Paa Tanzania – issue 97

YOUR FREE PRECISION AIR MAGAZINE Issue 97, January - March 2020

Phoebe Ouma ARTIST FASHIONING AFRICAN STORIES

/ MBEYA PEAK / NEW YEAR, NEW TECH / UNIQUE FAVORS TZ / ZANZIBAR DRONES / KIRAN JETHWA / COFFEE CHOICE

Contents

Kenyan artist Phoebe Ouma – Page 8

Issue 97, January - March 2020

7 THE WISH LIST ... Zero Waste

11

4 NEWS Precision Air partners with Kilimanjaro Marathon

8 KENYA ARTIST PHOEBE OUMA

Artist fashioning African stories

11 UNIQUE FAVORS TZ

Parties with the personal touch

Regulars

15

27 COMPETITION Win Nuya's Essence natural beauty products

15 KIRAN JETHWA Tanzania is a feast of flavours

28 TECH New year, new tech

19 DRONES IN ZANZIBAR

30 PAA STAY Maktau Mountain Lodge

Are drones the answer to the archipelago's mosquito problem?

32

34 PAA MOTORING Toyota Hilux pickup

22 BEST FIVE COFFEE HOUSES IN TANZANIA

Country's coffee is ranked among the best in the world and here's where to drink it

24 MBEYA PEAK Mountain hike reveals communities living in

balance with nature in Southern Highlands

32 CARACAL What’s new, pussy cat?

36 NO-NONSENSE TALK WITH SONA Headstands and humility 2

Paa Tanzania

Precision Air Info 5 Paa News 37 Paa Royal Benefits 38 Route Network 39 Paa Contacts 40 Welcome Aboard

Cover picture of: Kericho Girl By Phoebe Ouma

Foreword Precision Air Services Plc Diamond Plaza PO Box 70770, Dar es Salaam Tanzania Tel: +255 (0)22 219 1000 Fax: +255 (0)22 286 0725 www.precisionairtz.com Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager: Hillary Mremi Email: hmremi@precisionairtz.com Paa Tanzania Magazine is published for Precision Air by: Land & Marine Publications Ltd 1 Kings Court, Newcomen Way Severalls Business Park Colchester, Essex CO4 9RA United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1206 752902 Email: publishing@landmarine.com www.landmarine.com ADVERTISING: Tel: +44 (0)1206 752902 Email: paa@landmarine.org Catherine O'Callaghan Cell: +44 (0) 7944 212063 (WhatsApp) Godfrey S. Urassa Cell: +255 (0) 686 118 816 (WhatsApp) The contents and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor, or any other organisation associated with this publication. While every care is taken to ensure accuracy in preparing the magazine, the Publisher and Precision Air assume no responsibility or liability for any inaccuracies or omissions. All submitted material is accepted on the understanding that the material can be edited, amended or abridged for publication. ©2020 Land & Marine Publications Ltd

Subscribe Request your e-version subscription by emailing: subscribe@landmarine.org

Happy new year!

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you aboard your Precision Air flight and to the latest edition of Paa magazine.

Our magazine is full of people like you: people who love and champion East Africa and are instrumental in showing it is a place full of innovation, beauty and hope.

Who knows, perhaps you could appear in a future edition of the magazine. Please get in touch, if you have a story to tell.

Just as our airline connects its valued passengers to places of adventure and beauty across the region – from the wildlife wonders of Serengeti and Entebbe through the waterside delights of Zanzibar and Mwanza to the big city thrills of Nairobi and Dar es Salaam – so Paa showcases the stories behind these attractions.

Our network for passengers to explore is expanding all the time. Currently there are plans in place to relaunch flights to Mbeya, the gateway to Tanzania's Southern Highlands, and to increase the frequency of flights to Tanzania's capital, Dodoma.

To meet the demand of these extra flights, we are looking to boost our fleet and establish a training school for pilots and crew to ensure we maintain the highest quality of safety and service as we expand.

Such measures will ensure our passengers continue to enjoy a comfortable, convenient and enjoyable flying experience going forward. Our Paa Royal programme also rewards frequent flyers with points that can be used with cash to purchase flight tickets. It also enables savings of up to 20 per cent with our partners such as GSM, Akemi restaurant, Southern Sun Hotel and the Colosseum Hotel and Fitness Club. To join, fill in a registration leaflet to be found in the flight seat pocket in front of you or call us on +255 684 202022.

Our aim is to ensure that you are always happy with our services, so please let us know if your recent experience has been anything short of excellent by sending an email to: customer-relations@precisionairtz.com.

You Are Why We Fly. Patrick Mwanri Managing Director and CEO Precision Air Services Plc

www.precisionairtz.com

3

News

Latest from Tanzania’s leading airline Jetline Action Photo – Kilimanjaro Premium Lager Marathon

Fly with us to Africa’s most popular safari park

Precision partners Kili Marathon The Kilimanjaro Marathon is back for its 18th year and once again Precision Air is partnering the hugely popular event.

More than 12,000 runners from across the globe will be involved across three races, including the 42.2 km marathon, on 1 March.

All races will be run in the foothills of Kilimanjaro, with the event taking over the town of Moshi during the race weekend with music events and parties to enjoy.

The Association of International Marathons-registered race was set up to promote the sport in Tanzania, and has the official backing of the Tanzania Tourist Board, the Tanzania Amateur Athletics Association and World Athletics, the governing body of international athletics.

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Paa Tanzania

Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park has come out as 2019’s most popular African safari park and Precision Air is the only airline in the world operating scheduled direct flights to witness the wild wonders.

We fly to the Serengeti via Seronera Airstrip three times a week directly from Dar with return flights to Zanzibar.

The survey was conducted by online safari marketplace Safari Bookings, which took 2,373 reviews to assess the 50 most popular national parks and reserves in Africa.

The Serengeti came out on top with an overall rating of 4.92 out of 5, the highest score ever recorded by the site.

This is the third year in a row the Serengeti has come out on top. To book flights, visit precisionairtz.com

The marathon attracts some of the cream of the country’s runners as well as talented athletes from abroad, but is open to any runner over the age of 21 to enter.

The day also includes a 21km half marathon and a 5km fun run, which is open to children as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

The deadline for entries for the race is 16 February. Precision Air will be there on the day and because we offer six daily flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport from a variety of destinations, we will be a vital carrier in ensuring runners get to the race on time.

We would like to wish all entrants the best of luck and we’ll be there to cheer you on.

For more information on the event and how to enter, visit kilimanjaromarathon.com

Keep in touch www.precisionairtz.com www.facebook.com/precisionairtz www.twitter.com/precisionairtz

The wish list

Mandala bracelet

… Zero waste

PUCKWANDERLUST.COM This circular moon bracelet depicts the lunar phases of the moon. Cast in 18 carat gold plated onto 100 per cent recycled sterling silver.

US$ 90

Tanzania has shown its dedication to becoming more eco-friendly with the government ban on plastic bags this year. If it has inspired you to lead a plastic-free life, here are some zero-waste household items that don’t compromise on style in helping you get into the green scene. In fact, it is your friends who are likely to be green with envy when they see how cool your new purchases are.

Shopping basket LOLAANDMAWU.COM Individually hand-woven.

Each Fairtrade basket is vegan and one of a kind.

US$ 84

Lunch bag POPPYTREFFRY.CO.UK Plastic-free, reusable and perfect for carrying your packed lunch to school or work, this lunch bag can easily be folded up once the contents have been consumed.

US$ 16

Reusable cotton gift wrap ETSY.COM Wrap up your presents time and time again with handmade 100 per cent linen and twine.

US$ 16

Plastic-free mattress Recycled glass beads LOLAANDMAWU.COM A combination of three strands of handmade recycled glass beads.

US$ 50

Upcycled basket LOLAANDMAWU.COM Made from straw and upcycled plastic bags.

A beautiful way to save plastic products from clogging up landfill sites.

US$ 39

FRENCHBEDROOMCOMPANY.CO.UK Handmade from naturally flame retardant, sustainable materials, this mattress is 100 per cent recyclable and biodegradable.

US$ 1,458

Bread bag EVERANDAGAIN.COM This reusable cotton bag can hold your daily bread from the bakers and keep it fresh all day.

US$ 35

www.precisionairtz.com

7

Kenya artist Phoebe Ouma

Artist fashioning African stories W

elcome to the elegant

none of those images featured

world of Phoebe Ouma.

women of a skin tone that

The Kenyan artist’s

matched her own.

drawings and paintings of lithe,

Never without a pencil in her

willowy women sashaying through

hand in her youth, the 23-year-old

stylised but recognisably African

only started sharing her work online

scenes were influenced by a child-

just over a year ago (check out her

hood love of fashion magazines

Instagram account phoebe_ouma),

and a realisation in adulthood that

but the response has been huge and overwhelmingly positive with

Artist

Phoebe Ouma

international media and a number of big-name brands wanting to work with her.

The marketing and fashion design graduate has ambitions to turn her sketches into a fashion line of her own, but until then she is keen to carry on telling African stories as an artist. Paa caught up with Ouma recently and here’s what we learned.

She still has the fashion magazine that inspired her aged nine…

“My mum bought me my first magazine in the summer of 2005, we were at Walmart [Ouma’s family moved to the US when she was four]. I just loved the girl on the cover, I didn’t really care for the stories inside. It was a visual feast for my eyes. It was a bridal magazine. I still have it up to this very day. I moved back to Kenya in the fall that year and reread that magazine for years. I didn’t own another magazine for a really long time until I moved closer to Nairobi and my cousin bought me a second-hand Vogue from a flea market. I think I liked how it was a combination of so many creative ideas. I continually discovered something new whenever I read it.”

