Paa Tanzania – issue 94

YOUR FREE PRECISION AIR MAGAZINE Issue 94, April - June 2019

Sizzling seafood CHANCE TO WIN A MEAL FOR TWO AT ZANZIBAR RESTAURANT THE ROCK

/ INLINE SKATING IN NAIROBI / WISH-LIST / SMART SPEAKERS / BRIGHT BRIDAL GOWNS / ORION TABORA HOTEL

Contents

Bridal Gowns – Page 7

Issue 94, April - June 2019 7 BRIGHT NOT WHITE WEDDINGS

We take a look at the colourful gowns of Kenya’s Ogake Bridal

15

4 NEWS Dodoma here we come

10 PICTURE SPECIAL

Keeping up with Nairobi’s daredevil street skaters

12 STREAMING SUCCESS IN EAST AFRICA

26

The rise of the smart speaker

23 INVESTING IN SOCIAL INNOVATION

How Tanzania is building a modern economy

15

26 FREESTYLE FOOTBALL STAR

Economical e-taxi service hits the streets of Dar

30 WHY THE ZEBRA GOT ITS STRIPES

A new study reveals the reason for animal's distinctive markings

32 SETTLE BACK ON THE SSESE ISLANDS

Ugandan archipelago is the perfect place to relax

34 GOING UNDERGROUND

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Explore a world of stalactites and snake gods at Amboni Caves Paa Tanzania

18 PAA STAY Leafy luxury at the historic Orion Tabora Hotel 22 COMPETITION Win a meal for two at The Rock restaurant

Tanzanian mum impresses US President Trump

28 LITTLE CAB

6 THE WISH LIST Go nude with these interiors ideas 15 PAA DINING Inside Zanzibar’s iconic restaurant The Rock

A look at local music sharing sites

20 TECH ROUND-UP

Regulars

Precision Air Info 5 Paa News 37 Paa Royal Benefits 38 Route Network 39 Paa Contacts 40 Welcome Aboard

Cover picture courtesy of: The Rock Zanzibar

Foreword Precision Air Services Plc Diamond Plaza PO Box 70770, Dar es Salaam Tanzania Tel: +255 (0)22 219 1000 Fax: +255 (0)22 286 0725 www.precisionairtz.com Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager: Hillary Mremi Email: hmremi@precisionairtz.com Paa Tanzania Magazine is published for Precision Air by: Land & Marine Publications Ltd 1 Kings Court, Newcomen Way Severalls Business Park Colchester, Essex CO4 9RA United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1206 752902 Email: publishing@landmarine.com www.landmarine.com ADVERTISING: Philip Johnston, Sales Manager Tel: +44 (0)1206 752902 Cell: +44 (0)7769 110343 (WhatsApp) Email: paa@landmarine.org The contents and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor, or any other organisation associated with this publication. While every care is taken to ensure accuracy in preparing the magazine, the Publisher and Precision Air assume no responsibility or liability for any inaccuracies or omissions. All submitted material is accepted on the understanding that the material can be edited, amended or abridged for publication.

Greetings!

It’s my pleasure to welcome you on board this Precision Air flight and to the latest edition of Paa. Inside, you’ll find fun as well as thought-provoking features on the people and places across our network of destinations.

It may be our 25th anniversary year here at Precision Air, but we’re not resting on our laurels. April sees an exciting addition to our growing network of destinations with the introduction of six weekly flights to Dodoma.

These flights not only connect Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro airports directly with the Tanzania capital, but also link the country’s newest city to the rest of the Precision Air network, including Mwanza, Arusha and Nairobi, through our hub airport at Dar. The new flights recognise the growing importance of Dodoma. The capital is attracting development and investment in the wake of President Dr John Pombe Magufuli’s decision to move all government departments and staff from Dar to Dodoma. Precision Air is proud to be a part of such developments, improving air transport links to the capital.

Dodoma’s is just an hour’s flight from Dar and, with take-off times in the morning and evening, it’s possible for business travellers to make their meetings and return home without the need for an overnight stay. However, there’s plenty in Dodoma to warrant a longer stay – as this edition of Paa will prove.

Our aim is that you should always be happy with our services, so please let us know if your recent experience has been anything short of excellent by emailing customer-relations@precisionairtz.com

Subscribe

Don’t forget to register with our frequent flyer programme, Paa Royal, and take advantage of discounts at the best restaurants and hotels in town. Do also visit our website at www.precisionairtz. com for more updates and the best offers. You can also connect with us on our social media pages:

Request your e-version subscription by emailing: subscribe@landmarine.org

Facebook – Precision Air Tanzania Twitter – PrecisionAirTz Instagram – precisionairtz

©2019 Land & Marine Publications Ltd

You Are Why We Fly. Sauda Rajab

Managing director and CEO Precision Air Services Plc

www.precisionairtz.com

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News

Baba Tabita | Wikimedia Commons | CC-BY-SA-4.0

Latest from Tanzania’s leading airline Destined for Dodoma: We now fly six days a week to capital

Dodoma top five: What to see on your trip to the capital 1. Bunge Dodoma is full of grandiose and imposing state buildings and none more so than the home of Tanzania’s parliament. It is open to visitors during sessions – you’ll need your passport – and at other times it is still worth taking in the building, which was built to withstand earthquakes, from the outside.

Photography is strictly prohibited, though.

2. Lion Rock Lion Rock, also called ‘Simba Hill’ or ‘Mlimwa’ in Swahili, is a hilly area in the north of Dodoma that is great to hike.

Getting to the top affords you a beautiful view over the entire city.

3. Leone l’Africano

Precision Air has announced the start of six flights a week to Tanzania’s capital and newest city, Dodoma, from Dar es Salaam.

The new routes will be introduced from 1 April and will include flights between Kilimanjaro and Dodoma.

The airline’s marketing and corporate affairs manager, Hillary Mremi, said: “We will operate six flights a week, every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. On Wednesday and Friday the flight will operate via Kilimanjaro while the rest of the days it will be a direct flight.”

The flights will also connect Dodoma with other destinations in the Precision Air network through the hub airport of Dar. Mr Mremi said: “Our new flight will connect Dodoma with Mtwara, Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Arusha and Nairobi via Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro.

Passengers from these destinations can easily connect to Dodoma with our flights, thereby connecting communities, which is one of our key missions.”

The direct flight to Dodoma will depart Dar es Salaam at 9.15 am and arrive in Dodoma at 10.20 am, while the triangular flight via Kilimanjaro will depart at 2 pm and arrive in Dodoma at 4.50 pm.

Returning flights from Dodoma will depart at 10.45 am and arrive in Dar es Salaam at 11.50 am while the flight via Kilimanjaro will depart at 5.15 pm and arrive in Kilimanjaro at 6.15 pm and in Dar es Salaam at 8.05 pm.

The morning take-off times and evening returns in Dar mean that business trips can be arranged to Dodoma without having to book overnight stays in the capital.

To book flights, visit www.precisionairtz.com

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Located in the shadow of Lion’s Rock and the perfect spot to refuel after your hiking excursions is this authentic Italian pizza joint. The pizzas are huge and cooked in a traditional pizza oven. Homemade Italian cakes are also available as is a playground and a 12-hole mini-golf course.

4. Majengo Market This bustling street market is great to explore and there are some excellent examples of traditional crafts for sale, such as local cloth, classic wicker baskets and handmade wooden utensils.

5. Aladdin’s Cave Like its name suggests, this shop in the Madukani district is full of treasures. You can find a huge selection of old favourite sweets and chocolates and it also serves veggie burgers and pizzas.

Keep in touch www.precisionairtz.com www.facebook.com/precisionairtz www.twitter.com/precisionairtz

The wish list Go nude!

If you’re looking for a fresh yet warm new look for your interior space, have you thought about going nude?

Nude colours are earthy, ‘barely there’ shades that create a warm, friendly look, whether on your walls or layered in cushions and rugs. Get your contrast by mixing textures such as glass, metal and wood. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Bronze Lamp EL CORTE INGLES Elcorteingles.es Price: US$ 90·

Plushious Velvet Ivory Bedspread LINUM www.frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk Price: US$ 420

Beige Rug LORENA CANALS www.ksl-living.fr Price: US$ 905

Treasure Gold Beige Cushion ARTISANTI www.artisanti.com Price: US$ 70

Pineapple Embroidered Cushion FINE CELL WORK finecellwork.co.uk Price: US$ 230

Moseley Beige Leather Bar Cabinet ARTISANTI www.artisanti.com Price: US$ 1,800

Nude Rug ANGELO www.ksl-living.fr Price: US$ 175

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Paa Tanzania

Case Pendant Light

Kyoto Bean Bag Footstool

VITAMIN www.limelace.co.uk Price: US$ 90

LUJO www.lujo.com.au Price: US$ 385

Bridal Gowns All images: Ogake Bridal

Modern mermaid

A showstopping gown from Ogaka Bridal Studios

Why Kenyan brides are saying ‘I do’ to bright, not white wedding dresses There’s a growing trend for colourful wedding gowns in East Africa, with some of the most breathtaking examples coming out of Ogake Bridal studios in Nairobi

Y

our wedding day is likely

the rules a little bit for a more

to be one of the impor-

contemporary take on bridal.”

tant days of your life. For

Ogake runs Ogake Bridal, a

the bride, such a special day

fashion house set up in 2013

requires a dress that is similarly

which has refined its focus in

unique, reflects her character

recent years to create beautiful

and, of course, makes her look

bridal and evening gowns with

gorgeous. In finding that ‘one’

artisanal and couture detailing.

dress, many Kenyan women are

The bespoke gowns are created

looking beyond the traditional

from a variety of exclusive fabrics

white wedding gown for

and trims that are handpicked

something more original and

from around the world with the

colourful.

modern, savvy woman in mind.

It’s a trend Nairobi-based designer Ogake Mosomi,

Awards

who specialises in handmade

The show-stopping dresses have

wedding gowns, is happy to cater

built a considerable renown for

for. “We are allowing women to

Ogake. She was the Designer to

dream,” she says, “and blurring

Watch at the 2017 Kenya Fashion Continued

www.precisionairtz.com

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Bridal Gowns

Awards and has designed gowns

to come up with something special.

for such high-profile clients as CNN

It starts with a long discussion

journalist Zain Asher, Kiss 100 radio

about what they’re looking for, their

host Adelle Onyango and Capital FM

ceremony, body type, wedding

presenter Anita Nderu. All the dresses

theme and personality. Then we look

are personal – Ogake encourages

at fabrics that are suitable and sketch

collaboration with her clients

the design based on our discussion.

throughout the process – and made

When the sketch is approved, we go

with time, love and care – a lot like a

into production. From the first meet-

marriage itself.

ing to collection, an ideal timeframe

Dream gowns made locally “Our process is consultative,” she says, “meaning clients come with

Brides are leaning more towards gowns that define them and have personal touches. They’re also in touch with international trends During the client consultations, Defining dress

Individual look

Nairobi-based Ogake will entertain even the most outrageous ideas.

is six months, though as little as one

Coloured gowns are a challenge

or two months is OK if we’re not too

she and her six-strong team have

busy.”

embraced.

