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…
Cultural highlights in the cities of Aswan and Luxor have had their opening hours extended after the Egyptian ministry of tourism completed a lighting project. The scheme is designed to boost cultural tourism to sites in the Valley of the Kings and Queens. The ministry of antiquities has agreed to open areas such as,…
AccorHotels announced an exclusive partnership with the major Angolan company AAA ACTIVOS LDA, to open 50 hotels (more than 6,200 rooms) in Angola from luxury to economy between 2015 and 2017. Carlos Manuel de Sao Vicente, Chairman of AAA, said, “We are sure that Angola will become soon a big player in the hospitality and…
fastjet, Tanzania’s first flight between Dar es Salaam and Lilongwe in Malawi took off earlier, marking the launch of the low-cost airline’s sixth international route in Africa. Flight FN209 departed Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport at 09:40 with Tanzanian government officials, local passengers and media on board. Upon arrival at Malawi’s Lilongwe International…
By Prof. Wolfgang H. Thome, Ph.D., eTN Africa Correspondent | Jul 27, 2015 Operations into the Masai Mara’s airstrip in Keekorok, Kenya, last week were suspended due to the state of the runway. Since then, emergency repairs have been carried out and an inspection earlier allows for the resumption of flights effective July 28. Many…
British Airways has said it is stopping all flights to and from Uganda as they are “no longer commercially viable”. The last flight out from Entebbe airport to London’s Heathrow will depart on 3 October 2015, the UK carrier said. British Airways operates four flights a week to Entebbe. However, their rates are not as…
‘Marataba Walking Trails’ was designed and created for seasoned hikers who are looking for diverse and challenging trails in a spectacularly beautiful big 5 private reserve where a rich abundance of wildlife roams free. Located in the Marataba section of the Malaria-free Big Five Marakele National Park (Limpopo Province, and easy 4 hours from…
Minor Hotel Group to Rebrand African Sun Portfolio to AVANI 25 June 2015: Minor Hotel Group (MHG), a hotel owner, operator and investor, currently with a portfolio of 133 hotels and resorts in 22 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, South America, Africa and the Indian Ocean, will rebrand five hotels in southern…
WASHINGTON, July 28, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Nat Geo WILD, in partnership with the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival and the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), announced today the Rally the Herd public service announcement (PSA) contest, to raise awareness of the plight of the African elephant. The contest will give aspiring wildlife filmmakers, conservationists, students or…
The 3rd edition of Xplore, the food and travel fair that includes a selection of the best Camps & Lodges across East Africa is scheduled for Sat 19th & Sun 20th September 2015 in the beautiful grounds of the Karen Blixen Museum in Karen, Nairobi. Date: 19th, 20th September Venue: Karen Blixen Museum Location: along Karen Rd, Karen Xplore…
Our current term ends on July 31st, and the 2015/16 Term begins on August 1st. Members should please renew their membership (Click Here) by no later than August 7th, to feature in the print copy of our annual member directory that will be distributed at our national Forum, the New York Times Travel show, and…
In line with &Beyond’s position as a world-class, luxury, experiential travel company and its commitment to offering guests the best possible Safari Lodge experience, the much-loved &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge will undergo a full refurbishment. A $2 million rebuild and extensive renovation of the lodge commences on 15 January 2016 and the Lodge will be…
Wilderness Safaris, in partnership with the Botswana, South African and Zimbabwean Governments, has successfully completed the largest-ever cross-border translocation of critically-endangered black rhino. Over the past 12 months, the partnership has managed to move no less than 1% of the total global population of this highly-threatened species into a safe haven in Botswana’s Okavango Delta.…
There is an old saying, “jack of all trades, expert in none.” In today’s highly competitive travel planning landscape, research is showing the opposite to be true. Advisors who differentiate themselves by specializing in popular segments are proving to be some of the biggest winners in the travel arena. In fact, 73 percent of agents…
