MADAGASCAR: British Student Opens Aircraft Door Inflight And Falls Off To Death

A British student is believed to have forced open the door of a light aircraft she was travelling in during a field trip to Madagascar, falling to her death on more than a kilometre below.

Alana Cutland, 19, who was a student at Cambridge University, died last month as the aircraft was flying over the island off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean.

Police on the African island have said she fell from the plane after opening one of its doors in mid-air.

Ms Cutland was reported to be travelling along with a family friend Ruth Johnson on a short flight to Madagascar's Ivato Antananarivo International Airport when the incident took place.

Ms Cutland’s parents had asked Ms Johnson to accompany their daughter on a return flight back home in the run-up to the incident.

Ruth Johnson struggled for several minutes to try and stop her, Spinola Nomenjanahary, the regional chief of police, was quoted as saying.

The pilot also tried to pull her back, but they grew exhausted and Alana managed to fight clear of them and fall out of the door.

Investigators told of a struggle on board the aircraft, shortly after takeoff, before what they described as an intentional fall.

The cause of her death has not yet been confirmed by the authorities, but one line of enquiry being pursued by investigators is the possibility that she had a severe reaction to anti-malaria drugs.

Investigators have been trying to find her body in the remote Analalava region but fear they may fail.

Ground teams, supported by a police helicopter, have been conducting the search.

From Milton Keynes, Ms Cutland, was studying natural sciences at the prestigious British university, and had come to the island on a research trip.

The British Foreign Office said Alana's family described her as a bright, independent young woman, who was loved and admired by all those that knew her.

She was always so kind and supportive to her family and friends, which resulted in her having a very special connection with a wide network of people from all walks of her life, who we know will miss her dearly, they said.

Alana grasped every opportunity that was offered to her with enthusiasm and a sense of adventure, always seeking to extend her knowledge and experience in the best ways possible.

They said their daughter was particularly excited to start the internship in Madagascar, complementing her studies in natural sciences.

We are heartbroken at the loss of our wonderful, beautiful daughter, who lit up every room she walked in to and made people smile just by being there, a family statement said.


Tourism Observer

KUWAIT: Kuwait Stops Admitting Expat Workers From 20 Countries

The Kuwaiti General Directorate of Residence Affairs recently announced a ban on recruitment of domestic workers from five African countries.

The latest ban raises the list to 20 countries.

According local media sources, the Kuwaiti ministry of foreign affairs issued a circular mentioning the names of the 5 countries, which include Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Bhutan, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.

Additionally, the other 15 African countries are Djibouti,Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Togo, Senegal, Malawi, Chad, Sierra Leone, Niger, Tanzania, the Gambia, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Madagascar.

The circular also included five other African countries whose domestic workers faced a temporary ban, including Cameroon, the Congo, Burundi, Eritrea and Liberia.


Tourism Observer

CONSERVATION: Wildlife Smugglers Nabbed And Sentenced

The smugglers wrapped the 316 radiated tortoises in tinfoil to avoid x-ray detection, flew them from Madagascar to China last February, and turned them over to an airport employee who snuck them to an apartment.

The goal of the scheme: to breed the creatures, sell the offspring, and rake in big bucks from the sales.

But things didn’t work out that way.

Police soon busted the employee, who worked for Guangzhou Baiyun Airport in Guangzhou, a city in southeast China. They later arrested other members of the gang, including buyers from Beijing and Guangxi, a region in southern China that borders Vietnam.

Now a court has sentenced the leader of the operation to 11 years in prison, announced the NGO Wildlife Conservation Society, which provided guidance during the prosecution.

The airport worker cooperated with investigators and received a five-year punishment, and sentences for the other five defendants ranged from 21 months to seven years.

The gang began smuggling tortoises as early as 2014, investigators rescued an additional 130 tortoises.

Radiated tortoises, found in the forests of Madagascar, get their name from the intricate yellow star patterns that adorn their upper shells, or carapaces.

They're critically endangered, though it's unclear exactly how many remain in the wild.

Habitat loss has wiped out many of these beauties, and the ones that hang on contend with poaching for their meat and the pet trade.

Trade in radiated tortoises or their parts is banned by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a treaty signed by 182 countries that regulates wildlife transactions across borders.

Through the arrest and sentencing of these smugglers, many radiated tortoises were saved—both directly through the confiscation of the animals, and by the message sent by the sentencing, said Aili Kang, director of the Asia program of the Wildlife Conservation Society, in a press release.

Here are other wildlife crime busts, convictions, and investigations around the world:

RHINO RENEGADES: Members of South Africa’s Hawks investigative unit busted three men accused of possessing nearly 120 rhino horns. The men allegedly intended to sell five of the horns to an undercover agent.

The men were released on bail, and the case was postponed until October 12. Poachers hunt rhinos to sell their horns to Vietnam and China, where they’re used in traditional medicine and viewed as a status symbol.

TIGER TRADING: A judge sentenced a tiger skin trader and two men who killed a tiger in the Amravati District in Maharashtra, a state in central India, to three years in prison each.

