Northern-Rangelands Trust: Northern Kenya's Angels

Timeless times we have spoken about organisations that work effortlessly for the purpose of aiding and developing communities in Kenya.Organisations that put out their best working arm to make sure that they conserve our nature and our resources.We would specifically like to talk about Northern-Rangelands Trust who are a result of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (a non-profit organisation) whom in 2004 historically acted as a catalyst for the establishment of community conservation initiatives in northern Kenya.Individuals from Lewa teamed up with the government, private and community conservation initiatives to develop the Northern Rangelands Trust.

Ever since, NRT have done countless work to promote the collective management of ecosystems in order to improve human livelihoods ,biodiversity conservation and rangeland management.According to a newsletter they sent out this week, they plan to launch the year with tough but hopefully achievable challenges in specific:

1. The establishment of a predtor-proof Hirola sanctuary in the Ishagbini Hirola Community Conservancy plus a total count of the remaining Hirola in Kenya.

2. Ongoing discussions with the communities and Government on the potential reintroduction of black rhinos in a community sanctuary in northern Kenya

3.The return of the Rothschild's giraffe,also known as Baringo Giraffe,to Lake Baringo

We as Uniglobe Lets Go Travel support NRT in their efforts to protect animals and their continuous community developments projects to their over 12 conservancies,naming just but a few Il ngwesi, Kalama, Ruko, Sera etc

As for you, here is how you can help NRT to achieve their goals and sustaining their developments: http://www.nrt-kenya.org

 

Lakes of Kenya;Life in each one of them.

Kenya is widely known for it's wealth in nature,wildlife and the people's culture.Kenya has great scenic sites and one that captures the hearts of many is the high number of lakes that can be found in this equator astride lying East African country.

Lake Victoria - Also known as the eye of the Rhino,the lake was named for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom,by John Hanning Speke, the first European to visit the lake.It is a main source of fishing in Kenya.

Lake Turkana - Formerly known as Lake Rudolph, it is the world's largest permanent desert lake and the world's largest alkaline lake!The area is considered as the cradle of humankind due to the abundance of hominid fossils found by anthropologists.

Lake Bogoria - A saline, alkaline lake found a little north of the equator with its major inhabitants being the flamingo birds!

Lake Baringo - Just as the other lakes, it is found in the rift valley, after Lake Turukana.It is one of the two fresh water lakes the country.

Lake Naivasha -A freshwater lake,lying north west of Nairobi. The name is derived from the loacl Masaai name Nai'posha meaning "rough water"

Lake Nakuru - One of the Rift valley soda lakes. It contains high algae thus attracting a vast quantity of flamingos on the shores. Lots of birds can be found in the lake area so as large mammals with black and white rhinos being among them.

Lake Elementaita - 120km northwest of Nairobi, Lake Elementaita is a soda lake.The name was derived from the Masaai word Muteita, meaning "dust place" due to the dry and dusty quality of the area.

Lake Magadi - A saline, alkaline lake located in the southernmost part of the Kenyan Rift valley. It is well known for the birds that frequent the area.

Are you supporting eco friendly and community lodges/camps?

Community lodges/camps are quite significant in the tourism market because they are a channel used to boost and uplift our local communities in Kenya.They ensure sustainable tourism practices with these lodges/camps being run by either members of the community or support the community members by either having local projects that build developments such us schools or women help groups or even simple acts such us employing people from the community to work in the lodges and camps.Therefore, every time you are booking a lodge/camp you may consider finding out if your payment is any way beneficial to the community where you are visiting!

Another important factor is whether or not the lodge you are staying in is Eco-friendly.What we are saying is that for sustainable tourism to continue, it is important that lodges/camps have safe practices that will not destroy or alter our environment. The world is currently struggling with fighting environmental pollution and if lodges are not careful they could easily destroy our Eco system.Take an example of a lodge situated in a game reserve where they have painted their outside structure orange, then they dispose their garbage (including plastic bags) into the reserve,plus their sewage has open pipes leading to the river where animals drink water?What do you think this practices would lead to?Soon or later the animals will die the river become polluted and the whole reserve would probably collapse!It is therefore quite important to support Eco friendly lodges/camps.

Borrowing the values of Ecotourism Kenya, it is important for a lodge/camp to:
1.Respect the environment
2. Respect the local people and their cultures
3. Equitable sharing of responsibilities and benefits 

Valentine's day...Are you ready?

This year we have felt that however much we will do the normal valentine's specials, it would be great if we offered something different from what everybody else usually does. Following these thoughts, what better way than to take your loved one on an adventure...Climb Mount Kenya! We have come up with extremely affordable rates that are to cater for 3 nights and 4 days inclusive of all meals, park fees, to and fro transportation from Nairobi!

