The Cape Milner – a true boutique gem in Tamboerskloof is reopening her doors from the 15th December 2020. Whilst the Cape Milner is usually a haven for international travellers from many countries around the globe – her history reminds us that she is a firm favourite with South African and African visitors as well.…
Responding to the increase in the number of Covid-19 cases and the second wave in certain regions around the world, destination Seychelles is re-enforcing measures to curb probabilities of local infection on its shores. The review has been done by the tourism task force, a committee regrouping tourism stakeholders, health decision-makers and various other local…
Rwanda is set to open, to visitors, Gishwati-Mukura National Park, which was recently upgraded to a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The move has added impetus to Rwanda’s ambitions of doubling its annual tourism receipts to $800 million by 2024. The country is keen on accelerating the recovery of the tourism industry, which was severely hit by…
Conservation-focused luxury travel company AndBeyond has launched an exclusive private jet journey from Florida to South Africa. The itinerary departs from Sarasota, where travelers will be tested for Covid-19 prior to departure. Groups will then enjoy private travel throughout as well as VIP access to activities and accommodations. The trip is ideal for those wanting…
Although Kenya reopened its borders to international tourists in August, Sadie Whitelocks finds that lower hotel rates as a consequence of the pandemic have allowed more local people the chance to be tourists in their own country. I recently ventured to Kenya, after the nail-biting hurdle of getting a negative PCR test, and while there…
In an effort to fast-track global airline travel, Iata is developing a digital Travel Pass – essentially an international health passport – that will manage and verify the secure flow of necessary testing or vaccine information among governments, airlines, laboratories and travellers. “Our main priority is to get people travelling again safely. In the immediate…
Lufthansa and SWISS have announced additional services to Johannesburg from December.. “The Lufthansa Group has welcomed the recent announcement by the [SA] government to remove the list of high-risk countries and once again open our borders to all leisure and business travellers. “We are fully committed to the South African market and continue our efforts…
South African airline Comair said on Monday it had opened bookings for domestic British Airways flights ahead of a planned resumption of services from December 9. In September Comair, which operates British Airways and low-cost carrier kulula.com in South Africa but has been under business rescue, said it would hopefully begin flying again in December…
The Cape Milner in Tamboerskloof is reopening her doors from the 15th December 2020. Whilst the Cape Milner is usually a haven for international travellers from many countries around the globe – her history reminds us that she is a firm favourite with South African and African visitors as well. “The production industry love our…
For the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak began, Africa may be poised to reshape rapid testing for the virus on the continent. The Pasteur Institute, a biomedical research center based in Senegal’s capital city of Dakar, says it is close to producing an affordable, handheld Covid-19 diagnostic test kit that can give results in a…
Weeks after crowd-sourcing its name, South Africa’s LIFT Airline wants the public to help choose its livery too. The carrier will begin operations on December 10th, flying two routes from Johanessburg to Cape Town and George. Let’s find out what the airline is considering for its livery. Choose the livery LIFT made the news a…
South Africa’s privately-owned airline Airlink is ending its 23-year-old franchise agreement with South African Airways. The airline entered a strategic alliance with South African Airways in 1997. Today, the airline revealed its new stunning livery to match its rebranding. Airlink unveiled its new livery today as it breaks from South African Airways. Photo: Airlink A…
Thrill seeking guests at the Kruger Shalati Train on the Bridge hotel in South Africa will be pleased to hear they’ll be able to swim in a pool above a river filled with crocodiles The luxury hotel is perched on the 300-metre-long Selati bridge high above the Sabie river in South Africa’s Kruger National Park and is located within a…
South Africa reopened its borders to international travelers earlier this month, as travel leaders in a city on the country’s eastern coast argue tourism is crucial to delivering the country a full economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Durban — South Africa’s third-largest city — may not be as historically popular with tourists as Cape…
Plans for WTM Africa 2021 are going ahead in the format of a hybrid event from April 7-9, offering both virtual and live attendance. “We are delighted to be able to inform our industry partners that we will be going ahead with WTM Africa as a hybrid event, incorporating the best characteristics of a live…
CemAir has applied for a licence to operate scheduled flights between Johannesburg and Lagos, Luanda, Lusaka, Ndola, Lubumbashi, Dar es Salaam, Maputo and Accra. Currently, CemAir operates only domestic routes on a scheduled basis, although it has operated and continues to operate charter flights into Africa. The airline joins Airlink in expanding its network into…
South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced last night in his State of the Nation Address that the restrictions for travellers from ‘high risk’ countries, based on a previous risk strategy, will fall away and international travel will open to all countries. Key factors of the President’s speech include: All International travel will resume subject to…
Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi has approved lifting of international travel restrictions in a phased manner, starting from next week. Government spokesperson Andrew Sesinyi on Friday said air travel will resume on Nov. 9 at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone, Kasane International Airport, and Maun International Airport before ground crossing resume on Dec. 1.…
The rule of six, mask wearing, even social distancing — the gorillas of Rwanda have seen it all. Because the 1,000 or so mountain gorillas are genetically so close to humans, they are also susceptible to Covid-19. The Rwandan government, which has done a commendable job preventing the spread of the disease among its 12…
For the second consecutive year, Seychelles receives the honor of being crowned Indian Ocean’s Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination for the 27th annual World Travel Awards. This year’s coronation propels once again, the archipelago of surreal natural beauty, to the pinnacles of the regional ecological spheres for 2020 against its island contenders Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius and Reunion Island.…
Twenty out of thirty-six international airlines that had suspended flights into Kenya due to the Covid-19 pandemic have resumed business since the August 1st, 2020 restart. Among the airlines that have resumed are Qatar Airways, Air France, Turkish Airlines, KLM Dutch Airlines, Air Arabia, British Airways, Fly Emirates, Lufthansa, Rwanda Air and Uganda Airlines, Precision…
Lufthansa will start the first test runs for comprehensive COVID-19 antigen rapid tests on selected flights between Munich and Hamburg on Thursday (November 12). The tests are run in close co-operation with Munich and Hamburg airports – as well as with the biotech companies Centogene and the Medicover Group’s medical care centre, MVZ Martinsried –…
Following Botswana’s opening of borders on Monday (November 9) for regional flights, Air Botswana has resumed flights to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport from Tuesday, November 10. Long-haul flights into the country remain suspended with the exception of charter flights. The carrier suspended flights in March due to the COVID pandemic. The airline will initially…
Giant squids are fantastical creatures that live in the crushing depths of the ocean and are rarely seen except in adventure books. But this winter in South Africa (which was summer in the United States), a baby giant squid washed up on a beach northwest of Cape Town. It lay there, its grey-pink tentacles spread…
Kenya has been ranked as Africa’s leading tourist destination in 2020 by the World Travel Awards (WTA). The country scooped the award for its “tantalising cocktail of epic savannah landscapes, immense herds of wildlife and palm-fringed beaches”. The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) won the Africa’s Leading Tourist Board award. Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Samburu National…
The Africa Albida Tourism team invites you to join us for a virtual networking event to discuss topics relevant to our awesome destination, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. This week we will be joined by Tich Tandi, Wild Horizons’ Sales and Marketing Manager, as we talk about planning the ideal trip, and making sure to include as many of the…
It is with great excitement that we confirm Pollman’s Tours & Safaris has been recognized for the following accolades at the World Travel Awards 2020. The award ceremony was held virtually this year and it is an honor and a privilege to announce that Pollman’s Tours and Safaris won Africa’s Leading Tour Operator for the 3rdconsecutive…
Jenman African Safaris would like to announce and invite our suppliers to our new private Facebook Group, “Tourism Connect”. This platform has been created for our safari specialists and consultants to provide them with an efficient channel of communication to our key suppliers where information may be swiftly exchanged. The Jenman Safaris team has been focusing…
Delta has told Tourism Update it has once again had to delay the launch of its flights to South Africa due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jimmy Eichelgruen, Delta’s Director of Sales for Africa, Middle East and India, said the delay was a result of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions…
Zulu Rock Lodge, set to open this month, is the second accommodation offering in the new Babanango Game Reserve in the north of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. The lodge offers views across the rolling hills of the reserve, which is home to a stretch of the White Umfolozi River and a wealth of wildlife species. With seven…
RwandAir will start flying to Cape Town via Harare from December 2. The Kigali-based airline suspended flights on March 20 when the Rwandan government closed airspace to combat the spread of COVID-19. A RwandAir spokesperson told Tourism Update: “Following the easing of travel restrictions, our three times a week service will resume, with flights operating on…
Extended stays, fewer stops, “travel bubbles” and upselling opportunities for travel consultants. These are just a few of the trends that experts predict for African safaris in the Covid-19 era. Craig Beal, owner Travel Beyond, said he received a lot of bookings for last-minute safaris. “All travelers so far have been blown away by how private the…
Kenya has been named Africa’s leading golfing destination at the seventh Annual World Golf Awards Gala Ceremony held in the United Arab Emirates. Kenya scooped the award ahead of South Africa, Egypt and Morocco with the trophy rewarding excellence in golf tourism, courses and golf destinations. At the same time, Karen Country Club was celebrated…
The Sogecoa Golden Peacock hotel officially opened on 23rd October, 2020 in Blantyre at a colorful event presided over by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Malawi, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera. Speaking at the event, the President emphasized that tourism is the critical driver of the economy in the New Malawi. In that regard,…
The Kenya Tourism Board has unveiled a new ‘Magical Kenya’ sub-brand targeting the Coast region. The new brand has seven unique sub-brands of its own themed around different areas at the Coast; including Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu, Tana River, Diani, Watamu and Tsavo. The introduction of the new brands was seen as a boost to the…