Sir Richard Branson, during his recent visit to Kenya, being greeted by Manraj Kalsi, our Corporate Accounts Manager.  Rickshaw was assigned the task of providing and managing the domestic transport logistics.

For those of you who are not aware, Sir Richard Branson was in Nairobi in December 2011 for a business conference.  During his stay, he visited the Masai Mara, where he hopes to open a 15-tent luxury camp in the near future.  He already runs a game reserve in South Africa and here in Kenya, he says his project will help protect the migration route of the wildebeest by creating some reserves just round the Masai Mara.  He called the annual migration one of the top “wonders” of the world.  He already helps fund the aid group Free the Children, which works in the Masai Mara region.

Read more on Branson’s visit on his blog: Wonderful 24 hours in Kenya

Emirates Airline Expanding its Global Reach - The start of 2012 has been a busy time for Emirates.  In addition to launching their A380 aircraft on one of their three daily non-stop flights between Dubai and Kuala Lumpur, they have also expanded their network to include Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro in South America from 3rd January and Dublin in Ireland from 9th January.  In October 2012, Emirates will fly to Vietnam, to the City of Ho Chin Minh.  Talk about globe trotting!

Qatar Airways will open its new Premium Lounge at London Heathrow this week, reinforcing the importance of one of the airline’s busiest routes.  The Premium Lounge at Terminal 4 will be the airline’s first dedicated facility for First and Business Class passengers outside its Doha hub.

Johannesburg - The Kruger National Park has reopened its gates after severe flooding damaged roads, cutting off dozens of tourists, officials said on Friday. "Everything is back to normal now, all the gates have been opened. We are receiving visitors again," park spokes person William Mabasa said. Heavy rains this week pounded the northern part of the country for days, forcing park officials to evacuate 60 visitors who were stranded on safari drives. "The mop-up operation is still continuing, some roads were temporarily fixed yesterday," said Mabasa. The Kruger Park attracts 1.3 million visitors every year from all over the world. Mabasa said no animals were affected by the flooding.

DISCOVER TANZANIA VIP SAFARI

DAR TO BECOME DESTINATION FOR INDIAN TOURISTS

In a move to encourage more American tourists and investors, Tanzania's Ambassador to the United States, MwanaidiMaajar, has tailored a “Discover Tanzania VIP Safari” for a small group of business executives from the United States to visit Tanzania mid this year. The two-week leisure safari to Tanzania will be the second to be organized, guided, and led by the Ambassador, aimed at exposing Tanzania's tourism and investment opportunities before American tourists and investors.

The number of tourists from India to Tanzania is set to increase following a Mumbai company, Akqua Tourism Destinations Private Limited, to embark on tourism promotional campaign among the latter country’s film producers, The Guardian on Sunday has learnt.

The company’s director Jilesh Babla, who lives in Mumbai, said Akqua is currently negotiating with two major Indian film houses that will conduct video shooting in Tanzania’s tourist attractions, especially game parks. The films will later be shown in India, he added.

RWANDA: THE LAND OF A THOUSAND HILLS

AFRICA ON TWITTER

If  you’re a traveler looking for an adventure of a different kind, then Rwanda should be on your bucket list.  Rwanda is a green undulating landscape of hills, gardens and tea plantations. It is famous for being the home to one third of the world’s remaining Mountain Gorillas whose plight Dian Fossy brought to the world’s attention.

But that’s not all Rwanda has to offer.  The government has shown a clear commitment to the development of the tourism sector and has established itself as a safe destination in the region.

Young people tweeting from BlackBerries and iPhones are driving the growth of Twitter in  Africa with South Africans by far the most vociferous, according to new research published Thursday. Kenya-based Portland Communications and Tweet minster published findings indicating Twitter in Africa is widely used for social conversation and is fast becoming an important source of information. More than 80 percent of those polled said they mainly used it for communicating with friends, 68 percent said they use it to monitor news and 22 percent to search for jobs, the companies said.

VALENTINE SPECIAL – 2 DAY SAFARI (TANZANIA) - BOOK ONLINE

Take an unforgettable trip to the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park, which includes a stay and Ngorongoro Serena, a candlelight dinner, Wine, Roses and Chocolate.

NGERENDE ISLAND LODGE (KENYA) - BOOK ONLINE

Ngerende Island lodge is an exclusive luxury resort in the Mara. The lodge is designed to make your safari a truly unforgettable experience. Strategically located at the edge of the Mara River, the location gives you the opportunity to see plenty of wildlife a short distance from the lodge.

UTALII BEACH RESORT & SPA (ZANZIBAR) - BOOK ONLINE

This newly built Resort is ideally located on private Michamvi beach, one of the best and most beautiful beaches on the island. Guests can enjoy spectacular sunsets and magnificent un-spoilt white beaches without sharp coral reefs.

DUSIT THANI (MALDIVES) - BOOK ONLINE

Surrounding the island perimeter, the living house reef is a snorkeler’s paradise, ideal for discovering an underwater world, just metres from the beach. 

AKAGERA & NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK – RWANDA - BOOK ONLINE

Akagera National Park is a truly mystical introduction to the wonders of the African bush known for its big game and Nyungwe National Park is most alluring for its primates.