KTF Statement on Outbreak of Ebola in West Africa

Outbreak of Ebola in West Africa
Following extensive news coverage in the international media about the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa, we are advised by the medical authorities that the situation is as follows:
The current outbreak of Ebola in West Africa was first reported in March 2014, and involves Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
Kenya is not affected by the outbreak of Ebola as there has never been any recorded case of Ebola in this country.
The affected countries are on the extreme West of the African Continent, thousands of kilometres from Kenya and indeed Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea are closer to Madrid, Paris and London than they are to Kenya in East Africa.
From Tuesday 18^th August Kenya Airways will suspend temporarily all its flights to Liberia and Sierra Leone on the advice of Kenya's Ministry of Health as a measure to prevent the spread of Ebola from those countries until the outbreak there has been brought under control. The Kenya government also announced other restrictions because of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in West Africa and is temporarily suspending entry into Kenya of any passengers who have passed through Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. Read more

George Adamson’s 25th Anniversary Memorial at Kora National Park

Kora National Park, popularly referred to as ‘the last wilderness’, will be hosting guests from diverse backgrounds to mark iconic conservationist George Adamson’s 25^th Anniversary Memorial.

George Adamson also known as “Baba wa Simba”, a British wildlife conservationist took care of orphaned lions and later released them to the wild. The George Adamson memorial is a fundraising event whose key objective is to help in the conservation of wildlife, mostly lions whose numbers continue to dwindle in the country due to various reasons, among them poaching.

“Plans are underway to make the Park a Lion Sanctuary to protect the king of the jungle, the event will also promote the park as a popular tourist destination”,  said the Assistant Director of Eastern Conservation Area, Mr. Simon Gitau during George Adamson media launch event at Kora National Park.

The event will take place from 29^th to 30^th August, 2014. Guests arrive on 29^th at the campsite and one is required to carry camping gear. The main event will be on 30th August at the graveside of George Adamson in the sprawling park. Lots of activities have been lined up for the two days in ‘the last wilderness’ Park , including beach Volleyball, treasure hunt, storytelling, watching George Adamson’s films and climbing the rock where George used to climb every morning  and shouts ‘who is the king of the jungle’. This is an adventure not worth missing.

The charges are:

·         Individuals (Citizens/Residents/Non-residents) – Ksh. 5,000 per person

·         T-shirts alone before and during the event – Ksh. 1,000 each

·         KWS Staff – Ksh. 2,500 per person

·         Corporate – Ksh. 50,000 (for 10 people and below)

Mr. Gitau is assuring visitors that security will be enhanced during the event, adding KWS will seek partnership with the surrounding counties namely Tana River, Meru and Isiolo County to promote tourism in the expansive park. 

The Kora National Park was gazetted in 1973 as a reserve and gazetted as a park in 1990. It comprises of an area of a little over 1700 km2. This triangle of dense woodland and scrub is limited along its 65 km northern boundary by the Tana River, which rises in the highlands between Aberdares and Mount Kenya, before commencing its 700 km passage to the Indian Ocean. The western boundary follows a straight line from Tana River which a joint boundary with the adjacent Mwingi N. Reserve, while the eastern boundary runs along Mwitamyisi River.
The land surface slopes gently from an altitude of 490m in the south-west and about 270m in the north-east. Central areas comprise of an undulating peneplain through which Basement ridges protrude above the surface as rocky inselbergs the highest of which are Mansumbi 488 m, Kumbulanwa 450m and Kora Rock 442m. The park also has several seasonal rivers.It is  in the coast region in Tana district.
It offers various attractions include:Pristine wilderness, Inselbergs, Tana River with Adamson's Falls, Grand Falls and Kora rapids, diverse birdlife George Adamson's grave.Though it also have various activities like Pristine wilderness, Inselbergs, Tana River with Adamson's Falls, Grand Falls and Kora rapids, diverse birdlife George Adamson's grave among others.Discover this amazing sites in Kenya safaris.
www.safariprideadventure.com
J.Mucheru.

Kenya Wildlife Service is building its capacity to combat poaching

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Ag. Director General, William Kiprono has said that 575 rangers will soon graduate and be deployed to boost Kenya’s’ capacity to address the plight of elephants emanating from poaching, habitat loss and human-elephant conflict.

He was addressing participants at Voi, Taita Taveta County, during World Elephant Day celebration on Tuesday (August 12, 2014).

“Next month, these men and women will graduate and join the ranger force to sustain our effort in conserving wildlife,” he said.

He said that KWS is investing on areas of mutual interest with County governments and communities living in wildlife-inhabited areas to minimize threats posed to Kenya’s elephant population for better protection, improving enforcement policies to prevent the illegal poaching and trade of ivory, and conserving elephant habitats.

He appealed to local communities not to be used by ivory dealers to undertake poaching or transport poached ivory noting that the new Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013 provides for stiffer penalties on offenders.

“We modernizing our security operations, systems and rangers deployment to ensure that our troops embrace latest and appropriate technology in their day to day operations,” he said. “This will enable us achieve high standards of performance and stop any further poaching incidences”.

While addressing the celebration, Taita Taveta Governor, John Mruttu said that his government is working closely with KWS in sensitizing communities on the new law and explore areas of benefit sharing envisaged by the new law.

Other stakeholders who participated in the event included WWF, IFAW, Save the Elephants, Elephant Neighbours, The Tsavo Trust and David Shedricks Wildlife Trust.  

World Elephant Day is celebrated worldwide to raise awareness on the plight of Asian and African elephants.

