In a bid to attract more visitors to Johannesburg, increase tourism and create more job opportunities, Joburg Tourism, Bryanston Organic & Natural Market and the Liliesleaf Farm heritage site have jointly introduced a free shuttle bus service between selected Sandton hotels and the two prime tourist attractions in northern Johannesburg. The service allows tourists to…
Africa’s tallest indigenous tree has been discovered in a remote valley, at the foot of the highest mountain, Kilimanjaro. Last year, researchers exploring a remote valley on the mountain (two hours’ walk from Mrusunga Forest in Kidia ward, Moshi rural district), discovered the towering tree, which reaches 81.5 metres into the sky and sets a…
A new pass, offering visitors quick and easy access into the popular Garden Route, is underway, thanks to a strategic partnership between Cape Town Pass and Wesgro. Wesgro launched the new Garden Route Pass, offering discounted rates, with various discounts via its App, its online store or at selected partners in the Western Cape region. Users can buy one…
Wilderness Safaris is thrilled to announce the launch of Private Journeys – a fully integrated division within the company that has evolved from the previously independent-brand, Wilderness Touring Cape Town. The new Private Journeys division offers exceptional tailor-made, privately-guided tours of Cape Town, the Cape Peninsula, the Winelands and other Western Cape attractions. Private Journeys…
Botswana’s Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism has announced a mandatory Tourism Development Levy (TDL) to raise funds for conservation and national tourism development, support the growth of the industry, broaden the tourism base, and improve the lives of the people of Botswana. As from the 1st of June 2017, with the exception of…
Wild Shots was founded in 2012 and is South Africa’s premier annual wildlife photography conference. Wildlife photography is hugely popular in South Africa, and Wild Shots provides the first centralized event of its kind, bringing together amateurs and professionals alike, to learn from, and be inspired by, the best in the business. Wild Shots is…
=We are proud to announce that Jill Wagner has joined our Great Plains Conservation team based in Cape Town,” says Dereck Joubert, CEO of Great Plains Conservation. “I’ve known Jill for a good few years and watched and listened to her comments from across the room at various round-table meetings. I immediately recognised that spirit…
Le Quartier Français, part of Leeu Collection’s hospitality offering in Franschhoek, will be closed from 22 May 2017 to 10 July 2017, while upgrades to all rooms and suites are taking place. 15 Rooms, including the LQF Villa, will undergo a soft refurbishment and will be returned to inventory on 10 July 2017. A full…
The year 2016 was a busy and interesting one for the African hotel market. Hotel investment in Africa made progressive strides, with new hotels launched in new countries and cities across the continent. Economics, political events, currency volatility and fluctuating tourism demand brought both challenges and opportunities to hotel markets across the region. Here, African-based…
When travelers think of experiencing their first safari, it’s usually South Africa that tops their wish list. But it’s time to consider Kenya, a country known for its picture-perfect savannas loaded with wildlife. In fact, the animal population is so dense in this country that even its capital, the very urban Nairobi, has its own…
With this update, Google Earth becomes less of a blank canvas and more of a real, actionable travel tool. The addition of ‘knowledge cards’ and Wikipedia-powered morsels of information about different places, means you have a better idea of what you’re actually looking at. For instance, if you’re doing a quick “flyover” of the neighborhood…
Reminder: The Table Mountain Cableway will shut down operations for renovation and maintenance of the cars from Monday 24 July to Sunday 6 August 2017. Tickets booked for the week of 18 July 2017 will have their usual seven-day validity period shortened to the following: • 18 July – 6 days • 19 July – 5 days…
The World Economic Forum has, for the past 11 years, engaged leaders in travel and tourism to carry out an in-depth analysis of the Travel and Tourism competitiveness of 136 economies across the world. The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index measures “the set of factors and policies that enable the sustainable development of the travel…
HVS is pleased to announce that the second Tourism, Hotel Investment & Networking Conference (THINC) Africa 2017 will be held on 30th and 31st August, 2017, at the FNB Portside Building, Cape Town. Southern Africa is rapidly gaining significance in the global tourism industry, establishing itself as a must-see destination, as well as a valuable investment playground. THINC Africa provides a unique platform to…
It is that time of the year again when travel professionals from across the world visit Africa for its annual Africa Travel Week. This year, the event will be held at the Cape Town International Conference Centre, from 19 to 23 April. Organizers expect an increase in the number of travel professionals compared to last…
Condé Nast Traveler has announced the winners of its 2017 HOT LIST with 75 properties around the world recognized as the best hotel openings of the past year. The HOT LIST selection process started with 675 contenders, and our congratulations go to the following properties in Africa for being featured: L’Hotel, Marrakech, Banyan Tree Tamouda…
Book aSkySafari journey for 2017 before 20th June and enjoy a 15% discount. SkySafari Kenya Connoisseur: An 8-day safari with more than a hint of adventure – from the rugged and beautiful wilds of Meru, to the rolling plains of Loisaba and its offering of exciting safari activities, to the spectacle of nature’s greatest theatre…
“The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority would like to inform its esteemed tourism partners, stakeholders and the nation at large, that Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo 2017 preparations have been resumed, despite the previous announcement of the event’s possible cancellation, owing to lack of funding”, Chief Executive Officer Karikoga Kaseke said.The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has received a…
Thanda Island, the truly exclusive Indian Ocean hideaway, located off the Southern coast of Tanzania, was thrilled to welcome the most important of repeat visitors.On 2nd April, between the hours of 8-12pm, a female Green Turtle! came ashore to lay her eggs on the beach, between the boathouse and the helipad. Owing to the endemic…