It took a school friend to make her realise all her early work featured white women…

“I used to have a box of coloured pencils, about 12 in total. I had this peach one and I’d colour all of my girls in that tone. I’m embarrassed to say this, but I called it ‘skin colour’ looking back. A classmate in high school ???

???

asked why all my models were “white women”. I didn’t have an answer, I had to look at myself and why this was the way I saw things.

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Paa Tanzania

Images courtesy of: Phoebe Ouma

“My first magazine (the bridal one) had no people that looked like me. I wanted to be part of the creative force that put out images that reflected people who looked like me. I wanted to make it a way to love myself and let other people see themselves through my work and appreciate Africa through it.”

She recreates the places in Africa that live on in her memory…

“I feel like I live vicariously through my illustrations in a way. I recreate Kenyan places [among them Giraffe Manor in Nairobi and the Kericho tea plantations] that made an impression on me. Sometimes I see something for a moment and I just want to live in that feeling forever so I go back to that memory and recreate it in my work. I hope somebody else feels that magic as well.”

She likes to work alone…

“I don’t feel comfortable drawing in front of people, maybe it’s the pressure to perform but when I’m alone I’ll use pencil and a black ink pen. Just to put things roughly on paper but even though I plan I’m just as surprised Nairobi style

Ouma's rendering of the Villa Rosa Kempinski hotel

as my audience I really have no idea what the end result will be.”

www.precisionairtz.com

9

Kenya artist Phoebe Ouma

She adds to her sketches with watercolours and with her tablet…

“I’ll then scan it so I can refine my sketches on my tablet then colour them digitally if I choose not to use watercolours or gouache. I really like exploring as many options as I can. So my tablet, phone, notebook, sketchbook, paint and computer are all part of creating the end product.”

She’s choosy about the brands she works with…

“Whenever I do choose to do an illustration about a brand or a designer, I go for those who have a unique voice and are determined to tell the stories about this continent through their clothes and are making an impact beyond the clothes. Anytime there’s a story that resonates with me as an African person I get really excited.

“There are a few projects in the works that I’m not at liberty to speak about because they aren’t complete but I’m so privileged to be collaborating with them and I feel they will play a part in changing someone’s life for the better.”

She sees art and fashion as intertwined…

“I really enjoyed the part of creating the piece on paper and before it’s

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Paa Tanzania

actualised into a garment. I’ve worn the beautiful clothes I’d like to actualise, hoping it’s a foreshadow for the future and what I feel about Africa.”

She has plans to run her own fashion label…

“I would love to manufacture in Kenya but ship everywhere, share it at different fashion weeks globally.

My line will be a reflection of things I love. I adore classic styles but definitely with the touches that make me who I am.”

African style

Ouma's elegant work

Unique Favors Tz

Parties with the personal touch A Tanzanian company is making special occasions “even more unique, beautiful and memorable” with its custom-made gifts and decorations. Paa talks to its 24-year-old director and co-founder Patricia Majule, who has been singled out as one of the country’s most promising entrepreneurs.

Director

Patricia Majule

W

hen Tanzanian music

Such A-list endorsements – media-

institutions we have worked with assist us in

megastar Diamond Platnumz

personality-turned politician Jokate

creating a huge sense of trust between us

wants to celebrate his

Mwegelo, actor Aunty Ezekiel and a raft

and all our customers. It’s a big boost for our

birthday in style, he knows who to call.

of blue-chip businesses such as Vodacom

business.”

Unique Favors Tz designs and manufac-

are also satisfied customers – have helped

tures bespoke party supplies for events

Unique Favors Tz maintain consistent growth

set up distinguished itself from the outset

across Tanzania.

since its beginnings in 2014. It now employs

by being one of the few to manufacture

So, when the Bongo Flava singer wanted

The company the 24-year-old Majule

a team of 10 to create its range of party

paper supplies in Tanzania. Customers used

a gold-glittered crown to sit atop the cake

products such as gift boxes, paper flower

to having to buy from abroad, loved the

which marked his recent 30th birthday,

arrangements, place cards, banners and

import fee-free prices and the personalised

Unique Favors Tz co-founder Patricia Majule

photo frames that can all be personalised

customer service through Unique Favors Tz’s

and her team were able to create it just as he

with messages and images.

Instagram and Facebook pages. Here they

imagined.

Majule says: “The A-list clients and famous

could collaborate with the Unique team www.precisionairtz.com

11

Unique Favors Tz

on ideas for decorative touches for

sense of being recognised,” she says.

She even thinks she could jazz

their upcoming special event and

“A plain mug is miles different from a

up the Precision Air office parties!

have the results – manufactured at

mug printed with your kids’ photos

“Wouldn’t it be beautiful for Precision

the company’s production point in

and a sweet message from your

Air to have its name and logo printed

Tabata – delivered to their door.

loved ones.”

in ribbons and banners at trade fairs

“In a similar fashion, at a wedding

of get-togethers?” she says.

Personal touch

if the mother of the bride has a

This is great news in a Swahili culture

sash to identify her, the ushers have

which celebrates weddings in

a personalised badge, there are

style and loves to celebrate special

markers to welcome each guest to

occasions. Majule says Unique Favors

their place at the dinner table and

practices (such as using cardboard

Tz makes events such as weddings,

banners with messages celebrating

made from leftover egg shells) has

birthdays, business parties, family

the happy couple it gives a wonderful

seen her grab the attention of the

reunions “even more unique, beauti-

impression.”

international business media with

At such a young age, Majule’s sagacity in identifying a gap in the Leaders

Co-founders Patricia and Blasius Ndunguru

ful and memorable”.

Ndunguru, its success is down to its personal touch.

“Personalised products provide that feeling of ownership and that

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Paa Tanzania

service and introducing sustainable

Forbes naming her among its list

According to Majule, who set up the company with tech expert Blasius

market, ensuring premium customer

of most promising young African

Personalised products provide that feeling of ownership and that sense of being recognised

entrepreneurs.

The business is continuing to expand with customers across the country and orders also coming in from Kenya, South Africa and the UK.

Images courtesy of: Unique Favors Tz

Team

Unique Favors Tz team members

Here are five reasons that make Unique Favors Tz so, well, unique.

1

3

It knows the art of a gift is in its presentation

5

It’s a supportive place to work

Whether it’s party bags or wedding

Employees get in-house training to build

It’s kind to the environment

gifts, Unique Favors Tz can wrap them

skills. Majule says: “The company becomes

Unique Favors Tz makes its cardboard

in a range of styles. It doesn’t even have

part of their lives.”

by using the leftover eggshells from

to be one of its gifts. If you’ve bought

chicken eggs and does all its gift wrap-

a present for a special someone you

ping with paper products rather than

are particularly proud of, you can get it

plastic. “In five to ten years, my prod-

wrapped like a pro.

ucts will have contributed significantly to

4

curbing environmental pollution,” says Majule.

2

It has embraced social media

Contact Unique Favours Tz: Call/SMS/Whatsapp: (+255) 754 98 24 54 Call/SMS: (+255) 776 49 12 89

Majule says: “We have a number of

Its products are as personal

special Instagram accounts specific to

as a name

a particular product.” For example, for

Whether its ceramic plates, mugs, diaries,

its range of customised diaries, visit

notebooks, flasks, handkerchiefs, calendars

@uniquefavorstz.diaries; for mugs

or one of Unique Favor Tz’s many other

go to @uniquefavorstz.mugs

gifts, they can be personalised for their

and for gifts go to

intended recipient.

@uniquefavorstz.gifts

www.precisionairtz.com

13

Kiran Jethwa chef profile

Images courtesy of: Kiran Jethwa

Tanzania is a feast of flavours Kiran Jethwa, celebrity chef, television presenter and renowned restaurateur is at the cutting edge of Indo-fusion cuisine in East Africa. He’s a culinary explorer, thoroughly East African at heart, and has made it his mission to put the region on the global map.

Here he shares his love of Indo-Swahili food with HJ Radia and reveals his favourite Tanzanian dish.

“I

wanted to showcase Africa. We

born and raised, half Indian-half

then born in a totally different

started in East Africa to show

English chef has made shows

country, so I’m exposed to all sorts

the world that there is really

combining food, fun and extreme

of things. I always had friends

phenomenal interesting stuff

adventure. He has journeyed every-

from all sorts of different cultures

going on here. Amazing stories.

where from East Africa to Mongolia,

as well, I went to a very multina-

This was something I’ve always

Bangladesh, Amazonia, China and

tional school so was very lucky.”

felt internally for a long time.”

Borneo – just to name just a few.

Kiran Jethwa lives in Nairobi where

Food memories Growing Up

he runs two acclaimed restaurants

“I just have always known that

One of Kiran’s most favourite child-

and a production company. In

there's a very compelling story

hood food memories is of trips to get

his prolific international television

around cross-cultural heritage

fresh muhogo near Mombasa port

output for Nat Geo, Fox and Channel

and travel. I'm very fortunate to

- cassava chips and roasted cassava

4 amongst others, this Kenyan

be from two different cultures and

sprinkled with chilli and lemon. www.precisionairtz.com

15

Kiran Jethwa chef profile

As a private chef to high profile guests he recently enjoyed a visit to the exclusive Thanda Resort, on Tanzania’s Shungimbili Island Marine Reserve.

