THORNTREE NEWS ON THE BUSHWIRE COMPILED BY ELEANOR SOUTHERN-WILKINS BIG CAT PEOPLE Jonathan and Angela Scott will be speaking at London’s Royal Pedal for paws Geographical Society on 30 Jeremy and Emma Borg of Painted Wolf November. Both are award-winning Wines have launched a cycling initiative photographers; Jonathan is best called Pedals 4 Paws. Their Rare Carnivore known for his TV work, presenting Rides (bike safaris) raise WOLF WINES PAINTED the BBC’s popular Big Cat Diary, awareness and funds among other series. Proceeds will go for endangered to Friends of Conservation (FOC). carnivores such as cheetah and UNTITLED FILM FOR NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC African wild dog, among others. The brand is also CHUGGING IN STYLE the wine sponsor for The Victoria Falls Hotel is offering a new experience: the Tour De Tuli in South a steam engine ride to the majestic Victoria Falls Bridge Africa, which raises around 80,000 rand at sunset. The train stops at this historical landmark, (about US$5500) per year for Children in so you can get off to enjoy the view; or stay on board the Wilderness. to take full advantage of the drinks and canapés. The Bushtracks Express is currently up and running every Fun feast Tuesday and Friday. The Boma, the iconic restaurant at Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls, has revamped its popular dinner and drum show, with food refreshed A STAR IS RISING by South African IN AN ARTICLE IN THE DAILY celebrity chef Arnold NATION, KENYA HAS BEEN NAMED AS HAVING THE LARGEST GROWTH Tanzer, including local IN TOURIST BOOKINGS GLOBALLY Zimbabwean delicacies THIS YEAR. THE KENYAN TOURISM such as warthog steak FEDERATION IS MAKING THE MOST and Zambezi bream. As OF THIS, OFFERING INCENTIVES well as food, there is a full FOR BOOKINGS, DISCOUNTS TO evening of entertainment REPEAT VISITORS AND FORGING with dance, songs, storytelling, A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH BA. SO face painting and music. TOURISM AFRICA ALBIDA PERHAPS NOW IS THE TIME TO GO! GREEN OSCARS AFRICANS WON THREE OF THE SEVEN PRESTIGIOUS WHITLEY AWARDS THIS YEAR — THE SO-CALLED ‘GREEN OSCARS’ HONOURING CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. MAKALA JASPER WORKED WITH COMMUNITIES TO PRESERVE FOREST IN TANZANIA; JULIETTE VELOSOA IS SAVING THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SIDE-NECKED TURTLE IN MADAGASCAR; AND GILBERT BAASE ADUM (RIGHT) HAS BEEN PROTECTING GHANA’S RARE GIANT SQUEAKER FROG. ALL WINNERS RECEIVED PROJECT FUNDING OF £35,000. RIP It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Tim Best in July after a short illness. Founder of longstanding THERESA THOMPSON tour operator Tim Best Direct, he was a giant of the travel and tourism business and will be much missed. 166 October-December 2016 | Travel Africa SKY NEWS n UGANDA FIVE MATTHEW HOLLOW INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES ARE EXPECTED TO INTRODUCE Art for FLIGHTS TO UGANDA’S ENTEBBE INTERNATIONAL a cause AIRPORT, INCLUDING AIR Sculptor Camilla Le May is EUROPA AND AIR CHINA. raising money for the critically n RWANDAIR WILL FLY TO endangered northern white rhino ABIDJAN THREE TIMES A with her bronze of Sudan, the last WEEK AND TO DUBAI FROM remaining male of his species THIS MONTH. DAILY FLIGHTS on Earth. Created from life over TO ACCRA WILL ALSO BE INTRODUCED, AS WELL several months in Kenya on the AS SOME TO HARARE Ol Pejeta Conservancy, sales have FROM JANUARY. already raised US$4000 for vital veterinary equipment to aid in the n TANZANIA’S DODOMA AIRPORT IS BEING GIVEN AN conservation of these magnificent UPGRADE, WHICH SHOULD animals. Sudan with an Oxpecker MEAN MORE TRAVELLERS TO (above) is currently being THE CAPITAL. exhibited at London’s Rountree n Tryon Galleries. SOUTH AFRICA HAS UNVEILED ITS THIRD GREEN- ENERGY AIRPORT: UPINGTON IN THE NORTHERN CAPE IS SUPPLIED BY A SOLAR PLANT, SAFARI WITH REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON THE COUNTRY’S CONSTRAINED A DIFFERENCE POWER GRID. DREAM BALLOONS HAS LAUNCHED ITS FIRST HOT- AIR BALLOON SAFARIS IN MURCHISON FALLS, UGANDA’S LARGEST NATIONAL PARK, WHICH ALLOW YOU TO DRIFT PEACEFULLY ABOVE THE GROUND AT SUNRISE. n SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS MADE HISTORY IN JULY WITH AFRICA’S FIRST SUSTAINABLE BIOFUEL FLIGHTS. THE PETROL, MADE FROM A HYBRID TOBACCO PLANT GROWN IN SOUTH AFRICA, CAN BE BLENDED WITH CONVENTIONAL FOSSIL JET FUEL, MEANING THE ENGINE AND AIRCRAFT REQUIRE NO MODIFICATION AT ALL TO FLY MORE SUSTAINABLY. DREAM BALLOONS Travel Africa | October-December 2016 167.