Tag Archives: Africa

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy; Safaricom marathon

July 1, 2013 zurukenya Leave a comment

The 14th edition of the Lewa Safaricom marathon took place last week, 29th of June attracting a myriad of participants. Through the partnership of Safaricom Ltd, Tusk Trust and the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, the world-renown marathon event which began in the year 2000 has grown from 180 runners in 2000 raising $50,000 to 1000 runners in 2012 raising $574,000. Regarded as one of the toughest marathons in the world, the annual Lewa marathon was this year host to 1000 runners from over 20 different countries. Participants are comprised of those who are just in it for fun, walkers as well as professional athletes. The event is a blend of both fun and social responsibility giving the runners a chance to enjoy some of Africa’s most breath-taking scenery as well as giving back to society at one go.

Course;

The Lewa marathon features a half (21km) and full (42km) marathon; half marathon being a team event featuring a minimum of five and a maximum of ten runners per team whereas the full marathon is an individual event. The course is set on dirt roads that take the runners through the reserve, across savannah plains, along river banks and through acacia woodland before finishing close to Lewa’s headquarters. Half Marathon runners complete one loop of the course, Full Marathon runners, two.

The route is watched over by a large and experienced team of armed rangers, with two helicopters and a spotter plane in the air throughout the race. Water stations and first aid points are situated every 2.5km along the course. Medical support at the finish is provided by AMREF – the flying doctors, the Kenya Red Cross and local hospitals. On completion of the race each runner is presented with a medal and goody bag. Prizes for race and age group category are awarded at a prize giving ceremony at the end of the event.

Philanthropy;

Since its inception the event has raised over $3.8 million. The event is organized annually by Tusk Trust as their flagship fundraising initiative to support pre-defined conservation, education and community projects supported by Tusk in Kenya. This year’s event, held under the banner “Run Wild, for the Wild” aimed at raising Sh60m, most of which will go towards conservation efforts against a backdrop of increased poaching. Last year, education and healthcare projects got Sh5.46m and Sh3.78m respectively whereas a further 35% of the revenue was invested in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy which is home to a variety of large African wildlife including lions, elephants, rhinoceros, the Cape buffalo amongst others.

Sponsors;

Safaricom has been the marathon’s Title Sponsor since its inception in 2000 over which time the amount of sponsorship has risen to the current level of Ksh 9.6m. Additional co-sponsorship arrangements roughly double the overall sponsorship secured by the event. A unique aspect of the event has been its ability to bring together the business community in Kenya. Many companies use the event as a team building opportunity, which engenders a real sense of camaraderie amongst staff, as well as a healthy dose of inter-company rivalry!

As an example the following Kenyan based companies kindly provided valuable co-sponsorship towards the event in 2012: Andy Forwarders, Braeburn Schools, British Airways, Broadband Communication Networks Limited, Cisco Systems, DHL, Ericsson, Forward Mobiles, G4S, GlaxoSmithKline, Highlands Water, Huawei Technologies, The Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists, Kenya ICT Board, Land Rover, Nokia Siemens, Pesa Point, Radio Africa, RedSky, Safarilink, Samsung Electronics, Sea Submarine Communications, Standard Chartered Bank.

In addition, the event has attracted teams from major international companies who have sent teams out to Kenya from the UK and US (including Black Rock, Deutsche Bank, Elephant.co.uk, Investec, and Artemis Investment Management). These overseas teams have raised a substantial proportion of the funds for the good causes.

Lewa Marathon, One of the 10 “must do” marathons in the world.

Parks and Reserves, Safiri Kenya

Wonders of the Mara

June 8, 2013 zurukenya Leave a comment

Doubling up as a wonder of the world as well as Africa’s greatest Wildlife reserve, the Masai Mara is a sight to behold. Home to the Great Wildebeest Migration, this reserve will offer you a safari of a lifetime; watching over two million animals cross-over from the Serengeti in Tanzania in search of greener pasture. This experience serves both as a ‘wow’/’chilling’ moment seeing this magical migration of wildebeests, gazelles and zebras in their thousands , while at the same time having to watch some of them make their last cross as the predators; lions, crocodiles and hyenas seize their opportunity across the Mara river.

