Travel & News – July 2017 Newsletter

Hello,

We are now squarely in the 2nd half of the year, how time flies! One should now be thinking of where you want to be during the December holidays Kenyans are very slowly turning to early planners.. In this issue we take the opportunity to say thank you and goodbye to our colleague Samson, he has left us to pursue personal business interests. We are very grateful for the time we have had him and wish him every success…

I wish you a fabulous month of July!!!

dolphins

Dolphins are mammals known for their friendliness. There are over 40 species of dolphins, the most common being the Bottlenose dolphin. Dolphins are found all across the world and are close relatives of whales. Dolphins are highly intelligent marine mammals and are part of the family of toothed whales that includes orcas and pilot whales. Dolphins live in saltwater but they can also live in freshwater locations. Only a handful of the species though are known to thrive in freshwater regions. They tend to stick to the shallow areas of the water found along the continental shelves.

Facts about Dolphins

  • They are carnivores, mostly eating fish and squid.
  • Dolphin coloration varies, but they are generally gray in color with darker backs than the rest of their bodies.
  • Dolphins are well known for their agility and playful behavior, making them a favorite of wildlife watchers.
  • Dolphins live in social groups of five to several hundred.
  • They use echolocation to find prey and often hunt together by surrounding a school of fish, trapping them and taking turns swimming through the school and catching fish.
  • Dolphins gestate between 9 – 17 months depending on the species When it is time to give birth, the female will distance herself from the pod, often going near the surface of the water.
  • The calf will nurse from 11 months to 2 years, and after it is done nursing it will still stay with its mother until it is between 3 and 8 years old.
  • Dolphins have 2 stomachs one is used for storage of food and the other is used for digestion.
  • Dolphins are known to be great divers. Being creatures of the sea, they can dive up to 1,000 feet underwater.
  • Even though the average lifespan of dolphins is about 17 years, some can even live up to 50 years!

Our Bucket List Item

bungee

Bungee Jumping is an extreme sport in which people jump from higher ground such as a bridge with an elastic rope tied to their ankles to stop them from hitting the ground. The rope is designed to stretch, not break. When the rope has stretched all the way, the jumper bounces back up. When jumping they wear safety equipment like helmets and a harness. Read more…

Where To Go Next?…

Event Name : Story Moja Festival 2017
Venue : Nairobi.
Start Date :Wednesday 27-Sep-2017
End Date :Sunday, 1-Oct-2017

Event Name : Kilimani Street Festival
Venue : Kilimani
Start Date : Saturday, 29-Jul-2017
End Date :Saturday, 29-Jul-2017

Event Name :Delhi Book Fair 2017
Venue :Delhi
Start Date :Saturday, 26-Aug-2017
End Date :Sunday, 03-Sep-2017

Event Name :Burning Man 2017
Venue :Black rock city
Start Date :Sunday, 27-Aug-2017
End Date :Monday, 04-Sep-2017

The Wildebeest Migration

It is rated as one of the world’s most spectacular natural events – every year over a million wildebeest, zebra and antelope migrate clockwise around the Serengeti-Masai Mara ecosystem, taking in two different countries and making time for birthing, courting and mating on the way.

Start Date : July 2017
End Date : September 2017

Venue Name :The President Cup 2017
Venue :Muirfield Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio, USA
Start Date :Tuesday, 26-Sep-2017
End Date :Sunday, 01-Oct-2017

Event Name :Mararal Derby
Venue : Mararal
Start Date : Saturday, 26-Aug-2017
End Date : Monday, 28-Aug-2017

Did You Know?..

Singapore Changi airport has been named world best airport for 5 consecutive years by skytrax? has beautiful nature walk trails.? All 3 terminals have amazing flower gardens…

World travel fact…

Honolulu is the only place in the U.S. that has a royal palace.

Travel tip – Don’t be afraid to use map

Looking like a tourist isn’t as bad as getting really lost and ending up in the wrong neighborhood.

Madaraka Express!!!

SGR Kenya NairobiIf you have not been on the new SGR train then you need to put it on your Bucketlist! I travelled on the train on June 3rd which was its 3rd day of commercial operations and I must say it was a proudly Kenyan moment for us. Of course the 9am departure was too early for someone coming from holiday and especially from the South coast. We had to pack the night before as we had to wake up by 445am to be ready for a 5:30am departure, with a ferry crossing one needed enough time just in case…

SGR Kenya SunsetThe train station is very far from central Mombasa and one of the nightmares to the station is the terrible traffic on that road. We had to use a back rough route to avoid the traffic. All the same we arrived the station at 8am which left us with a good 45 minutes before check in closes. Allow me to back track, we had been told 2 days earlier that train tickets had to be bought cash and only at the station. So we had to send at mainland Mombasa to go and buy the tickets ahead of time. This has since changed as you can now buy the tickets via mpesa. Read more…

