LAIKIPIA, KENYA: Rugged, undulating, rocky, beautiful, wild, remote. The climate is perfect, high altitude makes it cool at night and warm during the day. Perfect walking country. Sosian is now offering walking safaris in north-west Laikipia using a light-weight but comfortable mobile camp which is moved each day. The camp provides hot showers, long drop loos, a fully stocked bar and freshly cooked meals around the campfire. Tents are custom made with comfortable bedrolls and fresh linen allowing you to lie under the stars at night listening to the nocturnal sounds of the bush.

Learn More Here

With the establishment of a new conservation area near Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Reserve, an area famed for big game but under threat from social and environmental pressure, Kenya is once again leading the charge when it comes to preserving and protecting Africa’s most spectacular wildlife areas. For the first time ever, the local community has been given the opportunity to make individually more money through tourism than they ever have before alongside safari property owners pushing forward with an aggressive professional wildlife and conservation management program in what is the new Masai Mara North Conservancy. How did this successful land management plan evolve? Offbeat Safaris shares the story of the Masai Mara North Conservancy.

Read the rest of the case study here.

Following the flash flooding in Samburu last month, Samburu Intrepids Camp (along with many others in the area) were forced to close and re-build.

Samburu Intrepids Camp will be commencing construction in May with an anticipated re-opening date of Christmas 2010.

We will continue to keep you posted as the construction moves forward.

Richard Markham, MD of Express Travel Group in Nairobi, recently returned from an inspection trip to Rwanda and has sent through the following trip and inspection report. Please contact us for sample Rwanda itineraries and programs. The most important thing to remember is plan early for gorilla trekking! It’s best to secure gorilla trekking permits and then based on that availability build an East Africa safari around those dates (not the other way around).

Trip report….

The Kenya Airways flight from Nairobi went via Burundi. A hot breakfast was served on the 1 hour 20 minute flight.

Rwanda is one hour behind Kenya. Currency is Rwanda Francs. 500 francs equals 1 US dollar. Languages: Kinyarwanda, French and English. Drive on the left.

On arrival in Kigali very quickly through immigration, (Kenya passport holders do not need a visa), then transferred to a shopping mall for an early lunch. Then drove north for 2.5 hours to Ruhengeri. The road goes up and down hills and through villages. There is hardly a square inch that has not been cultivated, very intensive indeed.

Arrived at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge in the late afternoon. Unlike Kenya and Tanzania all the lodges are outside the National Park so views are, generally, over cultivated small holdings.

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
Built on the edge of the Sabyinyo Volcano. Very steep walk from the car park to reception. Elderly clients could have a problem. The main building houses reception, library, small shop, lounge and dining room. The lodge is built and operated by Governors’ Camp. The lodge is owned by a Community Trust, SACOLA, which uses rentals and community fees from the lodge to drive socio-economic and conservation initiatives in the communities adjacent to the National Park.

Accommodation is in 5 cottages, 2 suites and 1 family suite. The cottages have a good bathroom with shower and bath, twin basins, very good lighting. The bedroom has a fireplace which also heats the water. Very comfortable bed. The bedrooms run on inverters so it is not possible to charge cameras, computers etc until the generator is switched on.

Dinner is a very personal affair. We were joined by the relief manager, Dave Richards, an internationally known ornithological expert, author and sometime manager at the Governnors’ Camps. Three course menu very good quality.

In my opinion this is the best place to stay for gorilla tracking. Expensive but top quality.

You are woken at 05:30 with tea or coffee then a full breakfast in the dining room before departing for Park Headquarters at, latest 06:30

It is important that clients are not late arriving at Park Headquarters as this is where you are allocated which gorilla group you will be visiting. The later you are the more likely that your group will be the furthest away, possibly a three hour walk. There are 7 habituated gorilla groups. The maximum number of visitors per gorilla group is 8. At park HQ once you know which group you will be visiting you will be briefed by your guides. They explain the make up of the gorilla group etc. All very professionally done. You then drive to whichever start point you have been allocated, our drive took 45 minutes. On arrival we were met by porters who carry all your belongings including cameras. These men were invaluable in helping you up the volcano and stopping you from falling over. We also met the National Park Warden, a charming, dedicated man. Be warned the walk can be arduous, thick bamboo then dense undergrowth. It can also be very wet, muddy and slippery. You have a maximum of one hour with the gorilla group getting so close to the gorillas, unbelievable. You then descend the volcano until a stone wall signifies you are back in cultivation. You would then return to your lodge to shower and have lunch.

