Lamu Cultural Festival

This week Lamu, one of the islands on our Kenyan coast, will be celebrating the 11th Lamu Cultural Festival since it was declared a World Heritage Site in 2001. The festival has and continues to celebrate the unique and rich Swahili heritage of the Lamu Archipelago. The festival gives an opportunity to experience the islands sandy white beaches, the historical old town, friendly and warm people just to name but a few!

The festival runs from 24th November till the 27th November, and is organised by the Lamu Cultural Promotion Group. A number of activities take place such as a showcase of   showcase of traditional dances, displays of handicraft and competitions on water and land (Swahili poetry, donkey races, dhow races, henna painting), Swahili bridal ceremony and musical performances. 

Please see the cultural itinerary below:

11th Annual Lamu Cultural Festival Programme 23 – 27 November 2011

Wed. 23rd - Sun. 27th 

Exhibition: ‘Memory and Identity’ Tracing Asisan Muslims of Lamu, Lamu Fort

Wed. 23rd 

19:00 – 21:00

Film/discussion ‘Sauti Muhimu: Kuongeza kuhusika kwa jamii katika maendeleo’, - Mkunguni square

Thurs. 24th

09:00 – 11.00

School Parade and Students Performance - From Mkunguni Square along the Seafront

16:30 – 18:00

Finals of the Football tournament - Pamba roho Ground

20:00 – 23:00

Madrasa tul madina from Mombasa - Mkunguni square Kasida 

Fri. 25th 

09:00 – 16:00 

Traditional displays, next to DC’s office

13:00 – 16:00

Jahazi Race - Swimming preliminaries, Seafront 

16:00 – 18:00

Dances: Shabwani, Kirumbuzi, Mdurenge dances - Seafront & Mkunguni square

20:00 – 22:30

Dances: Chama cha Matondoni (Matondoni Village), Goma la Siyu (Siyu village), Uta Dance (Lamu Town), Goma la Barani, Tari la Ndia (Pate village) - Seafront & Mkunguni square 

Sat. 26th 

09:00 – 16:00 

Traditional displays - next to DC’s office

10:00 – 11:00

Donkey race - in front of Lamu Museum

10:00 – 12:00

Book Launch (RISSEA /NMK) - Mkunguni square

1. ‘Jawabu la Mwana Kupona’ by Ali A. A. El-Maawy

2. “Kiswahili Research and Development in Eastern Africa” Editors: Rocha Chimera, Mohamed Karama, Ahmed Hussein and Khalid Omar 

3. “Kioo cha Nafsi” By: Jamil S Al –Jabry

4. “Mapisi ya Waswahili na Lugha yao Ya Kiswahili By: Prof. Sheikh Ahmed Nabahany

11:00 – 12:00

Canoe Race - Seafront

14:00 – 16:00

Mashua Race final, Swimming final - Seafront

16:00 – 18:00

Prize giving - Mkunguni square

19:00 - 22:00 

Food Bazaar (traditional Swahili cuisine)  - Sunsail Hotel

20:00 – 21:00

Swahili bridal display, Vugo dance/Traditional outfits show Dances - Lamu Fort  

Giriama dance, Pokomo dance, Orma dance, Chama cha Matondoni - Mkunguni square and Sea front

21:00 - Dawn

Live performances - Mkunguni square

- Spotlight on Kenyan Music concert, Focus on music of the pastoralists

- Praful Kumar and party, Bollywood music

Sun. 27th

09:00 – 12:00

Traditional displays - next to DC’s office

16:00 – 18:00

Dances Seafront/Goma la Barani, Mdurenge, Kirumbuzi,Uta Dance, Giriama, Orma - Mkunguni square

19:00 – 20:00

Documentary screening on the Lamu Cultural Festival - Mkunguni square 

20:00 – 23h00

Open Concert. Mohamed Shalli, Sani & Party, Lamu Local artists Lelele Africa By Mbarak and party - Mkunguni square 

Image and Itinerary courtesy of magicalkenya.com

King of the Jungle Endangered

Known for its majesty and prestige, the lion, nicknamed "the king of the jungle" is an animal know of it's strength and beauty. For centuries, the lion has been one of the main attractions in any game park or reserve across the globe. Lions have fascinated people from all walks of life with documentaries and  movies such as the Lion King keenly emphasising on the lion and their families.

Lions vary in colour but commonly are those that sport a light yellow-brown coat. Mature male lions are unique among big cats due the thick brown or black manes that encircle their necks and protect them while fighting, whereas the mature female lions are the pride's primary hunters, often working together to prey upon antelopes, Zebras, wildebeest and other animals in the naked wild.

The Lion population in Africa has rapidly reduced since the early 1950's and today fewer than 21,000 remain in all of Africa. As a fact lions are facing an indirect threat from climate change called co-infection and periodically face outbreaks of the disease distemper though this causes few death with an exemption of the period 1994 - 2001 which caused massive die-offs with researchers saying the epidemic was due to the occurrence of a server drought. This would then factor in the issue of deforestation by humans which causes weather change and as a result drought is experienced. It is warned that droughts such as the ones that bring about co-infection in lions are predicted to become more as the climate warms which we can rightfully say,  indirectly humans are the cause of the weather change.

