540 Magazine – Issue 21, May 2016

ISSUE 21 / MAY – JULY 2016

YOUR COMPLIMENTARY COPY

KALUHI’S KITCHEN

EAT, BLOG AND BE MERRY DRIVE TIME

MAZDA CX-3 SLEEP OVER

PRIDEINN PARADISE BEACH HOTEL & SPA

540 COMPETITION WIN DINNER FOR TWO AT THAI CHI See Page 4 for details

FIVE OF THE BEST:

HONEYMOON DESTINATIONS IN KENYA

ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE: ENTERTAINMENT • NEWS • REVIEWS & MORE

CONTENTS

contents issue 21 REGULAR FEATURES 3 In this issue 4 540 news 37 SUPPER CLUB

38

Kitchen Service Restaurant

38 DRIVE TIME

Mazda CX-3

40 SLEEP OVER

PrideInn Paradise Beach Hotel & Spa

40

42 GADGETS COVER STORY 25 Honeymoons

Five of the best: Honeymoon destinations in Kenya

A new world of creativity

43 ENTERTAINMENT

Watch. Read. Listen.

48 Kids’ Corner

is published by Land & Marine Publications Ltd

SPECIAL FEATURES

1 Kings Court, Newcomen Way Severalls Business Park Colchester, Essex, UK, CO4 9RA Tel: +44 (0)1206 752902 Email: publishing@landmarine.com www.landmarine.com

7 Homa Bay

on behalf of

42

A perfect Homa from Homa?

11 EnglishPoint Marina

11

Brothers create their dream haven

15 Kaluhi’s Kitchen

Fly540 Aviation Baycourt Upper Floor, Suite 3&4, The Watermark Business Park Ndege Rd, Karen PO Box 10293-00100 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 (0)20 388 3060-2 Fax: +254 (0)20 3883063 Email: info@fly540.com www.fly540.com The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor, or any other organisation associated with this publication.

No liability can be accepted for any inaccuracies or omissions. ©2016 Land & Marine Publications Ltd

View this issue online:

www.fly540.com/onboard

Eat, blog and be merry

18 Marafa

Malindi’s mini Grand Canyon

First Lady’s Half Marathon

22 Olepangi Farm

A ride on the wild side

28 Karate in Kenya

You can’t help falling for karate

30 Bombolulu

Happy workshop is a job well done

Connect with Fly540

33 Trabant

@fly540aviation

www.facebook.com/pages/Fly-540

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21 Beyond Zero

You can’t beat a Trabi… …when taking on the big boys

USEFUL INFORMATION 44 The Fly540 Network 45 Fly540 Contacts 46 Travel Information 47 Fly540 Fleet

www.fly540.com

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IN THIS ISSUE

In this issue

Issue 21

LOOK OUT FOR  Sleep Over: We stay at PrideInn Paradise in Mombasa.

See Page 40 Supper Club: On Page 37 we head to Eldoret and enjoy dinner at Rosewood Cottages Gadgets: On Page 42 we review the new Nikon KeyMission 360 and more Watch. Read. Listen:

On Page 43 we review the latest blockbuster movies, ‘must read’ books and music releases

From honeymoons to horses to half-marathons

F

or the romantic among us, this issue is for you. Our cover story is our highly subjective take on Kenya’s five best honeymoon destinations. Admittedly, many of these don’t come cheap – but then again, you don’t get married every day of the week.

At the coast, we take a look around busy Bombolulu and following its grand opening back in January, we have a peek at the stylish English Point Marina at the entrance to Tudor Creek, then pop up to Malindi to visit Marafa Canyon (also known as Hell’s Kitchen).

At the opposite end of Kenya, we think about buying property in or around Fly540’s newest destination, Homa Bay. Should you or shouldn’t you?

Meanwhile, sister airline Fly-SAX operates regular scheduled flights to Nanyuki. So it’s off to Mount Kenya and, once there, we choose to take a ride on the wild side at Olepangi Farm (also ranked Kenya’s number one B&B on TripAdvisor). If you love horses, then this

is the place for you.

Back in Nairobi, we feature the First Lady’s Half Marathon as Mama Margaret Wanjiru Gakuo once again graciously supports one of the capital’s big annual sporting events. We also highlight a lesser known but growing sport, karate.

We sleep over at the PrideInn Paradise in Mombasa and eat out at Rosewood Cottages in Eldoret. Staying with cuisine, the magazine chats with food blogger Kaluhi from Kaluhi’s Kitchen.

Not only do we review the new Mazda CX-3 but we also feature the humble Trabant – not to test drive the smoky old East German-built relic but to report on its exploits in the Safari Classic Rally.

I hope you enjoy your flight today with Fly540. Please feel free to contact me with any comments about this magazine.

Gary Gimson Publisher publishing@landmarine.com

www.fly540.com

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ANOTHER WTA ACCOLADE FOR FLY540 For the second year running, Fly540 was delighted to be voted Kenya’s Leading Domestic Safari Carrier at the recent World Travel Awards, Africa and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony. Fly540 came top in the category of five and once again took home the prestigious award, which recognises the hard work and commitment by everyone involved with Fly540 operations.

Issue 21

FIVE FLIGHTS A WEEK TO HOMA BAY In February this year Fly540 added Homa Bay to its growing list of destinations.

There are five flights a week from JKIA on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, returning about one hour later on the same days from Homa Bay.

‘WIN-WIN’ PARTNERSHIP WITH TRAVELPORT CONTINUES Fly540 is pleased to announce a new extension to its agreement with Travelport, which provides technology and payment solutions and other services to the travel and tourism industry. Don Smith, chief executive of Fly540, said: “We are very pleased to continue and grow our partnership with Travelport and this win-win agreement ensures we are leveraging industry-leading technology and unrivalled travel content to grow our business and provide the best choices for our customers.”

COMPETITION

Win dinner for two at Thai Chi We know Fly540 passengers love a selfie, so we’re asking you to send us your best ‘540’ face with a copy of this magazine to win a sumptuous dinner for two at Thai Chi Restaurant at The Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi.

To be in with a chance of winning this fabulous prize, all you have to do is grab your camera or smartphone and take a selfie with your copy of ‘540’ magazine, either on the plane or at a location of your choice, and email the image, your booking reference and your full name to: competition@landmarine.org.

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Africa’s low cost airline

AND THE WINNER IS… Congratulations to Halimah Fatma who won dinner for two at The Talisman Restaurant in Karen in our Issue 20 competition. Now that’s what we call a ‘540’ face…

The winner will be picked at random by Sarova Hotels and Resorts and contacted on 18 July to receive a voucher for dinner for two. The winning picture will be featured in Issue 22 of ‘540’ and ‘Fly-SAX’ magazines.

Competition terms and conditions - Closing date is 15 July - Only one entry per person - Entrants must be 18 years or over - The prize is issued as a voucher for dinner for two inclusive of one bottle of wine at Thai Chi Restaurant - Voucher is valid for six months from 18th July - Winner must contact Thai Chi at least 48 hours in advance to book a table - Cannot be redeemed for cash or during public holidays, including from 23 December 2016 – 2 January 2017 - The decision of the organisers will be final. The competition is not open to employees and their relatives of The Thai Chi Restaurant, Fly540, Fly-SAX or Land & Marine Publications Ltd.

Homa Bay

A perfect

HOMA FROM HOMA?

By Gary Gimson

New direct air link puts lakeside town in property spotlight

I

t’s the age-old question: where can I get the best return on my investments?

Very often, the answer to this apparent conundrum is: buy property.

Invariably, the next question is: but where?

Until now, the obvious response to the second question has been: Nairobi. But now that property prices in parts of our metropolis are beyond the reach of many, it has to be worth looking elsewhere to seek lower prices, better rental yields and greater long-term potential.

Previously overlooked South Nyanza and its main town of Homa Bay may prove such an investment nugget. It may be a coincidence, but it just so happens that Fly540 has launched regular scheduled flights (see Page 4) from JKIA to

Homa Bay’s newly refurbished Kabunde Airstrip.

As it is, the arrival of Fly540 to the sleepy shores of Lake Victoria has already proved a major shot in the arm for South Nyanza by improving access to an area that was, let’s face it, a bit off the beaten track. Previously, those travelling by air to South Nyanza had to fly into Kisumu, 114 km from Homa Bay, and then undertake a tiring bus journey.

Invest So with Fly540 blazing a trail to Homa Bay, this could be the perfect moment to invest in South Nyanza’s property market and especially to snap up parcels of land before prices really start to move northwards.

As it is, apartment rents are already on the up, with some

reporting a 200 per cent increase in the past two years or so, even before the coming of direct flights from Nairobi.

So what’s currently on the market and actually worth buying? I spoke to South Nyanza-based agents about Homa Bay and surrounding areas.

But the main focus seems to be on land rather than completed dwellings and this reflects the immaturity of the local market.

So KES 600,000 should buy a nice one-acre lakeside plot with exceptional views. There are probably opportunities, too, for the construction of new hotels.

If you’re got the time and the money, a quick trip over to Homa Bay (with Fly540, of course) could be a very wise move before too many others get wind of the area’s easy access and investment potential. www.fly540.com

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EnglishPoint

Brothers create their

DREAM HAVEN APARTMENTS  Luxury living on the Kenyan coast

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Africa’s low cost airline

Deluxe marina complex gives Mombasa ‘yacht cred’

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rom one of Mombasa’s oldest settlements, Fort Jesus, you can see one of Mombasa’s newest developments, EnglishPoint Marina. This brand-new multipurpose lifestyle complex is more than just a marina.

It features luxury apartments, a plush hotel, a top-of-therange spa and more. The aim of EnglishPoint Marina is to make Mombasa – and Kenya – a ‘go to’ destination for luxury yachts across the world.

Kenyan brothers Alnoor and Amyn Kanji are the brains behind the new marina. They acquired the land with a vision of tapping into its potential, taking advantage of its key location, looking over Tudor Creek to Fort Jesus. To turn their dreams into a reality, the brothers employed a team of professionals, from architects to designers to sustainability experts, who worked together to bring EnglishPoint to life in time for its grand opening

by President Uhuru Kenyatta in January this year. Among those involved in the project were interior designer Helen Barker, of 2Designs in Mombasa, who coordinated the decor of the hotel and apartments, and XCO2, a Londonbased firm of energy and sustainability consultants.



ENGLISHPOINT

A multipurpose destination with a lot to offer

www.fly540.com

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EnglishPoint

BOARDWALK  Take in the views of Fort Jesus from EnglishPoint Marina

The grounds of EnglishPoint encompass a 26-room hotel (including three spacious suites), 96 apartments and eight penthouses available to buy or rent, a spa, a gym, retail outlets, a restaurant, a boardwalk, conference rooms and marina facilities in progress. It all adds up to a multipurpose destination for business and leisure guests and for apartment/hotel residents and visitors alike.

Infinity pool Hotel guests and EnglishPoint residents have exclusive access to the infinity pool, with spectacular views over the creek. There’s a fully serviced pool bar, too, so you can enjoy a sundowner after a refreshing dip, or simply take in the sights from the deck. Both guests and visitors have access to a small beach that is often deserted, although it is open to the public. This small stretch of beach may not compare to Diani or Watamu, but combined with the view and ambience of EnglishPoint, it is a welcoming feature.

The Ansui Spa, which takes its name from the Zen Buddhism word for ‘peaceful water’, has excellent facilities with views over the creek and the Old Town. The 12

Africa’s low cost airline

spa’s top-class amenities give it the edge in a market that has been taking off in Kenya in recent years, with a steady flow of new spas opening up across the country, especially in hotels. In addition to favourites such as hot stone massage, facials, reflexology and beauty treatments, the spa menu at Ansui includes more exotic treatments such as the Thalgo Micronized Marine Algae Body Wrap, which involves the guest being wrapped up (literally) in marine algae – said to relieve aches and pains and aid relaxation. Next to the spa, there’s a state-of-the-art gym with ‘Lifefitness’ equipment.

The Jazz Restaurant offers exciting international cuisine and a well stocked bar with a variety of ‘Signature Sips’ for guests to choose from. The restaurant extends onto the rooftop terrace and can also cater for business meetings and mixers. For more formal meetings, the hotel has two board rooms and one conference room.

Marina Upon completion, the marina itself will be East Africa’s first floating pontoon marina. A total of 60 berths are planned, with a range of ameni-

STYLISH  Inside the hotel’s Executive Suite

ties including electricity, internet, satellite TV and access to all facilities at EnglishPoint. Once completed, the marina promises to be one of the best destinations in Africa for the luxury yacht market, welcoming in a new demographic of visitor to Mombasa and the wider regions.

At the time of going to press, the marina was still in progress; but it should be completed and open by the end of the year.

Upon completion, the marina itself will be East Africa’s first floating pontoon marina with a total of 60 berths planned

Kaluhi’s Kitchen

Eat, blog and be merry Celebrating Kenyan cuisine with Kaluhi Adagala One of Kenya’s most popular food bloggers, Kaluhi Adagala is a whiz in the kitchen and a celebrated cookery writer.

Her BAKE-nominated blog, ‘Kaluhi’s Kitchen’, offers recipes, tips and even an insight into life outside her culinary adventures. She talked to Kirsten Alexander about her culinary heroes and her passion for cooking.

Q. Tell me about yourself?

A. My name is Diana Kaluhi Adagala, daughter and sister and friend to many. I am a Bachelor of Commerce, finance major, graduate who enjoys spending most of her free time developing new recipes and sharing them with the world. I am owner and author of one of the best food blogs in Kenya and East Africa: kaluhiskitchen. com. I am a free spirit, a girly girl, lover of all things beautiful and a child of the cross.

Q. How did you get into cooking?

A. Cooking has always been a part of me since I have grown up being surrounded by fabulous food and women who enjoyed cooking.

For me, cooking had always been

‘Cooking has always been a part of me since I have grown up being surrounded by fabulous food and women who enjoyed cooking’

painted as something enjoyable and seeing the lovely conversations brought out over amazing food intrigued me. My interest peaked especially during my late teens and I began exploring different flavours and trying out family recipes passed down to us by my mother.

Q. What do you love most about Kenyan cuisine?

A. Kenyan cuisine prides itself in using fresh organic ingredients with simple techniques but will still pack a punch when it comes to flavour. I love that most about our cuisine.

FOOD BLOGGER  Kaluhi’s BAKEnominated blog is a real treat

her cooking. She is so driven and makes everything tasty without making it complicated and with not much effort on her end. That really inspires me to be a lot like her.

Q. Your favourite thing to cook?

A. It’s difficult to narrow down since I find nearly everything equally fun to prepare. But if I really have to choose, I would say meatball tikka masala. It’s a recipe I developed in September of 2015 and it has been a family favourite to date.

Q. Culinary heroes?

Q. Ever had a cooking disaster?

A. My all-time culinary hero is Siba Mtongana. She has this warm energy about her and genuine love for what she does and it reflects in

A. I have had a ton of culinary disasters! I think everyone does fail, even chefs who have had the best training and have been cooking www.fly540.com

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Kaluhi’s Kitchen

for ages. Since the majority of my recipes are born out of trial and error, I make plenty of mistakes along the way. But I never let it get in the way of my creative process and I view each fail as a learning point. I also encourage my readers to take fails as learning points and not as sources of discouragement.

Q. Reaction to your blog?

A. When I first started blogging, I thought I would be talking to myself. I thought no one would be interested in my content and it would fizzle out after several weeks. To my pleasure, my blog got such a warm and eager reception. I was even happier to see that the content I was putting out inspired people to try out new things and to realise that making good usually requires very little effort.

Q. How does it feel to be nominated for a BAKE award?

A. It feels great! I feel like all the hard work I have been putting in for the past 19 months has

been recognised and validated.

Receiving such recognition from a large, established and credible body such as BAKE is an honour and made me want to grow and develop my craft even more. It has given me a sense of validation that my work has value and is making a great contribution to the Kenyan food scene.

