The findings of this year’s Hotel Chain Development Pipeline Survey, produced by W Hospitality Group, indicate that Lagos is the top-choice city in Africa for the development of new hotels by international hotel investors. In compiling the data, W Hospitality Group spoke to 37 hotel chains with 80 brands among them. To qualify for the…
After a complete rebuild, the Belmond Eagle Island Lodge is re-opening its doors in the Okavango Delta on November 1. When re-opened, this “green” safari lodge will become Belmond’s flagship safari lodge. Each of the lodge’s 12 spacious Deluxe Tented Rooms will have its own plunge pool and large outdoor deck, overlooking the delta. The new design, featuring…
Turkish Airline plans to launch direct flights to Durban’s King Shaka International Airport, but the launch date has yet to be confirmed. Turkish Airlines General Manager in Johannesburg, Muhammed Mehdi Tunc, reports that the official dates for the flight launch have yet to be confirmed. In July 2015, the airline announced that it had experienced a 3% increase…
By Victor Juma, AllAfrica TPS Eastern Africa, the owner of Serena Hotels and Lodges, is set to receive a $20 million loan from French fund Proparco to refurbish and expand its properties. The eight-year loan will fund capital expenditures over 24 months, starting next year. “Proparco and Serena Hotels continue to build on their long-term…
KIGALI, Rwanda, Aug. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Effective August 24, no vehicles will be allowed in the heart of Rwanda’s capital Kigali, widely regarded as the cleanest city in Africa. All vehicles, other than special services vehicles such as ambulances, are prohibited in the streets of the declared ‘Car-Free Zone.’ “Normally, a city is for…
By Prof. Wolfgang H. Thome, Ph.D., eTN Africa Correspondent | Aug 26, 2015 In a decision recently handed down, the Appeals Division of the Arusha-based East African Court of Justice upheld three of four points from the ruling of the lower court in regard to a permanent injunction sought by the African Network for Animal…
Ian Lloyd Neubauer, for CNN Surrounded on all sides by breath-taking mountain scenery and boasting a 500-year-old fortress at its center, the city of Chefchaouen — or Chaouen for short — is becoming a new “it” place on Morocco’s tourist trail. Yet it’s not the mountains or the “Game of Thrones” architecture that travellers come…
Cape Verde’s National Statistics Institute (INE) reported a 2% annual increase in visitor numbers in the first half of 2015, placing the country on target for a bumper tourism year. Attracted by its fabulous beaches, known as jumping-off points for windsports and a great location for diving among shipwrecks, more than 278,000 visitors arrived on…
South African Airways will implement a Chargeable Advanced Seat Reservation System on August 27, 2015 for flights departing from August 31, 2015. All passengers booked in G,W,L ( Saver Fares) for International routes and G,W,L (Saver Fares) and V,T,Q,S,H ( Plus Fares) on Domestic routes, will be required to pay for a seat assignment if…
Rabat –Hilton Worldwide is moving forward to open two hotels in Tangier by the end of 2015 and in 2016. Media24 reported the General Director of Hilton Garden Inn Tangier, Raouf Chadl’s announcement that Hilton’s first hotel will open by next December. He added that Hilton will open the second hotel in June 2016. Located…
At over 13 Rands to the U.S. dollar in recent weeks, South Africa’s currency has reached its lowest level since 2001. This is great news for American travellers, who will be able to take advantage of a very favourable exchange rate on the vacation of a lifetime to South Africa. Now, more than ever, South…
”Into the Virungas” is an inspiring conversation with founder of Volcanoes Safaris and passionate conservationist, Praveen Moman and is available for sale from Volcanoes Safaris and Amazon. Praveen was an instrumental force behind the award-winning Volcanoes Lodges. A core value has been ensuring that our safaris respect the culture of local communities, the fragility of…
Website: A new website fully dedicated to the E-Visa (www.evisa.go.ke) will go live this week. This will allow applicants to go straight to the E-Visa application, away from the clutter of other Government services currently offered on the E-Citizen website. The new (and current) website is mobile-phone-enabled, so that applicants can complete the application from…
BOULDER- Pioneering primatologist and conservationist, Dr. Jane Goodall, will give a free lecture at the University of Colorado Boulder campus this fall. She will deliver the 50th annual George Gamow Memorial Lecture on October 1 at Macky Auditorium. It will be her first talk in Colorado in more than two years. She has no other…
Two field biologists and researchers dedicated to saving elephants have been awarded conservation medals by San Diego Zoo Global. Since 1966, the conservation medal awards program has recognized leaders who share their vision to end species extinction. This year, Iain Douglas-Hamilton, founder of Save the Elephants, and Michael Chase, who started Elephants Without Borders, were honoured.…
Marriott International’s footprint in Middle East and Africa extends to 19 countries Cape Town, South Africa – August 20, 2015: Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) has announced the opening of the Protea Hotel Select Takoradi, its first establishment in Ghana. “This opening under the Protea Hotels brand reinforces our focus on continuing to grow the…
