Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa

About forty minutes outside of Dubai, the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa presents a panorama reminiscent of David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia. Its tiered pools, shady niches and traditional Arabic-style, low-rise buildings landscaped with palm trees, cascading fountains and wide, white umbrellas provide plentiful space to relax. As with many of Dubai's resorts, visitors who do not have overnight reservations can purchase day passes that include lunch, pool access, camel rides and tennis. At dusk, the hotel's Al Sarab rooftop lounge - complete with the sounds of the Oud and shimmying belly dancers - is bathed in fading light. Sunset is the perfect backdrop for cocktails and Shisha.
For more than a basic dune bashing or camel ride excursion, upgrade to a full-blown desert safari. With most tour companies, trips typically begin with a hotel pick-up around 3 pm and end with drop-off at 9 or 10 pm. Expect to start the tour by dune bashing, with stops along the way to photograph the sunset over the desert landscape. The caravan then stops at a Bedouin-style campsite, where Arabic coffee and dates welcome visitors. Camels lope on guided tours around the encampment and visitors can enjoy a standard barbeque buffet dinner while lounging on cushions in carpeted tents. Shisha smoking, henna tattoos and belly dancing ensue. Some companies offer overnight safaris, as well.

ETT- Kenya Safaris Desk

Etton Travel and Tours

Kipepeo butterfly project

Kipepeo is a Swahili word for the butterflies; In Kenya we have several projects that protect these beautiful creatures of the world, including Kipepeo butterflies project near Arabuko Sokoke forest in Coastal areas of Kenya.

Kipepeo sells butterflies and moth pupae and other live insects as well as honey and silk cloth produced by the community. Their pupae are exported and the live insects hatched and displayed in insect parks globally. 

As the market place for nature based products from the Arabuko Sokoke forest, Kipepeo coordinates production and sales, and ensures thorough training and monitoring so that the insects are bred and raised on-farm in a sustainable manner from wild parent stock.  Also Kipepeo project sells butterflies from other Kenyan forests. 

A purchase of Kipepeo products contributes directly to the conservation of critical natural heritage for future generations. The Kipepeo Market Place is located at the Gede Ruins National Monument 20, kilometres south of the resort town of Malindi and near the world famous Watamu beach.

ETT- Kenya Safaris Desk

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The cold light of Firefly

In tropical and temperate regions like in Kenya, the fire fly is recognized by the flashing light it uses to attract a mate. Interestingly the fire fly’s light is superior to the incandescent and fluorescent light produced by human beings. In fact the next time you look at the electric bulb think what this small creature can do.

If you consider an incandescent light bulb emits only ten percent of its energy as light, and the rest is basically wasted, discharged as heat. A fluorescent bulb is a bit better emitting ninety percent of its energy as light, but neither of this two is comparable to the fire fly, with very few ultra violet or infra red rays, the light emitted by this insect is almost one hundred  percent efficient.

The firefly’s secret lies in the chemical reaction of the substance luciferin, the enzyme luciferase and oxygen. Special cells called photocytes use luciferase to trigger this process with oxygen as fuel. The result is cold light, its called cold light since it virtually produces no heat. It’s a must the inventor of light bulb Thomas Edison must have been envious of fire flies.

ETT- Kenya Safaris Desk

Etton Travel and Tours

Verreaux's Eagle owl - world's third largest owl

Verreaux's Eagle-owl -also known as the Milky Eagle Owl, Giant Eagle Owl- is a member of the family Strigidae and is the largest African owl. This owl is claimed to be the world's third largest owl; after the Blakiston's Fish Owl and Eurasian Eagle Owl.

Verreaux's Eagle-owl ranges from 66–75 cm (26-30 in) in length. This species can attain a wingspan 2 m (6.5 ft) and weighs from 1600 to 3115 grams (equal to 3.5 to 7 pounds). In appearance, they are distinguished by a whitish oval disk face with a black border, pink eyelids, orange eyes and two feather tufts on their ears. Their feathers are dark brown on top and light grey below.

It is a nocturnal bird; it can be seen perching on exposed branches during the day. It often hunts in early evening and will wade into water to catch fish. Particularly partial to hedgehogs when nesting, it will take a wide variety of prey from moths to Great White Egrets, Grey Herons and apparently even Secretary Birds. At Lake Baringo Club the resident family has driven the White-faced Scops Owl from the grounds, having preyed on their chicks. They have also decimated the hotel's domestic cat population, the remaining cats are very cautious. Above all Verreaux's Eagle-Owls are opportunistic feeders which are quite happy scavenging for leftovers. You should watch out for them at lodges that engage in daily crocodile feeding.

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Etton Travel and Tours

Kingfisher Villa- a home at the beach.

