RWANDA: Meet Rwanda's First Female Pilot

Esther Mbabazi Right


Esther Mbabazi is a professional commercial airline pilot in Rwanda, the fourth-largest economy in the East African Community. She is the first female in Rwanda to become certified as a commercial airline pilot. She flies for RwandAir, the national airline of Rwanda.

She was born in Burundi circa 1988, to Rwandese parents. He father was a pastor and the family moved around a lot. Her mother was a housewife. When Ester was about eight years, her father died in an airplane accident when the aircraft he was travelling in overshot the runway while landing and crashed, in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo. Her family fled Rwanda before the 1994 genocide. The family moved back to Rwanda in 1996. She trained at the Soroti Flying School in Uganda, before RwandAir sponsored her to continue her training in Miami, Florida.

So when, a few years later she announced her intention to train as a pilot, the planwas not well received by some of her family. But at the age of 24, Mbabazi has made history as the first female Rwandan pilot – although as a woman she says she doesn't make flight announcements because it scares the passengers.

"Some people questioned why I wanted to do it, they thought I wanted to be a pilot to find out what happened to my dad, but that didn't have anything to do with it," Mbabazi said.

"Being a pilot really was my childhood dream, I don't think anything was going to stop it. It started when I travelled with my family and we would get the free things for kids, like the backpacks. I really liked that and I just liked to travel. The whole intrigue of this big bird in the sky, I was amazed. That and the free backpacks planted the seed."

Mbabazi, who is fluent in five languages, trained at the Soroti flying school in Uganda before being sponsored to continue her training in Florida by national carrier Rwandair. She now flies the company's CRJ-900 regional jets across Africa.

The death of her father has influenced the way she flies. "It has moulded my character as a pilot, and I think what happened to my dad makes me a little more safe. It could have stopped me, but an accident is an accident. If someone is knocked over in a car you don't stop driving. As a pastor's child I know that you have to let stuff go."

One person who never questioned Mbabazi's plans was her mother, Ruth. A strong farmer and businesswoman, she wasn't fazed to see her daughter take to the air after what the death of her husband, who was a Pentecostal pastor before his death.
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"I didn't get any resistance from my mum," Mbabazi said. "In her time she was the only girl in her electricity class, so she doesn't have any issues with what I do. She has five children and whether we want to do fashion or aviation, as long as we're doing something we're interested in, she's happy."

Mbabazi was born in Burundi, where her family had moved before Rwanda's genocide in 1994. The family moved back to Rwanda in 1996.

While not without its critics, particularly on human rights issues, Rwanda is now a secure and rapidly developing country. GDP grew by 7.7% last year and the government claims to have lifted one million people out of poverty in five years. Particular progress has been made towards gender equality. Women make up more than half of MPs.

"Things are changing in Rwanda," says Mbabazi. "Before you wouldn't find women driving taxis here, and now you see it. There are men who cook now in Rwanda, when, in an African culture, women have to cook. So I think eventually things change. If you really work hard and you prove that you can do something well, I don't think there's a question of you being a woman, it doesn't come into the equation.



"There are not so many male Rwandan pilots either. So even though I am the first female, my colleagues are the first male Rwandan pilots to be flying commercial planes. So I think it's a big change for all of us Rwandans and something that should be celebrated."

Esther Mbabazi wheels her bag towards the airstairs of the Boeing 737 sitting quietly on the tarmac at Kigali International Airport. Today she'll be flying from Rwanda's capital city to Juba in South Sudan.

A short hop south with a flying time of around 1 hour and 20 minutes. But for Mbabazi, 26, it isn't about the destination. As Rwanda's first female pilot, it's about the journey and her highest priority is to get passengers safely to their terminus.

"Growing up I wanted to be a pilot when I was four," says Mbabazi, who became a pilot for Rwanda's national airline carrier, RwandAir, at 24. "I'd never been inside a cockpit but I used to see a plane in the sky and I imagined that thing must be flown by someone.

"I had to go for it. Even though it looked like a long shot, it was my only shot -- that's how I saw it so I went for it, and here I am."

During her childhood, Esther's family would move on a regular basis due to her father's work as a pastor. But her desire to take to the skies never wavered, even after her father passed away in a plane crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo, when the passenger aircraft he was traveling on overshot the runway and hit some terrain.

Read this: The woman saving Uganda's lost children

"From day one, he was always my biggest supporter or fan," recalls Mbabazi, who lost her father before turning 10."[But] an accident is an accident. Like I said, if someone gets hit by a car, you don't stop driving.

"You can't live life being scared an in fear of anything. If something is bound to happen, you can't stop it."