Discerning Kenyan brides-to-be

ideas and we give them professional

are loving the fact they can have

Pushing the boundaries

input and help them sort through

their dream gown made locally and

“The very first coloured gown

the many ideas they have [in order]

to exacting international standards.

we did was exciting,” she says,

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train and strings of ivory beads that stretch harp-like across the body; a dress with a tufted bustle in layers of aquamarine and white that look like breaking waves; and a mermaidthemed gown with stunning dip-dyed green colouring.

Does Ogake think the popularity of these colourful gowns means the end of the once totemic white wedding dresses?

“No way! The white dress is here to stay. And we’re not trying to dispute its place in bridal fashion. We’re saying you can wear what you want and be you on your big day.

"As long as the client is true to “because it felt like we were pushing

There are also more practical

the boundaries in our own small way.

advantages to eschewing white,

The more outrageous it is, the better.

cream or ivory wedding gowns.

We like to challenge the status quo.”

Ogake, who studied in the UK for

As to the reason for the growing

Taking control

Brides-to-be want their own look

herself, it really doesn’t matter whether the dress is coloured or white.”

55 Because Ogake and her team

a degree in fashion design, says:

want to give each of their clients

trend for colourful bridal gowns,

“There are brides who come with the

‘100 per cent of their attention’

Ogake believes it signals that more

intention of making a gown that is

they work on appointment only.

women are taking control of their

reusable.

Call/Whatsapp the team on +254

look for their big day.

“It’s certainly a growing trend in Kenya,” she says. “Brides are leaning

"In this case, a coloured gown

732219292 or email info@ogake-

would be advantageous as white is

mosomi.com for an appointment.

tricky to wear to other events.”

more towards gowns that define

This use of colour coupled with

them and have personal touches.

eye-catching, hand-crafted detail

They’re also in touch with interna-

makes for some dramatic dresses.

tional trends, more mature and able

Recent one-off designs that the

to make more decisions for their

Ogake Bridal studio has produced

weddings.”

include a scarlet gown with a ruffled

NEED TO KNOW To see images of some of Ogake Bridal’s latest designs, visit their Twitter site at @ogakem For an insight into the team’s carefully crafted work, visit the website at www.ogakemosomi.com www.precisionairtz.com

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Rollerblading

Get ‘inline’ for Nairobi’s skating craze

T

raffic in Nairobi is often brought to a fuming, frustrated standstill in the rush hour – but it doesn’t stop a team of stylishly kitted-out inline skaters, who weave

between cars and matatus and jump potholes, seemingly oblivious to the potential dangers.

When the traffic loosens up and vehicles hit upwards of 70 mph on the Thika superhighway, the skaters are still there, enjoying the smooth bitumen on these main roads and drafting behind each other for maximum speed.

Second-hand skates The inline skating, or Rollerblading, craze has hit Nairobi hard. It’s easy to pick up a pair of skates here. Stores such as Skate Station Nairobi, in the central business district, sell hundreds of second-hand pairs collected

1 5

from charity bundles sent from Western countries, where the fad has long since dwindled.

On top of the adrenalin rush and driver-annoying thrills of road skating, the best inline skaters can make money by giving lessons to youngsters looking to take up the sport. A popular place for lessons and for beginners to

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gain confidence is Sunken Park, an empty lot in the central business district.

Here every Sunday afternoon you’ll find kids taking classes alongside freestylers, finessing moves such as the footgun, a sort of pistol squat on skates.

Caught on camera Duncan Moore, a visual journalist working in Nairobi, recently spent time with some of the city’s skaters and captured their daredevil skills on camera. “Skating has emerged as more than just a fad in Nairobi,” he says. “The same risk-takers who dodge cars in rush hour are now training the next generation of skaters.”

For more information on Duncan’s work, visit www.duncanmooremedia.com A selection of these images first appeared in the UK's ‘The Guardian’ newspaper.

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7

All images: Duncan Moore

2 3

4

1. Nelson Mbusyei and Angela Martha practise the move known as the

5. Nairobi’s central business district in the afternoon rush hour.

footgun.

2. Lenny Alvin and Allan Ayigah gain speed before turning onto the highway.

3. A lone skater makes the most of some relatively light afternoon traffic.

6. Kids take part in a Sunday afternoon skating lesson.

7. A freestyle skater practises his moves in the Sunken Park.

Once a week the parking lot is opened to the skating public, offering a refuge from the car-congested streets.

4. Skating beginners build their confidence in Sunken Park.

8. Kenneth Wanjohi inside Skate Station Nairobi.

8

Music streaming

East Africa is going with the stream Musicians across Africa are making a living from their art thanks to a number of home-grown online music platforms championing local talent and the widespread adoption of mobile phones. Paa looks at some of the best streaming services available to East African music fans.

S

treaming is now the way

the changing musical landscape.

Besides simply creating revenue,

most of the world listens to

Most artists here are happy with

popular music. It’s a situa-

the cut the audio content sharing sites

the trends in contemporary pop music

tion plenty in the music business

give them for each song played, or for

towards globalisation and multi-artist

are not happy with. Many artists

a small percentage of the advertising

collaborations, exemplified in the

feel they have lost the rights to

revenue from free ad-supported

recent East/West Africa team-up

their music and cannot make a

streaming, because just a few years

between Ghana’s Stonebwoy and

living on the minuscule amount

ago, before the arrival of these licensed

they receive each time someone

platforms, streaming was the domain

streams one of their songs. Even

of illegal, unlicensed sites that paid

the biggest global players in

artists nothing.

streaming services can’t make a

the streaming sites have keyed into

Easy listening

Stream your favourite music

Diamond Platnumz, from Tanzania, on Morgan Heritage’s single ‘Africa x Jamaica’.

Building a broad fanbase

success of it, apparently. Spotify

Easy mobile payments

recently chalked up record losses

Many East Africans don’t have bank

reach new audiences and build their

despite having 140 million active

accounts but do have smart phones,

fanbase across borders. The sites are

users and Jay Z’s Tidal, despite – or

so that easy mobile payments have

also keen to foster close ties with artists

perhaps because of – the efforts of

become a reality. This presents a huge

and be seen as supporters of locally

Kanye West, seems to be circling

new market for the music industry.

produced music by pushing new

the drain.

Through streaming, people here now

releases, videos and live shows. Music

The streaming sites help African artists

have the ability to consume music

fans will often subscribe to a streaming

in East Africa such as Mdundo, Mziiki

at affordable prices, because costs

service as a sign of support for their

and Mkito seem to have hit upon

for smart phones and data are falling

favourite artists.

business models that make the most of

steadily.

However, music-streaming services

Mziiki

amid the tunes – an, if you’re using Mziiki’s

(Tanzania)

app you can save content to play offline as

How to listen: Download Mziiki

well.

app or visit www.mziiki.com

12

music is free to stream – with ads slotted

The streaming platform encourages its

Mziiki is a free music streaming service from

users to spread the word on its artists with the

Tanzania powered by leading mobile content

option of sharing songs on Facebook, Twitter

and platform provider Spice VAS Africa. It

and via email. It even allows users to dedicate

has over 1,500 local and international artists

songs – with a heartfelt message – to other

on board, including 800 sub-Saharan artists

members and to create their own playlists of

signed to exclusive distribution deals. All the

favourite songs.

Paa Tanzania

Mdundo

According to its latest figures, Mdundo

rhythm and blues, DJ mixes, gospel,

(Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda,

has 1.5 million active users each month,

dancehall, taarab, rhumba and AfroPop

Nigeria)

with 462 of its songs being downloaded

– and all for free if they can put up

How to listen: Download Mdundo app

every two minutes. Kenya, Tanzania,

with the advertising messages that will

on Android Playstore or visit

Uganda and Nigeria are its strongest

appear between tracks. The premium

mdundo.com

territories, but it also has healthy

service is available globally and in Kenya

followings across the continent as far as

and, just recently, Tanzania, through

Kenya-based Mdundo was set up in

Ghana and Mali in the west and Egypt in

Mobile Money for the equivalent of

2013 in collaboration with some of

the north.

US$ 3 a month. Here, customers will be

the top names in African music and

The company, which is financed by

able to make high-quality downloads of

markets itself as one of the few music

Google-backed seed fund 88mph,

their tracks to play offline and will get

marketplaces centred on supporting

has been able to stretch its influence

streaming without commercial breaks.

artists from the continent. There’s

globally. It signed a deal with Warner

In keeping with the mission of

much to back up this claim. Rather

Music Group to license its Mdundo App,

Mdundo, customers are encouraged to

than offering a sliver of money for each

which allows African music fans across

subscribe to be a part of encouraging

song streamed, Mdundo shares half its

the world to stream music or pay for

African artists.

revenue from advertisements in its free,

premium content using Google Wallet.

ad-supported service with its current

Unsurprisingly, African artists have been

roster of 40,000 artists and they also split

signing up in droves. There are currently

half of the income from subscriptions

more than 50,000 acts sharing their

to the site’s premium service in which

work on Mdundo. The site does plenty

tracks can be downloaded to play

to publicise artists through its website

offline.

and social media platforms promoting

The rapidly expanding service also offers

new releases, videos and events.

regional artists a chance to grow their

As for its customers, they get to choose

fanbase and sell their music legitimately

from one of Africa’s biggest music

across the continent and beyond.

catalogues with the latest in hip hop,

Mkito

zouk, soul, reggae, traditional music

each has their own profile in the site

and poems. Users from across the

with their biography, album news and

(Tanzania)

globe can buy content from Mkito

their new music releases.

How to listen: Website mkito.com or

through MasterCard, Visa and PesaPal.

Mkito APK app

Customers in Tanzania can buy downloads using mobile money and,

Mkito.com is a Tanzania-based

once they set up an account, they’re

company that launched in 2014 and

allowed to download 10 tracks for free

aims to give its register of East African

each month.

