Table of contents for Issue 166 - Apr - May 2021 in Msafiri

Karibu DEAR READER Welcome to the April-May 2021 issue of msafiri. All through this pandemic, our topmost priority has been to ensure that we provide the safest possible environment for our passengers and staff. In line with this, we are proud to announce that Kenya Airways has become one of the first African airlines to implement the Trusted Travel Pass (see page 79). The digital platform enables passengers to verify their compliance with Covid-19 vaccine travel requirements securely. A straightforward, one-stop-shop, it’s another step to helping you fly with confidence once more. Your health remains our number one priority. We continue to work tirelessly to ensure your safety on board our flights through a wide range of protocols, including state-of-the-art Hepa filters, deep cleansing between flights and regular Covid testing…

VOICE OF AFRICA THE REAL AFRICA Social media influencer Adam Maina shares his travel and conservation experiences on Instagram @adammaina – but there are a few things he’d like you to know next time you take a virtual trip to Africa… WORDS: ADAM MAINA there are so many things people assume about this beautiful continent of ours that are so outdated they should probably seal them in a glass jar and display them in a museum. So, what have you heard about Africa? Or seen on Instagram? And how can we demystify that today? First of all, please take time to learn the name of the country you are visiting. There are only 54. On that same note, no, we do not know your friend from Botswana. Please stop asking.…

WILDLIFE LAPPET-FACED VULTURE DR GLYN MAUDE FOUNDER KALAHARI RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION While I have a deep affection for all five species of vulture occurring in Botswana, I have a soft spot for the lappet-faced vulture. This started when I attended a site in the Okavango Delta where two wild dogs, several white-headed, white-backed and hooded vultures were all fatally poisoned by a farmer. The wild dogs were the target but the vultures also became victims, as is so often the case. We found a lappet-faced vulture: still alive but only barely. We were overjoyed when, a few weeks later, after treatment, we successfully released it. Sadly, two years later the same lappet was fatally poisoned in a remote spot on the boundary between Namibia and Botswana. At that point I…

NUBIAN FLAPSHELL TURTLE TOMAS DIAGNE DIRECTOR AFRICAN CHELONIAN INSTITUTE All turtles hold a place in my heart, but that passion has turned into a mission to conserve them. One stunning species is the Nubian flapshell turtle (Cyclanorbis elegans). Not only is this the most endangered freshwater turtle in Africa, but until recently it was suspected to be extinct in the wild. A population has now been confirmed in the White Nile of South Sudan – but it is threatened by unsustainable hunting. Classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, the Nubian flapshell turtle needs conservation action now! Education of local communities on the importance of this little-known species in their waterways, and the transition of these local communities into becoming stewards for the turtle are crucial for its…

KQ CARGO MOVING MEDICAL SUPPLIES DURING THE PANDEMIC As the Covid-19 pandemic progressed in 2020, Kenya Airways, through the cargo unit, helped move much-needed medical supplies from China and Europe to Africa. For example, the airline moved about 4,000 tonnes of personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Kenyan government between April and December 2020. In December 2020 too, the airline moved close to 100 tonnes of PPE from China to Mozambique. Moving the PPE across the continent was among the initial assignments for the airline’s B787 Dreamliners that carried cargo while still with passenger seats in the cabin. With the airline’s temperature-controlled pharma warehouse, Kenya Airways is ready to store and distribute coronavirus vaccines throughout its entire network.…

LOYALTY SCHEME: Flying Blue: How to stay Miles ahead Being a member of the Flying Blue frequent flyer programme allows you to earn reward Miles every time you fly with Kenya Airways and our partner airlines. And what’s more it’s free to join. You can redeem your Miles for flights, upgrade your seat, or pay for your accommodation or car rental. Your Miles are valid for life as long as you take an eligible flight at least once every two years. There are four membership levels – Explorer, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The more you travel, the more Experience Points you earn and the higher your level becomes – earning you more Miles and benefits. → For more information on Flying Blue, go to flyingblue.com…