Going all in

Thus, Mbabazi continued to work toward her goal of becoming a pilot and achieving what no other woman in her country had done before.

Once she completed high school, she packed her things and bought a one-way ticket to attend pilot school in Uganda.

"When I went it was a one-way decision," she says. "If they bounce me, I'll just pack my things and come back -- so that was the way I joined pilot school, and it was a long journey."

A year later, Mbabazi began training with Rwandair in Miami and her exploration of the aviation world began.

"My greatest memories are flying to different cities," she says. "Being in the sky gives you a whole other view -- you get to see what they call a bird's eye view of everything."

Sexism in the skies?

Now, the young pilot has become a pioneer in a male-dominated industry in Rwanda, and yet she knows she is constantly being closely watched because of her gender.

"No one ever says, 'Oh it's a male crew aircraft that crashed,' even though it's been many of the sort," she says. "But you know, if there's a woman on board and something happens, you know, definitely you're going to be mentioned."

Mbabazi recalls a previous incident where a passenger realized that the pilot for his flight was a woman shortly after arriving at the gate and refused to get on the flight.

"The cabin crew said we'll gladly leave you behind. You've already paid the ticket, so if your reason is that basic and shallow, it's not because of safety reasons. It's just because you don't want to fly with a woman, we'll gladly leave you behind."

Mbabazi refuses to let her critics win and is determined to continue being a role model for others. She hopes that her achievements can provide inspiration to other women who might not think they can attain their dreams jobs.

"Time has changed," she says. "Women are out there working, technology has changed, and everyone has the brains to do something, now it's not about how much bicep or how much energy you have."

Ethiopia: Gambela National Park

Located in the Gambela Region, its 5061 square kilometers of territory is encroached upon by cotton plantations and refugee camps.

The general topography of the Park is flat, with some areas of higher ground where deciduous woodland and savanna occur; these higher areas are often rocky with large termite mounds. About 66% of the area is considered shrubland, 15% is forest, while 17% has been modified by man. Gambela National Park also supports extensive areas of wet grassland and swamps where the native grasses grow over 3 metres in height.

Ethiopia as a tourist destination remains well behind its potential, and while known for its history, ancient cultures, and allegedly hidden treasures.The mystical Ark is rumored to have been hidden in Ethiopia somewhere,the country is not too well known for its national parks.

The Gambela Park was established primarily to protect two species of endangered wetland antelopes: the White-eared Kob and the Nile Lechwe. Other wildlife reported as living here include elephant, African Buffalo, lion, roan antelope, tiang, Lelwel Hartebeest, olive baboon, and guereza monkey. Several birds only found in this area include the shoebill stork, the Long-tailed Paradise Whydah and the Red-throated and Green Bee-eaters.

Located about 600 kilometres from Addis Ababa on the river Baro, Gambela has a strange history. From 1902 until it was captured by the Italians in the Second World War, it was administered by the British, the only part of Ethiopia to be so governed, The reason for this is that the British opened a port there on the wide and navigable Baro River, which during four months of the rainy season is navigable and provides direct access to the sea via the Nile through Khartoum. Ethiopian coffee was exported via this route, up to 1940.

Now the port has fallen into disrepair, though remains of the warehouses and jetty can be seen. At its peak, up to 40 ships would be in dock at any one time. The undulating plains of high Sudanese grass offer excellent opportunities for wilderness exploration. It is not particularly easy to access however.
Beyond Gambela towards the Sudanese border, the Anuak cultivators give way to the nomadic Nuer. These pastoralists herd their long-horned cattle into huge camps when they stop for the night.

The presence in the park of a permanent major river, the Baro, which flows towards the Nile, adds to the attraction of the park as it is navigable for much of the year though reportedly not used for regular trips by tourists and its depth and width makes a good habitat for many hippo colonies and the giant Nile Perch. The most common plains game are reportedly the white-eared kob, also found in the hundreds of thousands at Boma National Park in Southern Sudan, and the Nile or Kafue Lechwe.

In the river are to be found huge Nile perch, up to 100 kilograms, crocodiles and hippos. Other wildlife includes buffalo, giraffe, waterbuck, Roan antelope, zebra, bushbuck, Abyssinian reedbuck, warthog, hartebeest, hyena, lion and elephant. Unfortunately, there are very few animals to be seen in the park, but the birds are many and varied, the olive baboon and the local race of the vervet, with its white whiskers, are the very common, as is the black and white colobus monkey.

Bus links to Addis Ababa via Bako. (Min 2 day journey) 4 weekly flights from Addis Ababa by Ethiopian Airlines (Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat).

All accommodation is to be found in nearby Gambela town.

