Travelsmart – Issue10

Your free fastjet magazine

SHINING BRIGHT Diamond Platnumz Page 14

Page 26

POP UP BONGO

Tanzania’s fashion event

Page 32

JO’BURG UNDER R250

Purse-friendly in South Africa

Issue 10

April - June 2015

38

48 hours in Harare What to do in Zimbabwe’s capital

CONTENTS Issue 10 | April - June 2015

REGULAR FEATURES

SPECIAL FEATURES

USEFUL INFORMATION

3 WELCOME

20 COFFEE

12 FASTJET COMPETITION

9 FASTJET NEWS 13 SOCIAL MEDIA WALL 51 LOOK INSIDE

22 URU DIAMONDS

A message from fastjet’s General Manager

Southern Sun, Dar es Salaam

52 FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Tuk Tuk Thai Restaurant, Dar es Salaam

54 CAR REVIEW

Nissan Qashqai

57 TECH REVIEW

Virtual Reality Headsets

58 LATEST RELEASES

What’s new in your bookshop and cinema

61 KIDS’ CORNER

Wake up and smell the world’s best coffee Joint venture with a sparkling future

26 POP UP BONGO

Pop-up shop ’til you drop

32 BARGAIN HUNTING

Budgeting your bucks in Jo’burg

36 UGANDA BEEKEEPING

Sugar, oh, honey, honey!

Diamond Platnumz

14

62 TRAVEL INFORMATION 64 THE FASTJET NETWORK

travelsmart Smart Thinking

Smart Shopping

Smart Travel

Published by

41 MASTERCOOK ZAMBIA 44 NILE RIVER FESTIVAL

ADVERTISING: Catherine O’Callaghan, Sales Manager Tel: +44 (0)1206 752902 Cell: +44 (0)7769 110343 Email: travelsmart@landmarine.org

38 HARARE

DIAMOND SHINES BRIGHT

Win a two-night stay in Arusha’s luxurious Mount Meru Hotel

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

Get ahead of the bustling crowds…

Ready, steady, cook!

We’ll have a paddle of fun

46 COMMUNITY HEROES COVER STORY

Let’s try a little tenderness

48 WILLIAM ZELOTHE

on behalf of

Sky’s the limit when you love your job

fastjet Tanzania Head Office 2nd floor, Ten West Office, 10 Vingunguti Nyerere Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 24/7 Call Centre: +255 784 108 900 Email: info@fastjet.com www.fastjet.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. ©2014 Land & Marine Publications Ltd

fastjet.com

1

FROM THE CONTROL TOWER A message from General Manager Jimmy Kibati

WELCOME ON BOARD KARIBU KWENYE NDEGE YETU WELKOM AAN BOORD KARIBU KWENYE NDEGE YETU Karibu kwenye ndege ya fastjet, shirika la ndege linalopendwa zaidi na barani Afrika.

Fastjet sasa imekua ikifanyakazi kwa zaidi ya miaka miwili na imebeba abiria zaidi ya milioni.

Viwango vyetu vya hali ya juu kila siku, kuaminika na kuzingatia muda vinaendelea kuvunja rekodi ya usafiri wa anga wa Afrika, na wateja zaidi na zaidi wakifurahia ubora wa kusafiri na fastjet.

Kuanzia tarehe 30 Machi tumeongeza safari mpya ya mara nne kwa wiki ndani ya nchi tukiunganisha miji miwili yenye pilikapilika nyingi Mwanza na Kilimanjaro.

Pia tunaongeza safari zaidi ndani ya nchi ili kukidhi mahitaji ya wateja wetu wanaoongezaka kila kukicha,wengi wanahitaji kutumia usafiri wetu wa kuaminika na nafuu tofauti na usafiri wa barabara.

Safari zetu za Dar es Salaam kwenda Entebbe sasa zitakuwa zikipita Kilimanjaro. Baada ya miezi michache tuta tangaza safari nyingine zaidi za kuunganisha kimataifa, ambazo zitailetea fastjet sifa ya kuaminika na thamani kubwa zaidi kwa wateja. Angalia matangazo ya safari mpya na ofa maalum kwenye mtandao wa fastjet.com na katika ukurasa wetu wa facebook na mitandao mingine ya kijamii au jiunge katika jarida letu.

HIGH STANDARDS, RELIABILITY AND PUNCTUALITY Welcome on board fastjet, East Africa’s most liked airline.

Fastjet has now been operating for over two years and has carried more than a million passengers.

Our consistently high standards, reliability and punctuality have continued to break African aviation records, with more and more customers experiencing smart travel with fastjet.

From 30 March we have added a new four-times-a-week domes-

tic route linking our two busiest destinations, Mwanza and Kilimanjaro. We are adding even more frequencies on our domestic Tanzanian routes to satisfy the ever-growing demand from our customers, who want to use our reliable and affordable flights as opposed to road transport.

Dar to Entebbe Our Dar es Salaam to Entebbe route now operates via Kilimanjaro. Over the coming months

Smart travel Breaking aviation records

fastjet.com

3

Hizi ni baadhi ya huduma za ziada unaweza kununua kupitia mtandao wetu unaponunua tiketi.

Smart Class- Kwa safari zote za ndani ya nchi na za kimataifa,huduma hii inakupa nafasi ya kupata nafasi ya kuchagua siti ya kukaa, ongezeko la uzito wa mizigo wa hadi kilo 32 na kubadili tarehe za safari bila kikomo pasipo na ongezeko la gharama.

Hoteli – Chagua mamia ya hoteli za hali ya juu kupitia fastjet.com Kwa abiria wetu wa Afrika Kusini, Fastjet ikishirikiana na Coastal Aviation- sasa inawaletea mwendelezo wa safari za kwenda Zanzibar wakinunua tiketi kwenda Dar es Salaam.

Baadae mwaka huu tunatarajia kuzindua fastjet Zambia, ambayo itakua ikifanyakazi za safari za ndani ya nchi na kutoka Zambia.

Kiukweli tunafanya jitihada. Kibali cha Fastjet kutoa huduma za anga nchini Zambia kilipatikana mwishoni wa mwaka 2014 na tupo kwenye mchakato wa kupata cheti kuendesha shughuli za usafirishaji wa anga.

Hii itaturuhusu kuzindua mfumo wetu wa nauli za gharama za chini nchini Zambia na kuweka nauli za bei ya chini kwa watu wengi zaidi.

Jimmy Kibati General Manager –Meneja Mkuu Fastjet Airlines Ltd (Tanzania)

USHAURI WA JIMMY Kumbuka kwamba kununua tiketi mapema kunakupa nafasi ya kupata tiketi ya bei ya chini iliyopo. Nunua tiketi moja kwa moja kwenye mtandao wa fastjet, www.fastjet.com na kupiga simu huduma kwa wateja ili kulipia kupitia M-pesa, Tigo-pesa n.k) au katika listi ya ofisi zetu za kuuza tiketi na mawakala wetu wa tiketi.

(Anuani zipo katika tovuti yetu)

4

travelsmart

we will be announcing even more international connections, bringing the fastjet ethos of reliability and great value to even more customers. Look out for new route announcements and special offers at fastjet.com and on our Facebook pages and other social media pages – or subscribe to our newsletter.

JIMMY’S ADVICE A reminder that booking early gives you access to the lowest available fares. Book directly with fastjet at www.fastjet.com, our 24/7 call centre (+255 784 108 900) paying through mobile money (M-Pesa and Tigo Pesa) or at our listed ticketing offices and registered agents. Addresses can be found on our website: www.fastjet.com.

Here are some of the extra products you can book via our website as you book your flights: • Smart Class – On both domestic and international flights this service provides you with advance premium seat allocation, an increased baggage allowance of up to 32 kg and unlimited flight date changes at no additional cost.

• Hotels – Choose from hundreds of top hotels through fastjet.com.

For our South African passengers, fastjet – in cooperation with Coastal Aviation – now offers an onward flight to Zanzibar when they book their flight to Dar es Salaam.

Later this year we expect to launch fastjet Zambia, which will operate domestic and international routes within and from Zambia. We are really making inroads. In 2014 fastjet Zambia’s Air Service Permit was obtained and we’re well on the way through the Air Operator Certificate process. This will allow us to launch our low cost model in Zambia bringing low fares to many more people.

Look out for new route announcements and special offers at fastjet.com and on our Facebook pages and other social media pages

Jimmy Kibati General Manager Fastjet Airlines Ltd (Tanzania)

01 #nameourplane Following the reconfiguration and transition of the Delta aircraft to a fastjet-branded aircraft, we set up a campaign to search for a new name, using the hashtag #nameourplane.

The runners-up were Kilimanjaro and Nelson Mandela but the overall winner was Kasuku, the Swahili name for the grey parrot, fastjet’s company mascot.

And following the successful renaming of the aircraft, we introduced the hashtag #fastKasuku asking flyers and budding photographers to post their fastjet photos on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. We love admiring and sharing your images of the fleet flying overhead.

SPOTLIGHT ON TWO NEW ROUTES Greater connection for Kilimanjaro: fastjet’s exciting network continues to grow with two new routes. The first FN0131 from Kilimanjaro to Mwanza took place on Monday 30 March. The second new route is Kilimanjaro to Entebbe.

FN0207 took flight on Tuesday 31 March. Don’t forget to book your tickets.

DID YOU KNOW ?

The A319 aircraft can carry up to 16 tons.

That’s equivalent to 8 adult rhinoceros.

@NortbertChunda

02 Welcome to our female pilot We are proud to welcome Nele De Groote to our team to take over the role of Captain. Nele has followed in the footsteps of Ann-Marie Lewis. fastjet wishes Nele well in joining our team and we look forward to welcoming many more female colleagues to the flight-deck.

03 New route configuration

From 1 February, passengers flying from Jo’burg to Dar are allowed a maximum of 7 kg of hand luggage.

04 The sounds of Scotland fly to Tanzania fastjet were recently accompanied on board the Johannesburg to Dar es Salaam flight by two champion musicians from a traditional Scottish pipe band in South Africa. They joined us to play at some of Tanzania’s local charity fundraising events, as well as celebrating the traditional Scottish Burns Night.

Piper Jonathan Visser and drummer Nick Schmidt are from the Transvaal Scottish Pipe Band, part of a vibrant network of traditional music groups established by Scottish expat communities in South Africa.

