NEWSLETTER NOTES FROM THE
FRIENDS OF FORT JESUS - MOMBASA

Coastweek - - It is a Happy New Year at the Fort, as despite the increase in charges visitor numbers have remained high bringing significant additional revenue.

The extra funds will ensure that the Fort can continue to  improve and modernise its museum, and we look forward to seeing the  changes soon.

• Shimba Support Group informs us that a group of young men and women from the community around the reserve have formed the Shimba Hills Forest Guides.

They have been trained by the resident naturalist at  Shimba Lodge, Colobus Trust, KWS and Forest Department, and have also been on detachment to Colobus Trust and Haller Park.

They have set up a Nature Trail between Kwale Town and the elephant grid.

Next time you visit Shimba, take a guide with you and discover more.

The guides will be available at the gate, or you can pre-book through Mr Wakili Mwatondo, the group's Chairman, on 0724 937751 or the KWS office on 040 4159.

• 2006 is the Year of the Turtle, and in Kenya the event is being organised by KESCOM along with many other interested institutions.

If you would like to support them in their activities during the year, email

kescoms@yahoo.com

Their Chairperson Dr. Nyawira Muthiga has been awarded the 2005 National Geographic Society/ Buffet Award for leadership in African conservation in general and we congratulate her on her success.

• There is an exhibition about HIV/Aids in a marquee at the Fort for the

next year, organised by Family Health International.

If you are at the Fort it is worth a visit, although it seems a pity that it is in English language only, not bilingual KiSwahili/ English.

• Please note that although there is a charge for access to the Swahili Dress Exhibition at the Old Law Courts, Friends of Fort Jesus members are exempt, as are at all Coastal Sites, Museums and Monuments.

Please ensure you show your membership card.

• It has been brought to our attention that a developer at a beach front plot on the North Coast has, during the course of building works, cut down a baobab tree, disturbed several graves, and cleared part of the beach outside the boundaries of the plot.

Turtles nested on the beach last year, and it seems unlikely that they will do so again this year. 

We have been able to bring this to the attention of the National Museums of Kenya Head of Coastal Archaeology who will be doing his best to stop any further destruction, and also the Kenya Sea Turtle Conservation Group, so they can monitor the nesting site.

Do please alert NMK to any cases of destruction of ancient sites that you know of, or let us know, so that we can ensure that our heritage is preserved.

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS:

We welcome a number of new members this month, and look forward to seeing them at our events: Margo van der Velden AND Frans van Midde, Mr AND Mrs Manisha Gudka , Ketan and Naimi Shah, Mr AND Mrs Dipesh Pabari, Dr. & Mrs. M.A. Fazal, Mr. Imran A Jalalkhan.

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PAST EVENTS:

Tuesday 13th December: Talk - Zarina Patel and Zahid Rajan: Awaaz - The Beginning of the Story

'Awaaz' means voice in Urdu and is a quarterly magazine published in Kenya that records the voices of the south Asian diaspora.

Zahid Rajan, Editor of 'Awaaz', gave us an illustrated talk leading us through the many Asian heroes, heroines and martyrs, which the magazine has highlighted since its inception two years ago.

It was a very interesting evening, and well attended, with several members deciding to subscribe.

More information can be obtained from

www.awaazmag.com

or by emailing

awaazmag@rediffmail.com  

Saturday 17th December: Bird Walk

The plan to get a Haller Park guide to help us round the North Quarry did not materialise so the "leader" who had only been there once was left to do her best.

The idea to walk down the side of the airstrip got somewhat off track and we never arrived.

However all enjoyed a very pleasant walk through the forest.

It was decided to name the walk "walk of the Drongo" as this was the most prolific bird.

The most exciting birds were the large number of Yellow Fronted Canaries, a bird not so often seen on our walks.

Only 13 species were seen overall which is about one third of our usual number.

Two brand new bird walkers, Frans and Margo.

Looking forward to a new year of exciting birding (MR)

Tuesday 20th December: Sound and Light Show at the Fort.

Some 25 members attended the Sound and Light show at the Fort, and 15 stayed for the special dinner afterwards, which was delicious.

The show is very well done with actors, slides and special effects, and well worth a visit.

Tuesday 10th January: Talk - Rear-Admiral Roy Clare: Trafalgar 200.

