We have enjoyed some lovely fair weather this month with stunning early morning sunrises. The early morning temperatures have been generally cool at 13/14°C and mid day temperatures were warm and averaged 31°C. January was a relatively dry month with little pockets of rain in the evenings with no more than 3-5 mm at a time. The Mara River appears at a low ebb and is slowly receding. On the 9th of January there was a spectacular full moon, that afternoon guests took sundowners and moon risers, and enjoyed watching the sun go down and 15mins later the moon rising, magic ………. Read more pdf
Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has made some changes to their announcement made last week regarding the permit price increase.
Please find below the new permit purchase protocols:
1) All permits purchased between now and 31st May for any trekking dates in 2012 will be at $500 – permits need to be purchased in full. In order to purchase the permits in full we will require the client’s full names and passport information.
(2) All permits purchased for trekking dates in 2013 will be at the new price of $750.
(3) Any permits purchased after 1st June 2012 will be at the new price of $750. For 2012 and 2013.
(4) Deposits will remain at 40% – $300.
(5) Top up date will remain at 1 month prior to trekking date.
(6) For any permits already secured with deposits for trekking dates in 2012, if we top them up by 31st May then the price will remain at $500. If we do not top them up by 31st May then they will increase to the new price at $750. Hence at top up date (1 month prior) amount to be paid will be $550 per permit.
(7) Any permits already secured with deposits for trekking dates in 2013 are automatically increased to the new permit price of $750. This means at top up time, amount to be paid will be $550 per permit.
Porini Mara Selected as Top 10 for Best Service in Africa 2012 …….
Porini Mara Camp in the Ol Kinyei Conservancy has been listed by
TripAdvisor as in the top ten properties in Africa for service in their 2012
Best Hotels in Africa Travelers’ Choice Awards….. read more pdf file
It has been officially confirmed today that the following amendments will be made to the Rwanda permit price and procedure:
(1) All permits for trekking dates after the 1st June 2012 will be at an increased price of $750 per permit.
(2) Deposit amounts to be paid to secure these permits has yet to be confirmed.
(3) For permits which have already been secured, i.e. 40% deposits paid, you have until the 15th March 2012 to pay the remaining balance on the permits. If the balance is paid before the 15th March 2012, then the permit remains at the old price of $500 per permit.
(4) If the balance for already secured permits is not paid by the 15th March 2012, then the permits revert to the new price of $750. This means that at top up time there will be an additional amount of $550 per permit to be paid in order to keep the permits.
(5) Top up date is currently 1 month prior to trekking date. This may change. This is yet to be confirmed.
(6) Any new permits purchased for trekking dates prior to the 1st June will remain at the old price of $500.
On my last day in Nairobi in November, I had lunch at Ngong House, in Karen, a quiet suburb of Nairobi.
Lunch is served in the garden, facing the Ngong Hill, under a canopy of Acacia trees. Food is refined, prepared with local ingredients….. a feast for the senses, and drinks are complementary.
Located on land originally part of Karen Blixen’s vast coffee estate, Ngong House offers accommodation in a rustic – chic style. It is a great place to stay and recover from the long flight and the jet lag before going on safari.
The 6 very spacious wooden tree house raised on stilts with peerless views of the misty Ngong Hills provide an intimate and romantic atmosphere. Imagine sleeping in a tree house surrounded by nature and birdlife, your safari really begins in Nairobi.
Originality is the key word in Ngong House’s design.
A private cottage, a suite and a log cabin are also available.
I had coffee with the owner of the place Paul Verleysen who built an designed the tree houses. Paul is a really nice and interresting person, we both lived in Kenya, Rwanda and Ivory Coast and had a lot of stories to share about Africa. Penny Winter, Paul’s wife is a great designer, her boutique next to Ngong House is a treasure chest.
Undoubtedly primate tracking is the highlight of a safari in Uganda.
Chimpanzees - Kibale Forest – November 2011
A great place to stay in Kibale region: KYANINGA LODGE, the lodge is gorgeous, the location is stunning and the food is amazing !
Kyaninga Lodge
Kibale Forest
Magezi - Alpha male - Kibale Forest
Gorilla Bwindi forest – November 2011
This was my third gorilla tracking , the first one was 25 years ago, and walking in the forest close to these gentle gianst is still one of the most magical, exciting and emotional wildlife encounter. Park regulations allowed only 8 people per gorilla family. Our group was allocated to Habinyanja Group. After a short drive from the headquarter to the start of the trek, we meet our guides,trackers and porters. We were very lucky, the walk in the forest took us only 1 hour before we encounter the first members of the group, and among them a silverback.
I spent the night before the gorilla trekking at MAHOGANY SPRINGS LODGE a new lodge in the Buhoma, Northern side of Bwindi. I had a good surprise on arrival, the manager Jotham Awiti is an old acquaintance from my Kenya days, he was lodge manager in Tsavo and Samburu … small world!
On my recent visit to East Africa, I made a 10 day trip in Uganda, the ” Pearl of Africa”. Uganda is a beautiful, hilly and green country and Ugandans are very friendly and hospitable people.
The highlights of the trip were Murchinson Falls National Park, Kibale National Park, Queen Elisabeth National Park, Bwindi Forest, Lake Mburo National Park.
Defassa Waterbuck - Murchison Falls Park
Boat rides offer great opportunity to get close to animals.
Here some pictures on the Nile while heading to the Murchison Falls and on the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elisabeth Park
Hippo on the Nile
Nile Crocodile - Kazinga Channel QENP
Young elephant playing with grass in Kazinga Channel
Hippo, buffalo, Crocodile, lion, baboon, elephant, black and white colobus, jacana, pluver, Goliath heron, fish eagle, bee eater, gray kingfisher, are some of the species seen on the boat ride.