“Absolutely beautiful part of the world. Amazing fish. Wonderful local produce. It's isolated, stunning and pristine. East Africa's coast at its best.”

Indo-Swahili Fusion Swahili food has its own strong roots and identity within which Indian and East African elements collide and overlap. Snacks such as Bhajia are an all-time favourite in East Africa and Embracing the spice

“For sure the chilli lemon is an

One of Kiran’s favourite Tanzanian

Indian influence, and for sure the

dishes is definitely Zanzibari spicy

cassava is the influence of the

seafood curry. Apart from his admira-

and curry thrive on both sides.

Swahili. So, that is definitely one

tion for the way octopus is cooked

“I think the snack that has been

of my most cherished memories.

in Tanzania, it’s the spices that really

totally embraced by the whole

I can still taste it as I speak now,

get him.

of East Africa is the chapatti. A

absolutely wonderful and with

“You don't see these spices grown

Kenyan or Tanzanian chapatti

that little bit of chili and lemon, it’s

anywhere else in Africa the way

would more traditionally be called

something to die for.”

they grow in Zanzibar. It's really

a paratha by Indians, (not a roti

a wonderful thing. Something I

but it’s more a fried chapatti). But

think is particularly interesting is

that is the thing – you literally

this incredible quality of spices

find chapatti everywhere! It's a

“Tanzania in a nutshell probably

across the board – the cloves, the

wonderful snack, and they make it

is the heartland of Swahili culture.

cardamom, vanilla, all of that stuff.

Unique qualities of Tanzanian culture and food

I think that's a sweeping state-

Tanzania can grow such incredible

ment but I think that’s true. We all

quality of flavour basically.”

speak Swahili but I really struggle to understand Tanzanian Swahili because it's very true Swahili – whereas Kenyan Swahili tends to be a little bit more slang, it's mixed up with different languages.

Tanzanian Swahili is very, very pure. I think Tanzania is much more traditionally Swahili and seems to be a little more true to what we would call Swahili food and Swahili cooking – in Kenya it’s a little bit more isolated in the pockets and on the coast.”

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Paa Tanzania

Chilli peppers

India – and variations of food like samosa/sambusa, kachori, biriyani

so well here, so you can get fresh Everywhere in East Africa Chapattis

chapatti’s all over East Africa. So delicious.”

It’s also the amalgamation of Indian flavours such as coriander, chilli and fresh coconut amongst many others, that combined with the unmatchable quality of East African produce offers such stellar results.

“The food of Western India is so amazing, when all the Indians came over and they brought their food with them I think Africans embraced it. I think that it's just amazing food, and anyone who tastes and eats it is going to warm to it and enjoy it. Simple. Then you have the added benefit of being in a part of a world where all agricultural produce grows so incredibly well. I think it was a case of two cultures coming together, one culture embracing another culture’s flavours and then providing such incredible produce. That’s how it probably happened.”

Since food is the glue bringing communities together, for Kiran it is perfectly natural for these Indian and Swahili cultures to merge in this way.

“I think food is as much part of culture as language or dress or ceremony. In fact, food is part of all of that. It’s interwoven totally because food is the centre point of

Africans have really embraced that palette profile, particularly the spice, they love it

everything that happens socially – ceremony, celebration, mourning – food is as much a part of that as

Where do I see the future of

it. And you can see it already

anything.”

East African Swahili food? That’s

with more creative restaurants

tough to say but I think there's

Spice island

coming out.”

There are culinary influences big and

a seed that's been planted with

small, old and new - Arab, Gujarati,

this Indo-Swahili food that we

wonderful part of the world. It's

Goan, Keralan, Parsee, Pakistani and

get here. I think that will be a

naturally beautiful. The food is

Mediterranean amongst others.

foundation for how food devel-

amazing. The people are amaz-

“We're very lucky like that, I

ops – a lot of spice and flavour

ing. And if you come to anywhere

mean it has absolutely shaped

because Africans have really

in East Africa, you're going to be

the food of East Africa, these

embraced that palette profile,

very, very happy.”

cross-cultural relationships.

particularly the spice, they love

Cloves from Zanzibar

“Let people know this is a

www.precisionairtz.com

17

???

???

Drones in Zanzibar

Are drones the answer to Zanzibar’s mosquito problem?

A buzzing in the air in Zanzibar usually means a mosquito is nearby, but now the sounds could also be coming from an air-born army of drones designed to rid the island archipelago of the malaria-carrying bugs. Paa takes a look at the life-saving implications for this ingenious project.

T

anzania is embracing drones, especially for their potential benefit in the fields of medicine and health.

They have been used to fly essential blood, drugs and health screening samples to and from the country’s remotest areas, but the latest use of the remote-controlled craft in Zanzibar has the potential to save an unprecedented number of lives.

www.precisionairtz.com

19

Drones in Zanzibar

How to protect yourself While the drones do their work there is much you can do to protect yourself and your family.

If you are only spending a limited time on the archipelago, malaria tablets are the best defence. You will need to take them every day throughout your stay.

For those that live on the island, a daily pill is prohibitively expensive. Best then to do all you can to avoid getting bitten. Here’s how:  Make sure all doors and windows are kept closed at night and sleep under an intact mosquito net that has been treated with insecticide.  Slap on insect repellent on any exposed skin, especially in the evening and at night when mosquitoes prefer to feed. Ideally, look for sprays, roll-ons or creams that contain Deet (diethyltoluamide) for maximum protection.  Wear light, loose-fitting trousers rather than shorts and wear shirts with long sleeves.

For the first time drones are being

spraying is relatively inexpensive and

Spraying solution

to programme-initiated efforts

tested to help fight malaria on the

completely safe with international

island of Zanzibar. They will target

tests having found Aquatain is not

the rice paddies on the island, which

harmful to humans or any non-target

spraying insecticide on walls in

have been identified as malaria hot

organisms and is biodegradable.

homes and using mobile phones to

spots and a haven for mosquitoes to

A drone over rice fields in Cheju, Zanzibar

such as distributing thousands of insecticide-treated mosquito bed,

report cases of the disease for rapid

lay their eggs. The drones will spray a

Programme working

World Health Organization-endorsed

He also believes the spraying will

silicone-based liquid called Aquatain

prove effective in stopping the

project will be an important part

which forms a barrier on the surface

mosquitoes from reproducing and, in

of the strategy in achieving the

of the water and prevents the eggs

doing so, combat the long, well-

from hatching.

documented battle the archipelago

It is hoped this will significantly reduce the numbers of the malaria-

has had with malaria.

A decade ago, it was believed

carrying anopheles mosquitoes in

around 40 per cent of the islands’

the area.

population carried the disease, but a

Bart Knols, a medical ento-

strategic plan, the Zanzibar Malaria

mologist with the Dutch Malaria

Elimination Programme, has brought

Foundation and lead researcher

that down to one per cent in some

of the programme, says the drone

areas. The marked reduction is down

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Paa Tanzania

follow-up.

The programme hopes the drone

Mosquitoes have become resistant to insecticides and are changing their behaviours to avoid the insecticides on nets and on walls…

www.BartKnols.com

Meet the mosquito man

Zanzibar’s government goal of elimi-

The spraying is beginning in

nating malaria on the archipelago

Cheju in the south of the island with

by 2023.

the help of drone pilots from the

Knols says mosquitoes have

State University of Zanzibar. The

got started to get smart to the

drones are being supplied by DJI.

human efforts to stay clear of them

The Chinese drone manufacturer’s

promoted by the programme and the

Eduardo Rodriguez says the method

drones is the next step in tackling the

is efficient because spraying by hand

insects’ in their homes.

is very time-consuming and using a

Pilot scheme has begun He says: “Mosquitoes have become resistant to insecticides and are changing their behaviours to avoid the insecticides on nets and on walls by biting earlier in the evening when people are still outdoors. We need additional tools that work in the outdoor environment – a gap we can partially fill using drones.”

helicopter is too expensive.

There’s not much Bart Knols doesn’t know about mosquitoes.

The Dutchman is fascinated by them and yet has spent most of his working life devising ways to wipe them off the planet.

He has worked across East and South Africa in determining what it is that attracts mosquitos to humans and devising environmentally conscious ways to eliminate the bugs. Malaria claims three quarters of a million lives worldwide a year and Knols has first-hand experience of what a killer disease it is. During his more than a decade of working in Africa he has been “wiped out” by malaria eight or nine times and nearly lost his girlfriend to a particularly virulent bout in Zambia.

His work has brought him many awards, including the Eijkman medal, the highest award in the field of tropical medicine and international health in the Netherlands. However, results in the real world are what drive him and to this end he co-founded Anti-Malaria Drones that will expand operations to eliminate mosquito-borne diseases with military precision, now in Zanzibar and across Africa in future. For more information, visit antimalariadrones.com

www.precisionairtz.com

21

Best coffee houses in Tanzania

The five best coffee houses in Tanzania Tanzanian coffee is considered among the best in the world and is one of the country’s premier exports, but Tanzanians, until recently, have not been so interested in drinking it.

H

owever, a coffee culture

to start (or restart) your day which

is emerging here with

can be enjoyed in cosy surround-

many plantations creating

ings where you can work, chat with

blends for the domestic market and

friends or just while the hours away.

more coffee shops springing up in

Here is our pick of what’s on offer

major towns. After all, what’s not

from Instagrammable flat whites to

to love? A quality coffee brewed

bean-to-cup cafés with their own

and poured by an expert barista

plantations just up the road.

