According to Sense of Africa East African specialists, Martin Cook and Michael Njogu, there remains “massive scope” for visitors to expand upon the more typical circuits in East Africa, especially when visiting for a second and third time.
Much in demand for first timers, they say, are the major highlights of Kenya – Naivasha, Nakuru, Masai Mara and Amboseli. Tanzania’s Northern Circuit, comprising Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti, is also a popular choice. Southern Tanzania, they point out, is yet to be fully exploited.
Uganda, say the Sense of Africa team, is looking promising, following the launch of a seat-in-vehicle round trip tour earlier this year. “Within weeks all initial scheduled departures sold out, and almost all of the additional departures that were added have been sold,” they report.
Uganda, TU reports is anticipating an increase of 250 000 arrivals over the next 12 months. It has held its gorilla permits at US$600 a year, and entry has been eased by an online application process for the East African visa (a joint visa offered by Uganda together with Kenya and Rwanda). The country will begin construction of a second international airport this year.
Chris Steyn of Drifters Adventours, focuses on Uganda as opposed to Rwanda. He concurs that the national parks of Kenya and Tanzania remain popular destinations for guests, and there are a variety of options that include Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.
But there are opportunities for the development for new routes taking in the Kenyan sites of Hell’s Gate, Amboseli National Park and Longonot National Parks. “We offer a 12-day Kenya/Tanzania tour that starts and ends in Nairobi and includes the Great Rift Valley, Hell’s Gate, Mount Longonot, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara Conservancy, Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater,” says Steyn. “The tour departs every second week and offers guests a highlights package of the area.”
Kenya’s tourism has endured mixed fortunes in which security incidents were much publicised. “Demand is steadily increasing now that all travel advisory warnings have been removed,” says Giltedge’s Sean Kritzinger. “There is a notable increase in flights to the coastal regions and the prospects are looking very good indeed. The recently launched train services to/from Nairobi on the new standard gauge railway have also helped push demand, and are seen as a key catalyst for the future growth.”
Sense of Africa recently established offices in Mombasa, strengthening its coastal presence. Here, the company operates its own vehicles, delivering transfer services alongside excursions and safaris of durations from one day to comprehensive round-trips throughout Kenya.
Kenya, too, has followed the entry relaxation trend, recently announcing visas on arrival for all Africans. Other steps, such as the reduction of park entry fees and the expansion of infrastructure, bode well for tourism and have attracted major hospitality groups such as Hilton, Ramada, Sheraton, Best Western, Radisson, Marriott and Mӧvenpick. Established groups such as Serena Hotels are undertaking substantial renovation and expansion programmes.
