Travelsmart – Issue 5

Your free in-flight magazine

Issue 05

January 2014 - March 2014

travelsmart Smart Thinking

Smart Shopping

Smart Travel

HEALTH & BEAUTY Follow the Aztecs...

CITY GUIDE Jolling in Jo’burg

SURF’S UP Kite surfing is really taking off

travelsmart

IN THIS ISSUE

CONTENTS Issue 05

January 2014 - March 2014

rEGUlAr FEATUrES

SpECIAl FEATUrES

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9

A message from fastjet’s Chief Executive

7 fastJet neWs 26 propertyprofIle The Michelangelo: Second to none

44 cIty guIde Jolling in Jo’burg

50 car revIeW Electric vehicles, A light-bulb moment

54 food for thought By degrees, I came to love this place…

57 product revIeW iPad Mini Retina Display and iPad Air

58 latest releases What’s new in your bookshop and cinema

61 KIds’ corner

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loW-cost travel

© utengule coffee lodge

Welcome

Now you can opt for low-cost air travel

10 health & beauty For natural beauty, follow the Aztecs…

12 eXplorIng mbeya A highland fling in ‘Scotland of Africa’

16 budget travel

16

Zanzibar on a budget

23 mount meru Enjoy the ‘Kili’ experience without the hassle

28 KIte surfIng Surf’s up, so get kiting!

32 rIde afrIca Tour d’Afrique, Africa’s cycling superchallenge

36 dar bars If you like to drink in style, this is the place…

40 tanzanIan football Yanga vs Simba

48 sober house

travelsmart Smart thinking

Smart shopping

Smart travel

published 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 on behalf of

registered office and head office, suite 2c, first point, buckingham gate, gatwick airport, rh6 0nt telephone: +44 (0)20 3651 6355 • email: info@fastjet.com www.fastjet.com

Former addicts get their life back by turning creative

USEFUl INForMATIoN

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62 travel InformatIon 63 the fastJet netWorK 64 fastJet fleet 64 fastJet contacts

the opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor, or any other organisation associated with this publication. no liability can be accepted for any inaccuracies or omissions.

©2014 land & marine publications ltd fastjet.com

1

Welcome

A message from fastjet Chief Executive Ed Winter

Welcome on board Karibu kwenye ndege yetu Welkom aan boord Kwa heshima kubwa napenda kukukaribisha katika shirika la ndege la fastjet, shirika jipya kabisa barani Afrika.

Mwezi uliopita tulitimiza mwaka mmoja toka tulipoanza huduma ya usafiri wa anga nchini Tanzania. Mwaka jana 29 Novemba ndege yenye usajili FN161 ilifanya safari yake rasmi kutoka Dar es salaam kuelekea Mwanza ikiwa na abiria 128. Uzinduzi huo ilianzisha mwanzo mzuri katika kutoa huduma bora, salama na faida kubwa kwa nauli nafuu kabisa barani Afrika. Kwa kipindi hicho cha zaidi ya miezi 12hapa nchini Tanzania, tumeweza kuonyesha ubora wa kuwa na safari za uhakika na kujali muda kwa kiwango ambacho sio cha kawaida kwa nchi za Afrika. Na hii inawapa ujasiri wateja wetu kuendelea kukata tiketi mapema kwa ajil ya safari zao.

Fastjet ni shirika ambalo limejizolea umaarufu mkubwa na kujulikana kwa kasi nchini Tanzania hivyo sifa zake zimeenea barani Afrika. Wateja wetu wanatupatia alama za juu katika katika huduma zetu.

Ongezeko la wateja wetu linadhihirisha ubora wetu. Katika mtandao wa kijamii wa Facebook shirika letu la ndege la fastjet linaongoza kwa kupendwa na watu barani Afrika ukilinganisha na mashirika mengine.

Mpaka sasa tumekwisha safirisha wateja zaidi ya 350,000 ambayo ni asilimia 73% ya ujazo wa ndege zetu. Ni asilimia 11% pekee ya wateja wetu waliolipa kwa shilingi 32,000 bila ushuru kwa ajili ya safari zao. Umakini wetu katika kuzingatia muda umedhihirika kwani asilimia 96% ya safari zetu hufika kwa wakati ua ndani ya dakika 15 za wakati wa kuwasili. Tumewahi kuhairisha safari kwa asilimia isiyozidi 1% kwa safari zetu kutokana na sababu kubwa zilizokuwa zikijitokeza na kuwa nje ya uwezo wetu.

Hivi karibuni tumezindua safari mpya ya Dar es salaam kuelekea Mbeya tukitumia uwanja mpya wa Songwe. Tumehamasika sana kwa safari hii kwani mara zote ndege

I

would like to give you my personal welcome on board fastjet – Africa’s newest airline.

In November we celebrated the first anniversary of launching flights in Tanzania. On 29 November 2012 flight FN161 took off from Dar es Salaam bound for Mwanza with 128 passengers on board. This flight marked the start of a journey to create a safe, reliable and greatvalue, pan-African, low-cost airline.

Over the past 12 months we have established a reputation for reliability and punctuality on a level that is unprecedented in Africa. This has given our customers the confidence to plan and book their seats early.

Our brand is one of the best known in Tanzania and our reputation has

Over the past 12 months we have established a reputation for reliability and punctuality on a level which is unprecedented in Africa spread throughout Africa. Our customers rate our service as excellent in all respects. On Facebook we are the most ‘liked’ airline in Africa.

Most importantly, we have stimulated demand, with many of our customers being first-time flyers. We

have carried over 350,000 passengers with an average 73 per cent load factor on each flight. Around 11 per cent of our customers paid only $20 plus tax for their flight. Our punctuality over the first year has seen 96 per cent of our flights arriving on time or within 15 minutes of schedule. We only cancelled less than one per cent of our planned flights.

Overwhelmed We recently launched flights between Dar es Salaam and Mbeya using the new Songwe airport.

We have been overwhelmed by the response on this route, with many flights absolutely full. We have clearly provided a great-value alternative to the long and uncomfortable bus journeys and expensive flights from our competitors.

In November we launched our first international route with flights from Dar es Salaam to Johannesburg. We have flights to Lusaka on sale for a 1 February 2014 launch. We expect to be offering many more international routes over the coming months – register at fastjet.com to be among

fastjet.com

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Welcome

inajaza abiria Fastjet imekuwa maarufu nchini Tanzania na ubora wetu umeenea kote barani Afrika. Wateja wetu wamekuwa wakitupa sifa na kutupongeza kwa ubora wa huduma tunazowapatia na kwa uhakika tumetoa njia mbadala wa kusafiri kwa kutumia mabasi kwa muda mrefu na kusafiri kwa gharama kubwa kwa kutumia mashirika mengine ya ndege.

Mwezi Novemba tulifanya uzinduzi wa safari ya kimataifa kutoka Dar es salaam kuelekea Johannesburg nchini Afrika ya Kusini. Na pia tunategemea kuzindua safari nyingine ya kimataifa kuelekea Lusaka, Zambia ambayo itaanza 1 feburuari 2014, Tiketi zimeshaanzwa kuuzwa. Tunategemea kuanzisha safari nyingi za kimataifa miezi michache ijayo – jiunge na fastjet.com ili kuwa miongoni mwa watakaopata taarifa za haraka na ofa mbalimbali zinazotolewa na fastjet. Pia unaweza kutufuata katika kurasa za Twitter au bonyeza “like” katika kurasa za facebook.

Watanzania wameelewa na kuuzoea mapema mfumo wetu wa nauli za bei nafuu, hivyo wanakata tiketi mapema na kwa bei ya chini kabisa, wakiwa na uhakikia kabisa kwamba watafiri na kufika kwa wakati mahala husika na kulipia mizigo ya ziada tu kama mizigo, chakula na vinywaji wakiwa ndani ya ndege. Bei na uhakika wa safari ni kati ya nguzo kubwa mbili katika mambo ambayo tuliyaona ambayo kwa wateja hapa Afrika, na tumeweza kufanya vizuri katika mambo hayo yote katika kipindi cha mwaka mmoja tuliofanya biashara hapa Tanzania. Barani Afrika usafiri kwa njia ya anga umekuwa ni watu wachache sana kutokana na gharama zake kuwa kubwa kiasi cha kutoweza kuwapa huduma waafrika wengi waliohitaji huduma hiyo, na sasa fastjet tunaweka usawa katika huduma hii ya usafiri wa anga kwani mpaka sasa tumekwisha onyesha mabadiliko katika kutoa huduma kwa wateja kwa gharama nafuu kabisa katika mwaka mmoja uliopita.

Tunawashukuru sana wateja wetu kwa ushirikiano mkubwa na kutupa fursa ya kuwahudumia. Tunauthamini mchango wa wateja wetu katika kutufanya tuzidi kufanikisha malengo na pia tunawakaribisha katika safari.

Ili kuzidi kuboresha huduma zetu.

Tembelea customer.tanzania@fastjet. com au customer.southafrica@fastjet. com. Na kama unafurahia huduma zetu usikose kumjulisha na rafiki yako!

Wako Ed Winter Mkurugenzi Mtendaji

the first to hear about new routes and special offers. Also, follow us on Twitter or ‘like’ us on Facebook to keep up to date with announcements and share experiences with other customers.

The people of Tanzania have rapidly adapted to our low-cost model, booking flights early to get the lowest prices, knowing they can plan ahead confident of arriving on time and only paying for the extras, such as baggage and food and drink on board, that they want on that flight. Price and reliability were two of the major issues we identified as being key to African consumers and we have really delivered on both of those aspects of our business model over the past year.

Expensive Air travel in Africa has for far too long been so expensive as to exclude the majority of the population. At fastjet we are intent on democratising African air travel. We have certainly made a great start down that road in the past year.

Thank-you so much for your support and for the opportunity to serve you. We appreciate the confidence you have placed in us and we look forward to welcoming you on many more fastjet flights in the future.

If you think we can do something better, please let us know at customer.tanzania@fastjet.com or customer.southafrica@fastjet.com, and if you like what we are doing, please tell your friends!

Yours sincerely / Wako mwaminifu,

IN THIS ISSUE Welcome to Travelsmart issue 5 This latest issue of travelsmart is published at an exciting time for fastjet as new destinations are added to the carrier’s fast-growing network.

We visit two of the airline’s newest destinations, Johannesburg and Mbeya, and report on what those highly diverse places have to offer fastjet passengers.

Our magazine features the gruelling Cairo to Cape Town cycling event – not a journey to be undertaken lightly. We also discover the pleasures of climbing Mount Meru which, for many, beats Kilimanjaro.

We look at the history of the fierce local rivalry between Dar es Salaam’s top football teams, Simba and Yanga, and pick our favourite matches from the past.

In fastjet’s home base of Dar we seek out the city’s best bars and, wow, what a choice.

There are two stories from established fastjet destination Zanzibar plus a review of one of the spice island’s best eateries.