The poachers sold the tiger’s skin and bones, which are used in tiger wine, a potion claimed treat rheumatism and impotence.

SEAHORSE SEIZURE: French customs officers confiscated about 2,000 dead seahorses.

They were found in parcels from Guinea that were destined for Vietnam, where people sell them as souvenirs and for use in traditional medicine. An estimated 24 million seahorses are plucked from the wild and traded illegally each year.

SNAKES IN A SUITCASE: Police arrested a German man at Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport after customs officials found dozens of snakes, lizards, and other reptiles hidden in his suitcase.

Forty of the reptiles didn’t survive, and the others were taken to a reptile shelter. The man was on his way from South Africa to Germany to sell the animals at a reptile fair, according to the report.

WILDLIFE AT SEA: Law enforcement officers discovered 17 protected animals inside boxes on a cargo ship at the port of Soekarno-Hatta, in Makassar, a city in eastern Indonesia.

The police found three black eagles, two wild cats, two weasels, two otters, and six owls hidden on the ship.

They arrested two people suspected of picking up the wildlife from the port.


Tourism Observer

MADAGASCAR: Ranomafana National Park, Worth A Visit

Ranomafana National Park is in the southeastern part of Madagascar in Haute Matsiatra and Vatovavy-Fitovinany.

With more than 41,600 hectares (161 square miles) of tropical rainforest, it is home to several rare species of flora and fauna including the golden bamboo lemur, the greater bamboo lemur, black and white ruffed lemur and Milne-Edwards sifaka, and over 130 species of frogs.

Ranomfana derives its name from thermal springs, which continiously pour warm water which in Malgasy means rano mafana, flow down the mountain into the valley.

With narrowly 410 km², Ranomfana is Madagascar’s third biggest national parks and houses an abundance of endemic occuring only here, animals and plants.

It was declared UNESCO nature heritage in 2007. Ranomafana offers several different hiking trips as almost every national park does.

From simple three-hours-journey up to a 3-day-excursion, every wanderer and nature lover should find its way. You should bring non-slip shoes with you.

Paths are nice to walk, but always wet and since Ranomafana lays inside a valley, you will have a lot of steps to go.

The tribe of Tanala or those, who live inside the forest has its home in this region, but prefers to live rather quiet life. They are considered to be the protectors of the forest and its plants.

Climate in Ranomafana is tropically humid according to a rainforest, naturally. The altitude of ca. 1000 meters lets temperature drop down at night often to sensitively cool grades.

From december until May, it’s rainy season up here. This is the most active time for reptiles and amphibians, but it will rain here throughout the whole year.

Only few people succeed in a walk without rain shower over here, so it is a good idea to bring waterproof shoes and clothes for your visit.

Due to the humid climate, most travelers do not think about camping in Ranomafana as very comfortable and convenient, the campground lays directly in the park, but is equipped a little rustic water taps, toilets, and no electricity.

Around the national park, you will find some nice hotels, which are quickly booked out during high season which is end of July until beginning of september.

You therefore should reserve your hotel or lodge a long time before going there. The village next to the national park has some kind of swimming pool, where you can also get massages.

Alternatively, one can relax inside the warm springs which feed the pool. The park office is located few kilometres outside the village of Ranomafana, directly at the street.

This is where you pay entry fees and get your local guide.

Pitta like ground rollers, blue vangas, short-legged ground rollers and brown mesites can be seen.

The park was established in 1991 with the purpose of conserving the unique biodiversity of the local ecosystem and reducing the human pressures on the protected area.

It is part of the World Heritage Site Rainforests of the Atsinanana. Adjacent to the park is the Centre ValBio research station, established in 2003.

Ranomfana national parks lays right between the regions Haute Matsiatra and Vatovavy-Fitovinany, about 420 km south-eastern of the capital Antananarivo.

You need about one and a half days to travel from Madagascar’s capital on RN7 to Ranomafana, which could be combined with a worthwhile stopover in Ambositra city.

Without a break, driving to this national park by car takes about 10 hours depeding on up to date road condition mostly well drivable.

Short before Alakamisy Ambohimaha, you follow the signs and turn to the left on RN45. This road is also asphalted and well to drive, but like all streets in the highlands quite curvy.

The next bigger city to Ranomafana is Fianarantsoa, which is located some hours south of the national park.

The park is managed by Stony Brook University with a focus on biodiversity research, community health and education, environmental arts and reforestation.

The park is 65 km northeast of Fianarantsoa and 139 km west of Mananjary in the regions of Haute Matsiatra and Vatovavy-Fitovinany.

National Roads nos. 45 and 25 cross the park.

The park office is at the entrance in the village of Ambodiamontana, at 6,5 km from Ranomafana.

The park is an important example of cloud forest, with very high levels of biodiversity.

With around 110 bird species, 90 amphibians and above 60 reptile species, this forests offers plenty of opportunities to discover fauna and flora.

Ranomafana is home to the rare golden bamboo lemur (Hapalemur aureus), who can be watched with its family quite well inside the park.

