TANZANIA: MV Nyerere Ferry Capsizes, More 200 Feared Dead

More than 200 people are feared to have drowned in Tanzania after a ferry capsized on Lake Victoria.

The MV Nyerere ferry sank on Thursday afternoon near Ukara Island, local officials said.

The ferry, which is reported to have a capacity of 100 passengers, was travelling between Bugorara and the Ukala islands, close to Mwanza, Tanzania’s second largest city.

The vessel is understood to have capsized when it was close to docking.

The Tanzania Electrical, Mechanical and Electronics Services Agency (TEMESA) confirmed the incident in a statement and said rescue efforts were underway.

However they were unable to confirm passenger numbers.

20 people were rescued by fishermen immediately after the accident.

The ferry has a capacity of 100 people, a witness says that it was overloaded at the time of the incident. It is not clear how many people were on the ferry at the time the incident occurred.

We pray to God to give us hope in such an accident, Regional Commissioner Adam Malima said.

We pray to God to give us hope that there has not been a high death toll.

Ukerewe District Commissioner Colonel Lucas Magembe said 42 people had already been confirmed dead and that the rescue mission had been halted until dawn on Friday.

The cause of the incident is not yet clear, but accidents are not uncommon on Lake Victoria with overloading and overcrowding frequently found to be the cause.

TEMESA Spokeswoman Theresia Mwami said that the ferry did not have any mechanical problems because TEMESA had carried out heavy maintenance on it in recent months including overhauling two engines.

Accidents are common on Africa’s largest lake, Victoria, where boats often depart overcrowded.

In 2012, at least 145 people died in a ferry disaster in the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean, on a vessel that was overcrowded.

More than 800 people died in 1996 when the MV Bukoba capsized. It was one of the worst maritime disasters of the last century.


Tourism Observer

UGANDA: Uganda Wildlife Authority And Residents Capture Dangerous Man Eating Crocodile

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), working together with residents and other stakeholders have embarked on the hunt-down of man-eating crocodiles on the shores of Lake Victoria on Bukhooli Island in Namayingo District.

Mr Peter Ogwang, the warden in charge of wild animals, on Wednesday said they had been deployed in the strategic areas to get the reptiles and that they had so far captured one.

The captured crocodile weighed about 800 kilogrammes and was about five metres long. It was estimated to be between 45 and 50 years of age.

The captured crocodile is suspected to have attacked the chairperson of Kamwanga Village as she was washing clothes on the shores of Lake Victoria.

But there are also reports that five other people have so far been killed.

He explained that young crocodiles feed on fish, worms and other smaller water creatures but as they grow, they resort to attacking humans who become easy targets.

Mr John Bosco Lukwago, a resident of Mwangoda Village, one of the most affected villages, said there is a sigh of relief for residents since they had started relocating them.

After the capture of one crocodile, these officials are most likely to keep off and return to Kampala leaving more crocodiles at large. We ask that they capture all of them, Mr Lukwago, said.

Mr John Bosco Nyebenza, the LC3 chairperson of Dolwe Sub-county, said: Whenever a resident is attacked by the crocodile, our first check point is a nearby rock where we recover part of the remains of their body parts. So residents here call that rock a crocodile hotel.

Mr Musitafa Muzamiru, a resident of Singila Village, said affected families whose relatives have been killed and several others suffered disabilities should be compensated by the government.

Let government get a special fund to help the families of the victims because many homes have lost bread winners due to these reptiles, which are protected species, he said.

However, Mr Sam Mwandha, the UWA executive director, said there was no law on compensation of crocodile victims.

But soon a Bill on compensation of the victims will be laid in Parliament and if passed into law, a special fund will set aside money to cater for such cases,” he said.

The Namayingo District chairperson, Mr Ronald Sanya, said apart from crocodiles, hippopotami have also destroyed people’s gardens.

He urged government to extend piped water to the affected communities so that residents stop going to the lake to fetch water under risky circumstances.


Tourism Observer

UGANDA: Man-eating Crocodile Captured At Lake Victoria

The Minister for Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities, Hon. Ephraim Kamuntu; Director of Conservation, Mr. John Makombo; and Mr. Stephen Masaba, Director of Tourism and Business Development, together with the Problem Animal Capture Team from the Uganda Wildlife Authority flagged off the relocation for a man-eating crocodile to Murchison falls National Park.

Residents of a tiny hamlet on the shores of Lake Victoria can now breathe a sigh of relief, at least for now.

This after the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) on the night of Tuesday, August 28, captured one of the crocodiles which has reportedly been tormenting residents at Kamwango landing site in Namayingo district as they go about their daily chores to fetch water.

Prof. Kamuntu said that this is a continuing effort of saving communities from deadly crocodiles which so far has 124 being captured.

He observed that coexistence of humans and wildlife is possible, and measures will be put in place to strengthen this coexistence.

He pointed out that some of the interventions include putting in place water pipes and construction of cages.

He encouraged the private sector to invest in crocodile farming.

Traversing 3 East African countries, Lake Victoria is the largest tropical lake in the world, covering 68,000 sq. km.

It is a source of livelihood within the region and of strategic importance as the source of the river Nile.


Tourism Observer

KENYA: Ndere Islands,The Meeting Place And Wonder In Lake Victoria

The smell of fish hangs in the air at Kaloka beach, in the northern shore of Lake Victoria. Fresh fish.

And these fish, hundreds of them are laid out in the sun to dry on white polythene. Their glassy eyes stare up at the sky; stunned by death.

Robust women as most women in this part of the country are in headscarves and khangas wrapped around their waists chatter and guffaw.

They scale, clean and salt the fish to preserve them, before laying them out in the sun to dry. Flies buzz everywhere.

And their men, the fishermen, bare-chested, dark, tall, sinewy and louder than the women as men from these parts are known to be mill around mending their fishing nets.

Beyond the hustle and bustle of this scene lies what brings most people together in this part of Kenya: Lake Victoria. After all, this is Ndere, which means meeting place in Dholuo. The lake sparkles blue in the midmorning sun.

If you look farther across the lake you will see Ndere Island which was declared a National Park in November 1986.

It covers an area of 4.2km square and is home to a variety of bird species, hippos, baboons, crocodiles including the lesser known Spotted Crocodile, and lately impalas.

Plans are underway by the Kenya Wildlife Society to translocate zebras and giraffes to the park.

The island looks lush and serene from the mainland and that’s where we are headed.

The wonders of Kenya are sometimes hidden in corners like this. The board is running a campaign to open up and market Kenya’s western circuit as a tourist destination.

To get to the island, we take a motorboat lasts the ride to the island lasts 10 minutes.

The KWS official accompanying us called our tour of the island “nature walk,” but most in my group thought it world be more a serene stroll in the park smelling flowers and feeling the sun in our faces. Hardly.

To get to the top of the island we huffed and puffed — in a long single file — up a gentle hillside, for two kilometres.

As we walked through the grassland, hundreds of birds circled above and around us.

When you walk through the grass you disturb insects in the grass which the birds feed on, the park warder explains.

Finally we get to the top, panting. The view is spectacular, and the cool breeze tickles our faces. A ship from Tanzania sails by in the distance. Homa Hills tower close by.

The warder finds it appropriate to point east and says, “That is Obama’s home,” as the jaded and still breathless lot looks around eagerly. “Where?” we ask in almost unison curiosity.

“Well, you cannot see it from here, it’s way over those hills,” he smiles. I bet “way over those hills” could also be Illinois, I think to myself.

The KWS, we are informed, is planning to throw top dollar at revamping some national reserves in Western Kenya, Ndere Island being one of them.

The warder points out a spot on the shore where Serena Hotels is planning to build a hotel.

The island attracts campers some of whom stay out here for even a week exploring or just fishing.

Ndere, which means meeting place, thus seems like the ideal place to get together with nature.

Ndere Island is a small island (4.2 km2 or 1.6 sq mi) in Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria in Kenya. It was gazetted as the Ndere Island National Reserve in November 1986 and has since that time been uninhabited.

Ndere means "meeting place" in Dholuo. According to Luo folklore, early tribal migrants rested up near Ndere after their long journey south up the Nile River Valley. They found the lush shoreline so pleasing that they stayed.

Notable fauna associated with the island include African fish eagles, swifts, hippopotamus, and Nile crocodiles. About fifty impalas have been introduced to the island.


Tourism Observer

KENYA: Silverstone Air Services To Commence Nairobi, Mombasa Flights

Silverstone Air Services is to start flights between Nairobi and Mombasa next month, targeting tourists on the coastal circuit.

The airline last October launched commercial flights from Nairobi to Kisumu and Ukunda having previously operated as a charter-only carrier.

Silverstone Air sales manager Patrick Oketch on Tuesday said the airline will be charging about Sh4,500 for a start for a one-way ticket between Nairobi-Mombasa.

We are planning to introduce direct flights from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to Mombasa by next month, said Mr Oketch in an interview.

The departure time from Wilson Airport to Mombasa will be 10am while departure time from Mombasa to Nairobi will be 11:30am.

There will also be a second flight leaving Wilson Airport at 5:00pm to Mombasa from Nairobi daily, he said.

Silverstone Air has been expanding barely six months since it established its operations in the Kenyan market.

The low-cost carrier’s passenger flights target tourists from the Western and Coastal regions, charging between Sh4,500-Sh10,000 for a one-way ticket between Kisumu and Mombasa.

In April, the local airline increased frequency on the Nairobi-Kisumu route to 17 trips per week, up from 14, while passengers travelling to Mombasa from Kisumu are now served by three weekly flights, an increase from two.

Traders in Mombasa and Kisumu will soon have more transport options for their goods after Silverstone Air Services announced it will launch air cargo transportation between the counties.

Silverstone Air Services, which started operating direct passenger flights between the two cities in February, says the new cargo route will boost trade between the devolved units.

We will start cargo transportation and we are slightly cheaper. We will do all cargo and parcels apart from non-dangerous goods.

For body transportation we will charge Sh40,000 only. Traders dealing with fish from the two counties who have been urging us to start transporting their commodities can now breathe a sigh of relief, the airline's sales manager Patrick Oketch said Monday.

Silverstone Air Services is a fairly new entrant into the local aviation scene and has been on an expansion trail barely six months since setting up in Kenya.

The low cost carrier's passenger flights target tourists from the Western and Coastal regions and is charging about Sh10,500 for a one-way ticket between Kisumu and Mombasa.

It operates twice a week, every Friday and Sunday.

Since its inception in October 2017, the company has employed about 186 staff.

The airline’s chief executive officer, Mohamed Somow, says the company will soon expand to operate more routes across the country.

Mombasa deputy governor William Kingi urged traders to use the airline to transport fresh tilapia consumed in Mombasa, usually transported to the port city by road.

In recent times, local fish traders have faced stiff competition from Chinese imports flooding the Kenyan market.

With Kisumu’s strategic position on Lake Victoria and on the fringes of the Great Lakes Region, a direct link to Mombasa is a big boon for both cities.

Can we explore Mombasa port to expand the market for Nyanza's fresh fish? Silverstone air services will soon fly our sea fish to Nyanza, the deputy governor said.

Meanwhile, players in the aviation industry have urged the national government to allocate more funds to upgrading existing airstrips and international airports to support the sector.


Tourism Observer

KENYA: Migingo Island Once Disputed Between Uganda And Kenya

Migingo is a 2,000-square-metre (0.49-acre; 0.20-hectare) island, in Lake Victoria.

The island was the center of a low-level territorial dispute between Kenya and Uganda and is extremely densely populated.

In 2008–2009, the island itself was claimed by both Kenya and Uganda.

In July 2009 a survey team found that the island is 510 metres (1,670 ft) east of the Kenya–Uganda border within the lake, a finding supported by openly available Google Earth imagery.

Since 1926, territorial ownership of the island has been consistently shown on maps and in language on official documents as Kenyan.

Ugandan protests revolve around the lucrative fishing rights, mostly for valuable Nile perch, and Ugandan waters come within 510 metres (1,670 ft) of the island.

In July 2009, the Ugandan government shifted its official position, stating that while Migingo Island was Kenyan, much of the waters near it were Ugandan.

The island had been claimed by the Ugandan government in 2008-2009 until 11 May 2009 when Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni conceded that the island is in Kenya.

But continued to point out that Kenyan fisherman were illegally fishing in Ugandan waters, which lie to the west of Migingo.

The Ugandan flag was lowered, Uganda withdrew its military troops, and agreed that all its police officers would leave the island.

A joint re-demarcation line of the border was launched on 2 June 2009 to recover and to place survey markers on land, making delineation of the boundary on the lake more precise, with results released in late July 2009 confirming that the island falls 510 metres (1,670 ft) on the Kenyan side of the line.

The island has a population of about 131 according to the 2009 census, mostly fishermen and fish traders, who are served by four pubs, a number of brothels, and a pharmacy on the island.

A rocky and rugged piece of land with little vegetation, Migingo is one of three small islands in close proximity.

The much larger Usingo Island is 200 metres (660 ft) to the east of the small white rectangle that is Migingo, and Pyramid Island, the largest of the three, is 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) due south of Migingo and 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) north of the Tanzanian border in Lake Victoria.

On detailed maps, all three islands have been shown on the Kenyan side since the 1920s, when the Kenya Colony and Protectorate Order in Council, 1926 awarded all three islands to Kenya.

The boundary delineation in that 1926 agreement and the Constitution of Uganda state that the boundary line runs to the westernmost point of Pyramid Island thence continuing by a straight line northerly to the most westerly point of Ilemba Island.

A line connecting those two points runs 510 metres (1,670 ft) west of Migingo, placing the island within Kenya along with the larger Pyramid and Usingo Islands, as shown on most maps since 1926.

Tiny Migingo's location within 200 metres (660 ft) of the much larger Usingo Island is clear both on Google Earth and on widely available television network videos depicting aerial helicopter photography.

Migingo Island is so small that it is not displayed on some maps. However, it has not emerged from the water recently, despite a Uganda government official's claims.

In the first decade of the 21st century, water levels have dropped only 0.5–1 metre (1 ft 8 in–3 ft 3 in) in the lake from the normal level.

Recent photographs clearly show the island reaching 10–15 metres (33–49 ft) above the lake level.

Two Kenyan fishermen, Dalmas Tembo and George Kibebe, claim to have been the first inhabitants on the island.

When they settled there in 1991, it was covered with weeds and infested with birds and snakes.

Joseph Nsubuga, a Ugandan fisherman, says he settled on Migingo in 2004, when all he found on the island was an abandoned house.

Subsequently, other fishermen from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania came to the island because of its proximity to fishing grounds rich with Nile perch.

An unusual claim in 2009 by some Kenyan fishermen was that since none of the Nile perch breed in Uganda the nearest Ugandan land and nearest Ugandan freshwater is 85 kilometres (53 mi) away), then the fish somehow belonged to Kenyans.

In June 2004, according to the Kenyan government, Ugandan marine police pitched a tent on the island and raised the Ugandan flag and that of their police department.

Ugandan and Kenyan police have since occupied the island at various times.

A diplomatic row between the two countries arose in February 2009, when Kenyans living on Migingo were required to purchase special permits from the Ugandan government.

On 12 March 2009, a Ugandan government press release proposed that the matter be resolved by a survey, using as a guideline the boundaries set by the Kenya Colony and Protectorate Order in Council, 1926, which is copied into the Ugandan constitution.

This identifies the boundary line as tangentially touching the western tip of Pyramid Island, and then running in a straight line just west of due north to the western tip of Kenya's' Ilemba Island.

On 13 March 2009, several government ministers, including the foreign-affairs ministers Kenyan Moses Wetangula and Ugandan Sam Kutesa met in Kampala, Uganda, and reached an agreement that the fishermen from both countries be allowed to continue conducting business as usual, until the boundary was determined by experts.

They also agreed that Uganda would withdraw the 48 policemen it had deployed on Migingo.

On 27 March 2009, Ugandan and Kenyan ministers travelled to the island where they held negotiations and addressed the residents.

This ended in a row, with Ugandan First Deputy Prime Minister Eriya Kategaya taking issue with Kenyan Minister for Lands James Orengo for calling the Ugandan delegation hyenas during the meeting.

The Kenyan delegation demanded that Uganda withdraw its police. The Ugandan delegation insisted that they would remove the flag only after consulting their president and that the Ugandan policemen were there to keep law and order.

Kenya's Internal Security Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode replied that he would be sending Kenyan police to the island.

Amidst concerns that the dispute could affect cooperation between the two countries and within the East African Community, both Museveni and Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki have voiced confidence that the dispute, including fishing rights, will be resolved amicably.



Tourism Observer

TANZANIA: Mwanza The Marine City

The city of Mwanza is the major Tanzanian port on Lake Victoria and a major centre of economic activities in the region. The lake borders the country’s East African neighbours – Uganda to the north west, and Kenya to the north east.

Mwanza is a city in Northwest Tanzania on the southern edge of Lake Victoria. Your main reason for coming here would likely be en route to Rwanda or Uganda. The city also received some international attention after the controversial documentary Darwin's Nightmare, which is about the trade in the Nile Perch, centered around this city.

Tanzania’s second-largest city, and the lake region’s economic heart, Mwanza is set on Lake Victoria’s shore, surrounded by hills strewn with enormous boulders.

It is notable for its strong Indian influences, as well as for being a major industrial centre and a busy port. Yet, despite its rapidly rising skyline, Mwanza manages to retain a casual feel.

In addition to being a stop on the way to Rubondo Island National Park, Mwanza is a great starting or finishing point for safaris through Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, ideally as a loop by adding in Lake Natron.

The Mwanza Region is occupied by various tribal groups, included the Wasukuma, the Wakerewe, Wakara and Wazinza. Mwanza city's Makongoro Road is named after a prominent Sukuma chief who controlled the area in the late 1800s.

Under British rule, the region was one district in the Lake Province, which became the Lake Region after independence. In 1963, the Mwanza Region was created.

Wasukuma tribe is the major tribe occupying the Mwanza Region, the other region that is occupied by Wasukuma is Shinyanga Region.

Export and transport among the countries is a foundation of Mwanza’s economy. Around the city of Mwanza, the land is primarily devoted to agricultural enterprise. Tea, cotton and coffee plantations throughout the area produce large volumes of cash crops that pass though Mwanza on their way to market. The town’s industrial harbour and busy streets make it a prosperous and busy place to explore.

For visitors, the city makes a good base from which to explore the nearby Rubondo Island National Park and the western parts of the Serengeti. Rubondo Island National Park offers pleasant day-hikes and bird watching around the lake shore.

Mwanza’s proximity to the western Serengeti makes it a necessary stop for visitors who want to experience a less bust part of the park and see the magic of the Serengeti without the parade of safari vehicles and seasonal crowds. Mwanza is also the centre of the Sukuma tribe, the largest tribe in Tanzania, who have inhabited and farmed the region for centuries.

Cultural tourism programmes to their local villages and farms can be arranged through the local cultural centres.

Flights from Dar es Salaam with Fastjet, Arusha (JRO), Nairobi, Entebbe. On international arrival, you can easily obtain a visa (US$50).

There are daily buses going to and from Dar es Salaam. Several transport companies such as Green Star, Princess Muro and many more are one of the best and reliable choices. The journey takes about thirteen hours to reach Mwanza, the northern cultural and trading center.

The unpaved road from Dar to Mwanza-Shinyanaga is under development by South African and Chinese road construction companies and has been completed. There are also buses to Bujumbura (Burundi), Kigali(Rwanda),Nairobi(Kenya)and Kampala(Uganda)

There are daily trains to Dar es Salaam. These are often heavily booked up to 2-3 weeks in advance. But don't expect a comfortable journey by train as most of the time you will find the speed less than average.

To arrive from Uganda you can take a bus from Kampala to Bukoba (in Tanzania) and from Bukoba you can either take the ferry Monday, Wednesday or Friday evenings or the bus,several every day around 6-7 AM.

The ferry MS Victoria departs to the Tanzanian town,Bukoba every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evening.

There is a ferry across the Mwanza gulf that leaves from the city,the Kamanga ferry and another about 32km south of the city. The southern one is recommended for driving because the roads on the western terminal are rumored to be much better.

Daladalas or public buses are a good, cheap way to get from the city to the surrounding areas. Costing only 300tsh for a trip, they are crowded, slow, and thrilling sometimes. You may want to ask someone which one you need to take as there are no transit maps.

Taxis can be an option, although there aren't any official labels on them as there are in the capital. Use at your own risk.

Pikipikis are the little motorcycles that will take one or two people on as a fare. There are usually a few sitting at intersections. Again, use at your own risk.

The shores of Lake Victoria are interesting to walk along and popular with locals.

Climb to the top of Capri Point at the west end of Station Road for a nice view of the area.

Definitely something to try, if you can afford it. While you are in Mwanza you may organize your safari to Serengeti,only 2 hrs drive to the entrance gate.

The less expensive excursions to reserves and parks are specialized, of a shorter duration, and worthwhile. If there's one trip that will change your perspective on life, it's an African safari.

Frozen and fresh Nile perch fish fillet boxes available near the airport is the great buy.

There are some excellent fabric markets on the north end of Rwagasore Road with patterns and designs that aren't available in Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar.

Walk through the market area between Lumumba and Pamba Roads for an intense taste of a bustling market. Don't carry a wallet.

Remember to bargain with merchants. It's expected.

Great Lake Victoria's fresh water Tilapia fish is a must eat food. A good number of fish industries exist. They export Nile perch fish fillet,sangara fish to Europe and South Africa.

Pizzeria Kuleana, Post St. Pizzas, as expected, as well as a breakfast that is the favorite of both locals and travelers. Opens early, so it makes a good place to wait for the town to come alive if you have arrived with the night ferry. 7AM-9PM daily.

The Food Square, Bantu St. near Nkrumah St. Open for breakfast and lunch. Excellent, popular, fast, local food for anywhere from 1000tsh to 4000tsh per person. A great daily stop. No alcohol.

Harish Pan House, Nyerere and Post St. Indian food with Zanzibar flavor. Vegetarian menu limited to Samosas, Zanzibar mix soup, snacks and other Indian traditional breads.

Sizzler, Kenyatta and Post St. Wide variety on the menu, local food, Chinese, and Indian dishes. 4000tsh - 8000tsh. Open for lunch, then closed until dinner.

Mayi Hotel, Spacious outdoor restaurant with a good diverse menu. Lots of fish and chicken dishes. Arrive later in the evening for more menu availability. Their spaghetti and cheese sauce is especially good if you're vegetarian. 8000tsh - 12000tsh.

New Mwanza Institute, Station Rd. west of the train tracks. Popular local outdoor restaurant. Local dishes only. 2000tsh - 4000tsh.

Yun Long Chinese Restaurant. Good Chinese dishes with excellent atmosphere next to lake Victoria. You may pass by for just a drink as the bar here is excellent serving the usual African booze. Reasonably priced, a meal for two will cost you 10-15 USD.

Street food and fresh produce. Oranges, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, avocados, cassava, roast maize, taro are all available on the street from vendors for anywhere from 100tsh to 1000tsh.

Also available are mandazi, bagias, and other local fried breads in some areas. Vendors are usually walking around, so they may be harder to find.

Tunza Lodge, Located approximately 8km from town. Follow the airport road to the Llemela dalla-dalla stop, take a left turn, following a dirt road to the lake side.

Tunza Lodge is a beach resort on the shores of Lake Victoria. It offers sandy beaches, a bar and restaurant and weekend beach volleyball games on the sand. While the lake water is generally considered safer to swim in than areas closer to town, it is worth noting that the risk of schistosomiasis,a parasitic disease via swimming or infected water is still present.

The Breeze, Second floor in the New Mwanza Hotel,stairs are in the front not the ones that go up to rooms. Nice view of traffic and people walking below. Open air but covered. A good place to wait out a sudden rain shower.

The Police Cafe, on Station Road, just between Mwanza train station and Station Road. A cosy place run by police officers. You can sit in the garden under the trees and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, good food and cold beer.

Any local hotel and most restaurants serve beer and other drinks

La Kairo is a top-end place to stay, prices from 30.000 Tsh to 100.000 Tsh. Working free internet, good meeting rooms. City is noisy at night.

The Tilapia Hotel on the shores of Lake Victoria in the Capri Point area of town offers a swimming pool and bar, ideal for swimming on a hot day. Although the lake is adjacent, the water is infested with schistosomiasis and is not considered safe to swim in.

Gold Crest Hotel opposite the New Mwanza hotel on Post street, this is a comfortable business hotel with a reliable generator and good WiFi. The restaurant/bar on the roof has a great view, though the music gets loud pretty early on so it's not good for a relaxed meal in the evening.

The Indian restaurant through the first floor car park serves fantastic Indian food. The coffee shop on the ground floor serves real coffee (not instant coffee).

Malaika Beach Hotel and Resort, recently completed, has a large restaurant, infinity pool with poolside bar, sprawling lawns and WiFi connections. You can watch the fishermen at work on the lake while you are at poolside.

Victoria Palace Hotel, capripoint. Excellent hotel rooms with free internet, excellent Indian food prepared by an Indian chef. Free breakfast. edit

Ramada Hotel, Rwagasore St. by Kenyatta Rd. Small sign outside, but nice rooms inside for the price. Bar and restaurant on the second floor, safe parking inside, satellite television (some channels in English) and en-suite bathrooms. 15,000tsh per night, but if you're staying for a week or so, you can negotiate down to 10,000 per night. Good mosquito nets, balconies, but not necessarily a fan in every room.

Lake Hotel, Station Rd. west of Kenyatta Rd. Nice place with a restaurant. Small rooms with en-suite bathrooms. 15,000tsh per night. Safe parking. A little cramped for more than one night.

Ryan's Bay Hotel Station Road, Capri Point, Mwanza, Tanzania. A nice four star hotel owned by Indian proprietors. Large comfortable rooms with views of Lake Victoria. Staff is very helpful and friendly. Room prices star at 100USD for a twin room. The hotel runs a safari company.

Serengeti National ParkYou can start you safari adventure from here. Serengeti and other National parks like Rubondo Island in Lake Victoria. It's just two hours away from Mwanza thus the city is a good base to start a safari. If you start your safari from Mwanza you will enter Serengeti from the Western corridor at Ndabaka Gate. Good safari companies include:

Rubondo Island National park in Lake Victoria. Rubondo Island National Park. A pair of fish eagles guards the gentle bay, their distinctive black, white and chestnut feather pattern gleaming boldly in the morning sun. Suddenly, the birds toss back their heads in a piercing, evocative duet.

On the sandbank below, a well-fed monster of a crocodile snaps to life, startled from its nap. It stampedes through the crunchy undergrowth, crashing into the water in front of the boat, invisible except for a pair of sentry-post eyes that peek menacingly above the surface to monitor our movements.

Rubondo Island with small islands Rubondo Island is tucked in the southwest corner of Lake Victoria, the world's second-largest lake, an inland sea sprawling between Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. With nine smaller islands under its wing, Rubondo protects precious fish breeding grounds.

Sport fishing Tasty tilapia form the staple diet of the yellow-spotted otters that frolic in the island’s rocky coves, while rapacious Nile perch, some weighing more than 100kg, tempt recreational game fishermen seeking world record catches.

Rubondo is more than a water wonderland. Deserted sandy beaches nestle against a cloak of virgin forest, where dappled bushbuck move fleet yet silent through a maze of tamarinds, wild palms, and sycamore figs strung with a cage of trailing taproots.

Birds and Animals The shaggy-coated aquatic sitatunga, elsewhere the most elusive of antelopes, is remarkably easily observed, not only in the papyrus swamps it normally inhabits, but also in the forest interior. Birds are everywhere.

Flocks of African grey parrots – released onto the island after they were confiscated from illegal exporters – screech in comic discord as they flap furiously between the trees.

The azure brilliance of a malachite kingfisher perched low on the reeds competes with the glamorous, flowing tail of a paradise flycatcher as it flits through the lakeshore forest. Herons, storks and spoonbills proliferate in the swampy lake fringes, supplemented by thousands of Eurasian migrants during the northern winter.

Vegetations Wild jasmine, 40 different orchids and a smorgasbord of sweet, indefinable smells emanate from the forest.

Ninety percent of the park is humid forest; the remainder ranges from open grassland to lakeside papyrus beds.

A number of indigenous mammal species - hippo, vervet monkey, genet and mongoose - share their protected habitat with introduced species such as chimpanzee, black-and-white colobus, elephant and giraffe, all of which benefit from Rubondo's inaccessibility.

About Rubondo Island National Park Size: 457 sq km (176 sq miles). Location: Northwest Tanzania, 150 km (95 miles) west of Mwanza.

Getting there By either road from Mwanza and then boat transfer or scheduled flight form Mwanza airport.

When to go Dry season, June-August. Wildflowers and butterflies Wet season November-March. December- February best for migratory birds.

Accommodation Accommodation in the park includes one Luxury tented camp - owned by a private company. Self contained and self catering visitor bandas, a campsite and hostel which are owned by the park.

The park is ideal for:

- Honeymooners

- Bird watchers

- Sport fishing

- Hikers

- Boat racers

- Company retreats

Fishing boat is available for hire.

There is a medical staff and a health centre in the park. There are snakes, some are poisonous some are not.

UGANDA: Bird Flu To Affect AviTourism

Tests carried out on dead birds found on the shores of Lake Victoria between the capital Kampala and Entebbe, the location of the international airport, but also in Masaka District, have proved positive of avian flu, government officials confirmed late yesterday and earlier today.

A formal press conference at the Uganda Media Centre where Minister of State of Agriculture, Hon. Kibazanga, has confirmed the presence of the disease in East Africa.

Neighbouring countries also bordering Lake Victoria are said to have instituted prompt measures to raise surveillance and monitoring on local and migratory bird populations to determine if the disease has also spread to their own shores.

Lutembe Bay, a major migratory bird route waypoint into and out of Africa, is one of the locations where dead birds were found.

Global organizations are also said to be preparing emergency support measures for Uganda to contain the outbreak and fight the further spread of the disease.

According to information received from sources close to government is the type of avian flu is unknown to spread to humans but nevertheless have officials called to be careful not to handle domestic chicken and other poultry and in particular not to touch any birds found dead to avoid any possibility of the virus crossing over to humans.

Alerts have been raised before in Uganda mainly because the country is part of the migratory bird corridor into Africa and past training will come in handy now to tackle the outbreak here in Uganda.

Tourists heading to Uganda have been reassured that they are most unlikely to come into contact with infected birds and need not fear or resort to cancelling their safari vacations in Uganda or anywhere else in East Africa for that matter.

TANZANIA: Kagera Takes Approach To Save Lake Victoria

SMUGGLING of fish resources in Lake Victoria by traders from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Burundi is costing Tanzania billions of shillings.

A survey carried out at various fish landing sites in the lake has revealed that some traders collude with leaders of Beach Management Units (BMUs). Notorious exit points includes; Murusagamba, Kabanga and Rusumo (Ngara district), Murongo (Karagwe district), Mutukula, Kanyigo, Kashenye and Kyaka in Misenyi district, Bugabo and Rubafu in Bukoba Rural district. Illegal fishing together with destruction of the environment have resulted into depletion of at least 400 fish species in the lake in the last four decades.

Kagera Regional Commissioner (RC), John Mongela said starting this week that all fishing activities in Lake Victoria and other smaller lakes had been suspended for an indefinite period to allow fish to multiply and mature.

Smaller lakes includes; Burigi, Rumanyika, Ikimba, Liko, Karenge, Mitoma, Rwakajunju, Kamakala, Rushwa, Melula and Katwe. According to fishing census conducted during 2012, the region had a total of 23,067 registered fishermen and 7,183 fishing boats.

Fish species found in Lake Victoria includes the famous; Nile Perch, Sardines, Sato and Furu. Authorities have pledged close monitoring of the fishing gear to avert intensification of the threat. Mongela reminded fishermen and the public to avoid using explosives and other un-recommended fishing methods which destroys the ecological balance of the lake. Speaking on the regional economic planning and challenges faced in the last five years which now required extra supervision, he gave an example of aggressive measures taken by the government to control the situation.

“Impounded fishing gear worth 611.4m/- have been destroyed. These includes 6,089 gill nets which are below six inches, 469 mono-filaments, 317 beach seines, dagaa nets below 8 millimetres and 192,274 metres of ropes used to tug boat sizes,” Mongela explained. He added, “Additional efforts are necessary. Change of attitude among fishermen and the general public cannot be overstated.

People must realise that the resources belong to them and once depleted they will suffer the economic consequences. This is a collective responsibility and each of us must play part.” He said modern fishing gear increased from 1,077 engine boats in 2005 to 1,942 in 2010. Also a total of 286 fishermen were trained on modern fishing techniques.

“I call upon each of you to remain vigilant and expose all those behind the illegal fishing including dynamite fishing. “All fishermen must be licensed and their vessels registered,” he said. Councils in Muleba, Bukoba, Ngara, Biharamulo, Kyerwa, Karagwe and Misenyi Districts should ensure that drainage systems are well preserved to allow water to flow smoothly.

Some of the notorious areas often affected by floods in Bukoba municipality includes; Kashai/Matopeni, Hamugembe/Omukigusha, Hamugembe/ Kashabo, Katatolwansi and some parts of Bunin area.

The Aquaculture Division Director under the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Charles Mahika, said in an interview that he is optimistic that farmers in Kagera Region could double their income through aquaculture following a scientific report that a farmer could earn up to 20m/- in a year.

“Aquaculture is a very high value crop. Farmers in Kagera Region are encouraged to adopt cage pen based aquaculture because the region has a big potential. The region should start bleeding program by training farmers on best fish farming technology,” he said.

He advised farmers to contact the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI), for technical guidance on how to get cages. Currently, the production of marine fisheries make up only 13.71 per cent of the nation fish production.

The remaining production comes from fresh waters, covering a total area of 58,000 square kilometres. This includes three big lakes namely Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Nyasa, as well as major reservoirs, small water bodies, rivers and ponds. The annual sustainable yield for all marine and island waters is estimated to range from 400,000 -500,000 tons.

The average annual fish consumption in Tanzania is estimated at 38kg. Fish contributes 40 per cent of the total animal protein supply. By 1992 only a few regions were actively engaged in fish farming.

They include; Ruvuma (4,960 ponds), Mbeya (849 ), Iringa (753), Arusha (700) and Lindi (62). Reasons which contributed to decline of aquaculture development in Tanzania include the structural organization of the ministry, low priority given to aquaculture for funds and training and land rights. At the regional and district levels there is no specific budget for aquaculture activities.

Due to the relatively high construction costs of fish ponds and the inability to meet preconditions for loans from banks, most individual subsistence farmers who comprise 90 per cent of all farmers, cannot take the risk of starting commercial fish farms/ponds.

The advantage of aquaculture is that it can be implemented on land that has a low or zero opportunity cost, for example mangroves and swampy areas. According to Dr Mahika there are an estimated 20,000 fish ponds in Tanzania with annual produce of 5,000 metric tonnes.

With well-managed skills ponds could increase to 50,000 with yields increasing to 500,000 within a few years,” he said. While fish farming or aquaculture may appear highly technical to many qualified investors, it’s still a business at its core and from this perspective it’s really no different from any other alternative investment that may be under consideration.

Global aquaculture production of tilapia was reported at 2.9 million metric tons in 2010, nearly tripling the 1.0 million metric tons recorded in 2000. The average annual growth rate of the global tilapia farming industry for the trailing 10 year period of 2000-2010 has been an astounding 19%.

The Officer in-charge of the Kagera Region Surveillance Unit, Mr Appolinary Kyojo, said over 100,000 people in the region depend on fisheries activities for their livelihood. “Lake Victoria is under threat, and the very people this natural resource is supposed to serve are the ones threatening its existence. Irresponsible human activities are threatening the world’s second largest fresh water lake,” he remarked.

“Lake Victoria is under threat, and the very people this natural resource is supposed to serve are the ones threatening its existence. Irresponsible human activities are threatening the world’s second largest fresh water lake,” he remarked.

Lake Victoria is the largest fresh water body in Africa, providing a lifeline for more than 5,000,000 people living in rural communities on or near its shore. The Lake is their source of water for bathing, drinking and cooking, and its fish populations provide both protein and an income for families. Many of the fish, including members of the lake’s large cichlid population, are endemic found nowhere else on earth.

Over 30 million people in Lake Victoria Basin (LVB) could greatly improve their livelihoods if they utilize the abundant investment opportunities in the basin. Under the East African Co-operation Treaty, the Lake Victoria basin has been categorized as an economic growth zone. Available investment opportunities include agriculture and livestock, trade and commerce, fishing, mining, wildlife and tourism.

Others are hydro-power generation, infrastructure development, human resources development, industries, research and technology. Lake Victoria is the world’s second-largest freshwater lake by area, but new research shows it ran almost completely dry in a severe drought 16,000 years ago. Africa’s largest lake is locally known as Lweru or “The Eye of the Rhino.”

Westerners will be more familiar with the name Lake Victoria — given during the United Kingdom’s expeditions of the area. In terms of surface area, it is second in size only to North America’s Lake Superior.

In terms of its importance, Lake Victoria supports the water resource needs of many central African countries and feeds into the Nile River, which supplies freshwater to some of Africa’s most densely populated areas. Recent research, however, suggests that Lake Victoria, on at least three separate occasions in its 400,000-year history, could not be called a lake at all because of severe drought.

By taking core samples from Lake Victoria, as well as Lakes Tana in Ethiopia and Van in Turkey, researchers discovered that ancient Africa and southeast Asia suffered an intense drought period roughly 16,000 years ago.

This drought parched the region and emptied all of the sampled lakes, including Victoria. From the core samples, researchers were able to pin the refill date of Lake Victoria to around 14,000 years ago.

Based on these historical records, some researchers suspect it’s only a matter of time before such a drought happens again. There’s not yet a consensus on the cause of the droughts, but speculations range from a shift in the Inter tropical Convergence Zone to more recent theories that tropical rainfall was weakened across Africa and Asia.

KENYA: Adventure Tourism In Kenya

There couldn’t have been a better way to announce to the world about one of Kenya’s largely ignored tourism attractions than a live video stream of Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala skydiving from a plane at 11,000 feet and landing on the white sands of Watamu.

The spectacle of the Tourism minister in white shorts and a matching T-shirt splashed with the colours of the Kenyan flag and strapped to a guide was relayed live through HerdTracker — an online app. Once he landed safely, Mr Balala said he wanted to show that Kenya was more than sandy beaches and wildlife. The minister was alluding to “adventure tourism” — a niche involving adrenalin-inducing travel and other experiences.

“Besides beach and wildlife products, Kenya is rich in other tourism attractions and this will provide an opportunity for tourists to sample diverse attractions,” says Mr Balala.

Kenya’s steep ascent from the Indian Ocean to Mt Kenya and descent to the Rift Valley and Lake Victoria was famously described by German explorer Ludwig Krapf in the 1840s as “second to none”.

But there has been little attempt to consolidate and market the country as an adventure tourism destination despite its huge potential. Instead, the country’s reputation as a magnet for tourists has largely been based on its attraction as a top safari and beach destination.

Indeed, UK travel publication, Rough Guides, recently ranked Kenya ninth globally and first in Africa in the top 10 places to visit in 2016, “largely due to its world-famous national parks, white sand beaches and the rich culture.” Earlier, the country was voted as the world’s leading safari destination in 2015 by the World Travel Awards.

However, a string of travel advisories by key markets like the UK and the US owing to security concerns have left the tourism industry on its knees.

But interwoven with Kenya’s traditional attractions, the lure of adventure tourism appears to be growing. The United Nations World Tourism Authority (UNWTO) defines adventure tourism as, “a trip that includes at least physical activity, natural environment and cultural immersion.” Popular activities include mountaineering, trekking, bungee jumping, mountain biking, canoeing, rafting, kayaking, zip-lining, paragliding, sand boarding, caving and rock climbing. These are now scattered across the country as operators fight for a piece of the pie of millions of dollars that the tourism industry brings each year.

For instance, about 100km north of Nairobi in Murang’a County is the Sagana Rapids Camp where people who get a rush from performing near-death stunts or terrifyingly thrilling activities can get their fix by a 45-foot jump into a waterfall. Visitors can kayak, too, on the rapids of the Sagana River, bungee jump 60 metres into the river or take a night walk in the forest along the waters where they are likely to run into grazing hippos.

In November, the camp hosted the Africa canoeing and kayaking Olympics qualifiers with participants from 15 countries. The same month, a team of 23 Dutch, at least 15 Kenyans and three Britons walked more than 60 kilometres through a forested area of Maasailand — from Amboseli to a village near Kajiado town. Save for the railway line, the distance covered was through virgin land.

The expedition was to retrace the footsteps of Joseph Thomson, the explorer credited by the British for establishing the route between Mombasa and Lake Victoria in the 19th century. Among them was Mr Thompson’s grandson, 69-year-old John Hasting

“It’s such a privilege to walk with the Maasai and to learn from them. For me, they are one of the great ethnic groups in the world,” he told Lifestyle. It cost the explorers Sh3 million to take part in the walk.

Back to Murang’a, a stone’s throw away from Sagana Rapids Camp, the Bungee Walla has also taken advantage of the wild waters of the Sagana to offer bungee jumping. Its owner, Mr Andreas Reblin, says he started the venture in 2001 as a way of expanding adventure tourism in Kenya.

“I was hoping that the people who come here for white water rafting are brave enough to face the bungee and vice versa,” he says.

But the task of promoting the venture has been an uphill one.

“The first three years were so slow that I almost gave up,” he says. “To top it, the local travel agents were not willing to promote it.”

Today, the numbers have increased tremendously both for international and local tourists.

“Most of them, especially Europeans, have done it. There are those who try it again because it is in a scenic location, not off a crane in a parking lot,” he says.

Further west of the capital near Eldoret at Kerio Valley, the area famous for its scenic views, tall cliffs and steep escarpments is of late becoming an increasingly popular destination for paragliding — which involves jumping from a high place using a special parachute to float down to the ground.

It costs Sh8,000 for a flight that lasts about 20 minutes and Paraglide Kenya, a company involved in the venture, says the high season is from December to March.

“Almost 90 per cent of the paragliders who come during the high season are from Europe since it is winter in their countries,” it says on its website.

Tourists take a stroll on horseback in Nyanyuki. Horse riding in the wild is one of the activities being offered by the Fairmont Hotels chain in order to lure adventure seekers.

And in Nairobi those who wish to undertake rock climbing, an exciting but dangerous affair, can do it at Climb Blue Sky, an indoor park, or try one of the many expeditions outside town.

A number of online trading websites too are now competing against each other marketing rock climbing as one of the must-do activities for those seeking an adventure outside town. An upcoming trip to Mt Longonot is among those currently being advertised.

It is such developments that have led the government to agree that adventure tourism is the next big thing.

The Tourism Cabinet Secretary cites Kilifi County, which has become a water sports haven attracting thousands of tourists each year.

“More than before, kite surfing, scuba diving, fishing, kayaking, sailing, white water rafting, windsurfing, snorkeling, water skiing, wakeboarding are among the activities that have placed Kenya amongst the top watersports destinations in the world,” he says.

Operators, however, think the government and private sector marketers have taken a long time to realise it.

“Most of the activities that we have been marketing to the world limit tourists to the level of being passive spectators. Trends have changed; today’s modern traveller is a risk-taker and wants to get the full experience of the area they are visiting,” says Mr William Kinuthia, CEO Sagana Rapids Camp.

He adds: “Further, with more options, the whole industry will not be susceptible to shocks like what we are seeing with all these travel advisories and with dwindling wildlife numbers as visitors will have more choice.”

Earnings from tourism fell from Sh94 billion to Sh87.1 billion between 2013 and 2014 due to frequent terror attacks and travel advisories. And in the last wildlife survey of 2014 by the Department of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing, wildlife numbers had dropped by a quarter in just five years.

But tourism arrivals rebounded by 6.7 per cent during the just concluded high season to 62,548 in November from 58,663 in the same month in 2014, a fact that has made the government optimistic.

Nevertheless, Mr Balala sees a future in adventure tourism.

“These excursions indeed provide the diversity that is needed in the tourism sector and to maximise on diversity, the government is encouraging product developers including county governments to identify their niche in tourism attractions for marketing and promotion,” he says.

On the international scale, UNWTO – the global forum that addresses tourism policy issues – ranked adventure tourism as the fastest growing travel segment in the world hitting a global value of $263 billion in 2014. This was a monstrous increase of 195 per cent from 2011.

In its last “Global Report on Adventure Tourism” released in December 2014, the organisation predicted that this segment was poised to overtake all forms of tourism. Further, arrivals of tourists seeking adventures in emerging markets would have exceeded developed markets by the start of this year.

“By 2030, about 57 per cent of arrivals will be in emerging economies. To accommodate this surge in demand, supply is expected to increase but to do this the make-up of the sector in these markets will have to change from being predominantly small owner-operated and be pushed by governments,” said the report.

This, the report added, was because adventure travel requires less development than traditional industry: Paved roads, large airports, and expensive infrastructure are not always required by the adventure customer or product.

“This is especially ideal for emerging economies who can maximise what they already have,” it advised.

UGANDA: Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Located 23km southeast of Entebbe in Lake Victoria, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, or ‘Chimp Island’, is home to over 40 orphaned or rescued chimpanzees who are unable to return to the wild. Humans are confined to one of the 40 hectares while the chimps wander freely through the rest, emerging from the forest twice a day for feeding at 11am and 2.30pm. This coincides with visitor arrival times to the island, with viewings of the chimps via a raised platform. The chimps return in the evening to sleep in their compound.

While it can’t compare to the experience of seeing chimps in the wild, especially due to the large electrified fence that separates chimp from human, it still makes for a worthwhile excursion to observe the animals’ remarkable behaviour. Guides here are informative, and there are individual profiles for each chimp, detailing both their distinct personalities and history. There are also big monitor lizards in residence as well as abundant bird life.

The island is a project of the Chimpanzee Sanctuary & Wildlife Conservation Trust , which arranges bookings for day trips and accommodation.

Rates are based on a minimum group of four, with the price of a half-day trip costing US$110 per person, inclusive of entry, guide and boat transport. If you don’t have a group of four people, you can share the boat with others; otherwise the cost rises to US$210 per person. Two trips depart from Entebbe per day; in the morning at 9am, returning at 12.45pm, or departing at 12.45pm and returning by 4.45pm.

The CSWCT also offer an overnight experience where you can spend two days on the island staying in a self-contained, solar-powered safari tent. Including full board, transport and entry, the cost of staying overnight is US$872 for singles, and US$1264 for doubles. Check the website for add-on activities.