Q. Best thing about food blogging?

A. I most of all enjoy interacting with my readers on my social media platforms. The experiences we share, food-related or not, make the entire experience more fun.

Q. Worst thing about food blogging?

A. It’s when corporate bodies do not take me and fellow creatives seriously. They may want a service that can only be availed by influencers such as bloggers, but they want us to work for free. Yet we put in so much time, funds and effort to make our work come to life. This is, however, slowly changing and

creatives are being embraced as the new frontier as we cross over to a totally digital age.

Q. Best cooking in Kenya?

TASTY  Learn how to cook great Kenyan food with Kaluhi

A. It has to be the coastal region and western Kenya. They take food preparation very seriously and their food has a ton of flavour and complex layers of flavour.

Both regions have also preserved much of their cultural ways of food preparation, which always add a unique taste to it.

Q. Favourite place to eat?

A. Home. Nothing beats a good home-cooked meal.

Q. Any tips for aspiring chefs or food bloggers?

A. Put your heart in it. Have a bit of curiosity to learn beyond what you have been raised eating. Be open to eating different things and do not be afraid of experimenting with different flavours. Be humble and remember the learning never stops. Remember, you are not in competition with anyone, only yourself, so try to improve yourself.

‘The experiences we share, food-related or not, make the entire experience more fun’

www.fly540.com

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Marafa

Malindi’s mini GRAND CANYON

I

f you find yourself in Malindi and you’ve had enough of the beach, why not take a trip to Hell’s Kitchen? The name may sound ominous, but it simply refers to the Marafa Canyon, also known as the Marafa Depression – a large dry river gorge about an hour’s drive from Malindi.

This unusual sandstone canyon is a world away from the bright-blue ocean and sandy shores for which Malindi is famous; but its striking appearance makes it well worth a visit. Known locally as Nyari (‘the place broken by itself’), the Marafa Depression is an anomaly in the national landscape that offers visitors a fascinating spectacle within easy reach of the Kenyan coast.

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So where did the name of Hell’s Kitchen come from? There is an interesting mythology around the acquisition of this sinister epithet. One tale suggests that a town was located in the gorge and one day its inhabitants had a vision telling them to move their town. Everyone left except an old woman, who refused. The abandoned town, with the old woman in it, suddenly vanished, leaving the Marafa Depression in its place.

The story goes that the old woman is still there in the Marafa Depression and continues to cook, thus accounting for the smell of rice that seems to emanate from the canyon. And hence the nickname of Hell’s Kitchen.

Another twist of the tale is that the woman who stayed behind is being punished for doing so by the hellish heat in the canyon, where temperatures can reach 50 degrees Celsius. Of course, these temperatures alone would account for the name Hell’s Kitchen.

Because of the unbearable temperatures, it’s best to visit the Marafa Depression either first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon. In our opinion, the latter part of the day is better, because the sunsets at Marafa are simply beautiful. The colours of the canyon seem to come alive, with the reds, oranges and yellows of the stone creating a spectacular sight.

MARAFA  An alternative destination in Malindi

This unusual sandstone canyon is a world away from the bright-blue ocean and sandy shores for which Malindi is famous

COLOURFUL ď ˛ Head to Marafa at sunset for spectacular sights

www.fly540.com

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Beyond Zero

First Lady’s Half Marathon Race to raise funds for vital health care

T

he Beyond Zero Foundation was started in January 2014 by Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta, in partnership with the government, to take action to reduce the rate of maternal mortality and newborn deaths across Kenya.

The campaign raises money to fund mobile clinics, providing mothers and children with advice and treatment to help reduce the number of maternal deaths in Kenya. The funds are raised through events and donations from the public and from officials.

Part of the campaign is the First Lady’s Half Marathon, now in its third year. The event on 6 March started and finished at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, with thousands either participating on the track or supporting from the sidelines. Runners could choose between distances of 5 km, 10 km and 21 km (half marathon) so that supporters who were less than super-fit could still join in and raise money. The First Lady herself took part in the 10 km race, having run the 21 km in the previous two years as well as completing the London Marathon in 2015.

The race attracted many professional athletes as well as thousands of amateur competitors. Winner of the men’s race was Wilfred Kimitei, who completed the half marathon in an impressive 1:00:38, just two seconds ahead of Hillary Kipchumba. In the women’s race, Valentine Kipketer crossed the finish line with a total time of 1:09:05, beating closest rival Jocyline Jepkosgei by four seconds. The First Lady completed the 10 km race in a commendable 1:43:02.

Health Care So far, the Beyond Zero Campaign has raised about KES 540 million – enough to provide 36 counties across Kenya with clinics offering health care for expectant and new mothers and working to reduce the number of women and babies suffering from preventable cases of fatal disease and illness. Proceeds from this year’s event will go towards providing mobile clinics for the remaining 11 counties, thus giving hundreds more women and children access to health care.

In the 18 months after the delivery of the first mobile clinics, more than 30,000 Kenyans were able to seek medical help and

MARATHON  Helping to raise vital funds for mothers and children

advice, so by providing each county with a clinic, thousands more people can be treated and many lives saved. At a meeting at the end of March to discuss the progress of the Beyond Zero Campaign, the Health Ministry’s principal secretary, Dr Nicholas Muraguri, noted that 1,700 mothers and 30,000 children had been saved by the efforts of the First Lady and her campaign.

Since the campaign began, Margaret Kenyatta has been recognised internationally for her efforts to prevent maternal mortality. In 2014 she was awarded the title of ‘UN Person of the Year’, as well as being recognised at the SoMA Awards for ‘Best Use of Social Media for a Charity’.

In the 18 months after the delivery of the first mobile clinics, more than 30,000 Kenyans were able to seek medical help and advice www.fly540.com

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Olepangi Farm

A RIDE ON THE

WILD SIDE

By Harriet Constable

“Y

ou want to straighten your legs, bend forward and then lean down and hit the ball with the mallet,” Robin, the resident intern and expert polo player, tells me. He canters off on a muscular horse and demonstrates the manoeuvre, effortlessly whacking the fluorescent orange orb into the goal.

I let out a small snort at the prospect and the sturdy steed I’m sitting on mimics me. He doesn’t believe I’ve got it in me. He’s quite right, of course, and as we go trotting off towards the ball, I start wielding the giant mallet around as if I’m trying to cast a spell, letting out the odd cry as I nearly vault over the poor creature’s head.

Why, you might ask – as I did myself – would you put yourself through this ridiculous exercise?

The answer is that I’m staying at Olepangi Farm, a family-owned 22

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safari company and lodge in the foothills of craggy Mount Kenya specialising in horsy activities. The creators, Elizabeth and Clinton, have ridden for many years and own more than 20 horses, some for safaris and others for polo. And they believe in me. I’m told that, with just a few more lessons, I’ll be bending it like Beckham, only on horseback. Ever the optimist, I nod in solemn agreement. But then I look over to Robin, who is now managing to bounce the ball off the side of his mallet while at the same time careering down the polo field on his glossy steed, and decide that, actually, I think I’ll just stick to writing.

Olepangi I dismount and, inner thighs making themselves known, hobble down the track towards the main lodge.

It’s impressive what Elizabeth and Clinton have achieved in the

‘I’m told that, with just a few more lessons, I’ll be bending it like Beckham, only on horseback. Ever the optimist, I nod in solemn agreement’

GAME DRIVES  For when you’ve had enough horsing around

18 months since Olepangi Farm opened. I wander past the onsite vegetable garden, where much of the food for guests is grown, into the lodge grounds, which are filled with plants and colourful flowers, like a tropical version of an English country garden. Cerise-pink and lemonyellow petals blow in the wind and there are tiny snow-white butterflies around a huge lavender bush.

There’s a choice of accommodation here, from boutique cottages to the Round House,

where I’m spending the night.

Nominated for an American Institute of Architecture Award, it looks like a cross between the Weasley family home in ‘Harry Potter’ and a quintessential thatched cottage.