Mdundo Top 5 (March 2019)

1. Hauwezi Kushindana, by Goodluck Gozbert

2. Shukurani, by Goodluck Gozbert 3. Milele feat. Ali Kiba, by Godzilla 4. Lokote feat. Hanstone, by Mau Sama 5. Malaika, by Nyashinski

Mkito Top 5 (top tracks based on download numbers)

1. Kufa Au Kupona, by Kla Pina 2. Taifa La Kesho, by Professor Jay 3. Mtaalam Wa Dar feat. Kisamaki, by

artists a fair share of revenue gener-

These tracks come attached to a

ated by sales. It shares 60 per cent of

five-second advert, so the artists still

all proceeds generated from music

get paid for every download. Every

sales and downloads with the artists.

song on the site is available to stream in

4. Need You To Reign, by

Users get to choose from the latest

30-second taster snippets to help you

releases in Afrobeat, genge, bongo

decide on you purchases; and you can

5. Kokoro feat. Diamond Platnumz, by

flava, Swahili rap, jazz, Singeli, taarab,

learn more about each artist, because

Mh Temba Angel Benard Rich Mavoko

www.precisionairtz.com

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Images courtesy of: The Rock images

A foodies' fantasy island Surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Rock restaurant is one of Zanzibar’s most iconic sights

T

Rock lobster

Screamingly fresh seafood at The Rock

he Rock restaurant is so

dining experiences in the world. It

sands, a paddle or a swim. There’s

magical it doesn’t seem

can be found on Zanzibar’s relaxed,

also a water taxi laid on by the hotel

real. How could this seven-

sparsely populated south-east coast,

if you’ve dressed up for the occasion

metre-high rock stand alone in the

where small coastal fishing villages

and don’t fancy getting wet.

crystal-clear shallows of Zanzibar’s

are the extent of development. On an

Michanwi Pingwe beach and how

island famed for its dreamlike fringes

Panoramic ocean views

could it provide the platform for

of golden coast, this area has arguably

Once you climb the wooden staircase

the restaurant’s beautiful palm-

the best of its beaches and you’ll most

to the restaurant, you can take in the

thatched huts and landscaped

likely just be sharing them with ladies

wondrous views of the Indian Ocean

gardens? Surely some CGI trickery

collecting seashells or seaweed or kids

afforded by its unique setting. There’s

has been involved here? It looks

playing football. Among them is the

an outdoor terrace where guests

like something conjured up in

palm-lined Michanwi Pingwe, with its

can enjoy drinks before or after their

Peter Jackson’s design studios for

powder-fine sand, aquamarine waters

meal. Sunsets are special around here

‘The Lord of the Rings’ films.

and The Rock.

and taking them in while sipping a

But the former fishing post, now a

Depending on the tide, getting

14-table restaurant, is very real, offering

from the beach to the restaurant

one of the most iconic and exclusive

will involve a short walk across the

cocktail or two from The Rock’s bar is hard to beat.

As for the food, frankly, The Rock’s

Paa Dining / The Rock, Zanzibar www.precisionairtz.com

15

setting is so splendid that a cheese

Firman blends these Zanzibari

havoc with bookings. As a solution,

sandwich eaten here would feel

touches with classic Italian cuisine

the restaurant has set up Zanzicar, a

like a wonderful meal. However, the

– his coconut tiramisu is extremely

reliable and reasonably priced taxi

menu, inspired by Zanzibar’s natural

popular – and the menu offers a

service that picks you up from your

resources, genuinely lives up to its

range of pasta and gnocchi dishes

hotel, takes you to the restaurant and

location.

such as spaghetti with crab and

will be waiting when you want to

Fresh flavours Ingredients are locally sourced

fresh tomato sauce and home-made tagliolini with fried aubergines.

The Rock is one of Zanzibar’s more

return. The taxi can be booked online Homemade pasta Italian influence

when you make your meal booking.

wherever possible, including

expensive restaurants – main courses

Protecting the environment

seafood harvested from the reefs

range in price from US$ 20 for the

Another option is to stay at one of the

around the restaurant. Game fish is

home-made potato gnocchi with

nearby hotels, Kichanga Lodge and

caught daily by local fishermen and

prawns and Zanzibar vanilla to US$ 63

Dongwe Ocean View, which flank The

vegetables are grown locally. Try the

for The Rock Special – but the quality

Rock along the Michamvi coast.

screamingly fresh octopus salad or

of the cuisine is excellent and it’s hard

The Rock Special, which piles your

to put a price on the unique setting.

actively support the Kichanga

plate with grilled lobster, cigal, king

Certainly, many people think so,

Foundation, set up in 2005 to

prawns, octopus and calamari. Chef

with tables in high demand. The Rock

preserve the environment of

and part-owner Nigel Firman also

only has room for a maximum of 45

Michanwi and its people. Its projects

makes fine use of the Spice Island’s

guests, so it’s essential to book ahead.

have included teaching local

rich selection of flavourings such

Such a packed reservation timeta-

The Rock and the two hotels

community members how to swim

as clove, cinnamon, cumin, saffron,

ble has fallen foul of some of the less

and improving methods of collecting,

ginger, red curry and cardamom.

exacting unlicensed taxi services on

sorting and recycling waste.

There’s an avalanche of flavour in the

the island. The remote restaurant is a

fish carpaccio, seasoned with lime,

10-minute drive from Paje, 45 minutes

the residents of Michamvi and

coconut and fresh chilli pepper, while

from Stone Town and an hour and a

such projects are its way of saying

the squid tandoori is a creamy delight

half from Nungwi, on the northern-

thank-you for its amazing, but very

in a coconut milk and spinach sauce.

most tip, and late arrivals can play

real, location.

Paa Dining / The Rock, Zanzibar 16

Paa Tanzania

The Rock has been leased from

More restaurants in unique locations in East Africa Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant, Diani Beach, Kenya This fine-dining restaurant at Diani Beach is situated 10 metres below ground within a naturally formed coral cave. The cave is open to the sky, so evening meals are wonderfully romantic, lit by a roof of stars. The speciality here is seafood, but there’s also a vegetarian menu. The restaurant offers free pick-up and drop-off at hotels along Diani Beach.

Visit www.alibarbours.co

Akemi Restaurant, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania The unique selling point of this restaurant, located in the tallest building in Tanzania’s commercial capital, is that it revolves, giving diners a 360-degree panoramic view of the city.

The food is international with an Oriental and Indian flavour. Breakfast, lunch and evening meals are offered and every Friday there is a live band in the bar area. Visit akemidining.com

The Pearl of Africa Restaurant and Champagne Bar, Kampala, Uganda

Swahili style

Seafood skewers

This fine-dining experience in the Serena Hotel in Kampala offers the ultimate in opulence.

Guests can choose from carefully crafted international, national and regional cuisine, but it’s the unashamedly grand ambience that truly impresses. There’s an outdoor fountain-filled, an exclusive private dining room (to seat 12) and a central dining room with a raised piano dais, where a resident pianist plays each night.

Visit www.serenahotels.com

The Rock, Zanzibar For reservations, visit: www.therockrestaurantzanzibar.com, call +255 776591360 or email booking@therockrestaurantzanzibar.com

www.precisionairtz.com

17

A luxurious taste of regenerated Tabora Images courtesy of: The Orion Tabora Hotel

A successful investment programme has turned Tabora from sleepy town to thriving metropolis. Precision Air, with five flights a week from Dar, is a major player in its expansion and the historic Orion Tabora Hotel is an ideal place to hang out for Taborians and the new influx of visitors.

T

abora, an attractive town in the hinterland of Western Tanzania, is a sweet little

place – and not just because the regions surrounding it are famous for producing a particularly powerful and delicious strain of honey. You’ll find a number of stalls selling large jerrycans and bottles of the famous liquid in the town’s markets.

The honey industry here is just one sector of business in Tabora, which has recently been earmarked as an investment opportunity by a development programme led by the Tanzania Investment Centre and the Millennium Cities Initiative with other avenues including dairy products, edible oil, tobacco, timber and cotton processing and tourism. As a result of this, coupled with improvements to the town’s infrastructure such as a new airport and road links opening up markets across Tanzania and to neighbouring countries, the once-sleepy town is on its way to becoming a thriving metropolis.

Beautiful grounds Among those benefiting from the influx of business is the Orion Tabora Hotel, centrally located in Station Road, which offers a leafy, welcoming haven and some of the finest food for miles for commercial and leisure travellers.

Gorgeous grounds

The hotel has well kept gardens and a play area

The hotel’s verdant loveliness begins at its entrance, where a cascading fountain is surrounded by rose bushes – a wonderful sight when in bloom. Further in, the welltended and extensive grounds – “A mini forest in Tabora town centre,” says Hannah Poley Ahmed, the hotel’s acting day manager – are quite beautiful and the Orion’s two suites,

Paa Stay / Orion Tabora Hotel 18

Paa Tanzania

The Orion Tabora Hotel offers a leafy, welcoming haven and some of the finest food for miles for commercial and leisure travellers seven deluxe rooms and 12 standard

areas. As well as its immaculate

rooms all offer views of its soothing

gardens, the outdoor space at the

greenery. To get a true taste of the

Orion contains a children’s play area

Orion’s history, ask for rooms in the

and even a five-a-side football pitch.

Kaiser Wing, which have screened

Diners at the restaurant have a

porches within the grounds. This

great view of the gardens from its

wing dates back to the hotel’s first

outdoor seating area. The restaurant

incarnation as a hunting lodge for

is renowned as the best in town with

Kaiser Wilhelm II and his barons when

a menu that draws on Indian, Chinese

Tabora was the leading administrative

and continental dishes as well as local

centre of central German East Africa

cuisine and barbecues.

in the early 1900s.

Colonial past

Comfort

Almost all rooms offer views of the garden

Tabora is known as the fruit capital

“It’s a popular place to watch the

of Western Tanzania – its streets are

game, listen to good music, meet

lined with mango trees planted by

friends, play pool and socialise,” says

There are more remnants of Tabora’s

Omani traders when the town was a

Hannah. “The new-look bar has a wide

German colonial past scattered

major trading hub in the 19th century

selection of beers and spirits.

around the town, such as the Boma

– and the hotel chefs pack their

Fort, Railway Station and Railway

dishes with fresh produce.

College, but the Orion has been

The gated, secure, family-run Omani was once an obtrusively luxurious

“All our main ingredients are

presence among Tabora’s quaint

much expanded since those days.

fresh from the Tabora market,” says

charms, but the town’s economic

Under British rule, the Princess

Hannah. “Whole barbecued fish,

revival means more visitors are getting

Margaret Wing was added in 1956 to

chicken tikka masala, mishkaki,

to experience its warm welcome.

mark the princess’s tour of East Africa,

pepper steak, beef burgers and fried

with the Livingstone Wing being

pork are among the favourite dishes,

added soon after.

but there are so many more.”

More extensions came after 2003

Breakfast is included in the room

when the hotel was privatised and

rate here, but the restaurant stays

became the Orion Tabora Hotel with

open throughout the day, offering

another wing, Mirambo – named

lunches and evening meals until

after a Taborian chief – added which

midnight.

contains two spacious suites, each with a living room, kitchen, dining

Popular meeting place

room, large bedroom, bathroom and

The restaurant is as popular with

a private outside sitting area.

