Dear Reader;

Welcome to this issue of the Menengai Holidays Travel Bulletin

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Publisher:                Menengai Holidays Ltd

Editor:                    Daniel Njaga

Editorial Researcher:  Bridgit Mwikali

Feedback:               bulletin@menengaiholidays.com

Website:                 http://www.menengaiholidays.com

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The Menengai Holidays Travel Bulletin is a newsletter on topical travel highlights, events and titbits on travel and environment in Kenya.

In this edition, our destination item focuses on Delta Crescent Sanctuary near Mount Elgon. On Natural history, we focus on Butterflies, the popular “forest queens.” Did you know that butterflies are indicators of ecological health?

Wishing you an enlightened travel always.

Did You Know…?

That Butterflies provide a lot of aesthetic value. Their colourful beauty is an inspiration for art, poetry and a sense of well being.

They are also indicators of a healthy environment; no wonder we have so many of them in Kenya!

Travel with us; we shall enrich your experience

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In this edition:

(i)                             Snap Shot: Rescuing an elephant from its weight

(ii)                           News: Kenya Airways Honoured

(iii)                          Destination: Delta Crescent Camp and Sanctuary

(iv)                       News and Announcements

(v)                          Natural History: Butterflies, the forest queens

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Elephant rescued from its weight!

The Kenya Wildlife Service whose, insignia is the elephant, last week demonstrated its alliance with the mighty beast. After being stuck in mud for over 36 hours, three elephants were finally pulled out of the heavily muddy Lake Kamnarok in Baringo where they had trekked in search of water. It took combined efforts of the Kenya Wildlife Service rescue unit from headquarters - armed with a helicopter and several four-wheel drive vehicles - and the local people to pull the 1 tonne beasts from the muddy mess. Talk of rescuing an elephant from its weight!!

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NEWS              - Kenya Airways Best African Airline

Kenya Airways, KQ, as popularly know has made great news recently because of its highflying calibre. From the Travel News it scoped 6 top honours:

·                           - Best African Airline;

·                          - Best Regional Airline;

·                          - Best Local Airline;

·                           - Best Business Class;

·                           - Best Frequent Flier Program.

The in-flight magazine, msafiri was voted the best in East and Central Africa. Hot on the heels of these honours, the airline was voted “African Airline of the year 2005” by the African Aviation magazine for fifth time in 7 years.

It seems KQ is truly the “pride of Africa;” congrats from us.

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DESTINATION          - Delta Crescent Camp

Delta Crescent Camps and Bandas are ideally situated on the slopes of Mt. Elgon, 4km from Chorlim Gate of Mt Elgon National Park. Delta Crescent has very large and ecologically friendly campsites that offer unsurpassed solitude and beauty and is ideal for all groups of holidaymakers. Campers will have a nice ground laid for them and camping gear, including tents and beddings are provided at a fee to those who may not be prepared.

For nature lovers, Delta Crescent has a lot to offer. It is the only sanctuary in Western Kenya where there is white rhino. It also has a variety of other unique wildlife like Rothschild giraffe, Eland, Colobus Monkeys and Grey Duikers. All these can be seen easily on a leisurely nature walk around the sanctuary. Other activities here include horse riding, bird watching and fishing. The farm has a big restaurant where guests can have foods and drinks as well as indoor games like pool tables and table tennis

Outside the park, attractions include:

Mt Elgon National Park. It is reputed as one of Kenya’s most beautiful parks, a home to mountain elephants, cape buffaloes, colobus, DeBraza and blue monkeys. The Caves in the park are legendary attractions as are sceneries like Elephant platform and Endebess Bluff, which make hiking in Mt Elgon a memorable experience.

Saiwa Swamp National Park.  The smallest park in Kenya is little known, but offers rich diversity of biological life and is ideal for social outings. The most unique is the semi aquatic sitatunga antelope which is endangered, but the park also hosts unique species like DeBraza monkey, crested cranes etc. The park has beautiful nature trails and a campsite ideal for a large group of campers.

Kapenguria. Historians have a field day here. There is a Museum dedicated to preservation of Kenya’s independence history with an insightful record of Jomo Kenyatta’s trial and freedom struggle. Also rich galleries on the culture of the Pokots and Cheragani people ideal for the culturally inclined 

In Kitale town, we have Kitale Museum and Treasures of Africa Museum. Kitale Conservancy also offers and ideal stopping point for nature lovers. Here we have what is thought to be the biggest botanical garden in Kenya consisting of indigenous plants collected from different Kenyan ecosystems.

Contact us for your great holiday visit to Delta Crescent and Western Kenya info@menengaiholidays.com

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NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Maasai Mara Migration 2006

We are receiving bookings from Kenyans and residents to Maasai Mara in October 2006. Departure afternoon 19^th and return afternoon 22^nd Accommodation has been changed from Serena to Dream Camp according to the wishes of the majority. This is the peak of the migration phenomenon and you will have a chance to savour one of the greatest wildlife spectacles.

Cost Guide: 31,000 K.Sh. single; 27,000 K.Sh. double. This may vary depending individual needs. Contact us for actual quotation. We are currently receiving bookings and several of them have been confirmed and fully paid for. Instalment payments are encouraged to lessen the cost pressure. Inquiries and bookings welcome.     

info@menengaiholidays.com

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Across Kerio; the greatest Cycling Rally in East Africa

Menengai Holidays is working with the Ministry of Tourism, the Kerio Valley Development Authority and the Mid-Rift Tourism and Wildlife Circuit to conduct what will become the biggest and the most exciting cycling event.

The rally, christened Trans Kerio Cycling Challenge, will start in Eldoret and, pass via Iten, Tambach, Kabarnet, to Baringo/Kampi Samaki for the first day. On the second day, the cyclists will pass via Lake Bogoria National Reserve to Mogotio, Kabarnet and finish at Nakuru. The rally is scheduled for the Kenyatta Day weekend on 21^st and 22^nd October.

The annual event is aimed at opening up Central Rift region to national and international attention as a perfect tourism destination. It will also seek to raise funds for conservation, education and social programs in the area.

Interested participants, sponsors, sports/news reporters and general enthusiasts should submit their contacts. Full details will be made public after 15^th April 2006. More details on participation and sponsorship will soon be posted on the website. Advance inquiries can be made through:

info@menengaiholidays.com

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NATURAL HISTORY

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Butterfly - the forest “Queen”

Butterflies are beautiful flying insects with large scaly wings. They are among the most attractive insects largely due to their bright colours and the fact that they are least harmful to us. They belong to a taxonomical order called Lepidoptera. Greek for “scaled wings”.

Butterflies are found all over the world and in all types of environment: hot and cold, dry and moist, at sea level and high in the mountains. Most butterfly species, however, are found in tropical areas, especially tropical rainforests.

Metamorphosis

Butterflies and moths undergo a complete metamorphosis through four different life stages: The Egg often laid on a leaf; the Larva (caterpillar) which hatches from an egg after 4 days and eats leaves almost constantly. Then there is the Pupa, a resting stage that takes 9-12 days to transform into an adult butterfly. The caterpillar is the feeding stage while the adult is the dispersal phase.

There are about 28,000 butterfly species worldwide and they are very good fliers. They have two pairs of large wings covered with colourful, iridescent scales in overlapping rows. Lepidoptera (Butterflies and moths) are the only insects that have scaly wings. The wings are attached to the butterfly’s thorax (mid-section). Veins support the delicate wings and nourish them with blood.  In Kenya, we have a variety of butterflies and there are categories: coastal and the upcountry butterflies. Many butterflies migrate to avoid adverse environmental conditions (like cold weather).

Ecological Importance

Ecological importance of butterflies includes:

·                     ·         They pollinate flowering plants as they harvest nectar from flowers;  

·        They serve as prey to many animals like birds, especially during larval stage, hence support the food chain.

·        They are environmental quality indicators; the presence of butterflies is a sign of a healthy environment.

·        They provide aesthetic value; their colourful beauty is an inspiration for art, poetry a sense of well being.

Observing butterflies and other forest creatures gives us valuable insights into the delightful complexity of the world around us. Make your next safari a butterfly safari. Wee can show you how!

What is in a name?

The origin of the name ‘butterfly’ is uncertain but some entomologists believe it refers

to the common butterfly called brimstone.

The male of this species has pale yellow wings that are similar in colour to butter, hence butter coloured fly, shortened to ‘butterfly’.

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Butterfly Numbers

      ·     Worldwide approximately over 18,000 species have been recorded.

·     About 3,700 species have been recorded in Africa.

·     About 871 species recorded in Kenya.

• Over 260 recorded in Arabuko Sokoke forest, in Coast about 1/3 of the Kenya population.

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Eco bits

Interested in a “butterfly safari” in Kenya? We know how you can do it; drop us a note: info@menengaiholidays.com

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Who we are

Menengai Holidays Ltd is a tours and safaris firm with headquarters in Nairobi offering general and specialised safari packages.

To view our different packages, go to:

http://www.menengaiholidys.com/packages

We also offer booking services for hotels, car rentals and flights for all your destinations in East Africa.

Verbatim from our clients:

“It has been a memorable and very valued visit which we have both greatly appreciated. Ahsante Sana!!..”

Pili and Marty Goss, UK, December 2005.

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We encourage you to share our bulletin with your friends. We also wish you a safe and wonderful travel in this beautiful country and elsewhere. Always choose Kenya as your first choice travel destination and let us show you the rest.

Note:

Comments on this bulletin most welcome. Send them to:

bulletin@menengaiholidays.com

Copyright 2005 Menengai Holidays