Ethiopia has rich tourism assets. With its diverse tourist attractions, which include cultural, historical and archaeological attractions, as well as a great variety of flora and fauna, the government of Ethiopia has initiated a number of measures to preserve and develop tourist sites throughout the country. Tourist infrastructures in various national parks have been upgraded, while renovation work on roads linking the parks with major roads and lodges is being carried out. Other measures include the protection of animals from illegal hunting in sanctuaries and parks, as well as the conservation of heritage sites, nine of which are included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Through these activities, Ethiopia has seen an increase in the number of tourists visiting its many attractions.

Ethiopia continued to record positive growth in tourist arrivals over the review period. The country achieved larger tourist numbers in 2012 than in 2011 thanks to increased participation in international travel and tourism exhibitions. Showcasing the nation’s tourism products globally has enabled Ethiopia to promote its natural, cultural and historical attractions to the rest of the world. This has helped the country to attract more international tourists and also generated more travel and tourism revenue. Some of the notable international tourism and trade fairs Ethiopia has participated in recent years include the ITB, Internationale Tourismus-Börse Berlin, the World Travel Market in London, the Moscow International Tourism Fair and the Shanghai 2010 Expo.

Good luck Ethiopia

Paul Okia
happytoursug@gmail.com
www.happytoursug.com


Paul Okia
Happy Tours Africa
happytoursug@gmail.com
www.happytoursug.com

Jordan: Tour Groups Cancel Bookings Enmass

Tourism is one of the most important sectors in Jordan's economy. In 2010, over 8 million tourists from various countries visited Jordan, with tourist receipts amounting to about 3.5 billion dollars. An additional $1 billion was earned through medical tourism to the kingdom. In 2011, Jordanian tourism lost $1 billion due to the political instability across the region.

Its major tourist attractions include visiting historical sites, like the worldwide famous Petra (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, and one of New Seven Wonders of the World), the Jordan River, Mount Nebo, Madaba, numerous medieval mosques and churches, and unspoiled natural locations (as Wadi Rum and Jordan's northern mountainous region in general), as well as observing cultural and religious sites and traditions.

Jordan also offers health tourism, which is focused in the Dead Sea area, education tourism, hiking, scuba diving in Aqaba's coral reefs, pop-culture tourism and shopping tourism in Jordan's cities. More than half of the approximate 4.8 Arab tourists in 2009, mainly from the GCC, said they plan to spend their holidays in Jordan.

Campsites are empty, and 4x4 tourist trucks are lying idle yet not many years ago they were busy ferrying tourists on guided tours daily to the red dessert.

While tourism in Jordan has been on the decline since the outbreak of the Arab Spring uprisings four years ago, it has witnessed its sharpest drop in 2015, with the number of tourists in the first four months of the year down 40 percent from 2014.

The tourism sector makes up 13 percent of Jordan's gross domestic product, and provides jobs in hotels and resorts for around 49,000 people. This figure excludes members of local communities - Bedouins in Petra and Onaizi in Rum - whose livelihoods are based on tourism.

Officials and experts in the sector attribute the decline to Jordan's prominent role in the campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). "We are paying a tax for being in the middle of an inflamed region," said Abul Razaq Arabiat, the head of Jordan's Tourism Board.

In December, ISIL downed a Jordanian jet and captured its pilot, Moaz al-Kasasbeh, in the Syrian city of Raqqa. In February, ISIL released a video showing the pilot being burned alive, sparking angry protests across Jordan calling for revenge and increased Jordanian air strikes against the group in Syria.

Instability around us will remain our biggest challenge.Abul Razaq Arabiat, head of Jordan's tourism board laments.

Tourism industry leaders say the worldwide publicity created by these events scared off thousands of tourists, prompting tour groups to cancel their bookings to the kingdom.

"The pilot crisis created a perception that Jordan is not safe," said Lina Khalid, director of the Jordan Inbound Tour Operators Association.

The capture of the pilot happened at around the same time as the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris, which Khalid believes also caused thousands of cancellations.

Many French tourists were worried by demonstrations against the cartoons that took place in Jordan.

Late last year and early this year, the US and French embassies in Jordan issued travel warnings, asking their citizens to be cautious and to stay away from malls and shopping centres in the country. The travel warnings have discouraged many Westerners from visiting Jordan.

The drop in tourists is most noticeable in what is known as Jordan's "golden triangle" of tourism: the sites of Wadi Rum, Petra, and Aqaba.

Occupancy of hotels in the region has not exceeded 20 percent so far this year, whereas normally occupancy rates reach 90-95 percent.

The ancient city of Petra is nearly empty, a few dozen tourists roam the petra to visit its cavernous gorges and rock-carved temples. Out of desperation.

