In most of East Africa, you’ll find that speaking English is enough to help you get by. But learning even a little of the indigenous language for your holiday is a nice way to feel more immersed in the culture – and makes a respectful gesture to the local people.
There are dozens of languages and dialects spoken in East Africa, but the main unifying language in everyday use is Swahili. Knowing this fascinating language is by no means essential when visiting the region, but grasping a few important phrases enables you to make basic pleasantries or simple requests in the language.
Swahili words are relatively easy to pronounce. As a general rule, every consonant is sounded out. Where two vowels appear together, they are each pronounced separately. There are plenty of guidebooks available for understanding Swahili and to make translations on the go. But here are a few key words and phrases with which to get started:
Hello - Salama/Jambo
Hi - Habari
How are you? - Hujambo
I’m fine, thanks - Sijambo, asante
Goodbye - Kwaheri
Good night - Lala salama
Yes - Ndiyo
No - Hapana
OK - Sawa
Please - Tafadhali
Thank you - Asante
No thanks - La asante
Excuse me/Sorry - Samahani
I don’t understand - Sielewi
How much does it cost? - Bei gani?
May I take a photo? - Naomba kupiga picha?
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Perfectly positioned for a Rwandan adventure
For such a tiny country, Rwanda is packed with some astonishing natural features. The list includes breathtakingly lush and rolling landscapes, wildlife-rich National Parks and, of course, its world famous mountain gorillas. Perhaps most surprisingly for a land-locked country, Rwanda also boasts soft, white sandy beaches, thanks to its beautiful lakes which include Kivu, the country’s largest.
And it is on the edge of this lake that you can find the Lake Kivu Serena Hotel. We think this hotel resort is a great find, especially as its location allows easy access to many of those attractions which make Rwanda so special.
First, there’s the immediate vicinity of the hotel, which is set right on the sandy shores of Lake Kivu. With its own private beach on this great lake, and a restaurant overlooking the water, the Serena Hotel is a gorgeous spot for a relaxing beach holiday.
The next facet of this hotel’s location which deserves attention is the fact that its nearest town is in a different country. Owing to the Serena’s position at the very edge of Rwanda’s territory, a short drive takes you into the town of Goma, which is actually over the border in the Congo (formerly Zaire). So taking a short journey down the road means you can say you’ve been to two African countries. The town of Goma itself offers the opportunity to browse and purchase traditional African craftwork and provides a fascinating insight into a city which has suffered the impacts of numerous volcanic eruptions.
A further factor which makes the Serena’s position so attractive is the accessibility of Rwanda’s greatest tourist asset of all – its silverback gorillas. The Volcanoes National Park, one of the world’s few wild places where these rare animals can be found, requires a journey but not a long one. The distance involved means avoiding the high prices of the accommodation which is much closer to the park gates. And as tracking gorillas is one of Africa’s more expensive treats, keeping the cost down by staying at an affordable hotel such as the Serena can only be a good thing.
Aside from the fantastic and varied activities and sights within a convenient range of the Serena, the hotel itself offers all the ingredients needed for an indulgent holiday in the sun. When you’re not lounging on its exclusive beach, you can relax in the swimming pool or at the health club. With comfy rooms and family facilities too, we think this makes a good all-round resort and the perfect base for a great Rwandan holiday.
And it is on the edge of this lake that you can find the Lake Kivu Serena Hotel. We think this hotel resort is a great find, especially as its location allows easy access to many of those attractions which make Rwanda so special.
First, there’s the immediate vicinity of the hotel, which is set right on the sandy shores of Lake Kivu. With its own private beach on this great lake, and a restaurant overlooking the water, the Serena Hotel is a gorgeous spot for a relaxing beach holiday.
The next facet of this hotel’s location which deserves attention is the fact that its nearest town is in a different country. Owing to the Serena’s position at the very edge of Rwanda’s territory, a short drive takes you into the town of Goma, which is actually over the border in the Congo (formerly Zaire). So taking a short journey down the road means you can say you’ve been to two African countries. The town of Goma itself offers the opportunity to browse and purchase traditional African craftwork and provides a fascinating insight into a city which has suffered the impacts of numerous volcanic eruptions.
A further factor which makes the Serena’s position so attractive is the accessibility of Rwanda’s greatest tourist asset of all – its silverback gorillas. The Volcanoes National Park, one of the world’s few wild places where these rare animals can be found, requires a journey but not a long one. The distance involved means avoiding the high prices of the accommodation which is much closer to the park gates. And as tracking gorillas is one of Africa’s more expensive treats, keeping the cost down by staying at an affordable hotel such as the Serena can only be a good thing.
