Along with the Kenyan general elections held on March 4, 2013, came a string of concerns about whether or not the country would be safe to travel in around election time. After Kenya's last presidential elections ended in violence, the concerns weren't surprising. Thanks to good ol' communication and planning, none of our overland trip clients were affected by the elections. Above: Voter at the Kenyan polling booth. Photo by: DEMOSH The Kenyan 2007 elections were a disaster with over 1 000 people killed - two of which happened to be much-loved international athletes.

Finger on the pulse

With all of the worry that was flying around before the election, as a booking agent I contacted our overland trip suppliers who operate tours through Kenya and chatted to them about the situation. Proving trusty as ever, each supplier openly admitted there may be rioting and political chaos, but they were pretty confident that travellers who had booked trips with us on their overland trucks didn’t need to worry about safety. Why? Because our suppliers all have their finger on the pulse, that's why. Africa Travel Co.’s Managing Director, Graeme Thomson said, “We are operating all of our trips as per normal although we do have in place plans to run alternative routes should we experience any issues that we feel may cause us concern. Rest assured that the safety of our clients as well as of our crew always comes first.”

Communication is key

For safe overland travel communication is key, according to Natalie Peart from Oasis Overland. “I certainly think passengers should be reassured that we have their best safety interests at heart as our crew regularly feedback on how things are in the countries we are travelling through,” says Peart.

Expecting riots?

Kenya earned a shiny, new constitution in August, 2010, and the March 4th election was the first election since then. Did all our suppliers believe there would definitely be a riot? Nope, but even with such a peaceful view there's no harm in keeping a close eye on the situation... just in case. “It can be a crazy time around election day however we are not expecting riots. We are however monitoring what is happening,” Acacia Africa’s Marketing Manager, Michelle Lewis said. We're pleased to report that none of our passengers were affected by the Kenyan elections. However, seventeen people, including six police officers were killed during the elections. Our deepest condolences goes out to the families of those affected.

It is with sadness that we confirm that overland travel company, Kumuka, has ceased trading. Kumuka's Senior Travel Consultant, Ibrahim Dar, confirmed yesterday via telephone that the last tours will depart 22 July 2012 from their Chertsey office in the United Kingdom. All Kumuka trips has been removed from the OverlandingAfrica.com website.  We have contacted all clients who had made Kumuka bookings via OverlandingAfrica.com. Kumuka’s official website homepage now has an important notice banner stating that Kumuka have ceased trading. Established in 1983, the overland travel company operated routes all around the world through Africa, Australasia, Asia, Antarctica, North America, Latin America and Europe. Judging by the response they have received on their Facebook page, the announcement has come as a great shock for everyone. As booking agents for Kumuka trips, OverlandingAfrica.com Sales Manager, Ellena van Tonder says, “It is such a pity to see a valuable member of the tourism industry close their doors. We're yet to see the impact it has on the industry.” According to a recent press release posted on their site Kumuka says, “We apologise unreservedly to all Kumuka passengers and we are working hard to respond to all enquiries.” Kumuka has released the following information about refunds for their trips.

Kumuka refunds - travelling from Australia

You can claim a refund for the funds lost via the Travel Compensation Fund.

Kumuka refunds - travelling from New Zealand

If a traveller has paid for their trip with a credit card, they should initially claim against their credit card company. Travellers in New Zealand, who are not resident to Australia, who travel via Australia, can make a claim against the Travel Compensation Fund. If not travelling via Australia, travellers will still be able to make a claim via the Travel Compensation Fund, but the payment is discretionary and needs to go to the Board for approval.

Kumuka refunds - travelling from UK

If you have booked and paid for your holiday in United Kingdom then you are protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Kumuka holidays are ATOL Protected by this organisation. For more information, visit the ATOL website.

Kumuka refunds - travelling from Canada

Kumuka Worldwide Inc is registered with the Ontario Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO). TICO is an organisation mandated by the Ontario Government to administer the Travel Industry Act, 2002 and an industry financed travel compensation fund. For more information visit the TICO website. For travellers who are looking to book an overland trip with a different company over the period of time they have taken leave for, feel free to contact our Senior Travel Consultant, Mixo at mixo@overlandingafrica.com.

This online video campaign by US activists aims at capturing an alleged Ugandan warlord, Joseph Kony and his Rebel Group the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army). The video has gone viral with over 15 million views on YouTube. This campaign will expire on 31 December 2012, dedicating 2012 to stopping Joseph Kony. Watch this amazingly well produced Kony YouTube Video and reveal the horrifying truth about what is happening in Uganda. Share this post and let's make Kony known globally so that we can capture the man who has abducted over 30 000 innocent children and made their lives a living hell. Do it for the 30 000 children who will be next...