The annual Migration has highly boosted Kenya’s place as a favorite safari destination and during June/July the reserve receives numerous guests ready to watch this natural spectacle. The millions of wildebeests spend much of the year grazing throughout the plains of the Serengeti and when the dry season dawns in June, they begin to gather, forming a single vast herd ready to head north. The experience is amazing as you anxiously await for the herds, one can envision the numbers hearing the sound of the approaching herd with the rumbling of hooves and low grunts; very awe-inspiring indeed. By July, the predators are set on the Kenyan side, Knowing the feasting opportunity that awaits. The river crossing serves as a major challenge for the migration as many of the animals succumb to their fate either through drowning, being swept away by strong currents or by the wrath of the hungry crocodiles.

Come October, the herds start their journey back to the Serengeti to the renewed grasslands. Out of all the calves born in the Serengeti before the migration, two out of three never return from this excruciating adventure. This is thus a test of both renewal and sustenance as well as life and death. The Mara aside from being host to the greatest migration ever seen, is home to the famed Maasai people. It is beyond amazing how man and wildlife share the same space of existence in utmost harmony. This co-existence probably makes Maasai Mara one of the most unusual and unique wilderness regions the world over.

Other co-inhabitants include; herds of zebra, giraffe, gazelle,topi, an array of bird life, monkeys, elephants and buffalos in the Musiara Swamp and numerous hippos and crocodiles in the Mara and Talek rivers. The Maasai Mara is also packed with a wide range of Accommodation for any budget and is a popular attraction with Safari operators. The reserve is ideal for game drives and there are select camps and lodges that will provide you with opportunities of safari walks as well as spectacular balloon safaris. You are bound to encounter wildlife at many areas of the Mara as they are allowed to move freely in and out of the reserve and through neighbouring Maasai lands.

Outside the boundaries of the reserve there are many other small camps and lodges, some of which offer walking, horse riding and other safari options. One can also take part in high forest trekking in the nearby Loita Hills and the Nguruman Escarpment.

Music

Kenya Boys Choir; Making History, one musical note at a time.

May 29, 2013 zurukenya Leave a comment

“The floor vibrated under their feet. The room filled with their smiles, their joy, their banter back and forth — noises, sounds, movements, Joyous, Powerful, Alive.” -Burlington Free Press

Their Melodious voices will make you forget just about any concerns and worries of everyday life. Just sitting there listening to the Kenya Boy’s choir draws you into another world a musical note at a time. Consisting of 25 boys aged between 13 and 24, the group is an assortment of individuals from different Kenyan backgrounds and tribes brought together by their sole love for song and clear ambition to enhance their raw musical talent. Having started in 1998, the aim of the choir was to help raise money for school fees so as to assist boys from underprivileged backgrounds; Founder and Artistic director being Joseph Muyale Inzai – a former school choir coach, having worked with many schools including Aquinas boys with whom he started the Kenya Boy’s Choir project.

Kenya Boys Choir initially started off with Traditional Maasai and Samburu chants and embraced contemporary African as well European classical pieces along the way. The choir has since then made numerous trips to the US where they have attracted a myriad of following. The boys’ emotive performances has seen them grace many national/international celebratory as well as corporate stages but it was 2009 that saw them accorded the highest recognition with the receipt of an invitation from the American Government to attend the inaugural celebrations of the then U.S elect president Barack Obama.

It was with this performance as well as international media coverage that saw their signage into Universal Music Group. It appears that the music company was so impressed with their work, so much so that they could not see them leave the country without signing them. The Kenya Boy’s choir signed a contract with the label at Heathrow Airport, London in the departure lounge as they awaited their connecting flight…mother luck was on a high!

Since then Kenya Boy’s Choir has achieved great success as the first ever African Choir to appear at the famed Beijing International Music Festival with a sold out concert.They have also had the pleasure of touring the UK on a series of concerts;Britain, Wales, Ireland and Scotland where they fascinated their audience with their cultural performances.

Take a listen to some of their most outstanding works thus far…

Kenya Boys’ Choir… Making Kenya proud as they live out their dream.

For more information on the Kenya Boy’s Choir: theken yanboyschoir.org

Events

Rhino Charge 2013

May 28, 2013 zurukenya Leave a comment

Having gained immense popularity overtime, and ranking as one of Kenya’s top highlights in the social and entertainment calendar, Rhino Charge is clearly no longer solely a preserve for the motorsport fraternity. The event currently has over two decades of physical endurance testing, extreme driving skills showcasing, tough challenging experiences, as well as lots of excitement under its belt. Rhino charge is not for the faint at heart!

The three day event, organized by The Rhino Ark Charitable Trust, is held to raise funds for a very noble cause – conservation of Kenya’s Aberdare, Mau, Mt. Eburu, and Mt. Kenya Ecosystems. Individuals set to compete are required to raise the minimum sponsorship set by the organizing committee.