We have combined two routes, and now fly Dar es Salaam-Lusaka-Harare-Dar es Salaam. We have introduced this option as it allows us to maintain our three-times-a-week frequency on both routes. This also increases the chance of adding more frequencies to these destinations in the future.

fastjet.com

9

We’ve reached 370,000 followers on our facebook pages 05 Tune in and take off Looking to get in the mood for your fastjet flight? Well, look no further than Mr Grey’s all-time favourite playlist.

There’s nothing better to get you in the mood to fly the skies! Or do you have a favourite song? Let us know through our social media channels and we can create a playlist especially for you!

06 Award for fastjet

08 Red Arrows fly fastjet

We’re proud to have won the prestigious Stevie Award, the world’s premier awards recognising global business excellence. fastjet won the Ecommerce & Online Customer Services category for our high standards of customer service.

fastjet recently flew Zambia’s Red Arrows Football Club from Lusaka to Dar es Salaam for a training camp. The team, sponsored by the Zambian Air Force, have been preparing for the new season of the premier league.

They had a great time on board and we wish them good luck for the season.

Since the airline’s beginning two and a half years ago, we’ve pioneered an online customer service revolution across Africa. fastjet now has the largest online following of any East African airline, with over 390,000 followers across all social media channels.

My Grey’s top ten songs 1 Mandojo & Domokaya Nikupe Nini Peter Mhando 2 Bongo Flava Sayd Lardhy 3 Juma Nature - Mugambo JamiiForums

07 Smiles all round

4 Mangwair ft Mchizi Mox Demu Wangu - Bongo Flava HQ JackDollarFilm

fastjet supported the Tanzania Dental Association with flights to Mwanza for six dental surgeons to provide oral health care for people in need in Shinyanga.

The dentists assessed children and adults with special needs and albinism during their trip.

The association do a fantastic job and we’re very proud to support them.

5 Ray C-wanifuatia Nini juicethedj 6 Soggy Doggy - Kibanda Cha Simu diiipsetboy 7 Mr. Blue ft Lady Jaydee - Sema Peter Mhando 8 Jay Moe - Cheza Kidogo Bongo-Fleva Tanzania 9 Q-Chief ft Lady Jaydee - Zamani H360 Sports 10 TID Feat. Nazizi - Watasema Sana GrownNSexyMusic For more of Mr Grey’s favourite tunes, head to: www.youtube.com/ fastjetofficial

Follow us

www.facebook.com/fastjet

www.facebook.com/fastjetza www.twitter.com/fastjet www.instagram.com/fastjetofficial Code word: DIAMONDS

Congratulations, you’ve found the code!

Send this code, your name and contact details through a text message to +255 766 074 500 and we’ll pick a winner through a prize draw.

fastjet.com

11

PHOTO COMPETITION #ConnectingAfrica Do you fancy winning a return flight for two from Dar es Salaam to Kilimanjaro plus a two-night stay in Arusha’s luxurious Mount Meru Hotel?

Simply take a look at the following question and upload your answer along with a photo of yourself and your travel partner(s).

Q: How many times a week does fastjet fly from Kilimanjaro to Mwanza – our new route from 30 March?

Share your photo on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #ConnectingAfrica and you might become the lucky winner of this great hotel package.

DIAMOND SHINES BRIGHT D

iamond Platnumz is not only one of Tanzania’s biggest success stories, but the singer-songwriter has emerged as East Africa’s leading star of 2014.

Twenty-five-year-old Diamond (real name Nasibu Abdul Juma) is one of Tanzania’s top-selling musicians, has created hit after hit and collaborated with various popular artists. Today, he is among the highest earners in the East African music industry. But what’s the man behind Diamond Platnumz really like? Kate Wingar finds out.

Q. What sparked your interest in a music career?

A. Since I was in primary school, standard five to be exact, music has always moved me. I grew up listening to local artists and fell in love with this new music genre, Bongo Flava. My

East Africa’s rising music star

14

travelsmart

By Kate Wingar interest at first was a love of music, but it’s a desire to make a difference in my life through music that has pushed me to where I am today.

Q. How would you describe your music?

A. As a revolution of the Bongo Flava industry. Bongo Flava has opened a lot of doors to young artists in Tanzania and given recognition to my country. Now, Tanzania is well known not only for being one

of the most beautiful countries in the world but as a place that produces and appreciates great music.

Q. Was it hard breaking into the industry?

A. It was not easy for a non-welloff boy in Tanzania. You need huge financial support, which I never had.

So I had to try and make money through small business deals such as selling second-hand clothes, working at a gas station and even selling my mother’s gold ring in order to record my first song in 2007. Unfortunately it was a long process and a learn-

DiamondPlatnumz

ing curve as I had friends isolate me and my girlfriend of the time left me as I couldn’t cater for her needs. I was seen as a daydreamer and she thought I would never succeed. But I thank God, my mother and my family for always being there to support me.

Q. Did you have any role models when you were younger?

A. Usher Raymond, Q-Chief and Dully Sykes were huge icons for me, and they still are. Even after so much success, they are still making music and they are great examples to look up to as a way of improving and advancing my career and talent.

Q. Was 2014 a big year?

A. It was a great year for my music career. I was nominated for a huge number of awards and won most of them, not only in Tanzania but in Africa and around the globe, too.

INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM Over the past year Diamond Platnumz has been nominated for and won international awards through events such as the Kilimanjaro Music Awards, the Channel O Africa Music Awards (CHOAMVA), the African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA), the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA), the BET Awards and the Nigerian Future Awards.

King of Bongo Flava Diamond Platnumz

fastjet.com

15

DiamondPlatnumz Q. What has been your greatest achievement so far?

A. Well, I’d say my greatest achievement is being who I am today: Diamond Platnumz. I have always wanted to live my life and do the things I love. I also consider the international recognition and success that both myself and Tanzanian music in general has found as another immense accomplishment.

Q. Where is your favourite place to perform?

A. Mombasa, Kenya!

Q. How much support have you had from Tanzania and East Africa in general?

A. I definitely have all the support I could ask for from my home country. But when I travel around the world performing, I am proud to represent and be recognised as an East African artist. I have great fans throughout East Africa and have performed everywhere, from Nairobi to Mombasa, Kampala to Kigali, all the way to Burundi. The support and love I receive from fans amazes me.

Q. What is your favourite song of your own and why?

A. ‘Nimpende Nani’ is my personal favourite as it took me a long time to compose and record the song. I have a very deep emotional connection with the lyrics and I can relate to it so well as it’s a part of my life story.

Q. How long does it take to create a song?

A. Well, song creation is a complex and tiresome process. It involves a lot of sleepless nights and endless studio sessions. There are several elements of music creation that an artist must take into consideration. There’s the actual writing, instrumentation, melody composition and then the recording. From there, the track goes into mixing and finally mastering. The process could involve the artist, songwriters, composers and producers.

Thus, it’s difficult to say exactly how long it could take. It could be a day, a week or a month. For the most part it’s an emotional process as my greatest inspiration to create music

A great success International recognition for Diamond

comes from life and the things I have encountered over the years.

Q. Who has been the most fun to collaborate with?

A. It was great fun to work with Davido for the remix of Number One. We had to teach him to sing in Swahili and recalling that moment,

‘The support and love I receive from fans amazes me’

fastjet.com

17

DiamondPlatnumz

it was really hilarious. It was a night of fun and in the end the song was really dope.

Q. Is the Tanzanian music industry becoming a force to reckon with?

A. Yes. In the past, Tanzanian musicians have been making music mostly just for fun, targeting only local audiences. But recently our artists have begun to recognise that it’s a business. Nowadays, the majority of Tanzanian singers are aiming high and working hard to promote their brands and products in the international market as well as Africa. The only thing lacking in the Tanzanian music industry is a formal structure and a proper legal framework. But despite a number of factors derailing the music-making process, the Tanzanian industry is definitely becoming a force to reckon with.

Q. Who’s your favourite up-andcoming artist?

A. Maromboso from Yamoto Band.

Q. Any tips for those wanting to make it in the business?

A. It’s not easy to penetrate the music industry; but if you’re talented, focused, proactive and committed to giving the audience what they need from you, then you

can definitely overcome any obstacles that come your way.

Q. Is it hard juggling a successful career with a home life?

A. In reality it’s not hard on my part, but it does become a bit confusing when people mistake Nasib and Diamond. I have a timetable that gives me enough time to spend at home with family and friends, especially when I’m not on tour. It’s also challenging when you become the centre of attention everywhere you go. But I’m grateful that my fans and friends understand and support me.

Q. How do you wind down?

A. I watch movies – Indian and horror movies in particular. I also like to listen to music.

Q. Any big plans for 2015?

A. The future is mine for the taking, but it’s not as easy as people might think. The industry is dynamic and I have to work hard, be dedicated and stay disciplined to ensure that I evolve with it. We have plans for more collaborations with big artists outside of Africa and I’m also hoping to add more artists to my label, WCB Wasafi.

A dynamic artist With a huge future

‘The future is mine for the taking, but it’s not as easy as people might think. The industry is dynamic and I have to work hard, be dedicated and stay disciplined to ensure that I evolve with it’

fastjet.com

19

Coffee

Wake up and smell

THE WORLD’S BEST COFFEE I

know this view may not find universal favour (or should that be flavour?) but where in the world does the coffee taste quite as good as that grown, roasted and blended in East Africa?

Quite simply, the answer is: nowhere.

For me, this view holds good whether you’re sipping a creamy latte in a Cafesserie outlet in Kampala, enjoying a sophisticated macchiato at a Java House in Nairobi or consuming an extra-strong espresso at the Africafe in Arusha.

There is a common regional thread here, namely, that in each case the coffee is almost invariably spot-on and perfectly created. In fact, East Africa’s burgeoning coffee houses are consistently judged to be among the best in the world.

By contrast, it’s always a bit of a disappointment to fly to Europe and be greeted by what, at first taste, seems to be a slightly inferior product – even from one of those internationally recognised coffee shop chains that have proliferated in the past decade.

20

travelsmart

In East Africa, Tanzania and Kenya can both claim top billing when it comes to which nation makes and serves the best coffee. And that’s without even considering the equally compelling arguments for coffee makers in Uganda and Rwanda who also believe their product is unrivalled.

But as fastjet is based in Dar es Salaam, and purely for the purposes of this article, we shall take it as read that Tanzanian coffee is number one and shall quietly ignore the competing claims of its neighbours.

Local demand In years gone by, when there was little in the way of local demand, Tanzania’s best coffee traditionally went for export. This is one of the reasons why ‘export quality’ coffee has always been the most prized.