1

Zanzibar Coffee House - Zanzibar The Utengule Coffee Estate at the foot of the Images courtesy of :Union Cafe

Mbeya range in southern Tanzania has been producing world-leading coffee for more than a century. The brand’s franchise has expanded into hospitality with the acquisition of the Zanzibar Coffee House Hotel, an authentic Arabic house in the Spice Island’s historic Stone Town.

The hotel’s eight rooms sit atop a bustling café, which, of course, serves a range of delicious coffee, harvested from sister farm Utengule, roasted on site, and expertly brewed.

Where: 64 Mkunazini, Stone Town, Zanzibar.

When: Daily 8.30 am to 6.00 pm. For more information, visit utengule.com/zanzibar-coffee-house

2

Union Café – Moshi If there was ever a group of people in need of a caffeine hit it has to be hikers about to take on Mount Kilimanjaro. Luckily,

Image courtesy of : Zanzibar Coffee House

Moshi, the gateway to such altitudinal adventures has the Union Café.

22

Paa Tanzania

This stylish and vibrant place in the heart of town is a great place to swap stories while sipping on coffee grown on the slopes of Africa’s highest mountain by smallholder farmers and roasted on-site.

The farmers collectively sell their coffee through the Kilimanjaro Native Co-operative Union and if you enjoy your cuppa you can buy a bag of its 100 per cent Arabica beans to make some more at home.

Where: Corner of Old Arusha Road and Selous Avenue, Moshi When: Daily 7.00 am to 8.30 pm.

For more information, visit the café’s Facebook site.

3

Kitamu Coffee House – Arusha There’s a drive and dedication to all this popular Arusha café does.

Its Tanzanian owner, Leah Assange, bakes the café’s cake selection

every day at home before the shop opens and has personally visited and selected each smallholder farm in the surrounding Arusha hills that provides its coffee. Kitamu is Kiswahili for ‘delicious’ and a cake and a coffee here is just that. The café’s interior is just as comforting with the recent addition of a mezzanine floor providing more cosy spots to hunker down and enjoy your cuppa.

Image courtesy of : John Mallya

Where: Goliondoi Street, Arusha.

When: Daily 7.00 am to 10.00 pm.

For more information, visit info@kitamuafrica.com

4

Dawn’s Corner – Dar es Salaam The coffee at this charming café tucked away in Mbezi Beach is produced right next door by the expert team at micro

roastery and social enterprise Wamama Kahawa. Kahawa means coffee Images courtesy of : Impresso Espresso

in Kiswahili and the Wamama are the women who hand-roast the coffee beans – sourced from smallholder farms in Kilimanjaro – using individual hand-crank roasters. It’s a skilful, labour-intensive and sensory process ensuring the coffee bean is roasted to completion. With roasting sessions taking place every day, the coffee at Dawn’s Corner could not be fresher.

You can also pick up Wamama’s coffee from their mobile van that turns up at farmers’ markets and events across the city.

Images courtesy of: Wamama Kahawa Coffee Roasters

Where: Take a right at Africana turn-off on New Bagamoyo Road, Mbezi Beach.

When: Monday to Saturday 8 am to 5 pm.

5

Impresso Espresso – Dar es Salaam Coffee shops are a rarity in the bustle of Dar’s

city centre and this stylish café with its elegant and colourful décor plays to its sanctuary status. There are shelves of second-hand books to delve into and a stack of retro board games to play with friends while you enjoy your authentic Tanzanian coffee or a range of freshly made food. This is a place that rewards longer stays and its outdoor play area makes it great for families looking for a welcoming snack stop.

When: Daily 8.00 am to 9.00 pm.

Where: Chole Road, Masaki, Dar es Salaam For more information, visit impresso-espresso-dar.business.site www.precisionairtz.com

23

Mbeya Peak

Scaling the land where anything grows Images courtesy of Mark Edwards

Mark Edwards gives up on a record-breaking ascent of 2,820-metre Mbeya Peak in favour of a more leisurely hike to the top that provides insight into village life amid the fertile fields of the Southern Highlands.

M

ost visitors to Utengule

some of which can be reached on

come for the coffee.

foot from the Utengule Coffee Lodge.

No surprises there,

Among them is Mbeya Peak, the

the 500-acre Utengule Coffee

loftiest point in the bowl-like Mbeya

Plantation has been making the

Ranges that corral the lodge. The

most of the ideal growing condi-

hike from Utengule to its 2,820-metre

tions 1,400 metres above sea level

peak and back again should take

in the Mbeya ranges for a century,

between seven and eight hours for

producing award-winning blends

those of a decent fitness level. You’ll

that are prized internationally and

need a guide and for my trip in mid

have also done much to instigate

December the lodge selected Sadiki,

a late-to-the-party coffee drinking

who is in his 50s but looks a couple

culture here in Tanzania.

of decades younger. He recently

the day. So after a cooked breakfast

The Utengule Coffee Lodge

Misty mountain

The approach to Mbeya Peak

part of the climb – said to be steeper than the ascent of Kilimanjaro – coinciding with the hottest part of

completed the hike in four hours – a

at the Lodge’s restaurant, including a

occupies the only part of the plot not

time so ridiculously rapid most staff at

fortifying French press of Utengule’s

conducive to coffee growing, instead

the lodge I speak to believe he must

premier 100 per cent Arabica bean

offering a pampered escape for

have run a good part of it.

coffee, we head off.

transcendent views into the Great Rift

Record ascent

Natural bounty

Valley. A stay here offers a fantastic

I am told Sadiki is the perfect guide

opportunity to see the coffee-making

to accompany me. I am also told he

process up close – especially fun

does not speak much English, but I

up a rocky, pine-dotted hill for about

during the picking months from

figure if he is in the mood to come

half an hour until we emerge onto a

May to August – and, of course,

anywhere close to his record, I’m not

verdant plateau of smallholder farms,

drink plenty of the truly farm-to-cup

going to have much breath to waste

which marks the beginnings of the

results. The lodge is also a gateway to

on talking.

village of Idugumbi.

visitors with its bountiful gardens and

the rarely visited natural treasures of

We are advised to make an early

the surrounding southern highlands,

start to avoid the challenging final

24

Paa Tanzania

View from the top Mark amid the mist

The way is steep as soon as we exit the gates of the lodge. We scrabble

Abdul Chang’a, Utengule Coffee Lodge’s knowledgeable

We are climbing steadily and should be able to see Mbeya Peak, haloed with clouds and looming majestically above us

banks of mist. It’s mid December and the wet season, which will continue until April, is in earnest. I have recently come from the broiling coastal lowlands of Dar es Salaam and the five degree drop in temperature up here is welcome as is the cool fingers of a breeze as you walk at this alti-

up its riches and the Idugumbi farm-

tude, but the rain comes frequently.

ers work alongside in gentle tandem.

We’ve barely been walking a couple

In the early morning it is mostly

of hours and have already been

women – distinct amid the greenery

drenched twice. The mist means I

in their colourful kangas – working in

have no idea how close we are to

the maize fields, the slow back and

Mbeya Peak, but I’m guessing Sadiki's

forth swing of their scythes a drowsy

record is not in danger. As for my

metronome.

guide, he seems in his element, wind-

Such a relaxing environment

milling his arms in childish glee as we

distracts momentarily from the task

take on steeper sections and pointing

ahead. We are climbing steadily and

out his own maize farm in his village

should be able to see Mbeya Peak,

of Mbalizi. It’s a 14-kilometre round

haloed with clouds and looming

trip commute to Utengule each day

majestically above us. I know,

for him. No wonder he’s so fit.

because the sight took my breath away the day before when Abdul

Few tourists to be seen

brought me to Idugumbi. We hiked

The plantations change from maize

here ostensibly for the stunning

to coffee as we get higher. A group

sunset views it afforded, but were

of young men at work in the fields

and unflappably good-humoured

waylaid by the sight of a village

at the coffee-growing stronghold of

marketing manager, had told me the

football match in which the goalposts

Lunji Farm spot me and give chase –

day before that “everything grows

were each made with three tree

a slightly alarming sight given they’re

in Mbeya”. Up here you can believe

branches tied together with vine and

all carrying scythes. But all they

that’s true. Each home made from

the referee was dressed in a suit.

kiln-fired bricks of sand has its own plentiful plot of maize, corn or beans.

However, now Mbeya Peak is a latent presence shrouded behind

want is a picture with the ‘mzungu’ Majestic

Mbeya Peak the day before the climb

(foreigner). Despite its beauty, the Mbeya ranges and the surrounding

One has a tree in its yard bursting

southern Highlands are on few tour-

with the biggest and brightest

ists’ itineraries. That’s great for me on

pomegranates I have ever seen. The

the day as I have this fecund paradise

dirt tracks that form a lattice between

to myself, but others are missing out.

plots are fringed with mango trees

We walk on up a dirt road that

that hang heavy with the ripe fruit. It

winds around a tightly forested

seems nature’s bounty is free to all.

hill. A truck chugs around a corner

Those working early in the fields grab

laden with fresh avocados and the

a low-hanging mango to sustain their

laughing men who picked them.

efforts and eat it, skin included – it’s a

We exchange waves and a ‘habari

good source of roughage, apparently.

za asubuhi’ (‘Good morning’) and

The earth here seems to be heaving

press on. Later we meet a young

www.precisionairtz.com

25

Mbeya Peak

boy guiding a donkey down a steep

restricted the acuity of sound up here

the top together and I’m giddy with

and narrow path. The animal is

astounds. I can hear the calls of day-

the exertion and achievement.

carrying two burlap bags packed

to-day life from Mbeya Peak village,

with just-picked potatoes. Even at

hundreds of metres below, and there

packed lunch he’s carried to the

this altitude farmland here is fertile.

are the tell-tale rings of cattle bells to

top – a boiled egg each, cheese

Our way is steepening now and the

indicate a herd is sharing our altitude

sandwiches and a chocolate brownie

manicured order of the plantations

somewhere.

is being overtaken by wilder, rain

Sadiki and I share a hug and the

– which we wolf down in silence.

