Sense of Africa, East Africa Newsflash 06 May 2026

Tourvest Launches Tulia Safari Brand Across East Africa

Tourvest has launched Tulia, a new safari brand created to bridge the divide between budget and luxury travel in East Africa, opening up safari experiences to a broader spectrum of travellers. The launch is part of Tourvest’s wider regional growth strategy, following its acquisition of Wild Frontiers Uganda’s properties and activities business, which has further strengthened the company’s presence across major wildlife destinations in the region.

The Tulia collection includes Tulia Buhoma in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Tulia Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Tulia Murchison Falls in Uganda, and Tulia Amboseli in Kenya.

Positioned within some of East Africa’s most celebrated safari routes, these properties offer access to Gorilla trekking, big game viewing, and striking scenery including views of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Tulia is centered on delivering the core elements that define a memorable safari: exceptional wildlife settings, comfortable accommodation, knowledgeable guiding, and dependable service.

East Africa’s Festival Circuit Driving Cultural Travel

East Africa is quickly emerging as one of the most exciting cultural travel regions, where festivals are becoming full travel experiences rather than just events on a calendar.

In Uganda, the Nyege Nyege Festival returns to Jinja from 19 – 22 November 2026 along the River Nile, once again transforming the riverfront into a vibrant stage for experimental African music, underground electronic sounds, art, and late-night cultural energy. It is raw, immersive, and deeply atmospheric, with the setting itself becoming part of the performance.

In Zanzibar, the annual Sauti za Busara festival takes place in Stone Town’s Old Fort, where centuries-old architecture forms a striking backdrop for some of Africa’s most powerful live music. The contrast between heritage walls and contemporary sound gives the experience a uniquely grounded, almost timeless feel.

On Kenya’s coast, the Under the Baobabs festival in Kilifi comes alive during the December festive season beneath towering baobab trees just steps from the Indian Ocean. It’s laid-back but electric, with barefoot crowds, warm coastal nights, and a rhythm that feels both effortless and unforgettable. Together, these festivals are quietly reshaping how East Africa is experienced, not just as a destination, but as a place where travel and music naturally move together.

Tanzania Boosts Eco-Tourism Push Ahead of AFCON 2027

Tanzania is stepping up its eco-tourism push ahead of AFCON 2027, positioning the tournament as a major opportunity to showcase its natural attractions while strengthening sustainable travel across the country. The focus is on improving access and visitor experiences around key sites such as national parks and forest reserves, alongside upgrading tourism infrastructure to manage the expected rise in international arrivals during the event period.

At the same time, tourism stakeholders are encouraging greater investment in eco-friendly accommodation and community-based tourism products, with the aim of ensuring that growth in visitor numbers directly benefits conservation efforts and local communities. The broader strategy links AFCON 2027 to Tanzania’s long-term ambition of growing tourism sustainably while preserving its wildlife, landscapes, and natural heritage as core tourism assets.

Tanzania: Tarangire National Park’s New Mamire Gate Now Open

Tanzania recently improved access to Tarangire National Park with the opening of the Mamire Gate on 23 April 2026, introducing a strategic western entry point through Babati District. The move is designed to ease visitor flow into the park while expanding access beyond the traditional northern routes. The new gate makes it easier for travellers from central regions such as Dodoma and Singida, including those using the Standard Gauge Railway, to reach Tarangire directly without routing through Arusha.

This not only simplifies travel logistics but also opens up new safari circuits, helps distribute visitor traffic more evenly across the park, enhancing the overall safari experience while supporting more sustainable tourism growth

East Africa: Safarilink Introduces Daily Direct Nairobi – Entebbe Flights

Safarilink recently introduced daily direct flights between Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Entebbe on 01 May 2026, improving connectivity between Kenya and Uganda with a faster and more seamless travel option. The new non stop service reduces travel time significantly, offering a direct link of just over an hour compared to longer routings or connecting services.

This greatly improves regional mobility for both business and leisure travellers, especially along one of East Africa’s busiest cross border corridors.

Tanzania Set To Upgrade Tanga Mangrove Boardwalk

Tanzania has allocated 578 million/- to upgrade the Mangrove Boardwalk in Tanga, a coastal eco-tourism site known for its wooden walkway through mangrove forests along the Indian Ocean. The project focuses on improving visitor infrastructure and enhancing the overall experience at the site. The boardwalk offers visitors a chance to walk above the mangroves, take in ocean views, and experience the unique meeting point of forest and sea, while supporting conservation of the surrounding ecosystem.

The wider area is also being developed with additional visitor facilities, including boat access points and nature-based activities, further strengthening its position within Tanzania’s growing portfolio of sustainable coastal tourism destinations.

Zanzibar Eyes National Airline to Ease Tourism Access

Zanzibar is considering plans to establish its own airline as part of efforts to make travel to the island easier, faster, and more seamless for international visitors. The proposal focuses on improving direct air connectivity, reducing reliance on multiple stopovers and charter flights, and creating a smoother overall travel experience for key source markets. Officials say the initiative is still at an early stage, with discussions centered on attracting potential investors and developing a suitable partnership structure to support the airline’s formation.

The plan aligns with Zanzibar’s broader tourism strategy, which prioritizes increasing visitor arrivals, improving accessibility, and strengthening the islands’ competitiveness as a standalone destination within East Africa’s growing travel market.