The route we plan to use is the Sirimon Track, one of the finest approaches to Mount Kenya's peak area, which offers some of the best views of the main peaks with a gradual climb which will be done leisurely.
For more information about this safari <CLICK HERE> and send us an enquiry.
Still not convinced that this is the best option..stay here and we will give you even greater pocket friendly ideas......

Airlines War over the Nairobi Mombasa Route Fares?

 

On Monday 17th January 2011, Fly540 the local budget airline announced that it has slashed its fares on the Nairobi-Mombasa route by 30 per cent, setting stage for renewed price wars as airlines seek to defend their market share. The fares reduced to Sh6,540 from Sh9,540 for a return ticket, making it the cheapest airline on the route. 

Barely two months ago, Kenya Airways reduced its rates by a similar margin having the fare at Sh7,999 while passengers flying JetLink and Air Kenya pay Sh10,500 and Sh11,000 respectively. It is however important to note that the 'low' rates are charged at off-peak seasons and as always bookings must be done in advance considering the prices hike during peak seasons!


“After Christmas holidays, we usually have excess capacity as most travellers cut travel due to more pressing issues like school fees. Instead of reducing the frequencies on the route, we decided to lower prices so that we encourage our customers to fly,” said Nixon Ooko, the operations director at Fly540. Travel analysts

anticipate the move by Fly540 is set to trigger a renewed pricing war in the airline sector similar to that of mobile telephone firms.

Travel agent vs Internet

In the recent past we have seen the internet woo a high percentage of travelers in the travel industry. Travellers are opting to use the internet as compared to the traditional way of using a travel agent. This is a good sign of technological development, it saves time  and although arguable, saves cost!Internet bookings are most relied upon because of reviews which in one way or the other act as a guide to making the ultimate decision about your travel. However, using travel agent may be viewed as traditional but as the saying goes...old is gold and this is why....

1. Travel agents are personal - There is always satisfaction in knowing that you can call someone and they give you reassurance of giving you a refund or chasing up the airline for an upgrade and all these small things here and there....plus the real life flowers that they will send on your birthday are so much better than the e-card!

2.Travel agents offer local insight and advice on important documents - Visa, health documents, passport expiry, these are just but a few of the documents that booking a ticket online will not remind you off!

3. Travel agents provide the best value - Even though the internet is believed to give cheaper options, it is not possible to twist the arm of an internet to make sure you even get an even better deal! With agents you are always in a position to negotiate...

4. Internet challenges -  No refunds or changes, hidden Fees,online difficulties these are some of the challenges faced!

5. Peace of mind -There is something appealing about knowing someone else is running around for you even when things go wrong! 

Image courtesy of travelwires.com 

Poaching Re-emergence : A looming threat in our community

Time and time again conservatives continue the battle with poachers. On Friday 07th January, Kenyans witnessed the brutality of poachers when they got caught with 81 elephant tusks and several Rhino horns!This translates to about 40 elephants dead.This comes barely 2 months later when heavily armed poachers struck at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, killing a rhino and hacking off its horn, sending ripples through the community!

These attacks seem to be on the rise not only in Kenya but through out the world.Early this week , South Africa National Parks' CEO announced that in 2010 alone, South Africa lost 333 Rhinos due to poaching and arrested 162 poachers!"The year 2010 will always be remembered as being one of the worst years for conservation in the Republic of South Africa because of the ruthless assault on rhino populations by merciless criminals," said Dr Mabunda

The fact that every other day Africa looses an animal  due to poaching is worrying.Statistics provided by World Wildlife Fund show that more than 600 rhinos were poached across Africa in the last five years!This trend is alarming to a point where armed rangers have to accompany rhinos and other animals as they browse just to keep the animals alive.

Following the Meru arrest of 07th January, this just goes to confirm findings by the Lowveld Project and WWF that "highly organised international poaching criminal syndicates deploy advanced technologies ranging from night vision scopes,silenced weapons,darting equipment and helicopters to carry out their mission"

This report perhaps outlines that we need a return of the campaign that we saw in past years and more so now than ever: Only elephants should wear ivory!Better still, Kenya must remain a member of the Convention on International Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES), an agreement that brings more than 170 governments of whom adhere to its protocol, a protocol that ensures the survival of wild animals and plants are not threatened.

Pictures courtesy of Google images
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Facts About The Rhino That You Did Not Know!

It is believe that Rhinos have existed on Earth for more than 50 million years! Today, only five species of rhino survive.The Rhino animal is among those animals listed on the endangered species list with an approximation of about 25,000 remaining in the world!
 
1.White rhino: 18,000

2.Black rhino: 4,240
3.Greater One-horned rhino: 2,800-2,850
4.Sumatran Rhino: 200
5.Javan Rhino: 40-50

 

The Extinct Rhino: 

Woolly Rhino....