Lions are also facing many more human threats such as population growth and agricultural expansion, resulting in loss of natural habitat, hunting, poisoning and poaching just to name but a few.

Facts about the Lion:

• Lions are about 4 feet (1.2m) (males) in height and approximately 5-8 feet (1.5-2.4m) (males), length. 
• They weigh 330-500 lbs (150-227 kg) (males) in general, female lions are smaller than males. 
• Their lifespan is placed at 10-14 years in the wild, however if in captivity can last for over 20 years!
• Lions top speed is rated at 50 mph (81 km/hr), for short distances . 

Defenders of wildlife and conservation groups are continually advocating for the life of lions, with campaigns being put across, blogs, news papers and magazine articles being written among many other channels including Social Media. We however feel that we can do more by educating people on the topic using simple viral methods or simply, planting a tree to help sustain the environment. 

"Visit one of Kenya's parks today and see a lion and the other big five. http://www.uniglobeletsgotravel.com "

Who says a holiday has to be the beach or the wild?

As our title above questions, who said that a holiday has only got to be spending time in the wild or spending time soaking up the sun by the beach?

Last week over a conversation on the social networks we came to the realisation that more and more people are no longer interested in just the same old holiday getaways where you visit a destination and just go for sight seeing! Not that there is anything wrong with that, but people have come to embrace the kind of safaris that we term as "activity" trips.

Eve D'Souza, Sagana

Over the past thirty years that we have been in the travel business we have noticed a pattern indicating that these trips are seemingly of preference to people now as compared to five years ago. It is a good  indication that people have developed interest in holidaying while per taking an activity. This trend may be because people are keen on not just having fun but building their state of well being, mentally, spiritually and physically.

Activity Safaris

• Bungee Jumping
• White Water Rafting 
• Snorkeling 
• Deep Sea Fishing 
• Scuba Diving 
• Mountain Climbing or Trekking 
• Gorilla or Chimp Tracking 
• Boating 
• Sky diving 
• Biking

One of our newest "activity" safari is a health retreat meant to build you emotionally and physically, a yoga treat at Laikipia's latest addition;The Suyian Soul. This safari is a 3 days yoga and botanical adventure, created to for the sole purpose of healing broken relationships..finding out about avoidance and allowing trust to return into our lives! This treat consists of Bowen therapy, Bach flower remedies - healing Gestalt therapy with Ammet and transformational yoga with Anne, where you learn the process of awakening supreme consciousness by cleansing our body of toxins and generating lasting energy!

Another latest addition is  bungee jumping at Kenya's Sagana - Tana river, where our twitter followers suggested a trip specially created for them under the #TembeaKenya ! A great initiative credited to our Kenyan Tourism Board - Magical Kenya.

Short Itinerary:

The tweeps affair - Bungee Jumping in Sagana

10th December 2011 (Nairobi - Sagana) 
12:30pm - Meet at ABC Place, Waiyaki Way Westlands where our offices are located. Depart for Sagana.
03:00pm - Arrive at Sagana, settle in and relax. Those willing to take the Bungee Jump on that day get to do it.
06.00pm - Freshen up for Dinner
08.00pm till late - Barbecue dinner by a bonfire plus fun activities.

11th December 2011( Sagana - Nairobi) 
08.30am - Breakfast  at the camping ground
10.00am - Bungee Jump (Those who did not jump the previous night)
12.00pm - Lunch at the camping ground
02.00pm - Depart for Nairobi

Rates:
KES 5,000 - Transport, food and accommodation.
KES 4,800 - Cost per Bungee Jump

For details contact Samuel or Angela;
 Email: Samuel@letsgosafari.com / Anjehia@letsgosafari.com
Tel: 0722331899 / 0733873625 / 4441030 / 4447151 
Skype: samuellgt or angelalgt1 
Twitter: @LetsGoTravelKE

Taking advantage of November

Time and time again, travelling and touring has been viewed as one of the most popular hobbies yet one of the most expensive. The pleasure we get in visiting unknown destinations or relaxing by the beach and soaking up the sun has always seemed to appeal to just about anybody so long us they are willing to spend.

Touring and travelling can become quite expensive especially if you are not at per with your preferred tour destination price seasonality. With the current harsh economic times, it is difficult to just decide on taking up a trip especially if it is unplanned. It is important to know which season the price goes up and which season the price is likely to be lesser than the usual price. This will help you plan and spend within the means of your budget which in turn will assure you of still having your much desired trip at a fairly priced package.

In Kenya, the season are as follows however always confirm when booking as different hotels and lodges may have their own categorised seasons:

• 15th December - 05th January (Peak Season) 
• 06th January - 31st March ( Mid / Low Season) 
• 01st April - 30th June (Mid Season ) excluding Easter period which is termed as peak season 
• 01st July - 31st October (Peak Season)
• 01st November - 14th December (Mid/ Low Season)

As for local tourists the low season periods are actually most advisable because the prices are usually really, really good! With fantastic discounts flying high. This is why we insist that with the beginning of November, if you feel your family or friends should take up a holiday or if you want a romantic getaway and think it is a bit too expensive, then this is the time to have it! Take advantage of November and enjoy your holiday but spend less!