Bedouin men and women advertised 50-percent-off sales on silver and antiques, while young men strolled back and forth, treading the same dusty paths with their horses and camels, trying to convince the handful of visitors to take a guided tour.

In Petra alone, more than 10 hotels have been reported closed this year due to mounting losses, and many have reduced their staff, leaving hundreds of residents jobless.

In Rum village, which has a population of roughly 1,300, people rely mainly on tourism as a source of income, while others work in the military or herd animals.

Tour guides say that unless the industry rebounds soon, they will have to abandon their livelihoods as tour guides.

Tour guides say in previous years, they used to host up to 30 or 40 people a night for each of the guides but now, barely any come in an entire week.

Religious Tourist Sites

Muwakir (Arabic for Machaerus) was the hilltop stronghold of Herod the Great. Upon Herod's death, his son Herod Antipas inhabited the fortress, and ordered John the Baptist to be beheaded there and where the fabled Salomé daughter of Herodias is said to have danced the famous Dance of the Seven Veils thus asking for John the Baptists' head.
Jordan River, which is the river where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist according to Christian tradition.
Madaba is well known for its mosaics, as well as important religious sites such as The Madaba Map, the oldest surviving original cartographic depiction of the Holy Land and especially Jerusalem. It dates to the 6th century AD.
Mount Nebo, where Moses was said to have gone to get a view of the Promised Land before he died, according to the Bible.

Seaside Tourist Sites
Aqaba - is a town on the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba with numerous shopping centers, hotels and access to various water sports and protected coral reefs and marine life. It has the ruins of the mediaeval town of Ayla and other Edomite ruins. Aqaba also has a vibrant nightlife scene especially on holiday weekends when thousands of wealthy Jordanians visit the coastal city. Numerous raves and concerts are held by international DJ's and artists at the major resorts and beach clubs.Aqaba is seeing nearly $20 billion worth of developments centered on tourism and real estate projects transforming the city into a "new Dubai".
Dead Sea – It is the lowest point on earth, 402 metres (1,319 ft) below sea level,and becomes 1 meter lower each year. It is the only depository of River Jordan and was part of the biblical kingdoms of Midianites and later the Moabites. The Dead Sea area is home to numerous world-class resorts such as the Sheraton, Crown Plaza, Kempinski, Mövenpick and Marriott. In addition, there are water parks, a public beach and international restaurants. The ultra-chic destination in the area, however, is the O-Beach which is home to cabanas, bars, international restaurants, and a beach club.

Tourist Hot Spots in Jordan

Amman: is a modern and cosmopolitan city known for its shopping centers, hotels and an ancient Roman amphitheatre.
Mahis:has religious sites.
Wadi Rum: is a desert full of mountains and hills located south of Jordan. It is popular for its sights in addition to a variety of sports that are practiced there, such as rock-climbing. It is also known for its connection to D.H. Lawrence; some scenes in Lawrence of Arabia were filmed here. In the late 2000s it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site for its natural and cultural heritage.
Irbi:Jordan's second largest city, is home to several museums and malls as well. However, the main reason for foreigners visiting the city is the plethora of universities that the cities host with Jordan University of Science and Technology and Yarmouk University being the two most prominent. The city hosts a large student population from all across Jordan, the Middle East and internationally. Irbid's University Street is home to the most internet cafes per mile in the world.
Fuheis: a town about 20 minutes north-west of Amman known for its traditional 18th and 19th century churches and turn of the century provincial Jordanian architecture.

Goodlife in Jordan
Jordan, most specifically Amman and to a lesser extent Aqaba, has emerged as one of the region's hotspots for nightlife. Alongside Dubai, Beirut, Sharm el Sheikh, and Manama, Amman is a premier clubbing destination in the Arab World and the Middle East. The country has seen an explosion in nightlife options ranging from high end nightclubs and bars in the capital city to world-class raves at the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum. Aqaba too has seen a proliferation in nightclubs and beach clubs as a result of the massive of foreign investment and influx of foreign labor and tourists due to the establishment of the special economic zone, ASEZA. Distant Heat held annually in Wadi Rum is considered one of the world's top raves.