Rhino Charge competitors are required to visit 13 points scattered over approximately 100 square kms of rough terrain within a 10 hour period. The location of the event is kept secret until the start off which makes it even more challenging for the competitors as they are not accustomed to the terrain. Competitors are supplied with a 1:50,000 scale map of the venue, co-ordinates of the 13 Control Points and their Start position (at one of the Controls). Each competitor must plot the Control Points on the map and decide his/her route. Navigation is by compass/GPS and the winner is the competitor who visits all controls in the shortest distance (GPS measured).

For those not taking part in the exciting challenge, this is the time to have fun camping in the wilderness, mingling with friends, not forgetting cheering on the contestants as they tough it out.

Day Time Activity

May 31 (Fri) 8.30 am Rhino charge scrutineering

June 1 (sat) 7.30 am Rhino charge event

June 2 (sun) 10.00am Rhino charge prize giving

What to carry:

A digital camera, its charger and a downloading cable.

While Camping… you need to carry warm clothing for the night ,Slippers, Torch, Soap, Tooth Paste, Tissue Paper, snacks and ID card

Pocket money for departure days, en-route lunch, park fees, drinks, tips.

Home, Press

Conference Tourism; A booster for Kenya’s ranking

May 24, 2013 zurukenya Leave a comment

The Tourism sector receives some good news as Kenya gets ranked second as a Conference and meetings destination in Africa by The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). Kenya’s ranking shoots up from its previous third position and comes second after south Africa. It also falls on the 58th position globally in the ‘Country& City rankings 2012’ unfortunately slipping two positions.

Kenyatta International Conference Centre

Tourism permanent secretary Ruth Solitei stated that the performance demonstrates how conference tourism in Kenya is growing and further addressed the need for more convention and conference facilities of international standards in the country.

In city rankings, Nairobi was positioned second after Cape Town having hosted 22 international meetings while the latter hosted 38. Mombasa and Naivasha tied at position 34 with Naivasha making a remarkable first time entry in the rankings. It has been regarded as an emerging city destination. Last year, Kenya hosted 29 international association conferences and Nairobi emerged 100th best city destination, up four places from the position it held in 2011.

USA topped the list globally after hosting 833 conferences with Germany in second position followed by Spain having hosted 649 and 550 conferences respectively.

Events

Kenya to host Africa’s Travel Industry ”Oscars”

May 17, 2013 zurukenya Leave a comment

The Kenya Tourism Board have been bestowed the owner of hosting this year’s World Travel Awards (WTA) – African region. The Awards, dubbed “Oscars of the Travel Industry” will be held on the 16^thof October and are bound to highly boost Kenya’s tourist market. The hosts were awarded – Africa’s leading Tourism Board – by WTA last year in December and also scooped the – Best African Tourism Board – in the Africa Safari awards held in London in February; beginning of this year.

“That WTA has chosen Kenya for the African region ceremony as part of the world grand tour, is an endorsement of the country as a preferred tourism destination in the world”, Says KTB Managing Director Muriithi Ndegwa. Graham E. Cooke, President and Founder, WTA, added, “The selection of our hosts is fundamental to the success of our awards programme, and Kenya as a nation has all the ingredients to rise to the challenge of hosting our Africa Ceremony – a warm, vibrant and progressive nation, brimming with enthusiasm and creativity. Tourism is vital to Kenya’s economy, contributing 12 percent to its GDP and sustaining one in ten jobs. The future is bright for Kenya, given the nation’s overwhelming natural resources, its unrivalled wildlife experiences and pristine beaches.”

For further details, including entry forms and closing deadlines for nominations, visit www.worldtravelawards.com/nominate.

For further World Travel Awards press info contact:

t: +44 (0)20 7925 0000
e: pr@worldtravelawards.com
w: www.worldtravelawards.com

About Kenya

KENYA

May 17, 2013 zurukenya Leave a comment

Kenya is world-famous for its diversity in cultures, wildlife and stunning landscapes which lend the countries placement as a top tourist destination not only in Africa but worldwide. The country has a range of famed national parks; Tsavo National Park, Amboseli National Park, Masai Mara, Samburu National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Aberdares National Park amongst others, making it the premier of wildlife safari.

Kenya has lots to offer under one roof and guests will not fall short of things to do here from bird-watching, trekking, ballooning over the Masai Mara, snorkelling at the Marine National Park in Malindi, Cultural safaris; getting to know the amazing people of Kenya to dining in the bush, staring at the African night sky in the wilderness, and lots…lots more.