Important to carry sufficient small denomination US dollars in order to tip the guides, the porters and the armed guide who escorted us. Also need to tip the trackers who remain with the gorillas throughout the day.

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Just beyond Sabyinyo Lodge this has only been operating 15 months. 25 rooms all with great views of the volcanoes. The bedrooms and bathrooms are huge, somewhat impersonal and furnished very basically. The main building houses reception, a large bar and dining room where mostly buffets are served. The duty manager was a Kenyan – Anne Njeroge formerly with Heritage Hotels. The hotel was built by the same Rwandan who built the original Gorilla’s Nest. Website: www.3bhotels.com

Gorillas Nest
Originally this was a 40 room hotel but now only offers 19 rooms whilst they await refurbishment of the remaining rooms.

The main building has reception a large bar and a smaller dining room. All acceptable. The bar opens onto the garden. You then walk past the unused cottages, across a wooden walkway, (extreme caution slippery when wet), to further stone cottages most of which overlook a disused small golf course. The room blocks are not very attractive. The bedrooms are large but basic. All have a bath. I noticed there were no bedside lights; the duty manager said they did not have enough!

The property is in a small forest and is fenced. It was apparent that investment is needed to refurbish the whole place.

Virunga Lodge
Located approximately 30 minutes to one hour away from the National Park. Built 5 years ago on top of a hill. Stunning panoramic views over two lakes. 8 cottages all with great views. 4 cottages were under renovation. The access road is good but it’s a very steep hill so takes time. There had been a mudslide just before we arrived blocking the entire road but workers were clearing this.

The bedrooms are colourfully finished using local fabrics, large double bed and large bathroom. Very pleasant indeed. The main building is surrounded by a veranda so lots of different places to sit and enjoy the views. The bar / lounge was very pleasant, intimate but large enough. The dining room was not in use but they obviously encourage all guests to sit together although there is an option for a private table. The lodge is very eco-friendly. No generator and solar power for lighting and water heating. The latter could be a problem if they have several days of cloudy weather.

Undoubtedly the best views of all the gorilla lodges but the distance from Park HQ means you would have to wake up at 04:30 in order to make the 07:00 deadline.

Owned by Volcano Safaris, who also have two lodges in Uganda, website

We then drove on an excellent tarmac road for 1.45 hours to Lake Kivu located on the boarder with the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC.

Lake Kivu Serena
The hotel stands on the shores of Lake Kivu, just outside the small town of Gisenyi, sited on the white sandy shores of Lake Kivu, the sixth largest lake in Africa, and surrounded by extensive tropical gardens.

Six suites (40 sq m) with a king-sized bed, luxury bathroom with both tub and shower, furnished balcony, integrated work space, private sitting room (with guest washroom) and furnished veranda with lake views. 66 Standard Rooms (25 m) offer one queen-sized double bed or two queen-sized double beds and a luxury bathroom

Maisha Health Club, swimming pool, holistic massage, swim in Lake Kivu, laze by the swimming pool or enjoy water sports on Lake Kivu including; water rafting, kayaking, wind surfing.

This hotel is also an option for gorilla tracking. Certainly the standards are what one would expect from a Serena – comfortable, good food, personal service and very much more restful than one would expect.
We then drove back to Kigali via the same road we had come on, a total of three hours driving.

Kigali Serena
Arguably the best Serena I have stayed at, in my opinion way ahead of the Nairobi Serena. Ideally located on one of Kigali’s most charming boulevards, the five-star Kigali Serena Hotel is built around a polished granite atrium, relaxed yet elegant, the hotel centres on the Executive Lounge and bar, which opens onto a wide sundeck overlooking the newly refurbished swimming pool. Also overlooking the pool, the popular Milima Restaurant offers a wide range of all-day buffet choices, while the relaxed Sokoni Café offers inside and outside poolside seating.

148 rooms, 60 Standard Rooms, 37 Superior Rooms, 19 Deluxe Rooms, 18 Junior Suites, 7 Prime Rooms, 6 Executive Suites and one Presidential Suite.

The breakfast buffet was amongst the best I have ever seen, fantastic choices, beautifully presented and very fresh produce.

Thousand Hills Expeditions

Our ground operator for many years. Very professional. Run by Jacqui Sebageni and Manzi Kayihura both consummate professionals. Our tour leader was Jimmi who was first class. Our vehicle was an old Toyota Land Cruiser, slow but very reliable.

Kigali Airport is small. Clients should be advised to change their Rwandese Francs before they check in. Kenya Airways left on time and 1 hour 10 minutes later we arrived in Nairobi.

