Posts Tagged ‘Service’

Flights From Nairobi|Mombasa To Masai Mara on Scheduled Service

Masai Mara was named “the seven wonders of the world” after its recognition internationally for its best practices in wildlife, hospitality and conservation. There four major airports in Kenya where tourists arrive and depart to National Parks and Game Reserves namely,Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Wilson Airport situated in Nairobi and Moi International airport Mombasa,Malindi Airport,Diani (Ukunda) situated at the coast.

The travelers do arrive having done their arrangements for their safari and they are picked up by their agent and taken to the appropriate airport to take either the scheduled flights or private charter flights to Masai Mara.

Flights Out Of Nairobi To Masai Mara

There are two daily scheduled flights to Masai Mara the first flight departing at 0945 am and the second flight at 1000 hrs to Masai Mara arriving at 1100 am depending with the number of stops. It departs mara at 1115 am and 1130 am to arrive Nairobi at 1215 pm and 1230 pm.The flight time Nairobi to Masai Mara one-way is 45 minutes. The afternoon flight departs at 1445 hrs first flight and second flight at 1500 hrs arriving Masai Mara  at 1545 hrs  and 1600 hrs and departing Masai Mara at  1600 hrs first flight and second flight at 1615 hrs arriving Nairobi at 1700 hrs and 1715 hrs respectively.

You can make your reservations through an agent or direct but it will be subject to availability of space. Airfares have been classified whereby you can book one-way or return ticket either way to or from Masai Mara.A confirmation of booking has a limitation or a time frame on when to pay or the seats are released. The methods accepted for confirming a booking is by faxing a voucher and email only, the same applies for amendments or cancellations and no verbal instructions will be accepted. You can book an airfare only upto Masai Mara, then accommodation separately, game drives, and so forth. But the air charter, travel and tour firms have joined synergies with hotel chains in Masai Mara and have flying packages which are for all inclusive except extras like films, tips, drinks which you have to pay direct.With the flying packages you get discounted rates on accommodation, airfare, meals and game drives. During the Month of mid June to October it is difficult to get accommodation in Masai Mara unless you make an advance booking in March, April and May. You might get accommodation but no flights all fully booked or get flights and no accommodation. The Beauty of getting accommodation and no flight is there are private charter flights which can depart anytime unlike scheduled flights which have specific times to operate. There are so many air charter companies where you can charter aircrafts of all kind and capacity. The only option you have when you can not get accommodation is to fly to other National Parks or Game reserves like Lake Nakuru,Lake Naivasha,Lake Bogoria,Lake Baringo,Samburu,Meru,Shaba,Joys Camp,Chyullu Hills,Tsavo West/East,Amboseli,Mfangano Island,Rusinga Island, Lake Turkana,Lamu,Malindi,Diani,Wazin Island and Funzi Island among others.

There scenic  and filming safaris also provided on an hourly basis which if you are 3 people you can hire the C-172/C-182 to anywhere in the national parks or game reserves and share the cost and it does not matter even if you are 5,12,18,30 it can be done.

Masai Mara is situated in the Rift Valley Province and its inhabitants are the Masai who are still practicing their cultures and still live their ancient lives. It is managed by the county councils thus being a game reserve. There are several tented camps, lodges operated by different hotel chains and are located at different locations. The airstrip serving Masai Mara game reserve are,Keekorok ,Siana Springs,Olkiombo,Musiara,Kichwa Tembo,Mara Serena,Ngerende ,Mara Shikar,Cottars and Mara Buffallo.There are airstrips Like Mara Buffalo which is private for  African Safari Club and an aircraft can only land their incase of emergency and not for any purpose unless with prior consent from the owners. Due to safety Mara Shikar and Siana Springs you have to limit on payload on aircrafts like Cessna caravan 208 12 seater to 6 passengers on both takeoff and landing.

The lodges and camps are located on different airstrips and below are the airstrips and the lodges served by each airstrip,

Keekorok Airstrip  serves, Keekorok Lodge ,Mara Sarova ,Mara Simba,Mara Sopa,Sekenani,Mara Hippo,Cottars 1920,
Siana  Springs Airstrip serves, Intrepid Siana Springs
Olkiombi Airstrip serves, Intrepids,Mara Explorer.Basecamp Explorer, Mara fig Tree,Nyumbu Camp
Kichwa Tembo Airstrips serves, Baletuer camp,Mpata Safari Club,Main Governors, Little governors,Kichwa Tembo Camp, Sanctuary camps (olonana),Mara River Camp,
Musiara Airstrip serves, Little governors, Main Governors,Ilimoran camp, Mara River Camp, Sanctuary camp (Olonana)
Mara  Serena Airstrip serves, Mara Serena Lodge
Mara Shikar Airstrips Serves, David Livingstone,Kicheche Camp, Mara Safari Club
Ngerende Airstrips serves, Mara Safari Club,Kicheche camp, David Livingstone

The scheduled flights opts to drop passengers at the nearest airstrip but do inform the concerned camps and lodges in advance so that arrangements are made. Some airstrips charge for an aircraft landing based on the capacity including arrival passengers’. Most scheduled flights into Masai Mara have avoided Mara Shikar airstrips and do drop passengers at Ngerende airstrip and this information is passed one day in advance. Out of Siana Springs airstrip flights only fly in when they have lesser loads due to safety. Private charter flights do fly into Mara Shikar with 3 and 5 seater aircrafts but with anything more passengers will be dropped at Ngerende airstrip.