Taborians as visitors to the town and

All rooms, including the two

locals also like to hang out at the

budget single rooms, come with

hotel’s newly renovated bar, which

free Wi-Fi and TV, but there is plenty

can attract quite a crowd when its

to draw guests away from these

big-screen TVs are showing a football

comforts in the hotel’s communal

match or other sporting event.

Well-stocked

The Orion's bar

Orion Tabora Hotel For the latest events at the hotel and to inquire about a booking, visit the hotel’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/oriontaborahotel

www.precisionairtz.com

19

Tech

SPEAKERS ARE GETTING SMART

ClassyPictures / Shutterstock.com

pianodiaphragm / Shutterstock.com

Smart speakers are the ‘must have’ in-home gadget of the moment and their popularity looks future-proofed as Apple, Amazon, Google and others get in on the AI action and their applications increase to running everything from home security to your living-room lights.

While one could argue that life wasn’t that bad when we had to switch on our own lights by hand, there is no doubt they offer plenty that’s useful – and all through voice control. The only thing they can’t help you with is choosing – from the wide variety on the market – a virtual assistant in your home. Don’t worry, Paa is here to help with five of the best.

Sonos One

Google Home

SONOS

GOOGLE

Price: US$ 250

Price: US$ 170

If you’re going to play a lot of music on your smart speaker and it

Google has arrived fashionably late at the smart speaker party with

will function as your home hi-fi system, then the Sonos One, with

the stylish Google Home. Of course, you have the super-smart

its weighty, full-bodied sound, should be your choice. You could

Google Assistant built in, which can tell you everything from the

make it sound even better by buying two speakers, which can then

price of aeroplane tickets to random facts such as what is the

be combined to create a stereo pair capable of filling a room with

world’s largest spider – it’s the Giant Huntsman, by the way. It does

hi-fi-like focus – which for US$ 500 is quite an accomplishment. The

have a tendency to misinterpret requests, but you no longer have

Sonos One is also Alexa-enabled, so you can attach separate speak-

to say ‘Hey, Google’ before every request with the introduction of

ers to different zones in the house and command them by voice

the Continued Conversation feature. The options for music stream-

(for example, ‘Play Diamond Platnumz in the kitchen’) However,

ing are huge, with Google Play Music, YouTube Music, Spotify and

despite early word from Sonos to the contrary, the speaker has

Pandora at your disposal, and it also works as a Wi-Fi speaker thanks

arrived without Google Assistant support. Apparently, though, this

to its built-in Google Cast capabilities. Its expanding hardware

is imminent and will make the Sonos One hard to beat in the smart

system isn’t as great as the Echo, but it’s growing all the time and

speaker market.

incorporating new languages, beyond English, to work in.

Great sound quality

20

Paa Tanzania

No Google Assistant

Huge song library to

Google Assistant

(as yet)

stream

communication issues

Amazon Echo Plus (2nd gen)

pianodiaphragm / Shutterstock.com

Credit: Amazon Echo Plus / press.aboutamazon.com

James W Copeland / Shutterstock.com

Amazon Echo (2nd Gen)

Apple HomePod

AMAZON

AMAZON

Price: US$ 120

Price US$ 180

Price: US$ 300

APPLE

Amazon’s speaker has had a makeover in

This is the higher-end choice among the

Apple finally puts some skin in the game

looks, with a new fabric finish, and is now

Amazon range, with improved sound

in the smart speaker battle with the

even more affordable. The sound quality

quality – louder and bassier – powered by

attractive, minimally designed HomePod.

is not at the level of the Apple HomePod

experts Dolby and more smart home func-

It helps if you’re an Apple fanatic already

or Sonos One, but it’s pretty good for

tions. Featuring a dedicated Zigbee hub,

as the HomePad will link nicely with your

the price. The number of services Alexa

the Echo Plus Gen 2 is all set to control

other Apple home products. As a speaker

can offer users increases every week – it

compatible smart home devices – without

it sounds great, but you’ll need a subscrip-

can already call you an Uber and do your

the need for a separate control hub. Simply

tion to Apple Music to stream tunes and

online shopping for you – but its AI still

ask Alexa to control Zigbee smart lights,

there’s no Bluetooth streaming function.

doesn’t quite match the intelligence of

plugs and other smart home functions.

Voice control is through Siri, which works

Google Assistant.

Now with a built-in temperature sensor,

accurately, but there’s little scope for it to

the Echo Plus Gen 2 works even more

implement with other devices.

smartly with heating systems, too.

Great option for the price

More smart home functions

Links well with other Apple products

Sound quality is limited

Audio quality still can’t compete

Tied to the Apple ecosystem

with Sonos and Apple

www.precisionairtz.com

21

Paa Competition

Win a meal for two at The Rock restaurant in Zanzibar

If you’re a lover of seafood and sea views, we have the prize of your dreams in our latest competition.

question below and send it, along

The lucky winner will receive a complimentary dinner for two on a date of his or her choosing. The meal will include a choice of one carpaccio or one tempura dish as a starter as well as one ‘Rock Special’ - the restaurant’s signature seafood sharing platter, piled high with freshly caught lobster, king prawns, octopus and calamari - and a bottle of white wine to accompany the meal. The winner and his or her guest will each also receive a Rock T-shirt to commemorate their experience.

this issue of Paa, to

To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, answer the

with a picture of yourself holding competition@landmarine.org by 20 July.

Question At high tide The Rock restaurant is surrounded by the waters of which ocean?

Terms and conditions • • • •

One entry per person Entrants must be 18 years or over The decision of the organisers will be final.

The competition is not open to employees and their relatives of The Rock Zanzibar, Paa Tanzania, or Land & Marine Publications Ltd.

Marius Dobilas / Shutterstock.com

The Rock restaurant, perched on a rock surrounded by the Indian Ocean just off Michamvi Pingwe beach, Zanzibar, is one of the world’s most remote and picturesque dining establishments. Paa readers have the chance to win an

unforgettable meal for two at The Rock in our latest competition.

Winner!

Congratulations to Moses Paul Mahalila for being the winner of the prize competition in the last edition of Paa. Moses, who is a laboratory scientist in Mwanza, correctly answered all three questions set – and sent in a lovely picture of himself with issue 93 of Paa. Heading He wins two 200 gram jars of honey from B.Barefoot Honey collected by the beekeeper Caption mamas of Zanzibar as well as a set of three beeswax wraps. Congratulations from the Paa team, Moses, and thank you for flying Precision Air!

22

Paa Tanzania

HDIF innovation

Building a better future through technology Tanzania has climbed 31 positions in the Global Innovation Index thanks to the financial and technical support of the Human Development Innovation Fund (HDIF) and a band of ‘great people with great ideas’ who have revolutionised how people live in this country. Here, we learn more about how the fund works and meet some of the innovators it is putting its weight behind.

T

Classroom tech E-readers help engage pupils

he rapid advancement of

Fund (HDIF). This five-year, US$ 40

access to basic services in Tanzania, to

technology-supported

million challenge fund provided

apply for grants.

ideas to tackle some of

by UKAid, which gave financial and

HDIF team leader David B. McGinty

Tanzania’s toughest develop-

technical support to innovative

says the fund has exceeded its goals

mental challenges has led to the

approaches to helping the poor and

in the adoption of innovation in

country moving up 31 positions

underrepresented across Tanzania,

Tanzania over the past five years. “We

in the Global Innovation Index

was due to end in 2018, but such

have been able to support 43 innova-

over the past five years. Tanzania

has been its impact that it’s being

tions in health, education and WASH

now stands at 92 in the index – an

extended until July 2021.

[water, sanitation and hygiene] with

annual ranking of countries by

When HDIF was launched in May

over twice as many success stories as

their capacity for, and success in,

2014 it identified education, gender

innovation – with only Kenya, at

inequity, health and water, sanitation

78, ahead of it among East African

and hygiene as key factors holding

mVacciNation, an app devised by

countries.

back development in Tanzania. It

Vodafone and Amref Health Africa

invited registered organisations,

to improve the recording and

years owes much to the work of the

which had come up with ingenious,

monitoring of vaccine supplies in

Human Development Innovation

tech-savvy solutions to advance

the Geita and Shinyanga regions,

The progress over the past five

we anticipated,” he says.

Among those success stories is

where there is a high rate of infant mortality. It enables health care

HDIF success story: Shule Direct Shule Direct is a key player in pushing Tanzania’s drive towards ‘education for all’. The not-for-profit social enterprise provides local and accessible digital learning content for young learners in the most remote and destitute parts of the country.

Its mobile learning platform, Makini SMS, allows students to ask academic questions to

get real-time responses from teachers through the ‘Ask Ticha Kidevu’ feature.

Shule Direct’s co-founder, Iku Lazaro, wanted to use her ICT skills developed in the telecoms industry to create social impact and to inspire more women to get involved in innovation and technology.

She says: “We need women role models in every industry. Our society must embrace people for their abilities, not for their gender.”

practitioners equipped with tablets or smartphones to view and record patient vaccination histories and send appointment reminders by SMS. Vaccination coverage went up from 90 to 98 per cent during the project.

Provable benefits There were also provable benefits to the work of the Campaign For Female Education (Camfed) and the e-book library Worldreader in providing vulnerable secondary school

www.precisionairtz.com

23

HDIF innovation

students in the Iringa region with

government’s Ministry of Health,

scale up its English literacy e-reader

technology-supported learning. The

Community Development, Gender,

project to reach 50 secondary schools

project had identified many pupils as

Elderly and Children has approached

in the Tanga and Coast Region.

struggling with the transition from

Amref Health Africa to expand mVac-

primary school to secondary school

cinNation to hard-to-reach children

successful projects such as these are

when the language of instruction

in the country. Camfed has also

sustainable. The extension to HDIF’s

turns abruptly to English. This led to

managed to bring in other donors to

tenure shows there is still work to be

many pupils, girls especially, dropping out of school. Using Worldreader’s library of digital books on e-readers helped foster the enjoyment of reading and speaking in English and resulted in a huge reduction in pupil dropouts. By training young

It’s crucial to the work of HDIF that

done to achieve this, but McGinty

‘There is a growing awareness of the role that innovation can play in finding solutions to large and pervasive development challenges’

says huge strides have been made.

“Our target was that 30 per cent of the innovations we support would be adopted by the end of our funding,” he says. “However, we are currently realising results over 50 per cent

female secondary school graduates

adoption. (This is amazing given that

as learner guides, the project also

a global rule of thumb is that only 10

supported learning and employment

per cent of start-ups are successful.)

prospects for young women.

