Home TravelBlast Top News in Kenya – Winter/Spring 2013

Top News in Kenya – Winter/Spring 2013

For a printable version of this newsletter please Click Here

The
New Year is off to a great start with exciting events happening in
Kenya, including a new airstrip connection, new camp openings, and
conservation efforts just to name a few. Read on to find out more about
what’s happening this month in Kenya!

Kenya Elections 2013
Kenya is set to hold the much-awaited General Elections on March 4th
2013. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries commission (IEBC) has
cleared 8 candidates to run for the Presidency during the election. The
candidates have signed the IEBC code of conduct which has strict
penalties to the presidential candidates in the event that they or
members of their party contravene laid down provisions of this code.

The
Private sector in Kenya through various forums continues to monitor the
on-goings on the political front and engage with Government and
development partners to ensure a free, fair and peaceful electoral
process.

Kenya Tourist Board Launches
New Online Campaign

The
Kenya Tourist Board launched the “Magical Kenya” online campaign in
December 2012. The online campaign will last 24 weeks and features
weekly safari specials to Kenya, coupled with a grand prize six day
Kenyan safari adventure valued at approximately $10,000 for two people.
The “Magical Kenya” online campaign features a different Safari package
to Kenya each week by high profile Canadian tour operators including,
Exotik Tours, Globus Tours, GM Tours, Goway, My Escapades, Safari
Studio, Transat Discoveries, and Tourcan Vacations.

To qualify for the grand prize draw, entrants must write a brief
description about why they would like to travel to Magical Kenya. The
grand prize safari adventure will be awarded on June 1st, 2013. Airfare
has been provided from three major gateways in Canada (Vancouver,
Calgary, Toronto) courtesy of KLM.

For more information about the contest please Click Here

South African Airways and
Air Canada Sign Code Share Agreement

South
African Airways (SAA), the most awarded airline in Africa, and Air
Canada have announced a code share agreement that will make it
substantially easier for customers to travel between South Africa and
Canada. With immediate effect, customers connecting between the carriers
in London will be able to book a single itinerary and make seamless
connections. In addition, the two airlines are members of Star Alliance,
thus enabling customers to benefit from reciprocal frequent flyer miles
accumulation or redemption and lounge access for eligible customers. In
addition, SAA and Air Canada received approval from the US Authorities
last week and connections through New York will be added in the near
future.

SAA
will code share on Air Canada-operated flights between London and
Vancouver, London and Toronto, and New York’s John F. Kennedy
International Airport and Toronto (including flights operated by Air
Canada Express). Air Canada will in turn code share on SAA-operated
services between London and Johannesburg, New York and Johannesburg, and
Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Air Kenya Commences Service
Into Ol Seki Airstrip

Effective
February 15th, AirKenya will begin scheduled service into the Ol Seki
Airstrip located in the Masai Mara. This provides service to a wide
array of nearby camps, including Kicheche Valley Camp, Porini Mara Camp,
Ol Seki Hemingways Camp, Encounter Mara Camp, Asilia Naboisho Camp,
among others. AirKenya offers daily flights throughout various regions
in Kenya and is one of the destination’s major air carriers.

For more information on the new service to Ol Seki please Click Here

Richard Branson’s opens tented
Camp in Kenya – Mahali Mzuri

Kenya
has a worldwide reputation for playing host to some of the most amazing
game viewing experiences in Africa, and it’s no secret that Sir Richard
Branson has a long love affair with this dynamic continent. In 2007
Richard was even made a tribal Maasai elder and has since returned to
Kenya on a number of occasions.

Mahali
Mzuri tented Camp is located within the Motorogi Conservancy in the
northern region of Kenya’s famous Masai Mara ecosystem. The camp is
perched on the side of a lush valley with views over the rolling plains.
The neighbouring conservancy, Olare Orok together with Motorogi cover
approximately 13,500 hectares (33,000 acres) and there are strict limits
on the number of guests that can stay at any one time. The camp is well
placed to observe the abundant game in the area and also to take
advantage of the annual ‘Great Migration’, when up to one million
wildebeest plus hundreds of thousands of zebra, gazelles and other game
undertake a journey of roughly 1,600km through Tanzania and Kenya.

There
are 12 luxury tented suites catering for a maximum of 24 guests at any
one time. Ten of the suites can be configured as doubles or with twin
beds sleeping two adults, and two of the suites are designed for
families. Each tented suite sits on a raised platform and includes a
spacious bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, sitting area and a terrace
with views over the landscape – perfect for spotting the game that will
almost certainly wander into view!

New Camp Opening:
Olare Mara Kempinski
 
Kempinski Hotels opened the doors (or rather tent
flaps) to its all-inclusive Olare Mara Kempinski Camp located in the
Masai Mara. As the company’s first property in Kenya, the camp is
located in the Olare Orok Conservancy, just a short one-hour flight from
Nairobi or 90 minutes from Mombasa. Olare Mara Kempinski is hidden in a
grove of woodland on the banks of the Ntiakitiak River, complete with
12 furnished tents – five twin and seven double occupancy tents.

For more information on the new property or to book with Kempinski please Click Here

Contact Us
Barbara Finn, Account Director
Kenya Tourist Board
Tel: 416-935-1896 Ext. 231
Toll free 1-888-297-9472
Email: [email protected]
Represented in Canada by VoX International Inc.

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