We also review some new electric cars and avocado as a beauty treatment.

Enjoy your flight with fastjet – Africa’s most liked airline.

If you have any comments in regard to the magazine, please write to publishing@landmarine.com

Gary Gimson Ed Winter

Publisher

Chief Executive Officer

fastjet.com

5

fastjet

NewsDesk Ed Winter Facebook Q&A

Our popularity soars with new routes

fastjet CEO Ed Winter undertook a direct and in-depth Facebook Q&A session with customers on 2 December. This format proved extremely popular and follows similar sessions with other fastjet personnel.

It has been a busy and exciting quarter for fastjet, Africa’s most-liked airline. Here are some of the highlights, and plans for the next few months.

fastjet has once again visited the Chama cha Kulea Watoto Mayatima (Chakuwama) Orphanage to provide children with gifts and surprises.

Under the guidance of Saida Hassan, the orphanage does excellent work helping under-privileged children and fastjet is proud to be associated with this project.

fastjet’s launch flight from Dar es Salaam to Johannesburg – our first international route – took place on 18 October. Our DAR-JNB service currently operates three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Tickets are priced from US$ 100 one way (excluding taxes and charges) and, as always, it pays to book early to get the best deal. fastjet has reached 100,000 fans on Facebook and the numbers just keep growing. You can also become a fan by visiting https://en-gb. facebook.com/fastjet.

Mbeya launch Taking off

fastjet sponsored the Miss Universe heats in Tanzania. Congratulations to Betty Boniface, who was crowned Miss Universe and then represented Tanzania in the World Finals in Moscow in November.

fastjet commenced flights between Dar es Salaam and Mbeya on 1 November, initially three times a week. Frequencies have now been upped to daily operation on what has proved a very popular route for fastjet.

Tickets start from US$ 20 / TZS 32,000 (excluding taxes and charges). fastjet has announced flights between Dar es Salaam and Lusaka from 1 February. Initially the service, on our second international route, will operate twice weekly, on Thursday and Saturday, with fares starting from US$ 125 (excluding taxes and charges). fastjet marked its first anniversary with celebrations in Dar es Salaam and a record-breaking birthday seat sale, with many tickets being sold at our lowest US$ 20 fares (excluding taxes and charges). fastjet was thrilled to announce on 18 December that we had welcomed our 400,000th #fastjetter on board. Half a million passengers, here we come!

Followfastjet

www.fastjet.com

www.facebook.com/fastjet

www.facebook.com/fastjetza

www.twitter.com/fastjet fastjet.com

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Low-costModel

Now you can opt for low-cost air travel

f

astjet has introduced an exciting – and low-cost – way of flying in Africa.

This kind of air travel is already commonplace in Europe, the Middle East, North America and Asia. But for Africa, and for many Africans, it is something completely new and different. fastjet’s new way of doing things may require some explanation for those long used to paying high all-inclusive prices for air travel within Africa.

In essence, low-cost carriers such as fastjet let their customers decide how much they want to spend, with passengers paying only for the services they actually require rather than being charged for a range of items they may not wish to buy or use.

High cost These additional and unused services that add to the high cost of tickets may include frequent-flyer programmes, business class lounges and other facilities, seat allocation, in-flight entertainment, food and drink and non-carry-on baggage.

Most importantly, the earlier a passenger buys his or her air ticket, the cheaper it will be. In this way, fastjet can offer one-way domestic ticket prices starting at just US$20 plus local taxes and changes. This can be less than the price of a bus ticket for the same journey.

So if a passenger knows he or she needs to travel on a certain date in the future, then booking the flight

as soon as possible will result in big savings. On the other hand, leaving a booking until the last minute or just turning up at the airport will usually mean a much higher ticket price.

Remember, as fastjet fills its flights, the cost of tickets rises incrementally from the entry-level price of US$20.

In essence, low-cost carriers such as fastjet let their customers decide how much they want to spend Then there is baggage. fastjet does not charge for carry-on items (up to a size limit of 56 x 45 x 25 cm), but it does charge for hold baggage.

(See hold baggage allowance on the fastjet website.)

If you want food or drinks on the flight, then fastjet will charge.

So the secret is to book early and keep your checked-in luggage to a minimum.

Take off New destinations

Sasa Unaweza kuchagua usafiri wa Anga wa Bei ya Chini Fastjet imezindua safari za bei ya chini hapa Afrika.

Hii ni aina ya usafiri wa anga ambayo tayari imeshazoeleka kwa nchi za Ulaya, Mashariki ya kati, Amerika ya kaskazini na Asia. Lakini kwa Afrika na kwa waafrika ni kitu kipya na tofauti. Kwa watu ambao wamezoea kusafiri ndani ya Afrika kwa nauli kubwa wanaweza kuwa na maswali juu njia hii mpya ya fastjet.

Kwa maana hiyo mashirika ya bei ya chini kama fastjet yanawapa wateja wake uamuzi juu ya kiasi gani wanataka kutumia, hii ikiwafanya abiria kulipia kile tu wanachotumia kuliko kutozwa kwa huduma ambazo hawatapendelea kununua au kutumia.

Huduma hizi za ziada ambazo huwa hazitumiki huchangia kufanya tiketi kuwa na bei ghali. Huduma kama kuingiza mpango wa wasafiri wa mara kwa mara, migahawa ya madaraja ya biashara, na vitu vingine kama mipangilio ya siti, burudani ndani ya ndege pamoja na chakula,vinywaji na mizigo hufanya nauli kuwa kubwa.

Lakini cha Muhimu zaidi ni kwamba jinsi mteja atakavyowahi kukata tiketi yake ndivyo atakavyoweza kusafiri kwa bei nafuu zaidi. Kwa maana hii fastjet inaweza kutoa tiketi moja kwa safari za ndani ya nchi kwa bei ya kuanzia tsh 32,000 tu bila gharama ya kodi. Hii inaweza kuwa ni rahisi kuliko hata nauli ya basi kwa safari hiyohiyo.

Kwahiyo pindi mteja atakapohitaji kusafiri tarehe fulani hapo mbeleni anatakiwa afanye maandalizi ya safari yake haraka iwezekanavyo ili kupata bei nafuu zaidi na kuokoa gharama.

Lakini pale mteja atakapoacha kutokufanya maandalizi ya safari yake hadi dakika za mwisho au kukata tiketi siku ya safari akiwa uwanja wa ndege itamgharimu nauli ya juu zaidi. Kumbuka kadiri ndege inavyojaa ndivyo kiwango cha nauli kutoka tsh 32,000 bila gharama ya kodi kitakavyoongezeka.

Pia kuna Mizigo. Fastjet haitamtoza abiria kwa begi dogo la mkononi lenye ukubwa wa (56 x 45 x 25 cm), Lakini itamtoza kwa mizigo mingine atakayobeba (tafadhali tembelea www.fastjet.com ili kujua gharama za mizigo) Endapo utahitaji kinywaji au kiburudisho fastjet itakutoza kwa huduma hii.

Kwahiyo siri ni kufanya maandalizi ya safari yako mapema na kuhakikisha unebeba mzigo mwepesi.

fastjet.com

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Health&Beauty

For natural beauty,

By Jane Barsby

FolloW THE AZTECS…

t

he choices are multiplying, the blaze of brand names bewildering. The supermarket shelves are bristling with ‘must have’ fix-its for hair, face and body.

Read the back of the bottles and you’ll find that most of the ingredients are unpronounceable and incomprehensible; read the price tag and you’ll realise that these high-profile chemical cocktails don’t come cheap.

For a refreshingly pure, economical and natural alternative, however, you don’t have to look further than the nearest avocado tree.

Aztec Princess Try the following recipe, originally used by the women of the ancient Aztec and Inca civilizations for ultra-soft, super-glossy hair. The treatment also makes a great cure for split ends or itchy scalp.

Take one avocado (half if you have short hair), peel it and remove the stone. Mash it well with a fork and (if you can be bothered) push it through a sieve for a smoother product. Add one egg yolk and half a teaspoon of olive oil. Apply the mixture to your scalp and work through to the ends of your hair. Leave on for half an hour, then rinse off thoroughly and shampoo as usual.

Avo-tip: For an even deeper conditioning treatment, add a cupful of coconut milk fresh from the shell.

Bright eyes Late nights and wild parties are tough on eyes, but for a natural boost all you need to do is place a slice of peeled avocado beneath each eye and relax for 15 minutes.

Rinse off and you’re good to go.

Green masque Face mask Refreshingly pure

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travelsmart

There’s no need to waste hardearned money on expensive

face masques. For an instant glamour glow, simply spread half a mashed avocado evenly over your cleansed face, relax for 10 minutes and rinse off (first with warm water, then with cold).

Avo-tip: For a creamier masque suitable for oily skin, add one egg white and a teaspoon of lemon juice, mix to a paste and apply as above.

Tip to toe Avocado makes a natural pampering reviver for hands and feet. All you need to do is mash the fruit and massage the paste well into both hands and feet and leave on for 15 minutes. This makes a delicious cure for cracked heels, too.

Avo-tip: Add three to four dessert spoons of oatmeal to the avocado mash to make a pre-moisturising exfoliating scrub for both hands and feet. Massage it in deeply, allow to dry and rinse off.

Skin appeal The next time you eat an avocado, don’t throw the skin away – it makes a superbly oil-rich ecomoisturiser. Simply apply the inside of the peel lightly to your clean face, using gentle upward strokes.

You can leave the residual on your face all night or rinse after 15 minutes. This treatment also makes a great base for foundation or face powder.

Creamy avocado and honey moisturiser This makes an ideal moisturiser for dull or dry skin because it removes the build-up of dead skin cells, moisturises and leaves your face silky-soft and glowing.

To make it, peel, de-stone and mash one avocado, add one tablespoon of honey (locally made acacia honey is ideal) and one teaspoon of cream (double or single).

Mix thoroughly until you have a smooth paste. Apply the mixture to your face and leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and gently pat dry.

Did you know that Cleopatra, legendary queen of ancient Egypt, used cream made from cow’s milk on her face to make her skin glow?

Need to know:

avocado What? The avocado (Persea americana) is a tree native to Mexico and Central America. It is a flowering plant of the Lauraceae family along with cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel. The fruit (known as a pear) is actually a large berry containing a single seed or stone.

When? The avocado was first grown in Mexico around 10,000 BC. Where? The avocado grows in subtropical climates all over the world and is especially prolific in East Africa.

Why? Avocados make great eating, not only because they taste so good, but also because they are rich in vitamins B, K and E (all good for skin tone and healthy bones); and potassium. Avocados have a high fibre count (soluble and insoluble), which makes for

good digestion and a reduced chance of colorectal cancer.

Soluble fibre is also good for appetite control, making you feel full when you’re not. Avocados also contain monounsaturated fat, which lessens your LDL (harmful) cholesterol intake.

