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In This Issue…
Features 7 Travel Industry News 12 Hotel Investments Increase Accor and other chains to increase holdings 16 Africa’s Top Lodging 18 The Sophisticated Traveler Eretria’s Steam Train
Dallol Hot Springs, Ethiopia
21 Travel Africa Where to go, What to do 26 Tourism in Kenya Safari Corner 28 Elephants Never Forget (cover story) Mfuwe Lodge elephants return for mangos 32 Focus on Namibia Host of 2013 Adventure Travel Summit Fairy Circles Africa’s First Night Sky Reserve NamibRand Nature Reserve 40 Ethiopia’s Volcano Spectacular landscapes of Erta Ale Volcano area 46 Dar es Salaam’s New Hot Spot 3 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Akemi Revolving Restaurant 52 I’m Black and I Travel Red White Black and Blue 58 10 Step Travel Planner 60 Cruise Report Windstar Expands 64 Golf Africa
Culture 72 African Cuisine The Peppers, Cracklings and Knots of Wool Cookbook: The Global Migration of African Cuisine, by Diane M. Spivey 76 Book Review The Worlds of a Maasai Warrior: An Autobiography & Maasai by Tepilit Ole Saitoti
Connecting the USA to West Africa and Beyond
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Black Business News/ Winter 2013
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: www.bbala.org (Black Business News)
africa
From the Publisher... Earl “Skip” Cooper, II Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Black Business News Group
T
he Black Business News Group’s Travel Africa notes that there are more and more news article touting Africa as the up and coming economic powerhouse. Well, on the travel side we see a reflection of that new awareness in the hotel industry. The worldwide chains, many that have had hotels on the African continent for many years, are preparing to increase the number of properties (see page 12) on the continent. Most of the new properties will be in the middle range so we can all afford to make a reservation. These new units will be popping up all across the continent so we will be able to find our desired level of comfort and amenities where ever we choose to travel. Africa’s profile has also reached a new level of tourist acceptance with the agreement of the Adventure Travel Trade Association (www.adventuretravel.biz) to hold the 2013 Adverture Travel Summit (see page 32) in Namibia this coming October. Give consideration to conducting your next business, tourism, or incentive event somewhere on the African continent. This issue covers Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Tranzania and Zambia. Please take a look at our past issues (www.bbala.org) to read about the other African nations offering great travel destination options. We hope Black Business News Travel Africa is opening a wide window into the broad range of tourist and business travel destination opportunities. Write us about your travels to Africa and maybe we will publish your tale. Thanks for reading our publication.
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Travel Industry News Silversea Unveils Renovated Ship
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ilversea Cruises (www. silversea.com) has completed an extensive renovation of its vessel Silver Cloud. Among the enhancements to the 296-passenger ship are new decor for all guest rooms, refreshed public spaces and restaurants, and upgraded outdoor spaces. Also, guests sailing on luxury Silversea Cruises will now sleep a little better after adding 240-thread count, 100% Egyptian cotton sheets. Included with the new bedding collection, guests will also enjoy a memory pillowtop and a dual-side mattress. Ellen Bettridge, Silversea’s president of the Americas, said: “Getting a great night’s sleep is a priority for luxury travellers. We know many of our guests have luxurious bedding in their own homes, and if they have not yet discovered Pratesi, we’re happy to introduce them to this revered
Italian brand.” Silversea Cruises operates Silver Explorer, Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper and Silver Spirit to over 400 destinations including African nations. Lisa A. Grimaldi, www.meetingsconventions.com/article_ektid51544. aspx?cid=eltrMidWeek
IMEX Group Makes Industry Predictions
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ccording to the IMEX Group, the organizers of the IMEX Franfurt and IMEX America trade shows, the meetings industry will experience increased attendance, use of gamification, monetized meetings apps and political advocacy next year. Among other trends the group cited in its top 10 predictions for the industry in 2013: neurosciencebased meeting formats, destination “mascots” to help create more memorable marketing campaigns, more green meetings, greater use of social media -- Twitter, You
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Tube, Facebook, Pinterest -- for messaging and communication, more CSR activities and increased brand loyalty. www.meetings-conventions.com/article_ ektid52126.aspx?cid=eltrMidWeek
FTC Warns Hotels About Hidden Fees
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he Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent a strongly worded letter in late November to 22 hotel operators, warning that their sites might violate the law by providing a deceptively low estimate of room rates. At issue were mandatory surcharges such as resort fees that do not clearly appear in price quotes. According to the letter, consumers have complained to the FTC that they did not know they would be required to pay mandatory fees for amenities such as newspapers, exercise or pool facilities, or Internet access see Travel Industry News on page 8
Travel Industry News from page 7
-- often referred to as “resort fees” -- in addition to the room rate and taxes. “The mandatory fees can be as high as $30 per night,” the letter reads, “a sum that could certainly affect consumer pricing decisions.” In fact, such charges can run as high as $60 at high-end resorts,
working with them and hoping that they’ll be cooperative.” Ancillary fees and surcharges have been quite lucrative for the hospitality industry over the past several years. U.S. hotels were expected to collect about $1.95 billion in fees for 2012, according to an August 2012 report by Dr. Bjorn Hanson, dean of the Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management at New York University. Resort fees account for significantly less than half of that total, Hanson estimated, and he does not expect the FTC’s investigation to affect the prevalence of the charges. www.meetings-conventions.com/ article2_ektid52294.aspx
Never Lose Your Suitcase
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henever you fly and according to M&C’s March 2012 check a bag, you always cover story on the controversial have to wonder whether issue of resort fees. your bag will arrive when you do, After reviewing a number especially if you have a new stops of reservation sites, the FTC and layovers along the way. concluded that some hotels are, Trakdot (www.globatrac.com/#) indeed, misrepresenting their is designed to help you keep track rates by hiding resort fees or not of your suitcase when you travel. identifying them at all. The hotel operators in question, which have not been named, were advised that the FTC “may take action to enforce and seek redress for any violations of the FTC Act.” Trakdot As of press The pint-sized device is placed in time, the FTC had heard back from your checked luggage, and then some of the 22 hotel operators. reports its location in real time to “We’re just trying to get a sense of any mobile phone or SMS-capable their time frame in actually making device. the changes that we believe are For instance, if you land in necessary -- that is, including all the San Francisco and your luggage mandatory fees in the total price,” doesn’t, you can easily pinpoint said FTC Bureau of Consumer where you and your suitcase Protection staff attorney Annette became separated during your Soberats. “Right now we’re just 8 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
travels, and hopefully retrieve your bag a little quicker. In addition to sending your luggage’s location to your phone, your bag’s location can be sent to you via email. Bags can also be tracked on Trakdot’s website, as well as with Trakdot’s free application. Useful even when your bag isn’t lost, an additional app can even let you know when your suitcase is approaching on the baggage carousel. A single Trakdot device can be linked to several different smartphones for tracking, and each phone can track multiple Trakdot devices. So, Mom can track the entire family’s luggage on her iPhone. Trakdot is expected to be available in March of this year for a suggested retail price of $49.95. Activating the device will cost an additional $8.99, plus an annual service free of $12.99. http://mashable.com/2013/01/06/ trakdot/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_ medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A +Mashable+%28Mashable%29
Air Tanzania to Receive $100m Investment
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he Chairman of Al Hayat Development and Investment Company, Sheikh SalimAl Harthy, has revealed that the Omani consortium will soon inject a Sh 160 billion ($100 million) into Tanzania’s national carrier, Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL). “We (Omani Consortium) intend to sign an agreement with Air Tanzania to invest 100 million dollars and lead a consortium of other investors that we have close relations with,” Sheikh Harthy said in a statement. The funds are intended to revive the ailing airline. see Travel Industry News on page 10
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Travel Industry News from page 8
While a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed between the two partners very soon; Sheikh Harthy revealed that the plan is to build an airline training centre, good offices for the ATCL, buy planes and engage in other development activities which they plan to start within six to ten months this year. The Omani Consortium noted that Tanzania is the home to some of the World’s most attractive tourist destinations. It affirmed that in recent years there has been an increase in the number of Omani visitors travelling to Tanzania and this has been catalyzed by the resumption of direct flights to Tanzania by Oman Air. “This has been a building factor in consolidating trade and cultural ties between the two countries.” “Tanzania, the largest of the East African nations with geography as varied as in its spectacular, also holds out promising prospects for investment in its tourism sector,” it
noted. Meanwhile, ATCL Acting Chief Executive Officer, Captain Milton Lazaro, described the development as good news that is likely to see the airline “stand on its feet once again.” He revealed that Tanzanian president, Jakaya Kikwete has already outlined the areas that need investment and with such money, they were ready to expand the company. Lazaro posited that the MoU would elaborate the extent of investment and in which areas the money would go. “That is an amount of money which can change the company. We believe with this, we will be back on our feet,” he said. President Kikwete had visited Oman last October following an invitation of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos where they exchanged views on how to strengthen further bilateral co-operation in business, education, culture and many other areas. www.ventures-africa.com/2013/01/ atcl-to-receive-100m-investment10 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
from-omani-consortium
Global Platform Roll Out
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eetings technology provider Active Network announced a preferred relationship this week with travel management company and corporate services provider Hogg Robinson Group. The agreement calls for HRG MeetingsManager, which is powered by Active Network/StarCite, to be rolled out to HRG clients globally. The platform, which has been used by HRG clients in some European markets, will begin a phased rollout across Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific region, followed by Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. www.meetings-conventions.com/article_ ektid53130.aspx?cid=eltrMtgNews
Airfare to Rise in 2013
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ravel buyers expect domestic airfares to rise by 4.6% and international see Travel Industry News on page 11
Travel Industry News from page 10
fares to shoot up by 8.3% in the coming year, according to research conducted by the Global Business Travel Association. The GBTA Foundation’s report, 2013 Industry Pulse: Business Travel Buyers’ Sentiment, surveyed 297 U.S.-based travel buyers in October 2012. The average projected businesstravel ticket prices for 2013 are $492 for domestic economy and $1,318 for international economy. Premium fares, meanwhile, are expected to jump by 7.6% for both domestic and international routes. Similarly, buyers expect hotel rates to rise — by 3.7% domestically (to an average of $161) and by 8.0% internationally (to $297). “Travel prices will be rising across the board, with international price growth especially robust
as companies look abroad for opportunities,” noted Joseph Bates, GBTA vice president of research. The expected price increases will present significant challenges to travel buyers, who expect only a 2.9% increase in their budgets.
www.meetings-conventions. com/article_ektid53174. aspx?cid=eltrMidWeek
Two New Policies for Cruise Industry Two major cruise organizations, the Cruise Lines International Association and the European Cruise Council, have adopted two new safety policies: the
Nationality of Passengers policy, and Common Elements of Musters and Emergency Instructions policy. The first requires the nationality of each passenger onboard a cruise ship to be recorded and made readily available to search-andrescue personnel. Under the Common Elements policy, member cruise lines have specified 12 common elements that will be communicated to passengers during muster drills and emergency instructions. Among those are an explanation of emergency-routing systems. Both policies exceed current international regulatory requirements and result from the Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review launched in January 2012, following the Costa Concordia accident.. www.meetings-conventions.com/articles/ two-new-policies-for-cruise-industry/ c49078.aspx
PHGMEETINGS.COM PLANNING RESOURCES FOR THE WORLD’S MOST EXCEPTIONAL MEETINGS HOTELS. Preferred Hotel Group brings together over 700 individual meeting places. From breathtaking resort retreats to smart, city center hotels and boutique incentive experiences, find a unique solution to match every need. Explore the entire collection, find essential resources, access offers, and submit your RFP at PHGMeetings.com. Visit PHGMeetings.com to view properties in Cape Town, South Africa and Marrakech, Morocco.
Hotel Group COO Talks About His Company’s African Expansion Plans By Kate Douglas Hotel developments across the African continent are growing as international hotel groups start to recognise the potential for ‘destination Africa’. With business travel increasing in many African regions, and tourism destinations requiring leisure hotels to meet the needs of travellers from around the world, Africa offers potential for multinational hotel brands.
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he entry and expansion of numerous multinational hotel brands into Africa, including the likes of Four Seasons, Radisson Blu, Marriott and Protea Hotels, has been well covered by How we made it in Africa. South African hotel group, City Lodge, recently decided to venture into the rest of the continent for the first time with its entry into Botswana and Kenya,
in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. In addition, Starwood Hotels told How we made it in Africa that it has ambitious plans to more than double its hotel brands on the continent to 100 hotels by 2020. Accor is another hotel operator – with brands such as Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure and ibis – that is investing in its expansion on the continent, particularly in the development of
IKOYI HOTEL LAGOS NIGERIA and Canadian luxury hotel group Four Seasons has taken over the management contract of a lodge
its economy and mid-scale brands (ibis and Novotel). How we made it in Africa asks Fabrice Mauny – 12 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Fabrice Mauny, Accor’s COO for Africa, Indian Ocean and Caribbean Islands
Accor’s Chief Operating Officer for Africa, Indian Ocean and Caribbean Islands – about Accor’s plans for Africa, and where it sees potential on the continent.
What expansion plans do you have for Africa in the upcoming years? Accor is the world’s leading hotel operator with more than 3,500 hotels implanted on four continents, and is also the first hotel operator in Africa with 17,000 rooms (116 hotels) in 18 countries. Indeed, for nearly 40 years we have developed our hotels on the African continent, animated by a spirit of conquest, a real ability to adapt and implement our strong brands: from budget to luxury. The Group aims to open 5,000 see Hotel Expansion in Africa on page 13
Hotel Expansion in Africa
Sofitel Malabo Sipopo Equatorial Guinea
–
from page 12
rooms and to account 146 hotels by 2016 in Africa. We also have great hopes on sub-Saharan Africa where we already have 54 hotels in 14 countries. Our ambition is to open, by 2020, 35 hotels in this region.
There has been a growing interest in Africa’s hospitality industry in recent years, with a number of hotel brands expanding to (and within) Africa. Why all this interest now? The economic growth and the big cities’ urbanisation are representing important
Economic growth in Africa has been accelerating since 2000, making Africa the third region of the world in terms of economic development. It represents a
Describe some of the challenges that Accor faces in Africa?
Novotel Cairo Airport (Egypt) opportunities for the hotel industry in Africa. To better respond to changing lifestyles in Africa and to African customers’ new expectations, Accor also expands its brands – mainly the economic and midscale ones. However, like our competitors, Accor will not hesitate to develop, when relevant, its upper-scale brands in main cities/ capitals; Pullman for instance.
have 54 hotels in 14 countries. An example? Look at Nigeria. All economical experts agree that Nigeria is going to have the strongest economy on the continent. We already have three hotels there (The Moorhouse MGallery in Lagos Ikoyi, the ibis hotel at Lagos Airport and the Novotel in Port Harcourt). We will open, in May, our second ibis hotel in Lagos Ikeja. On the African market, Accor is mainly interested in developing economic and mid-scale brands: ibis and Novotel, in line with a strong demand from pan-African travellers. However, Accor will not hesitate to develop its Pullman (upscale) brand or other brands for opportunities [presented].
growth potential for the hospitality industry that does not exist in other parts of the world. Urbanisation plus growing consumption plus internet and new technologies boom, help us to have great hopes.
