Port Elizabeth

www.malmesburygolfclub.co.za

Metropolitan Golf Course, Cape Town

www.humewoodgolf.co.za

The Country Club Johannesburg, Rivonia www.ccj.co.za

www. metropolitangolfclub. co.za

Killarney Country Club, Johannesburg

Milnerton Golf Club, Cape Town

www.killarneycountryclub.co.za

www.milnertongolfclub.co.za

Kingswood Golf Estate, George Kleinmond Golf Club, Kleinmond

Modderfontein Golf Club, Modderfontein

www.kleinmondgolfclub.co.za

www.mgclub.co.za

Kloof Country Club, Kloof

Monks Cowl Coutry Club & Lodge, Winterton

www.kingswood.co.za

www.kloofcountryclub.co.za

Knysna Golf Club, Knysna www.knysnagolfclub.com

Koro Creek Bushveld Golf Estate, Nylstroom www.korocreek.com

www.rovcountryclub.co.za

Royal Cape Golf Club, Cape Town www.royalcapegolf.co.za

Royal Durban Golf Club, Durban

www.monkscowl. co.za

Mossel Bay Golf Club, Mossel Bay

Langebaan County Estate Golf & Leisure, Langebaan

www.mosselbaygolfclub.co.za

www.langebaanestate.co.za

www.mowbraygolfclub.co.za

Mowbray Golf Club, Cape Town 61 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

www.royaldurban.co.za

San Lameer Country Club, Marsee Golf Africa on page 63

Four Points by Sheraton Lagos Plot 9/10 Block 2, Oniru Chieftaincy Estate Victoria-Island T: +234 1 448 9444

Please join Queen Ahneva Ahneva Classic FM 97.3 on air personality

Good music. Good times. Good friends. Great fun Every Thursday for 9ja music on the roof top Every Friday for Jazz on the roof top Every Saturday for High life on the roof top All happening from 7pm- 10.30pm @ The Office Bar, 2nd floor Four Points by Sheraton Lagos Oniru Estate, Victoria Island Fine dining and full service bar available For more information contact QAA on Queen@classic97.net

or call the Hotel on 01- 448 9444

Golf Africa www.golfworldmap.com/africa/#9.622414142924805,17.05078125,3 from Golf Africa page 61

gate www.sanlameer.co.za

Scottburgh Golf Club, Scottburgh www.scottburghgolf.co.za

Selbourne Golf Estate, Pennington

El Kantaoui Golf Course, Port El Kantaoui www.portelkantaoui.com.tn/golf

Palm Links Golf Course, Monastir www.golf-palmlinks.com/english/ presentation.htm

Flamingo Golf Course, Monastir

Tabarka Golf Course, Tabarka

www.golfflamingo.com/english/flamingo.htm

www.tabarkagolf.com/en/index.htm

Golf Citrus, Hammamet

Yasmine Golf Course, Mannamet www.golfyasmine.com/en/index.php 

www.golfcitrus.com

www.selborne.com

Silver Lakes Golf & Country Club, Pretoria www.silverlakes.co.za

Somerset West Golf Club, Somerset West www.somersetwestgolfclub.co.za

St Francis Bay Golf Club, St Francis Bay www.stfrancisgolf.co.za

St Francis Links, St Francis Bay www.stfrancislinks.com

Steenberg Golf Club, Cape Town www.steenberggolfclub.co.za/Framework/index.asp

Stellenbosch Golf Club, Stellenbosch www.steenberggolfclub.co.za/ Framework/index.asp

Umdoni Golf Course, Pennington www.umdonipark.com

Umhlali Country Club, Umhlali www.umhlalicountryclub.co.za

Westlake Golf Club, Cape Town www.westlakegolfclub.co.za

Wingate Park Country Club, Pretoria www.wingateparkcountryclub.co.za

Swaziland Royal Swazi Spa Country Club www.suninternational.com/Destinations/Resorts/RoyalSwaziSpaValley/ FacilitiesActivities/Pages/Golf.aspx

The Gambia Fajara Club, Fajara www.smiles.gm/fajara.htm

Tunisia Djerba Golf Club, Midoun www.djerbagolf.com 63 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

64 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

65 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

African Cuisine: The Soul of A New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa

T

hi ““cookbook” his kb k” is i a personall reflection of Chef Marcus Samuelsson reconnecting with the land of his birth—it focuses on the rarely highlighted cuisine of the African continent. Born in Ethiopia and raised in Sweden by adoptive parents, the chef bridges cultures through his cooking.

