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africaTravel MagazineSmiling CoastThe Gambia Hosts ATA 35th CongressJourney Through West AfricaPrivately, Perfectly PembaTanzania Treasures and GemsCameroon: Africa in One CountryEthiopia 32 Page Supplement.Africa Travel Magazine

THE GAMBIA SAYS “MANY HAPPY RETURNS” TO ATA MEMBERSAfrica Travel MagazineMember: Africa Travel Association,Head Office: New York, NY, USAATA Executive Director: Edward J. BergmanPublisher’s Office: Vancouver, BC, CanadaTel. (604) 565-8752, Skype: airhitravelE-mail: airhwy@smartt.comWebsites: www.africa-ata.orgwww.airhighways.comEditor & Publisher: Jerry W. BirdAssociate Editors:Muguette Goufrani, French LanguageKaren B. Hoffman, Based in New YorkContributors: In Print, Radio and Online.Prof. Wolfgang Thome, Habeeb Salloum,Rick Antonson, Ogo Sow, Sandy Dhuyvetter,Mariama Ludovic de Lys, Gill Staden,Abigail Lubliner, David Cogswell, PaulKisoni, Hilu Bara, Elena Hall, Agnes Chung,Vanessa Ngango, Cam McLeay, DanielDunn.Editions: Pre and Post ATA CongressAfrica Travel and Nature Library:Big Five Regional Series, Marketing AfricaTourism Series, Best of Africa Series.Subscriptions: airhwy@smartt.comMost ATA delegates will be seeingThe Gambia up close for the firsttime. To set the stage our editorialteam decided to let this year’s hostcountry speak for itself.I am The GambiaThey call me the Smiling Coast- proud host country of the AfricaTravel Association 35th AnnualCongress. I occupy a narrowarea on the GambiaRiver, surrounded bySenegal to the north, eastand south. My westernboundary along the AtlanticCoast offers visitors someof Africa’s most beautifulbeaches with warm coastal watersand a tropical climate that is warmand humid year round. A formerBritish colony, I became independentin, 1965.As H. E. President Yahya A.J.J.Jammeh, stated recently concerningmy promising future, “We want totransform The Gambia into a trading,export oriented agriculturalAfrica Travel Magazineand manufacturing nation, thrivingon free market policies and avibrant private sector, sustainedby a well educated, trained, skilledhealthy, self reliant and enterprisingpopulation and in so doing bring tofruition this fundamental aim andaspiration of Vision 2020.”My Ethnic RootsMany Americans know about methanks to Alex Haley’sbestseller and epic televisiondocudrama “Roots,” which tells the storyof Kunta Kinte and hisancestral homeland ofJuffureh. My populationof 1.5 million includesthe Mande, Mandinka and Atlanticpeoples - Wolof and Fulani, who liveharmoniously in mixed communities,freely exercising their religious andcultural traditions. My people arewidely recognized for their genuinefriendliness and hospitality. WhileEnglish is the official language,Wolof and Fulani are spoken intowns and Mandinka in rural areas.

