This fantastic app is a must for any enthusiastic birder in East Africa. 

With over 1380 species included, with full colour images, descriptions, maps, and bird calls this app is quite a remarkable resource to have at your fingertips.

Birding on the East African coast can be extremely difficult, especially when it comes to migrant widers in non-breeding plumage out on the low-tide flats.

"Karibu Kenya Accommodation Guide is a comprehensive guidebook to Kenya, with detailed information on over 850 camps, lodges, hotels and resorts. It also includes facts about Kenya, all the regions in the country, the national parks, the reserves and conservancies, and the activities and facilities that are on offer in each area. Colour illustrations enhance every chapter, including maps of each region and photos of all properties. The guidebook is divided into regions and has a fully inclusive index, making it clear and easy to use." Tamara Britten

Trailer to the new film directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Michael Pitiot. Beautiful cinematography gives stunning new view of the Oceans, and hits on some timely and harsh realities about humankind's relationship with the Oceans.

We were children of great fortune – our father was shipped to East Africa on an expat assignment in the late 60’s and my two brothers and I were born in Nairobi. Whilst he missed out on Flower Power, Free Love and the music of Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, we grew up in a tropical paradise with year-round sunshine and a swimming pool in the garden. I learnt to swim by the age of 3 and started windsurfing at the age of 6. We’d spend long-weekends in tented-camps pitched on the shores of the Rift Valley; when we weren’t windsurfing or sailing we would be competing with the local hippos and crocs for shoals of spiny tilapia and whiskered cat-fish.

Marine turtles have changed little since the time of the dinosaurs, well over 100 million years, yet in the past few decades their numbers have crashed dramatically and they are all under threat of extinction. Five of the world's seven species of Sea turtles can be found in the waters off the East African coast. Some, such as the Leatherback Turtle are rarely seen, others, such as the Green Turtle are regularly sighted out at sea, in the coastal shallows, and even on the beaches where they nest.

The 21st of December 2012 is the 'Winter' Solstice, when the Earth's position is tilted to it's extreme and the Tropic of Capricorn is the closest latitide to the sun. 

This is the southern hemisphere's longest, day, and the northern hemisphere's shortest day.

Theories of the end of the world stemming from the Mayan Calendar are widespread. The reality is that the calendar does indeed end a long count period on this day, but not the end of the calendar completely, just as modern day calendars end on the 31st of December.

One of the most common boats seen on The Swahili Coast, the Ngalawa is an unmistakable and charming traditional boat.

It’s slim hull approximately 6 metres long is essentially a dugout canoe or Mtumbwi, which is what this vessel most likely evolved from. The raised bow and higher sides to the hull allow for the Ngalawa to reach out into the open seas. A pointed stern holds the rudder.

"Kusi na Kaskazi"
Travelling by Dhow on Sinbads Tracks
By Beat Presser

The photographer travelled for many months on board various dhows and across The Swahili Coast.

Bio-Ken Snake Farm have announced the dates for the 8th Snake-bite Seminar, which will take place at Turtle Bay Beach Club on the 10th November 2012.

An excellent event for medical personnel who experience cases of snakebite, as well as those interested in herpetology. Very useful for safari guides, rangers, and anyone who spends time in areas where an encounter with a venemous snake is possible.

Mtumbwi is the most basic of traditional boats found along The Swahili Coast. It is a simple dugout canoe, generally carved from a large coastal tree such as a mango tree.
These canoes vary in size generally 2 to 3 metres, and rarely up to 6 metres in length. The smaller dugouts have the Swahili name ‘hori’, and are used to move between shore and larger vessels at anchor.
Mtumbwi are usually propelled by a small wooden paddle (kafi) or punting pole.

The Diani Beach 5-a-side Touch Rugby tournament is just around the corner.

Registration ends on the 30th May 2012, a week before the tournament begins on the 7th July 2012.

The fifth edition of the Watamu Triathlon beckons international visitors, looking for a great adventure, and local residents, wanting a change of pace, alike to experience the ultimate athletic challenge. Set at the Turtle Bay Beach Club, the event will be held from the 21st to the 22nd of April, with online registration open from 1st March to 6th April.

Inland from the Swahili Coast on the foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro are a number of small mines. These mines are in search of a mineraly one thousand times rarer than diamond and found nowhere else in the world.

Tanzanite bought in East Africa can be great value for money, given there are no additional costs attributed to the transport and sales chain.