His book features more than 200 recipes peppered with stunning photographs capturing everyday life.

The project took five years to compile and sent him from South Africa to Morocco, from the famous spice island of Zanzibar to the fish markets of Senegal. As Samuelson writes, “To understand African cooking, you have to understand Africa.”

Not an easy task in a continent comprising more than 55 countries with a panoply of indiginous tastes and techniques and those that arrived by way of Europe, India and Asia. Just as European cooking uses salt to give dimension to dishes, African dishes use spice blends and rubs to vary flavors. Many spices found in African cooking are found in pantries around the world but a number of ingredients are out-of-the-ordinary such as fenugreek seeds, merguez sausage, morning glory and shiro powder.

A Few Recipes Ground Turkey Patties with Couscous Couscous is a staple grain of North Africa.

This recipe yields 4 servings.

Ingredients 1 cup semolina couscous 5 tablespoons olive oil 1 onion, sliced 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 tablespoons mild chili powder 1 cup stewed chopped canned tomato

1 egg 1/2 cup raisins 1 cup water 1 pound ground turkey 2 cups spinach salt and pepper Directions 1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until translucent, about 3 minutes, followed by garlic, and chili powder.

2. Set half of the onion mixture aside in a mixing bowl for the patties.

3. Stir in 3/4 cup couscous to the sauté pan and toast for 1 minute.

4. Add tomatoes, water and raisins to the pan simmer for 10 minutes. Finish by folding in the spinach and season with salt and pepper.

5. Combine the cooled onion and garlic mixture, 1/4 cup couscous, 1 tablespoon olive oil and egg in a bowl. Whisk ingredients. Add ground turkey. Season with salt and pepper. Using hands, mix the ingredients well. Shape mixture into four large patties. Tip: wetting hands with water will make this last step easier and prevent the patties from sticking to your hands.

6. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a sauté pan and sear patties on medium heat 2-3 minutes on each side.

7. Serve patties on top of couscous.

Lime-Scented Poppy-Seed Rice Pudding with Mango This recipe honors the rice growers of Senegal and serves twelve.

Ingredients 2 1/2 quarts whole milk 2 cups short-grain rice (14 ounces) One 14-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped 2 tablespoons poppy seeds 1 1/4 cups sugar

Ground Turkey Patties with Couscous 1/2 cup heavy cream Finely grated zest of 1 lime 6 ripe mangoes—peeled and cut into 1-inch dice

Lime-Scented Poppy-seed Rice Pudding Directions 1. In a medium enameled cast-iron casserole, combine the milk with the rice, coconut milk, vanilla bean and seeds and the poppy seeds and bring to a simmer over moderately high heat, stirring. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring often, until the rice is tender, about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

2. Stir the sugar, heavy cream and lime zest into the rice and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the rice pudding is sweet and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, then cover tightly and refrigerate until chilled, about 2

66 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

see African Cuisine

page 67

African Cuisine from African Cuisine page 66

hours. Spoon the rice pudding into small bowls and top with the mango.

Make Ahead: The rice pudding can be refrigerated overnight. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Spiced Nuts Recipe This snack dish features Ethiopia’s Injera bread and many of the nuts grown in Africa. This recipe yields 1 bowl.

Ingredients 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/3 teaspoon ginger powder 1/3 teaspoon cinnamon powder 2 teaspoons light brown sugar 4 mint leaves, chopped 1/2 cup sour dried cherries 1/4 cup roasted Injera chips 1 tablespoon oil 1/2 cup cashews 1/2 cup pecans 1/2 macadamia nuts 1/2 cup peanuts (optional) 1/2 teaspoon salt Directions 1. Heat oil in a large sauté pan over low heat 2. Then add the nuts, paprika and salt and roast until golden about 8 to 10 minutes 3. Add the sugar and cook, stirring constantly, for another 3 minutes 4. Take a sheet pan and spread the nuts in

a single layer with parchment paper and let cool 5. Sprinkle with the mint 6.T ransfer to a bowl and toss in the cherries and Injera 7. You are ready to serve!

Injera Chips This snack food features Ethiopia’s Injera bread. This is the baked version. The saute version follows.

Ingredients Berbere spice to taste 1/4 cup oil Injera Bread (day or more old)

Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 275°.

2. In a small bowl, combine the oil and berbere in proportions to your liking, at least a tablespoon for every quarter-cup of oil.