We interview Hon. Baba Hamadou, Minister of Tourism, CameroonAfrica Travel Magazine:Mister Minister, what are yourimmediate and long range goalsfor tourism in Cameroon?In the area of tourism, Cameroon iscurrently pursuing a double objective:seeing that this sector participates concretelyand immediately in the implementation ofthe Head of State’s policy programme forhis current seven – year term of office, soas to meet the common goalof social well being. This iswhy my Ministry is working tosignificantly increase the numberof international tourists visitingCameroon. The figure is todayestimated at about half a million.The immediate objective agreeswith the medium- range target ofendowing the sector with a soundtourism policy that will be madepossible in the coming monthsthrough a Tourism Development MasterPlan. This will lead to a more rational andoptimal development and exploitation of ourpotential.The upcoming creation of a NationalTourism Board; developments now takingplace in some tourist sites, notably withinthe framework of the STEP (SustainableTourism for Eliminating Poverty)Program; the imminent launching of majorconstruction works for the investment ofgiant tourist complexes in Malimba-Yoyoin the Littoral and in Lobé near Kribi in theSouth are ample proof of a brighter futurefor Cameroon’s tourism industry. As far ascooperation is concerned, we are going tocontinue with the signing of cooperationagreements in the area of tourism, notablywith China.What sets Cameroon apart fromother destinations in Westernand Central Africa? What is yourcompetitive edge?The main characteristic of Cameroon’stourist products is their diversity. Infact, thanks to its central position on theAfrican continent, Cameroon’s tourism ischaracterized by a large variety of products.Cameroon’s tourism potential is endowedwith a large range of resources stemmingfrom its landscape, and climate which giverise to flora and fauna resources among therichest in Africa.Moreover, this country harbours almost thetotality of what nature has unevenly given toother African countries. Here live more than250 ethnic groups, with exceptionally richand varied cultures and folklores. It is worthnoting that in a region like ours which isplagued with all sorts of crises; social peacethat reigns in our country is very conducivefor profitable tourism investments.How highly do you rate yourmembership in the Africa TravelAssociation and its events inAfrica and the USA?There are potential market segments in theUSA that can be exploitedfor the development of ourtourism - for example,lovers of nature, of lessdisturbed environment,and of genuine culturesand traditions. But, themost visible segment isof human and historicinterest.It is worth recalling thataccording to historians,about 30% of black slave population thatwas taken from the West Coast of Africaoriginated from the region that stretches fromCameroon to the Niger Delta. Probability istherefore high that an important segment ofAfrican Americans hailed from Cameroonianfamilies, as is the case with Nate Parker,who, according to recent information, willvisit Cameroon where his roots are said to befound in the Tikar region.This accounts for: Cameroon’s adhesionto ATA in 1986; the organization of twoannual congresses (1987 and 2004) andof one symposium on ecotourism in 2001in Cameroon; the creation of an ATAChapter; the creation of a National ScientificCommittee on Cultural Tourism Project“The Slave Route” and more recently therepresentation of Cameroon Head of StateH.E. Paul BIYA at the 4 th Forum of AfricanHeads of State on Tourism organized By ATAlast September in New York alongside theGeneral assembly of the United Nations.As far as ATA events in Africa and the USAare concerned, they have been witnessingfor the past years both a quantitative andqualitative evolution. The project for theelaboration of a five-year plan of ATA’sactivities could be a good thing likely to helpthis organization be more at the service ofits members and development of tourism inAfrica.What are your priorities for theimprovement to the tourisminfrastructures?To improve tourism infrastructures inCameroon, certain number of activities hasAfrica Travel Magazinebeen undertaken, notably:1- On going leasing procedure of Stateownedhotels. To that effect, a publicinternational call for the manifestation ofinterest was launched and the deadline forsubmission of tender files is 24 May 2010;2- Many tourist sites have been studied andare soon going to be developed within theframework of ecotourism development inCameroon. It is the case with the EBOGOtourist site in the Centre Region and LakeAWING in the North- West Region whichare STEP projects (Sustainable Tourism forEliminating