Flights from Mombasa|Ukunda|Malindi to Masai Mara

There is only one scheduled flight daily from Mombasa to Masai Mara departing Mombasa at 0730 hrs arriving Ukunda 0740 hrs departing at 0745 hrs arriving Malindi at 0800 hrs and depart Malindi 0820 hrs arriving Masai Mara at 1025 hrs.The capacity on this route is not that big and you require to do advance bookings as at most the number of passengers carried is 76 on one-way basis. For flights out of Malindi there are restrictions and if you don’t have minimum 5 passengers or pay for 5 seats you will have to be dropped or picked from Mombasa t or from Masai Mara.The flight departs Masai Mara at 1330 hrs to Malindi arrival at 1600 hrs then Ukunda arriving at 1630 hrs and Mombasa 1640 hrs.There also private charter flights which you can hire incase flights are full or fly on commercial flights upto Nairobi then connect from Wilson airport to Masai Mara. There are scheduled flights from Mombasa to Zanzibar and Daresalaam.

From Masai Mara you can get scheduled flights to Samburu, Joys Camp, Meru, Nanyuki, and Lake Naivasha.You can be connected to the national parks and game reserves within Kenya and Tanzania by scheduled flights.

San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura California: Concierge Service

San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura, California has an unusual amenity, especially for a public beach: a concierge.

Park administrators don’t call Anne Dominguez a “concierge,” but it’s OK for visitors to call her that. She’s been special events coordinator at San Buenaventura State Beach for the past 12 years. She helps church groups, corporations, fund-raising committees and even families orchestrate the details of a beach picnic event.

Room for 3,000 Beach-goers

And with good reason. The day-use beach is so busy, and so big, that it requires a full-time staff member to help visitors, especially groups, to make their visit one to remember.

The beach is arguably the perfect large-group picnic venue. It starts south of Ventura’s 1,700 foot-long municipal pier and stretches south for two miles, with a small lagoon. In its center area, jetties frame swimming beaches staffed by lifeguards. Behind sand dunes, the beach offers enough picnics, lawn, barbeques, parking lots and the all-important showers for 3,000 people. It’s the largest day-use picnic area at a state beach in Southern California, according to state parks officials.

Anne has helped facilitate events ranging from the annual Aids/Lifecycle bicycling fundraiser, which draws thousands of participants, to corporate team-building picnics, to families planning a baptism.

She especially enjoys helping church, school and youth groups, since many of the children participating are making their first visit to the beach. For those kids, just being at the beach is thrill enough, Anne says. But she can help group organizers find kid-friendly hotels, cater picnic fare at the barbecue areas, even recommend vendors for jolly-jumps and other activities.

She also likes to arrange for the lifeguard staff to give a talk so the kids have a water-friendly experience.

“We want everyone to be aware of what to do in the water,” she says.

Ventura Hotels Nearby

The beach is close to the Crowne Plaza just to the north near Ventura Pier, and the Marriott to the south, a few yards’ walk from the entrance to the state beach. Families and smaller groups can also find small-scale hotels and bed-and-breakfasts an easy walk or drive away.

San Buenaventura State Beach is also a good “hub” beach for vacationers looking for a Southern California beach vacation that includes not only sun and sand, but also day excursions. Ventura Harbor is two miles’ south, with restaurants, shopping, and charter boats for whale watching and trips to the Channel Islands National Monument. The monument’s headquarters are actually at the harbor. Santa Barbara is a half-hour drive to the north, the Camarillo Premium Outlets shopping area is a half-hour south, and Ventura itself has plenty to entice tourists, in its charming downtown and its Ventura County Fairgrounds right on the ocean.

To reach San Buenaventura State Beach, take U.S. Highway 101 to the Seaward Avenue exit in Ventura. Turn south onto Seaward Avenue, left on Harbor Boulevard and then left on San Pedro Street. The state beach entrance is at the end of the block.

Cost to enter is $8 per vehicle. Groups of more than 30 people may require a permit fee. The park recommends large groups call ahead for reservations. For families and groups of smaller than 30 people, the park is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Teen Program Helps Students Meet Community Service Requirements

Community service programs have risen in popularity, chiefly in response to high school requirements for community service hours. As a teen summer trip advisor, I am often asked, “why should I pay to have my teen do community service?” It is a good question, since many kids stay home and perform work in their own communities. However, it is like asking whether day camp has as much impact as a quality overnight camp.

The experiences that teens have when they step outside the comforts of home, work alongside others who are less fortunate, immerse themselves in a foreign culture – be it in Louisiana or halfway around the world – are much deeper and more meaningful than staying around town for the summer. If you are looking for a return on your “investment” from your teen’s summer experience, a well-organized community service program may just be the best investment you could make.

When you hear the words community service, perhaps you conjure up images of the Peace Corps. And, while some summer community service programs adhere to this 1960′s model, others have become more diverse. Most teen programs today offer some service component, but the focus varies dramatically – from the design of the program, to the type of work performed, to living accommodations. If you are researching this type of experience for your teen, it is important to look at recent trends in order to pick the right program for your child.

 

 

 

 

 

Mission or Focus.