SafariLink Helps Protect Diani's Primates .

As part of its ongoing corporate social responsibility programme, SafariLink, Kenya's premier safari airline, has announced that it will donate $2 to the Diani Beach based Colobus Trust for each passenger it flies into or out of the Diani airstrip. In addition it has sponsored the purchase of a 'tuk-tuk' which will be used by the Trust to collect tourists from their hotels and take them to their headquarters where they will be able to learn about the Coast ecosystem and the work of the Trust. The airline, which commenced daily flights to Diani on the 1st July 2009, has taken the decision to assist the Trust which runs the primate conservation and rescue centre on the south coast of Kenya.

The Colobus Trust was founded in Diani in 1997, initially to come up with a way to prevent the high number of monkey 'road kills' on Diani Road. Today, the Trust has expanded to become a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre, focusing on primates, with both Kenyan staff and international volunteers. The Colobus Trust also helps to educate local schoolchildren, gives guided eco-tours and provides a rehabilitation programme for monkeys that have been kept illegally as pets.

Safarilink's Managing Director, John Buckley, hands over the keys to the tuk-tuk donated by SafariLink to Eirik Jarl Trondsen, Manager, Colobus Trust.

"The rapid growth in tourism infrastructure and growing human population in the area has had a significant negative impact on the remnants of a once large and rich coastal forest ecosystem and hence a decline in the primate population," said John Buckley, Managing Director, SafariLink Aviation. "For more than ten years the Colobus Trust has been dedicated to the conservation and welfare of primates living in the Diani area. SafariLink, as a socially responsible company, is therefore happy to help the Trust in order to help safeguard the environment for the remaining primates and hopefully thereby stop the decline in their numbers."

In support of the donation, Raymond Matiba, Chairman of The Colobus Trust said, 75 % of the Trusts core revenue comes from tourism. But sadly the Kenya Coast has suffered a decline in tourists in recent years and hence our income from visitors to the Trust has decreased. We are therefore particularly delighted that SafariLink have made this very generous donation to the Trust and their pledge of long term financial support will help us plan for the future."

"In addition, the introduction of the SafariLink daily flights to Diani is in itself a very positive move which we believe will result in an increase in tourists as well as being beneficial to the residents in the area," added Matiba.

LEWA MARATHON
SafariLink was proud to be associated with co-sponsorship of the Lewa Marathon by providing discounted tickets for the runners and free tickets for the organizers of the Lewa Marathon. In 2008 & 2009 Safarilink and Kobo safaris entered a joint team


Safarilink Participated in the Lewa Marathon 2009

BATA INCENTIVE
Safarilink was proud to be chosen as the preferred carrier for The BATA Groups' Senior Management's meeting in the Masai Mara. Safarilink flew Mr Bata and a total of 93 staff from around the world to experience the wonders of our world famous Masai Mara Game reserve.

BEIJING MAYOR

Beijing Mayor before his flight to Masai Mara - Safarilink

STING
SafariLink was once again proud to be chosen to provide internal charters around Kenya for world renowned singer Sting and his family whilst on a recent holiday.

EWAN MCGREGOR
After a grueling overland ride from the U.K to Cape Town, actor Ewan McGregor took some time off with his family to enjoy Kenyan hospitality.

VIRGIN LAUNCH
SafariLink was proud to be involved with the recent launch of Virgin Atlantic's flights to Nairobi by providing charter services for Sir Richard Branson and Virgin's V.I.P guests to the Masai Mara .

STUDIO 53 M-NET SERIES GROUP
Studio 53 M-net Series Group before their Flight to Masai Mara.