The brown and white Edward’s sifaka (Propithecus edwardsi) nourishes his offspring in the forest’s treetops, too.

More lemurs you can see inside this rainforest are amongst many others the greater bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus) and his smaller relative, the eastern lesser bamboo lemur (Hapalemur griseus).

Ranomafana is a hotspot especially for reptile lovers. Numerous amazing and rare chameleon species can be found here, among them Furcifer balteatus, Calumma oshaughnessyi, Calumma glawi, Calumma parsonii parsonii, Calumma crypticum with its blue legs or the small pygmy chameleon Palleon nasus.

If you have an eye for geckos, do not miss the bizarre leaf-tailed gecko Uroplatus phantasticus, which is well camouflaged in the foliage.

Frog friends will also find their personal paradise here. Only few locations offer opportunities for so many frog sightings in the foliage, in old bamboo trunks or on trees.

The number of insect species is enormously huge, especially butterflies can be seen and admired, as well as the unique giraffe necked weevil(Trachelophorus giraffae).

The nocturnal comet moth (Argema mittrei), one of the biggest butterflies of the Earth, can be comonly met in Ranomafana and sometimes even flies near the hotels.

The forests are interspersed with tree ferns and lichens and offer mostly in november blooming orchids.

These fantastic rainforests gives you a maximum of endemism, and every year new plant and animal species are discovered.

There are a number of lemur species, including:

- Peyrieras' woolly lemur, Avahi peyrierasi

- Aye-aye, Daubentonia madagascariensis

- Crossley's dwarf lemur, Cheirogaleus crossleyi

- Sibree's dwarf lemur, Cheirogaleus sibreei

- Greater bamboo lemur, Prolemur simus

- Golden bamboo lemur, Hapalemur aureus

- Ranomafana grey bamboo lemur, Hapalemur griseus ranomafanensis

- Red-bellied lemur, Eulemur rubriventer

- Red-fronted brown lemur, Eulemur rufifrons

- Small-toothed sportive lemur, Lepilemur microdon.

- Southern black and white ruffed lemur, Varecia variegata editorum

- Red mouse lemur, Microcebus rufus

- Milne-Edwards' sifaka Propithecus edwardsi

A local guide is required for visitors entering the park. Guides can be arranged at the park office. A typical excursion would include viewing several species of lemur, gecko, chameleons, and bird species.

Typically, tourists exploring the Talatakely forest. Talatakely does have well defined paths and stairs, however, sturdy shoes should be worn as the path can be slippery, especially when wet.

If there are special interests, such as birding, specialists can be arranged through Centre ValBio for excursions. Guided tours are not available at nighttime.

Walking along side the road and looking for eye shine in the adjacent can typically allow tourists the chance to see mouse lemurs.

Kayaking or canoeing can be arranged and a hot springs pool is located in Ranomafana.

The flora and fauna of Ranomafana have been subject to extensive scientific research. Scientific publications have been published.

There are four main sites for scientific research. Talatakely is located within walking distance of the research station, Centre ValBio, and is also accessible to tourists off of Route 25.

Talatakely is where the original research camp was located and is one of the only locations in the park where Prolemur simus can be seen.

The three remaining research sites maintain bush camp facilities and are Vatoharanana, Valohoaka, and Mangevo. In addition to these main sites, research has been conducted throughout the park.

There is a lodge and an ecolodge of a private touristic operator at the entrance of the national park. There are also several hotels in Ranomafana village available for lodging.

Additionally, it is possible to camp at the campsite near the main road through the park or to find lodging at Centre Val Bio, where most of the scientific research is based from.



Tourism Observer

AFRICA: Dificulty Traveling In Africa, Visa Acquisition A Nightmare

Africans traveling within the continent are required to fill multiple cross-border documents with visa issuance becoming a nuisance and hindrance to business development, tourism, and investments between the African people.

Aliko Dangote, the Nigerian tycoon and the richest man on this continent, is among key personalities facing traveling hiccups when moving from one country to another in search of investment opportunities.

In his recent discussions with Nigerian media, Dangote has advised African leaders to give incentives to investors and make intra-Africa travel easy.

He told the Nigeria media outlets that despite the size of his group and investments on the continent, he needs 38 visas to travel across Africa.

“You have to know somebody who is big in that country to call somebody. They are giving you visas as if it is a favor,” Dangote said.

“Somebody like me, despite the size of our group, I need 38 visas to move around Africa. Yes, I have heard that they are going to do the (African) passport, but you can see that there is still a little bit of resistance from other African leaders,” he noted.

Dangote uses many public platforms to urge African leaders to make it easier for Africans to travel around their own continent. He said he needed 38 visas to travel across Africa, and it was not always straightforward to get them.

“You go to a country that is looking for investment; that particular country will give you a runaround just to get a visa,” he said.

During their fourth annual Africa Hotel Expansion Summit and Hospitality Round Table in the Tanzanian commercial city of Dar es Salaam last month, hotel and hospitality industry executives noted that Africa needs to establish intra-Africa travel packages to attract tourists within the continent.

“Africa needs to encourage intra-Africa travel programs that would attract more people to travel from one country to another country within the continent,” said Amaechi Ndili, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lionstone Group and Golden Tulip West Africa Hospitality Group in Nigeria.

“We need to stimulate intra-Africa tourism and business travel while governments across the continent take serious steps and policies to create more open skies for Africans,” Ndili noted.

South Africans often complain about the hoops they have to jump through to get visas for other African states, but in fact, their country is part of the problem. According to the African Development Bank, 75 percent of the most visa-friendly countries in Africa are in East Africa.

In Southern Africa, the visa-friendly nations are Mauritius, Madagascar, Zambia, and Mozambique. West Africa fares better with six countries regarded as visa-friendly. Nigeria is not among them.

Facing development set-backs, high unemployment rates, and poor security, Africa remains low in terms of global tourism index.

In the context of tourism competitiveness in Africa, most countries in the continent are still lacking competitive tools to support growth and competition in tourism at global market levels, despite the continent’s rich and untapped natural resources.

The hotel executives further noted that more than 80 percent of Africans don’t know tourist attractive sites available in their own countries compared to Europe, America, and other continents where the citizens outnumber foreign tourists.

Nigeria is the leading country in Africa to generate outbound tourists to other countries within the continent, mostly to other West African states, as well as East and Southern Africa.

Dangote’s comments were made at the right time when tourism and travel executives are set to meet in Rwanda’s capital city of Kigali next month to discuss the future of African tourism and the way forward.

Bearing a theme of “Destination Africa: The Future of African Tourism,” the the African Travel Association’s 41st congress will be held in Kigali from November 14 to 18, bringing together delegates from Africa, the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world.

To be taking place in East Africa for three consecutive years, the ATA’s 41st Congress is set to focus the East African region as the single tourist destination in Africa and best for combined African safaris.

Rwanda has been honored to host the ATA 41st Congress this year as the first event organized by the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) and ATA.

ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines Jets To 98 More Destinations

Mrs Hanna Atnafu, Manager Corporate Communications Ethiopian Airlines, said the airline will outdoor seven new destinations between February and June, to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), Antananarivo (Madagascar), Conakry (Guinea), Oslo (Norway), Chengdu (China), Jakarta (Indonesia) and Singapore.

“With the addition of these stations, Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest airline group would have increased its service from Addis Ababa to 98 different international cities located across the world,” Mrs Atnafu stated in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Wednesday.

Ethiopian Airlines envisages reaching 120 international destinations worldwide by the year 2025.

According to the statement, Mr. Tewolde Gebre Mariam, Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines said: “Africa’s share of the Global Aviation is the smallest which is only around three per cent and as the largest airline group in the continent.

“We are highly concerned on the low base of air connectivity in the continent and we are setting record expansion to enable Africans enjoy safe, reliable and economical air connectivity both within the continent and between the continent and the rest of the world.”

He said looking beyond the current economic slowdown especially in the oil export dependent economies of Africa, the Airlines firmly believed that the continent would become the magnet for foreign direct investment, trade and tourism, which were the engines of air travel growth and in turn efficient air connectivity also drives socio economic development.

He said in 2016, new flights to Moroni (Comoros), WindHoek (Namibia) and Newark (United States) were launched, as well as three cities in Ethiopia: Hawassa, Kebridahar and Dembidolo.

INDONESIA: Kenya Among Indonesia’s Visa-free Partners In Travel Targeting 20 Million Tourists

Kenyans are free to travel to Indonesia without tourist visas, according to the latest directive issued by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Indonesian government has offered visa-free travel for a group of countries including Kenya, hoping to pull in more numbers and boost its faltering tourism sector.

So far, tourists from 174 countries no longer need visas to enter the Asian nation. The latest group of countries offered the facility include Australia, Brazil, Ukraine, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Palestine, Honduras, and Pakistan.

Others are Mongolia, Sierra Leone, Uruguay, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Costa Rica, Albania, Mozambique, Macedonia, El Salvador, Zambia, Moldova, Madagascar, Georgia, Namibia, Kiribati, Armenia, Bolivia, Bhutan, Guatemala, Mauritania, and Paraguay.

“Offering visa-free travel is one of the easiest ways to boost tourist numbers,” Indonesian Tourism minister Arief Yahya was quoted as saying by the country’s local media.

Indonesia is known for its volcanic islands and scenic beaches. The country hopes to chalk up 20 million foreign tourists in 2019, doubling the 2015 record.

Visa-free travel will only be available through five international airports in Jakarta, Medan, Batam, Bali and Surabaya, and would come with tighter monitoring to minimise misuse of the facility, an Indonesian government official has said, adding foreign tourists found smuggling illegal goods, such as drugs, would face serious penalties.

The country’s President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has repeatedly said the visa-free travel is offered to boost the country’s tourism industry.

Kenya and Indonesia enjoy cordial relations and have had diplomatic ties since 1982. Diplomatic ties between the two countries began in July 1979, and in April 1982 Indonesia opened an Embassy in Nairobi.

The Kenyan High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is accredited to Indonesia and In April, 2015 the Government of Kenya appointed Mr Bilal Asif as the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kenya to Indonesia.

Foreign Affairs secretary Amina Mohamed said recently Kenya is seeking to forge a strong partnership with the two countries.

“Kenya considers Indonesia an important partner and has identified and expressed interest in opening a mission in your country. In the meantime, Mr Bilal Asif was appointed as the Honorary Consul of Kenya early last year and we hope that the Government of Indonesia is granting him the necessary support to carry out his mandate,” said Ms Mohamed.

She spoke in Nairobi during the farewell lunch in honour of Mr Sunu Soemarno, who was the outgoing Indonesian ambassador in early 2016. She said: “Kenya, like Indonesia, is outward looking to have a diversified and growing economy that creates a lot of opportunities. We look forward to the review of the JCC that was signed on 3rd December, 2008. I believe this will bring on board new areas for co-operation between Kenya and your great country.”

The countries have signed bilateral agreements for co-operation in various fields, notable among them the agreement on economic, scientific, technical and cultural co-operation signed in Nairobi on September 2, 1992, an MOU on establishment of Joint Commission signed on June 19, 2008.

The two nations also signed Agreed Minutes for Joint Commission for Co-operation signed on 3rd December, 2008 besides Bilateral Air Services Agreement signed in 2007 and an MoU on Fisheries Co-operation signed in 2009.

According to the Export Promotion Council, the bi-lateral trade between Kenya and Indonesia is heavily in favour of Indonesia, with the trade balance rising from $272.6 million in 2007 to $327.3 million in 2009 and $491.4 million in 2011.


Kenya’s exports to Indonesia amounted to $24.9 million and accounted for only 0.4 per cent of Kenya’s total exports in 2011.

The exports to Indonesia fluctuated over the period between 2007 and 2011 and the export products included soda ash, black tea, tobacco and products, sheep skin leather and dried leguminous vegetables. Imports from Indonesia amounted to $516.3 million in 2011 and accounted for 3.4 per cent of Kenya’s total imports.

The main import products include crude palm oil, industrial chemicals, refrigerator, yarns, natural rubber and paper and paperboard.

MADAGASCAR: Ethiopia Airlines Will Fly To Madagascar End Of March

Ethiopian Airlines is nearing closer to reaching 100 worldwide destinations, when on the 28th of March this year Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, will become the carrier's 95th destination.

Initially will the world's largest island, located in the Indian Ocean, be served three times a week with a Boeing B737-800NG, leaving Addis Ababa every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday and returning directly to the Ethiopian capital.

Said Mr. Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, earlier today when making the announcement: 'Ethiopian, as a flagship carrier of Africa, is pleased to add Madagascar to its wide route network. Having started serving Africa seven decades ago with our motto “Bringing Africa Closer”, we are now continually enhancing our services and working to “Connect Africa to the World”.

As air connectivity is an essential cause and driver of a nation’s socio-economic integration, our new service will certainly contribute for a growing business and bilateral cooperation with other sisterly African cities. Moreover, travelers from Madagascar will be seamlessly connected with Ethiopian ever-expanding network across five continents.

I would like to thank all who made this route possible'.

Connectivity to Madagascar and for flights from Antananarivo via Addis Ababa into the global network is said to be extensive offering early onward flights both ways.

SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles And Alitalia Partner In Codeshare Agreement

Air Seychelles and Alitalia, both Etihad partner airlines, have just inked an expanded codeshare deal under which Alitalia passengers can now connect on Mahe to both Antananarivo and Johannesburg and soon thereafter even Durban.

Under the agreement, Alitalia will place its AZ flight code on Air Seychelles’ four-times-a-week services to the Malagasy capital of Antananarivo and five flights to Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city and commercial capital. Subject to government approvals, the Italian flag carrier will also codeshare on Air Seychelles’ upcoming twice-weekly flights to Durban, due to commence on 30th of March 2017.

Business and leisure travellers from Italy will be able to connect onto these services via Air Seychelles-operated flights from Abu Dhabi and Paris to Seychelles, using a single combined ticket for the entire journey.

Roy Kinnear, Chief Executive Officer of Air Seychelles, said: 'Our partnership with Alitalia continues to open up attractive travel options for holidaymakers in Italy, who can now fly with Air Seychelles to the fascinating island of Madagascar and South Africa.

Through this codeshare expansion, we have strengthened our route network and added more depth to our regional services, further increasing choice and convenience for travellers. We are confident this development will stimulate passenger and cargo traffic and, at the same time, strengthen the strong cultural, trade and diplomatic bonds between Seychelles, our neighbourly island of Madagascar and South Africa'.

Cramer Ball, Chief Executive Officer of Alitalia and one of Roy Kinnear's predecessors as CEO of Air Seychelles in turn responded: 'Deepening our codeshare cooperation with Air Seychelles brings important benefits to our guests, who now have dozens of new travel options from Italy to Madagascar and South Africa via Seychelles. With its one-of-a-kind wildlife and nature, Madagascar is an attractive holiday destination that offers a new and exciting experience for travellers in Italy.

In 2015 alone over 21,000 tourists visited Madagascar from Italy, a number which we are confident will rise with these new travel options. South Africa is a very attractive holiday destination, whose magnificent scenery, safaris and game parks are perfect for an outdoor adventure'.

Air Seychelles operates an Airbus A320 aircraft configured with 136 seats on its four times a week Antananarivo services, while its five times a week services to Johannesburg is operated using both an A320 aircraft and the wide-body A330, which offer 254 seats.

Flight schedule between Seychelles and Antananarivo. Flights are available for travel from 18th of January 2017

Aldabra Giant Tortoises

By the year 1900, the Aldabra giant tortoises on the atoll had been hunted almost to extinction, but today Aldabra boasts the largest population of giant tortoises anywhere in the world.

Historically, giant tortoises were the dominant herbivores on most of the islands of the Indian Ocean. All seven species that formerly lived on Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion and Rodriguez were exterminated by 1800 by early settlers and sailors who killed them for their meat.

After over 100 years of exploitation the giant tortoise population on Aldabra was similarly in serious danger of becoming extinct. The situation continued until around 1900, when a British naturalist offered to pay half the atoll’s lease to anyone who could ensure that the exploitation of the tortoises would cease. Fortunately, Aldabra Giant tortoises are remarkably hardy and survive under extremely harsh conditions, so the population was able to rebound once exploitation finally ended.

The current population of wild giant tortoises on Aldabra, which fluctuates around 100,000, is greater than the entire human population of 93,000 in Seychelles. Aldabra is also thought to have the largest population of giant tortoises anywhere else in the world!

GHANA: Ghana Named Among World’s Top Travel Destinations For 2016

Ghana has been listed among 36 countries to be visited by travellers in 2016. The list was compiled by a group of 35 experienced and well-travelled bloggers from around the world, who specialise in adventure travel, ecotourism, cultural travel and family travel.

Ghana continues to find a sustainable means of expanding and harnessing its tourism potential in order to attract local and foreign tourists alike.

In recent times, the country’s Tourism Ministry and its implementing agency, the Ghana Tourism Authority have continued to introduce and expand a wide array of tourism related programmes and activities in order to sustain interest and increase earnings within the sector.

A member of the group who usually writes about the country, Elin Reitehaug reiterates this by a short summary on the country’s tourism sector; ‘’you are invited’’ is the standard phrase uttered when Ghanaians start eating. As a traveler in Ghana, you are always invited. Hike Afadjato, the highest mountain in Ghana, or go bird watching on a canopy walk in the rainforest of Kakum National Park, the country’s first protected area. To spot elephants, visit Mole National Park.

In Bolgantaga you’ll discover the rich culture of the Frafra people, known for weaving the world-famous Bolga baskets. In Elmina and along Cape Coast you’ll find several castles and forts recognised by UNESCO. Enjoy the beaches, which are popular for locals during weekends and holidays, when families and young people come to swim and play. Learn to play drums from energetic musicians at the Art Centre in Accra, or attend cultural events such as festivals and traditional celebrations of birth, marriage and death.’

The list also comprised countries such as, Quebec, South Africa, India, Bolivia, Brazil, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Colombia, Cuba, Ethiopia, Greenland, Madagascar, Mauritius, Canada, South Africa, among others and was put together by Green Global Travel, an Ecotourism, Nature/Wildlife Conservation and Cultural Preservation Magazine.

MADAGASCAR: Guibé’s Mantella

You think poison dart frogs exist only at the Amazon? You are miles out! Madagascar has amphibians very similar to those, the Mantellas or coloured frogs. Like poison dart frogs, Mantella frogs produce a poison secreted via their skin, but it is completely harmless for human beings. Genetically, the Madagascan Mantellas are not related to poison dart frogs.

Mantella frogs are conspiciously colorful despite their small body size. One of these animals is Guibè’s mantella, scientifically called Mantella nigricans. This small frog derived its name by French herpetologist Jean Guibé, who did research on frogs and reptiles from 1950 to 1951 in Madagascar. But it was not before 1978, three years after Guibé got into retirement, that he described the frog for the very first time. For decades, scientists thought it to be a subspecies of Mantella cowani, a similar coloured frog. In the year of Guibé’s death, in 1999, German biologists proved Mantella nigricans to be an own species. Unfortunately, Guibé did not gain knowledge about this fact anymore.

Mantella nigricans in the rainforest of Marojejy
Guibé’s mantella comes from the primary rainforests of northwest Madagascar, and occurs in several national parks: Marojejy, Anjanaharibe Sud, Manongarivo as well as Betampona and Tsararano are among its habitats. One can find it at elevations of 100 up to 1240 m, but it does not live close to the sea or in areas with many human settlements, cattle grazing or disturbed forest residues. Guibé’s mantellas live in the wet foliage, on mossy ground and along small streams. It measures less than three centimeters from the nose to its butt, but fascinates with its amazing bright green color on head, arms and legs as well as bright blue spots on the belly. The Latin name nigricans, which means as much as blackish in English, indicates this mantella wears more black in contrast to other mantella species.

Especially during rainy season, you can hear the males calling in the forests. After mating, the female lays about 30 whitish, spherical eggs, sometimes more, hidden in wet leaves. After one week, the small tadpoles hatch. Rain and humidity lead them to the nearby pond, where they develop until metamorphosis, during which they lose their tails and become terrestrial, as a ready Guibé’s mantella. They feed a whole lifetime on tiny ants, mites, flies and other insects.

Due to its beautiful colour and activity during daytime, Mantella nigricans has been a much sought-after animal for years in Europe, but offspring in captivitiy has been rare yet. Since some years, there exist no exports of this species anymore, probably attributed to its occurence mainly in protected areas. IUCN lists Guibé’s mantella as „least concern“ on its red list of threatened species. It is assumed that there are still relatively large populations of this lovely forester in Madagascar. But if you want to find it, you will need to be patient: Guibés mantella hides well in the forest, and despite the jazzy colour, these frogs are not easy to find.

KYRGYZTAN: Kyrgyzstan Must-Visit Country

Kyrgyzstan is in the list of must-visit countries, Kyrgyzstan enlisted among 12 countries that everyone should visit. “The Telegraph” published rating of Gunnar Garfors, the traveler who had visited all 198 countries in the world by the age of 37.

In his rating, Garfors noted amazing beauty of the nature, colorful markets and friendliness of Kyrgyz people. The expert of “The Telegraph” Chris Moss says this "rugged country" has long been favoured by horseback riders, because it's the best way to access "the fertile valleys and mountain passes".

Kyrgyzstan is on the 5th place in the rating of Gunnar Gafors after Romania, Madagascar, Iceland and Vietnam.

East Africa, SADC, Determine To Fight Illegal Timber Trade

The recent signing of the Zanzibar Declaration on Illegal Logging by forest protection agencies in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique and Madagascar is a hopeful sign of the commitment by eastern and southern African countries to stem the alarming growth in illegal timber trade which is costing the countries billions of dollars.

The deal which was struck at a global gathering on forests in South Africa in recent weeks, aims to improve communication between customs authorities and collaboration among forest officials from the east and southeast African nations.

“The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) welcomes the Zanzibar Declaration on Illegal Trade in Timber and Other Forest Products, the first such agreement of its kind in the region,” said Geofrey Mwanjela, head of the WWF Coastal East Africa Initiative terrestrial programme.

“The declaration comes at a crucial time. Illegal trade in timber is expanding at an alarming rate and this new commitment by governments will greatly amplify efforts to reduce such trade at the regional level.”

The declaration was accepted and announced at the XIV World Forestry Congress, one of the largest gatherings of world forestry leaders.

The event was facilitated by WWF, TRAFFIC, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

“The Zanzibar Declaration signals a firm commitment by the countries concerned to curtail the illegal and unsustainable timber trade that is benefitting criminals and depleting the natural resources of the region,” said Julie Thomson, TRAFFIC’s East Africa programme co-ordinator.

TRAFFIC is a joint programme by the WWF and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) to monitor wildlife trade and ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation.

Forest experts had for several years bemoaned about inadequate collaboration among national forest agencies and customs agencies across the region.

Lack of collaboration has led to unfettered growth in illegal logging that has seen violent armed groups and other mafia –type business thriving and profiteering from this trade.

In 2014, the United Nations Environment Programme reported that in east, central and West Africa, criminal groups are thought to make more money from selling illegal wood products – up to $9 billion annually – than through street-level drug-dealing.

Forest experts say there is growing intra-regional and inter-regional illegal trade of timber and other forest products flowing across Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Madagascar, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, as well as further towards the Western and Central Africa termed Africa’s ‘Green Heart.’

Kenya loses roughly US$10 million per year from illegal cross-border trade between Tanzania and Kenya, according to a 2012 study by the Tanzania Natural Resource Forum and East African Wild Life Society.

Tanzania loses around US$8,33 million annually from such trade, according to a similar government report.

“If properly managed, forests provide jobs for workers and homes for wildlife. They also act as a filter pulling planet-warming carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, so protecting them is crucial for the broader environment,” said Juma Mgoo head of Tanzania’s Forest Service.

“Across the region, the illegal timber trade is flourishing at an alarming pace. Criminal groups are benefiting from the environmental destruction and forests continue to dwindle at unprecedented rates in our region.

“If we continue at the rate which we are going there will be nothing left for our children and their children to enjoy.”

In a presentation at the congress, WWF – Zimbabwe country director, Dr Enos Shumba said it was important for African countries to explore and promote the African perspective for building resilience of different forest ecosystems to withstand economic, environmental and social shocks through forest management.