APTA is proud to congratulate five members among a list of top 10 African Safari Tour Operators selected by Fodor’s Travel: &Beyond, Abecrombie & Kent, African Portfolio, Micato Safaris and Wilderness Safaris all made the cut. Recent controversy surrounding the death of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe at the hands of a big-game hunter has…
Dubai-based flydubai has announced it will add direct flights between Dubai and Eritrea’s capital city, Asmara, beginning Oct. 25 with four flights a week. Asmara is the second African destination added to the flydubai network this year after Hargeisa, Somaliland, which began in June. “We are keen to reflect the UAE’s efforts to support emerging markets,…
This Safari FAM tour of Northern Tanzania is a great way to get updated on what is new in Northern Tanzania or for new agents to be introduced to this magnificent country. There will be plenty of opportunity for game drives, visits to a wide variety of lodgings, from tented camps to luxury lodges and…
In Rwanda, it is that time of year again when the newborn baby mountain gorillas are named. This annual ceremony is called Kwita Izina and is an extremely popular attraction for guests. The ceremony derives its name from the ancestral Rwandan baby-naming ceremony observed after the birth of a child. The 11th Kwita Izina will…
There’s nothing like your first time — first time embarking on a safari, that is. Deciding to do one is easy (yes! – a resounding yes!) but picking a destination is more difficult — what with a long list of magnificent countries to choose from. To help, here’s a handy overview of when to go,…
President John Dramani Mahama yesterday appealed to professional brand experts in Africa to package and promote the tourist sites of the continent effectively to the international world. In his address at the opening ceremony of the three-day United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) conference, held on the theme: “Enhancing Brand Africa fostering tourism development in…
Bernard van Lente, Namaqua National Park manager, reports that the park experienced some warm days recently and that the Skilpad area suddenly came to life. “It is currently looking good for the remainder of the season, particularly if we get more rain. Lower-lying areas of the park, in particular Soebatsfontein, Kookfontein and the Wildeperdehoek areas,…
The latest offer from Four Seasons Hotel, The Westcliff Johannesburg, provides guests with the opportunity to experience revitalized Johannesburg on a private walking tour, This takes them through the Western Edge (Ferreirastown), the Corporate Mining District (Marshalltown), the Historic Core, the Retail District and Braamfontein. Expert tour guides will recount the astonishing story of…
If the last days of summer have you searching for a spectacular vacation, look no further. Thanks to its tropical climate, beautiful beaches, and modern, well-run hotels that employ local workers, Mauritius is one of the world’s top luxury tourism destinations. Situated about 1,200 miles off the southeast coast of Africa, this tiny island nation…
Pretoria – Airlink flight, SA8673, took off from Wonderboom Airport on Sunday, 16 August, marking the launch of scheduled services between Pretoria and Cape Town. At a ceremony hosted at the airport, the inaugural flight was described as a historic and momentous occasion for the people of the capital city. The joint venture between South…
2015 marks the 10-year anniversary of the opening of this beautifully-designed private safari house in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park. Luangwa Safari House owes its success to its African-style castle appearance and ethnic interior but it’s the surroundings of the house that really make this place so special and keep the guests returning. The safari…
Tucson, AZ – South African Airways Vacations (SAAV) are to offer free car rental (Toyota Corolla or similar) on their Garden Route Splendour self-drive package. SAAV also offers upgrades, such as automatic transmission, insurance, and GPS navigation, besides a Trip Journal, which includes driving tips, maps and suggested stops. SAAV has made the self-drive experience…
Between 01 January 2016 and 30 April 2016, &Beyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp will be undergoing a partial refurbishment, in the course of which all decks and tents will also be replaced. The refurbishment will be carried out in phases, keeping half the tents available during this period, so that guests may still have the…
Tucson, AZ – South African Airways Vacations, in co-operation with Cape Ardor (the U.S.’s largest online retailer of South African wine), has just launched the Cape Ardor Wine and Culinary Tour of South Africa. This air-inclusive, 13-day culinary journey explores South Africa’s top wine cellars and eateries en route from Cape Town to the Winelands…
Monday marked the opening of the latest 5-star resort to grace the beautiful shores of the Seychelles archipelago: the H Resort Beau Vallon Beach. Unlike many of its competitors, however, this 100-bed boutique hotel has placed the Creole culture and the island’s vibrant community at the very heart of its offering to visitors. With…
Serengeti Explorer Camp is excited to have been nominated in seven categories for the 2016 Safari Awards: – Best Value Safari Property – – Best Safari Cuisine – – Best Safari Guiding Team – – Best Family Safari Experience – – Best Ecologically Responsible – – Best New Safari Property – – Best Community Focused…
Surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of undisturbed nature and magnificent wildlife, your Serengeti adventure provides countless opportunities for romance. Escape into an enchanted world and experience the thrill of animal sightings, uninterrupted, secluded relaxation and private pool suites to create lifelong memories. The Honeymoon Offer includes: Complimentary upgrade to a Waterhole view for all Savannah,…
Great Safaris, an award-winning luxury safari outfitter, has just released a ‘wild and wonderful’ offer to Botswana and the Okavango Delta: The first 10 travellers who book the 10-day Great Wing Safari will be given an international ticket from a U.S. East Coast gateway airport to South Africa. Travel is valid from Nov. 1 through…
80% of Gabon is covered in dense forest and it has nearly 900km of coastline and 13 national parks. Its exceptional biodiversity includes a bird-list of 774 species and mega-species such as gorillas, chimpanzees, mandrills and forest elephants. It is estimated that Gabon has 60,000 forest elephants, 35,000 western lowland gorillas and 64,000 chimpanzees. An…
Calling itself a community-driven hospitality company, Airbnb CEO, Brian Chesky, attended GES 2015 to meet with entrepreneurs from around the world and explore the sharing economy’s impact and expansion, particularly on the African continent. In the last 12 months, Airbnb has more than doubled in size in Africa. “The spirit of entrepreneurialism is a common…
PRESS RELEASE 04 August 2015 SUSUWE During the night of Sunday, 02 August 2015 local fires severely damaged Susuwe Island Lodge. Fortunately, we can report that, despite the intensity of the fire, there has been no loss of life and no-one was hurt. The fire destroyed nearly 70% of the property, which necessitates immediate closure…
The Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) has unanimously re-elected Mr. Willy Chambulo as its chairman for two more years. Mr. Chambulo is the Managing Director of Kibo Guides and Tanganyika Wilderness camps. After his successfully serving TATO for two years, .his first term of office expired in June. However, the newly-held annual general meeting…
South African Airways (SAA), Africa’s most awarded airline, continues to expand its West African network and celebrated its inaugural flights between Washington D.C. and Accra, Ghana, on August 3, 2015. SA #209 from Accra arrived at Washington D.C. Dulles International Airport at 6:05AM and SA #210 departed at 5.40pm, under a ceremonial water cannon salute.…
Luxury American cruise line company, Crystal Cruises, last week announced it would be offering a range of luxury expedition-style getaways, including a 62-passenger luxury yacht, which will be exploring the pristine Indian Ocean surrounding the Seychelles archipelago of 115 islands. The all-suite yacht, which will be christened the Crystal Esprit, will embark on its maiden…
APTA members African Profile Safaris were recently featured in the British edition of National Geographic Traveller. According to the article, Conservationist pilot guides are the biggest drawcard — trained and experienced naturalists, providing expertise on each and every guided fly-in safari. Their informative but entertaining professional qualities, combined with an in-depth understanding of different guest…
One hundred and twenty rangers have completed a two-month training course, aimed at equipping them with skills and knowledge to provide security to national parks and natural resources. For two months, the park rangers were trained in several disciplines, including paramilitary and field ranger techniques, that entailed physical fitness drills, fire-arm handling, navigation, wilderness communication and…
Captivated by Lake Malawi’s beauty – and the glow of fishermen’s lanterns at night – explorer David Livingstone called it “the Lake of Stars”. Despite growing population pressures, it is one of earth’s last unspoiled places – little bays marked with sculpted boulders, mountains that rise sheer from the shoreline, bright blue fish and water…
Under the romantic name meaning ‘place of paradise’, Ezulwini game lodges occupy two remote locations in the Balule Nature Reserve of the Greater Kruger. After years of experience with private bush camps and safari lodges in both the Klaserie and the Sabi Sand, Sun Destinations is excited to present Ezulwini Billy’s Lodge and Ezulwini River…
Timbuktu, Mali, 19 July—The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, yesterday visited Timbuktu. whose mausoleums have been rebuilt three years after they were destroyed by armed groups. During her visit, Ms Bokova paid tribute to the local communities without whom the reconstruction could not have been carried out. Read More
Dr. Richard Leakey has issued a statement in which the decision to allow the railway through the park is explained: Click Here to view The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) was approached some months ago, in early 2015, to grant the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), which is under construction, access through the Nairobi National Park. A…
a2b Destination Marketing is excited to announce the addition of the Shamwari Group to their 5-star collection. The Group takes its name from the Shona term for ‘friend’ and from the original, award-winning Shamwari Game Reserve. The six 5-star-graded lodges are located on 25000 hectares in the Eastern Cape in a Malaria-free, Big 5 game…