Kingfisher Villa is ideal for families, a group of friends or fishermen. Set in six acres of tranquil tropical gardens overlooking a swimming pool. Kingfisher Villa is let on an exclusive self catering basis. Staff includes a very good Chef who will also do all your food shopping and arrange for fresh seafood to be delivered to the door. Garden/Pool attendants and a Room Steward who will also take care of your laundry. Kingfisher has a full time night watchman, plus security cover from Sentry Alarms with a remote control security button

The accomodation comprises of four individual cottages: one double and three twins, each with ensuite bathroom (shower and bath). Extra beds can be fitted in if needed. All cottages have mossie netting on the windows. Each room is fronted with a pri-vate veranda overlooking the swimming pool, furnished with a comfortable Lamu bed, two chairs and a coffee table. The rooms are air con-ditioned and have an overhead ceiling fan.

The main service area (below right) consists of a bar (includes a bottle cooler) and a sitting area in one rondavel and a separate dining rondaval attached to a well equipped kitchen (fridge, small freezer, microwave and gas cooker).

Taxis and Tuk-Tuks are easily booked for transfers to town centre or the beach should you not have your own trans-port.

Kingfisher Villa is situated three kilometers from Malindi town centre in the residential area of ‘Malindi North’. It is a 5 minute drive to the closest beach and 10 minutes to Malindi airport. Etton travel and tours organizes your stay  at kingfisher villa while on a holiday in Malindi.

ETT- Kenya Safaris Desk

Etton Travel and Tours

World Tourism Organization

The World Tourism Organization, based in Madrid, Spain, is a United Nations agency dealing with questions relating to tourism. It compiles the World Tourism rankings. The World Tourism Organization is a significant global body, concerned with the collection and collation of statistical information on international tourism. This organization represents public sector tourism bodies, from most countries in the world and the publication of its data makes possible comparisons of the flow and growth of tourism on a global scale. The official languages of World Tourism Organization are Arabic, English, ‎French, Russian, and ‎Spanish.

AIMS:

The World Tourism Organization plays a role in promoting the development of responsible, ‎sustainable and universally accessible tourism, paying particular attention to the ‎interests of developing countries‎.
The Organization encourages the implementation ‎of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, with a view to ensuring that member ‎countries, tourist destinations and businesses maximize the positive economic, ‎social and cultural effects of tourism and fully reap its benefits, while minimizing its ‎negative social and environmental impacts.
World Tourism Organization is committed to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, geared ‎toward reducing poverty and fostering sustainable development.

As of 2010, its membership included 154 member states, seven associate members (Flemish Community, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Hong Kong, Macau, Madeira, Netherlands Antilles), two observers. 15 of these members have withdrawn from the organization for different periods in the past: Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Thailand and Puerto Rico.

ETT- Kenya Safaris Desk

Etton Travel and Tours

Ngong Hills- a giant's knuckles

The Ngong Hills are peaks in a ridge along the Great Rift Valley, located southwest near Nairobi, in southern Kenya. The word "Ngong" is a Maasai word meaning "knuckles"  due to the 4 hill peaks of the ridge, which stands alone rising from the plain around Nairobi. The Ngong Hills, from the eastside slopes, overlook the Nairobi National Park game reserve and, off to the north, the city of Nairobi. The Ngong Hills, from the westside slopes, overlook the Great Rift Valley dropping over 1000 metres (4,000 feet) below, where Maasai villages have been developed.

The peak of the Ngong Hills is at 2460 meters (8070 feet) above sea level. 

During the years of British colonial rule, the area around the Ngong Hills was a major settler farming region, and many traditional colonial houses are still seen in the area.

In the 1985 film Out of Africa, the four peaks of the Ngong Hills appear in the background of several scenes near Karen Blixen's house. Local residents still reported seeing lions in the Hills during the 1990s.

The solitary grave of Denys Finch Hatton, marked by an obelisk and garden, is located on the eastern slopes of the Ngong Hills, overlooking the vast game reserve.

There is a walking trail along the tops of the Ngong Hills. Kenya Wildlife Service has a small post at the NE foot of the park. There is a KSH 100 fee. Local residents have sometimes held Sunday church services on the southern peak, overlooking the Great Rift Valley.

Near the hills is the town of Ngong. A wind farm is being built on the hills.  There is an active wind farm now on the northern hills. Many hikers have reported being robbed or mugged on the southern hills over the last few years. Kenya Wildlife Service offers guides/security to accompany you on your hike for an extra fee.

ETT- Kenya safaris desk

Etton Travel and Tours

Golf safaris in kenya

Paint an inaccurate picture of golf in the 21st century and anyone who plays the game will testify if its true or false.

Golf is used to the odd sniper taking potshots at its integrity but the tired old arguments wheeled out to beat the sport about the head no longer hold water.

The reality is that the Royal and Ancient game is hugely popular and accessible, in fact it’s now considered positively hip and cool – a four ball with mates and beers to follow is about the perfect summer’s day out for many.

Its appeal is broad too; even the rich and beautiful in the shapely forms of supermodel Campbell and actress Zeta-Jones love nothing better than hitching up their golf slacks and strutting their stuff down the fairway.