Rhinos have a long and distinguished history, even longer than that of Human Beings!They were so diverse that some were like giraffes, some like horses, some like hippos, others like modern rhinos. The extinct rhinos were also more widespread occurring in North America and Europe in addition to Africa and Asia. Some of the Extinct Rhinos include: 

• Paraceratherium, the largest land mammal that ever lived, resembles a very big,muscular giraffe.
• Telecoeras, a single horned, hippo-like grazer common in North America. 
• Woolly Rhinos(Coelodonta antiquitatis), probably the most well known of the extinct rhinos.

Paraceratherium Rhino...

Interesting facts about Rhino's that you did not know?

1. Rhino's May look very tough, but their skin is very sensitive especially to sunburn and biting insects which is why they like to wallow in mud!  
2. Rhino's horns are made of Keratin, just like finger nails  plus they grow throughout their lifetime.

Dubai Shopping Festival :20th January 2011 - 20th February 2011

 If there is something that all human beings have in common; it has got to be shopping. The Dubai Shopping Festival was started in 1996.The 32days event is the leading shopping event in the World. The first festival only attracted 1.6 million shoppers but over the last couple of years it has grown tremendously. In 2009 it attracted over 3.35 million people spending an average of over 9.8 UAE Dirham’s.

 The event runs from 20th January 2011 till 20th February 2011.This event is dubbed as a shopper's heaven where you can get anything from the likes of imported designer watches, perfumes, jewelry ,electronics,materials,house furniture, carpets etc at brand discounts ranging from 5% to 75%.The tax free discounted rates are not the only attraction of Dubai Shopping Festival, as you can win fabulous free gifts, bargain offers and raffle tickets. Dubai has rapidly emerged as the tourist capital of the Middle East and in the effort shopping in Dubai has been made largely tax free and merchants have been allowed to import products from other countries with very low or no custom duties.

We at Uniglobe Lets Go Travel have budget friendly packages to Dubai which cost from as little as US$ 977 for 4 nights 5 days,price consisting of 5 nights accommodation on bed and breakfast meal plan ,return flights on Emirates Airlines and return airport transfers.

For more information please contact us + 254 20 2678646/7/8 or send us an email info@letsgosafari.com

Elephant Makes Use Of New Underpass On The First Night Of 2011!

On the 1st night of 2011,January 1st, Tony the elephant made history as being the first elephant to use the newly created underpass on the main Nanyuki-Meru Road (A2) adjoining the Ngare Forest/Lewa with the Mt.Kenya Forest.

The brains behind the underpass were the Kenya Wildlife Service,Marania Farm,Kisima Farm,The Billy Woodely Mt.Kenya Trust, the Ngare Ndare Forest Trust and not forgetting the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy!

The underpass connects Kenya's second largest elephant population of 7,500 animals in Samburu with the estimated 2000 in Mt.Kenya.

Following the incredible events, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy had these to say as posted in their news;

"The underpass itself was an ambitious idea with many professional conservationists skeptical about its potential success, yet in a short four days after the underpass was opened, the first elephant passed through. The long-term implications of the success of this corridor are massive in terms of re-establishing genetic connectivity between these two elephant populations, reducing the habitat pressure within Lewa, and being a key element on the application for inclusion as a World Heritage Site with Mt. Kenya."

On 2nd January 2011, KWS collared 4 elephants having been provided the equipment and technical back up by Dr.Iain Douglas Hamilton in conjunction with Save the Elephants (STE) group, who work to prevent this animal from poachers. The significance and importance of collaring the elephants, is to inform responsible authorities if this animal was to be poached,following STE's new technology developed within the collar.

We at Let's Go Travel say a big "Well done!" to the teams that work endlessly to protect and conserve our animals and nature!

Image and story courtesy of Lewa.org

Trying To Burn The Calories Gained Over The Holidays?Try, The Camel Safari!

It is January again and among our 'many' new year resolutions, one that is always bound to come up is; loosing weight and keeping fit.Following the December holidays indulgence,what other better way to kick start your new year with taking a walking/camel safari?!

While on a Camel Safari  you not only get to kip fit but you are assured of great fun, adventure, education, and most importantly, it gives you an opportunity to bond with whoever you have taken the trip with plus if you are joining a group, you get to meet new people!

The safari is 9 days long at an incredible discounted rate of US$ 200 per person per day,for a minimum of 3 nights. The rate includes full board accommodation in an 'Expedition Camp' (light tents with comfortable bedding) and a great Samburu guide and a great team.

Alcohol is not included,although you are welcome to bring your own.

For more information or bookings you may contact us by giving us a call on + 254  20 2678646/7/8 or drop us an email info@letsgosafari.com