How? To ensure your avocado is ripe, squeeze it gently – it should ‘give’ a little under pressure. To prevent the flesh turning brown (which it does when exposed to the air), squeeze a little lime or lemon juice over the fruit.

Which? There are dozens of species of avocado, but the most popular (80 per cent of those grown around the world) are Hass avocados, named after Rudolph Hass, the farmer who first grew them in California in 1935.

Coffee republic Tanzania’s prime coffee-gowing region (Pictures on this page kindly supplied by Utengule Coffee Lodge)

Heading Caption

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travelsmart

ExploringMbeya

A highland fling in

‘Scotland of Africa’

O

n 1 November 2013 a fastjet Airbus 319 landed for the first time at Songwe Airport in the Southern Highlands.

The inaugural fastjet flight to the ‘Green City’ of Songwe was greeted in style by a welcoming ceremony that included a water cannon salute.

In response to growing demand on this route, a Sunday flight was added later in November and by the end of the year fastjet was operating an additional three flights a week, bringing the total number of flights per week between the two cities (Dar es Salaam and Songwe) to seven.

Known as the Green City because of the greenness of the surrounding countryside, Songwe was established as a gold mining town in the 1920s. Today, this agricultural and trading centre forms part of the ‘Great North Road’ from Cape Town to Alexandria.

So what is there to see and do in one of fastjet’s newest destinations? >

fastjet.com

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ExploringMbeya

Eating out Two popular local venues are New City Pub and Kermbu Bar, both are famous locally for their tasty nyama choma.

Local music

Scenic spots The ‘Scotland of Africa’ is an area of hills covered in heather and bracken. Like its counterpart in northern Europe, this region is famed for hiking and forest walks.

The peak of Mount Rungwe is the highest point in the Southern Highlands at 2,960 metres. Nearer to Mbeya town is Loleza Peak, which can be reached in about four hours of steady climbing.

through the cooling lava spewed out by a volcano millions of years ago.

Beach getaway About 130 km by road from the Green City is Matema Beach on the shore of Lake Malawi, reached by a winding road through beautiful mountains and tea plantations. Visitors can go on a canoe trip with fishermen or spot crocodiles and hippos at the mouth of a nearby river.

Football teams Songwe is represented in the Tanzanian Premier League by Mbeya City FC and the quaintly named Prisons FC. The former is a new team founded by the city council and promoted to the Premier League for the 2012-2013 season. The latter is run by the Tanzanian Prison Service based in Mbeya.

Scotland in Africa A station on the DarKapiri Mposhi line

Thanks to Gazelle Safaris for contributing to this article © Josse Jonathan

The Mbeya artist Awilo is the region’s most famous present-day entertainer. Mbeya City Carnival is a popular and colourful venue for live music and you can dance the night away at the recently opened Maisha Club. Each year the indigenous Wanakyusa people hold a traditional dance competition in Tukuyu town, an event held by custom following the harvest.

© Utengule Coffee Lodge

The ‘Scotland of Africa’ is an area of hills covered in heather and bracken

Waterfall adventure For the adventurous, there are opportunities to swim at the Kijungu Waterfalls. The falls are located about 80 km from the regional centre Songwe and close to a remarkable ‘bridge’ over the Kiwira River formed by water flowing

fastjet.com

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Zanzibar on a budget

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travelsmart

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BudgetTravel

Enjoy the riches without spending a fortune If you think budget accommodation means dingy rooms, hard beds and omnipresent insects, then think again. In Zanzibar, you can have a great stay without breaking the bank, as I hope to show in this list of some of the island’s finest affordable lodging. And don’t forget: money saved on accommodation means more shillings to spend on other things. So, in no particular order, here are my top tips >

Heading Caption

fastjet.com

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BudgetTravel

By Sam Gimson

Manch Lodge Vugu Just a few alleys back from Stone Town’s market strip, Manch Lodge Vugu offers a basic but comfortable and affordable centre from which to explore the town’s labyrinth of houses. If you’re on a strict budget, the 14-bed dormitory on the top floor is inexpensive and generally quiet. The private rooms are also inexpensive and clean, if rather rustic. The complimentary breakfast is served in a shaded outside eating area and there are sofas on the terraces. All in all, a great place to relax.

Paje By Night

Jambiani White Sands Bungalows

New Teddy’s Place

If you want to enjoy Paje by night, the best place to stay is this eponymous restaurant and hotel. By day it is a centre of the water sports scene, where everyone returns for lunch.

The property’s Italian chef offers some of the best pasta dishes this side of Sicily. The restaurant/bar is open late and always busy; but it’s situated away from the rooms, so guests who are tired from a hard day’s kite surfing can sleep undisturbed.

Accommodation is in a garden of palm trees near the swimming pool.

Wake up to glorious birdsong and Paje’s fastest Wi-Fi connection. In summary, a unique mix of fun and comfort.

The locally owned Jambiani White Sands Bungalows is a small and intimate property. The six bungalows sit right up on the beach. Few other budget hotels can claim to look and feel this good. The hospitality is of a high standard and the food is excellent. In addition to the hotel, there are many other restaurants in the vicinity. If you want value for money, look no further.

Ask the staff about the historical rivalry between New Teddy’s Place and the neighbouring Old Teddy’s Place. I never stayed at the original hotel, but New Teddy’s would surely be hard to beat. Located on a sunny beach in the southwest of the island, the venue features a candle-lit bar and a seated restaurant on the beach. It’s an ideal place to meet other tourists, enjoy cocktails or simply relax in a hammock with a book. All the bedrooms have sandy floors and comfortable beds and the facilities are good; but what makes a stay at New Teddy’s Place so enjoyable is its atmosphere and the genuineness of its staff.

Plenty of choice Great value accommodation

fastjet.com

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BudgetTravel

Mbuyuni Beach Village

Dude’s Guesthouse

If you’re a beach-seeking layabout, aim for Mbuyuni, halfway between Jambiani and Paje, on the quieter side of the island. Here you can renounce all earthly responsibilities and just lie on the dazzling sands.

Alternatively, if you feel active, the hotel offers snorkelling excursions every day and other tours on request. Accommodation consists of private thatched-roofed bungalows and patios overlooking the swimming pool. All in all, Mbuyuni is the place to find seclusion and tranquillity.

You can get a good idea of what this place is like from the title. If that suits you, Dude’s won’t disappoint.

But whoever you are, you are sure to settle in and feel at home (if, indeed, your home is a tropical paradise) at this Jambiani-based guesthouse.

Take a boat to see the dolphins, or maybe catch a glimpse from the hotel. There is a socially active living space and easy access to the village.

Dude, who runs the lodge, will help to make your stay as easy and pleasurable as possible.

Zenji Hotel For the best location in Stone Town, Zenji Hotel suits the budget vacationer who wants peace and comfort. Although centrally located, the hotel is surprisingly quiet. It has attractive Zanzibari fourposter beds, en-suite bathrooms, balconies and air conditioning – all the amenities you would expect from the winner of the 2013 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award.

Princess Salme Inn If the famous Arabian princess returned to Zanzibar, in truth I don’t think she would stay at this hotel; but I am not a princess and require no such luxuries. Located close to the ferry terminal, Princess Salme Inn is ideal for visitors from Dar es Salaam. After breakfast on the shaded rooftop overlooking the harbour you can enjoy one of the property’s guided day tours.

Staff are friendly and helpful, there is free tea and coffee all day, free Wi-Fi and good showers. Who could ask for more?

Spice island A selection of properties for budget travellers

Zanzibar is such a charming island, with so many things to do and see. You don’t have to spend a lot to enjoy yourself by choosing from my money-saving list.

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K F fo ilim or s m r ch anj om e a a e tai nt, w rity ro h tim ro n (a alk and as b e no ut t 5 in a ee w es ,8 g u lso n , c to 95 p as all lim W c th m Afr an th bi e l m im ll, t ay b he e su etre ica’s act e rag ng M m s) h o e o an no nea re m is ig f s . O u d t i r s it c so he el f nt b b ‘ m an po st f-fu ten he Kili’ ay e as y M an a ro wh no hi ou lte be pu mo lfilic en t q gh nt rn cro lar un ex it u (o M ati Bu i wd tha p v co te nly eru e: l o t f e t its m ha 4 in wh ot am wh he e, at to es t ve ,56 ste y n d. ke r a it m M fri o r the 6 m ad o en e c e ?. t y a re o er a u ds tell ac tre It d r s e l Af van . In th ac ba ing het s) ric ta fa an ks ck o o a’s ge ct m in ho ne’ f , h fif s t th ak e m s th o er es igh e -h cli e igh mb are up t an . es ing se for d t m w ve in ou ha ral nt t is ain .

th wi E h th o as u sL t E

u

M ou M n er t

En jo yt he ‘K ili’ ex pe rie nc e

MountMeru

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MountMeru

First, Mount Meru is located in Arusha National Park, regarded by many as Tanzania’s prettiest wildlife area. Climbers can expect to see plenty of wildlife – including giraffe, zebra, buffalo, hippo and colobus monkeys – with no predators. And it’s only 40 minutes from Arusha.

In addition, the park contains the Momella Lakes, home at various times of the year to a pink smudge of flamingos, which also inhabit Lake Manyara and Lake Natron.

Volcano As an extinct volcano, Mount Meru offers one of the best ridge walks in East Africa. Climbers can view the ash cone of Meru from its horseshoe-shaped caldera.

On its lower slopes, the vegetation is lush. This is really delightful hiking country, but climbers must not be lulled into a false sense of

security. The first and second nights of the ascent are relatively easy; but summit night is a tough challenge.

There is no technical climbing as such, but the scramble to the top in the dark is quite steep.

If Kilimanjaro is too crowded, then Mount Meru is delightfully tranquil with an absence of human life. Nick Ladd of Kilibase Adventures says: “Very few people climb Mount Meru as access is limited by the number of bunkhouses. This has a twofold benefit: no camping and fewer people.” These bunkhouses are Norwegian-and mean four per room and, according to Nick, they are very comfortable.

Nick cautions against climbing in the rainy season as it can be dangerous in the slippery conditions. On the other hand, he says, rain can be experienced at any time on Meru, even in the middle of the dry season, so climb-

Rock with a view Getting to the top

Mount Meru FACTS Elevation:

4,565 m (14,977 ft)

Prominence:

3,170 m (10,400 ft)

Rank:

72nd

Location:

Arusha Region, Tanzania

Coordinates:

3°14'48"S 36°44’54”E

Geology type: Stratovolcano Last eruption: 1910 First ascent:

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1904 by Fritz Jäger

Mount Meru TANZANIA

ers must be prepared and should take the correct all-weather gear.

In addition, Meru, says Nick, is an ideal means of acclimatisation for those looking to climb Kilimanjaro and avoid altitude sickness. But he explains that any Kili climb must be undertaken within a day of returning from the summit of Meru, otherwise the altitude benefits are lost. Incidentally, an ascent of Meru takes four days, three nights – that’s three days going up and only one coming down Nick explains that good fitness levels are required to hike for around five hours each day: “If you don’t practise before coming, you won’t enjoy it,” he says, adding: “Walk steadily and drink plenty of water.

Also eat lots of food while hiking.”

The oldest climber to date was a man in his late 60s from Australia, who took six nights to complete the ascent. “There’s not a 100 per

cent completion rate, but it’s much higher than Kili,” says Nick.

Dining out “Our own chef travels with each party and prepares food especially suited to local conditions. So each morning starts with a special reddish-colour porridge served with honey. We stay away from tea and coffee and just offer juice and hot chocolate. Then there’s a packed lunch and a three-course evening meal with comfort and energy snacks available throughout the day.”

“It’s important to wrap up warm”.

Temperatures range from +25°C to -10°C so Nick says thermal underwear is a must, together with plenty of layers. He even suggests a beanie hat to wear in bed at night.

Nick has one other key recommendation for anyone making the climb: “Take a pair of binoculars.

There’s lots of wildlife and fantastic

birding, especially sunbirds.”

The protection of Meru’s pristine environment is a real concern.

Instead of plastic water bottles, Nick suggests bringing a lightweight canteen that can be refilled during the climb using purification tablets.

(Mount Kilimanjaro has recently banned plastic water bottles.)

“Meru is not so strict as there are so few people climbing,” says Nick. “As a result, the onus is on us as a company to keep it pristine and respect the mountain and the environment.”

And when climbers finally reach the summit after their mad nocturnal scramble? Well, there’s an opportunity for some quite special photographs of Kilimanjaro as the sun comes over the horizon.

Each party consists of a guide and an assistant, a chef and three porters per climber who have to haul a variety of equipment up the mountain:

cooking utensils and gas cylinders as well as each the climber’s own bag.

“Don’t bring a suitcase,” pleads Nick.

And the cost of this four-day hike?

Nick says climbers should expect to pay around US$1,500 (including park fees). There are, of course, discounts for Tanzanian nationals and East African residents. And Nick wants to see more local people make the ascent.

“They would love it.”

If Kilimanjaro is too crowded, then Mount Meru is delightfully tranquil with an almost total absence of human life Four days makes for a perfect short break. Or Meru can be combined, say, with a trip to Ngorongoro and perhaps a longer and more relaxing stay in Zanzibar (via fastjet’s thriceweekly service, of course).

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Sandton’s finest Where else would you stay?

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PropertyProfile

The Michelangelo:

SEcond to None

G

uests ask for the five-star Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton – Johannesburg’s new economic heartland – by name.

Its reputation precedes it. Although it only opened in 1995, at the dawn of South Africa’s democracy, it is already a member of ‘The Leading Hotels of the World’.

Three glass lifts overlook the rectangular atrium that illuminates the hotel with natural light, which glistens in the koi pond below. The hotel’s renaissance theme is accentuated by symmetrical columns. It is decorated in gold and burnt orange floral designs with hints of navy blue and marble details. Each suite – whether it’s the deluxe, superior, premier, executive or presidential – has an African violet to give it a homely feel. My tip: ask for a southfacing suite that looks onto Nelson Mandela Square.

The most knowledgeable person to speak to is Archie Christodoulides, the executive head concierge, who is fluent in seven languages and has worked in the hospitality industry for more than two decades. He may advise visitors to ascend in the tethered hot air balloon in nearby Sky Park, or to discover the central business district on a walking tour.

Relax on the sun deck after a gym workout or a visit to the spa. The indoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi

By Iga Motylska also await. Thereafter, visit the city’s most exclusive shopping mall, Sandton City, which adjoins the hotel.

The JSE, Sandton Convention Centre and Gautrain station are within walking distance. Executives appreciate the unlimited Wi-Fi and the business centre, which provides conference rooms, private office space and international courier services. Early arrivals or late departures can freshen up in the resident’s lounge, which has showers and changing rooms, before retreating to the restaurant.

Love of food Executive chef Rob Creaser oversees Piccolo Mondo according to George Bernard Shaw’s adage that “there is no love sincerer than the love of food.” Each week he invites guests to dine on a six-course feast in his kitchen. The Italian à la carte menu also boasts South African specialties such as springbok carpaccio with red wine and cranberry jelly or Cape Malay ostrich with spinach dumplings and melon chutney.

Whether it’s for business or pleasure, the warm-hearted service, central location and attention to detail make the Michelangelo second to none. www.themichelangelo.co.za

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KiteSurfing

Hybrid water sport is really taking off

Surf’s up, so get kiting! © ???

I

t’s fast and furious with a hint of derring-do. And East Africa is becoming one of the world’s top locations for the thrilling sport of kitesurfing which, as its name suggests, combines kiting with surfing.

With its two seasonal winds, the Kusi and Kaskazi, Zanzibar – and East Africa in general – offers the perfect location for kite-surfing.

There is a choice of operators in Zanzibar from which to choose. For example, Kitezanzibar operates from three locations; while Airborne Kite Centres is newly established in Paje, having previously had a base only in Nyali/Mombasa.

Extolling Paje’s virtues, Airborne’s Jan Neubert says: “Offering 4 sq km of flat water and a protected sandy bottom lagoon, Paje is perfect for beginners and intermediate-level kiters to learn and progress. At the same time it’s ideal for advanced level riders looking to practice their free-style tricks”.

It gets even better: “Awesome

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wave action out on and beyond the reef for the surfers there makes this spot complete. The crystal clear, tropical warm waters are just the bonus,” explains Jan enthusiastically.

Lagoon So how does Zanzibar compare with Mombasa? “Airborne’s Mombasa bases also offer fantastic conditions for any level kiter with a smaller but more protected lagoon and some world class reef breaks not far off, making it great for advancing kiting levels and offering sensational conditions for the kite-’surfers’’ Travelsmart also did a question and answer with Justin Aniere who is located further up the coast at Che Shale, just north of Malindi.

Travelsmart: Given that kite-surfing has it dangers, what safety measures are in place to protect those involved in the sport?

Justin Aniere: The best way to stay safe is to learn with an instructor and

High flying Wave riding off the Zanzibar coast

to be patient and learn step by step.

Do not skip the theory steps, learn how to read the weather and always ask other experienced kiters when you get to a new spot.

This is not a sport that you can rush and each person learns at his or her own pace. The equipment has

With its two seasonal winds, the Kusi and Kaskazi, Zanzibar offers the perfect location for kite-surfing

improved a lot in the last 10 years and it now has lot of built-in safety features.

Travelsmart: What is the best time of the year to kite-surf at Che Shale?

Justin Aniere: July through mid October and January through April.

May and June are still windy, but it can be rainy.

Travelsmart: How much would a kite-surfer expect to pay for his or her equipment and can this equipment be bought in Kenya or Tanzania?

Justin Aniere: If purchased brandnew, a complete kit (board, harness and kite) will be close to EUR 2,000.

However, in the beginning a new kiter can buy second-hand equipment at a much lower cost. There are not any retailers selling kite-surf equipment, but there is a secondhand market. My advice is to contact kite schools at the end of the season to see if they have any equipment to sell.

Travelsmart: What types of people are kite-surfing?

Justin Aniere: Started as a sport mainly practised by men, it has now grown so that is enjoyed also by teenagers and women and is also becoming quite mainstream.

Contrary to perception, it is not a sport that requires strength, but rather patience, technique and balance Travelsmart: Do kite-surfers come for the day or stay overnight at Che Shale? Do you have a campsite?

Justin Aniere: Students who come to Che Shale to learn to kite-surf stay on average for five nights. Normally, as long as wind conditions are good, it is good to give yourself three days fastjet.com

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KiteSurfing

East Africa offers a great array of kite-surf conditions, from flat water to waves

to complete a beginner’s course.

Many experienced kite-surfers also come and stay at Che Shale and they tend to stay for one to two weeks and often longer during high season when conditions are very good (July and August mainly). Che Shale does not offer camping.

Travelsmart: How far is Che Shale from Malindi?

Justin Aniere: We are a 30-minute drive and accessible by any type of vehicles. Taxis charge KES 2,500 one way.

Why is East Africa so perfect for kite-surfing?

Travelsmart: Do you provide all the equipment for beginners and can surfers hire equipment from Che Shale?

Justin Aniere: All equipment is included in our kite-surf lessons and we offer rentals to experienced kitesurfers when available.

Travelsmart: There are two kitesurfing competitions in Kenya. Can you provide more details?

Justin Aniere: Che Shale Kite Masters is held every August at Che Shale. Diani Kite Cup is held every December in Diani by H2O Extreme Kitesurf School. Both events are open to any experienced kitesurfers and they are great events for the entire family to attend and for newcomers to the sport to learn more about it. Both events raise funds for Kenyan charities.

As yet there are no competitions in Tanzania, but as Jan says: “We are working on it”.

• East Africa enjoys 300 days of wind per year and warm water all year round.

• East Africa offers kiting spots from Tanzania all the way up to Lamu.

• East Africa hosts a number of kite-surf competitions every year.

• East Africa offers a great array of kitesurf conditions, from flat water to waves and for everyone from beginners to experienced riders.

• East Africa’s kiting spots are uncrowded, especially when compared to other popular spots in Europe or Egypt or the Dominican Republic.

Just perfect Catching the wind

• Kite-surfing is gaining popularity with Tanzanian and Kenyan residents looking for active time at the coast. © ???

Travelsmart: What are you doing to get more East Africans involved in the sport?

Justin Aniere: Our annual Kitesurf Masters competition that is held every August helps to make more local people aware of the sport and how perfect East Africa is [as a place in which] to learn it. We are also very active on social media and advertise Kite + Stay packages for local residents.

Jan in Zanzibar added: “Airborne has trained and certified the first few local Kenyan IKO Instructors. We are also trying to get kids more involved,

not only for the fun-factor, but also to be made aware of the potential hazards associated with this incredible still relatively new water sport”.

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RideAfrica

Tour d’AfriQue AFRICA’S CYCLING SUPER-CHALLENGE khartoum cape Town 11,693 KM

94 DAYS

By Gary Gimson All pictures courtesy of Tour d’Afrique Ltd.

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A

re you the owner of a mountain bike? Got US$14,500 in notes burning a hole in your back pocket? Feeling super-fit and have four months spare with nothing much to do?

If so, there’s a thrilling African adventure waiting for you.

Canada-based organiser Tour d’Afrique says its Cairo to Cape Town bike ride – an annual 12,000 km slog across 10 countries – is a test of mind, body and bike. And with around 100 km to be ridden each day, this is clearly an understatement.

Tour d’Afrique offers similar trips worldwide, but the company acknowledges that this is its original and flagship adventure.