This situation has changed, however, and customers in upmarket cafés across the country are probably enjoying what is export-grade coffee – even if this is not readily available in the local market and is otherwise found only in high-end supermarkets and specialist outlets.

By Gary Gimson

Perhaps it’s because the beans don’t have a long way to travel from farm to cup, or because roasting and grinding is in the DNA of its people, but East Africa really has a claim to fame here. In the past few years, the finest coffee has given rise to a lively café culture – one that is at variance with the common but misleading world view of Africa as a poor continent in need of handouts.

East Africans have been quick to develop a fondness for top-quality coffee and to embrace a lifestyle once seen only in American TV sitcoms like ‘Friends’ and ‘Frasier’. So we now have the obligatory coffee shop meetings and hurried morning take-outs on the way to the office – or, when time allows, a comfortable corner seat with a newspaper and the inevitable laptop or tablet. It’s not Manhattan or Seattle, but it’s something pretty close – only better.

East African coffee Rises to the challenge

PLANTATION VISITS There’s a delightful extra dimension to the coffee-consuming process in East Africa that is not always found elsewhere, and that is a visit to a plantation.

In Tanzania, for example, some of the coffee plantations are as well known as the brands. The Shangri-La Estate (famous for its Ngorongoro Mountain Coffee label), the Blackburn Coffee Estate and the Ngila Estate are just some of the places where visitors can taste the home-grown coffee in situ and watch the aromatic Arabica AA beans being roasted.

All of these farms and brands like to emphasise their eco-credentials and consequently they charge a premium price for their coffee – and there’s nothing wrong with that.

At Blackburn the estate is largely reserved for nature, so there is a lot of local flora and fauna on view. Special bio-corridors have been established to divert larger animals such as elephants around the farm.

Some farms also encourage stay-overs and offer high-end accommodation within the plantation. One such is the Shangri-La’s The Manor at Ngorongoro, a splendid Cape Dutch-style house with stables – highly recommended but, as you might expect, on the pricey side.

Meanwhile, a more homespun type of coffee, produced by growers’ cooperatives such as those around Mount Meru, is becoming more popular.

Tanzania and Kenya can both claim top billing when it comes to which nation makes and serves the best coffee

These Fairtrade-style operations, such as the local brand Wild Tracks, claim to pay small coffee farmers a much higher price – sometimes up to three times the going market rate – for their produce, which is very laudable.

And there is a certain type of consumer who is happy to pay over the odds for coffee if otherwise impoverished farmers are going to benefit from their largesse.

But is the cooperative coffee actually any good? The answer is an unequivocal ‘Yes!’

fastjet.com

21

JOINT VENTURE WITH A

SPARKLING FUTURE

22

travelsmart

URUDiamonds

By Kate Wingar

When gemologist George Assaf and Danish entrepreneur Iver Rosenkrantz joined forces to create a collection of luxury jewellery, no one could predict how successful they would become. With a shared passion for rough gemstones, they developed the URU Diamonds brand.

Six years later, URU Diamonds is one of Tanzania’s most sought-after jewellery ranges. Iver spoke to fastjet about the joint venture.

Luxury jewellery URU Diamonds

Q. How did URU Diamonds begin?

A. George and I were dealing in gemstones, mostly diamonds and tanzanite. This is what inspired us to start making jewellery using these.

It took years to develop the first designs as we wanted the bracelets to complement the rough stones.

Q. What is the manufacturing process like?

A. Everything is handmade at the URU factory. We import the silver and threads because we don’t want to compromise on quality. It’s a very long and detailed process, but to begin, the pieces are first carved out of wax. Over the years we have perfected a technique of setting and casting the stones directly into gold or silver, which can take 10 to 15 hours. After the silver pieces have been polished, they are woven onto URU straps in our thread department. The straps are created from as much as 40 metres of thread and the thread work alone can take up to five hours.

Q. Where do the diamonds come from?

A. We are currently using stones from all over Tanzania but we are also working on new ideas that include diamonds from other parts

of the continent. We are actually working on a documentary series about how URU travels around the bush in Africa in search of stones.

The programme will show how the company builds relationships with small-scale miners.

Q. What is your most popular piece of jewellery?

A. The URU Gold collection is always a best-seller. We sell in 15 different countries and all kinds of people are URU fans, which is great.

We are also proud that many celebrities also wear the brand, including Beyoncé and Orlando Bloom.

fastjet.com

23

URUDiamonds Q. How often do you bring out new designs?

A. We continuously create new designs for URU Diamonds customers and have lots coming out in the near future. At the moment we’re exploring various materials. Our latest collection features ostrich leather.

Q. How many employees does URU have?

A. Our team consists of 40 employees, all of whom have been trained by us. We are building a luxury international brand, which is quite unheard of in Tanzania, but this is a challenge we have taken on with pleasure. URU Diamonds is a company that will change the lives of many Tanzanians, from the staff who have gained skills and industry experience to the thousands of small-scale miners who make a living by supplying URU stones.

Q. Are you surprised by the company’s success?

A. Yes. URU Diamonds’ prod-

ucts are sold in some of the most exclusive stores around the world.

We have been presented alongside Bono’s brand EDUN at the New York Fashion Week for the last two years.

And considering the brand started underneath a palm tree at the beach in Dar es Salaam, yes, it still hasn’t sunk in.

Q. Are you proud of your achievements?

A. George and I are so grateful for the way URU has been received and how much people appreciate what we do. So much time and effort has been invested into the company, so we are very proud and happy.

Q. What does the future look like for URU Diamonds?

A. We want to be the biggest luxury jewellery brand in Africa.

Even though our workshop is the biggest in East Africa, we are hoping to expand further. URU is constantly evolving. This is what we are all about and what makes us different from other diamond companies.

COMPETITION Will you be our shining winner? Solve the clue for a chance to win a URU Diamonds bracelet.

Would you like to win a URU Diamonds bracelet?

To win this exclusive, elegant piece of jewellery, simply use the clue below to locate the code word hidden on another page of this travelsmart magazine.

CLUE: Over 360,000 ‘likes’ to our name, go to the News Desk to solve this game.

The future’s bright For URU Diamonds

fastjet.com

25

PopUpBongo

POP-UP SHOP ’TIL YOU DROP

By Kate Wingar All pictures courtesy of OGS Studios

F

rom retail shops in old school buses and restaurants in front rooms to gigs in gardens, galleries in launderettes and cinemas in disused petrol stations – pop-ups have taken off around the world and have been on the African retail horizon for a while now.

As more brands and young entrepreneurs catch on to the advantages of the new trend, we can expect to see an array of unique businesses popping up at venues across Africa.

Now, Tanzania has its own pop-up fashion event to shout about. Pop Up Bongo is Dar es Salaam’s first fleeting retail shop that is open for just a day.

Pop Up Bongo Pop Up Bongo was started by Tanya Mulamula, founder of the fashion and lifestyle public relations firm Studio Red, and Natasha Stambuli, who owns the up-and-coming vintage clothing store Secret Habits.

Tanya and Natasha wanted to

26

travelsmart

Happy shoppers Grab a bargain

create a platform for modern brands to showcase their products outside of fashion shows while offering a memorable, fun and exclusive shopping experience for the rest of us.

Bongo is a slang word to describe all things Tanzanian, and the fashion event certainly encompasses that.

Held every three to four months, at various locations and with new brands participating each time, Pop Up Bongo generates a lot of excitement and buzz for Tanzanian businesses.

The first Pop Up Bongo – at The Terrace, Slipway, Dar es Salaam on 28 June 2014 – featured local brands Secret Habits and Atsoko.

Around 80 customers stopped by to indulge in an afternoon of shopping, music, cocktails and entertainment.

Bongo’s second and third pop-up shops drew more than 200 shop-

Bongo is a slang word to describe all things Tanzanian, and the fashion event certainly encompasses that

pers, desperate to grab a bargain.

The fourth Pop Up Bongo was held on 7 March 2015 at a new location, the Triniti Bar in Oyster Bay. A large collection of local designers, luxury brands and great boutiques made for a splendid day out. While the DJ kept those who were not shopping entertained with a mix of popular music.

Fourth event Pop Up Bongo initially started with just two brands, but the fourth event proved how far Tanya and Natasha have come as 10 brands took part.

And local designers were the biggest hit with the estimated 300 attendees. Tanya spoke to fastjet about the latest pop-up show: “People want a social experience with great music, food and drinks.

The fourth edition merged shop-

fastjet.com

27

PopUpBongo

BONGO BRANDS Here’s a selection from the many brands that have been involved since the inception of Pop-Up Bongo.

Enjipai creates gorgeous hand-crafted accessories and leather products including Maasai jewellery, wallets and belts. Accessories are a girl’s best friend, after all.

PSJ Couture produces fitted tailored suits and causal wear mixed with Western and East African prints – great for men who don’t like to follow the fashion crowd.

Secret Habits sells second-hand clothing at affordable discounted prices. We do love a bargain.

Puku is a powerful, portable and battery charger for smartphones and tablets. This electronic item has become the perfect fashion accessory, and allows us more time to take selfies – is there anything handier?

Atsoko is a popular makeup store that aims to provide quality, but affordable makeup. Atsoko is one of a few stores to sell the much sought-after Sleek Make Up and Depend Cosmetics – Yippee!

Happy Socks Tanzania helps your feet stand out from the crowd with its bold designs and bright patterns. Just remember that socks with sandals are a fashion disaster waiting to happen.

Nyumbani Design is a jewellery brand inspired by the beauty and colours of the Swahili coast. Each piece is sculpted by hand from different sections of wood, ensuring that no two pieces are the same.

Henna Hub Fancy trying something different?

Visit the Henna Hub and try out an interesting pattern with some henna art. Fun, fashionable and only temporary.

ping with all of that. A few of the fantastic brands at the forth event included: Happy Socks, Nyumbani Designs, Schwari Collections, Secret Habits, City Soles, H & A Dress to Impress and AFR Clothing. Ladies who wanted a glimpse of the latest collection and to purchase a one-of-akind piece surrounded Nyumbani Design’s stall.

“Meanwhile, Happy Socks Tanzania had the men lining up to get a pair of funky, crazy coloured socks, boxers or briefs. Our Henna artist, Sybha Sheikh, treated shoppers to temporary and safe body art using traditional, modern and custom designs.

Schwari Collections “Schwari Collections, a family-run fashion label headed by Francesca Scalfari, travelled from Zanzibar to participate. The collection, which was inspired by the Zanzibari coast, proved popular and offered a wide variety of clothing for shoppers to purchase.”