Inside, there’s a comfortable sitting room with a combination of African and English fabrics and furniture and a spiral staircase leading to the bedroom upstairs. A cosy quilt lines the bed to keep the chill out (we’re at 6,000 ft here) and the steep arched windows offer views of Mount Kenya on one side and tall cactus trees and golden scrubland on the other.

All that faffing about with a polo ball has given me an appetite, so after a quick wash in my outdoor shower I head down for dinner in the Party House – a communal zone with board games, large squishy sofas and several chirpy dogs. One of the dogs is perched upright on Elizabeth’s lap like a

teddy bear, legs tucked up for maximum tummy-stroking. “This one used to be a Hungarian princess in another life,” she chuckles.

Relaxed Dinners here are communal and informal, with lots of different dishes and a ‘help yourself’ attitude. There’s even a prize for the guests who make themselves most at home, although what it is remains as mystery as I didn’t win (perhaps you have to be good at polo). We sample the home-grown produce and enjoy a relaxed evening chatting to the other visitors before retiring to the sitting room for a good snuggle with another of the dogs, Lawrence, a huge bull mastiff with a head the size of a bowling ball.

Clinton and Elizabeth describe Olepangi Farm as ‘a place to come for the seasoned traveller’ – someone who backpacked in their youth and is now looking for a

WILDLIFE  Guests at Olepangi Farm can get close to nearby wildlife

grown-up, laid-back adventure. For, while the wildlife here is abundant and majestic – elephants moving across the golden hills, giraffes munching happily at tall trees, that sort of thing – this isn’t the place for a typical safari game truck experience. Instead, experienced riders who want a close-up view of the animals can book in for a fouror five-day riding safari. For many guests however, Olepangi Farm is simply a place to escape and relax.

I know which I’ll be doing.

www.fly540.com

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Honeymoons

FIVE OF THE BEST:

Honeymoon destinations in Kenya Whether you choose to go on holiday the day after your wedding or wait a while to save up, you don’t necessarily have to travel great distances for a perfect honeymoon.

Think of it as a staycation for newlyweds. Africa, and especially Kenya, has some of the world’s most fabulous honeymoon locations. Here are five of the best, as chosen by ‘540’ magazine.

STARBEDS  Loisaba is a perfect place to spend your honeymoon

1

THE WILD LIFE Loisaba Wilderness Location: Loisaba Conservancy, Nanyuki If you are strapped for time, but have a decent budget, Loisaba Wilderness is one of the most romantic places to spend a weekend with your loved one. The newly opened Loisaba Tented Camp is a good place to stay, but Koija and Kiboko Star Beds are the more romantic spot. The hand-made beds sit on platforms high above the Loisaba Conservancy, with a roof and an open deck providing lovely views. For the most romantic of getaways, you can spend the night with your loved one beneath the night sky. The beds are on wheels, so you can roll them out from under the shelter and enjoy the view with not another soul in sight – just you, your significant other and, if you’re lucky, some shooting stars. Sunrise is as magical as sunset and will make you want to prolong your honeymoon indefinitely.

Rates: Residents US$ 270/Non-residents US$ 400 pppn in high season www.loisaba.com

www.fly540.com

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Honeymoons

PRESIDENTIAL SUITE  For a romantic break in the city, Palacina is the one

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STYLISH CITY BREAK Palacina Suites Location: Nairobi The Palacina Suites rate among the best accommodation in Nairobi, with luxury furnishings, large balconies and spacious interiors adding up to the perfect setting for a city honeymoon. Thanks to the Palacina’s helpful staff, you won’t have to worry about a thing during your stay except deciding what to eat in the excellent bistro. The city centre location means you can choose to explore as much or as little as you wish and be close to the action without compromising on peace and quiet. If you don’t want to leave the hotel, you can enjoy a massage, take a dip in the pool or just enjoy the view from your balcony over the serene hotel grounds. Our top pick for an unforgettable honeymoon is the Penthouse Suites – even better than the already stellar Palacina Suites.

Rates: US$ 550 per night based on two people sharing (Penthouse Suite) www.palacina.com

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Africa’s low cost airline

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LUXURY BEACHSIDE RESORT Lion in the Sun Resort

LION IN THE SUN  Intimate resort in beautiful Malindi

Location: Malindi If your idea of romantic bliss is soft white sands and bright-blue waters, then Malindi is the place to be, and also where you will find the exclusive Lion in the Sun Resort. With just seven suites and nine rooms, the resort is intimate, luxurious and calming.

The suites are perfect for honeymooners, with elegant design and plenty of space. The Henri Chenot spa is one of the best in the world, which will give you and your significant other time to relax and unwind before heading down to the resort’s private beach and soaking up the sun on the luxury day beds. The Italian-inspired cuisine is the perfect way to finish the most romantic of days.

Rates: US$ 500 pppn in high season (full board) www.lioninthesun.net

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COASTAL CELEBRITY CHIC Alfajiri Villas

ALFAJIRI VILLAS  Exclusive resort for the rich, famous and romantic

Location: Diani Beach, Ukunda A favourite hideaway for the rich and famous, Alfajiri Villas are the ultimate destination for luxury five-star service on Diani Beach. There are three villas at Alfajiri, but the Cliff Villa is our top tip for an unforgettable honeymoon. The elevated clifftop position offers wonderful views, especially from the superromantic Turret Suite, with its 270-degree view over the Indian Ocean. The villa can accommodate eight, so you can celebrate with friends and family or treat yourself to the whole place.

Guests can enjoy delicious meals served alfresco on the private veranda or by the pool. If you can drag yourself away from the beautiful villa, there is a gym nearby as well as snorkelling or a trip to Diani Beach.

Rates: US$ 1,600 per night based on two people sharing in high season www.alfajirivillas.com

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GLAMOROUS CAMPING Governors’ Camp Location: Masai Mara National Reserve Camping under canvas may not sound like the best way to spend a honeymoon, but Governors’ Camp may change your mind. Set on the bank of the Mara River, with 37 en-suite tents and wonderful opportunities for game viewing, Governors’ Camp is one of Africa’s best tented camps. The Justus suite is perfect for honeymooners, with extra privacy and views over the river, where you can easily spot hippo and crocodile. The classic safari-style tents are super-comfortable, with en-suite bathrooms and large, cosy beds. There is a host of activities to keep you busy, including game drives and romantic hot air balloon rides over the Mara, with opportunities to spot plenty of big game.

Rates: US$ 610 pppn in high season www.governorscamp.com

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27

Karate in Kenya

You can’t help falling for

KARATE

By Kirsten Alexander

P

opular around the world, karate has yet to be recognised as an Olympic sport, even though judo and taekwondo are included in this year’s Games in Rio. But while the campaign for Olympic recognition goes on, Kenyans have taken to the sport in a big way. As well as keeping fit, they can improve their self-defence skills as well as gaining confidence.

Nairobi has several ‘dojos’ (training halls) offering karate classes for pupils ranging from beginners to advanced ‘karatekas’ and from children to adults, opening up a new world of exercise, socialising and leisure activity for Kenyans.

While your initial thoughts of karate may involve chopping a block of wood in half with your hand, or Mr Miyagi in the 1984 film ‘The Karate Kid’, it is an intricate martial art with many components, styles and variations.

Karate is generally classified in three ways – as an art, a form of self-defence and a combat sport – and can be practised in any or all of these ways, depending on personal preference and the given situation.

Three aspects of training form the basis of all karate practice. The first is ‘kihon’, which means the basics or fundamentals of karate.

The second is ‘kata’, referring to 28

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the forms or shapes you make with your body. And the third is ‘kumite’ or sparring (literally ‘meeting of hands’). Each of these aspects can be further divided into individual elements.

Kihon not only refers to the basic techniques of karate but also means learning the correct spirit and attitude – essential for progressing through the levels of karate.

Kata is the name given to the many forms and movements, including steps, postures and turns, that form the basis of either solo practice or fights (mock or real).

Kumite is the aspect of karate with which most people are familiar: the kicks, punches and strikes.