Poverty)3- Improving upon the quality of servicein lodging establishments through the ongoing campaigns on classification and reclassification.4- Training and sensitization campaignsgeared towards private operators throughthe organization of seminars on quality.What results do you expectfrom the Africa TourismCommission meeting this May?The UNWTO Africa Commission isholding its 50th meeting from 17 to 19May 2010 in Algiers in Algeria.This meeting is coming after the 18thsession of the General assembly of theWorld Tourism Organization held lastOctober in Astana in Kazakhstan andwhose resolutions marked more thanever before, the determination and thecapacity of its members to make tourism anessential tool for job creation and economicrecovery. In my capacity as Chairman ofthe UNWTO Commission for Africa, andconsidering the positive results achievedby this region as far as internationaltourist arrivals since the beginning of theeconomic and financial crisis of 2008 areconcerned, our wish is to see our countriesimplement the resolutions mentionedabove, namely the ones relating to “theroad map to recovery “and the Declarationof tourist movements”. This will help tomaximize the fallouts of tourist activitiesin our countries. The World Football Cupto be organized in South Africa and thecelebration of the fiftieth anniversary of theindependence of most African countrieswill obviously contribute to it.Cameroon Ministry of TourismTel:, +237 222-4411, Fax:, +237 222-1295.B.P. 266 Yaoundé 237 CameroonVisit www.africa-ata.org/cameroon.htm

Elevated and crafted along an idyllic island beach, The Manta Resort offers privacy,romance, adventure, and water sports on East Africa’s finest island sanctuary: www.themantaresort.comAfrica Travel Magazine

THE MANTA RESORT, PEMBA ISLAND, ZANZIBARThe Manta Resort has gone througha major facelift, with new guest rooms andpublic areas. At the heart of the resort youwill find Oxygene Pemba, a PADI 5 star DiveCenter, offering a combination of diving,snorkel- ling, fishing and water sports.• In the front there willnow be six SeafrontVillas, dedicated tocomfort and romance.The honeymoon marketas well as guests thatdemand elevated levelsof service is a growingsegment of business.• Air conditioned, largebathrooms, private seaside verandahs - all thetrimmings.• The brand new Villageare ten cottages nicely set in the gardens withwooden floors, mosquito net covered king sizebeds, lamu screen floored en-suite bath rooms,European Sales OfficeMatthew SausPhone (Sweden): +46 704 92 66 18E-mail: sales @resort360.seAddress: Stora gatan 1b, 722 12 Vasteras SwedenTanzanian Sales OfficeResort ManagementPhone (Tanzania): +255 776 718 852E-mail: sales@resort360.seAfrica Travel Magazineand a makuti-thatched veranda – all with viewsoverlooking the Pemba channel.• The sea side Kipepeo Spa offers all customerssoothing massage treatments that have become anexpected service in boutique lodges.•A watersports centre, a swimming pool, and abeach lounge willform the hub of theclients’ social lifeduring the day.• Dining facilitieshave been increased,as well as the mainbar and loungerelaxing area,overlooking theamazing views of thePemba channel. TheManta Resort has thepotential to becomethe most unique ocean product in the world.The Manta ResortPemba Island, Tanzaniawww.themantaresort.com+254 (0) 41471771/2,info@themantaresort.comCoastal Aviation: safari@coastal.ccTanzania Tourist Board:ttb@ud.co.tzTanzania National Parks (Tanapa)info@tanzaniaparks.comFestival of Dhow Countries: www.ziff.or.tz

Tanzania promotes Treasures of theNorth, Gems of the South and WestHon. Shamsa Mwangunga, Minister ofNatural Resources and Tourism andPresident, Africa Travel AssociationDear Travel Agents, In this special ATACongress edition of Africa Travel Magazine,we want to take this opportunity to introduceyou to a part of Tanzania few people knowabout, the Gems of the South – RuahaNational Park, the Selous Game Reserve,Pangani, Tanga and Songea. Even if you havenot yet been to Tanzania, most of you arefamiliar with some of our famous icons andWorld Heritage sites, Kilimanjaro, the tallestmountain in Africa, Serengeti National Park,famous for the great wildebeests migration,as well as the Ngorongoro Crater, which isoften called the 8 th Wonder of the World.But in the south, with fewer tourists, theexperience is different, some say even moreauthentic. Ruaha National Park is now thelargest park in East Africa and the secondlargest national park in all of Africa. TheSelous Game Reserve is the largest in theworld. Now, as the air connections betweenNorth and South expand with CoastalAviation offering scheduled flights betweenthe Serengeti and Ruaha National Parksstarting June 2010, and as