This year’s World Elephant Day was used to educate local communities on the need to protect the elephants, their role in the county and national economies as well as the penalties associated with trophy poaching of elephants and illegal possession of ivory.

www.safariprideadventure.com

J. Mucheru

6 Days Northern Tanzania Safaris.

Day 1 Arusha - Tarangire National Park

In the morning, we will pick you up  from your hotel and drive you to the Tarangire National Park. The park, which is roughly the size of Luxemburg, covers an area of approximately 2600 km². Bush savannah, seasonal marshes and formidable baobab trees make up the landscape of this nature reserve. The Tarangire National Park is probably one of the best places in East Africa to watch elephants and to get very close to these animals. This is not only because of an estimated 4000 animals but also the vehicles at a relatively near distance do not bother the elephants. Next to elephants, the park is also the habitat for Masai giraffes, various gazelles and antelopes, buffalos, lions, leopards, baboons and more than a hundred different types of birds. There is definitely plenty of wildlife to watch. Late in the afternoon, you will leave the park and you will stay for the night at a nearby campsite. All meals at the camp.

 

Day 2 Tarangire National Park - Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, you will drive to the lush crater uplands, where the fertile soil allows crops such as wheat, corn and coffee to grow. You will have lunch at a picnic spot before you slowly drive towards the Ngorongoro Crater. On the way, you will pass the Oldupai Gorge where the English couple, Louis and Mary Leak, pioneered archaeological excavation work. In the sixties, some of the earliest archaeological deposits of human evolution were found here and a small museum (visit optional) reports these discoveries. The name "Serengeti" origins from the Masai word "Siringitu" and means "endless plains". You can see why the Masai gave this region this name as the grassland savannah stretches to the horizon in the South and is only interrupted by the so-called Kopjes (inselbergs). These Kopjes are bizarre rock formations formed by the weathering of granite outcrops. The plains are the perfect hunting grounds for leopards and other big cats and you have a good chance to view these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat through the open roof of the vehicle. In the afternoon, you will reach the destination for the day - the Seronera Valley in the central Serengeti area. You will camp for the night and stay in "safari styled" tents enjoying a good meal in the middle of the African bush.

 

Day 3 Serengeti National Park

This day is only dedicated to wildlife watching in the Serengeti National Park. Depending on the migration of the herds, you will visit these specific areas to sight the animals. Usually, the wildebeests and the zebras move from the hills in the North to the plains in the South during the short rainy season in October and November. They return slowly North during the longer rain season in April, May and June. The fluctuation in annual rainfall can affect the animal's location from year to year; however, your guide will know the exact location of the animals and the best vantage spots. You will stay for the night at a campsite in the Seronera area.

Day 4 Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After breakfast, you will continue the game drive through the Serengeti National Park. You will sight hundreds of wildebeests and zebras and often lions and other big cats such as leopards and cheetahs in the Seronera Valley. After lunch at a picnic site, you will drive in the direction of the Ngorongoro Crater. As soon as you have reached the edge of the crater, the caldera opens up before you and you will have a remarkable sight over this impressive natural wonder. You will camp for the night on the crater's edge and you will enjoy the fantastic view as the sun goes down. Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

 

Day 5 Ngorongoro Conservation Area - Lake Manyara National Park

After an early breakfast at daybreak, you will drive down into the caldera of the crater. Inside the world's biggest caldera, you cannot fail to be captivated by the rich and diverse wildlife. On the grass steppe and in the acacia tree woods, you will find almost all species that are found in the East African savannah; with the exception of topis, Masai giraffes and impalas. Quite often you can observe the "Big Five" (lions, elephants, buffalos, rhinoceros and leopards) within a couple of hours. After an extensive wildlife tour and a picnic for lunch, you will leave the caldera in the afternoon and travel to the small village Mto wa Mbu that is situated directly at the border to the Lake Manyara National Park. You will camp for the night at a campsite nearby.

 

Day 6 Lake Manyara National Park - Arusha

This day, you will visit the last national park on the 'Northern Circuit'. The Lake Manyara National Park is known for its 'tree climbing lions' in which it is actually untypical for lions to climb trees. A large area of the park covers the alkaline Manyara Lake, which seasonally is populated by large colonies of flamingos and many types of water birds. On the lakeshore, you can see elephants, hippopotami, guenons, buffalos, banded mongoose and various antelopes and gazelles. After plenty of wildlife watching, you will return to Arusha. Breakfast; Lunch

End of safari.
www.safariprideadventure.com
J.Mucheru. 

Kenya Dream Destination

Nairobi National Park is the only city in the world which neighbors a natural game protection area, harboring more than 100 species of mammals. The park borders the traditional South Kapiti Plains and Kitengela Migration Corridor and attracts a range of exciting game.

Lions Hunting

It is a seasonal park but most of the game, like the indigenous Black Rhino, lives in the park all year round. Herds of plains zebra, wildebeest and eland enter the park during the great migration in July and August to enjoy the rich grazing until the next rains come.

However in recent years a unique trend has been recorded with increasing frequency. A cheetah has successfully raised seven cubs in the park to the delight of local and international visitors. The park is an ideal starting point for ornithological safaris, with more than 400 species of birds that suite your dream safari in Kenya.

Nairobi National Park was Kenya's first ever national park. Its golden anniversary occurs in 1997. It is here that Kenya's President Daniel Arap Moi's torched ivory worth Kshs. 60 million, in a dramatic display of Kenya's commitment to curbing the slaughter of Africa's elephants for their tusks. The site is near the main gate of the park and bears a commemorative plaque with the striking words "Great objectives often require great sacrifices." Since then, the great bonfire has been lit twice to banish confiscated stocks of poached rhino horn and ivory.

There is no accommodation within the park, but Nairobi offers a wide selection of excellent accommodation to suit all visitor preferences and pockets. Many other tourist attractions are located close to the park, making it an ideal one-day trip venue.

www.safariprideadventure.com

 J. Mucheru