Pop Up Bongo not only encourages designers and business entrepreneurs to push the boundaries by evolving with modern society, but also helps them to catch the eye of new customers as well as interacting with

current customers.

“Pop Up Bongo has been received so positively and has had a great effect on Tanzania’s fashion industry,” said Tanya.

“Before we launched the idea, there were shopping festivals and so forth, but no pop-up shops. Fast forward to today and we can see the trend rising in Dar es Salaam. It’s a great privilege, as well, that many of these schemes are using Pop Up Bongo as a reference when creating their new projects.

“Pop-up Shops are taking over the retail world by giving shoppers an alternative and innovative shopping experience that is different to the traditional retail shops.

People hang out in bars and restaurants at the weekends, so we have followed customers and taken the shopping experience to them, creating an exciting afternoon of shopping, music and drinks.”

When asked about

fastjet.com

29

PopUpBongo

the response Bongo has received, Tanya said: “Brands have been so pleased and positive about the awareness, increased visibility and sales that Pop Up Bongo has generated for them.

The fourth edition of Pop Up Bongo really shows that such a platform is

needed, as there were more brands requesting to take part than allocated slots. So many were put on a waiting list. The demand is there.”

So, having conquered Dar es Salaam, what’s next for Pop Up Bongo?

“We focus mainly on Tanzanian brands and hope to expand out of Dar es Salaam, popping up shops in major cities around the country. But expanding to other countries in Africa is definitely a long-term vision. There’s a possibility of taking the most promising Tanzanian brands and travelling to other countries and having Pop Up Bongo in Nairobi, Johannesburg, Kigali or Cape Town. That is an exciting thought; but for now Dar is our priority.”

Bongo fans Pop Up Bongo has fans from all walks of life, including musicians and fashion bloggers to socialites and entertainers. Tanzania’s trendy fashionistas support Bongo’s local designers and love to be seen in their clothes. There is something for everyone, with beauty products, makeup, clothing, jewellery,

A demand for fashion

From Tanzania’s trendiest

shoes and handbags all to be found among the participating Bongo brands. If you’ve missed out on the first four Pop Up Bongos, make sure you don’t miss a bargain at the next one in August.

FIVE ADVANTAGES OF A POP-UP SHOP The buzz factor Pop-ups generate a lot of attention and draw in crowds. They create a buzz around a product or promotion.

Easy on the pocket Pop-up venues are cheaper to rent because they are temporary and tend to be smaller than a conventional shop. This makes them ideal for new businesses.

Short-term Instead of being stuck in a long-term commitment, pop-ups give businesses more of a free rein. Brands can open at certain times of the year and close during the slower months, change venues every month or even transform the service from one week to the next.

Spontaneity The uncertain and brief nature of pop-ups encourages impulse buying. Shoppers are more likely to buy an item presented as ‘limited edition’ or at a discounted price and will be tempted to take the plunge rather than miss out on a bargain.

Awareness The new trend allows businesses to extend their brand and build awareness, interact with customers in person and gauge their response to new products.

fastjet.com

31

BargainHunting

BUDGETING YOUR BUCKS 250

R

250

IN JO’BURG Sightseeing doesn’t have to be expensive, especially if you do it right. Here’s what you can see and do in Jo’burg for only a few bucks.

By Iga Motylska

32

travelsmart

Eish* times are tough, that much is true; but travelling need not send you home broke. Here are some mahala (free) and affordable things to do in Africa’s city of gold. All of them cost less than R250, which will make you want to extend your stay – not only because you can afford to, but because you want to.

Gold Reef City

Africa’s rooftop

The gold mines are the reason why we call Johannesburg the city of gold. Learn about its beginnings in the late 1800s on a two-hour mine tour at Gold Reef City (Wednesday to Sunday, 9 am to 3 pm, Northern Parkway and Data Crescent, Ormonde, www. goldreefcity.co.za, R180). Put on a hard hat and descend 75 metres by lift into the depths of the earth. While it’s nowhere near the 3.9 km depth of some of the world’s deepest mines, such as Mponeng in South Africa, you’ll get an idea of what it’s like to be a Jo’burg miner and learn about this key industry. Later you can try your luck at panning for gold in ice-cold waters and watch molten gold being poured. The mine site has been converted into a themed amusement park which is included in the cost of your ticket.

When was the last time you stood on the continent’s tallest skyscraper? Well, for R15 – less than you would pay for lunch – you can take the elevator to the 50th floor of the 223 metre high Carlton Centre (open from 9 am daily, 150 Commissioner Street, Tel: +27(0)11-3081331). From this glass gallery, you can watch toy cars weave their way through grid-iron streets that stretch to the horizon. From this lookout point you can effectively see a 3D map of many of the places you’ll visit next. Don’t forget to take your camera to capture this grand cityscape from all sides.

The Orbit

Pan for gold

Digging for gold?

Jazz it up The Orbit jazz club and bistro is the new home for jazz in Johannesburg. It hosts local and international musicians as well as poets and spoken word artists (Tuesday to Sunday, 8.30 pm, 81 De Korte Street, www.theorbit.co.za, concerts from R40 to R120).

The melodies from a German piano can be heard in the restaurant downstairs and if you’re a wine connoisseur, and happen to be in town on the last Saturday of the month, then you can’t forgo an afternoon wine tasting at The Orbit (www.thewineschool.co.za, R195).

*Eish is a South African exclamation of surprise

fastjet.com

33

BargainHunting

Laugh out loud

Be wowed by Wits

Get a taste of South African humour at the comedy night in Kitchener’s Carvery Bar, which is over a century old and still has its original fittings and trimmings (every Tuesday, 8 pm, 71 Juta Street, Braamfontein, www.facebook.com/barkitcheners, R20 to R30). This is the place to enjoy traditional pub food like burgers, fish and chips and samosas.

Wits University won’t easily bore you as there is lots to keep your mind occupied, from an hourlong show of the heavens at the Wits Planetarium (www. planetarium.co.za, R40) to the Wits Art Museum (WAM), which houses a collection of historical and contemporary African art from across the continent as well as travelling exhibitions and events (Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm, free: donations welcome).

While you’re there, it’s worth visiting the Wits Origins Centre to trace the history of mankind to its African source 80,000 years ago. The museum focuses on the san and khoi people (Monday to Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm, corner Yale Road and Enoch Sontonga Avenue, R60).

Otherwise, each Sunday night there’s The Box stand-up comedy gig at POPArt Performing Arts Centre in Maboneng (Sundays, 7.30 pm, 286 Fox Street, Maboneng, www.popartcentre.co.za, R50). You can dine first at one of the many restaurants and cafés along Fox Street (www.mabonengprecinct.com/entertainment/restaurants). There’s the Chalkboard, which makes pizzas and sells craft beers; House of Baobab, which serves a Sunday Afrikan Buffet; and Pata Pata, which also has a selection of African cuisine. If you really want to go authentic, try the Sha’p Braai Stand on Kruger Street for some traditional street-style South African barbecue (known as braai).

Stay occupied Wits University

Go sandboarding Yes, I know Jo’burg doesn’t have a desert or even sand dunes, but it does have the East Rand mine dumps. Sandboarding is one of the fastest-growing ‘underground’ sports in South Africa and Pure Rush will fulfil your need for speed by strapping your feet into a sandboard. After a lesson with an instructor you’ll be gliding along the sand dunes of Mount Mayhen, even without prior experience (Saturday and Sunday, 10.30 am to 3.30 pm, www.purerush.co.za, R250).

See, now that didn’t break the bank, did it?

Pure Rush

Macus Malumba

East Rand mine dumps

fastjet.com

35

UgandaBeekeeping

SUGAR, OH, HONEY, HONEY! Making a beeline for Uganda’s apiculture industry

By Kirsten Alexander

W

hen the phrase ‘endangered species’ is mentioned, often images of elephants, giraffes, rhinos and other animals come to mind. But it is actually one of the lesser-known and increasingly threatened species, the humble bumble bee, which is facing a steep decline in numbers in various parts of the world.

In Uganda, however, the bee population is flourishing thanks to the fertile land and dedication from beekeepers and beekeeping organisations, including the EWI – EastWest Innovations – who have been producing delicious honey for over a decade, whilst ensuring sustainability, quality and traceability of their product.

The life of worker bees – those that produce honey – is just 45 to 60 days long, and during this short life, each bee will produce only about half a tablespoon of honey. It is therefore incredibly important that the colonies of bees are kept in tiptop condition in order to produce the best-tasting honey for scores of happy honey lovers. The beekeepers themselves, however, have

36

travelsmart

possibly the best outcome from this situation, as the farmers will have the opportunity to learn about apiculture and the methods needed to produce high-quality products which meet the demands of local and international markets.

The main role of a beekeeper is to ensure that the bees and their hives are in good condition, so that the best-quality honey can be produced.

When the honey, beeswax or propolis is ready, it is then up to the keeper to extract it from the hive and check the honey’s quality, making sure it meets the industry standards.

Learn to bee a keeper The benefits of beekeeping are so great, not only for the farmer, but also for the bees and the community, that there are many schools and training schemes set up around Uganda in order to help farmers start a career in beekeeping, or expand on existing skills. This formal training helps the farmers to learn the requirements needed to be a successful beekeeper and help them to bring in a regular supplementary or main income.

The training classes run by EastWest Innovations Uganda involve both practical and theoretical lessons, so the aspiring farmers can get hands-on with the bees and learn how to look after them practically, as well as learning the theoretical side of beekeeping, such as bee biology. Established in 2010 as the first beekeeping training school in Uganda, the BEST programme (Bringing Ecology and Society Together) has seen many people graduate from their programme as trained beekeepers, and in turn, help Uganda’s apiculture industry to flourish.

Delicious honey Uganda’s flourishing bee trade

BEST OF THE BEE Honey is the main product from bees, but there are also large, international markets for other things that the bees have been busy making.

Beeswax: A multipurpose wonder product with seemingly endless benefits. Beeswax has a multitude of uses, from preventing rust and making colouring crayons to waterproofing shoes and styling hair – the list goes on.

Propolis: Honey bees collect propolis from the natural flora to use as a sealant in their hive. In humans, however, propolis is said to be beneficial in treating minor health complaints such as cold sores and acne, and also supporting the immune system.

Royal jelly: Getting its name from its use to nurture the queen bees, royal jelly has been said to be beneficial for skin and hair, thanks to its high percentage of vitamins, amino acids and minerals. It has been suggested that royal jelly can be useful in reducing cholesterol, and is also good for improving skin when taken as a supplement or as an ingredient in skincare products.