Flagged off Unfortunately, owing to what Tour d’Afrique euphemistically calls ‘exceptional circumstances’, the 2014 event is being flagged off from the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, at the confluence of the Blue and White Niles, rather

This is not some leisurely sight-seeing trip for the saddle-sore but a hard-fought race

Long ride south Every type of terrain

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than its usual starting point in Cairo.

This is not some leisurely sightseeing trip for the saddle-sore but a hard-fought race, with each day’s time being aggregated and the event winner crowned on arrival in Cape Town.

Typically, the top racers (about 30 per cent are riding against the clock) achieve times of between 300 and 400 hours from Cairo to Cape Town.

In 2013 the finishing time was 325 hours, 44 minutes and 12 seconds.

RideAfrica The fastest recorded average time for the whole tour is a mightily impressive 28.5 km/hour The difference between the top and bottom performers can be as much as 100 hours, with penalties for riders who fail to complete any particular stage within a set time.

Sweep Furthermore, no rider is allowed to cycle 30 minutes before dark; he or she would be picked up at that time.

A staff member rides ‘sweep’ each day, acting as a ‘broom wagon’. This staff member cycles at the back with a satellite phone to keep in contact with the tour leader.

On the face of it, spending that much money on a bike ride sounds crazy. Yet seemingly sane people of all ages are lining up to enjoy this torturous, hell-on-earth trip across Africa from north to south. Since 2002 nearly 500 riders have taken part, with ages ranging from 18 to 72.

So what do you actually get for your money? Not that much, it seems. OK, there is food and back-up support. But you have to bring your own bike; and, somewhat improbably, meals are not provided on rest days nor are flights to Khartoum and from Cape Town.

What’s more, the overnight

Across Africa Tough going for tough guys

Tour Breakdown Pyramids of Nubia:................................Khartoum-Gondar Biblical Ethiopia:............................... Gondar-Addis Ababa Meltdown Madness:......................... Addis Ababa-Nairobi Masai Steppe:............................................. Nairobi-Mbeya Malawi Gin:...............................................Mbeya-Lilongwe Zambezi Zone:................................ Lilongwe-Victoria Falls Elephant Highway:....................... Victoria Falls-Windhoek Diamond Coast:...............................Windhoek-Cape Town

breaks are under canvas all the way from Khartoum to Cape Town.

This is back-to-basics camping in the desert, in the bush, on football pitches and in school grounds, but also in designated campsites once the riders get to southern Africa.

On the other hand, the Tour d’Afrique support is formidable. It comprises four specially equipped overland Isuzu trucks, each fitted with a kitchen, drinking water, storage lockers, a rider seating area, bike racks and a tyre rack on the roof. The journey could not be undertaken without these vehicles.

Shanny Hill of Tour d’Afrique explains: “There are 10 staff – drivers, a medic, a mechanic, a cook and leaders – and 30 participants doing the full tour, plus 10 or so more coming for shorter segments.”

Ordinarily, the event begins with a leisurely and mostly flat pedal along the banks of the Nile. I imagine the 2014 roll-out from Khartoum will be no different in this regard except, of course, that riders will miss the opportunity to see the ancient temples of Upper Egypt.

Harsh desert Instead, they go straight off into the harsh Sudanese desert and up and down the biblical landscapes of Ethiopia’s rugged Simian Mountains. After crossing the equator into Kenya, riders come in sight of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The hardest sections of the ride are the so-called ‘meltdown madness’ through northern Kenya; and the stage in Ethiopia where riders climb the 2,000 metres out of the Blue Nile Gorge on a section that is hilly throughout.

Arusha is the tour’s halfwaypoint; then it’s onwards to Lake Malawi, the Victoria Falls and along the edges of the stark and flat Kalahari and Namib deserts. After that, it’s all ‘downhill’

Get the right wheels Tour d’Afrique recommends either front suspension mountain or cyclocross bikes. The company stresses the importance of simple and durable components.

For example, if riders choose disc brakes then they should opt for mechanical rather than hydraulic.

And each participant is allowed to bring two spare sets of tyres for different riding conditions.

to the finish in Cape Town. Easypeasy, really.

The finishers receive medals and a commemorative cycling jersey and there is a big finish-line celebration that has been supported each year by the City of Cape Town.

Some purists say the trip is getting easier. As Africa develops, there are fewer and fewer unpaved roads to be negotiated. But there is still plenty of uneven terrain for the diehards: corrugated and sandy off-road sections in Namibia and the harsh desert of Sudan.

Shanny Hill confirms this view: “The first edition in 2003 was certainly the toughest due to the level of unpredictability, lack of paved roads, and sourcing nutritional food was challenging.”

Would I like to take part? You bet.

Do I have four months and $14,500 to spare? Sadly, no. I do have a mountain bike, though. I suppose it’s a start. fastjet.com

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DarBars

If you like to drink in style,

this is the place…

By Tony Shoo

305 Karafuu

Bar@One

Kinondoni has plenty of lively joints, but this bar and eatery has earned rave reviews as a great place to chill over a few drinks and enjoy fine meals in relaxed surroundings. A tiny bar area has seating around fine wooden furnishings. With its cool and contemporary decor, this charming but compact venue offers friendly service and a great atmosphere. Few places in this part of town attract such an international mix of patrons.

This sleek, modern bar is a handy place to relax and watch the traffic as you wait for the city’s congestion to calm at the end of the day. Perch on a bar stool or find a table to enjoy wine or beer during happy hour. An outside patio area has cushioned seating and an impressive wide-screen TV for major sporting events. You might like to combine your evening with a visit to the Al Dar rooftop bar for shisha and fine views of the everchanging skyline.

Karafuu St, Kinondoni

Feeling thirsty? Here’s our round-up of the best places to experience Dar es Salaam’s lively and diverse bar scene.

Across the city you will find everything from classic cocktails to brilliant bands.

Here we go…

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Holiday Inn, Azikiwe Street

DarBars

Baraza Bar Southern Sun Hotel, Garden Avenue

This relaxed venue offers a welcome sanctuary from the congestion and chaos of the city.

Enjoy daytime drinks inside or on the terrace overlooking the pool and Botanical Gardens beyond.

A flat-screen TV next to the bar area means you need never miss a major game on a weekday or over the weekend. A selection of tempting treats is available from the restaurant. Expect a warm ‘Southern Sun’ welcome from the friendly and attentive staff along with some of the best customer service in the city.

Water’s edge A perfect place for a sundowner

Cape Town Fish Market

Msasani Bay (off Kimweri Avenue) This über-cool venue offers stunning views, a stylish bar plus a sleek decking area. You can sit ocean-side to sample one (or more) of the dozen cocktails, 11 beers and 11 whiskies or select from a wine list with a choice of nearly 20 whites, a similar number of reds and five champagnes.

The Strawberry Daiquiri and Soco Summer Splash are divine, but soft drinkers can rest assured there is a choice of ‘virgin’ cocktail versions. Move on to the sushi bar to enjoy an impressive menu of nigiri, sashimi, makimono and more or dine alfresco. Choose from a range of light meals or larger mains. There is a good choice of coffee and liqueurs to finish the evening. Expect more entertainment, attractions and offers from this super spot in the coming months.

Bar at Akemi

Golden Jubilee Towers, Ohio St. The famous revolving restaurant has an adjacent bar that is one of the city’s great cocktail spots. Take a window seat for the 21-storey view of Dar or find a comfy sofa to enjoy cocktails that are almost an art form. Highlights include the Waterfall and Frutta e Noci Martini (with ‘muddled grapes’). The illuminated back bar glows with a display of premium-label bottles.

This place has everything for spirit lovers, wine drinkers and cocktail connoisseurs alike. Don’t miss the

brilliant snack menu that includes burgers, chicken and other tasty bites. Akemi can be rightly proud of its wine list, with outstanding New and Old World wines served by the glass or bottle. There is a live band on Friday and a weekday happy hour.

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DarBars

Karambezi

Sea Cliff Hotel, Toure Drive This popular spot, perched on the cliff edge of the Msasani Peninsula, has an imposing bar dominating an expanse of tables all offering fine views and a bracing ocean breeze. Ask the awardwinning ‘mixologist’ William to create for you a Karambezi Special or one of the other fabulous offerings on the cocktail list, which includes five ‘mocktails’.

Premium spirits and popular beers are also available at this venue, which attracts both drinkers and diners throughout the week.

Look out for the live band on Saturday and the Peroni with Pizza offer. The menu starters make excellent (and quite gigantic) bar meals. Daytime or evening you can also try the new café-style menu featuring an array of coffee and cake options.

Lukas Chole Road

A spacious venue with a great bar menu of popular dishes available for lunch or dinner. If you are on the Msasani Peninsula then head there for super stews with ugali, matoke, grilled meat, fresh fish and more. There is an open area for evenings and a covered section offering shade during the day.

Expect to find all the popular beers, sodas and spirits at this inexpensive venue, patronised by tourists, locals and expats alike throughout the week.

Fun and games Different bars different tastes

Rose Garden

Triniti

A spacious outdoor bar offering pool tables, big screens for English Premier League games, Swahili bar food and plenty of seating for the mixed clientele. This handy spot is situated between the Old and New Bagamoyo roads. Rose Garden draws customers all week long.

An authentic Tanzanian bar experience awaits drinkers in this famous Mikocheni pub.

This well-known spot set amid lush gardens offers speed dating, live bands, popular DJs, quiz nights and even poetry presentations.

Follow its amazing list of activities on Facebook or simply wander down to the bar in the heart of affluent Oyster Bay. There are plenty of opportunities for drinking at this popular place just off Haile Selassie Road. You can even crash out in its guest-house rooms at the back should your merrymaking become excessive.

(Rose) Garden Road

Msasani Road

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TanzanianFootball

YANGA VS SIMBA Ten of the best

derBy duels It’s a fixture that stirs up emotions; a clash of the titans that excites passions that few other contests in Tanzania can match. But which have been the most notable encounters between these huge rivals? We asked Florian Kaijage, Sports Editor at Azam TV, to share his 10 of the best.

1

1 June 1968

2

10 AuGusT 1974

3

19 July 1977

Yanga 5 - 0 Simba

Yanga 2 - 1 Simba

Simba 6 - 0 Yanga

This Ilala Stadium clash was the heaviest defeat inflicted by Yanga on Simba, who were known as Sunderland at the time.

Two goals (one a penalty in the 43rd minute) came from Maulidi Dilunga.

Salehe Zibwe scored two goals and the final one came from Kitwana Manara. It was reported that Simba initially wanted to boycott the game after star player Emmanuel Embele was banned from playing for six months. On the morning of the game the Yanga/Lancaster elders agreed that Imbele’s ban could be lifted for this game in order for the match to proceed. This unusual move, however, did not stop Simba’s defeat.

This game almost resembles the epic 1999 UEFA Champions League victory of Manchester United over Bayern Munich.