Under African Skies is delighted to welcome Aquila Private Game Reserve to our portfolio. Aquila Safari Lodge is a 4 star establishment in the Southern Karoo. The reserve is a 10,000 hectare conservancy in the southern Karoo, and home to the big 5 legends of the wilderness – elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard and rhino. Aquila…
Condé Nast Traveller-Jul 21, 2015 The UN lists the African nation of Chad as one of the least-visited countries on earth, though it’s safer than ever for tourists. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting this underrated country, filled with welcoming people and ancient landscapes. With a long history of political unrest, the Darfur…
Sports Tourism International has partnered with Uganda Tourism Board to promote sports tourism in Uganda. The partnership will see the two entities organising sports Tourism around the country, starting with the Source of the Nile Corporate challenge, which is expected to kick off on the 28th-30th August in Jinja. The event is expected to attract…
The Dubai-based airline, Emirates, has announced that it will launch flights to Bamako, the capital city of Mali, from October 25 this year. Bamako will be Emirates’ 28th destination in Africa and its sixth destination in West Africa. The service will also link the airline’s current four-times-weekly service to Dakar in Senegal, that is operated…
Air Namibia is proud to offer our valued travel agent partners discounted low fares for Agent only travel on flights from Frankfurt (FRA) to Windhoek (WDH), Cape Town (CPT) and Johannesburg (JNB) Great low fares available for agents on routes: FRA/WDH FRA/JNB (via WDH) FRA/CPT (via WDH) Fare Rules: Fares are valid until 31 December2015.…
Central African Wilderness Safaris are pleased to announce that on this morning of July 22nd 2015, the Government of the Republic of Malawi officially handed over the management of Liwonde National Park and Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve to the non-profit organization, African Parks. Chris Badger, Managing Director of Central African Wilderness Safaris, stated: “We (CAWS) have…
Two of Sabi Sand Reserves’ finest lodges – Savanna and Dulini – are working together to offer their shared guests the opportunity to shun the traditional vehicle transfer, in favour of taking a wilder, more adventurous approach and walking through the game-rich Sabi Sand, between the two lodges. These adventurous walkers will enjoy the thrill…
What better way to travel than at your own pace, experiencing the things you really want to? Jenman Safaris’ new South Africa Self-Drive allows you to do just that. Clients choose what they want, when they want. We’ll provide a rental car, book accommodation and suggest the best highlights, but what clients do are completely…
As we reported earlier, ARP Travel Group has partnered with the innovative App “Herdtracker”, to provide accurate daily location of the wildebeest migration. This unique app has been hailed as one of the top innovations in the safari industry. Ranger Safaris, Pollmans Tours & Safaris and Serengeti Explorer Camp have all been certified as official…
On September 1, a new and exciting era will dawn at one of the world’s most romantic places to stay, when the new owners, Analjit Singh of Leeu Collection and his family, take over the boutique hotel, Le Quartier Français in Franschhoek, situated in the Cape Winelands, South Africa, from Susan Huxter and her family.…
Jul 19 2015 21:00 Cape Town – According to the latest SA Tourism Review, greater collaboration between the private sector and SA Tourism is called for to increase SA’s global tourism market share,. This is one of the recommendations from a panel of experts appointed to review how SA Tourism is responding to the dynamics…
Cape Town – Table Mountain Cableway will be closed from Monday 27 July to Sunday 9 August for the scheduled annual maintenance. The annual maintenance is carried out with the help of a team of Swiss engineers, in order to meet the highest global cableway standards set by the Swiss Governing Body for Cableways (BAV)…
Victoria Falls is one of the world’s natural wonders and among the most spectacular sights in all Africa. The best place to witness this immense mass of water is tiny Livingstone Island, the place where Dr David Livingstone first glimpsed Mosi-oa-Tunya (The Smoke That Thunders). Tongabezi offers five trips a day to Livingstone Island. A…
Several thousand wildebeest have crossed the Sand River into the Masai Mara about 4 km downstream from Sand River Masai Mara Camp. Approximately 10,000 are currently in the Hammerkop area between Keekorok and Talek, with even more zebra ‘pouring’ into the Mara. The Migration has arrived!