Natural Reserves

Azraq Wetland Reserve - Azraq is a unique wetland oasis located in the heart of the semi-arid Jordanian eastern desert, managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN). Its attractions include several natural and ancient built pools, a seasonally flooded marshland, and a large mudflat known as Qa'a Al-Azraq. A wide variety of birds stop at the reserve each year for a rest during their arduous migration routes between Asia and Africa. Some stay for the winter or breed within the protected areas of the wetland.
Dana Biosphere Reserve - covers 308 square kilometres, composed of a chain of valleys and mountains which extend from the top of the Jordan Rift Valley down to the desert lowlands of Wadi Araba. Dana is home to about 600 species of plants, 37 species of mammals and 190 species of birds.
Mujib Nature Reserve - the lowest nature reserve in the world, with a spectacular array of scenery near the east coast of the Dead Sea. The reserve is located within the deep Wadi Mujib gorge, which enters the Dead Sea at 410 metres below sea level. The Reserve extends to the Kerak and Madaba mountains to the north and south, reaching 899 metres above sea level in some places. Wadi Mujib enjoys a magnificent bio-diversity that is still being explored and documented today. Over 300 species of plants, 10 species of carnivores and numerous species of permanent and migratory birds have been recorded.
Shaumari Wildlife Reserve - The Shaumari Reserve was created in 1975 by the RSCN as a breeding centre for endangered or locally extinct wildlife. Today, following breeding programmes with some of the world's leading wildlife parks and zoos, this small, 22-square-kilometre reserve is a thriving protected environment for some of the most rare species in the Middle East, as Arabian oryx, ostriches, gazelles and onagers, which are depicted on many 6th century Byzantine mosaics.

Jordan is investing heavily in its tourist infrastructure in the form of luxury hotels, spas, resorts, and massive real estate projects, as The "Abdali Urban Regeneration" Project and the "Marsa Zayed" in Aqaba. Luxury residential housing like Sanaya Amman and the Living Wall are attracting affluent Persian Gulf vacationers to buy property in Jordan.

Queen Alia International Airport is being expanded to handle 9 million passengers annually in the first phase; 12 million in the second phase.

With the establishment of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone, nearly twenty billion dollars have been invested in Jordan's sole coastal city. Luxurious resorts such as Saraya Aqaba and Tala Bay are being constructed with more in the pipleline like the $1 billion Ayla Oasis. With Jordan becoming increasing popular as a cruising destination, a new and modern cruise ship terminal is being constructed in the Marsa Zayed project.

The Jordanian government has said its considering an "emergency plan" to sort out the challenges facing the country's tourism industry.

The measures include waiving the $56 visa fee for visitors staying in the country for a minimum of two consecutive nights, and introducing a new, $100 "all-inclusive" pass for the country's most famous tourist sites, such as Petra, Jerash, and the site where Jesus is believed to have been baptised. Currently, the entry fee to Petra alone is $70.
There is doubt whether these measures will be enough to counter potential tourists' security concerns.

Instability in Jordan remains a great challenge for as long as the middle east is in turmoil, thanks to Islamic States fighters who have destroyed tourism and scared them in the entire middle east region, as all countries in the region are affected.