“So, we are confident that with our type of support the programmes are

Sustainable projects

sustainable. However, there is more

Perhaps what is most impressive

work to be done to improve the busi-

about these two projects is that

ness and technology environment

they have been able to survive,

to encourage and incentivise more

and even flourish, once the HDIF

investment and more start-ups.”

funding period is over. The Tanzanian

In ensuring it leaves behind a

HDIF success story: Ubongo HDIF awarded one of its grants to Ubongo, a non-profit social enterprise that creates ‘edutainment’ programmes for children. The cartoons were launched in Tanzania but are now broadcast across other parts of West Africa and East Africa, helping to build children’s literacy and numeracy skills and provide strong role models for young girls.

are caring and respectful of women and girls.

Ubongo’s chief operating officer, Doreen Kessy, believes the edutainment programmes are vital in encouraging young people to think big and follow their curiosity and ambition. “In Tanzania, we live in a culture where the quieter the child, the better she is perceived,” she says. “Girls especially are expected to be docile and obedient. It’s a value that’s killing curiosity and hindering innovation.”

One of its programmes, ‘Akili and Me’, reaches over 2.8 million households every week across East Africa through TV, radio and a mobile phone app. The programme has a high representation of female characters, showing young girls Ubongo is a powerful example of how (and female animals) who are intelligent, Headinginnovation can be used to challenge Caption curious, active, friendly and not subserharmful social norms and inspire the vient to boys or men. The show also underrepresented in society. promotes images of boys and men who

24

Paa Tanzania

culture of confidence in innovation,

by how the people of Tanzania,

HDIF has been working closely with

especially its youth, have taken to

the Tanzania Commission for Science

the challenges and opportunities of

and Technology (COSTECH), universi-

shaping their own and their country’s

ties and community groups focused

future. It fills him with hope that this

on social innovation to build their

is only the beginning of great things

capacity to take a leading role once

to come.

the fund is over.

Innovation 'hubs'

“New start-ups and hubs are cropping up every day,” he says. “There is growing awareness of the role

COSTECH has been involved in

that innovation can play in finding

the growth of innovation ‘hubs’

solutions to large and pervasive

across Tanzania. These centres of

development challenges. The energy

community-driven collaboration offer

and passion of the youth with whom

training and support for entrepre-

we work is only growing as they

neurs and early stage companies.

experience the power of digital

There are now more than 40 hubs

technology to improve their lives

in the country looking for the next

and communities. HDIF will continue

drivers of innovation. More than half

to support Tanzanian partners to

are in the greater Dar region – includ-

improve the business environment to

ing the flagship Buni Hub set up by

encourage more start-ups, collabora-

COSTECH – but you’ll find them in all

tion and investments.”

major towns in Tanzania. The majority do not charge for their services.

McGinty has been impressed

55 To learn more about HDIF funding, visit www.hdif-tz.org

HDIF success story: Gongali Nanofilter HDIF has been keen to provide economic empowerment to female entrepreneurs who are struggling to get their ideas off the ground due to barriers such as lack of family backing, restricted access to finance and limited self-confidence.

It supported Ruth Elineema, who works alongside her husband, Dr Askwar Hilonga, designer of the award-winning Nanofilter, to bring sustainable drinking water to communities in the Arusha region of Northern Tanzania.

As well as selling the low-cost filter to individual households, the couple’s enterprise, Gongali Model Company, also leases them to third parties running Heading Nanofilter stations, who then sell the Caption

purified water to their communities.

All the entrepreneurs running the stations are women, often from poor backgrounds and with little or no education. Gongali provides them with training and business skills as well as giving them and their families access to safe and clean water.

So far, Gongali has set up 30 water stations and HDIF has provided funding for a further one hundred.

www.precisionairtz.com

25

Sport

How kick-ups queen Hadhara won over Twitter and Trump A Tanzanian mother’s freestyle football skills have gone viral, even catching the attention of the US President, who called them 'amazing' When President

went viral. To date it has been watched

Donald Trump

more than 10 million times, earning 125,000

takes to Twitter,

retweets and more than 400,000 likes.

the world often fears the worst. Yet on a

Along the way it has warmed the hearts of

February morning, amid the usual tirades

notable curmudgeons such as Trump and

against ‘fake news’ and his political

British television host Piers Morgan, who also

rivals came a sweet tweet that just read

shared the clip with the comment “brilliant”.

‘Amazing’.

It was fired off from the White House in response to a video Trump had just watched of Tanzanian mother-of-two Hadhara Charles

Former Premier League star Ian Wright was also impressed and has made efforts to contact Hadhara and find out more about her.

Ethiopia. Last year she came third in the first African Freestyle Football Championship.

showing her freestyle footballing skills to a

Representing her country

crowd of fans in Lilongwe, Malawi.

The American news channel CNN got in

popular sport all over the world, the acclaim

‘Amazing’ barely covers it. The 29-year-old

Although freestyle football has become a

touch with Hadhara and discovered she

for Hadhara’s skills has not been matched

Hadhara shows off a dizzying range of flicks

had begun playing football at school at the

by financial rewards and she has a family to

and tricks, keeping the kick-ups going with

age of 12, inspired by watching the World

support. This is why the video caught her

her feet, head and shoulders and even while

Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations and the

in the Malawi capital, where she has been

lying on her back. It’s a selection of skills that

now-retired Brazilian stars Ronaldo and

since January entertaining crowds with

stars of world football would be proud of –

Ronaldinho.

her freestyling skills and can expect the

and all done while wearing an ankle-length skirt and flip-flops.

Pure talent

“I admired them and [they] made me

equivalent of around US$ 4 in her collection

learn football and play with the boys in my school,” said Hadhara. It was clear she had

box at the end of the day.

talent, especially as a freestyler, and soon

Pro football dreams

Perhaps even more amazing was that, to

she was representing Tanzania in events

Hadhara hopes the publicity she has gained

some Twitter users, her skills were seen

in Gabon, Cameroon, South Africa and

through the worldwide sharing of the video,

as beyond human ability and there were

along with the Trump thumbs-up, may lead

accusations that witchcraft must have been

to sponsorship to help achieve her dream of

involved. In her defence, Hadhara said:

becoming a professional player.

but I don’t. There is nothing in this ball. I use my talent, which I have developed for six years of practice. It is pure talent, not black magic.”

The video was first shared by Twitter user Akin Sawyerr, with the comment “Talent is evenly distributed, opportunity isn’t” and

26

Paa Tanzania

“If only I had sponsorship or some deal to Evan El-Amin / Shutterstock.com

“Some people think that I use black magic,

support myself it will work for me [and] my two children will have enough for food and basic needs,” she said.

Are you listening, President Trump?

To watch the video, go to: twitter.com/AkinSawyerr

How to master kick-ups Use the bridge of your foot on the laces

• Drop the ball and make contact with it where the toes start. Keep your toes pointed slightly up so that the ball bounces up rather than forward (if you straighten your toes out to point forward, the ball is more likely to bounce away from you.)

Kick-ups on the beach and, far left, Hadhara in Malawi

Practise consistently

Start using your non-dominant foot

• Practise your kick-up techniques every day to build the strength in your legs and to form muscle memory for the motion juggling the ball takes. One way to practise is to set a time limit for working on your skills and then increase this time a little bit every day.

Most people have a dominant foot, and it’s easier to let that foot do all the work, but the players who are best at kick-ups will be equally strong with both feet.

• Try to go for 10 seconds straight or for 10 reps without dropping the ball. Set a goal like this and then, as you reach it, set a new, slightly higher goal.

• Start with one bounce at a time off your foot, making sure the ball goes straight up. When you get good at keeping the ball straight, go for more kicks in a row.

Ball skills

Once you get good with your dominant foot, begin practising just as hard with your other foot. This will give your dominant foot a break during competitive kick-ups and give you more options to get a pattern going.

Little Cab

All hail new taxi service on streets of Dar

By Mark Edwards

After its success on the streets of Nairobi, Kenya’s online ride-hailing company, Little Cab, is expanding to Tanzania.

services with a starting squad of 1,000 drivers, says Kukreti, and he expects that number to have quadrupled within a year.

Its success seems assured. Dar has no shortage of taxicabs, but many of the private hire vehicles will only accept cash and prices are unreliable, often varying wildly according to the

movements. We have been doing this

whims of the driver. Little Cab, through

in other markets, so for us competition

its downloadable app, offers secure

is good.”

cashless payments and the fare is

Certainly, Little Cab is now secure

no price surges whatever the Dar traffic

be worth US$ 75 million. It grabbed its

throws up.

share of the market not just through

Images courtesy of Little Cab

If – or rather when – congestion does

tech-assisted services to passengers.

strike, Little Cab passengers have plenty of options to pass the time.

T

Kukreti says: “Our drivers are agents.

free in-cab Wi-Fi, share trip details with

offering rides in Dar es

They can sell insurance to you, they

their loved ones or choose an FM radio

Salaam. This should be good

can sell [mobile] airtime, they can pay

station to listen to.

news for passengers, if not for the

electricity and water bills and so earn

city’s notorious levels of traffic

more commission to support their

through the app, which can be down-

congestion.

earnings. The Little Cab platform is not

loaded at the Little Cab website, but

They can connect to the unlimited

All these features are available

only used to move a customer from

those without a smart phone can still

that its arrival in Nairobi in July 2016

one place to another, it is more than

get a ride. They’re able to make use of

sparked a price war, with established

that. It is an ecosystem.”

a dedicated USSD code, *826#, which

That Little Cab is able to provide

Mondo Ride slashing fares to

these online services is thanks to a

compete. On top of that, its app

partnership with Safaricom – Kenya’s

also offers free in-cab Wi-Fi, while

biggest telecoms operator – which,

its National Transport and Safety

along with the banking software

Authority-approved fleet ranges from

company Craft Silicon, powers the

traffic-dodging boda bodas through

technology platform on which the app

sleek corporate-friendly vehicles to

operates.

female passengers.

Little Cab will come up against Uber

According to Little Cab chief executive Kamal Budhabhatti, more investment is imminent, with the

again for control of Dar’s streets and

company aiming to raise around US$

prices may well start to tumble here.

50 million to develop its technology

Its general manager, Ashish Kukreti,

and continue its expansion across

is ready for the showdown. “I think

African countries. Ghana is next on the

that we understand our competi-

list after Tanzania.

tion,” he says. “We have a very clear strategy for supporting our launch and Paa Tanzania

with its drivers offering a bouquet of

Little Cab has just started

cars, driven by women, that take only

28

In-cab Wi-Fi

Big backers

services Uber and the Dubai-based

Little Cab

its pricing but also through innovation,

he e-cab taxi service

Little Cab’s pricing is so competitive

New name in Dar

estimated before the trip, so there are

in Nairobi and the company is said to

Little Cab aims to be a major player in Dar. The company will roll out its

they can dial to choose their rides

and let Little Cab know the pick-up location. “No other cab company is using this method,” says Kukreti. “It works completely without the use of the internet. It’s unique.”

