First ever Sister Parks relationship between Kenya and US established

The National Park Service and Kenya’s Wildlife Service and National Museums of Kenya signed a sister park agreement between Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument and Sibiloi National Park and the National Museums of Kenya on June 30, 2013 to promote international cooperation and collaboration. This is the first time the National Park Service (NPS) has established a sister park agreement with an African nation.

The signing ceremony took place during the Smithsonian Museum’s annual Folklife Festival, which is highlighting Kenya this year. US National Park Service Deputy Director Christy Goldfuss and Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument Superintendent Judy Geniac joined Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and the Arts Dr. Hassan Wario, Ambassador Jean Kamau, Kenya Wildlife Service Deputy Director for Strategy and Change Mr. Edwin Wanyonyi and Director General National Museums of Kenya Dr. Ahmed Yassin. Scott Miller, Deputy Under Secretary for Collections and Interdisciplinary Support for the Smithsonian moderated the event. Read more on http://www.kws.org/info/news/2014/30june2014pressconference.html

Hotels eye more tourists, thanks to Mara’s wildebeest migration

International tourist bookings for tented camps and lodges in the Maasai Mara game reserve are expected to soar next month, thanks to the annual wildebeest migration.

According to Heritage Hotels chief executive officer Mohamed Hersi, tourist bookings for both Mara Intrepids Camp and Mara Explorer Camp are expected to shoot up to 60 per cent in July from 40 per cent last month.

He noted that the tented camps in the Mara are expected to host tourists from the United Kingdom, the US, Australia and Canada.

“We expect our tourist establishments in the Mara to be busy as from next month as wildlife enthusiasts come to watch the wildebeest migration and the Big Five,” he said.Read more on.....................
http://www.nation.co.ke/counties/mombasa/Maasai-Mara-Wildebeest-Migration-Tourism/-/1954178/2353620/-/12k68d1z/-/index.html

Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) DESTINATION UPDATE 16TH JUNE 2014

A report from KTF"In light of the reported incident last night in Mpeketoni area in Lamu
County, where a number of Kenyan citizens were killed and others injured
by gunmen, the tourism fraternity in Kenya condemns, in the strongest
terms possible, the attack on innocent citizens of this country. Our sincere
condolences go out to the bereaved families and wish the injured a quick
recovery.
KTF would also like to clarify the following in relation to this.
Mpeketoni is a small inland town which is part of the larger Lamu County
but not part of the Lamu archipelago. It is an average of 40 kms inland and
a 40 minutes – 1 hour drive from Mokowe which is accessed by boat from
Lamu Island.
It was started as a settlement scheme by Kenya’s first president. The local
population in Mpeketoni mainly consists of upcountry farming communities
and feeds much of the Lamu County.
Mpeketoni is not a tourism destination for either domestic or international
tourists and there is no beach or tourist class hotels in the area. Tourist
activity in Lamu is concentrated in Shela, Manda and Lamu Old Town.
Residents of Lamu Island continue with their daily activities a large part of
which is tourism and fishing.
We will provide more information on this incident once it becomes available
to us.
The KTF Safety and Communication Centre remains open 24 Hours daily
and will respond to any safety or other concern or information request. We
can be reached as follows"
Land line - +254 20 8001000
Cell - +254 722 745645
- +254 738 617499
E-mail: operations@ktf.co.ke

Kenya Tourism Recovery Measures

The KTF Chairman wishes to clarify as follows:
1. The measures were arrived at following TWO consultative meetings between H.E the President, The Governors from Tourism priority Counties, Tourism CS Kandie, Treasury officials, KTB management and KTF Board members.
2. The consultative meetings discussed and proposed a wide range of recovery measures, some of which were unfortunately not captured in the final announcement by H. E. the President. A number of reasons were given for this omission and a way forward identified.Read more
http://www.ktf.co.ke/section.asp?ID=119
www.soinafricasafaris.com

Nine customized vehicles to scale up anti-poaching war in Kenya safari holiday.

The war against poaching has move a notch higher with an additional nine custom-made land cruisers being deployed to the anti-poaching elite crack Unit. The Unit is comprised of security personnel from the general Service Unit, Administration police and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). Read more on..........
http://www.kws.org/info/news/2014/28may2014vehicle.html