The benefits of beekeeping are so great for not only the farmer, but also the bees and the community fastjet.com

37

Harare

GET AHEAD OF THE BUSTLING CROWDS… 48 hours in Harare

O

ften considered one of the most attractive capital cities in southern Africa, Harare oozes African summertime all year round, making it an exciting and unique destination.

As the cultural hub of Zimbabwe, there is a vibrancy to Harare that makes it very appealing to both tourists and business visitors. Get ahead of the crowds of tourists and check out Harare before everyone else, with fastjet’s guide to spending 48 hours in Harare.

Five-star hotel

Nature’s finest

Take a break

Fantastic fusion

Meikles Hotel is located in the city centre, with excellent access to shops, restaurants, bars and attractions as well as great transport links. This five-star hotel offers a wide range of luxurious accommodation with views over the gardens of Africa Unity Square and has excellent facilities including a pool deck and gym.

Just outside the city’s hustle and bustle is Thetford Game Reserve, which offers spectacular views over Lake Mazowe and is home to over 900 animals. Take a game drive or a walking trail to experience the best of Zimbabwe’s wildlife.

Whether you only have time for coffee and cake, or are devoting time to a long lunch, make sure you head to Pistachio. The ambience of the restaurant adds to the delicious food and drinks, making Pistachio a top choice when in Harare. The fresh juices are unmissable.

Tucked away in four acres of beautifully landscaped garden is Amanzi, a fusion restaurant with an exciting and tempting menu and an impressive wine list. From roasted quail to kudu fillet to grilled baby octopus, diners will surely not be disappointed. Amanzi has also introduced a popular tapas menu to tickle those taste buds. Head there on a Thursday evening for live music to accompany the beautiful food and surroundings.

38

travelsmart

Wild is Life Zim’s animal sanctuary

The wild side

Shop till you drop

Get cultured

Cocktail o’clock

Enjoy a unique morning experience at popular animal sanctuary Wild is Life, where endangered and orphaned animals have been given a new home. Visitors can get a close-up view of these extraordinary animals, including lions, giraffes, zebras and more.

Head to Doon Estate, just outside Harare, if you fancy a spot of retail therapy. The perfect mix of food, shopping and culture, Doon Estate is a great place to step out of the city for an afternoon and browse for some memorable gifts to take back with you. Don’t forget to check out the sculpture park nearby.

The Book Café is an arts community centre that offers live music every night except Sunday, as well as poetry readings, film screenings and, of course, a great café. It’s the perfect place to spend an evening absorbing the local culture over a good cup of coffee.

Cocktails lovers should head to the Maestro Restro Lounge and Bar to experience some amazing drinks and great vibes and prepare themselves for an exciting evening. Check out their events calendar, as they often have music evenings including jazz and house music.

fastjet.com

39

MastercookZambia

READY, STEADY,

COOK!

By Grace Nyondo

F

or me, cooking has always been a skill I have desperately tried to master, but with little success. Being able to cook is a very handy, attractive and impressive talent to have. But it seems that, whatever I do, I can never get it quite right. My timing is off, I use too many ingredients, I aim to make something far too extravagant and beyond my capabilities that just leads to a mess on the plate. And I have even tried to bake a cake with the oven turned off.

So when African Sunsets Events Management came up with ‘Mastercook Zambia’, I knew I was in luck.

‘Mastercook Zambia’ is a reality TV

show that provides some of the country’s best professional and amateur chefs with the opportunity to break into the Zambian culinary scene. In a format similar to the BBC’s popular ‘MasterChef’ programme, 15 contestants from across Zambia are selected to take part in a competition to cook various dishes and perform cookeryrelated tasks before a panel of judges.

Chefs battle it out Mastercook Zambia

‘Mastercook Zambia’ professional and amateur winners.

Last year was a significant one for the foodies of Zambia. Diners have become more adventurous, restaurants have raised their game in a bid to keep up with the rest of East Africa, and a general love of quality food has spread like wildfire. But would the chefs live up to expectations?

Contestants Contestants are then eliminated after every task until the four finalists are left standing. The final four competitors will take part in the grand final in Livingstone that will culminate in the crowning of our

‘Mastercook Zambia’ is a reality TV show that provides some of the country’s best professional and amateur chefs with the opportunity to break into the Zambian culinary scene fastjet.com

41

MastercookZambia The first task took place on 6 December 2014 and provided a perfect opportunity for the ambitious cooks to show off their talents.

The Lusaka chefs had to produce a five-star menu and fine dining experience for VIP guests at a red carpet, black tie event held in the city’s Portico Italian Restaurant.

‘Matebeto Challenge’ On 7 February 2015 the ‘Mastercook’ chefs took part in the ‘Matebeto Challenge’ at Kunzubo Lodge in Roma. Competitors had to cook their favourite Zambian dishes on behalf of a bride’s family to present to the groom’s family.

Zambia’s native cuisine is based on nshima, a cooked porridge made from ground maize. Nshima is normally accompanied by a tasty relish made of meat and tomatoes or dried fish and vegetables or vinkubala and beans.

Despite blood, sweat and tears going into their dishes, the chefs successfully showcased Zambian food and culture through the tradition of Matebeto.

Mastercook chefs Taste success

THE JUDGES

THE CONTESTANTS

Pixie Kasonde-Yangailo Food writer for AWIL and administrator of the Kupikilila Recipe Exchange Group

PROFESSIONALS

Nick Moyo Shaka’s Grill Restaurant and Chang Thai Restaurant Alessandra Troielli Portico Italian Restaurant and Casa Portico Restaurant

‘Mastercook Zambia’ is due to be broadcast in April this year and I can’t wait to pick up more expert culinary tips and quirky cooking knowledge. To keep up to date with the competition, follow: www.facebook.com/Mastercookzambia

Darryl Freeman Executive Chef, David Livingstone Hotel Kelvin Lifumbo Junior Sous Chef, David Livingstone Hotel Moses Shabalala Executive Chef, Waterberry Lodge, Livingstone Jessie Chipindo Head Chef, Dulce and Banana Restaurant, Lusaka Wezi Longwe Sous Chef, Misty Restaurant and Jazz Bar, Lusaka Kennedy Mwanza Executive Chef, Chrismar Hotel, Livingstone Martin Bwembya Executive Chef, FQM Executive Lodge, Ndola Alexander Phiri Executive Chef, Michelangelo Restaurant, Ndola Martin Mphanga Head Chef, Misty Restaurant, Lusaka Jamey Townsend Head Chef, Four Seasons Bistro, Lusaka Richard Ngoma Sous Chef, Katuta Lodge, Chipata

AMATEURS Kakoma Mutenda Lusaka Shantal Meyer Livingstone Prudence Mulenga Ptchujar Ndola Chrispin Sitali Livingstone

42

travelsmart

Get noticed. Get visible. Get on board!

BOOK NOW FOR THE NEXT ISSUE

Are you reading this?

Then potentially so are 186,000 fastjet passengers The most effective form of print advertising: in-flight magazines Don’t forget to book your advertisement to promote your company, brand, products or services Generous discounts available for series bookings To advertise please contact: Email: travelsmart@landmarine.org Tel: +44 (0)1206 752902 / +44 (0)7769 110343 Skype: catherine-landmarine

NileRiverFestival

WE’LL HAVE A PADDLE OF FUN Nile River Festival

I

t’s pretty famous and regularly mentioned. We’ve all had in-depth conversations about it (or heated debates in my family’s case), it’s often featured high on the list of ‘must see’ destinations for most people, and it’s one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world. But how many of us can say we’ve been kayaking on it?

Yes, I’m of course talking about the River Nile.

While not all of us are as adventurous as we like to think, 30 competitors put the rest of us couch potatoes to shame by taking part in the internationally renowned Nile River Festival. The 10th anniversary of the competition in January this year once again drew in kayakers from around the globe.

The Nile River Festival makes the most of a 40 km section of challenging white water, perfect for playboating, near Jinja in Uganda. The four-

44

travelsmart

day annual event, hosted by Kayak the Nile, kicked off on 22 January with opening celebrations and the keenly anticipated first contest.

While the competitors eagerly lined up, ready to drop off the intimidating kayak ramp as the sun set over Bujagali Lake, spectators and supporters, including concerned girlfriends and blubbering mothers, had an optimal view from the cruise boat.

Ramp approaches Some contestants took a standard approach to the ramp, opting for ‘airscrews’ and ‘back pan ams’ off the lip, whereas others were more resourceful, choosing to ride jerry cans, or each other. As you might expect, there were some entertaining crashes and utter carnage with the top prize being awarded to Yusuf Basalirwa for his impressive air skills and stylish landings. Also of note was the runner-up, Craig Dahl, the young-

est competitor at just 11 years old.

The second day featured the almighty endurance race. Competitors had to paddle 30 km in pairs from the Bujagali Dam to the Hairy Lemon Island, overcoming rapids from Grade 1 to Grade 5 along the way (Grade 5 has a skill level of ‘expert’ with continuous rapids, large waves and rocks that can cause serious injury or even death). At the end of their mammoth paddling effort, contestants had to negotiate a slip-and-slide obstacle course before clocking a finishing time.

The first five pairs finished within a tantalisingly close seven minutes of each other. The fastest time, a blistering two hours and 32 minutes, was recorded by local competitors Jackson Two and Musa Mutamba, who have now won this event of the festival for the second year in a row.

After a complete domination by

Fun in the sun Kayakers from around the globe

Ugandan paddlers the previous day, day three of the festival saw the international competitors gaining one back. Kayakers from countries including the USA, Germany and Great Britain showcased their talents in the Nile Special Freestyle battle.

The scoring system encourages paddlers to ‘go big or go home’, with each competitor’s three most stylish tricks counting towards a final score.

Sam Ward won the final, setting an extremely high standard with his huge airscrews and blunt/back pan am combos (which look similar to a cartwheel). Just behind in second place was Junior European champion Bren Orton, who chooses the Nile every winter as his off-season training ground. In the women’s category, Emily Ward placed first, followed closely by Lowri Davis and Jessie Stone.

Challenge The grand finale and formidable challenge of day four was held at the notorious Itanda Falls. The rules challenged paddlers to be not only quick but imaginative down the awesome Grade 5 rapid. Spectators were treated to a new event record of one minute 15.65 seconds set by Yusuf Basalirwa in the head-to-head heats.