the choice ofaccommodation increase in the South, yourclients can have a diversified safari experienceall in one destination – Tanzania. Let us alsonot forget the opportunities for total relaxationon the miles of white sandy beaches alongthe Indian Ocean. Marine parks, water sportsand world class diving sites are found offthe shores of mainland Tanzania, its coastalislands like Mafia, as well as on the exoticspice islands of Zanzibar. The most frequentlyheard comment from first time visitors toTanzania is “I came for the wildlife, but tookhome the memories of the warm hospitalityof the people.” Tanzania’s Cultural TourismProgram, Visit the People, which currentlycomprises 26 villages in the North, offersvisitors a rare opportunity to meet the localpeople and participate in a diverse rangeof daily activities such as cooking, fishingand making handicrafts We look forwardto saying Karibuni Tanzania (welcome toTanzania) to you and your clients.TREASURES OF THE NORTH,GEMS OF THE SOUTHTanzania, the largest country in East Africa,is focused on wildlife conservation andsustainable tourism, with approximately 28% of the land protected by the Government.It boasts 15 National Parks and 32 gamereserves. It is the home of the tallestmountain in Africa, the legendary Mt.Kilimanjaro; The Serengeti, named inOctober, 2006, the New 7th Wonder of theWorld by USA Today and Good MorningAmerica; the world acclaimed NgorongoroCrater, often called the 8th Wonder ofthe World; Olduvai Gorge, the cradle ofmankind: the Selous, the world’s largestgame reserve; Ruaha, now the secondlargest National Park in Africa; the spiceislands of Zanzibar; and seven UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites. Most important forvisitors, the Tanzanian people are warm andfriendly, speak English, which together withKiswahili, are the two official languages;and the country is an oasis of peace andstability with a democratically elected andstable government.TREASURES OF THE NORTHTanzania is most famous for the icons ofwhat is known as the Northern Circuit.Arusha, the Safari capital of Tanzania,is the jumping off point for the North.International flights to Arusha fly intoKilimanjaro Airport, most domestic andsafari flights are from Arusha Airport.Ngorongoro CraterA visit to the world renowned NgorongoroCrater is an integral part of any first timeSafari to Tanzania. But too often it is justan overnight, where visitors only cometo see the Ngorongoro Crater, which infact is only one of eight craters, and missthe excitement and diversity of the entireNgorongoro Conservation Area. There is somuch to experience beyond the NgorongoroCrater that we encourage visitors toincorporate at least two or three night staysin the NCA. It is one of the World’s mostunique ecosystems because it is the onlyconservation area where man and wildlifeco-exist in harmony and one of the reasonsthat NCA was accorded the status of aWorld Heritage Sites and listed as one ofAfrica Travel Magazinethe International Biosphere Reserve by theUNESCO’s Man and Biosphere ReserveProgram.Kilimanjaro – “The Roof ofAfrica”Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain inAfrica. The ultimate in adventure travel,scaling the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro isa heavy challenge, more from the rigors ofaltitude than the actual difficulty of the hikeitself. The climb, which takes on averagefive days, takes hikers through thick forestsand alpine grasslands, desolate rockface andbrilliant white glaciers.Serengeti National ParkSerengeti National Park is easily Tanzania’slargest and most famous park because of theannual animal migration of over one millionand a half white bearded wildebeest andzebras; it has 5,700 square miles of protectedarea. Large prides of lions laze easily in thelong grasses, plentiful families of elephantsfeed on acacia bark and trump to each otheracross the plains, and giraffes, gazelles,monkeys, eland, and the whole range ofAfrican wildlife is in awe-inspiring numbers.One of the highlights of the SerengetiNational Park is the opportunity to take ahot-air balloon safari, organized by SerengetiBalloon Safaris. The journey takes off flyinglow over the plains as the sun comes up andturns the grasslands from blue to gold. Afterlanding, guests have a champagne breakfastcomplete with crystal glasses and whitelinen tablecloths in the middle of the Africanbush, as zebra and antelope graze nearby.GEMS OF THE SOUTHCome discover the wonders of Tanzania’sSouthern Circuit! The sheer vastness ofsouthern Tanzania, still undiscovered bymany, makes for some spectacular gameviewing and opportunities off the beatentrack. Dar es Salaam, the commercialcapital of Tanzania, is the jumping off pointfor the South.Ruaha National ParkRuaha, which boasts 10,000 elephants,the largest population of any East Africannational park, protects a vast tract ofthe rugged semi-arid bush country thatcharacterizes central Tanzania. Its lifebloodis the Great Ruaha River which coursesalong the Eastern boundary of the park. Afine network of game-viewing roads follows