Which airlines offer flights to Zimbabwe? There are regional airlines who still fly to Zimbabwe. These include Air Malawi, Kenyan Airways and South African Airways. According to iol Travel, Emirates Airline will offer flights five days a week between Zimbabwe, Zambia and Dubai in 2012. [caption id="attachment_3334" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="An Emirates plane parked at King Shaka airport. Picture: Zanele Zulu"][/caption] “In February 2012, Emirates will commence services five days a week from Harare and Lusaka to Dubai,” said an advert placed by Emirates Group looking for staff to run the new flight operations. Air Zimbabwe cut down their services because of employees constantly striking. Huge debts are also a cause of the cut back in flight numbers as the company tries to maintain their ageing fleet. Pilots of Air Zimbabwe went on strike for over five months in 2011 in protest of unpaid salaries and allowances. The airline currently holds debt of about $100 million. A handful of  international airlines, including EgyptAir, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa and Quantas have put an end to flights to Zimbabwe because of dwindling passenger numbers. Book your trip to Zimbabwe and the stunning Victoria Falls today! iol Travel

"This massive Black Mamba was spotted close to some graves near a sugarcane plantation in Richards Bay in South Africa. Its estimated to be about 6 and half meters long and 45 years old, born around 1960! This snake has enough venom to kill 400 men!" - Facebook User *Gulp* Thanks go to Mark E Willis for sharing this photo on Facebook. *Post Update* Seeing as this photo and information is sourced by content shared on Facebook, additional facts and verification that this Black Mamba exists would be much appreciated. Below are a few more pictures of Black Mambas big enough to make your skin crawl. Photo by Snake Pics Black Mamba in Etosha National Park

There are only 7 northern white rhino left in the world and conservationists are worried about the future reproduction of the world’s rarest large mammal.

Decline in the Northern White Rhino Population

The reason for the decline in the population is attributed to hunting, poaching, and loss of habitat.

Graph Above: In 1960 the northern rhino population was over 2000. In the 1970s and 1980s the population dropped from 500 to 15 because of poaching. Managing to recover slightly, the population climbed to 25 in 1997 and went on to reach a peak of 32 in 2003.  After 2003, poaching shot up and in 2009 the population dwindled to 8 northern white rhinos left in the world. 2011 has seen the population reach an all-time low when one of the 8 last northern white rhino’s left, died of old age.

Northern White Rhino Moved From Czech to Kenya

Until 2009, the last eight northern white rhinos lived in two zoos in Europe and the USA. On December 20, 2009, four of the last eight were moved from Dvur Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic to Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia, Kenya.

“They are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and are thought to be extinct in the wild. Moving them now is a last bid effort to save them and their gene pool from total extinction.” Said Dr Rob Brett, Africa Regional Director at Fauna & Flora International, and member of the IUCN African Rhino Specialist group.

Above: The northern white rhino is categorised as ‘critically endangered’ by IUCN Red List.

Reproduction of Northern White Rhino

While in captivity, the survival rate of northern white rhinos are good, but reproduction rates are extremely low. The four rhinos were relocated back into the wild in hope of bringing about successful mating. Many said that the operation would put the animals at risk because they had spent so long in protected conditions and they would not be used to the harsh African environment. Members of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria stated that they didn’t think that “any significant conservation benefits will happen,” from the placement of the rhino back in the wild and in March 2011, they were almost correct. Just over 15 months of being released into the central Kenyan highlands and the northern white rhino’s began ‘mating’ activities. This behavioral change served to confirm that the four rhino had shed their non-procreational coexistence that they adopted while living in captivity and had now returned to the way nature intended it. Although the rhinos have been mating since in Africa, there have not been any offspring which have resulted from intercourse. With reproduction of northern white rhinos coming to a halt, inter-crossing of the northern and southern species is planned by conservationists in order to ensure that the genes of the northern white rhino do not die with the last of their species.

Northern White Rhino Stem Cell Development

However, with recent technology, it seems that all hope is not dead in losing the rare strain of the rhino’s gene. With the use of stem cell development it may be possible to produce the northern white rhino from a test tube. Director of Genetics at San Diego Zoo's Institute for Conservation Research, Dr. Oliver Ryder says:  “The greatest contribution this technology might make is to prevent extinction by using stem cells to assist with rescuing the genetic variation in increasing the reproduction of a critically endangered species.” The video below outlines the possibility of using science effectively to save the northern white rhino:The following organisations have invested time, money, effort and have proved highly dedicated to restoring the northern white rhino: Kenya Wildlife Service Fauna & flora International Ol Pejeta Conservancy Back to Africa Lewa Wildlife Conservancy The Nature Conservancy It seems that a combination of conservation effort, anti-poaching legislation and scientific brilliance, the world will never have to lose one of its precious species’ again. Quagga, we miss you. Be one of the few to see the the remaining seven northern white rhino, with a trip to Kenya. Reference Sources: Scientific American Wikipedia - Northern White Rhinoceros Northern White Rhino Last Chance Rhino Resource Centre Wolfganght Home Kenya News Online Reuters International Fund for Animal Welfare Original Article source: Discover Africa.com