However golf’s attraction doesn’t lie in who plays the game but rather the very game itself – from the physical pleasure of smacking a ball down the fairway to discovering all the wonderful rituals and traditions that surround the sport.

To explain to a non-golfer why golf is such a great game can be difficult. If you don’t play, it’s likely you just won’t get it . . . at first!

At its most rudimentary level, its appeal lies in the fact that there is something innately satisfying about teeing up a ball and thrashing it as hard as you can. It conjures up memories of youthful indiscretion, of throwing stones as far as possible and seeing them hit their intended target – a disused garden shed window or abandoned old car – and the resulting clatter of success.

But before anyone writes off golfers as unreconstructed hooligans still seeking a cheap thrill or adrenaline rush, golf proves strangely addictive for altogether much more subtle reasons.

It’s partly the ritual involved – packing your golf bag for a day’s golf is a bit like planning a trek up K2 with every contingency to be covered – rain, sun, cold, hunger, thirst, new glove, pen, scorecard, tees, balls (plenty of those) and the latest gadgets (golfers love gadgets!).

Then there is the equipment itself to marvel at – the tools of the trade. Gleaming silver irons, drivers with heads the size of Pluto, fairway woods, hybrids and putters of infinitive variety. Golfers, as you will discover if you ever take up the game, are suckers for gear. Screaming ads promise the earth and despite knowing better hapless golfers go back for more, convinced that the latest driver on the market is going to cure all their golfing ills.

Once you’re primed for action, bag loaded or trolleyed up complete with essential gadgets, the real business begins, the round itself. Four hours of mostly pleasure but sprinkled with various doses of agony, joy, frustration, hope and not a little despair.

The course is where the love affair is cemented. Driving ranges are great for practice, superb on a wet winter’s night but every golfer lives for the manicured greens and sculptured fairways where he can measure his skill and ability.
And the first tee on every course brings with it the potential and thrill of anticipation of what might be.

The first shot of every new round heralds the start of something special. Eternally optimistic, it’s always the same, today’s the day you cast off the shackles of your handicap, unleash your true potential and blitz the course like the great golfer you know you really are.

Of course reality then kicks in – you top the shot, the ball shoots off like a heat-seeking missile, maintaining its perfect height of just a foot off the ground for its entire 90 yard journey before coming to rest in a clump of rough on the adjacent hole.

Dream over for another round but there’s still another 17 holes to go and hey, hold on, if I get my five wood to this, actually manage to get a half decent connection, I’ll still have a chance to get on the green, sink the putt and play the game.

Golf is also about the challenge of beating what the legendary Bobby Jones called Old Man Par – pitting your wit and ability against the course, out-thinking and maneuvering its hidden traps and spiteful hazards, attempting to lower your handicap, and, heaven forbid, even win some monthly medals.

But it’s not all about competitions, draining putts and shaving strokes off your handicap. Golf is something more too, its beautifully civilized, the long walks between holes yielding plenty of time for introspection and reflection as you contemplate a round unfolding before your eyes and take in the agelessness and greenness of it all, letting life’s day to day stresses drift away to be replaced by a kind of happy golfing stupor. For the funs of golf at Etton we can organize special golf safaris for you in Kenya any time.

ETT- Kenya Safaris Desk

Etton Travel and Tours

Levels of classification.

Every organism can be classified at 7 different levels - kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species. Each level contains organisms with similar characteristics. The kingdom is the largest group and very broad. Each successive group contains fewer organisms, but the organisms are more similar. The species is the smallest group and is very narrow. Organisms within a species are able to mate and produce fertile offspring. The following is the order in which they follow:

Kingdom: Can be explained as all living things on earth.

Phylum:  a phylum can be defined in two ways: as a group of organisms with a certain degree of morphological or developmental similarity, or a group of organisms with a certain degree of evolutionary relatedness. Attempting to define a level of the Linnean hierarchy without referring to relatedness is an unsatisfactory approach, but the phenetic definition is more useful when addressing questions of a morphological nature.

Class: This level divides each phylum into closely related groups. In the phylum vertebrata the animals are divided into Mammalia which feed their young on milk, aves which have feathers.

Order: This level divides each class into groups of more closely related organisms. For example animals eating meat are in order carnivore while those with more developed brain are in order primate, those are the humans.

Family: This level divides each order into groups of organisms which share similar behaviour and general habits.-in the order carnivore cats are in family felidae since they have sharp claws. And humans are in the family hominidae – this is a family for animals with upright posture.

Genus: This level divides each family into groups of organisms which are extremely related but cannot interbreed to form an off spring. For example lions and leopards are related but cannot form an offspring, they cannot inter breed successfully.

Species: This is the most specific unit of classification. All members of a genus are divided into species. Organsms of the same species can inter breed to form an off spring. E.g. humans can interbreed to form a baby. Lions can inter breed to form a viable offspring.

ETT- Kenya Safaris Desk

Etton Travel and Tours