SUSTAINABILITY Trees for change As part of Kenya Airways’ commitment to sustainability and to mark its 44th birthday, KQ staff recently held a tree-planting ceremony in the grounds of the airline’s head office. The initiative formed part of the Kenyan Ministry of Environment and Forestry tree-planting campaign, which seeks to achieve 10 per cent tree cover by 2022. In a further nod to the environment, KQ’s technical team created the plaque marking the event from upcycled aircraft materials. In forming its sustainability programme, Kenya Airways has adopted the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as a guiding framework. The SDG’s 17 targets include no poverty, gender equality, quality education, clean water and sanitation, and climate action.…

travel places Lesser-known Tanzania THE SERENGETI (GREAT MIGRATION), KILIMANJARO (AFRICA’S TALLEST MOUNTAIN), SELOUS (AFRICA’S LARGEST GAME RESERVE), ZANZIBAR (BEACHES, SPICES)… THE HIGHLIGHTS OF TANZANIA JUST ROLL OFF THE TONGUE, BUT THE COUNTRY OFFERS SO MUCH MORE THAN THESE STELLAR NAMES. HERE’S FIVE LESSER-KNOWN EXPERIENCES TO ENJOY1 1 Track elephants in Mkomazi A mere step away from Tsavo, its more famous Kenyan neighbour, Mkomazi National Park is a hidden gem. Here, you can share in the joy of seeing any number of Tsavo’s 12,000 elephants, who wander freely across the border – but without the crowds. As well as elephant, the rest of the Big Five call Mkomazi home too, as do some 73 other animal species and more than 450 types of bird. KIJONGO BAY BEACH RESORT 2 Kayak in…

2-MINUTE BRIEFING LET’S TALK NATURE KNOW YOUR AFRICAN TREES Stop! Don’t turn the page. Reading this will take just 120 seconds of your time, leaving you wise to the wonderful world of African trees 1 BAOBAB The ‘upside-down tree’ is firmly rooted in the lives, traditions and myths of people throughout sub-Saharan Africa. A deciduous tree – its stubby branches bare of leaves during the dry season – it’s easy to see how it got its nickname. The medicinal benefits of powders and potions made from the bark, leaves and fruits of baobabs are as old as the trees themselves (carbon dating indicates they can live for 3,000 years or more). Powder from the dehydrated pulp of baobab fruit has been found to be 10 times richer in vitamin C than…

WILDLIFE LION JENERIA LEKILELEI DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY CONSERVATION | EWASO LIONS Lions are like my cows now. But it wasn’t always that way. I grew up hating lions because they killed my livestock. But things changed when I got a job protecting them. Out in the arid landscape, I noticed a cub who was always last in her litter, falling behind. She reminded me of myself. I named her Nanai – meaning ‘My own’ in Samburu. Whenever I’m called to respond to conflict between people and lions, I think of her. She’s now nurturing her third litter. Lions are threatened because of habitat loss and conflict with humans, and occupy 8 per cent of their historical range in Africa. But where I work, lion numbers have grown to over 50…

kusafiri ALL YOU NEED FOR A SAFE & ENJOYABLE JOURNEY WITH US Guess where… Costing an eye-watering US$300m, making it the most expensive building in Africa, this groundbreaking dome lights up its host city – the blue, yellow and green beams representing the colours of the national flag. Although the structure is the embodiment of the country’s bright future, the architecture is a nod to its rich traditions – the dome represents the shape of the traditional King’s Palace, while the attached hotel’s multicoloured exterior resembles a woven basket. But can you guess which of Kenya Airways’ destinations is home to this unusuallooking landmark? TURN TO PAGE 89 FOR THE ANSWER…

DELIVERING SYRINGES ACROSS AFRICA Kenya Airways has partnered with Revital Healthcare to distribute vital medical equipment across Africa and around the world. Based in Kilifi, Kenya, Revital is the only facility in Africa that is World Health Organization-approved to produce syringes for the Covid-19 vaccine. In announcing the partnership, Roneek Vora, director, Revital Healthcare, said he was “beyond impressed” with KQ Cargo’s storage facilities. “I am confident that if a vaccine manufacturer comes to me, I have an adequate cold storage facility at the Kenya Airways’ terminal. We know how important the syringes are and how they are going to save lives.”…

STRENGTHENING TIES WITH HORTICULTURE Kenya Airways recently welcomed Hon. Betty C. Maina, cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and Enterprise Development, for a tour of its cargo centre. The visit saw the airline strengthen its collaboration with the Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya, the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK) and the Kenya Flower Council – a move to bolster the export of the country’s fresh produce. Allan Kilavuka, Kenya Airways’ group managing director and CEO, said: “We will continue… exploring options of creating shorter connecting times, as our goal is to ensure that your produce arrives at the intended destination on time and, most importantly, fresh.” Hosea Machuki, chief executive, FPEAK, added: “We look forward to exporting more horticultural produce through KQ Cargo.”…