SGR at Mtito

“Travellers are dreamers who make their desires for adventure a reality”
unknown

Where to go Next… Madaraka Express

SGR at Mtito

If you have not been on the new SGR train then you need to put it on your Bucketlist! I traveled on the train on June 3rd which was its 3rd day of commercial operations and I must say it was a proudly Kenyan moment for us. Of course the 9am departure was too early for someone coming from holiday and especially from the South coast. We had to pack the night before as we had to wake up by 445am to be ready for a 5:30am departure, with a ferry crossing one needed enough time just in case…

The train station is very far from central Mombasa and one of the nightmares to the station is the terrible traffic on that road. We had to use a back rough route to avoid the traffic. All the same we arrived the station at 8am which left us with a good 45 minutes before check in closes. Allow me to back track, we had been told 2 days earlier that train tickets had to be bought cash and only at the station. So we had to send at mainland Mombasa to go and buy the tickets ahead of time. This has since changed as you can now buy the tickets via mpesa.

 

Fast forward; on entering the station there was a thorough security check but very bad customer service. Since we had left the hotel very early we had packed breakfast and they insisted on taking the food through the security machine and in the process broke a bottle of water. An interesting observation the guards from a local company could speak Chinese as they communicated with the security in charge who was Chinese. In my opinion is should be the other way round, we are an English speaking country and so the Chinese should have been the ones to learn our language, buts just me!!

After the nasty security check we were met by some very professional and well-dressed(in our Kenyan flag colours) customer service agents whose responsibility was to direct passengers to the transit lounge which was on the first floor. On arrival at the transit lounge I was pleasantly surprised to note there were enough seats for all, it was very spacious and airy. Only there was no separate lounge for the first class passengers, I believe that should change in the coming months. The toilets in that area on that day were clean with someone on standby to maintain the status quo.

SGR Kenya Sunset

At exactly 8:30am the call to board was made, point to note is you have to keep your ticket safe throughout the journey as it’s also the same ticket that lets you out of the station on arrival at your destination. Once done with check-in one walks about 500m to the train. As you get to the train one is warmly welcomed by the train pursers who direct you to your respective cabin. Then, the train was really empty unlike these days it’s almost always at full capacity. We had first class tickets, the train has 4 first class cabin each with 66-72 seats, 10 economy class cabins each with 118 seats and 1 restaurant cabin which is not yet operational.

For this issue I will focus on the first class cabin; it’s very spacious, seats are adjustable to attain a reclined seating position, seats can rotate up to 180 degrees and there are power charging points. You also get drinking water and a snack during the train ride. Being a totally new Kenyan experience we had so many questions for the train pursers and the patiently and politely answered them all plus pose for photos!!! The train leaves exactly on time, there are subtle announcements of stations along the way as well as the views and wild animals were also pointed out as sighted. The ride is very smooth and silent.

Nairobi and Mombasa are now just 4.5hrs away thanks to Madaraka Express.!!

Bungee jumping… Our Bucket List Item

Bungee Jumping Kenya

Bungee jumping is an extreme sport in which people jump from higher ground such as a bridge with an elastic rope tied to their ankles to stop them from hitting the ground. The rope is designed to stretch, not break. When the rope has stretched all the way, the jumper bounces back up. When jumping they wear safety equipment like helmets and a harness.

Bungee started as the coming-of-age ceremony in a small village on South Pentecost Island in Vanuatu. The young men would jump from the top of a 30 meter high tree to demonstrate their courage as an adult. They tied jungle vines around their ankles so that they would not hit the ground.

Modern bungee jumping began when four British men jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. In 1987 A.J.Hackett became world famous when he jumped from the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Later he set up the Kawarau Bridge in New Zealand, with a height of 47 meters, as a commercial bungee jumping area. People could pay money for the fun of jumping.

In Kenya test you adrenaline with a bungee jump in Sagana along the Tana river banks

Travel & News – February 2017 Newsletter

Hello,

Wow the year is almost quarter way gone! JKIA awarded category 1 status so direct flights to the states coming very soon something we are really looking forward to. We have set off the year great you will soon be able to go into our website book and pay for your flight!! Such an amazing milestone for us and we have you to thank, so thank you very much for your continued support.

Wishing you a great month ahead.