Which regions have you identified as having the most potential for hotel development, and why? Accor identifies sub-Saharan Africa as a key region. We already 13 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
When developing hotels, one of the main challenges regards the recruitment and the training of the staff. We rely on our Académie in Africa. For information purposes, the Académie has trained 1,846 people in 2012 – representing overall 3,252 training days, not including trainings on the “field”. www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/ hotel-group-coo-talks-about-hiscompanys-african-expansionplans/24948
Hotel Executives Promote Smart Visas at World Economic Forum by Michael J. Shapiro
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op executives from Hilton Worldwide and Marriott International, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, called for international governments to adopt “Smart Visa” policies. The hotel companies are working with the World Economic Forum Governors to promote safe, secure and sustainable solutions that would facilitate international
travel, using technology to increase the efficiency of what are, in many cases, arduous processes that rely on an abundance of paperwork. Such improvements, notes the group, would not only spur the economic benefits of increased international travel, but also enhance security, allowing more data to be collected and shared across borders. “We are here at the World Economic Forum
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to tackle complex and challenging economic, social, environmental and political issues,” said Hilton president and CEO Christopher J. Nassetta. “Enabling greater international travel is the lowhanging fruit that can create significant economic growth and employment.” The hotel companies and World Economic Forum Governors aim to create government action toward Smart Visa policies regionally by 2015 and globally by 2020. www.meetings-conventions. com/article_ektid52756. aspx?cid=eltrMtgNews
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.
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Travelogue
Africa’s Top Lodging… Travel+Leisure Suggests an Interesting Array of Places to Stay in Africa
Spa Céleste is run by an expert team, it offers a steam bath, four therapy rooms and the only floating tank on the island of Mauritius. www.baystone.mu REPUBLIC OF CONGO
.
Tanzania Island Adventure Rubondo Island Camp The camp situated in pristine forests consists of eight thatched-roof cottages on the secluded island in Lake Victoria, the largest island national park in Africa. Adventure activities include chimpanzee tracking with trained guides. Also view
Thatched-roof Cottage on Rudondo Island
Thatched-roof Cottage on Rudondo Island
elephant, giraffe, bushbuck, genet, Vervet monkey, Sitatunga antelope, crocodile, and hippos. www.asiliaafrica.com
MAURITIUS Baystone Boutique Hotel & Spa Baystone Boutique Hotel & Spa is a luxury 5-star establishment whose distinctive, modern design is orchestrated in discrete, light tones, from the outside façade to the custom-made furnishings. The suites all have a fitted terrace and look onto the sea.
Eagle Island Camp
Odzala Camps Deep in the dense Congo rainforest, there exists a place so exotic and unspoiled, a rainforest so remote and reviving, that it seems both timeless and serenely apart see Africa’s Top Lodging on page 17
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Africa’s Top Lodging… from page 16
from the spinning world we call home. This vast region of the Congo Basin contains the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest, surpassed only by the Amazon. There are two odzala camps - Lango and Ngaga. Each camp has six guests rooms. It is from Ngaga that gorilla tracking excursion take place. www.odzala-kokoua. com MOROCCO La Mamounia
Suite at LaMamounia
numerous times since its construction, the owners have kept this marvelous decor. www.mamounia.com BOTSWANA Mombo Camp and Little Mombo Camp Mombo Camp is situated on Mombo Island, adjoining the northern tip of Chief’s Island, within the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana. The island is surrounded by open floodplains and the camp itself is largely built in and around the shade of some large Mangosteen, Ebony and Fig trees - overlooking a wonderful floodplain teeming with game. From the 9 luxurious Tents on Wooden Platforms enjoy safari activities such as: Game Drives, Bird Watching, Hidden Places for Wildlife Viewing. Little Mombo is within the Moremi Game Reserve in northern Botswana. This camp has 3 luxurious Tents on Wooden Platforms from which you enjoy safari activities Game Drives, Bird Watching, Hidden Places for Wildlife Viewing. http://mombo-camp. com
The history of La Mamounia is as fascinating as the hotel. Situated on the edge of the walls of the old city of Marrakech, La Mamounia is named for its 200-year-old gardens, which were given as an 18th century wedding gift to Prince Moulay Mamoun by his father. Today the gardens cover nearly 20 acres and display an incredible variety of flowers and trees. The aroma coming from the gardens is wonderful. The hotel was designed in 1922 by the architects Prost and Marchisio. They combined traditional Moroccan designs with the popular Art Deco look of the 1920’s. Although the hotel has been renovated 17 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013 Buffalo in Botswana
A Travel Story:
The Sophisticated Traveler
Memories of the Future By BINYAVANGA WAINAINA
I
am an African, born in Nakuru, Kenya. These days, many of us in Kenya and elsewhere in Africa have been rendered immobile by history: we stand, like antelopes in the dark, watching the fiery headlights of the future bear down on us. But there is one small African country, Eritrea, that seems to have taken charge of its destiny and, with little support and few resources, willed itself into a viable nation. A mixture of rugged mountains and arid desert, Eritrea is just north of Ethiopia and Djibouti and east of Sudan, with roughly 750 miles of coastline on the Red Sea. Most of the nearly five million Eritreans are either Coptic Christians or Muslims, and they work as farmers or pastoralists. After a 30-year war, Eritrea won its freedom from Ethiopia in 1991 and since then has made remarkable progress. But there are problems. Eritrea and Ethiopia are now engaged in a titanic dispute for a small
patch of ground on their border. The Eritrean president, Isaias Afewerki, has jailed opponents and government officials who called for democracy, refused to implement the constitution, canceled two elections and stifled the independent press. An estimated 200,000 Eritrean soldiers are posted along the border, and another war with Ethiopia remains a real possibility. Still, for years I have heard about the durability and communalism
…Having returned to Massawa, we need to catch the steam train to Asmara station by 8 a.m. We drive up a road shaped like a spiral staircase. It climbs 70 miles, and the trip is hair-raising and spectacular.
of the Eritreans, and I decided it was time to pay homage to an extraordinary people. Getting there is difficult. One travel agent suggests this route: NairobiFrankfurt-London-Jeddah, Saudi Arabia-Sana, Yemen and, finally, Eritrea. I eventually fly from Nairobi to Dubai to Asmara, the capital of Eritrea. My plan is to spend 10 days traveling from Asmara to Massawa, where I will catch a boat
The railway was built by the Italians in the 1930’s and was considered a spectacular engineering feat even then, but during the 30 years of war with Ethiopia, the trains, and all their infrastructure, fell into serious disrepair. Sleepers were used for trenches; parts were melted for weapons. In 1994, the Eritrean government decided to rebuild the railway.
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to the Dahlak Islands on the Red Sea. On the way back to Asmara, I will take the renowned steam train down one of the world’s steepest railway lines.
The Octogenarian Train Builders
Taking the Steam Engine Train to a festival from Eritrea’s Steam Train page 18
It had hardly any money, and it asked for none. Retired railway workers, some in their 80’s and 90’s, came forward, and eight steam engines were painfully rebuilt, the parts made from smelted brass and iron. Eritreans were asked to return any parts they found. The lines, tunnels and bridges were repaired and rebuilt by hand. We arrive late, and Tedros gets on his cellphone and arranges for the train to stop for us at Dar Durfo, a popular viewing point just
outside Asmara. I am alarmed as I look down the valleys, so far down I can hardly see anything. Then I notice a tiny steam train chugging toward us, the train that will soon roll down these mountains. It does not bear thinking about. So I don’t think. Once aboard, we join a group of tourists in a small wooden cabin. Two old men in oily overalls stand on the flank of the engine, giggling like children and fiddling with things and shouting instructions. The steam engine whistles loudly, and we depart. There are two women sitting in one corner, in full traditional dress,
brewing traditional coffee and looking quite at home. I relax and drink coffee and nibble popcorn. Riding this train is the most intimate way to experience the mountains of Eritrea without having to climb them. Our cabins have open windows, and I do not feel isolated from the landscape the way I often do when inside a vehicle. Barefoot children stand at the edge of impossible cliffs, herding sheep and waving at us, before disappearing down into the valleys. The mountains fold on and on — the most visually dramatic mountains on the continent. I can’t imagine how Eritreans negotiated these mountains during the war. The next day in Asmara, I visit the workshops where the old men show me the ancient lathes and cutting machines that they have used to restore two more steam engines. They recycle and melt scrap metal to make parts. So far, the locomotives are used only for social occasions and for tourists. But the long-term plan is to obtain diesel engines and restore the railway to commercial use. http://travel.nytimes. com/2006/03/19/travel/ tmagazine/19ts-memories. html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
SAFARI SUPREME The Finest in Safari Travel Enjoy an adventure of a lifetime. Bring a friend, share a memory.
Sign up with: Julien Dothard P.O. Box 1736, Hollywood, CA 90078 E-mail: dothard@sbcglobal.net Phone: 1-818-419-8639 19 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
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Travel Africa Where To Go, What To Do Algeria Tamanrasset Camel Trekking Sahara Dune Skiing The Turquoise Coast CAPITAL: Algiers www.algerie-tourisme.dz
Angola Fort Sao Miguel Slave Depot Calandula Waterfalls Palmeirinhas Beach CAPITAL: Luanda 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
Ministry of Tourism, Praia, Santiago: +238 615 697
Central African Republic Boali Waterfalls Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park Lobaye Region CAPITAL: Bangui
www.ontb.bf
Burundi
ministere_tourisme@yahoo.fr
Chutes de la Kagera waterfall Lake Tanganyika Craftwares Village at Giheta CAPITAL: Bujumbura www.burunditourisme.com
Cameroon Mandera Mountains (hiking, climbing) Bouba Ndjidah National Park Festival National des Arts et de la Culture (FENAC) in December
CAPITAL: Yaoundé www.cameroun-infotourisme.com
Ruwenzori Range Snow Pack, DRC
Cape Verde Baia das Gatas Festival Scuba Diving and Snorkelling at Boa Vista UNESCO world heritage old fort site at Cidade Velha CAPITAL: Praia
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
Okavango Delta, Botswana
The Comoros Climb Mount Karthala (active volcano) Nzwani Island Hot Sulphur Springs at Lac Salé CAPITAL: Moroni Comoros National Tourist Board Office, Tel: 269 73 3044
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Frère Gillet Botanic Gardens world-famous rare orchids Ruwenzori Range Virunga National Park CAPITAL: Kinshasa see Travel Africa on page 22
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Travel Africa Where To Go, What To Do from Travel Africa page 21
Ministère des Affaires Foncières, Environment et Tourisme, Tel: (+243) 8802093.
Côte D‛Ivoire (Ivory Coast) The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, Yamoussoukro Mount Tonkoui (mountain climb) Comoë National Park CAPITAL: Yamoussoukro
climbing) Cascades of Moca
Ocean Exhibition of the slave trade at Albreda and Jufureh Makasutu Culture Forest CAPITAL: Banjul
CAPITAL: Malabo www.embarege-londres.org
Eritrea Dahlak Archipelago Tour of Eritrea (bicycle race) Akordat CAPITAL: Asmara eritreantourism@tse.com.er
Ethiopia
www.tourisme.gouv.ci
Rock Hewn Churches of Lalibela
Djibouti
(New Jerusalem) Home of the Queen of Sheba, Axum African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa TOTAL Great Ethiopian Race
Gulf of Tadjoura (snorkling/ diving) Lake Abbé Lake Assal (windsurf on wheels) CAPITAL: Djibouti www.office-tourisme.dj
Egypt (Kemet)
CAPITAL: Addis Ababa www.tourismethiopia.org
Gabon Cathedral of St Michael in
Nile River Cruise, Aswan Temple of Ranses II, Abu Simbel Alexandria CAPITAL: Cairo
Libreville Lopé-Okanda Reserve National Park (gorilla) M’Bigou (gold mines/crafts)
www.tourism.misrnet.gov.eg
CAPITAL: Libreville
Equatorial Guinea
www.legabon.org
Arena Blanca Pico Malabo Volcano (mountain
www.visitthegambia.gm
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
The Gambia Deep Sea Fishing, Atlantic Eritrea
Kenya Mount Kenya National Park Tsavo West National Park Watamu-Malindi Marine Park CAPITAL: Nairobi www.magicalkenya.com
Lesotho Bushmen Rock Paintings Ski Lesotho Highlands (www. afriski.co.za) Sehlabathebe National ParkCAPITAL: Maseru www.ltdc.org.ls
Liberia Sapo National Park Kendeja National Cultural Center see Travel Africa on page 23
22 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Travel Africa Where To Go, What To Do from Travel Africa page 22
Firestone Rubber Plantation CAPITAL: Monrovia www.micat.gov.lr
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
Madagascar Fianarantsoa (Capital of Wine) Montagne d’Arbre National Park Queen’s Palace CAPITAL: Antananarivo
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.futur.org.mz/index-en.html
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
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.le-mali.com/omatho/index.htm
Mauritania Parc National du Banc d’Arguin Chinguetti, a holy city of Islam Oualata CAPITAL: Nouakchott www.tourisme.mr
Mauritius Black River Gorges National Park Ile aux Aigrettes Nature Reserve
Gorilla Trek, Rwanda
Namibia 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 23 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
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
Travel Africa
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Where To Go, What To Do from Travel Africa page 23
Kingdom
CAPITAL: Johannesburg Agua Izé Plantation CAPITAL: São Tomé www.saotome.st
Senegal African Renaissance Monument Retba (Pink) Lake Maison des Enclaves (House of
www.whitesharkfestival.org www.nelsonmandela.org www.zulu.org.za www.southafrica.net
South Sudan
CAPITAL: Dakar
Boma National Park Nimule National Park Nile River CAPITAL: Juba
sentouroffice@aol.com
www.goss.org
Seychelles
Sudan
Slaves), Goree Island
Marlin Fishing in Denis St Anne Marine National Park Aldabra CAPITAL: Victoria
Port Sudan, The Red Sea Gemmeiza Tourist Village Pyramids of Meroe CAPITAL: Khartoum
www.seychelles.travel
www.sudan-tourism.gov.sd/english/ index.php
Sierra Leone Outamba-Kilimi National Park Freetown Peninsula Bunce Island, Slave Trading Station CAPITAL: Freetown www.welcometosierraleone.org
Somalia Hargeisa National Park Neolithic Paintings Las Geel Indian Ocean Coastal Beaches CAPITAL: Mogadishu www.somali-gov.info/Tourism/index. html
Somaliland 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
Swaziland Mkhaya Game Reserve Phophomyane Nature Reserve Usutu River (white-water rafting) CAPITAL: Mbabane www.welcometoswaziland.com
Tanzania
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 http://visituganda.com/index.php
Western Sahara City of El-Aaiún Dakhla (surfing) CAPITAL: El-Aaiún dajla47@hotmail.com
Bagamoyo Slave Trail Katavi Plains National Park Ngorongoro Crater Stone Town, Zanzibar CAPITAL: Dodoma
Zambia
http://tanzaniatouristboard.com/
Zambezi White Water Rafting CAPITAL: Lusaka
Togo
Walking Safari, South Luangwa National Park Musi oa Tunya (Victoria Falls), Livingstone
Koutammakou (World Heritage
www.zambiatourism.com
Site)
Zimbabwe
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 24 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
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
Safari Corner: Enjoying the Riches of Tourism in Kenya by Virginia Haynes
Cottars Camp at the Maasai Mara Reserve, Kenya
directly. In addition to paying rent, the camp owners then hire their staff from the locals. They help the community build enclosures to keep the livestock in to protect them from predators. They teach the importance of conservation. The land is no longer over-grazed and seedlings are flourishing. It is coming back and with it, wildlife. The conservancies are using funds to build better schools and health facilities They are working to alleviate malaria, waterborne diseases, HIV/Aids, and tuberculosis. Scholarships are available for those who want to learn. This is sustainability at its best and the reason that in Kenya today, more people are enjoying the riches of tourism. Here are a few camps located in conservancies. Tortilis Camp (www.tortilis. com), a classic luxury safari camp
W
hen we first arrived in bustling Nairobi our driver asked, “Isn’t it amazing?. The U.S. government has Kenya in the same category as Iraq and Afghanistan.” After spending a week in the bush, we got his drift. When you are here, your intuition tells you that you are where human life began. In recent years, things were not all good with Kenya. But, now we have good news! Some movers and shakers in Kenya tourism have taken the hippo by the horns (in a manner of speaking) and are changing Kenya for the better—a boost for the people, wildlife, the ecosystem, and tourism. Over 70% of the land in Kenya is outside of the National Parks and much of this land had been overgrazed by livestock, leaving it degraded. The local communities who own the land were impoverished with little hope for a better future. So they partnered with one another
Ura Gate Primary School in the Meru region of Kenya and with tour operators to form conservancies. The conservancies rent out the land to camp owners and all partners receive income 26 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
built on 40 acres of communityowned land leased from the Kitirua Conservancy right next see Tourism in Kenya on page 27
Tourism in Kenya from page 26
to Amboseli National Park has views of Mount Kilimanjaro and a huge elephant population. More than 60% of the staff comes from the local community. Lewa Safari Camp (www.lewasafaricamp. com) is located within Kenya’s most successful wildlife conservancy, the 62,000 Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, the leading model for conservation and low impact tourism in Kenya. The Camp reinvests all profits generated from park fees and the camp into community and conservation programs. Joy’s Camp (www. joyscamp.com), a 10-tented camp in Shaba National Reserve, on the site where Joy Adamson lived and raised Penny the Leopard after she wrote Born Free, is working toward holistic wildlife conservation between Shaba National Reserve and the Nakupurt-Gotu Wildlife Conservancy under the umbrella of the Northern Rangelands Trust. Every care is taken that the impact of the camp on the reserve is positive. Loisaba Lodge (www. loisaba.com) is a major part of a thriving, private 60,000 acre conservancy. One of the Star Beds (Koija Star Lewa Safari Beds), which enables Camp guests to sleep out Marathoner under the stars on raised Joseph Mutua platforms, is owned by the local community who run the program and receive its benefits. 80% of the Loisaba workforce comes from the local area. Serian Camp (www.serian.net), a traditional seventented bush camp in the Mara North Conservancy, practices low impact, low density tourism. The Mara North Conservancy is vital for sustaining the
Joy’s Camp
Joy’s Camp
loisaba star beds famous Serengeti wildebeest migrations and the highly threatened African wild dog and black rhino. www.africa.com/blog/blog,safari_corner_enjoying_the_ riches_of_tourism_in_kenya,828.html
27 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Elephants Never Forget! Elephants march through hotel lobby after it was built on their migration trail!