Network Planning & Fleet PLANNING IN A PANDEMIC MARTIN GITONGA, KQ’S HE AD OF NET WORK PLANNING AND ALLIANCES, DISCUSSES HIS CAREER AND THE ART OF FLIGHT SCHEDULING AMID THE CURRENT CRISIS “Two quotes have motivated me throughout my career and life,” says Martin Gitonga, Kenya Airways’ head of Network Planning and Alliances. The first comes from former US president Theodore Roosevelt, who said: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood…” The other belongs to Tom Mboya, one of Kenya’s founding fathers: “I have news for…

CONTRIBUTORS THE WRITE STUFF MEET THIS ISSUE’S CONSERVATION HEROES, WORKING TO PROTECT AFRICA’S WILDLIFE Read it! …saving endangered species in Africa PAGE 50 Kaddu Sebunya Chief Executive Officer, African Wildlife Foundation “There has never been a more important time to invest in nature, to preserve our biodiversity, than now.” Dr Irene Amoke Executive Director, Kenya Wildlife Trust “There is a lot to be learnt from cheetah; they are charismatic, graceful, agile, lethal and built for efficiency.” Dr Paula Kahumbu Chief Executive Officer, WildlifeDirect “I STUDIED ELEPHANTS FOR MY PHD AND FELL IRREVERSIBLY IN LOVE WITH THEM. WHILE DOING MY STUDIES, I LIVED AND WORKED IN THE FORESTS AND BECAME SO A WARE OF NA TURE THAT I TRULY FELT LIKE I WAS PART OF IT.” Tomas Diagne Director, African Chelonian…

WILDLIFE AFRICAN WILD DOG JEALOUS MPOFU SENIOR TRACKER PAINTED DOG CONSERVATION Painted dogs – aka African wild dogs – are highly social animals that are native to Africa and not found in the wild anywhere else on the planet. They live in small pockets across a handful of countries including Zimbabwe, the home of Painted Dog Conservation. I’m tasked with keeping track of the various packs of painted dogs in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park and surrounding areas. One day, I was following a pack called the Khanzinga pack. The alpha female, Crescent, was nursing an injury from a wire snare and guiding the young at the den. The alpha male, Eyespot, had to hunt and feed Crescent, three yearlings and 10 pups. Eyespot killed an impala, all alone, quickly fed…

WILDLIFE CHEETAH DR IRENE AMOKE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KENYA WILDLIFE TRUST There is a lot to be learnt from cheetah; they are charismatic, graceful, agile, lethal and built for efficiency. Though slight in physique, they show great boldness and can fight and challenge much larger predators to defend their cubs. Solitary and introverted by nature, cheetah are extremely strategic and show great team work when they need to. The first time I witnessed a cheetah hunt was one of my most exciting wildlife encounters. Watching the female as she stealthily stalked a group of grazing gazelles, and then that unexpected burst of energy as she chased and brought down her prey was simply breathtaking. The cheetah is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, but due to…

KQ CARGO HOW WE PULLED A FIRST FOR THE GLOBAL AIRLINE INDUSTRY When 29-year-old Hazel Wachira joined Kenya Airways four year ago, she knew she was destined for big things. But little did she know among these would include leading a team that would make history by repurposing a B-787 Dreamliner for cargo purposes. The aeronautical engineering graduate from the Technical University of Kenya recalls the numerous hours and sleepless nights it took the team of 25 young Kenyans to accomplish what no other airline in the world had. The repurposing, done in collaboration with Avianor, a leader in the aerospace industry for more than 25 years, began in December 2020 and was completed in January 2021. “Although the actual work on the plane took seven days, more time was…

FROM THE FARM TO THE VASE: THE EXCITING JOURNEY OF KENY A FLOWERS Kenya is among the world’s largest flower exporters, with a third of roses sold in the EU coming from the East African country. Flowers are also Kenya’s second largest export after tea, employing about 100,000 people directly and close to two million indirectly. However, flowers are highly perishable and must reach the consumer located thousands of kilometres away within 72 hours. Furthermore, the cold chain must be maintained right from the farm to the market or else they will wilt and be of little economic value. The process starts at the farm where the flowers are sorted, graded and stored in cold storage rooms at about 4.C. Thereafter, the flowers are loaded onto refrigerated trucks and taken to…