In the final, however, it was all about style and creativity. Crowd favourite Sadat Kawawa took the win with his slick tricks and smooth technique. David Luhiho and Musa Mutamba, both from Uganda, followed closely and tied for second place, opting for cartwheels and kickflips on their way down the main line. Having entered the final round a strong favourite, Basalirwa took an unfortunate swim after an equipment malfunction and left the crowds on the edge of their seats as

Stiff competition From international competitors

he was left to swim over the most treacherous part of this challenging and dangerous rapid.

After a solid overall performance, Musa Mutamba claimed the prize for overall event winner. Local competitor Aminah Nailrya also put in a stellar performance to win the overall women’s category.

Each year the Nile River Festival goes from strength to strength. The calibre of paddlers who compete, alongside the progression of Uganda’s kayakers, has meant that international enthusiasts and wellknown sponsors are starting to take

The Nile River Festival makes the most of a 40 km section of challenging white water, perfect for playboating notice. The high standard of competition, as well as the fun and laid-back atmosphere, makes the festival an outstanding weekend event for contestants and spectators. The 2016 festival is set to be even bigger, with the largest cash prize to date, more live music, more for spectators and more for competitors to be a part of.

See you there!

fastjet.com

45

CommunityHeroes

In a world full of bad news and harsh deeds…

Let’s try a little tenderness Whenever you pick up a newspaper, watch TV or listen to the radio, you are bombarded with bad news. Very few ‘success stories’ make the front page. But fastjet plans to change this. We want to focus on people who are willing to do something for others, whether it’s giving up spare time, parting with money or simply being kind. We think they deserve recognition. These are fastjet’s Community Heroes.

Genious Musokotwane Genious Musokotwane is a 22-year-old youth activist who, since 2008, has been fighting against forced child marriage and exploitation in the southern province of Zambia.

Genious, is the founder and executive director of Musokotwane Compassion Mission Zambia (MCMZ), a non profit organisation that aims to improve and encourage youth development. The MCMZ ‘Get Back to School Aid’ programme strives to prevent children from dropping out of school at primary level and promotes equal opportunities in education.

Since 2008 Genious and the MCMZ have sent over 100 primary school leavers back into education, supporting them with school basics such as exercise books, uniforms and school fees.

Child Rescue Aid is another initiative developed by Genious. In collaboration with Zambia Police Service and the Victim Support Unit, each year over 20 children forced into marriage are rescued and reinstated back into school. The services offered to victims include temporary shelter, food, medical care, life skills training, counselling and guidance.

Genious told fastjet: “Our main goal is to amplify the voices of the voiceless and give hope to those who have lost it. It’s fundamental that people support their local communities for they face truly complex problems that are beyond poverty levels. It’s great to be part of something which will, in turn, change the lives of African children and people in the community.”

46

travelsmart

Mercy Kitomari

Carley Andrews

Since becoming a full-time CEO and self-made entrepreneur in September 2013 Mercy Kitomari, has created jobs for various disadvantaged people.

Mercy’s team now consists of employees from all backgrounds.

In 2007 Carley Andrews moved from Australia to Tanzania. Within two years she had co-founded Ujamaa Children’s Home in Arusha.

Mercy is the entrepreneur behind Nelwa’s Gelato, an organic ice cream company based in Tanzania, and she supports her community by sourcing ingredients from local fruit farmers. She has also been featured in Fema Magazine for inspiring many to stay positive in the face of bureaucratic corruption.

Mercy continues to motivate young people and women through public speaking. Her recent BBC interview, entitled ‘African Dream’, has inspired a wide following.

“Many young people and women have dreams but don’t yet have the guts to take a leap of faith,” Mercy told fastjet. “I believe in equality and feel that you cannot just take in life, you have to give back. Therefore, my local community has become my ambassador. I am hoping to create more jobs in the future and I would love to inspire girls to be independent while leading a life of purpose.”

‘I believe in equality and feel that you cannot just take in life, you have to give back’

Ujamaa isn’t just an orphanage; it’s a home providing care to vulnerable children throughout the region. Carley and her team offer the highest level

‘We give our kids the chance to live happy and fulfilled lives’ of supervision and education by maintaining small numbers and raising the children in a close-knit family environment where they live together as brothers and sisters – a bond that continues for the rest of their lives.

Carley told fastjet: “We give our kids the chance to live happy and fulfilled lives as adults by providing primary and secondary education as well as support with further study, such as university. This is a longterm commitment and we are excited to see our children grow into the exceptional adults we know they have the potential to become. ” There are currently 10 children living in Ujamaa but Carley and her team hope to take in more this year once the building of a permanent home (housing up to 20 children) is completed.

To learn more about the organisation, visit: www.ujamaachildren.com

fastjet.com

47

48

travelsmart

WilliamZelothe

SKY’S THE LIMIT when you love your job Senior First Officer William Zelothe, who is the first Maasai to become a pilot with fastjet, talks about his favourite hobby – flying.

W

illiam Zelothe loves flying. In fact, when travelsmart asked him about his sports and hobbies, he said: “Flying is the only hobby I have – which is lucky, as it’s part of my daily activities.”

William, aged 30, is the first Maasai and the first Tanzanian to be employed by fastjet as a pilot. Now he hopes his example may inspire fellow countrymen to seek a career in the aviation sector and share the thrill of being part of the flight deck team. “I’m looking to many more Tanzanians to join,” he said.

With the rank of Senior First Officer, under the overall charge of the captain, William is part of the Airbus 319 flight crew deployed by fastjet on its domestic and international routes. Within Tanzania he flies between Julius Nyerere International – the airline’s hub in Dar es Salaam – and the key destinations of Kilimanjaro, Mwanza and Mbeya. Out of Tanzania, he flies to Lusaka (Zambia), Harare (Zimbabwe), Johannesburg (South Africa) and Entebbe (Uganda).

As the airline’s Senior First Officer, what does his job entail? “It involves operating under company standardised procedures; planning how to conduct each phase of the flight;

prioritising what has to be done on the flight deck in each phase and at what time; sharing duties with other crew members; monitoring the progress of the flight; and having options ready if things don’t go as planned.”

Does he find the job demanding? “Nothing is challenging if there is proper planning and a positive attitude,” says William. For him, the most rewarding part is “making our customers happy through safe and comfortable flights”.

Priorities Safety is a priority for any airline, and fastjet is no exception. William was involved in setting up the airline’s safety system in his other role as Flight Safety Officer.

William, who joined fastjet when the airline commenced operations in late 2012, is glad to have been given the opportunity to further his aviation career.

“I would have said it was a bright future if the world was operating as one village,” he told Travelsmart.

“Since it could grant access for many people like me to advance their career while sharing their talents.”

Away from work, in his leisure time, he likes to watch documentaries. But, as he says himself, his only real ‘hobby’ is flying.

‘Flying is the only hobby I have’ CAREER SO FAR William was born in Arusha and grew up in Dar es Salaam. He has been a pilot since 2006.

2007-2008: Pilot with Tanzania National Parks 2008-2012: Pilot, safety manager, training captain and proficiency/route examiner with Northern Air 2012: First officer with Fly540 October 2012 to date: Senior First Officer and Safety Officer, fastjet.

fastjet’s first Maasai pilot William Zelothe

fastjet.com

49

LOOK INSIDE

Southern Sun, Dar es Salaam

By Grace Nyondo

BOUTIQUE-STYLE SERVICE IN A BUSINESS HOTEL

I

t’s not often you find a mediumsized hotel with the atmosphere of a small luxury boutique; but for me, the Southern Sun in Dar es Salaam has just that.

Despite having 152 rooms, the Southern Sun pays a lot of attention to detail, making sure every guest feels well looked after. From the polite doormen and welcoming front office staff to the caring waiters and helpful managers, every member of the Southern Sun family goes that extra mile to ensure your stay is a memorable one.

This friendly business hotel is a great meeting place with amenities that include a business centre, Wi-Fi services, a shop, a gym (where I spent little time) and a bar (where I spent a lot of time). The relaxing pool and gardens are just what you need after a day of meetings

and conferences. Guests can even step into Dar’s beautiful botanical gardens from the hotel grounds.

The Southern Sun also has the advantage of a wonderful location.

With the beach just a five-minute walk away on one side and the heart of the town and the central business district on the other, the Southern Sun caters for everyone’s needs.

Quality food But it’s the quality of the food that really makes the Southern Sun stand out from the crowd. The Baraza Grill serves delicately spiced seafood curries that are also purse-friendly; and I loved the calamari. But for a first-timer, the succulent tuna steaks are out of this world.

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and the Southern Sun offers one of the best

Friendly staff Relaxed atmosphere

breakfast spreads in the capital.

From Danish pastries, cereals and fresh fruit to cold meats, fruit juices and omelettes, the Kivulini Restaurant has all you could wish for in a mouth-watering buffet breakfast.

And I haven’t even mentioned the luxurious rooms. Whether it’s a standard room, an executive room or a suite, guests can be sure of a comfortable night’s sleep.

The Southern Sun proves that bricks and mortar are just one element of a good hotel. It’s the happy staff and little extra touches that radiate the feeling of a relaxed family hotel. The cordial atmosphere between staff and guests makes the Southern Sun one of Dar’s most pleasant hotels and one of my favourites.

Every member of the Southern Sun family goes that extra mile to ensure your stay is a memorable one fastjet.com

51

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Tuk Tuk Thai Restaurant, Dar es Salaam

THAI FOOD HEAVEN A ttention, all lovers of Thai food – we have found just the right place to go out for a casual dinner and enjoy authentic Thai flavours right in the heart of Dar es Salaam.

The Tuk Tuk Thai Restaurant is currently rated number one

by TripAdvisor, which gave us an excellent reason to check it out for ourselves.

Unique The first thing that caught my attention even before I visited Tuk Tuk Thai was a huge white wall with a big red-and-yellow tuk tuk hanging on the top and numerous colourful messages handwritten in various languages by the happy customers.

Unsurprisingly, I spent a good

five minutes staring at the colourful scribbling all over the wall, which probably catches the attention of every visitor coming to dine at the restaurant. One message read ‘Best sushi in town’ while another said ‘Always and forever Tuk Tuk Thai’.

One that particularly made me chuckle said: ‘I am a sushiholic’ while another customer added: ‘Me, too – Michael’ just underneath it.

Ramma Gajjar, director of the restaurant, says: “It was an empty wall when we started our restaurant in October 2014 and in just these few months we have run out of space to write on,

so we have started using the glass window panels as well.” She pointed out that the glass walls of the restaurant were also covered with scribbles and doodles.