T
he Mfuwe Lodge (www. mfuwelodge.com) in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia happens to have been built next to a mango grove that one family of elephants have always visited when the fruit ripens. The hotel was built directly in the path of the elephants’ route to one of their favourite foods ........ Mangos. When they returned one year and found the luxury accommodation in the way, they simply walked through the lobby to reach their beloved grove of trees. Now the family group, headed by matriarch Wonky Tusk, return every November and stay for four to six weeks to gorge on mangos - up to four times a day. Andy Hogg, 44, the lodge director, has lived in South Luangwa National Park since 1982. But in all his years of dealing with wild animals he has never seen such intimate interaction between humans and wild animals. “This is the only place in the world where elephants freely get so close to humans,” says Andy. “The elephants start coming through base camp in late November each year to eat the ripe mangos from our trees.” “The most interesting thing about these wild animals,” explains Andy, “is that this is the only herd that comes through, and they come and go as they please.”
The ten-strong elephant herd is led to the lodge each day by Wonky Tusk.
see Elephants Never Forget! page 29 28 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Hotel staff and visitors have gotten used to the elephants’ impromptu strolls through the lobby.
The animals come in two-bytwo.
Elephants Never Forget! from page 28
Mfuwe Lodge, nestled in the 5,000 square mile national park, consists of seven camps and the
base camp where the elephants walk through. Employing 150 staff, the management of the lodge report that there have been no incidents involving the wild elephants to date. “The elephants get reasonably close to the staff, as you can see in 29 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
the pictures of the elephants near the reception area,” Andy explains. “But we do not allow the guests to get that close. Guests can stand in the lounge but only as long as there is a barrier see Elephants Never Forget! page 30
Elephants Never Forget!
from page 29
between the elephants and the guests,” he added. “The elephants are not aggressive but you wouldn’t want to tempt them. It is the elephant’s choice to be here and they have been coming here for the last ten years. There are other wild mango trees around, but they prefer ours. The lodge was unwittingly built upon their path,” Andy says, “so we had no idea they would do this. It wasn’t a design error, we just didn’t know. The lodge was built and the elephants started walking through afterward.” “We keep people at a safe distance, but allow them close enough to see what is going on. These are still wild and dangerous animals, so there must be enough time for people to get away.” Naturally, the lodge becomes busier for both elephants and guests during November. “We find that we get more people visiting us during the elephant
migration because of the unique experience of being so close to wild animals in an unusual environment,” says Andy. “But as I said this is a totally natural phenomenon, as the elephants come here of their own accord. It is certainly a rare but magnificent sight.”
30 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
www.airnamibia.com.na
Namibia Wins Bid to Host “2013 Adventure Travel World Summit”
F
or its 10th Adventure Travel World Summit, the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) has selected Namibia – one of the few countries in the world with conservation and environmental management mandated in its Constitution – to host the 2013 Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) set for 26-31 October in Swakopmund and Windhoek, the first time the ATTA has placed its global gathering in Africa. The Adventure Travel World Summit has become the industry’s marquee event for networking, discussion and collaboration around industry best practices and global tourism issues affecting adventure travel. For 2013, the ATTA will introduce a new Summit format for its 600 delegates, which will occur over a fiveday period, including infield sessions in real-world situations providing unprecedented l e a r n i n g experiences
in a destination whose stark challenges are shared by many other destinations worldwide. “In Chiapas, Mexico, at the 2011 Adventure Travel World Summit, Namibia boldly said, ‘let us bring the Summit home’,” said the Honorable Minister of Environment and Tourism Netumbo Nandi-Ndwitah. “Today I am happy to report that the efforts of our strong public-private partnership have resulted in Namibia being chosen as the FIRST African country to host the Summit. We are justly proud of our tourism industry and our conservation initiatives that have made this selection possible.” In selecting Namibia, the ATTA in part is recognizing the developing n a t i o n ’ s achievements in becoming one of the world’s most progressive destinations working to find the most effective b a l a n c e b e t w e e n conservation, tourism and 32 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
World Summit
community development. “Namibia offers one of the most compelling success stories in tourism today, one of joint venture
Namibia, a nation committed to ensuring tourism benefits reach everyone, has a proactive community tourism policy and recently gave tourism concession rights to communities that border state protected areas. Namibia
tourism and partnerships between communal conservancies and tourism enterprises,” said ATTA President Shannon Stowell, who returned from Namibia in June 2012. “Namibia’s model of conservancies, joint venture partnerships and conservation is a model that we should put on display. It’s a story that should be told. I’d previously heard the discussions, watched the films and I still didn’t understand it fully it until I came and saw it in action. Our delegates are sure to gain immense insights from their experiences in Namibia.”
also is a nation committed to conservation and has, since its independence in 1990, expanded from 13% to an outstanding 42% of land area under some form of conservation management. Furthermore, Namibia recently established the largest national park in Africa, and is the only country in the world with an entirely protected coastline. “As Namibians we are ready for the challenge of hosting the Summit and are thrilled to welcome the Adventure
from page 32
33 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Travel Tribe to the land of endless horizons where wildlife and humans are free to roam and still experience true nature,” added the Honorable Minister. “Together with the ATTA and the overall Adventure Travel Trade, Namibia is ready to showcase to the world the spirit and essence of a nation committed to conservation, community empowerment and social and economic transformation through partnerships and innovation.” The ATTA’s Summit conferences engage and energize the leaders of the adventure travel community with networking, business and professional development programs, educational seminars and emerging adventure destination product review opportunities. In addition to the keynotes, a cadre of experts covering core business disciplines of the adventure tourism industry will deliver two key content tracks over the course of three days, one designed primarily for adventure tour operators and the other primarily for tourism boards. www.adventuretravel.biz
‘Fairy Circles’ in Namibia Grasslands Remain a Mystery To Scientists By: Stephanie Pappas, LiveScience Senior Writer
I
n the sandy desert grasslands of Namibia in southern Africa, mysterious bare spots known as “fairy circles” will form and then disappear years later for no reason anyone can determine. A new look at these strange patterns doesn’t solve the wistful mystery but at least reveals that the largest of the circles can linger for a lifetime. Small fairy circles stick around an average of 24 years, while larger ones can exist as long as 75 years, according to research detailed today (June 27) in the journal PLoS ONE. Still, the study sheds little light on why the circles form, persist and then vanish into the landscape after decades. “The why question is very difficult,” said study researcher Walter Tschinkel, a biologist at Florida State University. “There are a number of hypotheses on the table, and the evidence for none of them is convincing.” [See Photos of Fairy Circles - www.livescience.
com/21226-fairy-circles-namibiaphotos.html]
Circles of life (and death) Tschinkel grew interested in fairy circles during a 2005 safari to NamibRand Nature Reserve in southwest Namibia, in the Namib Desert. It was his first experience with the round clearings, tens of thousands of which expose the red sandy soil in the area. A short time after the circles form, a tall ring of grass grows around the border, highlighting the bare area. Mysterious bare spots called “fairy circles” dotting the sandy desert grasslands of Nambia have long stumped scientists who have no idea how the strange patterns form. Few researchers have studied fairy circles, in part because of their remoteness, 111 miles (180 km) from the nearest village. It’s an arid landscape where springbok, ostriches, leopards and other large animals roam, Tschinkel told 34 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
LIveScience. “It’s like dying and going to heaven if you like remote, beautiful desert places,” he said. At first glance, Tschinkel assumed the circles marked underground nests of harvester termites. But digs have shown no evidence of termite nests under fairy circles. Other explanations, such as differences in soil nutrients or the death of seedlings by toxic vapors from the ground, have likewise failed to hold up to study. In fact, little was known even about the life cycle of the circles, Tschinkel said. With the help of the nature reserve’s staff, satellite images and aerial photos, he set out to change that. By comparing satellite images from 2004 and 2008, he found that circles are quite stable, popping up at nearly their full size, or growing quickly to full size once they get started. The smallest are about 6.5 feet see ‘Fairy Circles’ on page 35
‘Fairy Circles’
from page 34
(2 meters) in diameter, while the largest can be almost 40 feet (12 m) across. Winds scour the bare areas of soil, turning them into slight depressions. Eventually plants move back in, recolonizing the circles and leaving only slightly indented “ghost circles” behind. Assuming that the overall number of fairy circles on the landscape is fairly steady, Tschinkel used the satellite photos to look at how quickly the circles go from birth
Rand Nature Reserve (www. namibrand.com), which sells sponsorships to fairy circles. The sponsored circles are marked with a ceramic plate, and their GPS coordinates are recorded. Over the 10 years of the sponsorship program, staff members have checked on the status of the sold circles. Their data yielded similar age ranges for fairy circles as the satellite images did, Tschinkel found. He also determined that the circles form only on sandy soil with minimal stoniness, and that
Mysterious bare spots called “fairy circles” dotting the sandy desert grasslands of Nambia have long stumped scientists who have no idea how the strange patterns form. This sponsored circle features the ceramic plate marker. to maturity to revegetation. That yielded rough estimates of the circles’ life spans. Most probably exist for 30 to 60 years, Tschinkel said.
Persisting mystery Tschinkel was able to bolster these estimates thanks to a fundraising effort by the Namib
they don’t form on shifting dunes or alluvial fans, where sands are deposited by water. Some of Tschinkel’s experiments are still ongoing, but so far, they’ve generated no leads on the circles’ origins. Tschinkel suspects the circles are the product of some form of natural self-organization by 35 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
plants. “There are some mathematical models that are based on the idea that plants can withdraw resources toward themselves, which has a positive feedback on plant growth where they’re located, but it has a negative effect on plants at a greater distance,” he said. Computer models based on this math can generate landscapes that look a bit like the fairy circle fields of Namibia, he said. But even if that hypothesis is on the right track, it doesn’t explain how the plants are creating this pattern, not when hoarding s o i l nutrients and some o t h e r possible factors have already been ruled out. With few p e o p l e studying the circles — and no funding for chasing down the mysteries of the landscape of southern Africa — Tschinkel said the fairy circles will likely remain an enigma. “I’m not too worried that this mystery is going to be solved anytime soon,” he said. And the persistence of the mystery makes it ever more intriguing. “That’s science, isn’t it?” Tschinkel said. “If you knew the answer ahead of time, it wouldn’t be much fun.” www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/27/ fairy-circles-namibia-grasslands-mystery-scientists_n_1632571.html
Africa’s First Night Sky ‘Reserve’ is Stargazing Haven Namibia By OurAmazingPlanet Staff
T
he NamibRand Nature Reserve (www.namibrand. com), a private nature reserve in southern Namibia, has gotten the stamp of approval to become an official night sky reserve — a spot supremely suited for some of the best stargazing on Earth. The sprawling park, which covers more than 600 square miles (1,500 square kilometers) of the southern African country, is home to some of the darkest skies yet measured, according to a statement from the International Dark-Sky Association, an organization that certifies “starlight reserves” around the world (www.space.com/13782illinois-town-homer-glen-dark-skycommunity.html). Park staff have made an effort to modify any lighting on the grounds to preserve the natural darkness for the sake of the region’s wildlife and human visitors — and to enhance the views of the glittering night sky overhead. “Viewing the pristine night sky over the NamibRand is an unforgettable experience,” George Tucker, a retired physics professor who first identified the area as a candidate for reserve status, said in a statement. The closest communities lie at least 60 miles (97 km) away from the nature reserve, creating a vast
pool of darkness that allows the splendor of the Milky Way to blaze overhead without interference from light pollution. And a local organization, the Namib Desert Environmental Education Trust (NaDEET), is teaching visitors to the park about astronomy and the importance of preserving dark skies. Overnight guests, including local school 36 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
children, can sleep out under the stars at an education center in the park. “Prior to the NaDEET astronomy activity, even the most basic knowledge about the night sky and the threats posed by light pollution were completely unknown to most Namibian children,” said Viktoria Keding, NaDEET’s director. “This recognition therefore makes our participants aware of just how unique it is to have a dark night sky,” she said in a statement. www.ouramazingplanet.com/2948africa-night-sky-reserve.html
NamibRand Nature Reserve Republic of Namibia
T
he NamibRand Nature Reserve (www.namibrand. com), located in southern Namibia, is a private nature reserve established to help protect and conserve the unique ecology and wildlife of the south-west Namib Desert. Conserving the pro-Namib, the area along the
nature reserve in Southern Africa, extending over an area of 172,200 ha. The Reserve shares a 100km border with the Namib-Naukluft National Park in the west and is bordered in the east by the imposing Nubib Mountains. Virtually all facets of the Namib Desert are
Reserve is a model for private conservation in Southern Africa as it demonstrates holistic biodiversity conservation balanced with financial sustainability. Low-impact ecotourism is a means towards sustaining our conservation efforts through park fees. The five tourism concessions
Hot air ballooning
eastern edge of the Namib Desert, is critically important in order to facilitate seasonal migratory wildlife routes and to protect biodiversity. It is probably the largest private
represented on the Reserve – sand and gravel plains and stretches of savanna alternate with mountain ranges and vegetated dune belts. The NamibRand Nature 37 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
awarded by the reserve, each pay a daily, per-bed fee to the Reserve. The funds generated through these park fees enable the Reserve to be see Journey on page 38
Nature Reserve
from page 37
financially self-sustaining. The Reserve originated in 1984 as the dream of J.A. (Albi) Brückner to extend desert frontiers by integrating a large number of former livestock farms and developing a wildlife sanctuary. To date, thirteen former livestock farms have been rehabilitated into a single continuous natural habitat. Recognizing the importance of wilderness areas, the NamibRand Nature Reserve has exclusively set aside more than 15% of its total area for wilderness. The NamibRand Nature Reserve was registered as a non-profit private nature reserve in 1992. All landowners belonging to the Reserve have signed agreements and adopted a constitution which sets the land aside for conservation - now and in the future. The Reserve is financially self-sustaining mainly through high quality, low impact tourism.
AIMS The aims of the NamibRand Nature Reserve are:
12 inch Meade LX200R telescope at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
• To conserve for the benefit of future generations and to protect the sensitive and fragile environment and its rich biodiversity; • To create a nature reserve with a healthy and functioning ecosystem, providing a sanctuary for flora and fauna and to facilitate seasonal migratory routes in partnership with neighbors (National Parks, etc.); • To promote sustainable utilisation - through ecologically sustainable and high-quality level tourism products and other projects; and • To achieve a commercially viable operation to ensure continuance and financial independence.
TOURISM To ensure the long-term sustainable existence of the Reserve funds are needed. Since 1994, exclusive safaris are being offered to nature lovers from different parts of the world, placing as little strain as possible on the environment. Guests are encouraged to admire the uniqueness of the Reserve, accompanied by trained rangers and field-guides, on foot, by crosscountry vehicle or from the sky in a hot-air balloon. The rules of the Reserve prescribe that the total number of guest-beds in the Reserve is restricted to one bed per 1000 hectare and a limit of 20 guest-beds in any one location. Presently there are six concessionaires conducting tourism operations in the Reserve. These tourism operators collect a daily park fee from guests on behalf of the Reserve. All of these concessionaires make every effort to co-operate with one another so as not to interfere with each other’s activities, such as drives, hikes, utilisation of tracks and care of the environment. They are also bound by their concession agreements to 38 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
respect and maintain the natural resources of this pristine area, in terms of game viewing, driving rules, type of structures erected,
water utilisation, volumes of tourists allowed, planting of trees and refuse removal, amongst many other factors.
DARK NIGHT SKY The NamibRand Nature Reserve in Namibia has been proclaimed as Africa’s first International Dark Sky Reserve (IDSR) by the International Dark-Sky Association (www.darksky.org), meaning that it’s one of the best places on earth to star-gaze. Sossusvlei Desert Lodge (www. andbeyondafrica.com/luxury_safari/ namibia/sossusvlei/and_beyond_ sossusvlei_desert_reserve) offers
unrivalled stargazing from its observatory in the NamibRand Nature Reserve. The Lodge boasts a state of the art observatory, complete with a Meade LX200R 12 inch telescope. Guests are invited to join the resident astronomers either before or after dinner to unlock the mysteries of Namibia’s skies. Guides from the Wolwedans Collection (www.wolwedans.com) and Tok-Tokkie Trails (www. toktokkietrails.com) are trained in aspects of astronomy and spend time with guests sharing stories about the constellations, as well as unbelievable views of the moon and planets such as Jupiter or Saturn. View images of the dark sky at NamibRand here (www.namibrand. com/Images04.htm).
39 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
The Dallol Volcano Region of
Ethiopia
Hot Springs 2002 Hot Springs 2011
Salt pinnacles taller than Afar salt miner
T
he beautiful and exotic hot springs at Dallol are attracting increasing numbers of tourists, with many tour operators organizing tours into the Danakil Depression to see the Springs and Erta Ale Volcano (www. photovolcanica.com/VolcanoInfo/Erta%20 Ale/Erta%20Ale.html) further south.
Dallol can presently be reached by 4WD vehicle in 1 day from Mekele and 2 days from the main AddisDjibouti road. However, great caution is required due to security concerns. The establishment of improved infrastructure is gradually increasing security, yet even the current small but rapidly increasing stream of tourists is causing visible damage to the fine structures in the geothermal area. Located in NE Ethiopia, in a
remote area subject to the highest average temperatures on the planet, the volcano encompasses Dallol Mountain (which rises 50-60m above the surrounding salt plains and has approximate dimensions of 1.5x3km) and several other features in the vicinity, such as the 1926 crater near the “Black Mountain� about 1.5 km to the SW. Dallol is nested on top of an at least 1,000m thick layer of quaternary evaporates including large potash (potassium salt) reserves. Dallol Mountain is thought to have been formed as the result of intrusion of a basaltic magma body underneath. The circular depression near the center of 40 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Dallol Mountain is presumably a collapsed crater, although neither its age nor the exact process from which it resulted are known. The SW flank of Dallol mountain harbours impressive salt canyons formed by erosion processes. The 1926 phreatic eruption formed a 30m wide crater and was the last significant event at Dallol. Currently, activity is in the form of hot brine springs. Salts washed out of the underlying layers are transported to the surface by geothermally heated water and rapidly crystallize as the water evaporates. The characteristic white, yellow and red colours are the result of sulphur and potassium salts coloured by various ions.
Hot Springs on Dallol Mountain
Dallol Volcano from page 40
Geothermal/volcanic activity is indeed common in continental extension basins such as the Danakil Depression and is further evidenced by the volcanic chains in the area which include the active Erta Ale volcano. The primary (i.e. sedimentary) potash deposits in the Dallol area are usually overlain with other evaporates, and the entire area around Dallol is covered at the surface by alternating layers of halite and mud to a depth of several meters. This “crust” results from the periodic flooding of the area by sediment-rich waters from the nearby highlands and subsequent dessication. South of Dallol, the crust is cut into rectangular slabs, transported
Above: Shaping salt slabs. Right: Preparing camel caravan up into the highlands in a near endless procession of camel caravans to be sold in Mekele for processing into common salt. 41 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Story and photos at: www. photovolcanica.com/VolcanoInfo/ Dallol/Dallol.html
Project ICARUS Awards Sustainability Achievements in the Travel Industry
The GBTA sustainability network will be the focal point for a new community dedicated to serving the needs of business travel and meetings industry professionals who are willing to commit, learn, share, lead and above all TAKE ACTION in the drive to greater sustainability in our industry.
Gold Medal Recognition Program Creating a Sustainability Community: The Project ICARUS sustainability Gold Medal recognition program will be the focal point for recognizing industry professionals dedicated to serving the needs of the business travel and meetings industry and who are willing to learn, share, lead and above all TAKE ACTION in the drive to greater sustainability. What is the GBTA Project Icarus Gold Medal recognition program? The Project ICARUS Sustainability Program has been created to recognize travel and meeting industry professionals travel buyers and suppliers who are: • Committed to making sustainability a core function within their business travel
and meetings program or supply chain proposition and / or • Leading the way by commitment and actions to procure or provide best in class sustainability programs for their company, travelers and customers There are separate Gold Medal programs for travel buyers and suppliers / intermediaries. The program: To achieve our objective and to encourage the industry to act we have introduced 2 levels of recognition: Level 1 - Commitment Level Project ICARUS urges travel buyers and suppliers to sign up to the principles of Project ICARUS and make a statement to the industry that they are going to
on a review of activities that demonstrate evidence of industry leadership and actions, as well as commitment to the travelers, customers, stakeholders and shareholders served. Gold Medals will be given in 3 ways: • National: based on an application from a company operating in a specific country • Regional: based on an application from a company operating across a specific GBTA region • Global: based on a company operating within all GBTA regions and a minimum of 10 countries. All submissions are undertaken through a set application format and each entry will need to be supported by evidence to validate
TAKE ACTION! Level 2 – Gold Medal Gold Medals are given to travel buyers and suppliers based
each claim.
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Learn More We believe the program will see page 43
Project ICARUS
from page 42
provide benefits for both buyers and suppliers in a number of ways: All recipients will receive: • Continuous recognition on the GBTA Foundation and Project Icarus websites • Special recognition during the GBTA annual International Convention • Approval to use the Project ICARUS Gold Medal ‘badges’ on the company’s website, stationary, annual report, and other materials • Member of the Project ICARUS global sustainability hub Additionally, recipients will enjoy these benefits of recognition: Buyer Benefits: • Demonstrates the company is committed to working for a sustainable future for all • Provides the company with an internal company and external industry recognition of leadership in sustainable business travel and meetings • Gives personal/corporate credibility in the subject of sustainability in business travel
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and meetings Furthers personal and professional goals and career opportunities Gives an opportunity to influence the development and continuous improvement in best practices, policies, tools and standards for on-going sustainable development Gives the opportunity to influence the political agenda globally and locally Opportunity to be part of a fun and stimulating environment Supplier Benefits: Demonstrates that the supplier is committed to working for a sustainable future for all Provides the supplier with an external global / regional industry recognition of leadership in sustainable supply chain management Demonstrates to customers that the supplier is accepting responsibility for the economic / social and financial impact of its business and actively working to drive best practices Gives corporate credibility to
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shareholders and stakeholders in the subject of sustainability in business travel and meetings Gives the opportunity to influence the political agenda globally and locally Opportunity to be part of a fun and stimulating environment
Global Outstanding Achievement Awards Program Outstanding Achievement Awards will be made annually on a regional basis to recognize leading buyers, sellers, intermediaries and sustainability professionals who have made a special contribution during the year. In addition, there will be a Global Outstanding Achievement Award announced at the GBTA Convention.
Assessment Criteria For information on the assessment criteria and application process for the Gold Medal and Global Outstanding Achievement Awards, please visit the GBTA website at www. gbta.org/foundation/ICARUS/ Pages/default.aspx.
www.gov.rw
Africa Travel Resources African Diaspora Tourism
www.festivalatsea.com
351 California St, #950, San Francisco, CA 94104 1-800-466-2719 fas@blueworldtravel.com www.AfricanDiasporaTourism.com
Henderson Travel Service
BlakGirlTravel
I’m Black and I Travel!
BlackGirlTravel.com (CST #2094347-40) is a registered Seller of Travel under the California Seller of Travel Law. www.blackgirltravel.com
Greg Gross @imblacknitravel
Blue World Travel Corporation
Soul Of America
351 California St, #950, San Francisco, CA 94104 1-800-466-2719 fas@blueworldtravel.com
7961 Eastern Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 1-301-650-5700
Safari Supreme P.O. Box 1736, Hollywood, CA 90078 1-818-419-3639 dothard@sbcglobal.net http://soulofamerica.com
43 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
ATA’s 38th Annual World Congress
Republic of Cameroon October 16 to 21, 2013
T
he Africa Travel ociation (ATA) has Association announced ounced that the Republic of Cameroon roon will host the 38th Annual ATA World Congress, ATA’s largest est international tourism industry meeting, in 2013. The congress will bring together hundreds of tourism leaders and professionals nals from government, business and nonprofit sectors to promote tourism development to and acrosss Africa from around the world. “At ourr 37th Congress in Zimbabwe e in May 2012, we brought together more than 500 industry ustry professionals to explore how ow tourism, with growth rates in emerging markets outperforming ming more established destinations, ns, is one of the most promising industries on the African continent for development,” said ATA A Executive Director Direc irre eccto tor Edward Bergman. “Building “Build lld ding on this incredible edible momentum, mome me m entum, we are excited ed to partner par artn t er with our longtime member mem mber Cameroon to bring tourism tourissm sm professionals bu b usiness in Africa to looking to do business ry, w here delegates will the country, where op pp p por ortunity to build new have the opportunity ns, learn lea earn about the latest connections, rends, and and n explore exp x lore the industry trends, pro odu duct duc cts.” country’s newest products.” d Cameroon trace trace their ATA and 198 87, 7 when roots backk to 2004 and 1987, n hosted ATA’s ha h allmark Cameroon hallmark he country’s largest larg gest city event in the n 2001, ATA held d itiits s EcoDouala. In e capital cap apitital tal Tourism Symposium in the Yaounde.
The 2013 event will be hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure under L Lei eisur isure e u nder nd der the the he auspices auspi pice icess off Honorable Minister Bello Bouba a Maigari, who expressed his vision n to bring ATA back to Cameroon at ATA’s last U.S.-Africa Tourism Seminar in March in Washington The Minister recently DC. remarked, “You want to visit Africa diversity and experience its vast divers sitityy and legendary hospitality in one one n Africa stop? Come to Cameroon: A fri rica in Miniature.” ATA’s annual event in Africa Afri ric ica ca offers offers a unique networking, learning learrn rnin ing g and an nd agenda-shaping platform platfor orrm for o for the th he most diverse group of of buyers buye bu yerss and d sellers of Destination Destinatiio on n Africa Afrricca of any travel industry industrry event eventt on even on the Participants continent. Par art ar rtitici ici cipa cipa pant ant ntss include incclude African tourism m ministers, mi n mi niistter erss, industry ind ndustry representing professionalss rep eprese essenting boards, tourism boa ards ds, s, travel ttrra avvel el agencies agencies and tourr operators, op pe era ratto tors rs, conference conf co nfe erence and incentive ince ce en nttivve operators, op per erat a ors, ground ground operators, op o per e atto orrs, s airlines, air irli rline es, and hotels, ho otels, ass w well a elll as the e the e travel travel trade e media. media. Participants P Pa arttic icip ipan antts an ts from fro rom the corporate, co orp porate, non n on profi pr t and academic sectors secttorrs are also a lso expected expected to attend along alon ng with leaders Diaspora. le eader ers of the African Dias spo ora. The offers T he e ATA congress offer rs a lineup educational u p off e ducational and professional proffesssional development d evelo lopment seminars for fo or travel travel professionals. p rofesssionals. Topics include includ de social social media, m edia, a branding and marketing, marrke eting, attracting a ttrraccting media coverage, product pro oduct development, d evelo lopment, growth markets, m rkets, ma ccultural ulturral tourism, culinary tourism, to ourism, airline a irline e access, and the latest late est travel travel trends tr rends in n Africa. Afri Af rica ca.. A wi wide de range range off n networking o etw et wo ork rkin in ing ng events, even ev en e nts ts, including i clu in uding receptions re rece ece cep ptions and gala dinners dinne ers will er wilillll wi held. also be held 44 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Delegates will have the opportunity to explore Destination Cameroon’s C Came amero roon on’’s ’s products, pro rod duct du cts ts, including an abundance a ab undance of natural and cultural resources cultural rre esources with strong stro heritage products h he riita tage and eco-tourism eco-touri rripe ri ip ipe pe e for for growth, during Host Country tours and tou urs a urs nd learn about the newest hotels, ho ote telss, offerings and incentives. and trips are Pr a PrePr nd post-congress post-congre also a al so available. avvailable. Further Furt ther details on the event and Cameroon Ca ameroon will be b posted at http://africatravelassociation.org/ http://a /afr affrriiccatravelasso events/ac.html events/a /ac.ht html ht m or ccontact ATA +1.212.447.1357 att +1 1.2 212 12.4 447.1357 or info@ AfricaTravelAssociation.org. AfricaTravelAssociatio
About the Africa Tr About A Travel Association A As sso s ciation (ATA) The Af A Africa rica Travel Association (ATA) iss the leading global trade association associat ation io on promoting travel and tourism to A Africa frica and strengthening fr s intra-Africa a partnerships. p Established Establ blish hed in 1975, ATA serves he both th the the e public and private pr sectors he international travel and he off tthe tourism tour uris ism industry. ATA membership comprises African governments, co g comprises their their tourism ministers, th the ministe tourism bureaus bu ureaus and boards, board airlines, cruise crrui u se lines, hotels, resorts, re frontline ne e travel sellers and an providers, tour to our ur operators and travel tr agents, and d affiliate industries. indus ATA partners partne ers rs with the African Af Union Commission Comm miisssi s on (AU) to promote the sustainable su ust s ainable development d of tourism Africa. sm m to to and an nd across ac ATA’s annual events eve ent n s bring b together industry leaders Africa’s lea ea ade ders rs to to shape sh tourism agenda. agen ag enda d . For da For information, visit vviisi sit ww www.AfricaTravelAssociation. w w Affrica w. c Tr T ave org.
45 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Akemi - Dar’s Revolving Restaurant
T
he Akemi Restaruant opened in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on December 12, 2012. The Akemi is the first revolving restaurant in Dar. In addition to the elegant look and the inspiring view from the 21st floor, the restaurant features an elegant and electic menu that includes specialties from around the world.
Consider - Cold appetizer: Chorizo, Kale & Feta Quiche, Hot appetizer: Carom scented Tandoori Shrimp, Pasta: Squid ink Fettuccine alla Putanesca, Main Course: Lavastone Grilled Lobster and for dessert: Mississippi Mud Pie. 46 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Akemi is on the 21st Floor of Golden Jubilee Towers on Ohio Street, City Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. For reservations call: Phone #: 0687360360 or send e-mail to info@akemidining.com. See you there! www.akemidining.com
Akemi
Cultural Tourism
“RITES OF PASSAGE TOUR TO THE GAMBIA” The 11th International Roots Festival... May 1-11, 2013 Henderson Travel Service • 1-301-650-5700
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“RITES OF PASSAGE TOUR TO THE GAMBIA” (with a stopover in Dakar, Senegal) $2,999.00 per person, based on double occupancy* (Single Supplement $350.00) Space is limited. Travel arrangements by: Henderson Travel Service, 7961 Eastern Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Contact: Gaynelle Henderson-Bailey 1-301-650-5700 This 11-day package includes roundtrip air from Washington, DC to Dakar, Senegal, roundtrip ground transportation to Banjul, The Gambia, daily breakfast, first class hotels, English speaking guides, tours, other meals as noted in the itinerary, all entrance & Festival fees, air conditioned vehicles and all taxes.
PROPOSED ITINERARY Wed, May 1 Depart Washington Dulles Airport via South African Airways at 5:40 pm Thu, May 2 Arrive Dakar; clear customs; transfer to 4-star Novotel Hotel; after lunch on your own, depart for tour to Goree Island and City Tour of Dakar. Dinner on your own at the hotel. Fri, May 3 After breakfast, depart for your scenic drive through Senegal to The Gambia; clear customs at the border; take the ferry to Banjul, check into Laico Atlantic Hotel. In the evening enjoy a Welcome Reception and Symposium introducing the Roots Festival program of events. Sat, May 4 After breakfast, proceed to the Carnival Procession of Masks & Masquerades and the Opening Ceremony. After dinner on your own, enjoy a live Music Concert in 22nd July Square. Sun. May 5 After breakfast, depart for a Roots
Day Pilgrimage full day trip to the Village of Juffureh/Albreda and boat ride to Kunta Kinteh Island, formerly James Island, departure point of many enslaved Africans. Mon, May 6 After breakfast, depart for the Futampaf Rites, where you will be Initiated and unite with your adopted Gambian Family in Kanilai, the birth village of H.E. President Sheik Alh. Dr. Uahya A.J.J. Jammeh. In the evening enjoy the Night of the Griots, traditional music and dance. Tues, May 7 After breakfast, continue with the “traditional” Rites of Passage wherein guests are initiated and formally adopted by their Gambian families. Wed, May 8 After breakfast, enjoy a leisurely morning and in the afternoon you will enjoy the Regatta, traditional boat race at the Banjul Wharf with traditional drumming and dancing, pillow fights, and more. Thu, May 9 After breakfast, depart for a trip to Makasutu Cultural Forrest, an internationally acclaimed eco-tourism lodge for a boat ride through the creeks, music and dance. This evening enjoy the final African Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony. Fri, May 10 After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to Dakar Airport for your return flight home. Sat, May 11 Arrive Dulles International Airport in the morning. •Travel Requirements: Valid passport, visa for The Gambia, yellow fever immunization and malaria medication required. •Financial Requirements: Major credit cards accepted. Single supplement is an additional $350.00. A non-refundable deposit of $200.00 is due immediately to hold your space. Make payments to Henderson Travel Service. Reference T-1349. Final payment is due April 1, 2013. A late fee of $75.00 is due after 2/28/13.
For More Travel News, Visit www.AfricanDiasporaTourism.com
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I’m Black and I Travel! …on the radar! “The Red White Black and Blue” This is a blog entry from I’m Black and I Travel! Enjoy. Black Americans traveling outside the United States for the first time often worry about how they’ll be treated. What they find often takes them totally by surprise.
A
funny thing happens to black folks when we travel outside the United States for the first time. We find out that we’re Americans.
More specifically, we find out that the rest of the world often sees us more fully as Americans than do a lot of our so-called “countrymen.” We also find out that being perceived as an American often
makes a difference in how we’re treated abroad — compared with, say, Africans. We’re treated better. All this is gratifying in some ways, unsettling in others. Either way, it’s not what we expect when we get that U.S. passport stamped with its first foreign visa. When you grow up in a country, any country, your life experience in that land shapes the way you see yourself, and the world. Growing up black in America means learning to see yourself as being “different,” a few degrees apart from the mainstream. We didn’t voluntarily separate ourselves from that mainstream. We’ve been pushed and walled off from it — blatantly in my elders’ day, more subtly in mine. TWILIGHT ZONE CITIZENS You go through life being viewed by turns as a threat, a freak of nature, an issue, a cause, a voting bloc, a market, a whole series of stereotypes — almost anything, it seems, other than just another U.S. citizen. For that reason, black American citizenship often has a kind of Twilight Zone feel to it. You’re an American officially, but not entirely. Your citizenship status comes with 52 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
a psychological, emotional asterisk that never goes away. So when you venture beyond your borders for the first time, you expect the rest of the world to come at you more or less in the same manner. Surprise…it doesn’t. When you step off the plane in Paris or Istanbul or Sao Paulo or Beijing — or for that matter, Dakar or Lagos or Cape Town — the locals see you exactly as what you are. Someone born in the United States, steeped in the American life experience and thoroughly saturated in American culture. In other words, an American. You don’t have to wear a USA T-shirt. You don’t have to say a word. One look at you and they just know, instantly. American, through and through. WE DON’T BLEND IN Even in urban, sub-Saharan Africa, where you might expect to blend in seamlessly with the locals, you don’t. You stick out like a sore red-white-black-and-blue thumb. For the black American traveler, this has both advantages and drawbacks. Among the biggest drawbacks: Everybody thinks you’re rich. After all, everybody’s rich in America, right? Our television shows, our music videos, our movies are broadcast the world over — and on screens large and small, we sure look rich. Which means that when you walk into the local market or shop, the vendor instantly raises his prices, just as he would for any other American. Beggars and street hustlers will follow you a little farther down the block than they would some other tourist, and much farther than they would any local. You deal with it. You learn how to haggle, how to fend off the hustlers. It goes with the territory. see page 53
Red White Black & Blue
from page 52
You’re an American. But there are advantages, too. For one thing, you’re likely to find out that, contrary to some of the political propaganda you hear back home, most of the world really doesn’t hate American people, even if it’s appalled by American politics. UNEXPECTED ACCEPTANCE People will smile at you, especially if you smile at them. People will talk to you, no matter how pathetic your halting attempts to speak to them in their native language. They will welcome you to their country, maybe even invite you into their homes. If you run into problems, they may go to extraordinary lengths to help you. All because you’re an American, and you cared enough to come for a visit. You also may find yourself periodically displaying the same kind of cultural chauvinism abroad that “other” Americans do. You’ll know it the first time you catch yourself thinking, or even saying aloud, “Wow, that’s not how we do things back home!” And when you laugh about it, you’ll be the only one who gets the joke. After all, you’re kind of new to this whole “American” thing. From that point on, you just accept it, the way virtually everyone else around you does. That’s when you realize that all those worries and fears you had about how you would be treated were just so much excess cultural baggage, dead weight that won’t be coming with you on your next international trip. Even this little bit of delight has a flip side, however. You realize that the moment you see how Africans are often treated abroad. THE FLIP SIDE When you see taxi drivers in
Walking With Lions, Zambia London or Paris or Beijing stop to pick you up — unlike the way so many of them pass you on the street in, say, New York — you may not realize at first that those same cabbies who were happy to stop for you will pass up Africans all day long. Just as you might be followed throughout a shop by store security back home, so too will the African be followed overseas. Discrimination in jobs, housing, education, systematic hassling by the police — the full gamut of the black American experience — the African from the Caribbean or the Mother Continent receives elsewhere in the world. But not you. You’re okay. You’re an American. That may jar you a little bit. It also may explain why, when you give that little nod to the African passing by on the street — that little nod of acknowledgement that many black Americans traditionally give one another — the African may not return it. That, too, can be unsettling. Actually, it hurts. Both sides have some serious bridge-building to do. But pretty soon, you’re back to 53 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
enjoying your unexpected status as an American abroad. People being nice to you. People treating you as if you were the same as everybody else. For the first time, you really understand why so many black American soldiers, shipped to France during World War 1, opted not to return to the States. And you find yourself wishing every day could be like this. But even as you’re having the time of your life, in the back of your mind, the clock is ticking. All too soon, you will have to get on the plane to return home, where all that’s familiar in your life will be waiting for you. Right down to that asterisk. That’s the tradeoff that comes with travel. It always opens your eyes, but it doesn’t promise that you’ll always enjoy the view. Greg Gross @imblacknitravel This entry was posted in Heritage Travel, Independent Travel and tagged African travel, Beijing, Cape Town, Dakar, France, Istanbul, Lagos, London, Paris, sub-Saharan, United States by imblacknitravel.
Made For Walking - CH Zambia Safari Boots The Vintage Shoe Company http://blog.vintageshoecompany.com/index.php/2012/08/cool-hunting-vintage-shoe-company-safari-boot
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Welcome to the
Djibouti Palace Kempinski Experience the extraordinary... www.kempinski.com/en/djibouti
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Holidays in Africa that Make a Difference - Volunteering in Africa
W
hy not consider a holiday that will really make a difference benefiting the people or helping to conserve the wildlife of Africa and participate in a Volunteer or Conservation Project. Volunteering, whilst perfect for those on a GAP year, anybody, professional or non professional, can participate. It is a great way to travel and make new friends, at the same time you will be contributing to societies that are less fortunate. It will be a life changing experience, helping you to gain new skills, self-confidence and will certainly improve your CV. Volunteers from all over the world have immersed themselves in Social Upliftment, HIV & AIDS, Sports, Teaching and Wildlife Conservation Projects. They speak of life changing moments and how they have made excellent friends for life! Being open to different experiences in life brings knowledge and skill and a deep sense of personal fulfillment. Whether you are taking a gap year, are on a career break, studying towards a particular field and need experience or are merely wishing to do some charity work, you will find a suitable programme to benefit the African community and environment, as well as yourself. Review the full set of 44 volunteer projects using the links below. www.africaguide.com/travel/index. php?cmd=1&type=5 www.africaguide.com/travel/ Volunteer_Projects_in_Africa_ with_Reviews_c1t5p1.htm
Children for Children’s Future Volunteer Programme Help orphaned children by teaching them English and personal hygiene as well as providing supportive care. Also work on a HIV/AIDS Project Price: USD $1,780 per person, Type: Volunteer Project, Duration: 30 days, Country: Tanzania, Customise: This Volunteer Project can be customised, Persons: minimum (1) maximum (15) , Accommodation: Guest House, Activities: Volunteer Project
Teaching in South Africa Volunteer Project Volunteers joining the project will have the opportunity to teach at a township school in Cape Town. Teach children in one-to-one sessions while exploring the best South Africa has to offer. Price: GBP £995 per person, Type: Volunteer Project, Duration: 14 days, Country: South Africa, Persons: maximum (4), Accommodation: Guest House , Activities: Volunteer Project
Kenya Construction Volunteer Project Help install essential rain water tanks to provide communities with drinking water, and deliver health, hygiene and sanitation outreach workshops. Price: GBP £1,145 per person, Type: Volunteer Project, Duration: 14 days, Country: Kenya, Accommodation: Mixed, Activities: Volunteer Project
Marine Conservation & Research in Seychelles SCUBA dive and join marine research projects in one of the world`s most pristine environments Price: GBP £1,950 per person, Type: Volunteer Project, Duration: 28 days, Country: Seychelles, Persons: minimum (16) maximum (24), Accommodation: Lodge, Activities: Scuba Diving, Volunteer Project 57 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Travel to Africa in 10 Easy Steps
P
lanning to travel to Africa, but don’t know where to start? Plan your travels to Africa by following these 10 easy steps. This checklist will walk you through the whole trip planning process, from deciding where to go in Africa, what to pack, when to book your flights and much more. If this is a trip of a lifetime, it’s probably wise to start at Step 1 about a year before you plan to go.
Step 1: Decide Where You
to Africa, that should give you some good ideas. A quick browse through my “Best of Africa” will also inspire you to perhaps choose a destination you previously knew little about.
Step 2: Decide When to Go Once you’ve pinned down your destination and have an idea about what you’d like to do in Africa, then it’s time to look at the best time of year to go. If you want to go on safari, you may want to avoid the
com/od/africafestivalsandevents/African_ Festivals_and_Events.htm).
Step 3: Book Your Tour, Safari and/or Lodging Once you’ve decided when and where to go, it’s time to book your safari, tour or at least the first night in a hotel. Consider staying at locally owned hotels and ask your tour/safari company if they use locally based operators, so the money you spend on your vacation stays in Africa.
Step 4: Book Your Flights
Want to Go in Africa With more than 50 countries to choose from, deciding where to go in Africa is quite daunting. First, you should find out what type of vacation you’re looking for. Do you want a beach vacation, a safari, a trek through the desert, or a bit of everything? Check out my Africa Vacation Planner (http:// goafrica.about.com/od/africatraveltips/ss/ africaplanner.htm), it’s arranged with
different interests in mind. I also have a Romantic Travel Guide to Africa and a Family Travel Guide
rainy season because some parks can all but shut down. On the other hand, if you’re a keen birder, it may be the best time to visit. If you want to visit the desert, Namibia is best in June/July, but the Sahara is unbearable during that time. There are some very interesting festivals or treks you may want to plan your trip around. Here are some resources to help you plan when to go to Africa: When to go on Safari (http://goafrica.about. com/od/africasafariguide/a/whensafari. Africa’s Major Festivals htm); and Events (http://goafrica.about.
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Finding a cheap flight to Africa isn’t easy. From Europe you can take advantage of low-cost airlines flying to Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, and some resort destinations like The Gambia. But in general, there’s little competition for many routes to Africa. Flights fill up quickly and prices are high. Purchase your flights as soon as your tour, safari or lodging is booked. Use your tour operators advice and check out booking engines like Cheaptickets.com or web sites like Bootsnall, to get an idea of the fare. Use your miles, if you don’t have enough to get you to your African destination, use them to fly to Paris or London and buy a separate ticket from there.
Step 5: Get Travel Insurance Now you’ve invested a significant amount of money on your flights and trip, it’s time to buy some insurance (www.insuremytrip.com). It will usually cost about 5% - 7% of the value of your trip. Most tour operators will have some coverage built in to the cost of your trip, so check before you double cover yourself. Trip cancellation insurance is highly recommended because trips are costly and you’re generally booking far in advance, see 10 Easy Steps on page 59
10 Easy Steps
from page 58
and life happens. Personally I’ve not had the misfortune to cancel a trip, nor have I been hospitalized, so I’ve purchased but never had to test travel insurance services.
Step 6: Get Vaccinations and Malaria Pills At least two months before you depart for Africa, you need to visit a travel clinic and find out what vaccinations are recommended for your destination, as well as getting the right malaria pills (if needed). Years ago, many African countries required visitors to get certain vaccinations in order to enter. This is not the case anymore, but policies do change regularly especially regarding yellow fever vaccinations. The golden rule is to check with your local travel clinic and do a little research yourself. It will cost you several hundred US dollars to get all the vaccines recommended and your malaria pills (if needed).
Step 7: Get a Visa and Update Your Passport First, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the start of your trip. If your passport is about to expire, renew it before you apply for a tourist visa. Visa regulations are arbitrary and change depending on the whims of politicians. At least two months before your trip, you should contact the embassy of the country you are visiting and check on the visa regulations that apply to your nationality (not where you happen to live). Many African countries offer visas at the port of entry, where you will pay a fee and get a stamp in your passport. Others require you to get a visa in advance. You will have to fill out a form, get a money order and send this along with your passport to the embassy. Check out these documents for
help: How to get a tourist visa (http://goafrica. about.com/od/ africatraveltips/ ht/How-To-GetA-Tourist-VisaI f - Yo u - A r e Planning-ATrip-To-Africa. htm); African
Embassies in the US (http://goafrica. about.com/od/ africatraveltips/a/embassiesus.htm).
Step 8: Buy Cool Travel Gear My favorite part of planning a trip to Africa -- buying lots of things. But, before you spend a small fortune on a safari jacket, travel water filter and garlic pills; think about what you could buy locally. It’s not only fun to check out local supermarkets and markets, but you’ll be helping out the local economy as well. Bring an extra bag along to take home plenty of souvenirs. A basic packing list includes: • Camera (with extra memory card), camcorder • Flashlight • Spare Batteries • Suntan lotion and insect repellent • Spare glasses (better than contact lenses) • Sunglasses • Money belt • Personal medications • First Aid Kit • Lightweight clothing, shoes, hat • Sweater for early morning and evening • Swimsuit • A good guide book
Step 9: Money, Money, Money Look into the best way to carry your travel cash to Africa about 2 weeks before you go. Many countries do not have ATM’s (cash points) on every street corner. Credit cards are generally only accepted at high end businesses. Not all currencies are readily exchanged for services. 59 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Mfuwe Lodge, Zambia In general, the US Dollar is the most commonly recognized and accepted form of foreign currency. If you would like to bring Traveler Cheques, get them in either Euros or US Dollars. And get them a few weeks in advance, my local bank didn’t have any in stock since they’re rarely used anymore. If you plan on using your credit card or debit card, make sure it has a Visa or MasterCard logo on it. American Express is also accepted in most hotels, restaurants and major businesses of Africa.
Step 10: Reading Up Buy some good guidebooks, Rough Guides, Bradt Guides and Lonely Planet are the best on the market. Read up on the history and culture of your destination. Learn a few local phrases. Buy some fiction set in the country you’re traveling to, browse through my personal top 10 to see if any match your destination. It’s nice to be able to actually live in the atmosphere of the book you’re reading. You can also watch movies set in Africa to whet your appetite. You’ll find lots more planning advice and destination information on About.com’s Africa Travel (http:// goafrica.about.com) site as well as an interesting blog.
By Anouk Zijlma About.com Guide
Windstar Doubles Size of Fleet
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indstar’s owner, Xanterra Parks & Resorts®, has reached an agreement with Seabourn to purchase their three small ships: Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Legend, and Seabourn Spirit. Under the project name Global Windstar, Windstar Cruises will become the market leader in small-ship cruising with 300 or fewer passengers, with a total of 1,230 berths. “Windstar Cruises has experienced four straight years of growth. This expansion is the perfect way to build on the momentum following our recent fleet-wide renovation, providing us with the much needed capacity to match the accelerating demand for our intimate style of yacht cruising,” said Andy Todd, CEO of Xanterra Parks & Resorts®. “Global Windstar enables us to extend our unique small-ship experience throughout the world.” Windstar will take possession of the three 104 all-suite ships,
which hold 208 passengers each, over the next two years in the Mediterranean. The Seabourn Pride will be the first ship to enter into our luxury fleet in April of 2014. Following a Windstar-branded renovation, where we will give the ship a new name and a casually elegant look, the Pride will set sail a month later in the Mediterranean in May 2014; voyages are expected to go on sale in May of this year. We will take possession of Seabourn Legend in April 2015 and Seabourn Spirit in May 2015. The yachts will start sailing in May of 2015 following their dry-dock period. “Windstar is proud of its heritage in sailing and will continue to offer voyages on all three sailing yachts,” said Hans Birkholz, Windstar’s chief executive officer. “What our guests continue to be enthusiastic about is our intimate, yacht style of cruising. This style is the core of our brand experience and the new ships are a perfect fit to build on 60 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Casablanca & the Canary Islands Lisbon to Santa Cruz de Tenerife From the magic of Morocco to the tropical serenity of the Canaries, this voyage is a perfect blend of indulgences. that foundation.” Global Windstar will also allow us to service new regions of the world such as Asia and South America, in addition to the fifty countries we already sail to. We will continue to focus on the unique destinations that larger ships cannot call on. Windstar offers you an intimate, unique, and engaging cruise vacation, whether it’s relaxing under the sails or cruising on one of our new all-suite yachts. http://blog.windstarcruises. com/2013/02/windstar-doublessize-of-fleet-with-addition-of-threeseabourn-ships-2
plenty of opportunities to pick up souvenirs. • Get something special for your special someone. Bring a romantic gift for your partner and surprise him or her on a special night at sea. The memories you make on your voyage will last a lifetime, so make it count. • Pack an outlet for your inner artist. There’s nothing like fresh air and time off to get your creative juices flowing. Come prepared with a sketchpad or poetry notebook. And why not bring a journal to record your thoughts and observations about the trip?
How To Pack For A Cruise
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et’s start with the essentials. Items like these should not be left at home:
Essentials The little things: sunglasses, sunscreen, any medications or special toiletries you might need Electronics: a camera or video camera to record your memories, plus chargers and extra batteries ID: travel documents, foreign currency, and credit cards (don’t forget to warn your card company that you’ll be traveling) Swim wear: 2 swimsuits (so you have a back-up suit to wear while the other dries) Appropriate footwear: one pair each of sandals, everyday shoes, and good walking shoes Workout attire: (there’s nothing more relaxing than yoga on deck at sunrise) Flexible clothing: aim to bring a few sets of tops and bottoms that can be mixed and matched so you get multiple outfits out of a few items. Be sure to bring light
clothing that can be layered on n or removed as the temperature e changes. Don’t worry aboutt dressing up unless you want to— — Windstar is a luxury cruise line but we don’t want formality to get in the way of true escape. Windstar’s laundry package makes it easy to travel light and enjoy the feeling of freshly washed and pressed clothing every day from our professionall laundry. With 24-hour (or less) turn n around, this is a great convenience and bargain at only $109 per cabin for a 7-day voyage.
Other considerations Now that we have the basics of how to pack for your cruise out of the way, let’s talk about a few things you might not have considered yet. • Bring an empty travel bag/ backpack. Use it for the souvenirs you pick up when you dock. Whether your shore excursions take you to the traditional lace shops in Venice or the open markets in Turkey, you’ll have 61 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
• Sight-see like a pro. Read up on the land excursions you’ll be taking in advance so you can be sure to make the most of your time on shore. This will also help you pack appropriate clothing and footwear. • And don’t forget your binoculars. You never know what you’re going to want to view off in the distance. Whatever you do, don’t forget to pack your sense of adventure! http://blog.windstarcruises. com/2012/04/how-to-pack-for-yourcruise
Zakaa & Quintessentially Lifestyle Parade the World’s Top Luxury Brands
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ike a constellation of galactic stars, coming together under one roof, Nigerians will be treated to a scintillating blaze of the world’s highest valued brands in an epoch making glitterati exhibition of high end luxury products, the first of its kind ever to be held in the country. Taking place in the Lagos Room, Transcorp Hilton Abuja, the exhibition will take place for two days spanning May 29th till May 30th 2013. The first day ultra exclusive extravaganza will feature a V.I.P cocktail at the Lagos Room of the Transcorp Hilton. The event has an A-list of Nigeria’s Crème De La Crème scheduled for attendance and the Red Carpet kicks off at precisely 6.00pm, while the exhibition proper will take place on May 30th 2013 from 2pm till 10pm with the peak of the evening at 7:00pm when the cocktail party begins once again. Hosted by Zakaa and Quintessentially, the event is tagged the V.I.P Salon and is presented under the auspices of an agglomeration of seven of the world’s finest luxury brands who have truly distinguished themselves through impeccable craftsmanship and unrivaled innovations. The event will treat deserving high profile Nigerians with revelations on how and where to acquire these brands in the Nigerian Luxury markets.
First Of Its Kind Zakaa and Quintessentially are offering luxury connoisseurs a first hand experience of the value of these exceptional products in an exhibition that is the first of its kind ever. Never have so many super high end luxury products been gathered under one roof in Nigeria.
The Promoting Brands Zakaa is a young Nigerian brand that distributes and retails more than thirty (30) luxury brands. Zakaa prides itself in having the official agency of all its brands and aims to continue to make world class brands more accessible in the region.
Quintessentially Lifestyle
- Quintessentially Lifestyle is the world’s leading concierge/lifestyle management group. It was founded in the UK in 2000 as a private members’ club and concierge services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Quintessentially group encompasses 39 sister
companies with physical offices in 72 cities world wide. It is the only truly localized concierge service in the world. Services include informational services, hotel/restaurant reservations, arranging of spa services, recommending nightlife hot spots, booking transportations (Limousines, airplanes, boats) procurement of tickets to special events and assisting with various travel arrangements and tons of local attractions. Quintessentially is crafted to enhance the output of long hour working super executives and high achievers who need special assistance in providing a work-life balance.
Transcorp Hilton
- Transcorp Hilton is Nigeria’s
foremost luxury hotel, maintaining its tradition of providing a rich luxurious experience for its guests.
Ventures Africa - Ventures Africa is a company set on a mission of bringing the business of Africa to the world.
Zakaa Luxury & Life Style Magazine -
Zakaa Luxury and Life Style Magazine is a joint publication between Hole 19 media and Africar GMBH of Germany. It is a luxury and lifestyle magazine aimed at a readership of the affluent and influential who are looking for something new, innovative and exclusive. The aim is to explore the universe of rare and unique products, revolutionary and exclusive services, offering the enthusiast readers, a guide to the finest collection of luxury items whilst celebrating outstanding and illustrious Nigerians.
Ulysse Nardin
- Ulysse Nardin is Swiss Watch manufacturer since 1846. Nardin has been dedicated to super quality for over 165 years. Nardin’s marine chronometers are among the best and most reliable ever made and are still sought by collectors all over the world. Ulysse Nardin continues to be in the fore front of watch making technology by pioneering new materials in manufacturing high precision movement components and most innovative time pieces.
Rolanditen
- Rolanditen is about discovery; the
delight, surprise and joy to touch and to own an expertly crafted Rolanditen meccahnically performing piece. All collection pieces are 100% made in Geneva with Swiss watch making machinery and based
62 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Quintessentially Lifestyle from page 62
upon patented mechanisms ensuring and protecting brand value. Only the finest materials and world class manufacturing processes and practices are utilized to ensure outstanding craftsmanship.
Burben & Zorweg - Burben and Zorweg delights lovers of fine time pieces with unique masterpieces and craftsmanship. The symbiosis between compelling innovations and exquisite design characterizes and defines the exclusive objects of time selected materials and perfect workmanship fulfills and exceeds customers’ highest expectations.
Angel Champagne - Angel Champagne has emerged as one of the most innovative and original Champagne brands. Angel champagne began as the inspiration of British entrepreneur, Stefano Zagni, whose dream it was to create the ultimate champagne experience. He employed the oldest and finest vineyards of the Champagne region in France; all 100% classified Grand Cru and recruited the services of the world’s best wine blending expert, Hubert Dailly to supervise the blending of the wine. Angel Champagne has limited annual production so exclusivity is assured, being available only in a few select venues all over the world.
Serapian Milano
- Serapian Milano has always been synonymous with quality, dedication, creativity and refinement. ever since its establishment in 1940s.
Its exquisite Italian workmanship together with tight quality control processes, sets the leather goods series a world apart from the rest. The ability to offer a product, 100 % made in Italy ensures Serapian the trust of the leading international high end retail.
Montegrappa Italia
- Montegrappa Italia began manufacturing pens in Italy in 1912 as the country’s first pen maker. Montegrappa combines traditional methods such as die casting, with more recent innovations such as low relief engraving to form their precious objects of art, with the Italian heritage infused into each instrument.
Pesavento - Pesavento
tells a new story of luxury that goes beyond jewellery’s previous limits to mold precious materials into original shapes and extraordinary volumes between creativity and the future. Pesavento creates jewelery with strong vibrant instinctive charm, objects of poetry that enchant and seduce at first sight. Expectations are already pitched for this one stop exhibition, according to the MD of Quintessentially, Queen Ahneva Adegye ”These never before exhibited brands in Nigeria will be making a luxurious debut at the ZAKAA/ Quintessentially VIP Salon exhibition, a not to be missed event to reward the best of the Nigerian high-end individuals who make things happen in the country”. Queen Ahneva Adegye, Managing Director Quintessentially Nigeria 30 Ademola Adetokunbo, Victoria Island, Lagos +234(1)2244230 ext 247 www.quintessentially.com
63 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Golf Africa www.worldgolf.com/courses/africa
Algeria • Algiers Golf Club, Ibrahim, Algiers
Angola
• Luanda Golf Course, Luanda • Malongo Country Club, Malongo • Mangais Golf Club, Luanda, www. mangais.com
Franklyn Stephenson at Legend Golf and Safari Resort South Africa
Benin
• Benin Marina Hotel, Cotonou
Botswana
• Gaborone Golf Club at the Gaborone Sun Hotel • Phakalane Golf Estate Hotel Resort, www.phakalane.com
Burkina Faso
• Ouagadougou Golf Club, Ouagadougou, www.golfouaga.com
Burundi
• Bujumbura Golf Club, Bujumbura, www.gcbuja.chez.com
Cameroon
• Kribi Golf & Country Club, Kribi, www.kribigolf.com
• Likomba Golf Club, Tiko, www. golflikomba.com
• Mont Febe Hotel - Yaounde Golf Course, Yaoundé
Cape Verde
• Sao Vicente Golf Club, Sao Vicente
Central African Republic • Bangui Golf Club, Bangui, Ombella-M'Poko, www. banguigolfclub.canalblog.com
Chad
• N'Djamena Golf Club, N'Djamena
Republic of Congo
• Lubumbashi Golf Club, Lubumbashi
Djiboute
Douda Golf Club, Douda, www. golfclub-douda.e-monsite.com
Egypt • Alexandria Sporting Club, Alexandria • Cascades at Soma Bay Golf and Country Club, www. residencedescascades.com
• Dreamland Golf & Tennis Resort, Cairo, www.dreamlandgolf.com • Golf City, Cairo • Katemeya Heights Golf & Tennis Resort, Cairo, www. katameyaheights.com
• Madinat Makadi Golf Course, Madinat Makadi, www. madinatmakadigolf.com
• Brazza Golf Club, Brazzaville
• Mena House Oberoi Golf Course, Cairo, www.oberoihotels.com/
• Golf Club President Petrusien, San Pedro • Ivoire Golf Club, Abidjan • President Golf Club, Yamoussoukro
• Mirage City Golf Club, Cairo,
Cotê d‛Ivoire
Democratic Republic of Congo • Kinshasa Golf Club, Kinshasa
oberoi_menahouse/index.asp www.golf.jwmarriottcairo.com/golf
• Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel, Hurghada, www. steigenbergeraldaubeach.com
Ethiopia
• Addis Ababa Golf Club, Addis 64 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Ababa • British Embassy Golf Course, Addis Ababa
Gabon
Franceville Golf Club, Franceville Golf Club Port-Gentil, Port-Gentil, www.golfclubpog.com
Libreville Golf Club, Libreville Manga Golf Club, Moanda, Lemboumbi-Leyou Yenzi Camp Golf Course - Gamba, Camp Yenzi, Gamba
Ghana
• Achimota Golf Club, Achimota, Accra, www.achimotagolf.com • Ankobra Golf Club, Bogoso • Awaso Golf Club • Benso Golf Club, Takoradi • Bok Nam Kim Golf Course, Accra • Celebrity Golf Club and Holiday Resort, Tema • Coconut Grove Beach Resort, Elmina • Damang Golf Club, Tarkwa • Obuasi Golf Club, Obuasi • Royal Golf Club, Kumasi, www. royalgolfclubkumasi.com
• Tafo Golf Club, Tafo, Akim • Tema Country Club, Ashiaman, Tema see Golf Africa on page 65
Golf Africa www.worldgolf.com/courses/africa from Golf Africa page 64
• Windy Bay Golf Club, Winneba
Kenya • Aberdare Country Club, Nyeri • Air Force Golf Club - Eastleigh, • Nairobi • Eldoret Club, Eldoret, www. eldoretclub.co.ke
• Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, • Mount Kenya, Nanyuki, www. fairmont.com/kenyasafariclub
• Gilgil Golf Club, Gilgil • Great Rift Valley Golf Club, Nairobi, www.heritage-eastafrica. com
• Magadi Club, Magadi • Makuyu Club, Makuyu • Malindi Golf & Country Club, Malindi • Molo Highlands Golf Course, Molo • Mombasa Golf Club, Mombasa, www.mombasagolfclub.com
• Mumias Club, Mumias • Muthaiga Golf Club, Nairobi, www. muthaigagolfclub.com
• Nakuru Golf Club, Nakuru • Nandi Bears Golf Club, Nandi Hills • Nanyuki Golf Course, Nanyuki • Ndumberi Golf Club, Kiambu • Njoro Country Club, Njoro • Nyahururu Golf Club, Nyahururu
Club of Kenya, Nairobi, www. jockeyclubofkenya.com
• Thika Sports Club, Thika, www. thikasportsclub.co.ke
• Vet Lab Golf Course, Nairobi, vetlabsc.com • Vipingo Ridge - Baobab Course, Mombasa, www.vipingoridge.com
• Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club, Nairobi, www. windsorgolfresort.com
Lybia
• Benghazi Golf Club, Benghazi • Brega Golf Club
Madagascar
• Foulpointe Golf Club, Tamatave • Golf Club d’Antsirabe - Ivohitra Course, Antsirabe • International Golf Club Du Rova, Andakana, Antananarivo, www.golfdu-rova.com
• Malaza Golf Club, Antananarivo
Malawi
• Blantyre Sports Club, Blantyre, www.blantyresportsclub.com
• Kachere Golf Club, Mtunthama, Kasungu, www.kamuzuacademy. com
• Kasasa Golf Club, Dwanga • Lilongwe Golf Club, Lilongwe • Limbe Country Club, Limbe Rossmund Golf Course Swakopmund, Namibia
• Kakamega Golf Club, Kakamega, www.golfhotelkakamega.com
• Karen Country Club, Nairobi • Kericho Golf Club, Kericho, www. kerichoclub.net
• Kiambu Golf Club, Kiambu • Kisii Sports Club, Kisii • Kitale Golf Club, Kitale • Leisure Lodge Beach & Golf Resort, Mombasa, www. leisurelodgeresort.com
• Limuru Country Club, Limuru, www.limurucountryclub.co.ke
• Machakos Golf Club, Machakos
• Nyali Golf & Country Club, Mombasa, www.nyaligolf.co.ke • Nyanza Golf Club, Kisumu, www. nyanzaclub.com
• Nyeri Golf Club, Nyeri, www. nyericlub.co.ke
• Railway Golf Club, Nairobi • Royal Nairobi Golf Club, Nairobi, www.royalnairobigc.com
• Ruiru Golf Club, Ruiru • Sigona Golf Club, Kikuyu, www. sigonagolf.com
• The Golf Park at the Jockey 65 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
• Mapiri Country Golf Lodge, Dedza • Mlambe Golf Club, Mangochi • Mulanje Golf Club, Mulanje • Mzuzu Golf Club, Mzuzu • Nchalo Golf Club, Nchalo • Thyolo Golf Club, Thyolo • Zomba Golf Club, Zomba
Mauritius • Ile aux Cherfs, Trou d’Eau Douce • Le Paradis Hotel & Golf Club, Le Morne Peninsula, www.paradishotel.com
• Legend Golf Course, Poste de Flacq, www.bellemareplagehotel. com
• Links Golf Course, Poste de Flacq, see Golf Africa on page 66
from Golf Africa page 65
www.princemaurice.com
• One&Only Le Saint Géran Golf Course, Poste de Flacq, http:// lesaintgeran.oneandonlyresorts.com
• Shandrani Golf Club, Blue Bay, www.shandrani-hotel.com
• Troux aux Biches Golf Club, Troux aux Biches, www.trouauxbicheshotel.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
Mozambique
• Beira Golf Club, Beira • Maputo Golf Course, Maputo
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 BayWindhoek Country Club Resort, Windhoek, www.windhoek. co.za
Nigeria • IBB Golf Course, Abuja • IITA Golf Club, Ibadan • Ikeja Golf Club, Lagos, www. ikejagolfclub.org
Reunion • Golf du Bassin Blue, St. Gilles les Hauts • Golf Club de Bourbon, Etang Sale les Bains, www.golf-bourbon.com/spip/ spip.php?lang=en
• Club du Colorado, La Montagne
Rwanda • Gorillas Nest Lodge & Resort Golf Course, Ruhengeri • Kigali Golf Club, Kigali
Saint Helena Island • Longwood Golf Course, Longwood • One Boat Golf Club, Georgetown, Ascension Island, www.obsidian. co.ac
Senegal • Golf de Saly, Mbour, www.golfsaly. com/intro/presentation_fr.htm
• Golf International du Technopôle, Dakar • Le Méridien President Resort & Golf Club, Dakar, www. starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien/ see Golf Africa on page 67
66 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Golf Africa www.worldgolf.com/courses/africa
from Golf Africa page 66
property/overview/index. html?propertyID=1821&EM=VTY_ MD_1821_DAKAR_OVERVIEW
Seychelles • Le Reef Golf Club, Anse Aux Pins • Lemuria Championship Golf Course, Anse Kerlan, Praslin, www. lemuriaresort.com
Sierra Leone • Freetown Golf Club, Freetown
South Africa • Akasia Golf Clue, Pretoria, www. akasiacountryclub.co.za
• Atlantic Beach Golf Club, Cape Town, www.atlanticbeachgolfclub. co.za/capetown/index.asp
• Bellville Golf Club, Cape Town, www.bellvillegolf.co.za
• Benoni Country Club, Johannesburg, www. benonicountryclub.co.za/pro/Default. aspx
• Blair Atholl, Fourways. www. blairatholl.co.za • Blue Valley Golf & Country Estate, Olifantsfontein. www. bluevalley.co.za • Bryanston Country Club, Bryanston, www.bryanstoncc.co.za • 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 • Durbanville Golf Club, Durbanville, www. durbanvillegolfclub.co.za • East London Golf Course, East London, www.elgc.co.za • Emfuleni Golf Estate, Vanderbijlpark, www. emfulenigolfestate.com • Fancourt Hotel & Country Club Estate, George, www.fancourt.co.za • Gary Player Country Club Golf Course, Sun City, www. suninternational.com/Destinations/ Resorts/Golf/Pages/Golf.aspx • George Golf Club, George, www. georgegolfclub.co.za • Germiston Golf Club, Germiston, www.germistongolf.com • Glendower Golf Course, Johannesburg, www.glendower.co.za • Hermanus Golf Club, Hermanus, see Golf Africa on page 68
67 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Golf Africa www.worldgolf.com/courses/africa from Golf Africa page 67
www.hgc.co.za
• Houghton Golf Club, Houghton, www.houghton.co.za
• Humewood Golf Club, Port Elizabeth, www.humewoodgolf. co.za
• Malmesbury Golf Club, Malmesbury, www.malmesburygolfclub. co.za
• Metropolitan Golf Course, Cape Town, www.metropolitangolfclub. co.za
• Milnerton Golf Club, Cape Town, www.milnertongolfclub.co.za
• Reading Country Club, Alberton, www.readingcc.co.za
• River Club Golf & Conference Center, Cape Town, http://riverclub. co.za
• Riviera on Vaal Country Club, Vereenigning, www.rovcountryclub. co.za
• Royal Cape Golf Club, Cape Town, www.royalcapegolf.co.za
• Royal Durban Golf Club, Durban, www.royaldurban.co.za
• San Lameer Country Club, Margate, www.sanlameer.co.za • Scottburgh Golf Club, Scottburgh, www.scottburghgolf.co.za
• Selbourne Golf Estate, Pennington, www.selborne.com
• Silver Lakes Golf & Country Club, Pretoria, www.silverlakes.co.za • Somerset West Golf Club, Somerset West, www. somersetwestgolfclub.co.za Caddies at Royal Dar es Salam Golf Club in Rabat, Morocco
• The Country Club Johannesburg, Rivonia, www.ccj.co.za • Killarney Country Club, Johannesburg, www. killarneycountryclub.co.za
• Kingswood Golf Estate, George, www.kingswood.co.za
• Kleinmond Golf Club, Kleinmond, www.kleinmondgolfclub.co.za • Kloof Country Club, Kloof, www. kloofcountryclub.co.za • Knysna Golf Club, Knysna, www. knysnagolfclub.com
• Koro Creek Bushveld Golf Estate, Nylstroom, www.korocreek.com • Langebaan County Estate Golf & Leisure, Langebaan, www. langebaanestate.co.za
• Leopard Creek Country Club, Malelane, www.leopardcreek.co.za • Lost City, Sun City, www. suninternational.com/Destinations/ Resorts/Golf/Pages/Golf.aspx
• Modderfontein Golf Club, Modderfontein, www.mgclub.co.za • Monks Cowl Coutry Club & Lodge, Winterton, www.monkscowl. co.za
• Mossel Bay Golf Club, Mossel Bay, www.mosselbaygolfclub.co.za
• Mowbray Golf Club, Cape Town, www.mowbraygolfclub.co.za
• Paarl Golf Course, Paarl, 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 68 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
• 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
Sudan
• Soba Golf Club, Khartoum, www. sobagolf.com
Swaziland see Golf Africa on page 69
Golf Africa www.worldgolf.com/courses/africa from Golf Africa page 68
• Bulembu Golf Club, Bulembu • Mananga Country Club, Tshaneni • Manzini Golf Club, Manzini • Mbabane Golf Club, Mbabane • Nhlangano Golf Club, Nhlangano Airport
Tanzania • Arusha Gymkhana Golf Club, Kijenge, Arusha, www.arushagolf. com
• Bulyankulu Mine Golf Course, Bubada, Mwanza • Dar Es Salaam Gymkhana Golf Club, Kisutu, Dar Es Salaam, www.
html
• Moshi Golf Club, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, http://golfintanzania.net/course/ moshi-golf-club
• Mufindi Golf Club, Mufindi, Iringa • Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge Golf Course, Tuvaila, Arusha, www.thengurdotomountainlodge.com
Nkonyeni Golf Estate , Swaziland
• Nkonyeni Golf Course, Sidvokodvo, www.nkonyeni.com • Royal Swazi Spa Country Club, www.suninternational.com/Destinations/Resorts/RoyalSwaziSpaValley/ FacilitiesActivities/Pages/Golf.aspx
• Simunye Country Club, Simunye • Ubombo Country Club, Big Bend, www.ubomboclub.com
• Usuthu Golf Club, Mhlambanyatsi
gymkhana.co.tz
• Kilimanjaro Golf and Wildlife Estate, Arusha • Kilombero Golf Club, Kilombero, Morogoro • Lake Victoria Golf & Country Club, Mchauru Villiage, Geita Gold Mine, Geita, Mwanza • Morogoro Golf Club, Morogoro, www.morogorohotel.com/recreation.