connections AIRLINE CONVERTS DREAMLINER INTO CARGO FREIGHTER KENYA AIRWAYS DELIVERS A WORLD FIRST AS IT ENHANCES ITS CARGO OFFERING For more on KQ Cargo and the repurposed Dreamliner, see our special feature on pages 64-73. Kenya Airways has made aerospace history with the firstever repurposing of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner into a freighter, removing the seats to increase the aircraft’s cargo capacity. Known as a ‘preighter’ (passenger aircraft used as a freighter), its repurposed cabin can now carry up to 16 tonnes of cargo, increasing the aircraft’s maximum freight payload to 46 tonnes. In 2020, following a dramatic dip in passenger flights because of the pandemic, KQ utilised some of its idle B787 aircraft for cargo transportation – although the seats remained in place, limiting the extra cargo space. The…

MEET THE KQ TEAM WINROSE MUNGAI QUALITY AUDITOR What are your primary responsibilities? I support Ground Handling. This entails ensuring sound standards and procedures, and carrying out audits of processes in Kenya and in outstations to ensure these procedures are complied with. We also get involved in investigations to ensure effective correction of anomalies to prevent repeat occurrences. What have you learnt about the response to the pandemic? There needs to be continuous care to avoid contracting the virus. This has to be equal on the social front, where we sometimes lower our guard. What measures has KQ put in place to combat Covid-19? KQ has ensured education and frequent updates on the pandemic to its staff. Measures have been put in place to procure and issue requisite PPE, which…

KQ CARGO RELAUNCHES FLIGHTS TO NEW DELHI KQ Cargo has resumed direct cargo operations between Nairobi and New Delhi in India. The weekly service will help support Kenya’s and the intra-African export market and provide a welcome lifeline to many local businesses reliant on overseas markets. Dick Murianki, director, KQ Cargo, said the airline would continue to connect the ever-increasing number of international markets. Murianki said: “The resumption of direct weekly cargo flights from Nairobi to New Delhi indicates the integral part KQ plays in providing logistics solutions to our customers. Key items to be uplifted from India include pharmaceutical and medical products, machinery, sports goods and general cargo.”…

SAFETY KQ LEADS THE WAY WITH TRUSTED TRAVEL PASS INITIATIVE ENABLES VERIFICATION OF COVID TEST AND VACCINE Kenya Airways has partnered with the African Union (AU) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to become one of the first African airlines to implement the Trusted Travel Pass. The digital platform enables passengers to verify compliance easily and securely to Covid-19 test or vaccine travel requirements to their destination. They will also be able to share the test and vaccination certificates with authorities and airlines to facilitate international travel. Julius Thairu, chief commercial and customer officer at KQ, said: “Kenya Airways is proud to be one of the leading airlines in Africa to facilitate a one-stop secure travel shop to restore customer confidence to fly once more. We are…

in-flight entertainment KQ Cinema CHOOSE FROM A HOST OF NEW ON-BOARD CONTENT — THERE’S SOME 80 MOVIES, 55 TV PROGRAMMES AND 1000 MUSIC TRACKS FOR YOU TO ENJOY PICK OF THE FLICKS TENET ACTION A visually dazzling puzzle for film lovers to unlock, Tenet serves up the cerebral spectacle audiences expect from a Christopher Nolan production. In a twilight world of international espionage, a mysterious organisation called Tenet recruits an unnamed CIA operative, known only as The Protagonist (John David Washington), to participate in a global assignment that unfolds beyond real time. The mission: prevent Andrei Sator (Kenneth Branagh), a renegade Russian oligarch with precognition abilities, from starting World War III. To do so, The Protagonist must master the art of ‘time inversion’. Set to the throb of an electrifying…

skyteam FIND A COVID-19 TEST NEAR YOU, WHEREVER YOU ARE SkyTeam launches online Testing Labs Locator Passport, phone, Covid-19 test… as the skies reopen, a negative test result is becoming a ‘new normal’ travel essential. To help you travel with greater peace of mind, SkyTeam has partnered with TrustAssure™ to launch a global online Testing Labs Locator, making it easier to find the test you need. The Testing Labs Locator is available on SkyTeam.com and many of our member airlines’ websites. LOCATE A TEST TrustAssure, powered by USbased CLX Health, provides the latest testing location data around the world. Type your city in the search bar and you’ll find information including: • Testing location address, contact details and website • Available tests, highlighting labs offering Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests…