Botswana’s government has confirmed that private charter flights will be allowed into the country from November 1, but operators say more progress is needed. In an official announcement earlier this week, the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism announced that private charter flights would be allowed to land at Maun and Kasane International…
Zimbabwe will reopen six land borders on December 1. Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa, said the opening of border posts would be phased in, beginning with Beitbridge, Plumtree, Victoria Falls, Chirundu, Nyamapanda and Forbes. “The borders will open first to private passenger vehicles and pedestrian traffic as from December 1, while further…
Air Namibia plans to resume flights to both Johannesburg and Cape Town from Wednesday, October 28. The Windhoek-Johannesburg direct route will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Currently, four flights a week are envisaged for the Windhoek-Cape Town route, two direct and two via Walvis Bay. The Namibian President called this year for the cash-strapped…
Zimbabwe and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, yesterday launched an initiative to boost tourism in and around Victoria Falls to help strengthen the country’s tourism industry that has suffered a sharp decline in visitors due to the devastating Covid-19 pandemic. The initiative, dubbed the “Victoria Falls Area Tourism…
Hyatt Hotels Corporation will open the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Cape Town in December 2020. The former Hilton Cape Town City Centre will be rebranded Hyatt Regency Cape Town, bringing the total number of Hyatt hotels across Africa to eight. “We’re delighted to work with Millat Properties to bring the Hyatt Regency brand to Cape…
The last few months have brought challenges to all of us, especially those within the hardest hit industries of hospitality and tourism. Our best wishes are with you all as we continue to navigate these difficult times together and look forward to better days ahead. Besides looking after traveler’s who continued with their plans and assisingt…
Itravelafrica is pleased to announce a series of FAM trips to Africa especially for APTA members. The first FAM trip to Kenya on the 6th of November is already fully subscribed for and 12 lucky agents will spend 8 nights and 9 days in Nairobi, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara and Amboseli. There are openings for…
Emirates and Airlink have announced an interline agreement, widening Emirates’ reach into Southern Africa as countries begin opening their borders for travellers. Emirates’ agreement with Airlink will provide its customers enhanced connectivity via its gateways Johannesburg and Cape Town to more than 25 domestic destinations in South Africa and more than 20 regional destinations in…
Uganda Airlines is on track to launch its new A330-800neo fleet by December – to be deployed on three long-haul routes to Asia, the UK and the Middle East. This follows the roll-out of the first of two A330s on Friday last week, with freshly painted livery. The airline – both a start-up and a…
Seychelles has opened its borders for tourism with two categories of permitted countries. Category 1 is for residents of countries that are deemed low or medium risk. These travellers will be required to produce a negative COVID PCR test no older than 72 hours before departure and will not be subject to quarantine or further conditions. South…
The upcoming Re•think Virtual Travel Trade Show will connect suppliers with prominent travel buyers from across North America, Europe, Australia and South America over four days of one-on-one 15 minute virtual meetings, interspersed with captivating speakers and virtual networking events. The trade show takes place virtually from 9-12 November. APTA will be participating in the Re•think…
Qatar Airways has signed an interline agreement with Airlink that will provide its passengers with connectivity via Cape Town and Johannesburg to more than 20 regional destinations in Southern Africa and more than 25 domestic destinations within South Africa. “We are confident that the relationship will deliver enhanced travel options to customers, given the designed…
Migori Airstrip that connects the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is closed due to major renovations. The renovations are estimated to take 18 months with officials stating that the airstrip will be closed until the end of 2021. However, there is lobbying to fast track the process in order for…
Having given a piece of her heart to Africa, Beth Doane is destined to return, devoting her time to impactful travel. Through her work as an Instagram influencer, writer for Forbes and the NY Times, brand ambassador for Vanity Fair and advisor to the United Nations, Beth is dedicated to spreading awareness about conscientious and life-changing travel choices –…
South Africa is now putting the electrical plugs and sockets the nation has relied on for generations on the road to retirement. The plugs, which feature three large pins configured in a triangle, are giving way to a compact hexagonal three-pin design, with sockets following suit. The new plug and socket, which is based on the latest…
Slotted into the underbelly of Africa’s northwestern huddle, Ghana is a country that’s steadily reinventing itself. Known for its colorful culture, wildlife and natural beauty, the West African nation had one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s fastest-growing economies in the past few years, thanks to cocoa and a relatively recent discovery of oil. The economic upturn helped…
Communities and conservancy groups in the Mara, northern and coastal regions will get Sh759.5 million from the US government to support recovery from a slump in tourism due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The funds will be granted by US Agency for International Development (USAID) through a three-year locally-led development programme, coordinated under its flagship Local…
The Department of Health has, with immediate effect, rolled out antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 at all ports of entry in South Africa with immediate effect. Media liaison for the Department, Dr Lwazi Manzi, pointed out that while this did not replace the required certified negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result (not older than 72 hours), this test…
The Uganda Minister Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities (MTWA) Col. Tom Butime, unveiled eleven Uganda wildlife sculptures along the Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters on Kira Road stretching for approximately 2 kilometers between Mulago Hospital roundabout and Kira Road Police Station in Kampala. Hosted by the Executive Director, Sam Mawanda, on behalf of sponsor Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the unveiling of…
With many source markets requiring a negative PCR test to enter the country, some lodges in Southern Africa have started offering on-site testing to spare travellers the hassle of having to travel away from their destination to get tested. While a number of private laboratories have testing facilities in the region, these are primarily located…
A 20-year-old elephant has been successfully translocated in KwaZulu Natal from Tembe Elephant Park to the Somkhanda Community Game Reserve in an effort to strengthen the elephant gene pool. The move was a collaboration between WILDLANDS – a programme of the WILDTRUST – the Aspinall Foundation in partnership with Albus Environmental, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and…
MINT Hotels has opened the first of two properties planned for Johannesburg. The first two phases of the MINT Hotel, located on Katherine Street in Sandton, have already opened and the third and final phase will open in November. On the opening of the third phase, the property will offer 148 apartment-style rooms, each equipped…
Gearing up to take control of the wheels of adventure once again, Jenman African Safaris has created a product training series to illustrate our various itineraries. Safari Studies is an interactive training session by safari specialists, professional guides, lodge owners and product wizards who share our passion for Africa and present our most popular safaris. The first three sessions showcase Jenman’s most sought-after packages – imparting stories and insights to…
Index Select, Kartagener Assocaites Inc. (KAI), TL Portfolio, Janine Cifelli Representation, and Bennett + Mercado Hospitality are thrilled to announce RepFest, a fun modern approach to a virtual celebration of travel featuring some of the world’s best travel experiences. Modeled after a music festival, RepFest is presented by five luxury travel representation companies that have come…
Ethiopian Airlines several weeks ago officially completed a 86,000-square-meter terminal expansion at Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport. With the capacity to serve 22 million passengers a year, Africa’s main transit hub is now home to the continent’s second largest capacity airport after South Africa’s O.R. Tambo International. But this is no ordinary terminal project: the $300…
The Seychelles Department of Tourism has reviewed its Visitor Travel Advisory following a proposal from the Tourism Taskforce to provide potential visitors with clear information. The new advisory offers clarity on the countries from which visitors may visit the Seychelles. The countries have been divided into two categories. Category one includes low- and medium-risk countries and category…
Brussels Airlines has outlined plans to increase flights to African destinations over the coming months, as it looks to rebuild its network in the Covid-19 era. The carrier has long focused on its African network, and this winter 15 of its 16 planned long-haul routes will be to the continent, with the sole exception being…
Around the world, countries are steadily shifting from responding to the Covid-19 pandemic to the recovery phase. And for many, tourism will play a key role here, not least due to its importance in job creation, supporting livelihoods and driving inclusive development. But tourism itself has been hit hard by this unprecedented crisis. During the…
As of Oct.1, Uganda’s borders have reopened, and Entebbe International Airport (EBB) has resumed operations for international airlines following a six-month closure during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. All of Uganda’s national parks are open to international visitors as well. The reopening signals a return to business for Uganda’s tourism industry as international travelers…
On World Rhino Day last week, African Parks were pleased to announce encouraging signs of a growing black rhino population as the nation re-emerges as a regionally significant conservation stronghold for this critically endangered species. Malawi is overseeing a resurgence of wildlife and its parks under progressive new conservation policies helping to restore its natural…
With a number of overseas visitors starting to travel again, as global lock-down measures ease, and domestic tourism busier than expected in some areas, The Elewana Collection has opened a number of properties, allowing both domestic and international travellers to explore some of the many beautiful areas in both Kenya and Tanzania. The Elewana Collection…
Zimbabwe President Mnangagwa yesterday urged SADC countries to harness natural resources abundant in the region so as to improve the lives of their citizens through production and productivity. Speaking at a State banquet for the visiting Malawian President Lazarus Chikwera at the State House last night, the President traced the historical ties between Zimbabwe and Malawi…