Along with this innovation, Little Cab is able to target a broad market of potential passengers with its range of vehicles to suit all needs and budgets.

Its public bus service, the Shuttle, and its motorcycle taxis target the cheaper end of the market, while customers can also choose from ‘Basic’ four-seater cars, newer model ‘Comfort’ cars and ‘Comfort Plus’ vehicles, which carry up to seven passengers. The pick of Dereje / Shutterstock.com

the fleet will be available to corporate clients who sign up for the service. The app gives these businesses the option to track and manage employee rides and pay monthly for rides.

In a bid to make women feel safer when they get in a taxi, Little Cab will also offer ‘The Lady Bug’ – vehicles driven by women for female passen-

Other passenger safety measures

gers only. The service was launched in

include a panic button feature on the

Nairobi and it’s one Kukreti is proud to

app that allows riders or drivers to alert

continue in Tanzania. “It is one of the

a fast response security team in the

best categories that we have in Little,”

event of an emergency.

he says. “It gives the preference to customer and also empowers women.”

Well-maintained fleet The chances of a mechanical emergency are slim – in fact, if you’re

How to grab your cab • Download the app on Google Play for Android, iOS and Windows devices.

• You will receive a notification SMS verifying the registration details.

• Choose your transport and the closest available vehicle will make its way to you.

to believe the Little Cab website, breakdowns never happen – as all the vehicles are well maintained and undergo regular checks. Drivers also

The Little Cab fleet

need a PSV licence and Little Cab will

Shuttle – Minibus shared ride.

run background checks on them.

Blue boda – Motorbike for one passenger.

It’s all part of Little Cab’s efforts to ensure a better service and experience for passengers, says Kukreti. There may be a few thousand more cars added to the already congested commutes of

Basic – Four-seater economy car travel.

Vehicle model 2007 and later.

Lady Bug – Four-seater car for women passengers only. Female driver.

cheaper and more reliable options for

Comfort – Travel in style. Vehicle model 2009 or later.

travellers. Good news for Dar residents

Comfort Plus – Ride for up to seven people.

Dar drivers, but Little Cab is providing

– and for visitors to the city. www.precisionairtz.com

29

Wildlife

Why the zebra got its stripes One of the best places in the world to see zebras is the Serengeti in Tanzania, where herds of them stand out against the dusty savannah with their distinctive monochrome marking. A recent study has found these stripes provide a deterrent against another common resident here – flies. If only they were as effective against lions. discerning the reasons

W

difference between the amount and

for zebras’ distinctive

behaviour of the flies as they hovered

marking, the answers have been

over the horses and zebras – includ-

far from black and white – until

ing one rather less than descriptively

now. A recent study has given the

named ‘Spot’ – but the patterns of the

lie to theories such as that the

zebras and the horse in zebra disguise

stripes help zebras evade capture

had an effect when the flies got close.

hen it comes to

The study found there was no

by predators, that the markings

Every zebra has a unique coat

are there for social reasons and

pattern, much like a fingerprint, yet

that the animals are striped to

each zebra in the study had the same

keep cool. However, it has found

effect on the flies as did the striped

plenty of evidence that the stripes

coats on the horses. The coats were

appear to confuse flies, deterring

used to ensure it was not the different

them from landing for a quick bite.

scent of the zebras that was dissuad-

A team at the University of Bristol, in the UK, conducted the research,

ing the flies from landing.

Dr Martin How, co-author of the

which involved 16 hours standing in

research from the University of Bristol,

fields and observing how horseflies

said: “The flies seemed to be behaving

interacted with three zebras and nine horses, including some draped in black and white sheets to resemble zebras.

Stripes and flies don't mix The results, published in the open access scientific journal ‘Plos One’, not only back the idea that a zebra’s stripes ward off flies, but reveal this is achieved by disorientating the fly’s vision, causing it to turn away or even collide with the zebra when attempting its bloodthirsty landing.

30

Paa Tanzania

Zebras in Tanzania Unmistakable animals

Standing out

A zebra in the wild

Spotting the stripes myths The UK's University of Bristol study also debunks a few beliefs about the reasons for a zebra’s unique coat.

Stripes offer camouflage

insects would often crash into the zebras at full speed and bounce off.

These results bolstered the team’s theories that stripes and flies don’t mix and a zebra’s patterning is the result of evolution, passing on to future generations a protection against biting insects.

Disease carriers Horseflies are about as bad as it gets for a zebra in a field in Somerset, England, where the study was carried out; but in the zebras’ native environment in southern and central Africa, biting flies carry diseases such as trypanosomiasis, relatively naturally around both [zebras

African horse sickness and equine

and horses] until it comes to landing.

influenza, which can be fatal to equids.

We saw that these horseflies were

Zebras are especially vulnerable to fly

coming in quite fast and almost turn-

bites because of their short-cropped

ing away or sometimes even colliding

coats, so it’s understandable why a fur

with the zebra, rather than doing a

pattern that helped evade flies and

nice, controlled flight.”

their deadly diseases would evolve.

Close examination of video record-

And the fly-foxing benefits of

ings by the team of the flies’ activity

stripes are not limited to zebras. Those

around the animals suggested the

who enjoy the outdoors in Tanzania

stripe patterns were playing havoc

could take inspiration and wear

with the flies’ low-resolution vision.

zebra-patterned clothing to avoid the

Rather than slowing for landing, the

attention of biting flies.

Unless a coachload of Newcastle United supporters turn up in matching home kit, there is very little in the rolling savannah of the Serengeti that will afford much cover for the zebra’s monochrome markings. Field experiments show that zebras stand out to the human eye when they’re among trees or in grassland. However, as a counter argument, there is a story that when the World War One broke out, British mounted troops in Kenya near the border with German-occupied Tanganyika (now Tanzania) would paint zebra stripes with silver nitrate solution on their easily visible grey horses to camouflage the horses from snipers.

Stripes help zebras interact socially Every zebra has a unique pattern of stripes, which may assist individual recognition. As the University of Bristol team points out, however, solid-coloured horses can recognise each other by sight and sound; and on the rare occasion a zebra is born without stripes, group members do not shun it.

Stripes keep zebras cool in the sun Given that black stripes might be expected to absorb radiation and white stripes reflect it, one idea proposed is that stripes set up convection currents along the zebra’s back, thus cooling it. The team conducted field experiments in which large water barrels were draped in striped or solid-coloured pelts, or were painted striped or unstriped, but no differences in internal water temperature were found. Furthermore, themographic measurements of zebra, impala, buffalo and giraffe in the wild show zebras are no cooler than their cohabitants.

www.precisionairtz.com

31

Travel

Switch off on the Ssese Islands

but you can hire a boat to take you to neighbouring islands such as Banda, Bubeke and Bufumira, which have accommodation and provide an even more Robinson Crusoe-like remote escape.

Uganda’s Ssese Islands in Lake Victoria were once one of the country’s best-kept secrets, but the return of a regular ferry from Precision Air destination Entebbe is opening up the soft white sands, blue waters and lush forests of this lush archipelago to visitors. Here is Paa’s guide to getting the most from your trip.

Activities Asking what there is to do on the islands is kind of missing the point.

This is a place to switch off, relax and unwind while doing little more than watching blue waters lap gently on powder-soft sand.

What are they?

mainland at 2 pm daily and leaves

The Ssese Islands are an unspoilt,

the island at 8 am. The ferry fills up

from your hammock and a good

wildlife-teemed archipelago of 84

fast – the islands are a popular week-

book, though, there are adventures

islands – 43 of them inhabited – in

end escape for Entebbe and Kampala

to be had.

the north-west of Lake Victoria,

residents – so get there early,

about 50 km from the mainland in

especially if you want to claim a seat

Entebbe. The islands vary in size from

rather than standing on the deck for

less than 10,000 square metres to

the three-and-a half-hour crossing.

over 40 km in length for the largest,

An early arrival is also recommended

Bugala. The archipelago’s name is

if you’re thinking of taking a vehicle

offering ‘boda boda’ motorbikes or

thought to mean ‘islands of tsetse

with you to explore the islands.

even quad bikes on which to ride

flies’. Infestations of the sleeping sickness-carrying flies were so bad

Where to go

in the 1920s that the government

Bulago is as far as most people

evacuated the whole population. The

venture. By far the most visitor-

situation is far better now, but make

friendly of the islands – it even has

sure you pack your bug spray and

a golf course - its stretch of white

don’t wear blue – tsetse flies love it.

sand beach has a good selection of

How to get there

If you can drag yourself away

Lake Victoria offers sunset cruises, canoe trips and fishing expeditions, with the chance of landing one of Beach bonfire

A nightly ritual

a network of trails across Bugala,

a vehicle to explore the island, take a guided tour or just find yourself a

on the ‘Kalangala’ ferry from

hammock with a lake view. Island-

Nakiwogo dock, south of Entebbe

hopping is an expensive business

and Kalangala Bay. It departs the

because of the high price of fuel, Bird life

A white heron on Lake Victoria

32

Paa Tanzania

can explore inland with most hotels

the island’s dirt roads. There is also

hotels and lodges where you can hire

Visitors can get to Bugala island

the lake’s famous Nile perch. You

including one that weaves through

lanky egrets pick their way along

the wildlife-rich Lutoboka Forest. In

the shore, while brightly feathered

this forest are the remains of a house

flycatchers and bee-eaters dazzle

built by explorer John Speke, whose

the air with their colours. If you’re

quest to find the source of the Nile

very lucky, you may catch sight of

brought him to the islands.

Uganda’s national bird, the crested

Cycling is popular here, too, with beautiful trails including one that uncovers the pristine beach of Mutumbula on Bulago.

Kalangala, a trading centre and the

crane, as well as its most bizarre, the shoebill stork.

Where to stay Bugala has a good range of hotels

island’s main settlement, is worth a

and guesthouses to suit all budgets.

visit for its daily market and a chance

Most of the larger hotels offer

Beachside rooms

Brovad Sands Lodge

a menu that draws on the island’s

to mingle with the enchantingly

guided tours as well as bicycles and

laid-back islanders.

quad bikes for hire. Some of the

vegetables. Visit

most lavish hotels are dotted along

www.miremberesort.co.ug

Wildlife

natural bounty of fish, fruit and

the island’s secluded 5 km cove of

The islands have remained largely

white sand beach. Not only do they

If you’re hopping to some of the

undeveloped so are packed with

offer stunning beach spots to soak

smaller islands, the choice of

wildlife. You can glimpse an array

up the sun, but they also organise

accommodation is limited – just as

of creatures close-up thanks to the

evening bonfire parties on the beach

you hope an island escape would be.

network of walking and cycling

– a Ssese tradition – at which you

The Banda Island Resort has a rustic

trails. A guided tour of Lutoboka

can mingle with other guests, enjoy

charm with comfortable cottages

Forest offers the chance to see safari

freshly caught fish grilled over the

and tents. With its picturesque

cats, leopards, snakes and vervet

flames and dance to live music under

beach and laid-back vibe, Banda is

monkeys, while hippos like to snooze

the stars.

exactly what an island escape should

in the swamps near Mulabana.