Aside from the fantastic and varied activities and sights within a convenient range of the Serena, the hotel itself offers all the ingredients needed for an indulgent holiday in the sun. When you’re not lounging on its exclusive beach, you can relax in the swimming pool or at the health club. With comfy rooms and family facilities too, we think this makes a good all-round resort and the perfect base for a great Rwandan holiday.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
New activities on offer in Tanzania
Africa House is pleased to be able to offer guests a tempting selection of actvities to consider whilst visiting Arusha in Tanzania. The latest a range of options provide another facet to an African holiday to add to the wildlife safaris or Kilimanjaro mountain climbing guests primarily come to enjoy.
The extra pursuits are designed to help guests make the most of their time in Tanzania by doing something educational, culturally interesting, or simply indulgent. They provide the ideal way to settle in and acclimatise before a main safari or climb – or to wind down and say farewell at the end. Guests are often surprised at how much a supplementary activity can add to their experience of a trip to Africa. These asides can sometimes turn out to be the most memorable part of a visit.
Here's a summary of the extra activities now available to guests visiting Arusha pre- or post-safari or Kilimanjaro climb:
Cultural village visit
This half-day visit gives guests a tour of the pretty mountain village of Mulala. It provides an insight into lives of local people in what is largely a subsistence farming community. There are trips to banana and coffee plantations, which are economically important here, and the tour includes an authentic African meal.
Country club experience
Those who are seeking relaxation and pampering, perhaps following the flight on the way in or after the activity of a mountain climb or safari, need look no further than the Nduruma Country Club. With views of Mount Kilimanjaro in one direction, and Mount Meru in another, and set in thousands of acres of tranquil open savannah, this really is a country club with a difference. While here, guests can choose from an extensive list of relaxing options, whether it’s swimming in the pool, chilling in the spa or indulging in a massage or beauty treatment. Available as a half- or full-day extra, Nduruma also offers horseriding, tennis lessons, and sundowners complete with great food, wines and local beers.
If you think a trip to Tanzania is for you, get in touch to talk over your options. Whether you’d like to see the country’s best wildlife spots or take on the challenge of a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, we can arrange it for you – and you can add any of the extras above to round off your holiday.
The extra pursuits are designed to help guests make the most of their time in Tanzania by doing something educational, culturally interesting, or simply indulgent. They provide the ideal way to settle in and acclimatise before a main safari or climb – or to wind down and say farewell at the end. Guests are often surprised at how much a supplementary activity can add to their experience of a trip to Africa. These asides can sometimes turn out to be the most memorable part of a visit.
Here's a summary of the extra activities now available to guests visiting Arusha pre- or post-safari or Kilimanjaro climb:
Town walk
This free half-day escorted wander through the small town of Usa River provides an authentic window into the everyday life of Tanzanians, and a chance to enjoy the vibrant culture of ordinary shops and markets.
Coffee tour
An opportunity to see the production of one of Tanzania’s most important exports and one of the world’s favourite beverages on a working coffee farm. A guide takes guests through the fascinating process of coffee farming, from plant cultivation to the roasting of the seeds. The half-day trip also includes lunch – and the chance, of course, to sample and to take home some of the coffee produced here.
Cultural village visit
This half-day visit gives guests a tour of the pretty mountain village of Mulala. It provides an insight into lives of local people in what is largely a subsistence farming community. There are trips to banana and coffee plantations, which are economically important here, and the tour includes an authentic African meal.
Those who are seeking relaxation and pampering, perhaps following the flight on the way in or after the activity of a mountain climb or safari, need look no further than the Nduruma Country Club. With views of Mount Kilimanjaro in one direction, and Mount Meru in another, and set in thousands of acres of tranquil open savannah, this really is a country club with a difference. While here, guests can choose from an extensive list of relaxing options, whether it’s swimming in the pool, chilling in the spa or indulging in a massage or beauty treatment. Available as a half- or full-day extra, Nduruma also offers horseriding, tennis lessons, and sundowners complete with great food, wines and local beers.
If you think a trip to Tanzania is for you, get in touch to talk over your options. Whether you’d like to see the country’s best wildlife spots or take on the challenge of a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, we can arrange it for you – and you can add any of the extras above to round off your holiday.
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