We received this story via email and thought it was too brilliant not to share with you. Taking place in Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Reserve and photographed by Jean-Francois Largot, this dramatic story once again displays the strong bond that lionesses and their cubs share. Clinging on for dear life to the side of a vertical cliff, the tiny lion cub cries out pitifully for help. His mother arrives at the edge of the precipice with three other lionesses and a male. The females start to clamber down together but turn back daunted by the sheer drop. Eventually one single factor determines which of them will risk her life to save the youngster – motherly love. The drama begins: The mother arrives at the edge of the cliff as her son cries out for rescue after being trapped when he slipped.

On the brink: Four lionesses look over the edge before aborting their rescue mission because of the sheer drop.

Slowly, agonisingly, the big cat edges her way down towards her terrified son, using her powerful claws to grip the crumbling cliff side. One slip from her and both animals could end up dead at the bottom of the ravine.

Just as the exhausted cub seems about to fall, his mother circles beneath him and he is snatched up in her jaws.

She then begins the equally perilous journey back to the top. Minutes later, they arrive and she gives the frightened creature a consoling lick on the head.

Despite the presence of wardens to deter poachers, day-to-day life for the lions is not without its dangers… as the cub learned the hard way. Take a trip to Kenya's Masai Mara Game Reserve and experience the natural wonder of Africa's wildlife! Article written by Rich Laburn Photos by: Jean-Francois Largot

9 South Africans are on a mission to conquer one of the top destinations in Africa, Kilimanjaro, by foot and by flight. Champion paraglider Pierre Carter, and world-class climber Schwan-khart will lead a team, joined by an American and a Namibian paraglider, on their journey to the 3rd peak in their ‘Seven Summits, Seven Flights’ adventure. It has taken 10 years to acquire the required permit to paraglide off Kilimanjaro's summit, but at long last the wait is over and 11 paragliders will jump off of 5895m of mountain. Excited about the experience, Carter said: "Paragliding off Kilimanjaro will be different to the other flights because we will have 11 paragliders in the air simultaneously - it will be fantastic. This is a once-off." Seeing as paragliding off Kilimanjaro has been off the menu until now, I'm keen to see which leading travel company offers trips for Joe Soap to do the same...

Photo by Søren Faurby Thanks to TimesLive for the tip off :-)

To celebrate South African National Parks (SANParks) Week, from Monday, 12 September until Friday, 16 September 2011 all locals with a valid identity document are invited to spend a day at a national park of their choice free of charge! Free entry into all South African National Parks (except Boulders Beach) sounds like a great reason to embark on one of the best African safaris, as many of the national parks offer sightings of the Big Five.

The point of the week is to create a feeling of pride in all South Africans in their relation to the country's natural, cultural and historical heritage, under the SANParks theme of "Know Your National Parks". SANParks Week was created in 2006 when the organisation realized that the majority of South Africans were not accessing the national park. According to SANParks General Manager: Media Relations, Reynold Thakhuli, "SANParks then embarked upon this campaign to encourage all South Africans, especially those from the communities around the parks, to share in what SANParks envisions to be "the pride and joy of all South Africans and the world". "We especially want our young people to take advantage of this opportunity because this heritage will be under their protection in the near future," Thakhuli added. South African educators and school groups are urged to take advantage of SANParks Week’s offer for free entry into the parks and plan a visit to a national park nearby. Planning a road trip to one of your national parks and need to hire a car? Thanks for heads up on the story GoTravel24

According to a report by Reuters, a 2 million-year-old fossil of a part-human, part-ape species, was found. The being had hands and ankles much like that of a human, however its brain was small but advanced. Found in a cave north of Johannesburg, the fossils may serve to change views on the origins of humans. The fossil displays a list of anatomical features which have never been seen before, but which show how close this species links to human beings. Could this point to the evolution of early man? "The many very advanced features found in the brain and body, and the earlier date make it possibly the best candidate ancestor for our genus, the genus Homo, more so than previous discoveries," said Lee Berger, at the Institute for Human Evolution at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Berger and a team of experts examined the site where the fossils were found. The hand, hip bone and ankle bones have been well preserved and are paving the way for further research and discovery. "This is giving us insight, that isn't guesswork into an area of anatomy that is crucial and critical in how human walking evolved," Berger said of the foot and ankle bones. The hand discovered can be describes as human-like, attached to an ape-like arm. The fossil indicates that the hand had a precision grip which would have come in handy for making tools, said Tracy Kivell, a researcher at Germany’s Max Planck Institute, and a member of the team. The brain of the being was the size of a grapefruit and now opens the door to re-discover theories about brain enlargement in human development. The site was discovered in August 2008 and since then 220 bones have been found of these early hominids. Photo by Paleontology Suite 101