Paul Okia
Happy Tours Africa
happytoursug@gmail.com
www.happytoursug.com

Gambia - Drug Trafficking at Banjul International Airport

Tembisa Chichi Soares, a native of Brazil, who was apprehended at the Banjul International Airport in August by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDEA) officers and subsequently charged on drug related offences was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment and a fine of D300, 000 by Magistrate Dayoh S.M Dago of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, while her co- accused, Obiora John Nwobudu, a Nigerian national, was acquitted and discharged. Delivering the judgment in a crowded court room, the trial magistrate indicated that the two acused persons Madam Soares, first accused, and Mr. Nwododo, second accused, were both arraigned before the court on a four (4) count charge; that on Count (1), the 1st ·accused Soares is charged for being in possession of prohibited Drugs for the purpose of drug trafficking contrary to section 43A (1) of the Drugs Control Act Amended recently again in 2011; according to the particulars of offence, Soares on or about the 20th of August 2013, at the Banjul International Airport in the West Coast Region of the Republic of The Gambia had in her possession 6 kilograms 780grams of cocaine, a prohibited drug, and thereby Committed an offence. He said on Count 2, both the 1st and 2nd accused persons are charged with Conspiracy to commit an offence contrary to section 53 (1) (a) of the Drug Control Act 2003 as amended; that the particulars of offence stated that both accused persons on or about the 20th of August 2013, at the Banjul International Airport in the West Coast Region of the Republic of The Gambia conspired to traffic 6 kilograms 780grams of cocaine, a prohibited drug and thereby committed an offence. On Count 3, trial magistrate indicated that the 1st accused person, Soares, is charged with dealing in prohibited drugs contrary to section 33 (1) (d) of the Drug Control Act 2003 as amended; that the particulars of offence stated that Soares on or about the 20th of August 2013, at the Banjul International Airport in the West Coast Region of the Republic of the Gambia acquired and possessed 6 kilograms 780grams of cocaine, a prohibited drug and thereby committed an offence. The magistrate said Count 4 states that the 2nd accused person, Nwododo, on or about the 20th of August 2013, at the Banjul International Airport in the West Coast Region of The Gambia, imported 6 kilograms 780grams of cocaine, a prohibited drug and thereby committed an offence. The magistrate said in an attempt to establish the guilt of both accused persons, the prosecution called on a total of eleven witnesses and tendered a host of exhibits, whilst the accused persons in their defence testified as a lone witness in their case and tendering no exhibits, but were represented by counsels. “The 1st and 2nd accused persons are both acquitted and discharged on count 2 and the 2nd accused person is hereby acquitted and discharged on count(4) accordingly,” he said. The magistrate further noted that the first accused person was in actual possession of 6 Kilograms 780grams of prohibited cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and dealing in prohibited drugs contrary to the laws of the Gambia. “I therefore conclusively hold as a fact that the prosecution has fully discharged the legal burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt. The accused person Tembisa Chichi Soares is found guilty on count one being in possession of prohibited drugs for the purpose of drug trafficking and also found guilty on count 3 dealing in prohibited drugs,” said the magistrate Plea of Mitigation: Defence counsel Akimbo urged the court not to impose a custodial sentence on the convict; adding that the court has such powers not to impose custodial sentence under Section 29 of the Criminal Procedure Code, but a fine instead. He said the convict is a first time offender without any criminal record and therefore appealed to the court to tamper justice with mercy. Counsel Akimbo further submitted that they shall also rely on the authority of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency versus Muminatou Ceesay, a decision of the lower court in Banjul and a decision of the Gambia Court of Appeal in Nyabally versus the State 1997 Gambia Law Reports. “We hereby urge the court to consider the age of the convict who is an elderly woman and a grandmother,” he appealed. He further submitted, “more importantly Your Worship, we urge the court to put into consideration the medical condition of the convict who is a diabetes patient and her medical reports both in Brazil and the Gambia were mentioned in court,” he disclosed. According to counsel, the convict has shown remorse of her act and has always pleaded for mercy. “In the light of the forgoing, I hereby urge the court to grant the convict an option of fine and for the counts to run concurrently,” he pleaded. Passing his sentence on the convict, the trial magistrate indicated that due to the medical condition of the convict, he is incline to tamper justice with mercy. He then sentenced the convict on count one to 6years imprisonment without hard labour whilst on count two he asked the convict to pay a fine of D300,000 which after payment, 75% should go to the NDEA and 25% be given to the State. He added that the convict should also be deported back to her country after serving her sentence. The trial magistrate finally stated that the convict has the right to appeal within 30 days. State Counsel Abdourahman Bah disclosed to the court that the State intends to appeal against the decision of the court base on Section 285 E sub section 1 and 2 of the Criminal Procedure Code. “We are urging this court to issue an order for the 2nd accused (Nwobuhdu) to be detained pending the determination of the appeal,” Bah submitted. According to counsel Bah, there is high likelihood that the accused person might flee the jurisdiction of the court and therefore the court should issue an order for the 1st accused to be in custody pending the determination of the appeal by the State. Hagum Gaye, counsel for Mr. Nwobuhdu, who was discharged and acquitted by the court, submitted that the law cited by the state to appeal against the decision of the lower court is what they are relying on to ask the court to grant bail to the 2nd accused person. She said the 2nd accused was in detention close to 3 months, adding that the documents of the 2nd accused person have been surrendered to the NDEA. She added that the 2nd accused has a young family and a wife who is heavily pregnant. She finally urged the court to exercise its discretion and admit bail to the aforesaid person pursuant to Section 99 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Replying to the application of the defence, counsel Bah objected for bail to be granted to the 2nd accused, adding that bail is at the discretion of the court and it is also trite law that it should be exercise judicially and judiciously. The trial Magistrate upheld the objection on the bail application sought by the defence. ADDRESS