The game at the Nyamagana Stadium match in Mwanza saw the first goal scored by Simba’s Adam Sabu but three minutes from time Gibson Sembuli equalised. The game was heading for a draw, but in stoppage time Sunday Manara scored the winning goal for Yanga. A few years later Manara went on to become the country’s first footballer to play professionally in Europe.

The biggest margin of win recorded between these rivals to this day. This contest was the only match in the history of this derby clash where a player achieved a hat-trick. Abdallah Kibadeni scored in the 10th, 42nd and 89th minute of the match. Defender Jumanne Hassan (‘Masimenti’) scored two further goals; and an own goal by Selemani Sanga completed Yanga’s shocking defeat.

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TanzanianFootball 4

16 April 1983

Yanga 3 - 1 Simba Yanga’s victory was achieved thanks to Charles Boniface in the 21st minute, Makumbi Juma in the 38th minute and Omari Hussein six minutes before the game ended. Simba’s only goal was scored by Mussa Kihwelu in the 14th minute. Simba had returned from their training camp in Brazil led by their coach, Silva, claiming to shake up the country’s football scene with their two systems: ‘diagonal’ and ‘diagonal samba’. Yanga were fearful, but still won.

5

23 July 1988

6

13 November 1991

7

2 July 1994

Simba 2 - 1 Yanga

Simba 0 - 0 Yanga

Simba 4 - 1 Yanga

Simba’s victory came from shots by Edward Chumila and John Makelele.

Yanga’s scorer was Issa Athmani. Simba were expected to win this game and thereby avoid relegation. Yanga were on course to become league champions and were desperate for a victory over their arch-rivals. Simba’s triumph maintained their league status and Yanga went on to lose the championship to Coastal Union.

This Union League game was abandoned at half-time. Simba refused to go back onto the pitch and reported that the referee was not impartial. It was claimed the referee was planning a 3-0 victory for Yanga.

Yanga virtually disbanded the team after this miserable performance. Many senior players were expelled or left. This was the culmination of tensions and turbulence that exploded after this defeat.

9

5 May 2012

George Masatu, Athman China, Madaraka Seleimani and Dua Saidi scored for Simba. Yanga’s solo scorer was Constantine Kimanda.

Simba 5 - 0 Yanga 8

9 November 1996

Yanga 4 - 4 Simba This Union League game, played in Arusha, resulted in the highest combined score between the two teams. Yanga’s scorers were Saidi Momba, Sanifu Lazaro and Edibilly Lunyamila with a penalty goal in the 28th minute. Simba’s goal scorers were Thomas Kipese (just seven minutes into the game), defender Mustafa Hoza, Ahmed Mwinyimku plus Dua Said who bagged two in the 60th and 90th minutes.

This National Stadium showdown was a momentous game for the current generation of football fans. Yanga had a leadership crisis at this time; they were failing in the league and this came to a head in the match. The defeat was expected, but the extraordinary margin was unanticipated. Emmanuel Okwi scored in the first and sixth minutes. The other goals were penalties shots taken

by Felix Sunzu, Juma Kaseja and Patrick Mafisango from Rwanda who tragically die in a car crash the same month.

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20 October 2013

Yanga 3 - 3 Simba Yanga were leading 3-0 at half-time, but Simba recovered to achieve a draw in the Vodacom Premier League match at the National Stadium. This was a rare and impressive comeback in the second half.

Yanga’s goals were scored by Mrisho Ngasa and Hamis Kizza, who got two shots past goalkeeper Abel Dhaira. Simba equalised thanks to Bertram Mwombeki, Joseph Owino and Gilbert Kaze.

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CityGuide

Jolling in

JO'burg

By Iga Motylska

Johannesburg or eGoli, meaning place of gold in Zulu, was founded during the gold rush in the late 19th century. In the years leading up to the 2010 World Cup, the city was reminted to take on a new face.

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All that adventure can make one hungry. Wandie’s Place offers a lunchtime buffet of indigenous foods such as mogodu (tripe stew) served with mielie pap and spicy chakalaka salad on the side. The restaurant boasts that it has hosted Sir Richard Branson, Jesse Jackson and Quincy Jones. Leave your mark on the walls, which are covered in business cards and mural-style greetings from patrons, before you head to Maponya Mall.

© Jaxons / Shutterstock.com

© Attila Jandi / Shutterstock.com

O

© Jaxons / Shutterstock.com

nly one street in the world has the distinction of being home to two Nobel Prize laureates: both Nelson Mandela, the late father of the nation, and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu hailed from Vilakazi Street in Soweto (South Western Township). Here, you can visit Mandela’s former home at number 8115, reflect on his legacy on a street bench and admire the symbolic public art works. For a lesson on South Africa’s recent history, read the storyboards as you stroll to the Hector Pieterson museum.

The landmark Orlando Towers is a playground for those with life cover and nerves of steel. Here, you can bungee jump from 100 metres, power swing, abseil, SCAD freefall or rock climb. Those who prefer flexing their right index finger photograph the dam and sprawling development from the floating stairway that is suspended between the two brightly painted cooling towers.

Regenerated With your purchases bagged, stop by 44 Stanley Avenue for dinner.

This collection of 1930s industrial buildings has been regenerated as restaurants, speciality stores, galleries and design studios. The open-air courtyards are lined with on-sale decor items and fairy lights hang from the trees, giving it a rustic feel. Down the road, the Bohemian suburb of Melville, particularly 7th Street, comes alive with music and

This is Jo’burg Fun city with )lots to see and do

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© Jaxons / Shutterstock.com

CityGuide

good times after sundown.

After a Saturday morning lie-in (you are on vacation after all) visit the Neighbourgoods Market on Juta Street in Braamfontein. This indoor parking area has been transformed into a lively meeting place where artisanal breakfasts, home-made delicacies and desserts await. Once you’ve checked breakfast off your list, arm yourself with comfortable walking shoes, a camera and sunscreen as you witness first-hand the rejuvenation of the inner city on a guided walking tour.

Whether it’s a saunter through the historical city centre that passes through Gandhi Square (who practised law here at the turn of the 20th century) or a bit of indulgence at the retail and fashion districts, you’ll surely find a walking tour that intrigues you. Practise your haggling skills for the smooth-talking street vendors and shopowners you’ll encounter along the way. This is the best place to buy a vuvuzela and don’t say I didn’t tell you.

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Johannesburg has the third-largest concentration of Art Deco buildings after New York and Miami. Admire the cityscape from atop Africa’s tallest building, the 50-storey Carlton Centre on Commissioner Street. It’s also a vertigo-inducing Sunday afternoon picnic spot (in a good way, that is).

Africa’s capital By night and day

Creativity A stone’s throw away, artists have adopted Maboneng Precinct as their new home and their creativity spills onto the streets. The art district is always abustle, from a rooftop

Arm yourself with comfortable walking shoes, a camera and sunscreen as you witness first-hand the rejuvenation of the inner-city garden venue at the Living Room to the Bioscope, an independent film cinema, and the frozen yogurt parlour in a stationary truck. And if you’re up for ‘squeaking your takkies’ (dancing, that is) then visit Kitchener’s

Carvery Bar. Now you’ll be able to tell your friends that you jolled in Jo’burg.

Upon waking in the bright orange easyHotel in the CBD, breakfast in shabby-chic Cullinan village, near the capital of Pretoria, before descending into a diamond mine with a hard hat and all. This is where one of the world’s largest diamonds was discovered. Note that if you do happen to stumble upon a diamond in the rough, you’ll have to hand it over.

And since you’re already in the area, you might as well relax on the Union Buildings’ lawns with a good read.

Traditional

Interesting past Parks and monuments

As lunch nears, drive back to Jozi to Moyo restaurant at Zoo Lake, take a walk around the public park before you’re treated to traditional face painting and live music. Later, you’ll need no convincing that Sandton is the heart of the continent’s biggest economy, as you sip on a sundowner at the Michelangelo Hotel. I wouldn’t trade living in the city of gold, not even for a bar of gold.

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SoberHouse

Former addicts get their life back by turning creative

By Sam Gimson

A

new scheme is helping to improve the job prospects for Zanzibar’s recovering drug addicts and alcoholics. For many former junkies, unemployment is all that awaits them when they finish rehab. With new feelings of hope and accomplishment undermined by financial insecurity, addicts all too often stumble back down a path of despondency.

Zanzibar’s Sober Houses for Men and Women are now producing clothes, jewellery, arts and crafts to be sold at the Women’s Sober House Shop in Stone Town. Proceeds go towards the upkeep and continual development of their institutions.

Sober Art Just a few examples of the tremendous creativity of Sober House’s residents.

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Through the SIYB training programme, former addicts bare encouraged to rekindle their neglected talents and abilities.

Under the programme, they have access to workshops in art and sculpture, language lessons and seminars as well as to new facilities and equipment provided at the centres. The shop provides an inspiring platform for them to showcase their work, all of which is self-motivated and goes towards rebuilding self-esteem.

Tailored I wanted to buy some trousers from the shop. I chose the material and the women there, all former addicts, tailored it to fit.

Addiction is a problem that affects people irrespective of their culture or socio-economic background. Everyone who works for the Zanzibar Sober Houses, including the administrators, have had drug problems in the past.

The shopkeeper, Arwa Hassan, who suffered from addiction while she studied in Nairobi, told me the women here were usually cut off from their families, forced to live on the street and rejected by their community because of their habit. With no therapy or counselling, it was not until the Sober House for Women was started up in 2010 that girls had any hope of getting help.

After speaking with Arwa I went to visit the Men’s Sober House.

Giving up drugs or alcohol leads to substitute addictions. I was struck by how much coffee was consumed – five or more spoonfuls of instant coffee per mug – and cigarettes, with all 30 or so members chainsmoking away. Just don’t come here if you want to quit smoking.

After giving me a brief tour of the premises everyone gathered for their

Addiction is a problem that affects people irrespective of their culture or socioeconomic background daily seminar as part of the 12-step programme they are following.

Addicts The circle began by introducing themselves. Every man was obliged to admit he was an addict. They told me about their lives as users and how the Sober House had helped them.

“Sometimes people who are using haven’t heard about the programme,” said one resident. As an addict you become isolated. But you have to pass that place and say I need help. But seeking help must be your decision. Sometimes people do it just to keep their family happy.”

Another man continued: “Taking drugs means you live in a glasshouse.

If I see someone who’s using, I know what they’re going through. I know my friend’s pain and empathise. But they cannot see what life is like on the other side.”

The therapist asked the group to explain the 12-step programme to me. It was clear that everyone believed in the validity of this method and many seemed to be consoled by the hope it represented. “You must first recognise that your addiction is a disease,” one man told me. I suppose, whether this is true or not, it is a positive way to deal with the situation.

After causing so much devastation to themselves and loved ones, many junkies are used to feeling negative.

To say that the addiction is a disease, that it is not your fault, allows you to let go of past mistakes and emotional baggage and try to build up selfacceptance again.