Kenpo karate In Kenya, a popular form of the martial art is kenpo (pronounced ‘kempo’) karate, which originated in the United States and was developed by Ed Parker. It is practised by various clubs across Kenya, including the African Mixed Martial Arts Club in Nairobi. Kenpo is distinguished by fast hand movements that appear in regular succession. Unlike other styles of karate, kicks are not a common feature of kenpo and, if used, are directed only at an opponent’s lower body.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN  Karate originated in the Ryukyu Islands and was introduced to mainland Japan in the early 1900s.

In 1924 the first university karate club was established at Keio University in Tokyo and within a few years other Japanese universities had started their own clubs.

The popularity of karate was boosted by the martial arts movies of the 1960s and 1970s, which brought the sport to a wider audience. Karate schools began to appear outside Japan and the craze for learning and practising the martial art became international. Today, karate clubs can be found across the world, from North America to Europe to Africa.

COLOUR CODED  The colour of a karateka’s belt depends on how much he or she has learned and the level of skill acquired. Karatekas must go through various stages of karate and attend gradings in order to progress to the next level and finally reach the ultimate goal of black belt.

White belts and black belts are universally recognised as applying to beginners and experts respectively. Otherwise, there is no official colour code, although karatekas are commonly ranked as follows*: Level 1 – White

Level 5 – Green

Level 2 – Orange

Levels 6/7 – Purple

Level 3 – Red

Levels 8/9 – Brown

Level 4 – Yellow

Level 10 – Black.

When a karateka has gained a black belt, it’s not the end of the journey to becoming a karate master. The holder of a black belt can progress further, with 10 dan levels (degrees) to achieve. [*taken from www.livestrong.com]

USEFUL VOCABULARY  Dojo – Training hall

Obi – Belt

Sensei – Instructor

Hajime – Begin

Rei – To bow

Yame – Stop

Gi – Karate suit

Matte – Wait

Karateka – Karate practitioner

HAJIME!  Head to the dojo with your gi and obi and begin

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Bombolulu

HAPPY WORKSHOP is a job well done Bombolulu Workshops and Cultural Centre in Mombasa have been providing disabled people with a safe place to live and work since 1969. Run by the Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya, which was founded by the Methodist Church, they have enabled many people to acquire skills in craft work and jewellery. Kirsten Alexander visited the centre.

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O

n my arrival at Bombolulu Workshops and Cultural Centre, just off Nyali Road, I was greeted by staff members, who gave me an overview. I was then taken on a two-hour guided tour

by Ali and his assistant, a volunteer called Patience. I was initially surprised when they said the tour would take two hours; but with so much to see and learn, the time passed quickly.

The Bombolulu grounds contain the workshops, accommodation, school, restaurant and gift shop as well as a cultural centre towards the back. Ali said the main focus of Bombolulu was to provide a safe living and working environment for people with physical disabilities who might otherwise struggle to live and work independently outside the community. Bombolulu helps these people to realise their full potential and to gain skills such

as jewellery making and wood carving.

There are five workshops in total, where skilled artisans produce a wide range of products including jewellery, textiles and wood products – about a quarter of a million items each year in total.

Items made at Bombolulu are available to buy in the on-site gift shop and are also exported to customers across the world. Each artisan has a unique ID code that appears on every item they make. So when anyone buys a Bombolulu product, the artisan who made it receives a share of the profit, in addition to a full salary, with the remainder being reinvested in the workshops and community. In addition to the jewellery and crafts produced on site, there is a dedicated wheel-

chair-making facility to aid those with physical disabilities living and working on site.

As we toured the grounds, Ali explained that those who work at Bombolulu can choose to live on site, where there is dedicated accommodation for workers and their children; however, some workers choose to live independently outside the community and travel to and from work each day.

This gives the workers flexibility, so they can organise their living arrangements to suit their needs.

Classrooms Many of the Bombolulu workers have children. A nursery and school, set up in the early 1990s, now look after some 80 children of various ages. During the tour

Bombolulu helps people to realise their full potential and to gain skills such as jewellery making and wood carving

GIFTS  Bombolulu artisans create gifts for sale in the on-site shop

we visited a couple of the classrooms. We were welcomed by the teacher and children, who gave us an enthusiastic rendition of ‘Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’. There are dedicated facilities, too, for children with disabilities, who are well looked after by staff.

After the workshops and classrooms, we headed for the cultural centre at the rear of the property.

This was added in 1994 to provide an extra feature of interest for visitors. The traditional homesteads of various tribes are laid out across the grounds of the cultural centre, and help visitors understand more about the history of Mombasa, and Kenya as a whole.

Restaurant Tours finished, I headed for the central Ziga Restaurant to enjoy a cooked-to-order lunch. This round, open structure is used to host events and banquets as well as meals for visitors. I enjoyed the fresh chapati and bean stew under the welcome shade of the restaurant’s roof. I was accompanied by two very sweet wild cats, who, rather than pester for food, enjoyed basking in the sunshine and having their tummies tickled.

The gift shop at the end of my visit was an opportunity to see the end-product of the hard work and dedication of Bombolulu’s artisans.

Prices are fair and there is a wide range of souvenirs to take home. www.fly540.com

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Trabant

Y ’S M AN GER T S EA  ACY LEG abi t Tr t-ou A fla rope u E in

T A E B T ’ N A …

C I n B U o g A n YO A TR…when tabkiig boys he t

O

w ©An ar Sid i Ph o togr

ver the years the East African Safari Classic Rally (EASCR) has attracted an eclectic mix of pre1978-built cars to the starting line in Nairobi.

Last November’s event was no different, yet the rally was dominated by specially prepared Porsche 911s which romped home, taking most of the top 10 spots.

Others, it seems, barely got a look-in. Legendary Swedish rally driver Stig Blomqvist took the chequered flag, capping a stellar career with his first win in the event.

Meanwhile, little noticed and crossing the finishing line over 11 accumulated hours behind Blomqvist was the most unusual of entries – a wheezy 600 cc, two-stroke, East German-built Trabant. The diminutive car was driven by German driver Michael Kahlfuss who, with

a p hy 2016

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Trabant

©Anwar Sidi Photography 2016

The rally was dominated by specially prepared Porsche 911s which romped home

teammate Ronald Bauer, managed to coax their Trabant 601 R back to Nairobi after nine days of gruelling competition.

The Trabi may be small, but in its favour is an exceptional powerto-weight ratio. Even before being stripped out for rallying, the car hits the scales at only 750 kg. As a result, a small increase in power or reduction in weight can have surprisingly pleasing results. In fact, Kahlfuss managed to ‘slim’ the Trabi down to about 600 kg while almost doubling its horsepower from 26 to 50.

Simple technics As Michael explains: “The car is easy to repair. Leaf springs and simple technics. The standard engine may only have 26 horsepower and it’s enough, but not for the EASCR. We have Group A engine with 50 horsepower and this is not easy and is very brittle for a 4,000 km event.”

The 2015 event was not Michael’s first. In 1994 he decided

to enter the main Safari Rally and built his Trabant P601 from scratch and then had the car airfreighted to Africa. He and Ronald got up to 21st overall and well into the third leg before steering problems put them out of the rally.

Then in 2003 Kahlfuss and Bauer tried again. This time they entered the very first Safari Classic Rally using the same venerable Trabant. With the start number 53, the duo got the car round the demanding route and finished a creditable 32nd out of 42 finishers.

But Michael could not keep away from East Africa. As he told ‘540’: “I have many invitations, but the Safari is one of the last real rallies.”

Before last year’s event, Michael had expressed his concern about running the Trabi again in East Africa: “We know the car and the rally. I am only afraid of the mountains when we have to drive in first gear for half an hour. Also for the water crossings as, if there is a strong current, the Trabant could float away.”

IT’S TOUGH  Porsche 911s stole the show at the rally

All was well, however, and last November, Michael and Ronald came home 37th out of the 46 who crossed the finishing line, beating no fewer than three of those otherwise all-conquering Porsche 911s back to Nairobi.

BUILT BEHIND THE WALL  Over 3 million smoky two-cylinder Trabants were produced by the East German car maker VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerke Zwickau.