The Hyena

The hyena is a carnivorous dog-like species of animal, native to parts of both Africa and Asia. There are four known species of hyena, the spotted hyena, the striped hyena, the brown hyena and the aardwolf. Hyenas don’t just laugh for fun. Scientists say that the pitch and the note frequency (or tone) of a hyena’s laugh can give an indication of its age and social status.

hyena

Facts about the Hyena

  • The hyena is Africa’s most common large carnivore
  • In ancient Egypt hyenas were domesticated and raised for food
  • Only the spotted hyena and the shy and much rarer, striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) are found in East Africa
  • Female spotted hyenas are dominant over the males and outweigh them by about 3 pounds
  • Hyenas usually bear litters of two to four cubs, which and are born with their eyes open.
  • Hyenas can go for several days without water
  • In one feeding frenzy, a spotted hyena can eat up to one third of its body weight

Our Bucket-list Item

Skydiving in Diani

Diani beach is one of the very few places in the world where every jump is a beach jump…

Reasons to travel…

2017 Monaco Grand Prix
Venue : Monte Carlo
Start Date : Thursday, 25-May-2017
End Date :Tuesday, 29-May-2017

Lamu Cultural Art Festival 2017
Venue :Lamu
Start Date :Friday, 17-Feb-2017
End Date :Sunday, 19-Feb-2017

Rio Carnival 2017
Venue :Rio de Janeiro
Start Date :Friday, 24-Feb-2017
End Date :Saturday, 04-Mar-2017

Lamu Cultural Food Festival 2017
Venue :Lamu
Start Date :Friday, 07-Apr-2017
End Date :Sunday, 9-Apr-2017

Canton Fair 2017 – Phase 1
Venue :Guangzhou
Start Date :Saturday, 15-Apr-2017
End Date :Wednesday, 19-Apr-2017

Lake Turkana Festival 2017
Venue : Loiyangalani
Start Date :Wednesday, 03-May-2017
End Date :Monday, 08-May-2017

Did you know?

KLM had the best on-time performance record in 2016!!!!!

Travel tip – Travel Insurance

No one ever thinks they’ll get sick, injured, or robbed while traveling. But it happens. With travel insurance you don’t have to worry about huge hospital bills or stolen gear when it eventually happens. For all kinds of trips ranging from a weekend up to a few months long, I always take a travel insurance cover!!

World travel fact…

Tokyo’s Narita Airport is the 2nd world furthest airport from the city it serves. It’s 66.30km/52 min drive from the City Centre!!

SWARA PLAINS

My husband and I were looking for a place or ideas to take the kids camping after Christmas and a New Year Plot. We had promised the kids that we would go camping after Christmas so here we were thinking of places to go and as usual our first choice was Naivasha as there are many camping sites near the lake. My husband and I discussed Naivasha and with the news on the traffic during that period we thought maybe we should look at other areas as alternatives. As Google is everyone’s best friend we decided to look for options.

We also made a few calls to get ideas on camping sites. But as luck would not have it most places were fully booked. We had been to Acacia before but the hotel side so we decided to call them to find out if they do camping and as luck would have it they confirmed

they do. After a long search we settled for Swara Plains and we have no regrets about it.
read more…

Quote of the Month

“The gladdest moment in human life, me thinks, is a departure into unknown lands.”
Sir. Richard Burton

Five Days at Swara Plains Acacia Camp

swara plains

Swara Plains

Swara Plains Acacia Camp! Just 35 minutes from Jomo Kenyatta International airport or 36 Kms from Nairobi, come and escape the city hustle and bustle on this beautiful piece of unspoiled Africa. Continue reading

Travel and News December 2016 Newsletter

Hello,

The year is finally coming to an end and we are excited the festive holidays are here… As you look back, intended travel did not materialize for one reason or the other. Next year is another opportunity, see our travel tip section below…

We take this opportunity to thank you most sincerely for being part of A Plus, we are honored and privileged to have been of service to you this year and look forward to a great 2017. Continue reading

My Mount Kenya Experience – “The Independence”

Mount Kenya, Point Lenana

Climbing Mount Kenya had been in my bucket list just like Mount Kilimanjaro. What is most interesting is that Rotary turned me to a mountain climber. And more fulfilling because I was doing it for Charity. I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2015 and stocked a library in a rural school with books from class one to eight. Continue reading

Travel and News November 2016 Newsletter

Hello,

Welcome to our Travel & News for this month, the family travel month is almost here with us. Most family friendly spots are already booked for the holidays. If you are an outdoors family you may still have a chance with camps… to travel within budget in December you need to have booked and locked your place by now. If not don’t give up, you will just have to dig deeper into your pockets!!!!

As the year comes to an end we wish you a great finish!!!!! Thank you for your continued support. Continue reading

The Great White Shark Facts

great white shark

Great whites are the largest predatory fish on Earth and can weigh up to 5,000 pounds (2,268 kilograms). They have slate-gray upper bodies to blend in with the rocky coastal sea floor, but get their name from their universally white underbellies. Continue reading

Mashujaa day Trip to the Aberdares

Mashujaa Day Aberdares

20th October 2016, my kids and I get ready and ensure we are at the Nyeri Post Office building at 8.00am to meet up with a group of friends and their family for a day’s excursion at the Aberdares National Park located within Nyandarua and Nyeri County and covers an area of 766km square. Continue reading