Overall an unbelievable experience and very strongly recommended. Nothing can beat the thrill of being within ten feet of a massive gorilla or seeing small gorillas playing, beating their chests or watching the huge Silverback male. Very comfortable accommodations, charming people and very good food. A unique experience.

Congratulations to The Fazendin Portfolio partners listed in National Geographic Traveler’s Tours of a Lifetime!

Each year, the magazine selects 50 top journeys spanning the globe. All of these trips offer small-group, thoughtfully crafted experiences that are eco- and culturally-sensitive and provide uncommon access to the destination while fostering interaction with locals. According to Norie Quintos, Senior Editor with the magazine, this list includes “the most authentic, most innovative, immersive,best-guided and most sustainable tours.” The Fazendin Portfolio would like to specially congratulate Dinknesh Ethiopia Tour (who operates the Africa Adventure Consultants Ethiopia program), Mozambique Voyages, Coral Lodge 15.41 and Explore Gorongosa all who are involved with the Reefs to Rockies Mozambique tour featured in this year’s “Tours of a Lifetime”.

Read full release here.

Important update just in from Express Travel Group: Please be advised, Yellow fever vaccination certificates are vital to enter Tanzania and any passenger arriving without a valid one is vaccinated at the airport at a fee of USD 50.

This has technically been a requirement for many years, but it sounds like it will now be enforced. Please make sure your clients are aware of this and have their yellow vaccination card inside their passports at all times.

Questions? Please contact Express Travel Group.

Scheduled Daily Service from Nairobi to Tsavo East Galdessa Camp

From 1st July, 2010 through October 31, Safarilink will operate a daily afternoon service to Amboseli and Chyulus (Ol Donyo Wuas), extending to Tsavo East Voi airstrip. Passengers off our Laikipia – Wilson and Mara – Wilson flights will be able to connect to this service. All stops will be subject to minimum 2 passengers being booked. This service will initially operate during the high seasons only.

Contact us for flight times and pricing.

We’re thrilled to announce that our popular sales toolkit, formerly distributed as a CD, is now available online.

View the Online Sales Toolkit here.

Here, among other things, you can view:

Our full portfolio presentation

Booking contacts for each of our clients, click on “Destinations”

Fact sheets for each of the companies we represent

Check it out today!

Tracking Rhino, Walking Safaris, Travel Agents…. Check out The Fazendin Portfolio blog for insight into the world of the African Travel Industry.

The Fazendin Portfolio Blog

Mozambique Voyages, the leading authority when it comes to travel in Mozambique, today announced the following news from Mozambique:

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Rate Manual Changes!
Kindly note that the following changes have been made to the Nett Rates Manuals. Please contact us for the most current copy:

• Polana Serena Hotel rates – applicable from August 2010
• Vilanculos Beach Lodge – low season rates extended for remainder of season
• Guludo transfers – transfer rates amended and updated

• Specials – updated and ready to be downloaded. Note the new “Upgrade” special from Guludo Beach Lodge.

Please ensure that you register on our new website at your earliest convenience by clicking here. The registration will give you access to our Rates Manuals and the ability to download these directly from the website. All new updates will be available on the website on a regular basis.

New Security Tax applicable to Mozambique Airports
Kindly note that CFA has advised that a new secuirty tax has been implemented by the Mozambique Government, applicable to all passengers departing from the following Mozambique Airports:

Beira, Nampula & Maputo USD 6.44 per person (approx ZAR 48.30)<br />Vilanculos, Pemba and Quelimane USD 1.80 per person (approx ZAR 13.50)

In future, this tax will be included in the ticket price. The new security tax is effective immediately.

Passenger details required for LAM tickets
LAM has advised us that they will in future require the following information from passengers prior to issuing any tickets:

• Passenger Nationality
• Passport Number
• Place of issue
• Date of Birth
• Gender
• Passport Validity

The above requirement is made by the South African Government on all passengers arriving and departing from South Africa.

Direct flights between Johannesburg and Inhambane
Kindly be informed that the direct LAM service for Johannesburg – Inhambane- Johannesburg has been re-instated effective tomorrow, the 09th of April 2010.

The schedule is as follows:

FROM JOHANNESBURG TO INHAMBANE

SUNDAY, MONDAY, WEDSDAY, FRIDAY AND SUNDAY
TM 2332 JNBINH 10H55 - 12H35

FROM INHAMBANE TO JOHANNESBURG

SUNDAY, MONDAY, WEDSDAY, FRIDAY AND SUNDAY
TM 2333 INHJNB 1525 1710