Uganda Expands Wildlife DNA Forensics Lab

Uganda is strengthening its conservation capacity in East Africa through the expansion of its wildlife and timber forensics laboratory in Entebbe, bringing advanced DNA technology into the fight against poaching, illegal wildlife trade, and deforestation. Located at the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre, the facility can now analyse seized ivory, bush meat, and timber to produce court-ready evidence, helping close long-standing gaps that previously weakened prosecutions and allowed trafficking networks to persist. Improved chain-of-custody systems ensure evidence remains credible from field to courtroom, while in-country testing reduces reliance on external laboratories and speeds up investigations significantly.

Supported by partners including the European Union and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the lab not only strengthens conviction outcomes but also positions Uganda as an emerging regional hub for forensic conservation, better equipped to respond to ongoing threats to its wildlife and forest resources.

Uganda Tourism Board Officially Joins World Travel & Tourism Council

The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has officially joined the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) as a Destination Partner, strengthening Uganda’s presence in the global tourism space. The partnership connects the country more directly to a network of leading international travel and tourism organizations, opening up new opportunities for collaboration, industry engagement, and access to global market insights. Through this platform, UTB is expected to work more closely with global stakeholders to strengthen destination marketing, support sustainable tourism development, and attract increased investment into Uganda’s tourism sector.

The partnership also provides a stronger international stage to showcase Uganda’s core tourism offerings, from wildlife and adventure experiences to cultural tourism, while aligning national tourism strategies with global industry trends and sustainability priorities.

East Africa Reinforces Its Position in Global Bird watching

East Africa has steadily built a reputation as one of the world’s top birdwatching regions, with Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda consistently attracting international visitors. The region’s appeal lies in its diverse savannahs, wetlands, forests, and highland landscapes that support a wide range of bird species, including both endemic and migratory birds throughout the year. Its position along major migratory flyways further strengthens its importance, offering reliable year-round birding conditions for both specialist birders and safari travellers, supported by strong national park systems and established safari networks that make birding easy to integrate into wider travel itineraries.

Bird Life International is also investing in the restoration of key wetland sites such as Lake Elementaita in Kenya and Lake Ziway in Ethiopia. These wetlands are critical stopover and feeding grounds for millions of migratory birds along the Africa – Eurasian flyway, one of the world’s largest migration routes, which supports more than two billion migratory birds across over 500 species and connects habitats from the Arctic to southern Africa.

Uganda & Tanzania Tourism MOU Strengthens Regional Travel Ties

Uganda and Tanzania have strengthened tourism cooperation following a high-level roadshow held on 28 April 2026 in Dar es Salaam under the theme “Promoting Regional Tourism Partnerships & Business Linkages,” which brought together government and private sector stakeholders from both countries. The discussions focused on deepening collaboration between tour operators, opening up cross-border business opportunities, and making East Africa feel more connected and seamless as a tourism destination, with smoother regional travel and better visitor experiences.

A key outcome was the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the Uganda Tourism Association, the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators, and the Zanzibar Association of Tour Operators. The agreements pave the way for closer cooperation on joint marketing, shared travel itineraries, capacity building, and improved exchange of market intelligence across the region.

Tanzania Reports 95% Drop in Plastic Pollution

Tanzania has recorded a 95% reduction in plastic pollution following its nationwide ban on plastic bags, which came into force on 01 June 2019. The improvement has been driven by a sustained drop in the production, importation, and everyday use of banned plastics, backed by consistent enforcement and ongoing public awareness efforts that have gradually shifted behaviour across the country. The impact is now clearly visible, with cleaner coastlines, less plastic waste in rivers and drainage systems, and improved sanitation in urban areas. Wildlife has also benefited, particularly in coastal and marine ecosystems, where reduced plastic pollution has lowered risks to marine life and supported gradual habitat recovery.

The cleaner environment is strengthening Tanzania’s tourism appeal, with more pristine beaches, parks, and protected areas enhancing the overall visitor experience.

Tanzania: Lairs Collection Upcoming Eco-Luxury Safari Properties 2026

Tanzania’s Lairs Collection is set to expand its footprint in key safari destinations with the debut of two new eco-conscious luxury properties in 2026, designed to blend high-end comfort with immersive wildlife experiences below:

Elephants Lair in Tarangire National Park – Opening 10 June 2026
Set within Tarangire National Park, about 27 km from the main gate, Elephants Lair will open as an all-inclusive eco-conscious and wellness-focused tented lodge. The property will feature 9 deluxe rooms, 1 family room, and a private villa with its own plunge pool, catering to couples, families, and small groups looking for a more private safari stay. The lodge is designed around sustainability and a close connection to nature, while still offering strong comfort-led facilities. Guests will have access to a swimming pool, spa, gym, and yoga deck, creating space to unwind between game drives in one of Tanzania’s most wildlife-rich parks.

Gnus Lair in Northern Serengeti – Opening 28 June 2026
In the northern Serengeti, Gnus Lair is set to open on 28 June 2026, positioned just a 10-minute drive from the Mara River. The camp will offer an intimate all-inclusive safari experience with 10 tents in total, including one family tent, accommodating up to 20 guests. Its location places it close to one of the Serengeti’s key wildlife corridors, especially during the Great Migration period, giving guests direct access to one of Africa’s most iconic safari spectacles while staying in a small, exclusive camp setting.