Zimbabwe has extended the level four COVID-19 lockdown by a further two weeks until March 1. President Emmerson Mnangagwa noted that while the national lockdown goals were now within reach, the numbers of active cases and deaths were still high. “Since the implementation of the current lockdown, which ended on February 15, we have witnessed a marked…
There are few places in the world as beautiful, or as vulnerable as the Outer Islands of Seychelles. While the archipelago in the western Indian Ocean is made up of 115 islands, its 72 Outer Islands are undoubtedly its most remote and preserved locations. Situated at distances ranging from 60 minutes to two and half…
Twenty South African land borders that have been closed for more a month, have re-opened today. This past Saturday, cabinet gave the go-ahead for the reopening for these border posts: Source: Department of Home Affairs South Africa’s land borders have been closed since 11 January after large traveller volumes caused massive bottlenecks, particularly at the Beitbridge border with…
Zimbabwe will roll out the COVID-19 vaccine this week, targeting frontline workers and others from the essential services first, according to President, Emmerson Mnangagwa. The first batch of 200 000 COVID-19 vaccines arrived from China on Monday (February 15). “The faster our country is protected against this virus, the faster Zimbabwe’s economy can flourish,” said Mnangagwa.…
The South African government on Tuesday launched a 1.2-billion-rand (79.4-million-U.S.-dollar) fund to support the tourism sector amid the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic. The Tourism Equity Fund will be used in particular to help facilitate “the participation of black entrants, women and persons with disabilities,” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in the virtual launch of the…
We are delighted to announce that Elewana Loisaba Lodo Springs has reopened! And due to popular demand, Elewana Loisaba Star Beds is now open for the months of February and March, along with the Easter holidays. With increasing demand for wide open spaces, there is nothing more liberating than sleeping under a sparkling Kenyan night sky. This February, there…
Get the opportunity to preserve wildlife and enjoy living on a 96 400ha (240 000-acre) big-5 private game reserve in the Kalahari Desert. This new project offers a true perspective of the problems facing African Wildlife and allows guests to give something back to the continent’s conservation efforts in one of the continent’s last remaining…
As we look towards a period of tourism recovery, we want to support our partners in every way possible. With this in mind we have taken the decision to freeze rates for 2022 at Elewana properties. The rate freeze in Kenya and Tanzania is in effect for all of 2022 but unfortunately, our rates in…
Kenyan charter airline Fly-SAX is buying SA Express for R50 million, Parliament has been told on Wednesday. The East African airline has already paid R24,7 milion of the purchase price. SA Express has been in provisional liquidation since April 2020. One of the provisional liquidators of SA Express, Aviwe Ndyamara, has been briefing Parliament’s select committee on…
Hilton has just announced two new properties in the Seychelles, one of which sounds like it could be incredible. This is in addition to the recent announcement of the Mango House Seychelles, which is a new LXR Hilton property. Waldorf Astoria Platte Island Seychelles This is without a doubt the more exciting addition, even though details are limited…
Gorilla trekking in Africa just got a bit more difficult, at least for the short term. Rwanda last week announced new measures to fight the recent rise of COVID-19 cases. These adopted resolutions will be applied immediately and will continue through Feb. 22, at which time the situation will be reviewed. The most important updates…
South African airline FlySafair will be introducing a Johannesburg to Mauritius route once the two countries’ borders reopen. “This is indeed good news for both the Mauritius and South African tourism industries and will provide many exciting opportunities and collaborations going forward. While the travel ban is still in place, South Africa remains one of…
RwandAir plans to start flights from Kigali to New York (JFK) via Accra, in a bid to boost the airline’s recovery post-COVID. The national carrier said in a statement that it had applied to the US Department of Transportation to provide passenger and cargo flights between Rwanda and the US. Subject to regulatory approval, the…
Loisaba Conservancy has been granted permission by the Kenya Wildlife Service to establish the nation’s newest Rhino Sanctuary and reintroduce Eastern Black Rhino to an area where they used to roam. For a half century, rhinos were absent from Loisaba because they were poached out in the early 1970’s. Now, after 50 years, the return…
The ongoing ban on direct flights from South Africa to the UK has resulted in Virgin Atlantic extending the suspension of its South African services until the end of February. “We are keeping a close eye on updates from the UK with regard to the imposed travel restrictions. There is, regretfully, currently no end date…
Gonarezhou National Park in the south-east of Zimbabwe will be closed until the end of February for rehabilitation and maintenance, including roads that were damaged during heavy rains last year. Camps in the park – Mananga Camps, Chinguli and Chilojo Bushcamp – that closed at the end of November, are scheduled to reopen at the…
EcoTraining is launching a new two-month tracking course in 2021 that includes modules revolving around monitoring rhinos, lions and leopards in the wild. 55-Day EcoTracker: Wildlife Monitoring will take place at Selati and Pridelands game reserves in South Africa. “It’s a first for Africa, and we think it will be a very sought-after course,” says EcoTraining…
How’d you fancy three visits to Tanzania over the coming weeks? Well, the good news is that we’re running a series of virtual FAM trips to talk Nomad camps, safari experiences and hidden gems. We will be covering each safari circuit in Tanzania and we’ll be joined by a pack of very special guests along the way.…
President Lazarus Chakwera says his government will begin vaccinating Malawians against COVID-19 in early March. Addressing the nation on Sunday, President Chakwera says the first consignment of the vaccine would arrive in Malawi in February; with doctors among the 20 percent cohort prioritised to get the drug. Meanwhile, the president urged citizens to stop spreading…
The Seychelles is now welcoming all travelers who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to visit the country. The announcement follows the launch of the destination’s national immunization campaign, which includes plans to vaccinate most of its adult population by March. A valid vaccination certificate is required by all visitors for entry and at least two weeks must have passed…
Zimbabwe has extended the level four national COVID-19 lockdown by a further two weeks until February 15 following a spike in COVID-19 infections and deaths. Acting President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Constantino Chiwenga, said the level four lockdown – which came into force on January 5 – had stabilised the situation, with…
The launch of RwandAir’s new service to the Central African Republic is part of the carrier’s recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as it opens up new markets and destinations. The Kigali-based airline will fly to Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic, twice a week from February 3, with flights operating on Wednesdays and Sundays. Tagged to the existing route…
The Blue Train announced that it would resume full operations this month, after a temporary shutdown in December, and a partial offering in January. “We are happy that, as the year begins, we are back on track, offering the best of African luxury rail experience,” said Lekhetho Mokoena, Operations Manager of The Blue Train. In line…
Ethiopian Airlines and CemAir are implementing an interline agreement that will allow passengers to travel seamlessly with a single ticket between points within the carriers’ networks. “Ethiopian Airlines is a strong partner and, with the significant changes in the South African airline industry, we look forward to working closely with it as we expand our…
Coffee is a widely consumed beverage all over the world and in Uganda, a country that also lists it as one of its main cash crops. The hilly and mountainous areas in the east are ideal for its growth. Kapchorwa in eastern Uganda is one of the many places where Arabica coffee favourably grows. From…
Join our General Manager, Anald Musonza, Wendy Bourne, Kathryn Monaco and the AAT Sales Team live on Friday, February 5th at 9:00am EST to learn about new initiatives and get the latest updates from Victoria Falls. To register please contact Kathryn@pscincrepresentation.com or click on: https://mailchi.mp/africaalbida/exploring-vic-falls-with-africa-albida-tourism-9639922?e=be2c2631e3
President Joe Biden is expected to block travel for non-United States citizens who have recently visited South Africa as the spread of a new and concerning coronavirus variant has been detected. The ban is to begin on Saturday. Biden will also reinstate a ban on most travel from the United Kingdom, many countries in Europe,…
Uganda is conducting clinical trials of a domestically developed drug to cure COVID-19 infections after nearly a year of research by Ugandan scientists, the government said on Wednesday. Uganda has confirmed 39,188 COVID-19 cases and 318 deaths – a much lower toll than in most countries. Experts attribute the East African country’s relative success so…
Emirates will increase its weekly flights to Zimbabwe and Zambia from February. The airline, which has recorded a gradual increase in travel on the Dubai-Harare-Lusaka route, said frequency would be increased from three flights a week to four. The fourth flight will operate on Wednesdays, using a Boeing 777-300ER. This complements its current Friday, Saturday and…
For their 33rd annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey, Conde Nast readers leaned in heavily into nostalgia. With travel largely on pause this year, it seems what they may have missed most was a coveted beach vacation where they could get away from it all. Whether you’re looking for a calm stretch of sand in the Caribbean or a family-friendly…
Airlink will resume scheduled air services to and from Skukuza Airport in the Kruger National Park, with effect from Thursday, January 28. The airport was temporarily closed on January 14, after a local outbreak of COVID-19 in the nearby Lower Sabie rest camp. A media release said Airlink flights would operate on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays…
Qatar Airways has signed an interline agreement with Mango, further expanding its presence in South Africa. The agreement with Mango will provide passengers with connectivity via Johannesburg and Cape Town to Zanzibar, and Durban, Port Elizabeth, George, Bloemfontein and East London in South Africa. “Mango Airlines is delighted to announce an interline e-ticketing agreement between…
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our very own private charter company based out of Lewa Wilderness. Air Wilderness will offer charter flights in to any part of Kenya you wish to travel to. Our charter flights are completely private giving you the quickest access from any of Kenya’s main entry points direct to…
A walking safari with legendary guide Steve Bolnick through two of Zimbabwe’s iconic wildlife areas is not just a walk in the park. Our last two Safari Planning sessions are an invitation extended to awake the wild wanderer, rouse the traveller and curate the curiosity which feeds our wanderlust – our Walking Wild Mana Pools & Hwange itinerary…
With immediate effect, Seychelles will be welcoming vaccinated visitors from any part of the world. Vaccinated Visitors: To be recognized as “vaccinated”, visitors must be able to show that they have taken the complete dose of the vaccine i.e., two doses plus 2 weeks after the second dose for the four vaccines currently receiving heavy media…
Mozambique has instituted a lockdown with effect from today, Friday, January 15. Beaches must close, along with casinos, nightclubs, bars, gymnasiums, cinemas, theatres, museums and galleries. President Filipe Nyusi announced new restrictive measures for 21 days, to combat the spread of the pandemic. Other measures are: All commercial establishments must close at 18h00. No private events, including…
Emirates has announced the suspension of its flights between Dubai and South Africa, with effect from Saturday, January 16. Flights are expected to resume on January 28. The last three flights from Dubai to South Africa will be on Friday, January 15. EK772 will depart Dubai at 02h50 and arrive in Cape Town at 10h35.…
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo has reopened nature reserves, with adequate access control measures in place. According to a statement made on the organisation’s Facebook page, the following reserves have reopened in line with current COVID-19 regulations: Kloofendal Municipal Nature Reserve in Roodepoort Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve in Johannesburg South Rietfontein Nature Reserve in Sandton Beaulieu Bird…
Land and Lake Safaris, one of Malawi’s most reputable tour operators, has created a new initiative that helps preserve the country’s beautiful hotspots, supports local communities, and encourages tourism – a Picnic Sites Project. Land and Lake Safaris regularly run guided tours across Malawi and something that has become clear is that guests often like…
Taking place February 1-3, 2021 and February 22-24, 2021 on digital screens across the world, the Africa’s Eden Travel Trade Show is an interactive three-day virtual conference featuring 65+ destination partners from across the Kaza region and tour operators and travel buyers from the Americas. You can see a list of participating exhibitors here. Qualified…
The Dzalanyama Forest Reserve, close to Lilongwe, provides both international and domestic tourists an experience different from Malawi’s more famous lake, national parks and mountains: a hilly Brachystegia/miombo forest escape that is great for walking, forest bathing, trekking and mountain biking as well as being a premier woodland birding location. Its distinctive ecosystem attracts both animal…
Nigeria’s air transport is set to experience a revolution as a proposed low-cost carrier – Green Africa Airways – is set to commence operations. It has already reached the final stage of certification. Regulatory sources hinted that promoters of the carrier are putting finishing touches to secure the Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) from the Nigerian…
Kenya’s electronic visa (eVisa) came into effect this month and is mandatory for visitors from all applicable countries. Principal Secretary in the Kenyan Ministry of Home Affairs, Alexander Mukeshi Imbenzi, said in a statement that implementation was timely as it eliminated the need for physical contact between applicants and officials as well as reducing the handling of…
South Africa says it will import 1.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to inoculate the country’s health workers. This is South Africa’s first announcement of the purchase of a COVID-19 vaccine as its cases soar. The first 1 million doses will be delivered later this month from the Serum Institute of India, followed by an additional…
Wesgro has appointed Monika Iuel as its new chief marketing officer. David Maynier, Western Cape Minister of finance and economic opportunities comments: “We welcome Monika Iuel to the team. With the tourism industry hard-hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, we are grateful to have someone of her calibre and experience on the team to promote Cape…
Four of the singer’s six kids were born in the African nation before she adopted them. David Banda, 15, Mercy James, 14 and eight-year-old twin girls Stella and Estere were all born there. Madonna, 62, also shares Lourdes, 24, with former personal trainer Carlos Leon, and Rocco, 20, with ex-husband and film director Guy Ritchie.…
Classic Africa Safaris is pleased to announce that the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has confirmed the birth of a baby gorilla in the Nkuringo family in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. On January 4th, the Nkuringo family’s adult female, Nderema, gave birth to a baby bringing the family size to 12 members. This birth marks…
As part of the new measures enforced and effective immediately, visitors already in Seychelles will be required to remain in one accommodation establishment for the first ten days of their stay in the destination and this measure extends to all new visitors entering Seychelles as of Sunday, January 3, 2020. No transfer of accommodation will…
Prospective South African airline, Webclift Airways, has ambitious plans. The start-up is yet to get planes, its air operator’s certificate and is seeking further funding. But already, Webclift Airways is eyeing flights between Johannesburg and Miami sometime in 2022. According to the airline’s website, Webclift Airways wants to operate international services in and out of…
British Airways will suspend its direct flights between Durban and London as part of a network reduction due to the impact of COVID-19. Durban-Heathrow is just one of 13 destinations earmarked for suspension. “Coronavirus is having a major impact on customer travel. Like other airlines, due to the pandemic and global travel restrictions, we are…