• Tanzania People’s Defence Force Lugalo Golf Club, Bogomoyo Road, Lugalo, Dar Es Salaam • Tanzania Plantation Corporation Golf Club, Moshi, Kilimanjaro
The Gambia • Fajara Club, Fajara, www.smiles. gm/fajara.htm see Golf Africa on page 70
69 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Golf Africa www.worldgolf.com/courses/africa from Golf Africa page 69
• Yasmine Golf Course, Mannamet, www.golfyasmine.com/en/index.php
Togo • Golf De Lome, Agouenyive
Tunisia • Djerba Golf Club, Midoun, www. djerbagolf.com
• El Kantaoui Golf Course, Port El Kantaoui, www.portelkantaoui.com. tn/golf
• Flamingo Golf Course, Monastir, www.golfflamingo.com/english/ flamingo.htm • Golf Citrus, Hammamet, www. golfcitrus.com
• Palm Links Golf Course, Monastir, www.golf-palmlinks.com/english/ presentation.htm
• Tabarka Golf Course, Tabarka, www.tabarkagolf.com/en/index.htm
Uganda • Entebbe Golf Club, Entebbe • Jinja Golf Club, Nile Crescent, Jinja • Kabale Golf Club, Kabale • Kilembe Mines Golf Club, Kasese • Kinyara Golf Club, Masindi • Lira Golf Club, Lira • Mary Louise Simkins Memorial Golf Course, Namulonge • Mbale Sports Club, Mbale • Mbarara Golf Club, Mbarara • Mehta Golf Club, Lugazi Sugar Factory, Lugazi • Palm Valley Golf & Country Club, Kampala, www.palmvalleygolf.co.ug • Soroti Golf Club, Soroti - Mbale Road • Toro Golf Club, Fort Portal
• Tororo Golf Club, Tororo • Uganda Golf Club, Kampala, www. ugandagolfclub.com
• West Nile Golf Club, Arua
Zambia • Chainama Hills Golf Club, Lusaka • Chibuluma Golf Club, President Avenue, Kalulushi • Chila Golf Club, Old Prison Building, Mbala
• Chilanga Golf Club, Munda Wanga Botanical Gardens, Chilanga • Chipata Golf Club, Chipata • Harry Mwaanga Golf Club, Choma, www.chomagolf.com • Kabwe Golf Club, Kabwe • Kasama Golf Club, Kasama • Konkola Golf Club, Chililabombwe
• Livingstone Golf Club, Livingstone • Luanshya Golf Club, Luanshya • Lusaka Golf Club, Lusaka • Maamba Golf Club, Maamba • Mansa Golf Club, Mansa • Mazabuka Golf Club, Mazabuka • Monze Golf Club, Monze • Mpika Golf Club, Mpika • Mufulira Golf Club, Mufulira • Nchanga Golf Club, Chingola • Ndola Golf Club, Ndola, www.ndolagolfclub.com
• Nkana Golf Club, Kitwe • Nsanje Golf Club, Air Force Base, Mumbwa
Zimbabwe
Rough shaping at new Kilimanjaro Golf and Wildlife Estates Tanzania 70 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
• Borrowdale Brooke Golf Club, Harare • Bulawayo Country Club, Bulawayo • Bulawayo Golf Club, Bulawayo • Cam & Motor Golf Club, Mashonaland West • Chapman Golf Club, see Golf Africa on page 71
Golf Africa www.worldgolf.com/courses/africa from Golf Africa page 70
Highlands, Harare, www. chapmangolfclub.co.zw
• Chegutu Golf Course, Chegutu • Claremont Golf Club, Juliasdale • Country Club Golf Course, Highlands, Harare • Elephant Hills Resort Golf Course, Victoria Falls • Falcon Golf Club, Hatfield • Harry Allen Golf Club, Bulawayo • Hillside Golf Course, Mutare • Hippo Valley Golf Club, Chiredzi • Hornung Golf Club, Burnside, Bulawayo • Hwange Golf Club, Hwange • Jumbo Golf Club, Jumbo, Mazowe • Kadoma Golf Club, Kadoma • Kwekwe Golf Club, Kwekwe • Leopard Rock Golf Club, Bvumba, Mutare • Marondera Golf Course, Marondera • Mashava Golf Course, Mashava • Masvingo Golf Course, Masvingo
• Mkwasine Golf Course, Glendevon • Mt. Pleasant Golf Club, Harare, Highlands • Mvurwi Golf Club, Mvurwi • Norton Golf Course, Norton • Police Golf Club, Gunhill, Harare • Redcliff Golf Course, Redcliff, Kwekwe • Royal Harare Golf Club, Harare • Ruwa Country Club, Ruwa • Sherwood Golf Club, Mabelreign, Harare • Triangle Country Club, Triangle • Troutbeck Resort Golf Course, Nyanga • Warren Hills Golf Club, Mabelreign • Wingate Park Golf Club, Pomona,
71 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
New 14th hole at Fajara Club, The Gambia
Harare • Zvishavane Golf Course, Zvishavane
African Cuisine: The Peppers, Cracklings, and Knots of Wool Cookbook: The Global Migration of African Cuisine by Diane M. Spivey
A
frica has been a major contributor to world cuisine but this contribution has either been over-looked, trivialized, or denied. References to African cuisine as primitive, unsophisticated, and virtually nonexistent abound within the pseudo-studies of international and ethnic cooking. As far as the detractors are concerned, Africa has not influenced world cuisine because it had nothing worthy of emulating or of sharing with peoples and cultures outside or within the African continent. To counteract such insensitivity and blatant misinformation, I embarked on what became a fifteen-year sojourn in and through libraries, archives, journals, private collections, oral sources and intensive reading in the culinary arts, history, archaeology, anthropology, philology, paleontology, psychoanalysis,
botany, agriculture, agronomy, biology, zoology, geography, cartography, theology, and music. Drawing also on the multiethnic heritage of my relatives and friends, from information gained in both conversation and their kitchens, I was able to grasp and document the unique transition and contribution of African cooking to cuisines throughout the world. As the African race has been virtually left out of culinary history, it is to me the same as being uprooted from our cultural and ancestral homes all over again. In the historical sense, we have been pushed into a small, unlit, insignigicant corner; a corner that has defined our present and will seal our destiny if not challenged; a corner, as Toni Morrison would say, that merely “hovers on the periphery of [culinary] imagination.” I offer a taste of Africa, by way of the pots and cauldrons of people of color from various parts of the globe. It is a culinary contribution that has always been present.
A Few Recipes Blackberry Rose Water For long life - Blackberries. Ingredients 1 cup (½ dry pint) blackberries 2 cups water 1/8 tsp. nutmeg 72 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
A small piece of cinnamon stick (fits into a ¼ teaspoon) ¼ tsp. EACH fresshly ground cardamon and whole cloves 1 tbs. lime juice 2 tbs. EACH honey and sugar 1½ tsp. rose water
Directions Puree blackberries in blender or food processor. Transfer to soucepan. Add remaining ingredients, except sugar and rose water. Bring to a boil. Simmer for about 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Allow to cool slightly and add sugar and rose water. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. When cool, strain into serving container. Chill thoroughly and serve over mounds of crushed is in beverage glasses.
Sweet Black-Eyed Peas A somewhat healthy sweet dish. Ingredients ½ cup cooked black-eyed peas 1 cup cooked rice (that has been cooked with lemon grass) 1 ½ cups coconut milk ½ cup EACH whole mild and finely grated coconut 12 tbs. caramel sugar 1 ½ tsp. EACH vanilla and rose water 2 tbs. sugar (white) Sweetened coconut see African Cuisine
page 73
African Cuisine from African Cuisine page 72
Rose Petals (optional) Directions Puree black-eyed peas and rice together in food processor. In a non-stick or heavy gauge steel saucepan combine both milks, coconut, caramel sugar, vanilla, and rose water. Stir in black-eyed pea mixture. Cook and stir until mixture comes to a full boil. Continue cooking and stirring for about a minute. Immediately remove from heat. Pour mixture into a bowl (DO NOT SCRAPE BOTTOM OF PAN IF MIXTURE SCOURCHES). Stir in white sugar and mix well. Cool completely. Refrigerate unto thoroughly chilled. Serve in dessert dishes, topped generously with sweetened coconut and garnished with washed and dried rose petals (optional).
Crab Rice Spicy baked dish. Ingredients 2 tbs. peanut oil 1 medium-small onion, chopped 1 large plum tomato, chopped ¼ heaping tsp. black peppercorns, crushed ½ medium-small red bell pepper, chopped 1 small chipotle chili pepper and 1 pasilla chili pepper, soaked inscalding hot water for 45 minutes, stems, seeds, and inner
ribs removed and finely chopped 4 serrano chili peppers, toasted in a greased skillet and chopped 1 cup uncooked rice 1 cup EACH beef and chicken broth ¼ cup cognac or dark rum ½ pound cooked and flaked crabmeat Salt and black pepper, to taste Directions In a skillet heat peanut oil. Add onion, tomato, peppercorns, bell pepper, chipotle, serrano, and pasilla chilies, and cilantro. Cook and stir until onion becomes translucent. Stir in rice. Cook and stir for 30 seconds to a minute. Stir in both broths, cognac, crabmeat and salt and pepper. Mix well. Transfer to a baking dish and cover. Bake in a preheated 350 degree over for 1 hour.
Pork and Apple Pie This dish will become a family favorite. Ingredients Two 9-inch unbaked pie crusts 2¼ pounds boneless pork shoulder steaks, cut into thin slices 1 tsp. garlic salt mixed with parsley Black pepper, to taste 1 medium-large onion, chopped ¼ tsp. ground cumin 8 whole allspice berries, finely crushed ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper ½ cup chicken broth 1 tbs. light molasses 1¾ medium-small apples, peeled, cored, and sliced Salt and black pepper, to taste Directions
Line a 9-inch pie plate with one crust. Prick bottom and sides of crust with fork tines. Bake in preheated 450 degree oven for 10 minutes. Cook pork in a large skillet over medium heat, covered, stirring grequently, for about 15 minutes. Drain oil from skillet. Add garlic salt and some black pepper. Mix well and continue cooking and stirring for a couple of minutes. Add onions. Sitr in cumin and cook and stir for another few minutes. Add allspice and crushed red pepper one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Continue cooking and stirring for a minute or two more. Stir in chicken broth, then molasses, mixing well. Cover. Continue cooking and stirring occasionally, over medium-low heat, unil meat is tender (about 25 minutes). Add apples and cook and stir for about 5-8 minutes more. Taste for needed salt and pepper. Pour mixture into partially cooked pie shell. cover with remaining pie crust. Cut slits across top of crust. Bake in preheated 450 degree oven until crust is golden brown, 15-20 minutes, depending on your oven.
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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
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75 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Kasamore International Calling Card Low Rates for International Calls & Domestic Calls No Contract • No Fees Quaranteed High Quality Sound
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Good Reads The Worlds of a Maasai Warrior: An Autobiography by Tepilit Ole Saitoti The author of Maasai now offers his life story: from his birth into a traditional society in Tanzania in 1949, through his youth, education in a mission school, and initiation as a warrior, to his career as a game park guide and ranger (subject of a National Geographic film, Man of the Serengeti ); to his studies in Munich and Boston and at the University of Michigan (where he received an M.S. in natural resources), to his return home, to be received back ritually into his family. Although Masai life has been much described, this personal view is particularly interesting. Accessibly presented, www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ ASIN/0520063252/theafricaguide
Maasai by Tepilit Ole Saitoti, Carol Beckwith
This book is beautiful. It has beautiful photography, and beautiful text by a man who is of the Masai tribe. I was sad, however, to read that the author of the text (Tepilit Ole Saitoti) says that the Masai way of life is destined for extinction. Though this is inevitable for most indigenous peoples. Tepilit Ole Saitoti’s commentary and insight into his people really make the photographs come to life (the cover photograph is of the author’s brother). This is not so much a book as it is an
ENJOY!! The many beers, wines and liquors of Africa. On the continent and in the U.S.A. 76 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
experience, aided by its “over-sized” coffee table format book that gives you the feeling of “stepping” into the beautiful Kenyan landscape. Reading this beautiful book is the next best thing to being able to visit this beautiful land and see these fascinating people in person (which is something I hope to do at some point in my life). What a beautiful land the Masai live in! www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ ASIN/0810980991/theafricaguide
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.
77 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
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ASSIST THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH SUDAN Sudan Sunrise Help Build Schools in the South Sundan
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
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. 78 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
Blue World Travel Corp. 351 California Street #950 San Francisco Ca. 94104 800-466-2719 www.FestivalatSea.com
Friends of Festival at Sea presents our 2015 Pre Sale: A CONNOISSEUR’S CHINA 13 Night Cruise Beijing to Hong Kong featuring 3-Night Overland Package in Beijing Sail from Beijing to Yantai, Shanghai, Xiamen, and Hong Kong March 29 to April 11, 2015
Spend Easter with Friends as we embark on another great adventure sailing with Crystal Cruises on the magnificent six-star Crystal Symphony. The expansive host of luxury services and amenities include: x Deluxe Ocean View Window or Verandah Stateroom with luxury service and amenities x
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Open bar service in all lounges
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All shipboard gratuities for housekeeping, bar & dining staff, and Butler service in Penthouse cabins & suites
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Specialty dining including Nobu Matsuhisa’s Silk Road and Sushi Bar, and Piero Selvaggio’s Prego
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Extensive Enrichment & Entertainment including Yamaha keyboard, Berlitz foreign language & Computer University@Sea classes; lectures, BroadwayͲstyle shows, recentͲrelease films, art classes, shuttle service to town and concierge services onboard
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Fitness Services include stateͲofͲtheͲart equipment, steam, sauna & whirlpools in only Feng ShuiͲinspired spa at sea, fitness classes, and 360 degree wraparound teak deck for uninterͲ rupted walks, jogs and sweeping ocean views 79 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013
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
80 | blackbusinessnews/TRAVEL | Winter 2013