Posing for a picture

Various Utengule staff had rhap-

forest-like environment with crystal

Mountain mint

clear mountain streams snaking past

When I come across my first cow up

Peak, but today I can barely see

us in a sibilant rush.

here I am amazed that such a bulky

further than my own outstretched

beast can navigate these inclines and

hand. It’s an oddly claustrophobic

of cicadas, or nyenje as they are

we share a moment staring at each

end to the ascent, but the mist keens

known here, soundtracks our efforts.

other in mutual bemusement. The

your other senses to the experience.

The lovelorn insect pumps up its

way is so steep now that I am often

I allow the chill fingers of the breeze

abdomens up to 400 times a second

reduced to climbing on all fours. We

up here to cool my sweat-soaked skin,

to bellow its voice boxes to attract a

traverse the ridges between some of

snort deep draughts of the moist,

mate. My chest feels like it’s rising and

the highest peaks up here, building

limpid air and listen out for life on the

falling at a similar rate as the route

up to the big one. Even Sadiki has

lower climbs.

becomes steeper and craggier. There

stopped texting. He fashions me a

are huge chunks of quartz and garnet

climbing stick, which works well for a

another downpour that slickens the

underfoot as we work our way up.

while, but I lean on it too hard at one

soil of the path and lands both Sadiki

Sadiki is still noticeably untroubled,

point and it snaps, plunging me nose

and I on our backsides on numerous

in fact he signals his disdain for the

first into the heather. It’s the resultant

occasions. However, bright sunshine

challenge by involving himself in an

scent rather than the impact that

comes soon after and scours the sky

extended texted conversation with

shocks me. I’m face first in mountain

clear of the morning mist. Suddenly

his wife on his phone as he climbs.

mint and it smells wonderful. Abdul

the corrugated roofs of the villages

told me that the Utengule restaurant

we had passed through coming up

uses fresh mint in many of its dishes,

shine in the basin below like pools of

We are at a height now where the arc

but I didn’t imagine it was sourced all

mercury and the magnificence of the

of mountains that form the Mbeya

the way up here.

Great Rift Valley is revealed.

Under this jungle canopy a tinnitus

Final ascent

Ranges should be clear ahead and we

The spearmint blast invigorates me

should be able to look down into a

and I’ve soon caught up Sadiki for the

basin of land that includes the town

last push to Mbeya Peak. We arrive at

Farm workers in Lunji

sodised about the view from Mbeya

The descent is made tricky by

Sunset

View across the Great Rift Valley from Idugumbi

Sadiki's record was never in danger. In fact, on that occasion he made it up and down in close to the

of Mbeya and its surrounding villages.

time it took us to reach the peak.

However, the mist still envelopes all

However, my seven-hour hike gave

but the terrain we are currently tack-

me a glimpse of the wonders of the

ling. Sadiki indicates that Mbeya Peak

Southern Highlands and I am keen to

is just ahead, glowering immutably

take my time to experience more.

behind the mist, and soon we will be upon it.

We are more than 2,500 metres

Hikes to Mbeya Peak can be organised from Utengule Coffee

above sea level now and the land

Lodge. For more details, visit

here – as much as we can see of it – is

utengule.com

made up of is towering banks of heath and heather. While our vision is

26

Paa Tanzania

Paa Competition

Win Nuya's Essence natural beauty products Last issue’s winner A ward-winning beauty brand Nuya's Essence is the brainchild of former Miss Universe Tanzania Hellen Dausen. The Tanzanian company handcrafts the wonderfully fragrant and 100 per cent natural products using locally grown botanical oils, butters, herbs and spices in its Zanzibar studio. Nuya's Essence was named among the top 50 Tanzania brands in 2017. To see the full range of the company's products, visit nuyasessence.com

Paa is offering the chance for one reader to win a selection of the best selling products from Nuya's Essence: Turmeric Oil (30 ml), Charcoal Soap (120 g) and Hibiscus Mint Body Scrub (300 g). To enter, the competition, answer the question below and email your answer to competition@landmarine.org with a photograph of yourself holding the magazine. Good luck!

Congratulations to our winner, Sarah Wambura, who wins a night’s accommodation for two at the Udzungwa Forest Tented Camp. Well done and thank you for flying Precision Air.

Q: Where on Zanzibar is the anti-malaria spraying programme using drones being piloted?

Terms and conditions: One entry per person. Entrants must be 18 years or over. The organisers' decision is final. The competition is not open to employees and their relatives of Nuya's Essence, Precision Air, or Land & Marine Publications Ltd. Email : competition@landmarine.org by 20th March 2020. Image shown is for representation only.

paa

In-flight Magazine

TANZ ANIA

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Tech

NEW YEAR, NEW TECH The new year is the signal for many of us to break long-standing bad habits and turn over a new leaf. However, the majority of these resolutions start to flounder in February as our will power wanes. Millions of us do it, but don't despair! Technology is on hand to stop us reneging on our resolutions and keep our new life goals on track. Here are five common new year resolutions and the tech that makes achieving them that little bit easier.

Elf Emmit BE HAPPIER… amazon.co.uk Image: Elf / amazon.com Price: US$ 48

Saent BECOME MORE PRODUCTIVE… SAENT.COM Image: Saent / saent.com Price: US$ 59

Saent is the world’s first smart device and app designed to help you focus like a pro in the workplace by blocking digital distractions. Simply set your work goal on the phone app and press the desktop Saent button, which acts a sort of digital egg timer, counting down the minutes of your work block while blocking distracting online sites to ensure you remain locked on the task at hand. Saent also awards you a replenishing screen break once the time is over to keep your brain agile and creative and the button stays pleasingly illuminated while you are working to inform any work colleague who approaches not to break your ninja-like focus.

28

Paa Tanzania

If you are too stressed to sleep or feel fatigued when you need to get work done, the team behind the Elf Emmit believe it is because you are out of sync with the natural rhythm of mind and body. Their solution is a headband powered through the headphone socket on your phone or tablet that transmits electromagnetic pulses to get your mind where it needs to be. Using the Bellabee app you can choose the signal frequency that is best suited to what you want to achieve. The electromagnetic coil is worn around the back of the head so it sends pulses safely and painlessly straight to your cerebellum to help you get to happy in a hurry.

HyperIce Vyper 2 Foam Roller GET FITTER… HYPERICE.COM/VYPER2 Image: Hyperice /hyperice.com Price: US$ 199

‘No pain, no gain’ is now considered a flawed motivation when it comes to fitness training as it often leaves you wrecked rather than ripped. But, if you are embarking on a fitness regime there will be days when your body, unfamiliar to such stresses, feels stiff and sore. Proper recovery is key to evolving as an athlete – and that is what you are on a training regimen – and the HyperIce Vyper 2 Foam Roller will help bring your muscles back to life. Foam rollers can be found in most gyms, but not like this one. It features three speeds of high-intensity vibration to relax and unwind your tired muscles so you are ready to attack your next day’s workout.

Volwco Smart Language Translator TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE… AMAZON.CO.UK Price: US$ 50 Image: Volwco / Amazon.com

Learning a foreign language gives you a competitive edge in career choices, enhances listening skills and memory and helps you appreciate new countries on your travels. However, it is not easy and there are an awful lot of languages out there. Until you master complete fluency, it may be wise to fall back on the Volwco on your travels. This handheld device, which will take up little room in your travel baggage, supports translation between 41 languages, including Swahili. To use, connect through the smartphone app and speak or type your text, which will then be translated within half a second. That’s fast, in anyone’s language.

The Kindle Paperwhite TO READ MORE… AMAZON.COM Price: US$ 110 Image: Amazon /Amazon.com

One way to ensure you stick to your resolution to read more is to carry your books wherever you go. The Kindle Paperwhite can slip in your back pocket but has 4GB of memory to store thousands of books and has built in Wi-Fi to download more when you run out. It’s also waterproof so can be brought along without concern on your beach holiday or an indulgent soak in the bath. You don’t even have to open your eyes to keep up with your latest page-turner as the Paperwhite has audiobooks app Audible built in. One huge advantage of reading more is that it builds your vocabulary.

–Paperwhite automatically adds any word you look up in its dictionary to its flashcard pile to test yourself on later.

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29

A lodge with a conscience it OK to indulge ourselves and

I

Precision Air’s Chairman and founder

our loved ones with a holiday

Michael Shirima in 2006 and has in

when there are many in society

that time look after more than 120

who don’t have the option of such

orphans aged up to seven years. The

luxuries?

children move on once they reach

t’s a recogniseable dilemma – is

Striking a balance between how

The centre was established by

the maximum age, but the centre

much we spend on ourselves and

continues to meet the cost of their

how much we give back to those less

education.

fortunate is made somewhat easier

by Maktau Mountain Lodge.