Nb: Visit our website and check out amazing specials for both residents and non residents.

Image courtesy of google images from http://www.lifecoachwannabe.com

The killing of elephants and rhinos across Africa continues!

Countless times we have written about poaching in Africa and unfortunately this story doesn't seem to be making any positive progress. Three days ago, Chebii a female rhino in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy was shot dead in a gruesome act of poaching! Chebii was not only De-horned but her nipples and a piece of  vulva removed! The later has been said that it is for the use of witchcraft and traditional medicines. She (the rhino) now leaves a 4 month old male calf.

It is in the hope of saving our wildlife that we request you to help us and the Ol Pejeta conservancy in adding your names to the petition created by Richard Vigne so that he may present it to the Chinese ambassador in Nairobi and take the campaign to stop poaching across Africa to another level having that the Chinese are partly being held responsible for all these acts of poaching.

The link is: 

http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-the-killing-of-elephants-and-rhinos-across-africa

The Importance of Environmental Conservation

This week started of on a sad note after waking up to the sad news that world known environmentalist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai had passed away due to cancer.

Maathai became a key figure in Kenya since founding the movement in 1977, staunchly campaigning for environmental conservation and good governance. She won the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize for her reforestation work in her native Kenya — the first African woman, the first Kenyan and the first environmentalist to receive this honour. Her organisation, The Green Belt Movement has so far planted some 40 million trees across Africa and increasing.

Following her death, makes you reminisce her environmental struggle and wonder why a person would go through all she went through, all for the sake of saving our environment? It must mean much more than we imagine for her to have fought against opposition, to a point she would get physical beatings, protecting our environment!

The importance of environmental conservation

by Judith Willson

Environmental conservation doesn’t just mean protecting cute animals on the other side of the world.  It is in fact essential to our own survival.  If your response to anything to do with the environment is either ‘there are more pressing issues’ or ‘who cares?’ then it might be time to consider how important it really is.

Importance to agriculture

Agriculture depends on the environment and we depend on agriculture.  This is obvious in countries where the economies depend on agriculture but applies to all.  A country’s wealth might come from something else but its population needs to eat.  Conserving the environment and preventing soil erosion, desertification, and flooding is essential.  Unsustainable farming techniques not only impact natural ecosystems but also ultimately make farming itself impossible.

Importance to fishing

While much of our food comes from agriculture, the oceans are also an essential source.  Communities worldwide depend upon seafood.  Marine conservation is vital to protect human food supplies as well as marine animals.  Looking after the seas doesn’t just mean saving big, glamorous animals from extinction, important as this is. At the moment there are serious conservation issues affecting the oceans, including over fishing and pollution. The complex, interlinked ecosystems need conserving in our own self-interest.  You might not be interested in saving the whale, but saving the human might strike a chord.

Importance to climate

Human activities impact the climate, and this affects all life.  Droughts, floods, and extremes of heat and cold, are caused by global warming, which is almost certainly linked to greenhouse gas emissions.  Some countries are already experiencing disastrous effects, while others it is just, for the moment, inconvenient.  There are other, more local, climate changes also caused by not treating the environment with respect.  For example rainfall is affected by deforestation.  Conservation of natural environments should be done not just for their own sake, but also for that of the world as a whole.

courtesy of http://desertification.wordpress.com

These are just but a few reasons as to why saving our environment is vital to not just human life but all kinds of life. We therefore should work as hard as Professor Wangari Maathai if not harder, in making sure that her work of saving our environment goes on and that her dream lives on.

Celebrating World Rhino Day!

Today the world celebrates, world rhino day! With it comes mixed reactions and amid speculations of what will become of the rhino in the future. As stated in a past blog; Facts about the Rhino that you did not know, we already have three extinct species from the rhino family namely, Paraceratherium, Telecoeras and Woolly rhinos.  There are currently five living species, Javan, Sumatran, Greater one-horned and commonly know the White and Black rhinos. 

Numerous efforts have been put fourth and are still being done to protect the rhino, with conservation bodies such as The Lewa Conservation, Ol Pejeta Conservancy and Save the Rhino to name just but a few, work tirelessly to save the rhino from poachers. This however is not an easy task with Lewa alone reporting at least four black rhinos lost from 2008 out of poaching practises!

Believes and myths about the rhino horn's medicinal and other related  prowess its said to have, are one of the reasons that drive the demand for poaching especially in Asia. Rhino horn is not medicine! Should these poaching trends continue,come the year 2021 - 2031, Rhino's may be animals known from the past.

Facts: 

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.
3. Rhino's life span  is placed between 35-40 years.
4. The closest rhino relationship is between a female and her calf, lasting from 2 to 4 years. As the older calves mature, they leave their mothers and may join other females and their young, where they are tolerated for some time before living completely on their own.
5. The gestation period of a rhino is 16 months.

To help in efforts to save the rhino please check out Ol Pejeta Conservancy and Lewa Conservation. Let us save the rhino!