Variety Tuk Tuk Thai serves a variety of authentic Thai food and Japanese cuisine including sushi and sashimi as well as a chef’s special that consists mainly of a range of fusion dishes combining traditional Thai spices with a dash of contemporary flavours along with a touch of

The beautifully presented platter of food was a tribute to the skills of the chef

Delicious food Fusion dishes

52

travelsmart

By Sakina Nanabhai

Swahili. The restaurant’s head chef, Amnat Poonon, has over 25 years of experience in Thai and Japanese cuisine and has worked at various restaurants around the world.

Speaking about working in Tanzania, Amnat said he enjoyed cooking for the diversified range of diners in Dar es Salaam and providing them with an authentic Thai experience.

After getting to know so much about the restaurant, we could not wait to try the food for ourselves.

After flipping through the extensive menu, however, we still had no clue about what to order. Ramma came to our rescue with some of the best food suggestions.

Authentic food We started our meal with a serving of green papaya salad and spicy mint beef salad. Next came prawn tom yum soup, a platter of sushi, the very authentic pad Thai, and a serving of

beef cashew nut and Thai fried rice.

The beautifully presented platter of food was a tribute to the skills of the chef.

Before digging into our meals, we spent at least five minutes admiring how beautifully Amnat had decorated each plate with a small orange rose carved from a carrot, with green leaves popping out of the sides carved from the stalks of a cauliflower. The food was perfectly seasoned and was a unique blend of Thai spices, from the punch of the Thai ginger to the kick of kaffir lime leaves, every mouthful was a delightful blast of flavour.

After a great dinner at Tuk Tuk Thai, the only thing I wanted to do was write a few words of appreciation on the popular white wall.

As we left the restaurant, I am convinced, if there is one restaurant I see myself visiting again, it has to be Tuk Tuk Thai.

WHAT TO ORDER Starter: Order chicken satay, a popular Asian skewered chicken dish, served with peanut sauce and cucumber.

Vegetarian option: Spring rolls or vegetarian tempura.

Eye-catching Dar’s number one restaurant

Salad: Go for the refreshing papaya salad to start the meal.

The tart flavour of green papaya, with just the right amount of heat from red chilli and fish sauce, makes it a great option to start your meal with.

Soup: Tuk Tuk Thai offers a choice between chicken or prawn tom yum soup. Diners can select the form of protein that suits them best. Vegetarians can request for a vegetarian option for themselves.

Main: Sushi of course, if you’re a sushi fan. The extensive menu makes it hard to decide what to order, but for first timers we would recommend, pad Thai, stir fried prawns, beef with cashew nuts and Thai fried rice.

Vegetarian option: Vegetarians can opt for red or green curry with Thai fried rice, and vegetarian option for pad Thai.

OUR VERDICT ATMOSPHERE: ★ ★ ★ ★ SERVICE: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ FOOD: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Tuk Tuk Thai Ground Floor, Diamond Plaza, Mirambo/Samora Avenue, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Tel: (+255) 766 872 925 Facebook: facebook.com/tuktukthaiTZ

fastjet.com

53

CAR REVIEW Nissan Qashqai

KING OF THE (URBAN) JUNGLE I t’s a jungle out there.

Well, that’s what car companies must believe, as they foist SUV after SUV upon us. Do we really all need to be driven around in what is effectively a jacked-up hatchback?

Apparently so, because we go on buying them by the truckload. To be fair, some compact SUVs are good, while some are very average indeed.

So, what to make of Nissan’s Qashqai? Firstly, that odd-sounding

name. It comes from a nomadic tribe that lives in the mountains of southwest Iran. Nissan has now consolidated the naming of its compact SUV. Previously, some parts of the globe had a Dualis, while others had a Tekna. Now, they’re all branded as Qashqai.

Step inside and, despite its compact classification, there’s plenty of legroom up front and enough for rear-seat passengers as well. The boot is quite large for the

Nissan has had a few hit-andmiss cars over the years but the Qashqai is definitely a hit

54

travelsmart

segment, too, at 430 litres. Build quality is excellent and the plastics are all high-grade. Choose the top-of-the-range model and there’s even lane departure warning, satnav, Bluetooth phone and audio and traffic monitoring. It certainly comes packed with kit.

Choice There’s a choice of a 2.0 litre petrol or a 1.6 litre turbo diesel. No prizes for guessing that the diesel is the pick. It’s torquey, reasonably quiet, economical and matches up better than the petrol version with the CVT automatic transmission. It also has a stop-start function to save fuel when you’re waiting at a set of lights.

By Karl Peskett The steering is direct and well weighted and the suspension copes with rough terrain remarkably well.

Throw it into a corner and it stays true to the line, while a quick stomp on the brakes sees it haul up in eyepopping fashion. Dynamically it ticks all the boxes.

Nissan has had a few hit-and-miss cars over the years but the Qashqai is definitely a hit. It’s small enough to be wieldy but large enough to carry the family. It’s safe (five stars Euro NCAP), miserly, well built and drives with enough verve to keep enthusiasts happy.

As life gets ever busier, the Qashqai is definitely the kind of car to take into the urban jungle.

A huge hit Qashqai ticks all the boxes

Teddy Leung / Shutterstock.com

fastjet.com

55

TECH REVIEW

Virtual Reality Headsets

PUTTING SOME VA VA VROOM INTO VR

C

to provide 360 degree real-time head tracking, allowing the user to look around the virtual world just like in real life with a 100 degree field of view. What the user sees is no longer limited to the screen, but to what his or her eyes can see. This creates an impressive VR experience.

The Oculus Rift Development Kit 2 is available at US$ 350 from www.oculus. com while a full commercial launch is expected some time this year.

Oculus has also teamed up with Samsung to develop the Gear VR to work with the Galaxy Note 4 smartphone, which clicks into the headset. The Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition is available for US$ 199 at www.samsung.com.

Project Morpheus

VR headsets

Barone Firenze / Shutterstock.com

Along similar lines, Sony is working on Project Morpheus, a VR headset to work with PlayStation 4.

Morpheus is still only a prototype, but it is quite advanced compared with some headsets. It has a 1,080 pixel display that gives a crisp image and a 90 degree field of vision. The images the user sees can also be relayed to a TV screen. No price has yet been announced.

In a separate development, Razer, a gaming hardware company, Sensics, a VR company, and a group

The way forward

of other companies have created the Open-Source Virtual Reality (OSVR) ecosystem in an attempt to produce a VR standard for the industry. Its OSVR Hacker Dev Kit, including a headset and software, is in the hands of developers and is expected for public release in mid 2015 priced at around US$ 200.

At the other end of the spectrum is the Google Cardboard which, unlike most of those described above, is already available commercially. This is a do-it-yourself cardboard construction that uses a smartphone, some plastic lenses and a magnet to reproduce the VR experience. User reviews are surprisingly positive for such a simple idea, and for just US$ 20 on amazon.com it is a little easier on the wallet.

Giuseppe Costantino / Shutterstock.com

omputer gaming enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the new generation of virtual reality (VR) headsets that are expected to be launched in the coming year.

Marking a complete sea change in the industry, these devices are set to transform the gaming industry forever, bringing with them a science fiction-like experience.

In general, users strap on a headset and are transported into the computer game with a highly realistic rendering of landscapes and characters. It is almost possible to believe you are really there when fully immersed in the game.

The technology has been around for a while, but recent developments have led to advances that make the experience more real then ever before. Most devices are still in development, with developmentonly models available to order, but full commercial models are widely expected in the next 12 to 18 months.

Arguably the most widely known is the Rift from Oculus VR, which has been in development for some time.

Facebook acquired the company last year in a US$ 2 billion takeover, so it is the highest-profile of the five devices described here.

The Rift uses custom technology

fastjet.com

57

LATEST RELEASES BOOKWORM GHANA MUST GO

By Taiye Selasi Kweku Sai lives in Massachusetts with his wife Fola and their children Olu, Kehinde, Taiwo and Sadie. Kweku is a respected surgeon of Ghanaian descent, but things begin to fracture when he is wrongfully dismissed from his job and, in shame, tries to hide it from his family. He decides he must go back to Ghana, leaving behind his Nigerian-born wife and their four children, who spiral out into various parts of the world – London, New York and New England – and begin uncertain journeys.

Many years later, tragedy reunites the Sais. But the family has suffered so much since Kweku left that no one is sure what the future holds.

THE THREE: A NOVEL

By Sarah Lotz Four commuter planes crash within hours of each other, sending the world into panic as the causes are investigated. There appears to be no connection between the tragedies, which occur on different continents. Terrorism and environmental factors are dismissed. One thing that links the crashes, however, is that in three of the four aircraft a child survivor is found in the wreckage. These children, dubbed ‘The Three’ by the press, all begin to exhibit disturbing behaviour, assumed to be the result of trauma. One evangelical minister, however, decides that The Three must be harbingers of the apocalypse, so the children go into hiding. Their behaviour gets more and more disturbing, so that even their own guardians begin to wonder how and why these three particular children survived.

58

travelsmart

WIFE OF THE GODS

By Kwei Quartey Darko Dawson is a man of many talents: dedicated husband and father, detective inspector and an ace in his field. He is asked to lead a murder investigation in Ghana. Leaving his wife and child behind in Accra, he travels to Ketanu, where a young medical student has been found dead in suspicious circumstances. Although Dawson speaks Ketanu’s indigenous language, he is not met with warmth and hospitality by the local police, who fear an outsider’s interference. Dawson is familiar with Ketanu, however. This is where his mother was last seen alive before she inexplicably disappeared many years ago. He tries to solve the murder and along the way discovers some things closer to his own heart.

MUST READ...

OPEN CITY

By Teju Cole Born in Lagos to a Nigerian father and German mother, Julius never felt as if he fitted in, whether it was at the Nigerian Military School or studying medicine in the United States. Having recently broken up with his girlfriend, and feeling the strain of his work as a psychiatric fellow, Julius starts walking through the city to Central Park, to diners, to the movies, to the subway, to Ground Zero. Walking helps to relieve the stress for Julius as he takes in the streets of Manhattan, meeting strangers, friends and crowds of people as he goes. He embarks on a journey that is both emotional and physical, while trying to understand how he fits in with his surroundings.

STAR FILMS...

