Travel Updates

By Anu Vohora, Safarilink Aviation

Safarilink Aviation and Kenya Airways PLC signed a one-way codeshare agreement to open up Kenya by connecting domestic scheduled services to all the best safari destinations within Kenya and Tanzania.

This codeshare agreement means that effective 3rd November, KQ international passengers will be able to combine their travel experience between respective international destinations and 18 destinations that Safarilink operates within Kenya and to Tanzania.

During the signing of the partnership, Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer Sebastian Mikosz said, “As part of our strategy to continue growing the network, we have seen the need to give travel ease to our customers by connecting their destinations. This partnership with Safarilink will significantly open up Kenya’s tourist destinations to international travelers by allowing passengers to connect from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Wilson Airport and eventually to their respective safari destinations which is a great convenience to them.”

The partnership will see KQ place its codeshare flight numbers on the Safarilink flights so that when customers from international destinations book online, they are able to book with connectivity to all  Safarilink destinations.

Commenting on the codeshare agreement, Safarilink Aviation Chief Executive Officer Alex Avedi said, “We are very pleased to be entering into this significant partnership with KQ which will provide seamless connection of passengers from the KQ network straight into Kenya and Tanzania’s world-famous parks. We are delighted that KQ chose us on account of our commitment to safety and quality.”

Oman Air and Kenya Airways have expanded their codeshare, increasing the destinations available to passengers.

The expansion will allow seamless connectivity to Oman Air passengers travelling beyond Nairobi to Entebbe and Johannesburg, while Kenya Airways passengers can now extend their travel beyond Muscat, Oman, to Karachi and Lahore in Pakistan.

Destinations to be added for Oman Air passengers include Dar es Salaam while passengers travelling on Kenya Airways will be able to travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Bangalore, Chennai, New Delhi and Hyderabad in India.

At the end of November, Air India's flight from Mumbai to Nairobi landed with 100 passengers on board, marking the return of the airline to Kenya after 10 years.

The return of the airline presents a big opportunity for the two countries, which have shared trade and economic ties for many years and makes it so much easier for guests wishing to combine a safari with the opportunity to visit friends and relatives in Kenya.

Betty Radier, Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) CEO, said on Wednesday that the return of Air India to Kenya would help to promote tourism, trade, improve relationships and create opportunities between the two countries.

"India is one of Kenya's top tourist source markets. Arrivals from India in the year 2018 grew by 51.9 per cent to reach 125,032. Kenya is confident of sustained tourist arrivals from India following this arrival," said Radier during the reception in Nairobi.

The airline will offer four direct flights a week, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with plans to offer additional flights in the pipeline.

Air India will also be targeting residents of the cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad, utilising its existing domestic infrastructure network.

Russian carrier, Rossiya Airlines now flies between Moscow Vnukovo Airport and Zanzibar’s Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, the airline has confirmed. The airline said flights between Moscow and Zanzibar started operating on October 27. Flight FV5887 departs Moscow at 22h45 on Saturdays. Return flight FV5888 departs Zanzibar the following day at 09h30 with a 522-seat Boeing 747-400 operating the route. Tanzania is eyeing Russia as a new potential source market for tourists to help it reach its target of two million visitors by next year. 

The magical Island of Zanzibar with its sandy white beaches, turquoise-blue water and swaying palm trees and should be on everyone’s bucket list of places to visit. The historic Spice Island seems to have been lost in time with its narrow streets, carved doorways and ancient trade routes. As you head to the north of the island, Elewana Kilindi overlooks the ocean that has witnessed the spice trade route for over 500 years. Facing west, you can witness the sun set as you relax on your private balcony. Offering eclectic menus of international cuisine with an island Swahili infusion, and uses the freshest seafood and ingredients, prepared to order. All meals can be enjoyed in a setting of choice - poolside, among the gardens, on the upper terrace, on the beach or in the privacy of a pavilion.

Explore the hidden secrets of the island with a trip to Jozani Forest to watch the rare and endangered Red Colobus monkeys, which is a species of red colobus monkey endemic to Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar archipelago. Continue your tour of the Jozani forest, passing along a few trails through the variety of flora and fauna. A visit to Stone Town, a UNESCO world heritage site, is a must and a place where history still lives. The stone buildings, meandering alleyways, and markets still existing as they have done for centuries make for a fascinating day of exploring.

Guests can also enjoy day boat trips, scuba diving and snorkelling to get a glimpse of the dolphins, copious fish and vivid corals that thrive in Zanzibar’s waters. A boat trip to Prison Island (Changuu) can be arranged to learn it’s fascinating history but also hosts more than 100 giant tortoises, a collection of endangered Aldabra giant tortoises, which were originally a gift from the British governor of the Seychelles.

Your time in this Indian Ocean coastal destination can be as active or as leisurely as you wish, with a multitude of experiences to enjoy from water based sports to exploring the secrets that this beautiful island holds or simply the favourite coastal pastime of relaxing and soaking up the sun.

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With so many places to explore in East Africa and so much to experience, from the majestic landscapes of Amboseli with Mt. Kilimanjaro as its backdrop to the crystal blue waters of Zanzibar steeped in the history of the spice trade, not forgetting the rolling savannahs of the Masai Mara with unforgettable wildlife encounters… so many destinations, so many choices. Choose your own combination with our Circuit Discount and get the most out of your stay with us.

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Taken by Taro Croze - Elewana Activities Manager at Elewana Loisaba Tented Camp