Paul Okia
Happy Tours Africa
happytoursug@gmail.com
www.happytoursug.com

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport

Ever been here? Yes, Addis Ababa Bole International Airport The new airport started operation in January 2003 and is one of the most convenient and welcoming airports in the continent. The facilities are designed to speed up your departure and arrival. Terminal II of the new Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is dedicated to render service for international flights while Terminal I services all domestic flights. Terminal I located at the old airport building and it is handling all domestic and regional flights. Airport code: ICAO: HAAB, IATA: ADD Run ways Run way length Old Run Way: 3.7 Km New Run Way: 3.8 KM Run way angel and direction West: (OLD) 07L, (NEW) 25 R East: (OLD) 07 R, (NEW) 25 L Passenger counters Domestic Passengers Terminal: 14 Counters International Passengers Terminal 28 Counters Total Passenger carrying capacity of Passenger Terminals: 52,800 Passengers Per day 19, 219,200 Per year Departure gates International Passengers Terminal: 7 Domestic Passengers Terminal: 4 Services at the Airport: There are different Restaurants, coffee, Flower, gift, Sovenier, duty free shops and Banking, Telephone, Cab and interntet services available at the airport. Lounges at Addis Ababa Airport Cloud Nine Lounge, located at the Departure Hall, is exclusive for our Cloud Nine Passengers where they can wait for their flight in a relaxing and quiet atmosphere in comfortable seats. Passengers here do not need to worry when to board their flights as Customer Service Agents will personally come to announce the departure time for each flight. For customer’s who have questions connected with their flights, a Customer Service agent is on hand manning the counter. A variety of refreshments, cold and hot snacks and a selection of reading materials are available at all times. The Lounge has a wireless connection and personal computers are also available for customers’ use. For those interested to watch international news or follow a program there are wall mounted TV screens. ShebaMiles Lounge, located on the inside corridor away from the gates in the Departure Hall, is designated for use by our ShebaMiles members with Gold and Silver membership cards. Here, our esteemed Gold/Silver card holders can wait for the departure of their flights comfortably away from the busy area of the Departure Hall. Here also a Customer Service Agent is available at the counter to answer any queries regarding flights. Refreshments including cold and hot snacks and a selection of reading materials are available. Personal Computers are availed for those interested to browse the internet. A wide screen television set is conveniently placed in the lounge for those interested in watching the news or programs. Transit Service Interline Desk on the first floor will facilitate the smooth transit for immediate connecting passengers. For passengers whose connecting flight is over 8 and up to 24 hours, interline desk will facilitate hotel accommodation provided that such passengers have transit /entry visa. For those nationals/ citizens who are eligible for transit visa on arrival, interline desk will facilitate such transit visa. The airline provides a bus service for transfer to/from hotel layover transit passengers. Facilities at the Arrivals Hall A number of hotels have Hotel Contact Booths for passengers who want to book for rooms before exiting the terminal building. Car rentals and city taxis are also available and can be hired at the Arrivals Hall before exiting the terminal. There are a couple of Cafes where passengers can wait in comfort for their pick up.

Paul Okia
Happy Tours Africa
happytoursug@gmail.com
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South Sudan: Boma National Park