3. Tear a piece of injera in half and arrange it on one baking sheet and then do the same on a second baking sheet.

4. Using a pastry brush, spread the oil and berbere mixture onto the injera.

5. Bake for about 60 minutes (more for really crispy, crunchy chips, less for chewier chips).

6. Allow to cool before breaking into chips. Get creative with these chips and try other Ethiopian spices. (courtesy of The Berbere Diaries, http://theberberediaries.wordpress. com/2009/08/13/recipe-injera-chips) Injera Strip Chips-Saute 1. Heat a large saute pan over medium heat. (The more cooking surface area, the better!)

2. Add about 3 ounces of niter kibbeh (spiced butter).

3. Add 1 large handful of stale edible injera bread that is cut into long wide strips.

4. Gently shake the pan, so the injera does not stick. Toss and saute, till the injera becomes toasted brown and crisp.

5. Sprinkle 1 or 2 tablespoons of the berbere spice mix over the injera, while tossing the injera in the pan.

6. Sprinkle sea salt over the injera.

7.

Use tongs to place the spiced crisp injera on a plate.

Garnish the plate with a cilantro sprig. (courtesy of Shawna’s Food and Recipe Blog, http://shawna3377.blogspot. com/2012/04/injera-strip-chips-snack. html) 

http://wildafricacream.blogspot.com

UPS WorldShip™

Your Desktop Guide Through International Shipping Preparation Download Free Software www.ups.com

Pan-African CHILDREN’S FUND

people-to-people, church-to-church initiative to contribute to a better future for the children of Africa Please send your contribution to:

Pan-African Children’s Fund P.O. Box 8386 Los Angeles, CA 90008

323-733-1048 pacf@westa.org

The KARIDERM products for hair care, body care and facial care are made from certified organic shea butter, offering all the benefits of this African green treasure.

Rich in nutritious fatty acids and regenerating vitamins, KARIDERM’s shea butter nourishes and balances the skin, giving a superior level of protection, revitalization and hydration.

Available in Canada & Africa.

Order directly from

www.kariderm.com

68 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Kasamore International Calling Card Low Rates for International Calls & Domestic Calls No Contract • No Fees Quaranteed High Quality Sound

www.kasamore.com 1-866-507-7144

Good Reads Yes, Chef: a Memoir by Marcus Samuelsson with Veronica Chambers

T

he universal rule of kitchen work, Marcus Samuelsson says in his crisp new memoir, “Yes, Chef,” goes as follows: “Stay invisible unless you’re going to shine.” That rule applies to writers too, especially to those who would write food memoirs.

Because you like to put things in your mouth does not mean you have a story to tell.

Mr. Samuelsson, as it happens, possesses one of the great culinary stories of our time. It begins in Ethiopia, where he was born into poverty and where, at 2, he contracted tuberculosis, as did his mother and sister. The three of them trudged more than 75 miles in the terrible heat to a hospital in the capital city, Addis Ababa, where his mother died.

Mr. Samuelsson — at birth he was named Kassahun Tsegie — and his sister didn’t know their father. Orphaned, they found themselves on an airplane a year later, adopted by a white, middle-class family in Goteborg, Sweden.

You may know some of the later bits of Mr. Samuelsson’s story. In 1995, while cooking for the Scandinavian restaurant Aquavit in Manhattan, he became the youngest chef to receive a three-star rating from The New York Times. Eight years later the James Beard Foundation named him the best chef in New York City. In 2009 he cooked for President Obama’s first state dinner.

He’s now the owner and executive chef of Red Rooster Harlem, where he interprets Southern and other comfort food standards. His fame extends, as it tends to these days in the food world, to reality TV. He was the winner of Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters” in 2010, where he was cool as a daikon radish under fire, blending Swedish and African influences into dishes like hamachi meatballs with berbere, an Ethiopian spice mix. He’s still only 42.

“Yes, Chef,” which was written with Veronica Chambers, chalks in the details of Mr. Samuelsson’s story with modesty and tact. What lifts this book beyond being merely the plainly told story of an interesting life is Mr. Samuelsson’s filigreed yet often pointed observations about why so few black chefs have risen to the top of the culinary world.

“A hundred years ago,” he says, “black men and women had to fight to get out of the kitchen. These days, we have to fight to get in.”

Mr. Samuelsson and his sister had what he calls a mostly “quaint” upbringing in Goteborg, a blue-collar

town he likens to “Pittsburgh by the sea.” He hiked, skied and fished, and he learned to cook from his Swedish grandmother, a retired domestic.

He’s funny about how she could “kill a chicken old-school style.” He describes her method this way: “Grab the bird, knife to the neck. Like, ‘Come here, boom.’ ” He’s amusing too about how, once in a while, he’d hear about “a family’s smokehouse blowing up like a meth lab.”