follows the Great Ruaha and its seasonaltributaries, where, during the dry season,impala, waterbuck and other antelopes risktheir life for a sip of life sustaining water.The risk is considerable with prides of 20plus lions lording over the savannah, thecheetahs that stalk the open grassland andthe leopards that lurk in tangled riversidethickets. Ruaha is also home to over 450bird species and now includes the IhefuWetland, the natural water reservoir for theGreat Ruaha River.The Selous Game ReserveThe Selous Game Reserve is Africa’s largestgame reserve and covers more than 5%of Tanzania’s total area. Its rivers, hills,and plains are home to roaming elephantpopulations, the area’s famous wild dogs,and some of the last black rhino left in theregion. Due to its natural diversity anduntouched state, the Selous Game Reservewas proclaimed a World Heritage Site in1988 and today continues to live up to itsesteemed status. The Selous offer touriststhe added attractions of boating safaris onthe Rufiji River and walking safaris.Katavi National ParkIsolated, untrammelled and seldom visited,Katavi is a true wilderness, providing thefew intrepid souls who make it there witha thrilling taste of Africa as it must havebeen a century ago. Tanzania’s third largestnational park, it lies in the remote southwestof the country, within a truncated arm of theRift Valley that terminates in the shallow,brooding expanse of Lake Rukwa.Saadani National ParkSaadani is where the beach meets the bush.Located on the Indian Ocean beachfront, itis the only marine/bush national park in EastAfrica. The beach possesses all the attributesthat make Tanzania’s tropical coastline andislands so popular with sun-worshippers.Yet it is also the one place where those idlehours of sunbathing might be interrupted byan elephant strolling past, or a lion comingto drink at the nearby waterhole! About athree hour drive from Dar es Salaam, it isalso a popular day trip from beach resortsscattered along Tanzania’s northern coast.Mbeya RegionThe city of Mbeya, near the Zambian borderdeep in the southernhighlands, is themajor agriculturalcapital in thecountry’s southwestregion. TheMbeya mountainrange lies to thenorth, and the Porotomountain range liesto the south-east.Lake Nyasa, thatserves as a boundaryfor Tanzania andMalawi, is amongthe leading touristattractions in thesouthern highlands.The 800-metre deeplake and shore-lineoffer pristine beachesfor water sports andsun bathing. The lakeis the third largestbody of waterbordering Tanzania,500 kilometres longand 50 kilometreswide. From theLake Nyasa Shores,are the UporotoRanges, Kipengereand Livingstonemountain rangesand the Rift Valleyfeatures; all ofAfrica Travel Magazinewhich the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB)and the Tourism Division in the ministryof Natural Resources and Tourism haveidentified for development and marketing.At the Chimala and Matamba escarpments,a road with 52 hair-pin bends (sharpcorners) has been constructed and offersa thrilling, panoramic and breathtakingdrive as it snakes through nine kilometers ofspectacular waterfalls.SongeaSongea town in Ruvuma region has beendeclared a historical tourist site in southernhighlands of Tanzania. Ruvuma region hasbeen identified for its rich tourist attractions,mainly cultural heritage, historical sitesand scenery. Among such attractions arethe Matongo Forest Reserve, Luhira GameReserve, the German Boma, originallybuilt in Songea town in 1902 and the MajiMaji warriors hanging place. Since the endof infamous Maji Maji rebellion in 1906,a festival to commemorate the Maji Majiheroes hung in Songea takes place everyFebruary. The new Maji Maji MemorialMuseum was inaugurated during the 2010Songea Festival .WEBISCO BLACKHISTORY WEEK FAMTRIP TO NIGERIAOSUN FESTIVAL:webiscoblackhistorymonth.orgAUGUST 22 - SEPTEMBER 6, 2010VENUE: LAGOS-OSUN/OSOGBO-ILEIFE-IDANRE HILLS(EKITI),IKOGOSI (ONDO STATE), KOGI-LOKOJA(Where Slavery wasabolished).ABIA(AROCHUKWUSLAVE DEPOT), AKWA IBOM(Flatplatforms where slaves were loaded).COME TO YOUR ROOTS IN THEEVERGREEN LAND OF CULTUREAND TOURISMBe there! Don’t miss this!CONTACT:CHIEF MARGARETBOLANLE FABIYI(Rev. Mrs)Member International Boardof Directors, Africa TravelAssociation (ATA)President Webisco/ WiftwetnP.O.Box 4313, 7 AdelabuClose, Surulre, Lagos, Nigeria, E- mail:webiscocare@yahoo.comwebiscoblackhistorymonth.org.

Doug Pitt, Tanzania’s GoodwillAmbassador in the USAby Karen B. HoffmanPresident Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the UnitedRepublic of Tanzania, presents a Makonde carving to Doug Pitt,the newly appointed Goodwill Ambassador of Tanzania in theUS. “Also present were Julius Kibebe, Personal Assistant toHon. Mwangunga; Amant Macha, Marketing Director, TTB; andKaren Hoffman, TTB USA-The Honorable Shamsa S Mwanguna, Tanzania’s Ministerof Natural Resources and Tourism, makes a presentation toDoug Pitt and his wife Lisa Pitt on the occasion of the appointmentof Doug Pitt as Tanzania’s Goodwill Ambassadorin the US.H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republicof Tanzania, appointed Doug Pitt as Tanzania’s GoodwillAmbassador in the US at a special ceremony on April 19, atNew York’s Plaza Athene Hotel. Among the Tanzanian officialsjoining the President to honor Mr. Pitt were Hon. ShamsaS. Mwangunga, Minister of Natural Resources & Tourism,Hon. Jumanne Maghembe, Minister for Education andVocational Training, H.E. Ambassador Ombeni Sefue, TanzaniaAmbassador to the US, and H.E. Dr. Augustine Mahiga,Tanzania’s Permanent Representative to the UN. In makingthe announcement, President Kikwete said Mr. Pitt’s missionas Tanzania’s Goodwill Ambassador would be “to promotetourism and other developmental and humanitarian causes.”Pitt played a key role in TanzaniaHon. Mwangunga said that Mr. Pitt was already well knownin Tanzania for his passion and commitment to the countryand in making a difference in people’s lives. “Doug Pitt hasplayed a significant role in achieving improved outcomesin education, clean water, technology advancement andhealth. His numerous projects have been a source of hopeand happiness for many Tanzanians including school children,people with disabilities, women and the elderly. His on-goinginitiative in agriculture has had an enormous impact in therenewed growth of cocoa production, among other crops inTanzania. Pitt’s work as a photo journalist has already madean impact on the promotion of the country in the US.” TheMinister added “As our Goodwill Ambassador, Doug Pitt willcontinue to strengthen the friendship and cooperation of thePeople of our two Countries, the United States of America andTanzania. Doug is a director of Africa 6000 Internationaland is involved with WorldServe International. For10 Africa Travel Magazine

Visit Tanzania before and after the FIFA World Cup, for your once in a lifetime experienceof the world’s natural wonders.We conserve these National Parks for you ...For more information please visit the website belowTanzania National Parks, TANAPA Building, Dodoma RoadP.O. Box 3134, Arusha, Tanzania, Tel: +255 27 2503471 Fax: +255 27 2508216info@tanzaniaparks.comwww.tanzaniaparks.comAfrica Travel Magazine11

The Africa Travel and Nature LibraryEditions Showcase Big 5 Regionsby Jerry W. Bird, EditorAuthor of “I am AfricaPart of the Africa Travel and NatureLibraryThis brief issue salutes the AfricaTravel Association’s 35th AnnualCongress and our magazine’s 15thyear as the positive voice of AfricaTravel, Trade and Tourism worldwide.It also marks the ATA’s happyreturn to The Gambia after 26 years.What else? It introduces a library ofmarketing and learning resources forthe travel trade - in print and enhancedelectronic format. The projectis based on a “Nature Library” Ideveloped years ago for a Canadiangovernment client. As the new seriesis introduced worldwide we expecteven greater success than the original.Over 24 editions are in progress,the first in the group are Africa’s Big5 Regional Yearbooks:Western Africa EditionThis issue, being launched in June, profiles17 countries, from Mauritania to Nigeriaand provides an illustrated showcase andcommentary on the The Gambia and ATA35th Annual Congress. Thanks to specialpermission are including an entire chapterfrom “To Timbuktu for a Haircut: A Journeythrough West Africa” by Rick Antonsonof Vancouver- with customized toursof the areas described so effectively inRick’s book. Read the glowing commentson his work in this bulletin.Northern Africa EditionThis issue profiles 7 countries, from WesternSahara to Egypt and Sudan. Followingthe ATA 34th Congress in Cairo, Egypt anda Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor, we devotedthe balance of 2009 creating the AfricaTravel and Nature Library, from a villanear Essaouira, Morocco. From here weexplored many tourism areas not coveredin our earlier visits during ATA EcotourismSymposia in Marrakech and Fes.Eastern Africa EditionThis, our largest edition profiles 19 countries,from Eritrea to Madagascar and theexotic islands of the Indian Ocean. It alsoincludes personal interviews with tourismsuperstars, such as President Jakaya Kikwete,and Tourism Minister Shamsa Mwangungaof Tanzania, who participated in theAfrica Travel Association’s USA-AfricaForum at New York University.Southern Africa EditionThis issue profiles 5 countries, fromNamibia to Swaziland. With South Africahosting the 2010 World Cup, our recapwill feature the host cities, their magnicentnew stadia, new tourism attractionsand photos of the football finals. Sendyour stories of activities during the gamesto airhwy@smartt.comCentral Africa EditionThis issue profiles 9 countries, from Chadto Angola, which we describe as the “landof diamonds” in one of our feature stories.Having traveled extensively in Cameroon,our writers expand their commentary onthe cultural attractions and potential of“Africa in One Country.” On the agendaare further in-depth interviews with Hon.Baba Amadou, Minister of Tourism.Venues EditionDuring our 15 year partnership with theAfrica Travel Association, AssociateEditors Muguette Goufrani, Karen Hoffmanand I have participated in dozens ofsuccessful events, developing sound partnershipswith travel show management.We plan to do the same with CulturalFestivals in Africa and the African Diaspora.Recent venues in the USA, Canada,Africa, Europeº and Asia are showcasedin our Global Venues Edition - a testamentto the power and lasting benefits offace-to-face marketing and networking.To advertise or subscribe to the editionson this page and others to be announced,e-mail airhwy@smartt.com and visitwww.africa-ata.org/mag.htm12 Africa Travel Magazine

Golden Tulip Kumasi City, GhanaRain Tree Street, P.O. Box KS 5191, Kumasi, GhanaTel. +233 51 83777 . +233 51 83711 . E-mail: jackie.senoo@goldentulipkumasicity.comwww.goldentulipkumasicity.com . www.goldentulip.com/rssIshema HotelMUSANZE, RWANDAVanessa E.Nuwera Ngango (Mrs.)General Manager, Ishema Hotel.P. O. Box 26, Musanze - RwandaGeneral Manager:+250 (0783) 641 111,nuwerav@hotmail.comBooking line: +250 546856email;ishema_hotel@hotmail.comwww.africa-ata.org/rw_ishema.htm .www.shyiradiocese.org.rw/wledgeableECOTOURISM travel with BlueMen of Morocco Include HavenLa Chance Desert Hotel . www.haven-la-chance-desert-hotel-merzouga.comAfrica Travel Magazine13

