IN BRIEF
Text Tabitha Lasley
A round-up of travel news from Brussels Airlines’ long-haul network
Hotel with a view
Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Rwanda
Where is it? Lake Kivu, Gisenyi, Rwanda
What’s the view? Take your pick. Rooms on one side overlook the spectacular Virunga Volcanoes, and on the other, Lake Kivu, the sixth largest lake in Africa.
What should you expect? Old fashioned elegance, from the cool neutrals and dark wood in the bedroom, to the marble floors and deep armchairs in the foyer.
What do you need to know? It’s right on the beach. There’s also a gym, outdoor swimming pool and two tennis courts.
There are six luxury suites and one room equipped for disabled guests.
Why go there? To get up close and personal with mountain gorillas at the nearby Volcanoes National Park. If you tire of primates, you can take boat trips across Lake Kivu or visit the hot springs nearby.
What can you expect to pay? Rooms from €75 per night.
Let there be light
New initiatives in Cameroon mean that, for the first time, many people are able to work in comfort well into the night. Approximately 17 million people, or 60% of the population, still use kerosene lamps that produce thick smoke, meaning that villagers often suffer from streaming eyes and a sore head. But grants from NGOs such as the Rural Entrepreneurship Foundation (REF) have provided rural areas with solar power. These grants are part of a recent swing towards renewable energy in Cameroon – although it is impractical to connect all villages to a central grid, with the advent of solar power new opportunities for villagers will open up. As one Yaoundé resident commented, “Our children will be able to study longer, the rural exodus will be reduced and health costs will be improved.”
One to watch…
Kekele have been described as the ‘Democratic Republic of Congo’s answer to the Buena Vista Social Club’, and the similarities go beyond the respective ages of each group (most of Kekele are in their 50s). Kekele’s brand of Congolese rumba expertly fuses African rhythms with Cuban beats. Although several of the band’s careers span some 40 years, Kekele was first formed in 1999 after a few casual meetings at various jam sessions. Having waited two years to release their first record, they now have three critically acclaimed albums under their belts – 2001’s Rumba Congo, 2003’s Congo Life and last year’s Kinanvana. There are plans for a tour either this year or next, but in typically laid-back style, they’ve yet to confirm any dates.
Bless you
Loved up newlyweds can now have their union blessed by Maasai tribes. The Shompole Lodge in the Kenyan Rift Valley is working in partnership with the witch doctors and warriors from local tribes to offer couples a unique insight into the Maasai’s way of life. Honeymooners are dressed in full Maasai regalia – blankets, bracelets, spears and clubs – blessed by a Laiboni, and presented with a ceremonial necklace. The rite ends with a traditional Maasai wedding dance performed by local dancers. Couples looking to up the romance ante can then stay in one of the Lodge’s honeymoon suites. Each room is decorated in suitably sumptuous style – rooms are decked out in white quartz and fig wood, and each one boasts a fantastic view and a private plunge pool.
Images Panos
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