I felt a real sense of warmth and camaraderie there. The Sober House feels like a family. When so many of the people have had no-one to talk to before, it is touching to see how much they look out for one another.

After the seminar I spoke with Saleh Awadhi, who has been off drugs for two years. He still visits the Sober House and uses its facilities and peaceful atmosphere to carry on his work of designing clothes.

He plans to exhibit at Fashion Week Zanzibar this year. His mother, a dressmaker, taught him how to sew,

and now he believes he is honouring her memory by designing clothes.

I spoke with staff volunteer assistant Chuluu, who was born in Oman and has been clean since 2 May 2011. I was told that many Omanis check into East African rehab centres because it goes on public record in their native country, thus effectively barring them from almost all future employment.

Junkie Now is in his fifties, Chuluu had been a junkie all his life. His family disowned him and his mother died before he quit the habit. He was not even invited to the funeral. Since being clean, Chuluu says his father has forgiven him and his life is gradually returning to normal.

“In hospital, there are people who go and get cured” said one, “others go there every day, such as those with diabetes or HIV and cannot be cured. Others go to hospital and die.

It is the same in rehab.

“There is no difference between the way that people use the 12-step programme and how they follow the Bible or Koran. Even if they know the book and know the stories, the truth is, if you leave the book, the book leaves you.”

I was deeply touched by my conversation with Chuluu. I hope that he and the others, such as Selah, who are trying hard to use the Sober House Shop to their advantage, will find the very real opportunities they deserve.

On the road to recovery Help is at hand

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CarReview

Electric vehicles (EVs) may be the latest thing in the war against toxic car fumes, but will we eventually see fleets of them on our African roads – or something else entirely?

By Karl Peskett

Electric vehicles

A light-bulb 50

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moment

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CarReview

A

click is heard as a cable is unplugged from the wall. The driver hops into his or her car and presses a button. LED lights dance across the dash and a chime sounds: the car is now ready. As it sets off, all that can be heard is the crackle of sand beneath the tyres.

No, this isn’t a scene from a futuristic movie. It’s very much the present. With increasing pressure on industry to become greener, the automotive sector is right at the pointy end of consumer expectation. After all, you can’t burn millions of barrels of fossil fuel each day and hope that nobody notices.

Toyota pioneered the change with its petrol-electric hybrid, the Prius.

It may have resembled a dead fish, but thanks to clever marketing it became an environmental messiah and an instant fashion hit with environmentally conscious celebrities.

Then, tiny diesel cars were launched by competitors, boasting less fuel consumption than the Prius. But no matter how efficient you make your car, it still burns fuel.

Emissions free Enter the EV. By plugging into mains power, transportation suddenly became ‘emissions free’. And since EVs have torque from zero rpm, they’re zippy. Sounds great, right?

Well, it is – until you run out of battery power. Petrol stations can’t just top up electricity.

The typical 80 to 150 km range from an overnight charge is perfect for most city commuters.

But anyone who wants to get out of town would need EV charging stations along the way – infrastructure sadly not found in most countries and totally non-existent in East Africa.

A bright spark at General Motors took a fresh look at the EV’s shortcomings and came up with a solution.

Called a range extender, it’s a small petrol engine that acts as a generator, giving you enough charge to get home. The beauty is you can use it like a normal EV, charging it each night and then driving with no emissions. Hit the highway, and it will go for 600 km without recharging.

FOUR TO COMPARE BMW i3 Range: 130-160 km MPGe: Not yet announced Full charge time: 30 mins

Range extenders The Chevrolet Volt was the first, but range extenders are to be installed in future models by Hyundai, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo. BMW’s latest city car, the i3, can be bought as

Chevrolet Volt Range: 61 km EV, 610 km total MPGe: 157 miles Full charge time: 4 hours

As it sets off, all that can be heard is the crackle of sand beneath the tyres either an EV or an EV with range extender. The benefits are clear: cheap to run, ultra-low emissions and no ‘range anxiety’. The downside is the high purchase price.

Fossil fuels may be a finite resource, but imagine combining an EV with a range extender that could run on biofuel.

Clean air is closer than you think.

Toyota Prius Range: 18 km EV, 864 km total MPGe: 152 km Full charge time: 1.5 hours

A growing choice Are these cars really for Africa?

Nissan Leaf Range: 117 km MPGe: 158 km Full charge time: 7 hours

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FoodForThought

By Sam Gimson

By degrees, I came to love this place…

I

f I had just one night in Zanzibar and needed feeding, Six Degrees South Grill and Wine Bar would be my first choice. I had the pleasure of dining there recently and now, no longer on the island, I think back with pangs of hunger on that delightful evening.

This restaurant had been recommended to me and I wanted to review it. My friend and I were seated with a view along the length of the restaurant, which opens out onto the starlit ocean.

Other diners were already enjoying the well-presented food from a varied and intriguing menu that included lamb curry bunny chow and Philadelphia po boy. How could I not be hungry?

The food soon arrived. We had decided to share a small selection of dishes. First up was pickled calamari and octopus, a cold dish bathed in a rich vinaigrette. Having previously eaten overcooked and untenderised tentacles in Zanzibar, it was pure pleasure to be served good, wellcooked seafood.

The Mediterranean crostini with a hint of chilli and sweet vegetables were satisfying and healthy, adding further crunch to the lightly toasted ciabatta bread.

The Greek salad was laid out so that each vegetable could be tasted separately, with cherry tomatoes, green peppers and black olives, all grown locally.

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After the meal we met the manager, Johann, who showed us around. As if there weren’t already enough to enjoy, Six Degrees is preparing to open a new terrace bar. We sat and talked with Johann late into the evening. He is knowledgeable about art and a great conversationalist.

Indulgent I returned the following morning and enjoyed a breakfast of pancakes with bacon and drizzled honey – a most indulgent start to the day. Strangely enough, the three ingredients complemented one another very well.

The pancakes were thick and velvety, the bacon smoked and crispy.

The atmosphere in the front room, with its spectacularly bright morning light and its panorama of blue water, was so pleasant and relaxed that I could happily have sat

Indian Ocean views Eat in style

My friend and I were seated with a view along the length of the restaurant, which opens out onto the starlit ocean for hours. The room had comfortable sofas and a bar where you could chat or check your emails. With food, service and ambience all of the same high standard, Six Degrees really is a remarkable restaurant – one that you’ll want to return to.

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ProductReview

iPad Mini Retina Display and iPad Air

Better and faster, but not a revolution

T

wo recent product releases from technology giant Apple are evidence that the ongoing Tablet Wars show no sign of abating.

New products are being released almost every month, often with ever-lower price tags. So what do the two offerings from Apple have that their predecessors didn’t have – and that the competition aren’t offering?

Both the iPad Mini Retina Display and the iPad Air are upgrades of previous products and both answer some of the minor criticisms of those products. So how do you improve what many regard as the best tablets money can buy?

The iPad Air was launched in October and is the latest genera-

iOS 7

ALL NEW DESIGN Both these devices feature iOS7, Apple’s latest mobile operating system. The user interface has been redesigned with lots of new features including Control Centre, AirDrop for iOS, better multitasking, better typography and new icons. It has been billed as the biggest change to iOS since the iPhone was first released.

tion of the world-beating 9.7 inch tablets. Precision engineered to weigh just 469 grams, the iPad Air is 20 per cent thinner and 28 per cent lighter than the fourthgeneration iPad; and, with a narrower bezel, its borders are dramatically thinner.

Portable Compared with the 601 grams of the fourth generation, the decrease in weight makes the iPad Air a much more portable device. It also does things faster with iOS 7 running on a 64-bit desktop class Apple A7 chip while delivering all-day battery life in the world’s lightest full-sized tablet.

One of the criticisms of the iPad Mini was its lack of HD display. The 7.9 inch iPad Mini with Retina Display now packs the same 3.1 million pixels of the iPad Air into its smaller display and has razor-sharp Retina quality.

Images are crisp and text is crystal-

Desirability is high A tablet that’s worth taking

clear, while movies play at full 1080p HD resolution.

As with all Apple products, these two tablets are beautifully built, although they do come with a higher

So how do you improve what many regard as the best tablets money can buy? price tag than comparable models from other manufacturers.

Is the money extra worth the extra style? For Apple devotees, the answer is an unqualified ‘Yes’.

Are these two new products worth upgrading from existing models? That is not clear. They are both faster and better than their predecessors, but not the revolutionary step forward of earlier generations.

All pics © Apple inc.

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LatestReleases

latest releases Bookworm A STREET CAT NAMED BOB: How One Man and His Cat Found Hope on the Streets

By James Bowen

When James Bowen found an injured ginger street cat curled up in the hallway of his sheltered accommodation, he had no idea just how much his life was about to change. James was living hand to mouth on the streets of London and the last thing he needed was a pet. Yet James couldn’t resist helping the strikingly intelligent tom-cat, whom he christened Bob. Soon the two were inseparable and their diverse, comic and occasionally dangerous adventures would transform both their lives, slowly healing the scars of each other’s troubled pasts. ‘A Street Cat Named Bob’ is a moving and uplifting story that will touch the heart of anyone who reads it.

THE GHOSTS OF HAPPY VALLEY:

Searching for the Lost World of Africa’s Infamous Aristocrats

By Juliet Barnes Home to a small community of affluent, hedonistic white expatriates between the wars, Wanjohi Valley became notorious under the influence of Lady Idina Sackville. The murder of the Earl of Erroll in 1941 was chronicled in James Fox’s ‘White Mischief’. Juliet Barnes, who has lived in Kenya all her life and whose grandparents knew some of the original characters, has set out to explore their former haunts. She finds the remains of grand residences and taps the memory of local elders. ‘The Ghosts of Happy Valley’ is a mesmerising blend of travel narrative, social history and personal quest.

MUST READ...

I DON’T EAT BLACKS! The Life of Richard O. Ondeng

By Ingvard Wilhelmsen

While studying in Kansas in the early 1960s, Richard Ondeng, from Kenya, went to a restaurant and was told: “We don’t serve blacks.” Jokingly, Richard responded: “That’s fine, I don’t eat blacks.” He and his friends were allowed in. That incident sums up Richard’s character and his determined Christian faith. Born and raised in Siaya, he became secretary of the Christian Churches Educational Association and later deputy general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Kenya. This biography shows a man committed to his faith. His story of quiet determination and standing up for the truth will be an inspiration for many.

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BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY

By Helen Fielding

What do you do when a girlfriend’s 60th birthday party is the same day as your boyfriend’s 30th? Is sleeping with someone after two dates and six weeks of texting the same as getting married after two meetings and six months of letter writing in Jane Austen’s day? Pondering these and other modern dilemmas, Bridget Jones stumbles through the challenges of single motherhood, tweeting, texting and redisovering her sexuality in what some people rudely and outdatedly call ‘middle age’. Representing the longawaited return of a much loved character, ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’ is timely, tender, touching, witty and very funny.