In largely unchanged form, the car was made for 28 years until 1991 and many of these were highly prized by their East European owners (before the fall of the Berlin Wall, that is).

With just 26 hp, the car took a snail-like 21 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km per hour.

To put the puny Trabi into perspective, even an unmodified pre-1977 Porsche 911 Turbo would produce 260 hp.

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35

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SUPPER CLUB

Kitchen Service Restaurant

By Joan Wandegi

HEAVENLY FOOD

in a plain package

O

nce in a while, on a visit to a Kenyan town, you find a gem of a restaurant with no exceptionally creative name and with no ambience that screams ‘dining extraordinaire’.

Once in a while you come across a dining experience that is based solely on paying homage to the ingredients and authenticity of the dishes served.

Kitchen Service Restaurant, at Rosewood Cottages, in a leafy suburb of Eldoret, serves unbelievably good Indian cuisine. Targeting families and groups of friends, the restaurant features a couple of simple bandas and sits in a large open space, perfect for the young ones to run around while the meal is cooked.

KSR, as it is fondly known to patrons, was opened on a whim and with the desire to offer exceptional food at affordable prices.

Chef Charles, a culinary enthusiast who is self-taught in the art of balancing spices and flavours, runs the show at KSR. When on the scene, he makes a point of greeting every guest, announcing the day’s specials and explaining the complex Indian dishes that are put together in the small kitchen. Don’t let the size fool you, however. The dishes served here are big in flavour and will definitely take care of any curry cravings you may have. Sauces are cooked for hours to fully take on the flavours of the spices, and the aromas that waft through the compound are a testament to this.

Fresh On the menu are favourites such as maru bhajias, spicy chicken wings, butter naan and rotis, freshly cooked and delivered piping hot to the table. Then there is a range of paneer and masala dishes, vegetable curries, mutton vindaloo

ELDORET  Unbelievably good food at Kitchen Service Restaurant

and butter chicken as well as biryanis cooked to perfection.

The most popular culinary experience at KRS is the Koroga (the Swahili word for ‘stir’ or ‘cook’).

Friends and family gather round a common pot and cook their own meal; you may also opt to have the meal cooked for you. Cultural influences from the Indian communities of Kenya have taken the Koroga experience to a heightened level, offering the chance for customers to show off their culinary prowess. Koroga should be treated as a whole day affair and guests wishing to experience it should preferably book in advance.

KRS offers good quality fillet steak, supplied by local farmers, lamb chops and fresh vegetables and all the other condiments and spices for a successful Koroga experience.

Chef Charles is always on hand to offer expert advice that will enhance your dining experience. www.fly540.com

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DRIVE TIME

Mazda CX-3

By Gary Gimson

Small but PERFECTLY FORMED

E

very once in a while a new car catches and pleases the eye, almost like love at first sight.

This was my impression when I first glimpsed the new Mazda CX-3.

I don’t think this has happened before – Mazdas don’t have a great reputation for head-turning looks. In fact, the marque trades on a kind of middle-of-the-road respectability. But to my mind, the CX-3 really hits the spot.

Based on the Mazda 2 supermini, the CX-3 is the smaller brother of the 38

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CX-5 (with which it clearly shares styling touches) and competes head on with others in the sector such as the unusuallooking and now possibly dated Nissan Juke and the newish Renault Captur.

Fuel economy In contrast with some other small crossovers or compact SUVs – call them what you will – the CX-3 has all wheel drive (AWD) as an option. It’s fairly pricey, though, and does affect fuel economy.

So, unless you really need AWD, two

wheel drive is much the better choice.

The interior, which reminds me of the Audi A1, is equally attractive and cleverly matches the car’s sweeping external lines. But as anyone who has owned a first-generation Ford Kuga will recognise, many small crossovers have not nearly enough space in the rear, especially in proportion to their external dimensions. Sadly, the CX-3 suffers from the same problem: a shockingly minuscule boot.

The CX-3 comes with a six-speed

Every once in a while a new car catches and pleases the eye, almost like love at first sight

Otomobil / Shutterstock.com



DESIRABLE

A host of extras complete the Mazda CX-3 Tofudevil / Shutterstock.com

Sport Nav There are five trim levels. On the whole, the CX-3 is quite generously equipped.

Top of the range is the Sport Nav, which includes satnav, cruise and climate control and heated front seats and is shod with very desirable 18 in gunmetalgrey alloy wheels as well as coming with

a host of extras you never really knew you needed.

It’s truly great fun to drive, handling more like a hot hatch than an SUV, and the 120ps petrol version has a top speed of 185 kph. It’s easy to park, too, unlike many other SUVs, big and small.

Compared with many of its rivals, this car isn’t cheap and there’s that lack of rear-end storage space. But if you like small and uber-stylish crossovers, then the CX-3 is easily the pick of the bunch.

I certainly have a crush.

ommaphat chotirat / Shutterstock.com

automatic box and an eager 2.0 litre petrol engine, although a frugal and reasonably powered 105ps 1.5 diesel is available in some non-African markets.

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39

SLEEP OVER

PrideInn Paradise Beach Hotel & Spa

Find paradise in Mombasa...

W

ith hotels in Nairobi and at the coast, PrideInn is one of Kenya’s most recognised hotel groups, commended as Kenya’s Leading Hotel Brand at the prestigious World Travel Awards.

PrideInn hotels can be found in some of the country’s major tourist spots; and the group is still expanding, with the latest property opening up in the Mombasa coastal suburb of Shanzu.

On a recent trip to Kenya I was lucky enough to visit the brand-new PrideInn Paradise Beach Hotel & Spa and experience the next level of PrideInn hospitality. The hotel was so new, it wasn’t even completely finished; but this did not detract from the ambience of the resort or the professionalism of its staff.

On arrival, I was greeted by wonderfully friendly staff, ready to take my bags and offer me a cold glass of fruit juice and a hand towel to cool off. This was very much appreciated after arriving in the blazing sunshine of Mombasa after several days spent in the relative coolness of Nairobi.

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From reception, with its Arabian-inspired decor, you can see the large pool surrounded by palm trees and sun loungers.

Although the hotel wasn’t fully open, there were already guests taking a dip and soaking up the remnants of the day’s sunshine.

Pristine I headed up to my room for the night, a double on the second floor with a balcony overlooking the pool and the Indian Ocean just visible between the trees. The room itself was pristine – I suspect I may have been the first person to sleep in it – with the hotel’s signature colour of red offset by white walls. It was spacious and clean and the air con was a blessing. A Swahili theme was conveyed by the furniture and decor, with a desk, wardrobe and bedside tables all crafted from dark wood.

To make the most of the

By Kirsten Alexander evening, I made my way to reception and was given a guided tour of the whole property with an update on the building works. One of the standout features of this resort is its large on-site conference centre – one of the biggest on the coast and rivalling nearby Sarova Whitesands. With state-of-the-art facilities and tasteful decor, it can accommodate up to 2,500 people.

Elsewhere, building work was continuing on a gym and spa. More rooms were under construction by the pool, which now offers the only ‘Aqua Safari’ park on the coast.

At the beach, close to the

In an area with beach resorts aplenty, PrideInn Paradise stands out thanks to its exceptional facilities resort, other developments are planned, including a beachside restaurant (although the hotel’s main restaurant isn’t far away).

Once the hotel is at full working capacity, there will doubtless be plenty of people relaxing on the beach in the daytime and taking a sunset stroll after dinner.

All in all, PrideInn Paradise is an excellent addition to the company’s portfolio and one that shows a lot of promise. In an area with beach resorts aplenty, PrideInn Paradise stands out thanks to its exceptional conference facilities and will no doubt be a ‘go to’ destination for both business and leisure travellers.

WEDDINGS  Enjoy a beautiful beach wedding at PrideInn Paradise

BEACH RESORT  Laze by the pool or head down to the beach to relax

AQUA SAFARI  The first of its kind on the Kenyan coast

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41

GADGETS

A NEW WORLD OF CREATIVITY

THE SLATE ď ˇ Digitise paper drawings with ease

LIMA Lima is a personal cloud device enabling the user to transform any USB hard drive into a secure, private cloud in their home. It is composed of a smart hardware adapter and a multi-platform app, to allow users to seamlessly access their files from any device, wherever they are located.