KAMPALA, UGANDA – Top Gorilla habitant, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and five other national parks in Uganda have been awarded Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2015. Bordering Kanungu, Kabale and Kisoro districts in south western Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has now won this accolade for the fifth time in a row. The other national…
SKYWISE, the low-cost airline, has announced a special promotion with tickets for flights between Johannesburg – Cape Town costing a lowly R466,64, all-inclusive, in support of Nelson Mandela Day this Saturday. The fare is based on 46664, Mandela’s prison number at his second imprisonment in Robben Island in 1964. He was the 466th prisoner that…
By Sean Shuter a creative director based in Cape Town, South Africa, and New York City, for Style.com: Basotho Heritage Blankets, despite being largely unavailable outside of Africa for their 100-year-plus existence, are of such quality and have such a colorful, storied history that they are easily comparable to brands of a similar vintage, including…
Immigration officials of the Government of Malawi will begin collecting entry fees from U.S. citizens arriving at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe as well as in Blantyre and at least some border crossing posts. The $75 USD entry fee was originally scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2015, but the Government of Malawi had…
Following the recent killing by hunters of the well known lion, Cecil, just outside the boundary of Hwange National Park, we can confirm that this is now under the full investigation of Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority and the Industry at large. A meeting has been called for all stakeholders including the Zimbabwe Professional…
Sanctuary Retreats is delighted to announce that Makanyane Safari Lodge will be joining our portfolio of luxury camps and lodges on 1st August 2015. Situated on private ground within Madikwe Game Reserve, one of South Africa’s premier game-viewing destinations, the lodge has just eight secluded suites. Each suite has spectacular glass-walled bedrooms offering uninterrupted views of…
The television programme ‘Inside Africa‘ has thrown the spotlight on the Seychelles archipelago, producing three segments on various conservation endeavors taking place on islands further afield from the more commonly-visited ones. One of the segments, entitled ‘On this island, the birds are in charge’, covers one very unique island in a very remote location which…
Addis Ababa- (ENA) Ethiopia has been selected the winner of World Best Tourist Destination for 2015 and receiver of the Favorite Cultural Destination Distinction for 2015 by the General Assembly of the European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT). According to the report issued on June 25, 2015, the reasons for awarding World Best Tourist Destination for…
Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa, is pleased to announce that it has started flights to Cape Town and Gaborone, Botswana on 30 June 2015. The new services will offer passengers more choice and flexibility, as well as facilitate trade, investment, and tourism ties between Ethiopia and these two countries. READ MORE
The visa fee for all foreign visitors traveling into Uganda has increased to US$100 per person, effective from 1st July 2015. Effective immediately, all visitors to Uganda must be prepared to pay $100 for their visas which are still obtainable upon arrival. Meanwhile, the Single Tourist Visa for East Africa allows tourists multiple entries into…
Kartagener Associates Inc. looks forward to connecting Machaba Camp with their extensive network throughout the travel trade in North America. Machaba Camp is situated in the game rich Khwai area of the northeastern Okavango Delta, Botswana. The concession is a 30,000 hectare reserve adjacent to the Moremi Game Reserve and is accessible by light aircraft…
In conjunction with the new room refurbishment we’re delighted to launch the 4-night Best of Chobe Package. During your 4-night stay one of the days will include a full-day trip to the remote parts of the park with a magical sunset game-drive along the riverfront back to Chobe Game Lodge. The itinerary also includes a…
Effective July 1, 2015, visas can be applied for online before arrival to Kenya. Visitors can still obtain visas on arrival at their port of entry until the end of August 31st, 2015. Until then, travelers have the option to either apply online or to obtain their visa upon arrival. For arrivals after September 1, 2015,…
Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort in El Jadida, Morocco, has been unveiled as host of the World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala Ceremony 2015. Hundreds of industry leaders will gather in the world-leading destination on December 12th, as World Travel Awards presents its coveted global titles. The announcement was made by World Travel Awards president…
Andrea Hugo Associates are proud to announce the addition of Kambaku River Sands and Kambaku Safari Lodge, situated in the heart of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, to our luxury portfolio of small boutique properties and safari lodges throughout East and Southern Africa. KAMBAKU (Solitary Bull elephant), takes its name from one of the ‘Magnificent…