As water sources dry up after the seasonal rains, and then again when the seasonal rains return, enormous herds of animals migrate in Boma National Park, South Sudan. It is estimated that the migration is far greater than the famous migration of the Serengeti, where nearly 2,000,000 animals search for grazing. Every year the movement takes place at different times depending on the rains. Elephant herd from the air in Boma National Park. Some of the elephants have been radio collared so that they can be tracked. Boma National Park is the largest park or reserve in all of Africa. Many people say Kruger or Ruaha or Virunga are the largest, but no it is Boma at 22,800 square kilometers. Boma National Park is 2,280,000 hectareas (5,631,600 acres) in size. This vast park has virtually no roads or park ranger outposts. Mostly flat it is crossed by many small streams and swamps. White-eared Kob and Zebra in Boma National Park before the civil war began. Today there are few zebra, but 800,000 to 1 million Kob are estimated in the park. In South Sudan, as in the Serengeti, the migration takes place all year, it is a slow movement dependant on the grass and the rains. In March/April/May/June the animals are moving from North to South and West to East, from the Sudd flood plains and Bandigalo National Park, back into Boma National Park and Gambela Park in Ethiopia, because the rains will have started. In November/December/January the animals are moving from South to North and East to West as the dry season is well under way and the animals are searching for grass. In November/December/January the white-eared kob will be calving as they migrate north into the Sudd flood plain and west into Bandigalo National Park. The major migrating species involved are: white-eared Kob antelope, Tiang Antelope,and Mongalla Gazelle. Prior to the the war with the north there were huge herds of Zebra, these animals were considerable reduced in number. A 2008 survey estimated that there were 6,850 Elephants in the park and surrounding area adjacent to the park. The Elephants and Zebra also migrate with the water and grass. In 1982 it was estimated there were about 6000 Giraffe in the Boma Park area, by 2007 it was estimated there were only 404 Giraffe remaining. The armies used the animal to feed their soldiers during the 25 years of war with Khartoum.Mongalla Gazelle is one of the major mammals involved in the migration.The tribal people in the area are the Murle, Anyuah, Suri/Kachipo, Jie and Toposa. There will be many opportunities to visit them and view how they have retained their traditional dress, housing, adornment, tools, religious beliefs. MAJOR SPECIES OF WILDLIFE IN BOMA NATIONAL PARK In 22,800 square kilometer (2,280,000 Hectareas or 5,631,600 acres) Boma National Park the major species are: Elephant, Giraffe, Hippopotamus, Nile Crocodile, White-eared Kob, Tiang, Mongalla Gazelle, Lion, Leopard, Caracal, Serval, Cheetah, Wild Dog, Jackal, Hyaena, Nile Buffalo, Zebra, Topi, Ostrich, Grant's Gazelle, Roan, Lesser Kudu, Lelwel Hartebeest, Beisa Oryx, Derby's Eland, Bohor Reedbuck, Warthog, Olive Baboon, Vervet Monkey.Hippos exist not only in the Nile River, but in the many small rivers and swamps throught out South Sudan. Barge on the Pibor River, that flows from the NW edge of Boma Park northward to form the boundary between South Sudan and Ethiopia. The Golden Pipit is an all year resident in the park.Hemprich's Hornbill is an all year resident in the park.Ostrich can be spotted in the park.The Abyssinian Scimitarbill is an all year resident in the park. Bahr el Jebel is the Arabic name for the White Nile that flows through Northern Uganda, into South Sudan and onward to the Mediterranean Sea. Long before Europeans arrived and changed the river's name it was known as the Bahr el Jebel. This is where our safaris take place. The people still adhere to their traditional culture and way of dress, still believe in spirits and ancestor worship and all wealth is measured in cattle. The people do not understand what a tourist is and do not dress up for the tourists. The largest park in all Africa exists in South Sudan to protect the greatest migration of mammals on the earth. This vast park named Boma, has few roads and navigation is often by GPS. Bahr el Jebel or Bahr al Jabal is classic Arabic for literally "The Sea of the Mountains". This refers to the giant swamp (the size of England) known as the Sudd, that the Bahr el Jebel flows into. In Juba Arabic (the Arabic of South Sudan) Bahr el Jebel means "The River of the Mountains". Eco-tourism we practice. We use bottled gas for the majority of the cooking, we always clean our campsites leaving them as we found them and we take our trash out in bags and take it to designated sites. Wildlife Biologist have estimated by aerial counts, that more mammals migrate in South Sudan than in the famous Serengeti migration. Close on two million white-eared kob antelope, tiang antelope, mongalla gazelle, elephant, buffalo and many other species, follow the above general migration path. Basically the animals are following the grass and water from wet season to dry season as the grass recedes and then comes back. The wet season is early April to late December and the dry season is late December to late March.Tiang antelope herd in Boma National Park is enormous and exciting, South Sudan. Although the elephant herds still exist in South Sudan, ivory poaching has greatly reduced their numbers. Wildlife Conservation Society and the South Sudan Wildlife Service have radio collared some elephants to follow their migratory patterns.

Paul Okia
Happy Tours Africa
happytoursug@gmail.com
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Botswana: A top Tourist Destination in Africa

Botswana has been listed among Africa’s top ten most competitive tourist destinations. According to the World Economic Forum Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2015. Botswana is ranked 7th out of 9 other countries yet South Africa is first. The report states that the most competitive countries in Africa had benefited from early investment into the tourism sector by their governments. Other countries on the list are Seychelles, Mauritius, Namibia, Kenya, Cape Verde, Tanzania, Rwanda and Zambia in tenth place.However countries like Uganda don't seem to attract tourism significantly. This is because the governments do not seem to take tourism seriously hence have not invested seriously in the sector. High time Uganda government thinks twice about investment in tourism.

Paul Okia
Happy Tours Africa
happytoursug@gmail.com
www.happytoursug.com

Sierra Leone: High Airfares Strangle Tourism

Sierra Leone’s high airfares strangle tourism, this is indeed true as confirmed by the countries tourism minister Kadi Sesay Officials in Sierra Leone’s Tourism Ministry say high charges of airfares have forced potential tourists to go elsewhere, leaving the sector performing below its potential. Tourism in Sierra Leone is about the most dormant economic activity in the country, yet many experts say it has a huge potential, considering the tourist sites adoring parts of the country, as well as its beaches. The acting minister of Tourism and culture, Kadi Sesay, cited a number of other factors in addition to airfares which she said were keeping her department dormant. She cited a very small budgetary allocation. The tourism ministry, receives the lowest annual allocation of about 1 percent of the total national budget. Very little of whatever amount is allocated reaches the ministry, making it unable to do anything meaningful. For the tourism sector to become viable, the sector needs funding increment from the Finance Ministry.

Paul Okia
Happy Tours Africa
happytoursug@gmail.com
www.happytoursug.com