He highlighted the opportunities for enhancing Miombo woodland ecosystem resilience through participatory forest management referring to environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of forests for the benefit of present and future generations.

He also stressed the need to enhance the participation of local communities and stakeholders and provision of adequate economic incentives to save forests.

“The existence of enabling governance and institutional frameworks and their enforcement at various levels, as well as functional cross sector coordination and respect for integrated land use planning and its implementation is critical to build resilience and save our forests,” Dr Shumba said.

WWF’s Living Forests Report projects potential forest loss in the East Africa region of up to 12 million hectare between 2010 and 2030.

WWF’s remote sensing analysis has indicated that forest losses from 2000 to 2012 were concentrated in Mozambique (2, 2 million hectares), Tanzania (2 million hectares) and Zambia (1.3 million hectares).

Globally, between 50 – 90 per cent of wood is harvested or traded illegally, according to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and it’s estimated to cost US$30 – 100 billion annually.

The Zanzibar Declaration was hammered after protracted debate and negotiations among key stakeholders in the forest sector, national forest agencies as well as regional and international partners and civil society organizations, including WWF.

Environment Africa Zimbabwe country director Barney Mawire said that although illegal timber poaching within the Sadc region is not as prevalent as in central and west Africa, the region needs to strategise and work together to fight illegal timber trade.

“The Zanzibar Declaration is quite noble and this should be tied in to trade bodies such as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA),” he said.

“Timber poaching is growing and need to join hands and fight together. This will go a long way towards fighting illegal timber trade.”

Mawire said it was important to have forest experts at the ports of entry to monitor the illegal movement and trade in timber products.

“Forest experts understand the issues better and are better placed in dealing with timber poaching which is increasingly becoming sophisticated,” he said. “We need them at our borders and we need to work with our neighbours to develop new methods to curb illegal timber trade.”

Zimbabwe is losing approximately 330 000 hectares of natural forests and woodlands per year due to the over-reliance on biomass to meet the country’s energy needs.

More than 70 percent of the population depends on biomass for energy needs and this has over the decades depleted the country’s forest cover.

Forest experts say Zimbabwe now has around 15,6 million hectares remaining.

They say logging syndicates work with corrupt police and officials to exploit legislative loopholes that allow them to pass off illicitly obtained fuelwood as legitimate.

Zimbabwe passed a law in 2012 restricting the use, trade and movement of firewood, but with fines that rarely exceed $20 the legislation is proving a poor deterrent, experts said.

Power cuts are making it difficult to keep deforestation under control and forestry experts say it is becoming more difficult to enforce legislation as the situation becomes more about survival.

Deforestation has an adverse impact on the environment and experts warn that the depletion of the country’s forests could worsen water availability.

“Models show deforestation could result in a decline in precipitation of more than 5 percent across Zimbabwe by 2050,” Terrence Mushore, a lecturer at the Bindura University of Science Education was quoted saying in the media recently.

Despite the deforestation woes, Mawire said Zimbabwe had done well in saving its forests.

“Zimbabwe has done well in terms of preserving its forests and fighting illegal timber trade,” he said.

Timber poaching for trade is not as serious as in east, central or west Africa but as a country we need to continuously improve our strategies for curbing illegal timber trade.”

Poor implementation and weak enforcement still remains a major barrier in the fight against illegal trade in timber.

In the absence of political will, effective implementation and enforcement, the damage illegal loggers have done will continue unabated, costing Africa billions.

The future of children, will be under threat from unsustainable timber logging activities.

And, without enforcement, the Zanzibar Declaration, although an important step in the fight against timber poaching, will simply add time to the clock, but without doing anything to change Africa’s illegal timber trade endgame.

MADAGASCAR: Trial Of Suspects In Tourist Lynching

Thirty-seven people went on trial in Madagascar's capital Antananarivo Tuesday for the lynching of two Europeans and a local man wrongly accused of killing a young boy.

Residents of Madagascar's tourist island of Nosy Be went on the rampage on October 3, 2013 after the body of an eight-year-old local boy, who had been missing for a week, was found on a beach.

Incensed by false rumours of foreign involvement and a paedophilia connection, a mob attacked Sebastien Judalet, a French tourist, and Roberto Gianfalla, a Franco-Italian resident of the island, and beat them before burning them on a beach.

The uncle of the dead boy was also killed and burned later the same day.

The judge adjourned the case on Tuesday because two police officers charged in connection with the slayings failed to appear in court.

The two officers are accused of failing to intervene to prevent the attack. Their lawyer said they had not received a summons to appear in court.

The other defendants are accused of premeditated murder, illegal confinement, torture and disturbing the peace.

Famous for its white pristine sandy beaches and turquoise waters, Nosy Be is Madagascar's main tourist magnet, but has been plagued by sex tourism.

"We've been waiting for this trial for two years," said Andre Randranto, an attorney for one of the victims, said.

Mob justice is common on the vast island nation off southeast Africa, which authorities struggle to police effectively.