It sits between a router and a USB hard drive and can be used for remote file access and streaming content. Developed through a crowdfunding scheme, it launched in November 2015. Priced at US$ 99.

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NIKON KEYMISSION 360

ONAGOFLY

THE SLATE

Nikon has announced a revolutionary 360-degree action camera, the KeyMission 360. Shockproof and waterproof to 30 metres, the camera has dual lenses and image sensors for spectacular 360-degree photos and movies recorded in 4K UHD. The camera also has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in addition to electronic vibration reduction to help minimise shaking from body or vehicle movement. The camera was launched early in 2016 with no pricing available yet.

ONAGOfly is an affordable nano drone that comes complete with GPS Auto-Follow and a high-resolution camera. It is the first nano drone to track location from your smart device as well as navigating around obstructions using built-in infrared technology. Weighing just 140 g and measuring a palm-sized 125 mm across, it is powered by a 1,000 mAh battery and includes a Sony 15 MP photo and 1,080 px video camera at 30 fps. Can be pre-ordered through a crowdfunding venture for US$ 259.

Despite the availability of modern technology, many designers often still start work with a pencil. Now there is a way to combine modern digital life with old-fashioned pencils. The Slate, produced by iskn, allows illustrators and artists to digitise paper drawings to their iPad using pencils and pens on real paper. Just lay a sheet of paper on the A5 sized Slate using four reference points and start drawing using a normal pencil with an added magnetic ring. The Slate is priced at US$ 159 with accessories such as the ring, pen and clips extra.

ENTERTAINMENT

Watch. Read. Listen.

MOVIES THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS

GHOSTBUSTERS Director: Paul Feig Starring: Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Chris Hemsworth Genre: Action, Comedy A modern-day remake of the 1984 classic, ‘Ghostbusters’ returns with women taking over the lead roles of the ghost-busting team. Erin Gilbert (Wiig) and Abby Yates (McCarthy) are two authors who wrote a book on the paranormal, which turned out to be unsuccessful.

The book is forgotten about until Erin begins teaching at Columbia University, when she is laughed out of academia forever. Their knowledge of the paranormal comes in handy, however, when Manhattan is overrun by ghosts. Erin and Abby team up with nuclear engineer Jillian Holtzmann and NYC subway worker Patty Tolan to take on the ghosts and try to save the world from an evil spirit known as Rowan.

STARS: 3/5

Directors: Chris Renaud, Yarrow Cheney Starring: Jenny Slate, Lake Bell, Louis C.K. Genre: Family Ever wondered what your pets get up to when you’re not around? Max is a terrier who lives in Manhattan with his owner Katie, enjoying a pampered life as her favourite pet. His world turns upside down, however, when Katie brings home a new pet, Duke, a sloppy mongrel.

At first, Max is less than impressed with Duke, now facing competition to be Katie’s favourite pet. However, when they find out that Snowball, a white bunny rabbit, is building an army of abandoned pets to take revenge on those with owners, the two must put their differences aside and work together to make sure that Snowball is stopped.

STARS: 4/5

BOOKS THE FISHERMEN

BOY, SNOW, BIRD

Told from the perspective of nine-year-old Benjamin, ‘The Fishermen’ is a story of childhood in Nigeria in the 1990s. Benjamin has three older brothers and a very strict father. When their father has to travel to a faraway city to work, the four boys take the opportunity to skip school and head to a forbidden local lake to go fishing. When the boys reach the river, they encounter a dangerous local madman, who gives the brothers a chilling prediction that the eldest boy will be killed by one of the other three. When the boys return home, the eldest, Ikenna, is not the same as before. Is it a result of the curse? A chain of events is set in motion, with tragic consequences for the family.

Loosely based on fairytale themes, ‘Boy, Snow, Bird’ follows the story of a young woman called Boy Novak. Boy is 20 when she finally decides to run away from her abusive father, a ratcatcher, and find a new life elsewhere. She ends up in a village called Flax Hill, in Massachusetts, which has an aura of mystery. After settling in Flax Hill, she meets Arturo Whitman, a craftsman who is also a widower and father to a young girl called Snow. Boy and Arturo marry and Boy gives birth to a daughter, Bird. With the birth of her daughter, things take a turn for the worse for Boy and the image presented to her by Arturo’s family starts to unravel.

BY HELEN OYEYEMI

BY CHIGOZIE OBIOMA

STARS: 5/5

STARS: 4/5

MUSIC ANTI [EXPLICIT]

PHASE

The hugely anticipated eighth album from Barbadian singer Rihanna was released earlier this year to critical acclaim. One of the best-selling artists of all time, Rihanna’s latest effort is a departure from her previous dance-pop sound, with Anti offering more of an urban, R&B vibe. Lead single ‘Work’ features Canadian singer Drake and gained worldwide success. Other standout songs are ‘Kiss it Better’ and ‘Love on the Brain’.

Winner of the Critic’s Choice at the 2016 Brit Awards, Jack Garratt is one of the most exciting new singer-songwriters from the UK. A multi-instrumentalist, Garratt plays almost all the instruments on his album as well as writing and producing them. ‘Phase’ is full of great beats and catchy hooks, with influences from pop, dance and indie music, all with an experimental edge.’Breathe Life’, ‘Worry’ and ‘Weathered’ are standout tracks.

JACK GARRATT

RIHANNA

STARS: 5/5

STARS: 4/5

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Contacts

Contact Information

Fly540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS NAIROBI OFFICES HEAD OFFICE Baycourt Upper Floor, Suite 3&4 The Watermark Business Park Ndege Rd, Karen PO Box 10293-00100,Nairobi Tel: +254 (0)20 388 3060-2 Fax: +254 (0)20 388 3063

540 CALL CENTRE ABC Place, off Waiyaki Way Tel: +254 (0)20 445 3252/6 Cell: +254 (0)722 540 540; (0)733 540 540 Fax: +254 (0)20 445 3257

DONHOLM 1st floor, Greenspan Mall, Donholm Tel: +254 (0)704 540 540, 705 540 540, 708 305 305

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OFFICE Ground floor, International Life House, Mama Ngina Street Next to Hilton Hotel Tel: +254 (0)702 540 540

JOMO KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS OFFICE

Unit 3 (Domestic Departures) Tel: +254 (0)20 827 523 Tel: +254 (0)20 827 366 Cell: +254 (0)727 532 273 Unit 1 (International Departures) Tel: +254 (0)20 827 521

KAREN OFFICE Office number 10, Karen Connection Karen Road, Nairobi Tel: +254 (0)722 305 305; 735 305 305 Email: Karen.Sales@fly-sax.com

LAICO REGENCY HOTEL 540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS

Mezz. floor, Shopping Arcade Tel: +254 (0)20 224 3211/3/4 Cell: +254 727 540 540; (0)737 540 540 Fax: +254 (0)20 224 3219

SOUTH SUDAN NAIROBI CBD OFFICE

KITALE

Ground floor International House, Nairobi Tel: +254 (0)712 540 540; 0735 540 555; 0717 305 305; 0703 305 305 Email: bookings@fly540.com or bookings@fly-sax.com

JUBA

540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS

540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS OFFICE

Terminal Building, Kitale Airstrip Tel: +254 (0)770 639 429 Tel: +254 (0)724 457 374 Tel: +254 (0)735 540 547

Juba International Airport

LAMU – NORTH COAST TRAVEL SERVICES

REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES

NEW MUTHAIGA OFFICE 1st floor, Thigiri Mall, New Muthaiga Tel: +254 (0)703 540 540

WILSON AIRPORT 540 SAFARI CIRCUIT SALES

Ground floor, Langata House Tel: +254 (0)20 254 0206 Tel: +254 (0)729 540 540 Tel: +254 (0)735 540 540 Email: 540.safaris@fly540.com