That is because while a stay at this

Currently, the centre is home to 60 from the Ursuline Order. Facilities at

tranquil hotel tucked into he foothills

the centre include a hospital, a school

of Mount Kilimanjaro in the Rombo

and a livestock keeping project.

District close to the Kenyan border

profits. Maktau Mountain Lodge was

children, who are cared for by nuns Rooms

Accommodation at the lodge

recently built to support the work of the children’s centre.

Guests at the lodge are very welcome to spend time with the

is undoubtedly a fantastic experi-

Supporting centre

ence, all guests can be secure in the

Due to challenges in raising the

knowledge that the proceeds from

donations to run the centre,

their stay will go towards supporting

Shirima came up with the idea of

take on Mount Kilimanjaro are also

the neighbouring Cornel Ngaleku

establishing economic projects to

catered for with Maktau Mountain

Children Centre.

support the centre through their

Lodge organising climbs on the

Paa Stay / Maktau Mountain Lodge 30

Paa Tanzania

children at the centre, helping with school classes or activities.

Adventurous guests that want to

Images courtesy of Maktau Mountain Lodge

The Lodge is a perfect place to relax before and after climbing the ‘Roof of Africa’

While at Maktau Mountain Lodge the following activities can be arranged for you: • Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro

Rongai route on the northern side

– with twin and triple room options

• A tour to local markets

of the mountain – the closest to the

– and the site’s refreshing swimming

Lodge – with an officially registered

pool, filled with crystalline water from

• Bicycle rides to villages across the Kenyan border

local company.

mountain streams.

• Cultural tour of the Chagga tribe

Maktau Mountain Lodge takes

• Visit to Cornle Ngaleku Children Centre

care of everything, from transport

For business and leisure

to the entrance gate and back to

The relaxed ambience also attracts

the Lodge after finishing the climb,

business conferences – the Lodge

guides, porters and cooks, tents and

is just a one-and-a-half-hour drive

food on the mountain.

from Moshi and two and a half hours

restaurant, which offers meals

from Arusha – with two conference

which draw on fresh produce from

before and after climbing the ‘Roof

rooms that can accommodate up to

the fertile farms of the Kilimanjaro

of Africa’. It is a true tranquil hideaway

15 people and a seminar hall that can

foothills. There is also a bar with an

with a journey of nine kilometres (five-

accommodate up to 50 people.

extensive drinks list, including local

and-a-half miles) required to reach the nearest busy road. The relaxed

Organic restaurant

surroundings are complemented by

Business and leisure guests alike

the 16 light and airy en-suite rooms

congregate at the Lodge’s organic

“banana beer” favourite mbege.

Caring home

Dinner time at the Cornel Ngaleku Children centre

Whether you are after a private getaway, a corporate meeting or a night’s rest before your Kilimanjaro ascent, Maktau Mountain Lodge cares for its caring guests. To find out more

Cornel Ngaleku Children Centre / ngalekucentre.com

The Lodge is a perfect place to relax

• A walking safari or canoe trip around Lake Chala

about Maktau Mountain Lodge, book or check availability for your stay, visit maktaulodge.com To donate to the Cornel Ngaleku Children Centre directly: Mail: PO Box 2780 Arusha Tanzania E-mail: coordinator@ngaleku.org Phone: +255 27 250 0642 Fax: +255 27 250 0643 Mobile/cell phone: +255 788 270458 E-mail: centre@ngaleku.org should you need contact with the centre's Sister-in-Charge.

You can also become a friend of the Centre on Facebook and Instagram: @Cornlengalekuchildrencentre For corporate donations, please contact the chairman on: trustee@ngaleku.org

www.precisionairtz.com

31

Caracal Cats

What’s new, pussy cat?

Thanks to its graceful looks and elegant bearing the African caracal has become a popular – albeit expensive – pet in some North American households. Clearly, this fine-looking animal belongs in the wild, where its speed and swift reactions can be used as nature intended.

I

f I had to choose my favourite

be dangerous when left with small

African cat, it wouldn’t be a lion,

children. In the United States, caracals

a leopard or even the sleek lines

fetch around US$ 2,500 or more and

of a cheetah. My choice of feline

can be found on specialist breeder

form is smaller, rarer and altogether

websites with images of proud

more handsome, I think. My choice

owners with their newly acquired

would be the caracal.

The caracal may lack the distinctive markings of a cheetah, the regal

cuddly pets.

Sublime grace

Not everyone agrees that caracals make suitable pets. Says

The caracal

presence of a lion or the solitary and

the cat family from the lynx and the

one US-based expert: “There’s still

highly successful hunting skills of a

bobcat and is more closely related

too much of the wild in them to be a

leopard. Yet this mid-sized cat has a

genetically to the African golden cat

domestic cat. “Caracals need outdoor

sublime grace and immense power as

(found in Central and West Africa) and

enclosures and safe spaces in which

well as the fluffiest of tufted ears.

the slender serval.

to play. I think anyone would fall

The 'desert lynx'

Adult caracal males can weigh up to

they are best left to roam free on the

20 kg, so this is no domestic pussy

African plains.”

With those distinctive ears, the caracal (meaning ‘black ear’ in Turkish) is not unlike a lynx or bobcat to look at and has been nicknamed the desert lynx.

But it belongs to a different branch of

32

Paa Tanzania

in love with this gorgeous cat, but

cat. Yet caracals, like cheetahs, can be

One problem with domestic

semi-domesticated. But should they?

caracals as that they tend to be ‘food

Caracals will not kill or seriously

aggressive’. Owners may be tempted

harm people, although they can

to overfeed them, leading to obesity

and the loss of those wonderfully sleek looks. It’s advisable to feed a pet caracal in a quiet place and, if it cohabits with other felines, to separate them at feeding time.

Adult caracal males can weigh up to 20 kg, so this is no domestic pussy cat.

Like servals and other wild feline

It’s the same with their quarry, says McBride: “With a bit of a head start, most antelope can outrun a lion or a leopard. Cheetah can outrun their prey, but only in fairly short bursts. At the same time, most antelope cannot

species, both male and female

run fast for long and have little

caracals use ‘scent marking’ to define

niche of the caracal and what

stamina. Wild dog exploit this lack

their territory. Caracals also have a

characteristics enable it to live in any

of staying power by running them

tendency to void on fluffy surfaces

one location? Maybe serval occupy

down in relays. So, this is their niche.”

such as down quilts, pillows and

a niche here [in Kafue] that in their

clothing left on the floor.

absence caracal could. So, we need to

Thriving in East Africa

Caracals purr, but very softly. A

ask, what is the niche for the caracal

“To understand why caracal are

contented caracal emits a bird-like

and what is the niche for the serval?

successful in some locations and

trill that conveys a happy greeting.

Have the latter outcompeted the

serval in others, we just have to find

Strangely enough, caracals respond

former here, or has something else

out the niches of the two cats and

eagerly to a human imitation of this

outcompeted them?”

the characteristics that enable them

sound.

In the wild, Caracals are much more predatory than the similar-sized serval. And they have evolved to

“For example, lion are co-operative Not a pet

Caracals are wild

to fill those niches. It could be that

hunters and cannot operate in bush

here in Kafue the serval comes out

which is too dense as they cannot see

top, for whatever reason, and maybe

one another. Leopards hunt in thicker

the answer is climate.”

hunt larger prey such as dik-dik and

bush as they are mostly solitary. Both

But at least the caracal seems to

other small antelope. Caracals are

are mainly nocturnal, probably due

be holding its own here in East Africa

excellent jumpers and have swift

to temperature, whereas cheetah are

and perhaps we should just be thank-

reactions. They use these skills to

diurnal, so are not likely on average to

ful for that – even if some misguided

hunt birds – and it is here, in addition

meet the others. Different cats have

folk want to take this striking looking

to its fondness for dik-dik, that the

different niches.”

creature home as a pet.

caracal has created a niche for itself in the food chain.

Finding its niche This niche is important. Big cat expert Chris McBride, owner of McBrides’ Camp in Zambia’s Kafue National Park and author of three books on lions, explains: “All animals and plants have a niche or place in the ecosystem within which they live, and have characteristics which enable them and not anything else to live there – although there can be an overlap.”

Noting the almost total absence of caracal in Kafue and the park’s comparatively large serval population, McBride asks: “What is the

www.precisionairtz.com

33

By Gary Gimson

Can buying new be cheaper than used?

T

hanks to increasing restrictions on imported vehicles (and with more to come), life

is getting tougher and tougher for those of us who always preferred to buy our used cars from Japan.

Up until now, buying secondhand Japanese cars has been mutually beneficial. The Japanese have a ready outlet for their second-hand vehicles and we in East Africa can get our hands on a much cherished and mostly under-used car for a whole lot less than a new example.

Locally assembled Sadly, and over the next two or three years, the signs are that this option could be coming to an end.

So, what’s the alternative?

Revenue Authority (or similar in

Since October 2019, the Hillux has

As I see it, there are three:

Kenya and Uganda). And if the latest

been screwed together in Mombasa

purchase a very expensive and

sales figures are any guide, then this

by Associated Vehicle Assemblers

heavily taxed brand-new import,

is exactly what we are doing and in

(AVA) at a new KES 1 billion plant.

buy a used example of one of these

growing numbers.

AVA is one of three such firms in

regular new imports and on which

In addition to the prospect of the

Classy

Kenya. There is also at least one

the door seems to be closing or opt

Kenya-designed and built Mobius (it

for one of East Africa’s slowly widen-

seems a long time finally coming to

ing list of locally assembled vehicles

market), there is, for the moment, a

– known in industry parlance as

relatively narrow band from which

complete knock downs (CKDs).

to choose. The newest of these is

association with AVA) had been

The advantage of the latter is

The interior

such Tanzania-Korean joint venture plant planned for the Kurasini area in Dar es Salaam.

Up until now, Toyota Kenya (in

the Toyota Hillux and it’s a fair bet

assembling around 300 Hino trucks

that these vehicles don’t get clob-

that the pickup will soon be the

and 500 Land Cruisers (popular, of

bered with duties and are treated

most popular of these locally built

course, with tour operators) each

somewhat benignly by the Tanzania

vehicles.

year, plus some Yamaha motorbikes

Paa Motoring / Toyota Hilux pickup 34

Paa Tanzania

Toyota powertrain The HIllux

(the XTZ125E). The sure-to-be-indemand Hillux will no doubt greatly increase these annual output figures.

Ok, it may be assembled in East Africa but what’s the CKD Hilux actually like to buy, own and drive? As far as the local market is concerned, the

The same goes for the colour

Elsewhere in the world, the

off-roader comes as both 4x2 single

options. Initially, the only available

double-cab sector has gone all

cab and 4x4 double cab.

colour was white but a wider range

upmarket and top-end examples

of colours are on their way.

can be priced north of USD 60,000

Let’s face it, the single cab variant is pretty basic and aimed, primarily,

and compete head to head with

at the industrial/business/delivery

Bargain

buyer. But the double-cab certainly

As for engines, there’s only a single

here in East Africa, prices for the

offers a degree of sophistication

workhorse 2.4-litre diesel producing

prosaic single-cab version on offer

and desirability – and especially if

148bhp and available with both a

are uber enticing and kick-in, for

you can add your own set of rims to

manual or five-speed automatic

example, in Kenya at around KES 3.1

replace the rather basic steel ones

gearbox. In fact, it’s a tried and

million. Expect to pay from KES 5.3

fitted by AVA. Toyota really needs to

tested Toyota powertrain and it has

million, though, for the double cab.

up-sell here.

reliability written into its DNA.

A bargain indeed.

more mainstream luxury SUVs. But

Images courtesy of: Toyota

www.precisionairtz.com

35

No-nonsense talk with Sona

Headstands and Humility Can I help you with that?”

“No! I can do it myself. I don’t need any help!”

This is an interaction between myself and my 7 year-old daughter (7 going on 17, but that’s another story).

She’s fiercely independent and if she isn’t able to do something, she will, by hook or by crook, figure out how to do it and end up doing it pretty well. She really does remind me of myself.

Paa has a new columnist. Sona Parmar is a Nairobi-based clinical nutritionist certified by the Nutrition Therapy Council. In each issue the mum-of-three will take a wry look at the human condition inspired by events in her own life. To find out more about her work, visit nutritionbysona.com and instagram.com/inspirationbysona

But what her actions also reflect back to me is my lack of humility. And nowhere has this been more evident for me than in my

ego, that’s not the point. I can’t do one and I

that I’m 40. But I know when I was 39, and

yoga practice.

could before.

someone dared say that I was in my “forties”, I

I’ve been doing this a long time, so physi-

Actually, what my ego wants to write is not

definitely felt a twinge of annoyance.

cally I’m pretty adept. Or I was. Recently, by

that I can’t do one, rather that I shouldn’t do

burying various emotional issues in my body,

one. (The difference is semantics and yet I feel

emphasis placed on youth, whether it’s how

I’d become a chiropractor’s dream and yoga

the need to say it).

we look or how we feel. My failing headstand

postures that used to be like second nature

It makes me think of other changes that we

are actually completely off the menu for me

have no control over, even though we might

now. My ego is really struggling with this.

try. Aging is one.

One such asana (yoga position) is a simple

We live in a culture where there is so much

is part of this - but it also about realising that everything changes, even if it’s not about age.

I realise that when you can no longer do something you used to be able to do, it’s

headstand. I know there are many people

Rediscovering yourself

who can’t do a headstand, whether they’re

Since I shaved my head, most people think I’m

attention and awareness to an area of your life

newbies or experienced practitioners. For my

in my late twenties. That works for me, given

that may have been on autopilot.

not about berating yourself, rather to bring

It’s not about holding on, rather about rediscovering yourself.

And now that my yoga practice has changed, I am amazed at what I see in myself and the way I do things. It was an area of my life I didn’t give much attention to. It was just something I’d get up and do.

How you do anything is how you do everything.

Where else was I not paying attention?

Where else was I on autopilot?

So pause and rediscover. Get mindful and conscious. And look at everything with brand new eyes.

36

Paa Tanzania

Paa Royal Benefits

Benefits that will make you feel like royalty Precision Air is always looking to give its customers an exclusive and memorable service experience; and the Paa Royal benefits programme is part of that mission. The membership categories* are as follows:

Jade Member benefits

Silver Member benefits

Upon enrolment, members will be given their unique Paa Royal number, which they must always show whenever they buy tickets as well as during check-in at the airport. After flying three times or more, members will be given a Jade membership card. With the card, they will be recognised as members of the Paa Royal Programme.

After attaining Silver membership level, the member will be issued with a Silver membership card which he (or she) must show at all Precision Air point of sales in order to receive the recognition that he deserves. Should a member book online by logging into Paa Royal Pages, he will automatically receive points earned to his account.

Other benefits of Jade membership:

Members will be entitled to special treatment and priority treatment whenever they travel.

• Priority membership baggage tags to ensure tagged bags will be handled with special care and delivered first on the conveyor belt at the passenger’s arrival destination • An opportunity to get a free ticket within the Precision Air’s network after accumulating enough points in their account. *Please note that, in each membership category, if a member is unable to maintain the required number of flights in a year, he or she will be downgraded to their tier level achieved in that current year.

Other benefits of Silver membership: • Free 5 kg baggage every time member travels on a PW operated flight • Priority membership baggage tags to ensure tagged bags will be handled with special care and delivered first on the conveyor belt at member’s arrival destination • Opportunity to obtain a free ticket within the Precision Air network after accumulating enough points in your account • Priority telephone reservation in those times when you want to make your reservation and cannot visit our office or travel agent. Booking is a call away through our Paa Royal helpdesk line.

Gold Member benefits

Tanzanite Member benefits

After attaining the Gold membership, members will begin to experience royal and exclusive treatment whenever they fly.

Members will be opened up to a new world of opportunities and experiences and, of course, receive more rewards. Should a member book online by logging into Paa Royal Pages, he (or she) would automatically receive points earned to his account.

Other benefits of Gold: • Free 10 kg baggage every time member travels on a PW operated flight

When members reach Tanzanite member they attain ultimate royalty. We will always strive to give these royal members an exclusive and memorable flight experience. At this level, members will already be used to royal treatment; royalty will be their way of life.

Other benefits of Tanzanite: • Free 15 kg excess baggage every time the member travels on a PW-operated flight • Opportunity to obtain a free ticket within the Precision Air network after accumulating enough points in your account

• Priority membership baggage tags to ensure tagged bags will be handled with special care and delivered first on the conveyor belt at member’s arrival destination

• Confirmation on any flight if a member is prepared to pay Y class fare, regardless of the flight booking status • Priority waitlist/airport standby whenever you want to travel and your selected flight is full

• Opportunity to obtain a free ticket within the Precision Air network after accumulating enough points in your account

• Priority telephone reservation at times when you want to make your reservation and cannot visit our office or travel agent. Booking is a call away through our Paa Royal helpdesk line.

• Priority telephone reservation at times when you want to make your reservation and cannot visit our office or travel agent. Booking is a call away through our Paa Royal helpdesk line • Priority waitlist/airport standby each time you want to travel and your selected flight is full.

• Priority membership baggage tags to ensure tagged bags will be handled with special care and delivered first on the conveyor belt at member’s destination.

• Silver,Gold and Tanzanite members also get discounts of up to 20 per cent when visiting GSM shopping malls Msasani and Pugu, Southern Sun Hotel, Akemi restaurant, East Point Restaurant and the Colosseum hotel and sports club - all in Dar es Salaam.

Contact Us For more details, email paaroyal@precisionairtz.com or call +255684202022

www.precisionairtz.com

37

Route Network

Precision Air route map

UGANDA

KENYA

Entebbe

Bukoba

Nairobi

Serengeti Arusha

Mwanza Tabora

Kilimanjaro Kahama

Zanzibar

Dodoma

Dar es Salaam

TANZANIA UNITED ARA AB EMIRATES ATE ATES ES

UGANDA DA A

KENY YA Y

TANZ NZ ZANIA Z

38

Paa Tanzania

Mtwara

Paa Contacts

Your nearest Precision Air office anywhere in the world TANZANIA DAR ES SALAAM HEAD OFFICE

Diamond Plaza, 1st Floor, Plot no 162 / 38, Mirambo Street / Samora Ave, Dar es Salaam Tel: +255 (0)22 219 1000 Contact Centre: +255 (0)787 888 409 / 408 / 417 Email: pwreservations@precisionairtz.com

DAR ES SALAAM SALES OFFICE

NIC HDQ Building, Samora Ave / Pamba Road, PO Box 70770, Dar es Salaam Tel: +255 (0)22 213 0800 / 212 1718 Fax: +255 (0)22 211 3036 Email: salesdar@precisionairtz.com

E-COMMERCE

(For users of VISA and MasterCard) Diamond Plaza, 1st Floor, Plot no 162 / 38, Mirambo Street / Samora Ave Dar es Salaam Tel: +255 (0)686 177 458 / (0)689 669 446 Fax: +255 (0)22 211 3036 Email: pwreservations@precisionairtz.com

ARUSHA

Ngorongoro Tourism Center First Floor Goliondoi & Makongoro Road P.O. Box 1636 Arusha - Tanzania Tel: +255 27 254 5489 / 254 5503 Email: pw-arksales@precisionairtz.com

BUKOBA

Bukoba Office-GSA, Bukoba Machinery and General Supplier, Bukoba Centre Kawawa Road Tel: +255 (0) 28 222 0545 / 222 0204 Mob: +255 (0) 713 316 806 / (0) 787 616 806 Email: bukobamachinery55@yahoo.com

DODOMA

Mtendeni street, Dodoma Tel: +255 787 845 200 / 754 972 173

MOSHI

KNCU Building, Ground Floor, Old Moshi Road Tel: +255 784 686 418 +255 (0)272 753495 / 753498 Mob: +255 (0)787 800820 Email: sales@acobtravel.com info@acobtravel.com

MTWARA

Tanu Road, Posta Building, PO Box 1066, Mtwara Tel: +255 (0)23 233 4116 Mob: +255 (0)787 818 442 / 767 818 442 Email: pw-mwzgsa@precisionairtz.com

MWANZA

Along Kenyatta Road, Plot no 002, Mwanza Tel: +255 (0)28 250 0819 / 250 0204 Fax/Tel: +255 (0)28 250 1054 Mob: +255 (0)784 402042 Sales Office Mobile: +255 (0)784 968427

ZANZIBAR

Zanzibar Airport Tel: +255 (0)24 223 4521 Fax: +255 (0)24 223 4520 Email: pwznz@precisionairtz.com

KENYA NAIROBI

Barclays Plaza, 7th Floor, Loita Street PO Box 50990-00100, Nairobi Tel: +254 (0)20 327 4282 / 4290 / 4297 Mob: +254 (0)724 76 0736 / +254 (0)736 046 595 Airport: +254 (0) 733 934 795 / 731 530 000 Email: pw-nbo@kenya-airways.com

SOUTH AFRICA

OR Tambo International, International Departures Terminal A, AVIAREPS Counter Johannesburg, South Africa Tel: +27 11 783 6415

UGANDA

Pan Africa House, Plot no.3 Kimathi Avenue P.O. Box 5619 Kampala Tel: +256-790 381 431 (24hr Emergency) Mob: +256 784(704) 329793 Email: precisionair.eva@utb.co.ug

AUSTRIA

Argentinierstrasse 2/4 A-1040 Vienna, Austria Tel: +43 1 585 3630 Fax: +43 1 558 536 3088

AUSTRALIA

Suite 1302, 109 Pitt Street Sydney, Australia Email: helpdesk@apg-ga.com.au

BELGIUM

Park Hill, J.E Mommaertslaan 16B 1831 Diegem, Belgium Tel: +32 (0)2 712 0584 Fax: +32 (0)2 725 8392 Mobile: +32 (0)47 770 9971

FINLAND

Precision Air C/o Aviareps PL 10 00750 Helsinki, Finland Finland Tel: +46 8 55569162 Email: PWres.scan@aviareps.com

FRANCE

Precision Air, 11 rue Auber 75009 Paris, France Mob: +33 (0)6 21 824 908 Reservation: +33 (0)1 534 35397 Fax: +33 (0)1 5343 7919

GERMANY MUNICH OFFICE

Josephspitalstrasse 15 80331 Munich Germany Tel: +49 (0)895 525 3373 Fax: +49 (0)895 450 6842

FRANKFURT OFFICE

Kaiserstrasse 77 60329 Frankfurt / Main Germany Tel: +49 (0)69 770 673 010 Fax: +49 (0)69 770 673 018

GREECE

7 Stadiou Street Athens 10562 Greece Tel: +30 (0)210 9341 500 / 501 Fax: +30 (0)210 934 1620 Email: precisionairsales@tal-aviation.gr

IRELAND

Precision Air GSA APG Ireland 27 Lower Ormond Quay Dublin, Ireland Reservations: +353 (0)1 804 5100 Email: info@apg-ga.ie

NETHERLANDS

Beechavenue 104 1119 PP Schiphol, Netherlands Tel: +31 (0)20 520 0280 Fax: +31 (0)2 6 23 0151

SPAIN

Bravo Murillo 101, Planta 6 Oficina 3, 28020 Madrid, Spain Tel: +34 (0)91 458 5560 Fax: +34 (0)91 344 1726 Email: Precisionair.spain@aviareps.com

SWEDEN

Aviareps, Riddargatan 17 11457 Stockholm Sweden Tel: +46 (0)8 55569162 Email: PWres.scan@aviareps.com

SWITZERLAND

Badenerstrasse 15, 8004 Zurich Switzerland Tel: +41 (0)44 286 99 60 Fax: +41 (0)44 286 99 00 Email: Precisionair-Switzerland@ aviareps.com

TURKEY

Discover The World -Turkey Nef22 E Blok 13. Kat No:194 Atakoy/ İstanbul 34156 TURKEY Tel: +90 212 806 11 87 Email: info@discover-tk.com

USA and CANADA

AirlinePros 420 Lexington Ave Suite 358-360 New York, NY. 10170 Tel: +1 877 496 9887 Email: reservations@precisionairlines.us Precisionair_tanzania@airlinerpos.ca

UNITED KINGDOM

APG Global Highbridge House, 581 Bath Road Longford, West Drayton Middlesex, UB7 0EW Reservations: +44 (0)844 482 2313 Email: info@precisionair.co.uk

OVERALL INTERNATIONAL MARKETS CONTACT LILIAN MUSYOKA

Tel: +254 (0)786800640 +254 (0)20 3274297 / 82 / 90 Email: imusyoka@precisionairtz.com lilian.musyoka@kenya-airways.com

www.precisionairtz.com

39

Welcome Aboard

Safety and well-being on board PASSENGER SAFETY Precision Air takes passenger safety very seriously. Aviation safety isn’t just the pilot’s or the cabin crew’s job – it takes all of us.

It is easy for our natural sense of caution to be dulled in our modern environment, where things don’t go wrong very often. Whether in the air or on the ground, your life and the lives of your family members could some day be saved if you make it a point, in every situation, to create a mental plan of action in case of emergency. Here are some important tips to help you enjoy your travel experience with Precision Air – in flight and around the airport.

EXIT ROW SEAT A passenger who is allocated an emergency exit seat: A. Must be both willing and physically able to open the exit doors in an emergency B. Must completely understand the printed emergency evacuation techniques C. Must be 16 years old and above.

PAY ATTENTION TO PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING Although the information seems repetitious, the locations of the closest emergency exits may be different depending on the aircraft that you fly on and the seat you are in.

CARRY ON BAGGAGE There are strict rules about what you can bring on board an aircraft. Because:

Carry-on bags must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bins. Please confirm with Precision Air rules before your travel to avoid delays. *Remember: All carry-on baggage must be left behind in an evacuation.

SAFETY ONBOARD Boarding and leaving an aircraft requires your full attention. As you move to and from the aircraft, you may be in a busy area with many other passengers and cargo, moving vehicles, other aircraft, slippery walkways and/or stairs.

RESPECT YOUR CREW AND FELLOW PASSENGERS Everyone has the right to safe and secure travel. That is why Precision Air employees and the aviation authority will not tolerate any behaviour that interferes with the flight or puts the safety of passengers and crew at risk.

SEATBELTS Seatbelts must be fastened during take-off, landing, during turbulence and any time the crew deem it necessary. Keeping the belt on when you are seated provides that extra protection you might need in case of emergency. If you are responsible for an infant or a child, you must first ensure that your own seatbelt is properly fastened, then secure the child and, if it is an infant, secure the child’s or the infant’s restraints.

A. Not all aircraft have space to store your carry-on baggage.

Important note: There are a number of events involving air turbulence that highlight the importance of keeping seatbelts fastened throughout the flight.

B. In an accident, baggage in the aisles makes it harder to get out of the aircraft quickly.

Though rare, in-flight turbulence is the leading cause of injuries to both passengers and crew.

40

Paa Tanzania

It’s a good idea to keep your seatbelt fastened even when the seatbelt signs are not on.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND PREGNANCIES If you have a medical condition and may need assistance during your travel, kindly ask the Precision Air offices or agents about procedures before your flight. If you are pregnant, you will need to fill a Precision Air medical form, to be signed by your doctor, to confirm that you are OK for travel. For further details, kindly ask while booking your ticket from our sales offices and/or customer services.

PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES Use of portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets, MP4 players, iPads, etc are not allowed during take-off, landing, taxiing, descent and climb.

Precision Air prohibits the use of some electronic devices during flight because they emit signals that can interfere with the aircraft's instrumentation. Some of the items prohibited include cellphones, radios, remote-controlled games/toys, laser pointers, iPads or tablets that transmits frequencies, portable printers, walkie-talkies, scanners and laptops. These items need to be stowed away for these phases of the flight to avoid injuries in case of an emergency.