LatestReleases

BlockBusters THE LONE RANGER

STAR FILMS...

RED 2 Starring: Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, Anthony Hopkins Director: Dean Parisot Genre: Action, adventure Bruce Willis reprises his role as ex-CIA agent Frank Moses in this star-studded sequel to the action comedy based on DC Comics’ cult graphic novel. Frank is brought out of retirement to track down a nuclear device that has fallen into the wrong hands. In order to find out the device’s location he must first speak to Edward Bailey (Anthony Hopkins), the scientist responsible for its creation. But, to make matters, worse his old partner, Victoria (Helen Mirren), has been contracted to kill him with the help of a deadly assassin (Lee Byung-hun).

MAN OF STEEL Starring: Henry Cavill, Diane Lane, Amy Adams, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner Director: Zack Snyder Genre: Action, adventure Based on the DC Comics series, this new version of the Superman legend has Henry Cavill in the lead role. Sent to Earth by his parents in the dying days of his home planet, Krypton, an infant boy is taken in by Kansas farmer Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner) and his wife Martha (Diane Lane).

Endowed with super-faculties, Clark Kent (played as an adult by Henry Cavill) becomes a reporter on ‘The Daily Planet’, where he meets Lois Lane (Amy Adams). When an evil force threatens the world, Superman resumes his true identity.

Starring: Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, William Fichtner, Tom Wilkinson, Ruth Wilson Director: Gore Verbinski Genre: Western Native American Tonto (Depp) tells the story of how lawman John Reid (Hammer) became the legendary masked figure.

Tonto first encounters Reid when captured outlaw Butch Cavendish (William Fichtner) escapes custody. Joining a group of Texas Rangers that include his brother Dan (James Badge Dale), Reid becomes the sole survivor of an ambush. Disguising himself from his enemies, the Lone Ranger forms an unlikely partnership with Tonto and together they fight for justice.

THE GREAT GATSBY Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan Director: Baz Luhrmann Genre: Drama, romance Baz Luhrmann writes, directs and produces this adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. Set in 1920s New York, the story follows aspiring writer Nick Carraway (Maguire) as he becomes intrigued by the lavish lifestyle and mysterious past of his Long Island neighbour, Jay Gatsby (DiCaprio). As Nick finds himself caught up in the world of the wealthy, Gatsby’s true nature is slowly exposed and his involvement with old flame Daisy Buchanan (Mulligan) ultimately leads to tragedy.

THE HOBBIT:

AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Richard Armitage Director: Peter Jackson First of three films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s enduringly popular children’s book, ‘The Hobbit’. The story is set in Middle Earth 60 years before ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy (also produced and directed by Jackson). It follows the epic quest of Bilbo Baggins (Freeman) to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. At the behest of the wizard Gandalf the Grey (McKellen), Bilbo joins a company of 13 dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield (Armitage).

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classifieds

P.O. Box 3030, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Tel: +255 (0) 22 264 7620 info@hotelwhitesands.com

www.hotelwhitesands.com

KidsCorner

'

Corner ANIMAL JOKES!

Q: How can you make seven even?

Q: Did you hear the story about the skunk?

Q: How can you double your money?

A: Look at it in a mirror.

A: Take away the letter S.

Q. What do you get if you cross a bumble bee with a door bell?

A. A humdinger!

Q: Can you spell eighty in two letters?

A: A-T.

Q. Why does a stork stand on one leg?

A. Because it would fall over if it lifted the other one!

RIDDLE ME THIS...

A: Never mind, it stinks.

Q. What do you get if you cross a parrot and a centipede?

A. A walkie talkie!

Q. What did the bookworm say to the librarian?

A. Can I burrow this book please!

Q. How do you milk a mouse?

A. You can’t, the bucket won’t fit underneath!

Q. Why are skunks always arguing?

A. Because they like to raise a stink!

Q. When is it bad luck to be followed by a black cat?

A. When your a mouse!

“Who’s been eating my porridge”, squeaked Baby Bear.

“Who’s been eating my porridge”, cried Mother Bear.

“Burp!!”, said Father Bear

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TravelInformation

travel

information VISA INFORMATION

HEALTH

Most nationals require visas to enter East Africa. Citizens from the five East African states require no visas while those from the Common Market of East and Southern Africa (COMESA) member states have relaxed entry requirements into East Africa.

Vaccination requirements for international travellers

However, East African member states have their own visa requirements for various nationals.

•

• No cholera vaccination certificates are required of travellers coming from all over the world.

SOUTH AFRICAN VISAS

• Vaccination for international travellers are obtainable from all international air and sea ports, city and major municipal councils

Visitors’ visas are a requirement for many travellers entering South Africa on a temporary basis. The purpose of visit can be for either business or leisure but is restricted to 90 days or less when using a visitors’ visa. For longer trips a different type of visa is required and information regarding this can be obtained from the Department of Home Affairs.

The visa application must be produced on arrival and visitors are restricted to the activities given as the reason for travel during the visa application process. For a smooth trip, ensure that visas are applied for before departure as they are not issued on arrival in South Africa. Moreover, the visa must be fixed to a passport and shown to immigration upon landing. Visa applications do not need to be submitted in person but can be submitted on behalf of the traveller, for example, by a travel agent.

There are other visa requirements that must be adhered to for entry into South Africa: • A valid passport needs to be produced which must not expire for at least 30 days after the duration of the intended visit • At least one full, unused page left in the passport • Travellers also require a completed application for visa form • A yellow fever vaccination certificate if over one year of age and travelling from a yellow fever belt country

Only valid yellow fever vaccination certificates are required of all travellers over one year old, arriving from yellow fever infected countries mainly in central and West Africa, South and Central America South East Asia, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh.

NB: Make sure you get your yellow fever shot in good time since the yellow fever certificate is valid for travel use 10 days after vaccination.

TANZANIAN VISAS All foreigners from non-Commonwealth countries are required to have a valid visa unless their countries have agreements with Tanzania under which the visa requirement is waived.

Exemptions: Citizens of Commonwealth countries are not required to obtain visas unless they are citizens of the United Kingdom, Canada, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, New Zealand or Australia.

Tanzanian visas are issued by the following: • The office of the Director of Immigration Services, Dar es Salaam, and the office of the Principal Immigration Officer, Zanzibar.

• Two colour passport photographs

•

• A return or onward ticket is also a necessity

• Any other gazetted entry point.

There is a fee associated with obtaining a visa, this fee can change often but can be checked by contacting the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa. For this and further information on visa requirements for entering South Africa visit www.home-affairs.gov.za

• From Tanzania High Commissions or embassies abroad.

• Documentation confirming the purpose of stay

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Entry points to the United Republic of Tanzania: principally Namanga, Tunduma, Sirari, Horohoro, Kigoma Port, Dar es Salaam International Airport, Kilimanjaro International Airport, Zanzibar Harbour and Zanzibar Airport.

For more information on Tanzanian diplomatic missions visit: www.tanzania.go.tz

Baggage Savvy Airlines have varying baggage rules that can often be confusing and can lead to unforeseen costs at the airport. An outline of the fastjet baggage guidelines will help make your flight smooth and enjoyable.

If booked prior to departure each passenger is entitled to one bag that can be checked in and placed in the hold at the cost of R60 or Tsh 10,000. If hold baggage is not booked in advance it is still possible to check one bag per passenger into the hold while at the airport on the day of departure, this is at the cost of R100 or Tsh 15,000. All baggage being checked into the hold must weigh less than 20 kg but if baggage weighs more than 20 kg arrangements can be made to carry it at an additional cost of R50 per kilo. However, maximum weight for any single piece of hold baggage is 32 kg due to health and safety restrictions and no passenger can check in more than 50 kg of baggage.

Each passenger is entitled to carry only one item of hand luggage, which could be one brief case, one handbag, a rucksack or a suit or dress carrier. Hand baggage can measure a maximum of 56 x 45 x 25 cm and anything measuring larger than this must be checked and placed in the hold. However, hand baggage must be able to be placed in and retrieved from the overhead lockers safely but there is no weight restriction on hand luggage. If hand baggage is larger than the specified dimensions it will be necessary to check this into the hold at the specified fees and charges. Infants travelling without a seat do not have hand baggage allowance.

For further rules on fastjet’s baggage allowances please visit www.fastjet.com

The fastjet

network Mwanza Mbeya

Kilimanjaro Zanzibar Dar es Salaam

Lusaka fastjet routes

Johannesburg fastjet.com

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FleetInformation

fastjet

fleet information

Airbus A319 QUICK FACTS Length: Wingspan:

33.84 m / 111 ft 34.1 m / 111 ft 11 in

Cabin length: Maximum speed:

23.78 m / 78 ft Mach 0.82

Height:

11.76 m / 38 ft 7 in

Maximum capacity: Range:

156 seats

6,850 km / 3,700 Nm

Number of aircraft:

3

fastjet

contacts TANZANIA fastjet Tanzania & Dar es Salaam ticketing & reservations office Plot No 767/39, Samora Avenue

Sales: +255 767 007 903 Tel: +255 222 125 912/3 Email: sales.tanzania@fastjet.com

fastjet Arusha ticketing & reservations office Blue Plaza, 2nd Floor, Indian Street

Tel: +255 (0)27 254 5211 Tel: +255 (0)783 540 540

fastjet Zanzibar ticketing & reservations office Cine Afrique Building, Stone Town

Tel: +255 (0)24 223 5110 Tel: +255 (0)762 540 540

Kilimanjaro International Airport Tel: +255 (0)756 540 540 Tel: +255 (0)27 255 4282

Greener flights through innovative design fastjet operates a fleet of A319 jets manufactured by Airbus as part of the A320 family of aircraft. Identical to the A320 except in length, the A319 is a single aisle twin-engine jet designed to carry 156 passengers. These highly efficient aircraft have a low environmental impact, while the innovative wing tip Sharklets can reduce fuel consumption by more than 3.5 per cent. Moreover, comfort has been improved for the smaller jet and the state-of-the-art A319 has a wide single-aisle fuselage, which gives a generous seat width, thus helping to maintain the high level of comfort that modern air travellers have come to expect. fast jet’s South African launch will be operated by Federal Air and in the short term flights fulfilled by a Boeing 737-300 aircraft until fastjet’s uniquely efficient aircraft is introduced.

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travelsmart

Mwanza Town New Mwanza Hotel, Ground Floor, Kenyatta Road

Tel: +255 (0)767 540 543

Mwanza Airport Tel: +255 (0)756 540 549

South africa fastjet South Africa Reservations Office Holiday House, 156 Bram Fischer Drive, Randburg, 2194

Tel: +27 11 289 8090 Sales: 0861 FASTJET / 0861 3278538 Email: sales.southafrica@fastjet.com customer.southafrica@fastjet.com