He had a happy childhood. “I have no big race wounds,” he admits. Still, a bully at school pounded him with a basketball, asking him why he wasn’t good at “negerboll.” (“Neger was the Swedish word for Negro,” he writes.)

Mr. Samuelsson was not much of a student; he didn’t attend college. He

69 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

was an excellent soccer player, however, and hoped to play professionally.

Told he was too small, he turned to his next great passion: food. He studied cooking at a vocational high school and then began arduously climbing the ladder, cooking on cruise ships and in increasingly good restaurants in Sweden and Switzerland. In 1991, when he was 21, he arrived in New York City to take a low-level job at Aquavit.

“Yes, Chef” is a good book to give to the aspiring professional cook in your life because its abiding theme is the brutal and selfless work that must undergird culinary inspiration. As a lowranking member in a good kitchen, he says, “you have to completely give yourself up.”

He adds: “Your time, your ego, your relationships, your social life, they are all sacrificed. It’s a daily dose of humility.”

Over the course of “Yes, Chef,” Mr. Samuelsson, who was more or less classically trained, comes to realize that other ethnic foods, especially Asian, have “as much integrity and power as any French food I’d ever eaten.”

He travels to Ethiopia to connect with his culinary roots, and he meets his father, whom he’d long presumed was dead.

There’s a strong undercurrent of loneliness in “Yes, Chef.” In part this is because, he says, blacks are “shamefully underrepresented at the high end of the business.” That loneliness is a part of Mr. Samuelsson’s reserve. We get close, but not too close, to him in this memoir. There’s always a bit of distance.

There’s a kind of alienation, finally, that can come from being an atypical black person. Like Barack Obama, whom he thanks in his acknowledgments, Mr. Samuelsson hasn’t had anything like what could be called a standard black American experience and has sometimes suffered for that reality. He’s too white for some, too black for others.

For the monkish Mr. Samuelsson, a good kitchen has always been, he says, “my laboratory, my studio, my church.”  www.nytimes.com/2012/06/27/books/ yes-chef-by-marcus-samuelsson. html?_r=1

Black Business News International Edition www.blackbusinessnews.net World Business & Philanthropy International Edit

ion

Black Business News

Serving the Globa l African Economic Community

Fall 2008 USD$5.00

Contents Corporate Givin

g: EOY charita opportunities in health, education, ble housing, and more.

Tourism: Investm

ent in Africa’s tourism industr y is active, all across the contine vital and is evident nt.

Feature Articles: “Strategies For Cons Engagement with tructisve the African Diaspora” “Diaspora Enga gement: Remittances & Beyond” Investment ProƤ le: Moyo District

of the Republic

of Uganda

Professional Direc

tory

Charitable Inves

tments

Rev. Leon R. Perry , III in Ghana with

see Corporate Giving recently orpaned twins page 21

Online Videos Offer Businesses the Basics of Exporting

An Export Ready Product.

Available in Natural and Lime Send your e-mail inquiry to

ask.energyplus.com

A new series of 12 online videos offer exporters another tool in learning about the technical aspects of exporting and dealing with the intricacies of trade rules and paperwork.

In these videos, viewers see Trade Information Center (TIC) trade specialists, explaining how to fill out a NAFTA Certificate of Origin.

The presenters in the videos all do customerfacing work for their Department of Commerce agencies and, thus, are intimately familiar with the subject matter of each video.

The 12 export training videos are available on the Web at www.census.gov/foreign-trade/aes/ exporttraining/videos. Each video runs about three or four minutes and can be viewed online or downloaded for off-line viewing.

For additional sources of export counseling, contact the Trade Information Center at 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723); www. export.gov.

70 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Aviation Maintenance Technician International Students Welcome



Wedgywall™

IT’S CLEAN™

Modelar Panel and Exhibit System Rentals •Durable double-sided, seamless panels •Sets up in seconds •No visible hardware •Manufactured in the USA

West Los Angeles College 9000 S. Overland Avenue Culver City, CA 90230 USA

McKenzie Exhibits International

www.wlac.cc.ca.us

818-756-5375

Instant Hand Sanitizer Bio-Based

Kills 99.9% of Germs Moisterizing Formula with Vitamins A&E order cartons of 32 individual packets by calling

14803 Vanowen St., Suite #14 Van Nuys, CA 91405

1-800-MONEYGRAM® www.moneygram.com

1-773-888-9999

ASSIST THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH SUDAN Sudan Sunrise Help Build Schools in the South Sundan www.sudansunrise.org

S

outh Sudan is the most underdeveloped region of the world today. 85% of the population in South Sudan is illiterate. Only about 7% of teachers in the south have any professional training, and it is not uncommon to visit a school where the teachers themselves have not been educated beyond fourth grade. Some 1.5 million children who should be in school are not, due to lack of schools. The majority of schools that do exist consist of a chalkboard under a tree. Read about the camapign and contribute to the program to build over 41 schools at www.sudansunrise.org.

Southern Sudan Literacy Project (SSLP) Build a Primary School • www.thehopealliance.org/?q=node/77

T

he Southern Sudan Literacy Project (SSLP) is designed to build a Primary school in Dongchak Payam, Duk County, Southern Sudan. Solomon Awan, who was one of the “Lost Boys from Sudan,” now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.

He desires to help the village he is from, Duk Padiet. Villagers are just now returning after so many years of war and genocide. During the Spring of 2008, Solomon traveled back to his home village where he was reunited with his mother and sister. He met with the village community and agreed that the education of their children is the most critical need. We hope to finish building the school before the 2011 rainy season. To further this goal, SSLP has partnered with Hope Alliance, allowing our donors the benefit of a tax deduction. Please help SSLP accomplish this worthwhile project: send donations to The Hope Alliance (www.thehopealliance.org) For further information please contact: solomonawan@ yahoo.com.  71 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Blue World Travel Corporation 351 California Street Suite 950 San Francisco, CA 94104 Telephone: 800-466-2719 Facsimile: 415-882-9985 E-mail: fas@blueworldtravel.com Website: www.festivalatsea.com

TELL EVERYBODY!…

PLAY IT AGAIN SAM! Once again, the Friends of Festival at Sea are planning another memorable journey, spending Thanksgiving together aboard the incomparable Crystal Serenity! We will sail from Lisbon to Funchal, Madeira in Portugal to the spectacular sun-kissed Canary Islands of Tenerife and Lanzarote as well as the exotic North African ports of Agadir and Casablanca in Morocco!

The cruise ends with visits to Cadiz, Valencia and Barcelona in Spain. What an intoxicating mix of sophistication and intrigue!

Known as the very best cruise ship in the world, Crystal Serenity is consistently awarded the highest accolades by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler. From the well-appointed staterooms and suites to the incomparable dining experiences

including the world-famous cuisine of Nobu Matsuhisa in Silk Road and legendary restaurateur Piero Selvaggio in Prego, to the countless entertainment and activities options, you’ll delight in your luxurious home away from home for this incredible voyage!

Crystal Cruises’ all-inclusive experience represents excellent value for money. Nearly everything is included in one price…accommodation, meals, room service, all beverages including fine wines and spirits, enrichment classes, activities, entertainment, staff gratuities and even self-service laundry is included! If you include Crystal’s air with your reservation, the taxes and airport transfers are also included. This is one adventure you don’t want to miss!

Visit the journey website at: www.festivalatsea.com/canary_2013.html

72 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Summer 2012

Advertise with the

Black Business News Group Be seen and read by:

Black Business News

Black Business Enterprise Owners, government and corporate buyers, elected officials.

Black Business News/International Investors, traders, entrepreneurs and civic leaders tuned in to Africa and the world.

Black Business News/Travel Africa Africa-bound travellers around the world both business and tourist.

Black Business News Blalack Business News YOUR LINK TO AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESS OWNERS A MULTIPLE AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION

$2.50

A Multiple Award Winning Publication Serving the the Glob Glo al African

International Ed

Economic Commun ity

MARCH 2011

ition

Fall 2011 USD$5.00

2011 Nobel Peace Prize Winners Tawakkul Karm

a

Photograph: Moham med Huwais/AFP/G etty Images

Leymah Gbow

ee

Photograph: Jessica Rinaldi/ Reuters

President Ellen

John Jo ohnssonon Sirleaf Photog otograp tograph raph: h: Nicc Bothm Both a/EPA a/E EPA PA

Black Women Making Tripartitee FTFTA Great Strides in Business page 6

Contents

story begins on page 44 G8 & ICA Meet in Chicago Support H.R. 656 Google Trader Ope rational Aakash Tablet Unv eiled

page 14 page 18 page 53 page 57

In The Spotlight 36 T d

RESERVE YOUR AD SPACE TODAY! CALL 1-323-291-9334 www.blackbusinessnews.net ď ‘ Media Kit