Next to Catholic Church/Equity Bank

Tel: +254 (0)42 213 0312 Tel: +254 (0)42 463 2054 Tel: +254 (0)725 942 444 Email: nctslamu@swiftmalindi.com Email: nctsmalindi@swiftmalindi.com

MALINDI 540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS

KENYA OFFICES

Lamu Road, Malindi Tel: +254 (0)422 120 370

ELDORET

MOMBASA

540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS

1st floor, Veecam House Oloo Street Tel: +254 (0)53 203 3570/80

ELDORET INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS OFFICE

Tel: +254 (0)53 203 0814 Tel: +254 (0)53 206 3823 ext 658

KAKAMEGA 540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS

Mezzanine floor, MegaMall Kisumu-Webuye Road Tel: +254 (0)701 305 305; 716 540 540; 728 305 305

KISUMU 540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS

Kisumu International Airport Tel: +254 (0)254 707 540 560 Tel: +254 (0)737 540 546 Mezz floor, Mega Plaza Tel: +254 (0)724 563 009; 734 540 550

540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS OFFICE

Ground Floor, Mombasa Trade Centre, Nkrumah Road Tel: +254 (0)41 231 9078/9 Cell: +254 (0)728 540 540; (0)710 540 540 Nyali Centre, next to Naivas, Links Road, Mombasa Tel: +254 (0)41 447 7540/2 Sales: +254 (0)41 540 540; 707 540 542

MOI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, MOMBASA Tel: +254 (0)41 343 4821 Tel: +254 (0)32 540 540; (0)722 555 730

UKUNDA 540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS

Ground floor, Bazaar Building Tel: +254 (0)732 540 559

Tel: +211 959 540540 Tel: +211 999 540540 Email: Sales.juba@fly540.com

GERMANY AVIAREPS AG Kaiserstrasse 77 60329 Frankfurt am Main RESERVATIONS

Tel: +49 (0)69 770 673 076 Fax: +49 (0)69 770 673 028 Email: Res540.FRA@aviareps.com SALES

Tel: +49 (0) 69 770 673 077 Fax: +49 (0)69 770 673 235 Email: sales540.FRA@aviareps.com

SOUTH AFRICA AVIAREPS (PTY) LTD 38 Wierda Road West Wierda Valley Sandton, Johannesburg RESERVATIONS

Tel: +27 (0) 11 722 0229 Fax: +27 (0) 11 783 8135 Email: Res540.JNB@aviareps.com SALES

Tel: +27 (0) 722 0229 Tel: +27 74 177 1596 Fax: +27 (0) 783 8135 Email: Sales540.JNB@aviareps.com

SWITZERLAND AIRLINE & TOURISM CENTER GMBH Badenerstr. 15, CH-8004 Zürich RESERVATIONS & SALES

TANZANIA ZANZIBAR AIRPORT 540 TICKETING & RESERVATIONS OFFICE

Tel: +41 (0) 44 286 99 62 Fax: +41 (0) 44 286 99 63 Email: 540-Switzerland@aviareps.com

Tel: +255 762 540 540

www.fly540.com

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Travel Info

Travel Information VISA INFORMATION  Most nationals require visas to enter East Africa. Citizens from the five East African states require no visas while those from the Common Market of East and Southern Africa (COMESA) member states have relaxed entry requirements into East Africa.

However, East African member states have their own visa requirements for various nationals.

HEALTH 

KENYAN VISAS  Under new rules, all foreigners requiring a visa for entry into Kenya must apply for one in advance via www.ecitizen.go.ke.

A visa is required by all visitors travelling to Kenya with the exception of those who are nationals of a number of countries, including – but not exclusive to – East African Community Partner States (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda).

• Multiple entry: US$100 • East Africa Visa: US$100 (for travel between Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda) • Single entry: US$50 • Transit Visa: US$20

Vaccination requirements for international travellers:

Persons aged 16 years and below will require a visa to enter Kenya. Diplomatic, Official, Service and Courtesy visas will continue to be issued Gratis.

• Only valid yellow fever vaccination certificates are required of all travellers over one year old, arriving from yellow fever infected countries.

For more information, please visit your relevant Kenya High Commission website.

• Vaccinations for international travellers are obtainable from all international air and sea ports, city and major municipal councils.

Any visitor going to South Sudan requires a valid visa. Visas are issued through the South Sudan Embassy.

GET ON BOARD PROMOTE YOUR BRAND TO AFRICA

SOUTH SUDAN VISAS  Immigration regulations stipulate that anyone going to South Sudan needs a travel permit from the Government of South Sudan. Those travelling to South Sudan from Kenya, should visit the South Sudan Embassy in Kenya.

Fees: • American Nationals: US$ 160 • African and Asian Nationals: US$ 50 • European Nationals: US$ 100 • All other passports assessed accordingly

TANZANIAN VISAS  All foreigners from non-Commonwealth countries are required to have a valid visa unless their countries have agreements with Tanzania under which the visa requirement is waived.

Exemptions: Citizens of Commonwealth countries are not required to obtain visas unless they are citizens of the United Kingdom, Canada, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand or Australia.

For further information on advertising in 540/Fly-SAX magazine contact Land & Marine Publications: Tel: +44 (0)1206 752902 Email: advertising@landmarine.org

www.landmarine.org 46

Africa’s low cost airline

Tanzanian visas are issued at entry points to Tanzania, including ports and airports, and any other gazetted entry point, from the Tanzanian High Commissions or embassies abroad, from the office of the Director of Immigration services in Dar es Salaam and the office of the Principal Immigration Officer, Zanzibar.

For more information visit: www.tanzania.go.tz/tanzaniaembassiesabroad.htm

Fleet

The Fly540 Aircraft Fleet

BOMBARDIER DASH 8 102 SERIES  Type: Twin-engined, medium-range, turboprop airliner Number in service: Two Fly540 operates modern aircraft and is constantly updating and modernising its fleet.

Capacity per aircraft: 37 passengers

The company uses aircraft such as the ATR 72-500, which burns only half as much fuel as some other aircraft and also emits less carbon into the atmosphere.

CANADAIR CL-600-2B19 REGIONAL JET 

This underlines the fact that Fly540 is a ‘green airline’ that cares for the environment.

Capacity per aircraft: 50 passengers

The crew and engineering team are professionally trained and certified to ICAO standards.

CESSNA CARAVAN C208 

Type: Twin-engine regional jet Number in service: Three

Type: Single turboprop engine, fixed-gear short-haul regional airliner Number in service: Two Capacity per aircraft: 10 passengers

FOKKER F28  Type: Twin engined medium range jet airliner Number in service: One Capacity per aircraft: 67 passengers

www.fly540.com

47

Kids’ Corner

Kids’

CORNER TRANSPORT JOKES

TRANSPORT

Q. Who earns a living by driving customers away?

Can you find the vehicles listed here in the letter grid?

Q. What type of snake do you find on a car?

A. A windscreen viper.

Q. What happened to the frog who parked in the wrong place?

A. He got toad away.

Q. What are the laziest parts of a car?

A. The tyres and exhaust.

Q. How does a train eat its food?

A. It choo-choos it.

Q. What do you call a man with a car on his head?

A. Jack.

Q. How do bees get around town?

A. On the buzz.

Q. What wobbles when it flies?

A. A jellycopter.

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Africa’s low cost airline

Tip: Some words are going backwards!

I

N

I

L U A T T

C P

I

H S K R H

Y M A T A T U C S U

I

R A

PLANE

BICYCLE

C Q E

YACHT

FERRY

BUS

CAR

L O N F

E R R Y

VAN

BODABODA

E N A L

P K E R

MATATU

SHIP

E L V R A C Z K

TRANSPORT ANAGRAMS Unscramble the letters to reveal the names of the vehicles

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

BOTORMIKE VARACAN TOOCERS PLAERONAE NIMISUB LIIMESOUN

Answers: 1. Motorbike, 2. Caravan, 3. Scooter, 4. Aeroplane, 5. Minibus, 6. Limousine

A. A taxi driver.

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