National Geographic explorer-in-residence, Dereck Joubert, has shared the gory and intimate details of a buffalo charge that nearly claimed the life of fellow explorer and wife, Beverly Joubert. Just over a month after the incident took place on Friday, 3 March, in the Okavango-Delta in Botswana, the Jouberts shared an intimate account of it on…
Since he and his wife, Liesel, opened Knysna Hollow Country Estate in 1998, Clive Battell has been with the Seasons in Africa Team for 19 years. With their hands-on approach and personal service evident at all Seasons in Africa properties, Clive and Liesel developed Knysna Hollow into the lush, 90-room estate it is today. Clive…
The UNWTO – International Institute for Peace through Tourism Global Summit website is now open for registration. The official conference of the UN International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development will begin with the Welcome Reception on Sunday evening, September 17. The Opening ceremony will take place on Monday morning, 18 September and the…
Special Savings of $100.00 Per Person When Booked by May 15 SAA Vacations® has introduced the perfect package for that upcoming family getaway for those who have not yet made their summer travel plans. The “Family, Culture and Safari” package is designed to allow families the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich heritage and…
Magnificent Mauritius: If you knew more about this small island state, you’d already be planning a vacation. Mauritius is a model of true democracy for every African country. It’s also one of Africa’s great destinations, located in the middle of the turquoise Indian Ocean and inhabited by a peaceful, multi-racial people. Mauritius boasts an old…
March 2017 – In partnership with Piper & Heath Travel, Wilderness Safaris will be sponsoring ‘The Long Ride to Free Them’ initiative, which will see lifelong environmentalist, Matt Meyer, cycle over 3 000 kilometres (2 000 miles) down the West Coast of the USA from 17 April to 17 June 2017, while towing a life-size…
The Zambia Travel and leisure Agency (ZTA) in partnership with the government from the republic of Zambia and the private sector would like to inform local and international industry partners of the 3rd Zambia Vacation Expo (ZATEX) that will be held from 26-28 April, 2017 at the Mulungushi Global Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia. Read…
Ellerman House is delighted to announce the appointment of Paul Bruce-Brand as new General Manager of Ellerman House. From the 1st of May, Paul will be taking over from Ella Cuyler and aim to continue the enduring success of Ellerman House.Paul Harris, Owner of Ellerman House says, “We carried out an extensive process to find…
The exotic volcanic archipelago on the northwest coast of Africa, the Cape Verde Islands, has experienced a significant tourism boost. According to the National Statistics Institute in Cape Verde, foreign visits to the archipelago increased by 13.6% during last year, the islands of Sal and Boa Vista being especially popular tourist spots. This breathtaking island…
To our Partners in Travel Acting on our guests’ and agents’ feedback regarding the Marataba Walking Trails Experience, we will include both walking and open-vehicle safaris in the daily schedule, with immediate effect . We believe this will offer the ‘Best of Both Worlds‘ in one of South Africa’s most remarkable reserves – walking in the…
Gondar Hills Resort, owned by Jacaranda Tours, Ethiopia, is to be managed exclusively by aha Hotels and Lodges and incorporated fully under the aha brand. The resort, situated in one of the Northern Historical Sites, holds remains of several royal castles, including those in Fasil Ghebbi (the Royal Enclosure- the remains of a fortress-city within Gondar). This luxurious, eco-friendly development, with its…
Based on millions of opinions from wanderers across the globe, TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel-review site, explains that it uses an algorithm to determine the winners, by taking into account the quantity and quality of reviews applicable to each category over a 12-month period. Africa gets no mention in the top 25 destinations in the…
In response to the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) directive, Emirates has introduced tablet loan service to US-bound First, Business Class customers. Emirates premium customers will have a Microsoft Surface tablets equipped with Microsoft Office 2016 available for loan on board. Customers can download their work on to a USB which can be brought on…
Ethiopian Tourism Organization (ETO) partnered with CornerSun Destination Marketing to host a three-city B2B roadshow across Los Angeles, New York and Toronto from March 24th – 30th. This marked the first ever B2B activity by ETO in North America. Each event consisted of a media briefing for travel trade journalists followed by a presentation to…
The Saile airstrip having now been cleared, levelled and opened, Linyanti Bush Camp and Linyanti Ebony have started offering inclusive scenic helicopter rides – a thrilling way to experience this pristine and abundant wildlife area – to all guests between April and November . We offer FREE 30-minute helicopter tours at Linyanti Bush Camp and Linyanti Ebony, on the…
Kilimanjaro International Airport [JRO] has announced that the airport will be closing between 23:00 and 08:00 each day until the end of April. Click here for schedule changes as a result
The UNWTO – IIPT Global Summit website is now open for registration at: http://unwto.iiptsummit.org/. The official conference of the UN International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development will begin with the Welcoming Reception on Sunday evening, September 17. On Monday morning, 18 September, the Opening Ceremony will take place. The Summit will continue on…
National carrier, RwandAir, has announced that it will launch its direct flights to London in the United Kingdom on May 26 2017, through London Gatwick International Airport. According to a press statement, the airline will offer flights to London three times a week. London, one of the world’s leading financial hubs, becomes RwandAir’s first European…
Precision Air’s website has been designed to offer a user-friendly experience and quick access to the airline’s business updates and information. Announcing the launch, Precision Air Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr. Hillary Mremi, said: “Now our passengers can easily access our website through their mobile phones, tablets and laptops. This is another milestone in our efforts…
UGANDA CULTURE & CUISINE in WASHINGTON DC: April 18-19, 2017. Officials from the Uganda Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities will join the World Bank to celebrate a “Taste of Uganda.” Ugandan chefs based in the D.C. area will offer a traditional lunch, served from noon until 2:30 p.m. in the main…