“A Journey Through West Africa.”Our Post CongressEditionswill includeselected chaptersfrom the newtravel book ...“To Timbuktufor a Haircut: AJourney throughWest Africa,”created by AuthorRick Antonson, CEO of TourismVancouver and a leader in our industry.His outstanding book is availablefrom www.amazon.ca and www.chapters.indigo.ca These unique andtimely book selections will be appearingin our Western Africa Yearbookand Global Venues Editions of AfricaTravel Magazine - first as enhanceddigital issues and later in printedformat. To celebrate this innovativeproject, escorted West African toursinspired by Rick Antonson’s bookwill begin following the AfricaTravel Association’s 35th AnnualCongress in Banjul, TheGambia. Hosted by ATA touroperator member MariamaLudovic de Lys of Bamako,the tours are detailed in comingissues andon Africa TravelMagazine’s Website- www.africaata.org/wa_tours.htmHere is a briefexcerpt about thepriceless TimbuktuManuscripts(right)“Endangered, too,are the rarest ofwritings; piecesof history onpaper that formone of the world’s great treasures, theTimbuktu manuscripts. Many crumbleat the touch of a well-meaning hand;others wither simply because of theirexposure to air. Without them, wewill know immeasurably less abouta glorious time for Africa, some sixhundred years ago.The manuscriptsprovide a portrait oflife, of religion andscience, of law andarchitecture, and ofa society that thrivedlike none other at thattime. Before leavingon my journey, whileresearching Timbuktu’sfourteenth-centuryhistory and itsextensive libraries, Iwas disheartened toread about thousands“The remarkable comination of Rick Antonson exploring theancient mysteries of Timbuktu, matched with the rich culture ofMali he captures so well makes it a page-turner from start to finish.”Jerry W. Bird, Editor, Africa Travel Magazine14 Africa Travel Magazine

Historically rich, remote, and once unimaginablydangerous for foreign travellers, Timbuktustill teases with “Find me if you can.” RickAntonson, an internationally respected tourismexecutive, coaxes the reader with charm andknowledge into joining his personal quest inWest Africa.As Antonson travels in Senegal and Mali bytrain, four-wheel drive, river pinasse, camel,and foot, he tells of fourteenth-century legends,nineteenth-century explorers, and today’sendangered existence of Timbuktu’s 700,000ancient manuscripts in what scholars havedescribed as the most important archaeologicaldiscovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls.Think Eric Newby’s A Short Walk in the HinduKush or Redmond O’Hanlon’s Into the Heart ofBorneo and you begin to see what kind of writerRick Antonson is. To Timbuktu for a Haircutcombines wry humour with shrewd observationto deliver an armchair experience that will lingerin the mind long after the last page is read.Over the centuries, ignorance has impeded thepreservation of the 700,000 Timbuktu manuscripts.A continued lack of awareness facilitatestheir slow disappearance — the loss ofhistory’s book one page at a time. Without thesepaper treasures we will know immeasurably lessabout a glorious time for Africa some six hundredyears ago.Literally, it is a race against time to save theseirreplaceable riches, which in this book aredescribed as “Islamic pamphlets covered withsand … scholarly pages a phase away fromdust.” A portion of the author’s royalties fromTo Timbuktu for a Haircut will be donated tothe Timbuktu Educational Foundation to assistits Preserve-a-Manuscript Campaign.“Come and Joinour CustomizedTours of ExoticWest Africa.”Come fly to Timbuktu and back again!Our Mali-based company specializes inCultural and Adventure programs inMali, Senegal, Gambia, Burkina, Togo,Niger, Benin and Ghana.Owner-guided tours by MariamaLudovic de Lys trace the history andmystery of West Africa - offering experiencesof a lifetime!West Africa ToursBako - Djicoroni ACI BP E1642Bamako / MaliTel: (221) 77 510 15 58 or (223) 20 288157Fax: (223) 20 28 52 32E-Mai: mariamaludovic@yahoo.comwww.touringmali.comAfrica Travel Magazine15

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