BLOCKBUSTERS

STILL ALICE UNFINISHED BUSINESS Starring: Vince Vaughn, Tom Wilkinson, Dave Franco, Sienna Miller Director: Kenn Scott Genre: Comedy Vince Vaughn places Dan Trunkman, a hard-working businessman who wins a lucrative deal in Germany. He and his two employees – ‘too old’ Timothy McWinters (Wilkinson) and ‘too young’ Mike Pancake (Franco) – head to Europe to finalise the details. When he finds out they are facing stiff competition from his ex-boss (Miller) they go all-out to try to impress the client, but find themselves in a series of hilarious situations.

Starring: Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, Kate Bosworth Directors: Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland Genre: Drama Winner of an Oscar for Best Actress, Julianne Moore stars in this heart-breaking drama about life and loss. Alice Howland is a linguistics professor at Columbia University and a mother of three. She begins to suffer mental lapses, so undergoes tests that reveal she has early-onset Alzheimer’s and that her children are also at risk of the disease in later life. Alice decides to live in the moment and to reconnect with her daughter Lydia in a bid to hold together her identity.

HOME

GET HARD

Starring: Rihanna, Steve Martin, Jim Parsons, Jennifer Lopez Director: Tim Johnson Genre: Family comedy

Starring: Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart Director: Etan Cohen Genre: Comedy

The Boov are an alien race looking for a new home and decide the Earth would be the perfect place. Led by their confident leader, Captain Smek, Boov invade Earth and all humans are relocated. Except one, named Tip, and her pet cat. They encounter a lonely Boov called Oh who has been banished from the group for causing chaos, and the three of them set out on an epic road trip. Along the way, Oh starts to realise that making mistakes is all part of being human, and they both discover the true meaning of the word ‘home’.

James King (Ferrell) lives a life of luxury as a millionaire investment banker. But he lands himself in trouble when he is wrongfully convicted of fraud. The judge delivers a 10-year prison sentence in the notorious San Quentin and gives King 30 days to get his affairs in order. He begins preparations for his time inside and desperately turns to car wash boss Darnell Lewis (Hart) for some advice. King’s assumptions are wrong, however, as Lewis is a good law-abiding citizen who has never set foot in a prison. The two set out on a hilarious buddy adventure as Lewis nonetheless tries to harden up King.

fastjet.com

59

Not flying?

VIEW TRAVELSMART ANYTIME, ANYWHERE www.fastjet.com/travelsmart-inflight-magazine Subscribe for FREE and receive each issue direct to your inbox

CORNER How does a diamond feel when it wakes up in the morning?

Shiny and bright.

What did the ruby say to the diamond?

You’re so clear you make me blush!

Where can you always find diamonds?

In a deck of cards.

RIDDLE ME THIS...

...riddle me that

A rich old lady died and left all her money to her children and grandchildren. At the end of her will she stated that she had one last thing to give away: her precious diamond. She gave a clue to where it might be. She said “It’s in a cylinder surrounded by a thousand squares.” One grandchild said, “I know where it is!” and found it. But where was it?

Answer: In a roll of toilet paper.

JOKE TIME...

10 DIAMOND FACTS!

 The word diamond comes from a Greek word meaning unbreakable  The diamond is the hardest natural material found on Earth  The diamond is a birthstone for people born in the month of April  Most of the Earth’s natural diamond deposits are found in Africa  Most diamonds found in nature are between one and three billion years old  The diamond is the world’s most popular and sought-after gemstone  To produce a single one-carat diamond, 250 tons of earth will be mined  Naturally occurring diamonds are often brought to the Earth’s surface by deep volcanic eruptions  The largest diamond ever found was the Cullinan at 3,106 carats  The colour of a diamond is usually pale yellow to colourless, but diamonds can also be brown, blue, green, orange, red, pink or black

fastjet.com

61

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.

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, New Zealand or Australia.

Tanzanian visas are issued by the following: • The office of the Director of Immigration Services, Dar es Salaam, and the office of the Principal Immigration Officer, Zanzibar.

• Entry points to the United Republic of Tanzania: principally Namanga, Tunduma, Sirari, Horohoro, Kigoma Port, Dar es Salaam International Airport, Kilimanjaro International Airport, Zanzibar Harbour and Zanzibar Airport.

• Any other gazetted entry point.

• From Tanzania High Commissions or embassies abroad.

For more information on Tanzanian diplomatic missions visit: www.tanzania.go.tz

South African visas Visitors’ visas are a requirement for many travellers entering South Africa on a temporary basis. The purpose of visit can be for either business or leisure but is restricted to 90 days or less when using a visitor’s visa. For longer trips a different type of visa is required and information regarding this can be obtained from the Department of Home Affairs.

The visa application must be produced on arrival and visitors are restricted to the activities given as the reason for travel during the visa application process. For a smooth trip, ensure that visas are applied for before departure as they are not issued on arrival in South Africa. Moreover, the visa must be fixed to a passport and shown to immigration upon landing. Visa applications do not need to be submitted in person but can be submitted on behalf of the traveller, for example, by a travel agent.

Non-South African nationals travelling to South Africa must provide evidence of an onward ticket (return ticket). Buses and train tickets are not accepted. If travelling with children under 18 a long form birth certificate in English language is required for each child as of 1 June, 2015 There are other visa requirements that must be adhered to for entry into South Africa: •

• • •

• • •

A valid passport needs to be produced which must not expire for at least 30 days after the duration of the intended visit At least two full, unused pages left in the passport Travellers also require a completed application for visa form A yellow fever vaccination certificate if over one year of age and travelling from a yellow fever belt country Documentation confirming the purpose of stay Two colour passport photographs A return or onward ticket is also a necessity

There is a fee associated with obtaining a visa, this fee can change often but can be checked by contacting the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa. For this and further information on visa requirements for entering South Africa visit www.home-affairs.gov.za

BAGGAGE SAVVY Airlines have varying baggage rules that can often be confusing and can lead to unforeseen costs at the airport. An outline of the fastjet baggage guidelines will help make your flight smooth and enjoyable.

If booked prior to departure each passenger is entitled to one bag that can be checked in and placed in the hold at the cost of $6 (domestic) / $15 (international). If hold baggage is not booked in advance it is still possible to check one bag per passenger into the hold while at the airport on the day of departure, this is at the cost of $15 (domestic) / $30 (international).

62

travelsmart

All baggage being checked into the hold must weigh less than 20 kg but if baggage weighs more than 20 kg arrangements can be made to carry it at an additional cost of $6 per kilo. However, maximum weight for any single piece of hold baggage is 32 kg due to health and safety restrictions and no passenger can check in more than 50 kg of baggage.

FLEET INFORMATION Airbus A319 - Quick facts

Each passenger is entitled to carry only one item of hand luggage, which could be one brief case, one handbag, a rucksack or a suit or dress carrier. Hand baggage can measure a maximum of 56 x 45 x 25 cm and anything measuring larger than this must be checked and placed in the hold. However, hand baggage must be able to be placed in and retrieved from the overhead lockers safely but there is no weight restriction on hand luggage. If hand baggage is larger than the specified dimensions it will be necessary to check this into the hold at the specified fees and charges. Infants travelling without a seat do not have hand baggage allowance.

Length:.......................................................................................... 33.84 m / 111 ft Height:................................................................................... 11.76 m / 38 ft 7 in Wingspan:........................................................................... 34.1 m / 111 ft 11 in Maximum capacity:......................................................................... 156 seats Cabin length:............................................................................ 23.78 m / 78 ft Range:........................................................................... 6,850 km / 3,700 Nm Maximum speed:.......................................................................... Mach 0.82 Number of aircraft:............................................................................................ 3

For further rules on fastjet’s baggage allowances please visit: www.fastjet.com

Greener flights through innovative design fastjet operates a fleet of A319 jets manufactured by Airbus as part of the A320 family of aircraft. Identical to the A320 except in length, the A319 is a single aisle twin-engine jet designed to carry 156 passengers. These highly efficient aircraft have a low environmental impact. Moreover, comfort has been improved for the smaller jet and the state-of-the-art A319 has a wide single-aisle fuselage, which gives a generous seat width, thus helping to maintain the high level of comfort that modern air travellers have come to expect.

HEALTH Vaccination requirements for international travellers • No cholera vaccination certificates are required of travellers coming from all over the world.

• Only valid yellow fever vaccination certificates

are required of all travellers over one year old, arriving from yellow fever infected countries mainly in central and West Africa, South and Central America South East Asia, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh.

• Vaccination for international travellers are obtainable from all inter national air and sea ports, city and major municipal councils NB: Make sure you get your yellow fever shot in good time since the yellow fever certificate is valid for travel use 10 days after vaccination.

fastjet.com

63

THE FASTJET NETWORK UGANDA Entebbe

Harare

Discover our routes FASTJET CONTACTS 24/7 CALL CENTRE: +255 784 108 900

fastjet Ten West ticketing & reservations office

To book tickets or for any customer service enquiries.

Tel: +255 784 108 900

Ten West Office, 2nd floor, 10 Vingunguti, Nyerere Road, Dar es Salaam

SOUTH AFRICA

UGANDA

fastjet South Africa Reservations Office

Entebbe Airport

Holiday House, 156 Bram Fischer Drive, Randburg, 2194

Travelcare

Simba Travel

TANZANIA fastjet Tanzania & Dar es Salaam ticketing & reservations office

Mbeya Airport at Songwe Tel: +255 784 108 900

ZAMBIA

Samora Tower, Shop no.1, Ground floor, opposite the NHC House, Samora Avenue

Moshi Office

c/o Voyagers Suez Road, Lusaka

Tel: +255 784 108 900 Email: sales.tanzania@fastjet.com

fastjet Arusha ticketing & reservations office Corridor Springs Hotel, Ground floor, Ingira Road

Tel: +255 784 108 900

Tel: +255 784 108 900

Mwanza Airport Tel: +255 784 108 900 Mwanza Town Office Mwanza Hotel, Kenyatta Road

Tel: +255 784 108 900

64

travelsmart

+256 750 080 190

Tel: +27 11 289 8090 Email: sales.southafrica@fastjet.com and customer.southafrica@fastjet.com

fastjet Julius Nyerere International Airport Tel: +255 784 108 900

Kaunda Street, Opposite Kilimanjaro Crane Hotel

Kampala Road, Entebbe

Tel: +260 211 256 864

ZIMBABWE c/o Star Travel, 180 Fife Avenue, Harare

Tel: + 263 864 455 66 77

Lugogo Mall Kampala

Tel: +256750080190 8 Colville Street Kampala

Tel: +256 750 080 190