Brovad Sands Lodge has a range

be and the days here feel like weeks.

Inquisitive Sitatunga antelopes,

of rooms and suites opening onto

This decidedly rustic place nonethe-

which are all over the island, have

its own beach as well as offering a

less has running water, cold beer and

been known to follow cyclists as they

spa for beachside massages and an

hot showers.

ride here.

excellent restaurant. Visit

Uganda is known for its multi-

Accommodation is in comfort-

www.brovadsandslodge.com

farious birdlife and the Ssese Islands

able cottages, decent dormitories or tented camps. Food is a

resound to the calls of hundreds of

The Mirembe Beach Resort is

highlight. Hippos are common

species of birds – enough to give

a 10-acre beachfront property

visitors come full moon. Visit

twitchers spasms of delight. Pied

surrounded by lush grounds. Its

bandaisland.biz

kingfishers hover metres above the

grass thatched roof restaurant has an

lake before plunging for fish and

outdoor terrace with lake view and

The islands resound to the calls of hundreds of species of birds - enough to give twitchers spasms of delight

www.precisionairtz.com

33

Snake gods and stalactites The startling underground world of Amboni Caves

Shaun D Metcalfe | Wikimedia Commons | CC-BY-SA-2.0

Tanzania Travel the caves as a sacred place harbouring supernatural powers known as ‘mizimu’. They believe this communion with the spirits can empower them, alleviating sickness and suffering and even increasing their fertility. There have been reports of women who have visited the caves and become pregnant soon after.

Place of worship

are famous for a reason,

W

mended – there are even more

are used for prayer and worship of

but sometimes it’s nice

legends about people disappearing

these deities. The tour takes in one,

to explore off the beaten track and

without trace amid the cave’s laby-

known as Mzimu wa Mabuvu, said to

discover a hidden wonder of the

rinthine network – but one of the 10

be the home of a snake god, which

world – and they don’t come much

caves can be safely explored with an

is full of ceremonial offerings such as

more hidden than Amboni Caves.

official guide. The 30-minute tour

bottles of perfumes and oil, obsidian

There’s little more than a dusty

is a fascinating if occasionally eerie

blades and pottery. The chamber is in

sign and a small gift shop 20 minutes

experience – the guide’s torch is all

regular use, so you may see traces of

north of Tanga town to let you know

that illuminates some of the tighter

you’ve arrived, but this sprawling

passages, although shards of natural

subterranean world, created by

light do get into the larger caverns

millions of years of erosion of the

– but there are many wonders to be

big cave, which is supposed to have

limestone rocks of Tanzania’s eastern

revealed.

been used by the outlaws Osale

ell-known attractions

region, is thought to cover 234 sq km.

Legend has it that some of its

Venturing that far isn’t recom-

The caves were declared a

Hidden

The Amboni Caves

Cover

Tree vines snake over the entrance to one cave

Some of the caves’ larger chambers

animal blood from goats or chickens offered to the god.

There is also a chamber inside the

Otanga and Paulo Hamis as a place

conservation area by the British

to hide from pursuing British colonial

chambers actually open onto

colonial government in 1922 but they

government forces. Opinion on the

underground rivers and it’s possible

have been known to local people for

legitimacy of their behaviour varies

to follow passages as far as Nairobi,

far longer. The people of the Segeju,

between those who say they were

Kilimanjaro and Mombasa.

Sambaa, Bondei and Digo tribes see

justly targeted for stealing goods and terrorising foreigners and many locals who regard them as freedom fighters who stole from rich foreigners to share with poor Africans during

Shaun D Metcalfe | Wikimedia Commons | CC-BY-SA-2.0

the struggle for independence. The

34

Paa Tanzania

caves provided refuge for a while, but Osale was shot dead in 1958.

Stalactites and stalagmites The large caverns are also the best place to see the incredible stalactites – sheaths of pendulous calcified water that have drooped from the cave ceiling for hundreds of thousands of years – and the stalagmites growing from its floor. There is an amazing variety of both in Amboni Caves. Examples include one in the shape of a lion at the entrance of the cave and others that resemble a sofa, a ship, a crocodile, an elephant, the Statue of Liberty and even a map of Africa. Your guide is sure to pick these out for you.

Popo flight Visitors may at some point be asking their guide why the limestone floor feels so soft underfoot. The rather unsavoury answer is you’re often walking on many layers of bat dung. Thousands of bats live in the caves and you’ll see them in repose, hanging by their talons from the cave roofs. Every evening at sunset they put on quite a show – known as the popo flight (‘popo’ is Swahili for bat) – when they all fly from the cave in search of food. It’s a wonderful way to mark the end of your day at Amboni Caves. It may be one of Tanzania’s lesser-known natural attractions, but it makes an unforgettable visit.

55 Tours of the cave are offered by the Amboni Culture and Guiding Promoters in Mkwakwani Road, Tanga (Tel: +255 741 211 091). Travel company Amboni Caves Guides also take groups to explore the cave. Visit its Facebook page @ambonicaves.net

More caves in Tanzania Kuza Caves

Elephant Caves

Hidden amid the colobus monkeyfrequented jungle just a 10-minute walk from the beach and village of the Kibigija in northern Jambiani on the east coast of Zanzibar is this wonderful spot. The caves contain a pool of underground water, thought to have healing properties, and you can swim or snorkel in its crystalline mineral waters.

These caves on the outer slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater in northern Tanzania get their name from being formed by elephants who dig at the calcium-rich rocks with their tusks to loosen chunks, which they eat to maintain strong bones. Over time the elephants’ violent attentions form giant holes in the rock.

Tazari Caves

Kiwengwa Caves

Zanzibar’s largest limestone caves Another Zanzibar cave, this a are located close to Nungwi village collection of caverns located in at the island’s northernmost tip the Kiwengwa-Pongwe Forest and scaling them affords wonderStreet food Reserve between the towns ofFast and tasty ful views of the coastline. Inside Kiwengwa and Pongwe. One of the there are caverns of up to 30 ft in caves, Mchekeni Coral Caves, has height and you’ll find magnificent had a walkway built, but there is limestone and dolomite rocks with no lighting. Any use of torchlight is todecorative Need know dripstones (speleothems) sure to enliven the five speciesPrices of range thatfrom are believed to have TZS 4,000 (US$ taken 2.00) for a bats that live in the caves. thousands of years to form. (US$ 7.50) basic vegetarian pizza to TZS 15,000 for a mixed seafood pizza. www.precisionairtz.com

35

Puzzle page

Paa Puzzles

Word search

Test your brain power with our fun puzzles and games!

AIR AUTOBAHN AVENUE BEETLE CALENDAR CARRIAGE CATNIP CEREAL CHAIR CONSEQUENCE ENTHUSIASM

Maze Challenge

Find your way out of the maze.

EVE EXPLICIT GAUCHO GERM IMAGINATION INSECT LACE MACAQUE MARINA MINING MIST

MONARCH MOUNTAIN MOVIE NICHE ORBIT OSTRICH PLAYGROUND PORT PUPPET RAIN SCHOOL

SEAL SEAM SHOPPING SHRIMP SUBTRACTION TENNIS TISSUE VASE VOCAL ZEBRA ZUCCHINI

Visual Puzzle

Find two identical images.

2

1 36

Paa Tanzania

4

3

6

5

Paa Royal Benefits

Benefits that will make you feel like royalty Precision Air is always looking to give its customers an exclusive and memorable service experience; and the Paa Royal benefits programme is part of that mission. The membership categories* are as follows:

Jade Member benefits

Silver Member benefits

Upon enrolment, members will be given their unique Paa Royal number, which they must always show whenever they buy tickets as well as during check-in at the airport. After flying three times or more, members will be given a Jade membership card. With the card, they will be recognised as members of the Paa Royal Programme.

After attaining Silver membership level, the member will be issued with a Silver membership card which he (or she) must show at all Precision Air point of sales in order to receive the recognition that he deserves. Should a member book online by logging into Paa Royal Pages, he will automatically receive points earned to his account.

Other benefits of Jade membership:

Members will be entitled to special treatment and priority treatment whenever they travel.

• Priority membership baggage tags to ensure tagged bags will be handled with special care and delivered first on the conveyor belt at the passenger’s arrival destination • An opportunity to get a free ticket within the Precision Air’s network after accumulating enough points in their account. *Please note that, in each membership category, if a member is unable to maintain the required number of flights in a year, he or she will be downgraded to their tier level achieved in that current year.

Other benefits of Silver membership: • Free 5 kg baggage every time member travels on a PW operated flight • Priority membership baggage tags to ensure tagged bags will be handled with special care and delivered first on the conveyor belt at member’s arrival destination • Opportunity to obtain a free ticket within the Precision Air network after accumulating enough points in your account • Priority telephone reservation in those times when you want to make your reservation and cannot visit our office or travel agent. Booking is a call away through our Paa Royal helpdesk line.

Gold Member benefits

Tanzanite Member benefits

After attaining the Gold membership, members will begin to experience royal and exclusive treatment whenever they fly.

Members will be opened up to a new world of opportunities and experiences and, of course, receive more rewards. Should a member book online by logging into Paa Royal Pages, he (or she) would automatically receive points earned to his account.

Other benefits of Gold: • Free 10 kg baggage every time member travels on a PW operated flight

When members reach Tanzanite member they attain ultimate royalty. We will always strive to give these royal members an exclusive and memorable flight experience. At this level, members will already be used to royal treatment; royalty will be their way of life.

Other benefits of Tanzanite: • Free 15 kg excess baggage every time the member travels on a PW-operated flight • Opportunity to obtain a free ticket within the Precision Air network after accumulating enough points in your account

• Priority membership baggage tags to ensure tagged bags will be handled with special care and delivered first on the conveyor belt at member’s arrival destination

• Confirmation on any flight if a member is prepared to pay Y class fare, regardless of the flight booking status • Priority waitlist/airport standby whenever you want to travel and your selected flight is full

• Opportunity to obtain a free ticket within the Precision Air network after accumulating enough points in your account

• Priority telephone reservation at times when you want to make your reservation and cannot visit our office or travel agent. Booking is a call away through our Paa Royal helpdesk line.

• Priority telephone reservation at times when you want to make your reservation and cannot visit our office or travel agent. Booking is a call away through our Paa Royal helpdesk line • Priority waitlist/airport standby each time you want to travel and your selected flight is full.