Rear-Admiral Roy Clare has had a distinguished career in the British Royal Navy, including command of many ships and of Royal Naval College Dartmouth.

For the past six years he has been the Director of the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich in London, overseeing the huge collections in a museum that boasts 1.5 million visitors every year.  

Sited in beautiful old buildings and surrounded by green parkland, the museum is the largest maritime museum in the world, and is continually making improvements to enable more of the collections to be put on show.

We saw photos of some of the magnificent items, and heard about the special events of this last year of Trafalgar commemorations, as well as events proposed for the future. A most interesting evening.

FUTURE PROGRAMME:

Saturday 21st January: Bird Walk with Marlene Reid

Meet at Ratna Square at 4.00 p.m. for this month's ornithological outing. 

Marlene Reid always manages to find us exciting birds, so do give it a try.

Tuesday 24th January: Talk - Dr Kairo: Restoration and Management of Mangroves

Dr Kairo is a Mangrove Management Consultant, working with the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, trying to save the remaining mangrove forest along our coastline.

Mangroves are much under threat, and Dr Kairo will tell us of the efforts being made to ensure that enough remain to preserve the Kenya Coast.

Saturday 28th January: Outing - Chale Island

Rather than have lunch on Chale Island, we've now arranged to have a picnic lunch on the beach.

We will visit Kaya Kinondo, and take a boat to view the mangroves and the birds.

Bring your own picnic, towels, bathing costumes, binoculars etc.

The cost of the trip will be 800/- for the boat trip and 300/- for the Kaya with car passengers expected to make a contribution to the travel.

Please confirm to Annie Appleyard on 472899, or 0721 974311 if you want to join us.

Tuesday 7th February: Talk - Sander den Haring: Marine Archaeology.

Sander den Haring is a Marine Biologist currently working in Kenya, and some of you will remember his fascinating (and scary) talk on Sharks last year.

This time his subject will be Marine Archaeology, much in  the news with the Chinese planning to excavate the Chinese ship that  sunk off the coast north of Lamu few centuries ago. Don't miss it.

Tuesday 14th February: Video - The Eagle Odyssey.

The white-tailed sea eagle is back where it belongs, on the spectacular coasts and islands of northwest Scotland.

But it hasn't always been so.

After centuries of persecution, the sea eagle, one of the largest birds of prey in the world with a wingspan of eight feet, became extinct in the UK last century.

Today dozens of pairs breed successfully in Scotland and many visitors come specially to see them. 

What brought this about ? Come to see the film to find out.

Saturday 18th February: Bird Walk with Marlene Reid

Another chance to explore the bird life of our region.

Saturday 25th February: Old Town Walk with Judy Aldrick

Our founder member Judy Aldrick is back in Mombasa for a visit, and has kindly agreed to lead one of her famous Old Town Walks.

Meet outside the Fort at 4.00 p.m. for an interesting afternoon in the alleys and byways of Old Town.

Bring along tea for a picnic in the rehabilitated park on the seafront next to Mombasa Club.

Tuesday 28th February: Talk - Oliver Fowler: Seashells of Kenya.

This talk, postponed from last year, will introduce us, with the aid of photographs, to the marine shells of the Kenya Coast, with a brief overview of some of the main families and unusual shells.

Mr Fowler will address conservation issues, habitat, visiting the reefs, and cleaning and preserving a collection.

We all see shells every time we visit the beach or the reef, and this talk will ensure that we know more about them when we do.

Saturday/ Sunday 4th & 5th March: Overnight Trip to Sagala Lodge at Voi.

Sagala Lodge is situated off the Mombasa/ Nairobi Road opposite Tsavo East.

It is wonderful bird-watching country with over 125 species on the checklist.

Activities include walks to the Sagala Hills for a bird's eye view of Tsavo East Park.

Accommodation is in simple twin bandas scattered in lush gardens and there is a swimming pool, lounge bar and restaurant.

It is intended to go up in shared cars on Saturday morning, coming back on Sunday afternoon.

The full board rate per person, plus extra lunch, sharing in a twin will be Kshs 2,300/-, plus contribution towards the transport.

Full payment will be required by 10th February.

Please let Kelvin Mazera know if you want to join this trip on 0720 928783.