The Ol Malo Lodge, Kenya
Where is it? Ol Malo, P.O. Box 1493 Nanyuki, Kenya, tel. +254 20 600457, olmalo.com What’s the view? Located on the northern edge of the Laikipia Plateau, the Lodge gazes out over Kenya’s Northern Frontier District towards Mount Kenya.
What should you expect? The lodge’s luxurious cottages are hewn from natural rock and ancient olive wood, with private verandas that overlook the plains. Outdoor types can choose a canvas tent complete with thatched roof and en-suite bathroom.
What do you need to know? Having beaten 1,200 nominees to win the First Choice Responsible Tourism Award, the Lodge has impeccable ecological credentials – built on an overgrazed cattle ranch from local materials, it has its own water source and on-site arts workshop. All employees are
Samburu, a local community who lost 80 % of their cattle in the drought of 2000. Most impressive of all, the Ol Malo Eye Project has helped eradicate trachoma in the local villages. Previously, 82 % of adults were infected, but the project has helped fund treatment and education.
Why go there? To get back to nature without sacrificing your creature comforts – activities include camel rides, bush breakfasts, horse riding, mountain biking, as well as game drives and walks. Plus, you’ll be safe in the knowledge that your holiday will benefit local people and respect the delicate ecological balance of the area.
What can you expect to pay? All rooms are €375 per person per night. This includes a conservation fee and covers all meals, beverages and activities.
US Bank Citigroup is set to invest more than €77 million in what will be its first African private equity fund. This figure will be matched by the Commonwealth Development Corporation, a British government owned body which has invested some €642 million in Africa. In total, at least €155 million will be raised, and the money will be used to help strengthen Africa’s infrastructure, providing opportunities in the telecommunication, manufacturing and energy industries.
Housed in the palace originally built for the Rwandan king in 1959, the Rwesero Arts Museum has been pulling in crowds since opening last year. Just an hour and a half’s drive from Kigali, the recently renovated museum is showing the work of Rwandan artists and sculptors, in an exhibition that has been praised for its originality and depth. Visitors can make a day trip of it – the original king’s palace is nearby, as are the newly restored round palaces made of reeds and papyrus, that traditionally housed Rwanda’s royal family.
The 22 March will see several hundred long distance runners with distinctly masochistic streaks arrive in Morocco for the 22nd Marathon de Sables. The seven-day marathon, which crosses the Sahara desert and is widely regarded to be the toughest footrace on earth, covers some 243km. This means that competitors, who are required to carry their own equipment, must maintain a speed of at least 3km an hour. Much of the terrain is rocky and uneven, sand dunes account for as much as 20% of the course and temperatures can soar to 120ºC at midday. In 1994, one competitor lost his way in a sandstorm, and remained lost for nine days, finally turning up in Algeria. But despite all this, the race remains inordinately popular, and 2008 is already almost fully subscribed. And it helps if you’re doing it for a good cause, as most of the competitors are. This year, the marathon’s official charity is Facing Africa, which was set up to tackle noma, a disease commonly found in malnourished children. www.darbaroud.com
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Brussels Airlines flies to 13 African destinations including Dakar, Banjul, Conakry, Freetown, Monrovia, Abidjan, Douala, Yaoundé, Kinshasa, Luanda, Entebbe, Kigali and Nairobi. Book now at www.brusselsairlines.com
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