• Priority membership baggage tags to ensure tagged bags will be handled with special care and delivered first on the conveyor belt at member’s destination.

• Silver ,Gold and Tanzanite members also get discounts of up to 20 per cent when visiting GSM shopping malls Msasani and Pugu, Southern Sun Hotel, Akemi restaurant, East Point Restaurant and the Colosseum hotel and sports club - all in Dar es Salaam.

Contact Us For more details, email paaroyal@precisionairtz.com or call +255684202022

www.precisionairtz.com

37

Route Network

Precision Air route map UGANDA Entebbe Bukoba Mwanza Kahama Tabora

KENYA Nairobi Seronera (Serengeti) Kilimanjaro Arusha

Zanzibar

Dodoma

Dar es Salaam

TANZANIA Mtwara UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

UGANDA

KENYA

TANZANIA

38

Paa Tanzania

COMOROS

Paa Contacts

Your nearest Precision Air office anywhere in the world TANZANIA DAR ES SALAAM HEAD OFFICE

Diamond Plaza, 1st Floor, Plot no 162 / 38, Mirambo Street / Samora Ave, Dar es Salaam Tel: +255 (0)22 219 1000 Contact Centre: +255 (0)787 888 409 / 408 / 417 Email: pwreservations@precisionairtz.com

DAR ES SALAAM SALES OFFICE

NIC HDQ Building, Samora Ave / Pamba Road, PO Box 70770, Dar es Salaam Tel: +255 (0)22 213 0800 / 212 1718 Fax: +255 (0)22 211 3036 Email: pwdar@precisionairtz.com

E-COMMERCE

(For users of VISA and MasterCard) Diamond Plaza, 1st Floor, Plot no 162 / 38, Mirambo Street / Samora Ave Dar es Salaam Tel: +255 (0)686 177 458 / (0)689 669 446 Fax: +255 (0)22 211 3036 Email: pwreservations@precisionairtz.com

ARUSHA

Boma Road, opposite TTLC, Safari Hotel Building, PO Box 1636, Arusha Tel: +255 (0)27 254 5489

BUKOBA

Bukoba Office-GSA, Bukoba Machinery and General Supplier, Bukoba Centre Kawawa Road Tel: +255 (0) 28 222 0545 / 222 0204 Mob: +255 (0) 713 316 806 / (0) 787 616 806

MOSHI

KNCU Building, Ground Floor, Old Moshi Road Tel: +255 (0)272 753495 / 753498 Mob: +255 (0)787 800820

MTWARA

Tanu Road, Posta Building, PO Box 1066, Mtwara Tel: +255 (0)23 233 4116 Mob: +255 (0)787 818 442 / 767 818 442

MUSOMA

Kivukoni Road PO Box 211, Musoma Tel: +255 (0)28 262 0713 Mob: +255 (0)787 792 336

MWANZA

Along Kenyatta Road, Plot no 002, Mwanza Tel: +255 (0)28 250 0819 / 250 0204 Fax/Tel: +255 (0)28 250 1054 Mob: +255 (0)784 402042 Sales Office Mobile: +255 (0)784 968427

SHINYANGA

NSSF Building, opposite CRDB Bank PO Box 858, Shinyanga Tel: +255 (0)282 763 737 Mob: +255 (0)282 763 737

ZANZIBAR

Mlandege, Muzammil Centre PO Box 961, Zanzibar Tel: +255 (0)24 223 4521 Fax: +255 (0)24 223 4520 Email: pwznz@precisionairtz.com

KENYA NAIROBI

Barclays Plaza, 7th Floor, Loita Street PO Box 50990-00100, Nairobi Tel: +254 (0)20 327 4282 / 4290 / 4297 Mob: +254 (0)724 76 0736 / +254 (0)736 046 595 Airport: +254 (0) 733 934 795 / 731 530 000 Email: pw-nbo@kenya-airways.com

SOUTH AFRICA

OR Tambo International, International Departures Terminal A, AVIAREPS Counter Johannesburg, South Africa Tel: +27 11 783 6415

UGANDA

Pan Africa House, Plot no.3 Kimathi Avenue P.O. Box 5619 Kampala Tel: +256-790 381 431 (24hr Emergency) Mob: +256 784(704) 329793 Email: precisionair.eva@utb.co.ug

AUSTRIA

Argentinierstrasse 2/4 A-1040 Vienna, Austria Tel: +43 1 585 3630 Fax: +43 1 558 536 3088

AUSTRALIA

Suite 1302, 109 Pitt Street Sydney, Australia Email: helpdesk@apg-ga.com.au

BELGIUM

Park Hill, J.E Mommaertslaan 16B 1831 Diegem, Belgium Tel: +32 (0)2 712 0584 Fax: +32 (0)2 725 8392 Mobile: +32 (0)47 770 9971

FINLAND

Precision Air C/o Aviareps PL 10 00750 Helsinki, Finland Finland Tel: +46 8 55569162 Email: PWres.scan@aviareps.com

FRANCE

Precision Air, 11 rue Auber 75009 Paris, France Mob: +33 (0)6 21 824 908 Reservation: +33 (0)1 534 35397 Fax: +33 (0)1 5343 7919

GERMANY MUNICH OFFICE

Josephspitalstrasse 15 80331 Munich Germany Tel: +49 (0)895 525 3373 Fax: +49 (0)895 450 6842

FRANKFURT OFFICE

Kaiserstrasse 77 60329 Frankfurt / Main Germany Tel: +49 (0)69 770 673 010 Fax: +49 (0)69 770 673 018

GREECE

7 Stadiou Street Athens 10562 Greece Tel: +30 (0)210 9341 500 / 501 Fax: +30 (0)210 934 1620 Email: precisionairsales@tal-aviation.gr

IRELAND

Precision Air GSA APG Ireland 27 Lower Ormond Quay Dublin, Ireland Reservations: +353 (0)1 804 5100 Email: info@apg-ga.ie

NETHERLANDS

Beechavenue 104 1119 PP Schiphol, Netherlands Tel: +31 (0)20 520 0280 Fax: +31 (0)2 6 23 0151

SPAIN

Bravo Murillo 101, Planta 6 Oficina 3, 28020 Madrid, Spain Tel: +34 (0)91 458 5560 Fax: +34 (0)91 344 1726 Email: Precisionair.spain@aviareps. com

SWEDEN

Aviareps, Riddargatan 17 11457 Stockholm Sweden Tel: +46 (0)8 55569162 Email: PWres.scan@aviareps.com

SWITZERLAND

Badenerstrasse 15, 8004 Zurich Switzerland Tel: +41 (0)44 286 99 60 Fax: +41 (0)44 286 99 00 Email: Precisionair-Switzerland@ aviareps.com

TURKEY

Discover The World -Turkey Nef22 E Blok 13. Kat No:194 Atakoy/ Ä°stanbul 34156 TURKEY Tel: +90 212 806 11 87 Email: info@discover-tk.com

USA and CANADA

AirlinePros 420 Lexington Ave Suite 358-360 New York, NY. 10170 Tel: +1 877 496 9887 Email: reservations@precisionairlines.us Precisionair_tanzania@airlinerpos.ca

UNITED KINGDOM

APG Global Highbridge House, 581 Bath Road Longford, West Drayton Middlesex, UB7 0EW Reservations: +44 (0)844 482 2313 Email: info@precisionair.co.uk

OVERALL INTERNATIONAL MARKETS CONTACT LILIAN MUSYOKA

Tel: +254 (0)786800640 +254 (0)20 3274297 / 82 / 90 Email: imusyoka@precisionairtz. com lilian.musyoka@kenya-airways.com

www.precisionairtz.com

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Welcome Aboard

Safety and well-being on board PASSENGER SAFETY Precision Air takes passenger safety very seriously. Aviation safety isn’t just the pilot’s or the cabin crew’s job – it takes all of us.

It is easy for our natural sense of caution to be dulled in our modern environment, where things don’t go wrong very often. Whether in the air or on the ground, your life and the lives of your family members could some day be saved if you make it a point, in every situation, to create a mental plan of action in case of emergency. Here are some important tips to help you enjoy your travel experience with Precision Air – in flight and around the airport.

EXIT ROW SEAT A passenger who is allocated an emergency exit seat: A. Must be both willing and physically able to open the exit doors in an emergency B. Must completely understand the printed emergency evacuation techniques C. Must be 16 years old and above.

PAY ATTENTION TO PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING Although the information seems repetitious, the locations of the closest emergency exits may be different depending on the aircraft that you fly on and the seat you are in.

CARRY ON BAGGAGE There are strict rules about what you can bring on board an aircraft. Because:

Carry-on bags must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bins. Please confirm with Precision Air rules before your travel to avoid delays. *Remember: All carry-on baggage must be left behind in an evacuation.

SAFETY ONBOARD Boarding and leaving an aircraft requires your full attention. As you move to and from the aircraft, you may be in a busy area with many other passengers and cargo, moving vehicles, other aircraft, slippery walkways and/or stairs.

RESPECT YOUR CREW AND FELLOW PASSENGERS Everyone has the right to safe and secure travel. That is why Precision Air employees and the aviation authority will not tolerate any behaviour that interferes with the flight or puts the safety of passengers and crew at risk.

SEATBELTS Seatbelts must be fastened during take-off, landing, during turbulence and any time the crew deem it necessary. Keeping the belt on when you are seated provides that extra protection you might need in case of emergency. If you are responsible for an infant or a child, you must first ensure that your own seatbelt is properly fastened, then secure the child and, if it is an infant, secure the child’s or the infant’s restraints.

A. Not all aircraft have space to store your carry-on baggage.

Important note: There are a number of events involving air turbulence that highlight the importance of keeping seatbelts fastened throughout the flight.

B. In an accident, baggage in the aisles makes it harder to get out of the aircraft quickly.

Though rare, in-flight turbulence is the leading cause of injuries to both passengers and crew.

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Paa Tanzania

It’s a good idea to keep your seatbelt fastened even when the seatbelt signs are not on.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND PREGNANCIES If you have a medical condition and may need assistance during your travel, kindly ask the Precision Air offices or agents about procedures before your flight. If you are pregnant, you will need to fill a Precision Air medical form, to be signed by your doctor, to confirm that you are OK for travel. For further details, kindly ask while booking your ticket from our sales offices and/or customer services.

PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES Use of portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets, MP4 players, iPads, etc are not allowed during take-off, landing, taxiing, descent and climb.

Precision Air prohibits the use of some electronic devices during flight because they emit signals that can interfere with the aircraft's instrumentation. Some of the items prohibited include cellphones, radios, remote-controlled games/toys, laser pointers, iPads or tablets that transmits frequencies, portable printers, walkie-talkies, scanners and laptops. These items need to be stowed away for these phases of the flight to avoid injuries in case of an emergency.