Down by the watering hole

THE Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge in Tsavo National Park has been recognized as one of Kenya’s top 10 Hotels by the US Travel Website TripAdvisor. 

Kilaguni emerged 7th out of 10 overall and this is a testament to Serena Hotel’s commitment in providing exceptional guest experiences, quality products and services across all our properties in the region.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Garden Route National Park score increase in visitors

THE Garden Route National Park (GRNP), #SouthAfrica has doubled figures of visitors to the National Park during the SA National Parks Week campaign. The week long campaign started on the 16th – 23rd September 2017 attracted a total of 7, 449 visitors to the Park. Most visitors were recorded in the Tsitsikamma section of the Park (3,714), Knysna (1,734) and Wilderness (1,506). 

The Park had prepared activities to showcase the diverse nature-experiences in the GRNP. Park Manager Paddy Gordon says ‘#Knysna has South Africa’s single largest complex of indigenous forests, fynbos areas. We also manage seascapes and estuaries. SANParks invests millions annually to protect and maintain the area for conservation to the benefit of current and future generations.’

The Garden Route remains exciting for both local and international visitors for its diverse ways of venturing into nature- hiking, cycling, ziplining, segways, scootours, water activities (snorkelling, diving, boat cruises, canoeing) and others.


Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Kenya sees increase in visitor arrivals

KENYA’S tourism industry has seen a resurgence in the first half of 2016, with visitor arrivals up 16.8% compared to the same period last year. The #Kenya Tourism Board is anticipating 1.5 million visitor arrivals for 2016, 400,000 more than in 2015.

MOUNT KENYA – the highest mountain in Kenya and second highest in #Africa – is to have a cable care, to improve access and boost tourism in the area.

ACCOLADES picked up by Kenya at this year’s World Travel Awards included: Africa's Leading National Park for the Maasai Mara National Reserve and Africa's Leading Beach Destination saw Diani Beach retain top position. Kenya Airways won Africa’s Leading Airline, and Leopard Beach Resort and Spa won the award for Africa’s Leading Family Resort.

SARUNI CAMPS has announced the opening of Kenya’s first elephant-proof photographic hide at its property, Saruni Samburu. The hide will be camouflaged next to a waterhole. The Saruni Samburu lodge has six luxury villas in 200,000 acres of wilderness.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK


Picture Credit: CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=245329

Malawi ups its game for wildlife tourism

THE EMERGENCE of Malawi's wildlife has been boosted with a government-approved deal under which African Parks (AP) will manage Liwonde National Park and Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve for the next 20 years. 

AP is a non-profit organization that takes responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities. It aims to combine world-class conservation practice with business expertise. Over the past decade, it has transformed Malawi's Majete #WildlifeReserve from a neglected, rarely-visited reserve to a major tourist destination.

It will invest £11.6 million in the Liwonde National Park and the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve.

The 211-square mile Liwonde National Park in southern #Malawi comprises woodland, floodplains, grasslands, and lagoons and supports the largest remaining population of elephants in the country as well as one of two populations of black rhino. Other mammal species include hippo, hyena, buffalo, warthog, antelope, and more than 400 bird species. Lions were once commonplace and the healthy populations of other large mammals will allow for the re-introduction of predators.

First actions for Liwonde include fencing the entire 80-mile perimeter of the park, starting elephant patrols to push them back into the park, and re-stocking extinct species including cheetah and wild dogs.

In a less mature state than Liwonde, the 694-square mile Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve in the central region of Malawi is a major catchment area for Lake Malawi. Although a depleted park, it still has remnant populations of elephant, warthog, baboon, various antelope species, and 280 bird species. Well managed, it has the potential to become an important area for elephant conservation. in Malawi. Black rhino, lion, cheetah, and wild dog once existed but all are now locally extinct.

Priorities for Nkhotakota are the creation of infrastructure including park offices, 90 miles of access roads, and increasing anti-poaching patrols. Plans are in place for re-locating wildlife – including 400 elephants and 600 general antelope species – to the reserve.
Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK