Malawi to Drop PCR Tests for Vaxxed Pax

The Malawian Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, has announced that all incoming travellers that are fully vaccinated and have a digital vaccination certificate will no longer be required to produce a COVID-19 PCR certificate to enter the country from June 1. Unvaccinated travellers, or travellers who do not have a valid electronically verifiable COVID-19 full…

Limpopo Opens First National Botanical Garden

The launch of the Thohoyandou National Botanical Garden by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, took place on Sunday (May 22), the International Day for Biodiversity. The South African National Botanical Institute (SANBI) said the official declaration of the Thohoyandou National Botanical Garden was important, as it was the first national botanical…

Ethiopian Increases South America Flights

Ethiopian Airlines is to add a Friday flight from Addis Ababa to São Paulo and Buenos Aires from July 1, reports Simple Flying. The flight currently operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The flights stop at São Paulo before continuing to Buenos Aires. The full schedule is as follows: ET 506 departs Addis Ababa at 10:05…

Featured Webinar: Tanzania’s Northern Circuit

Discover the iconic safari destinations of Tanzania’s Northern safari circuit, including the baobab dotted Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ngorongoro Crater and an overview of the world-renowned Serenget with this APTA Featured Webinar! https://apta.biz/webinars/tanzanias-northern-circuit/

Easier Flight Access to Bazaruto Island Resort

Guests have access to a wider variety of travel options when staying at Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort. LAM has begun flying directly between Johannesburg and Vilanculos, with two flights a week, the LAM flights from OR Tambo International Airport to Vilanculos are scheduled to arrive at 13h10. Guests will then be able to take a complimentary…

Auric Air – 2 Crew Operations

2 Crew Operations Auric Air Services Ltd is pleased to announce the introduction of a “2-crew operation” on its entire route network. After operating its fleet of single crew designed C208Bs on single-pilot standard operating procedures for over 170,000 flight hours, covering a distance that could take you around the world 1,180 times, Auric Air…

Uganda & Rwanda Covid Guidelines Update (May)

June is almost here; It’s that time of the year traditionally known as High travel season. International Airports, local Airstrips, hotels and resorts will will get busy again after over two years of no much travel. Over the Years BC (Before Covid), the major items on the checklist as you prepared for travel were a…

It’s (Bargain) Hunting Season in East Africa

Guests who book a minimum of three nights at any Elewana Collection safari property in the Kenya or Tanzania bush and combine it with a three-night stay at Kilindi Zanzibar are entitled to a 25% discount on the Kilindi rates. This extraordinary Bush & Beach Package is available through the year — even during the high season…

3 Reasons to Take Your Kids on Safari

Take a break from the city and screens, and dive into the natural playground of Matatane Camp, where your kids can get active and let their imaginations run wild!  Matatane Camp is a great weekend getaway where families can shut out the outside world and immerse themselves in magical outdoor experiences. Hiking, game viewing, mountain…

Why Visit Uganda?

Ever found yourself in a difficult situation looking for reasons as to why you must travel to a particular destination? Ever thought so hard why you should recommend that specific country? One doesn’t need a lot of persuasion or think so hard before choosing Uganda as a destination of choice. Uganda’s based Destination Management Company, Adventure Consults, shares…

New Wild Dog Pack for Namibia

PRESS RELEASE New Wild Dog Pack for Mabula   JOHANESBURG MAY 16, 2022 – Mabula Private Game Reserve is proud to announce the exciting new wild dog introduction on the reserve. The recent arrival of two male wild dogs in 2021 resulted in great excitement from the Mabula team. A newly formed pack of 4…

US Escalates SA’s COVID-19 Risk Level

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has added five countries to its list of Level 3 ‘high risk’ travel destinations for COVID this week. The five new countries are South Africa, Lesotho, Antigua and Barbuda, and Taiwan. South Africa was previously on Level 2 and Lesotho on Level 1. New omicron sub…

Bicycle Tourism Rises in Tanzania

Tanzania National Parks’ (TANAPA) recently introduced bicycle tourism saw 27 cyclists reach the top of the 4 566m-high Mount Meru in the north of the country. The cyclists, including both tour operators and tourists, completed their attempt to conquer Africa’s fifth highest mountain in three days. Speaking at the foot of Mount Meru, Albert Mziray, Assistant Commissioner…

Delta Doubles its JNB Flights

Delta Air Lines has announced that it will take its Johannesburg frequency from three to six flights a week, with effect from May 25. A Delta spokesperson told Tourism Update the additional flights had been for sale for some time. “We are seeing significant demand for travel between South Africa and the US from both points of…

350 Global Agents Attend We Are Africa

The luxury travel brand show, We Are Africa – organised by This is Beyond, hosted by the City of Cape Town and headlined by South African Tourism – has drawn approximately 700 people to the DHL Stadium in Cape Town this week. The four day show, which kicked off yesterday, includes participation by 320 exhibitors…

Eswatini Air Set to Take to the Skies

The Kingdom of Eswatini Government and Airlink have agreed to dissolve their joint-venture airline business, Eswatini Airlink, which will cease operations from June 1. Airlink and the Kingdom’s new national carrier, Eswatini Air, will then provide scheduled air services between Johannesburg and King Mswati III International Airport. Eswatini Airlink currently operates multiple daily services between…

Kruger National Park Set for Revamp

SANParks has begun its three-year R370m upgrade and refurbishment programme in the Kruger National Park. Funds for the infrastructure upgrade were obtained predominantly from an Infrastructure Development Programme and allocated to SANParks from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment. “The decline in tourist revenues under COVID-19 has impacted our revenue but the need to…

Paragliders Return to Ghana

Every Easter weekend, thousands of people from around the world flock to the quiet Ghanaian towns of Kwahu and Atibie for a paragliding festival and Easter carnival that residents hope may establish the West African nation as a hub for extreme sports. This year marked the festival’s return to its annual schedule after the Covid-19 pandemic forced…

WildEarth LIVE Safaris with EcoTraining

Please take note that EcoTraining have created a dedicated page on our website for the purpose of streaming our WildEarth live stream safaris, this replaces the two short live stream we previously had on our social media pages. Agents can now refer clients to this dedicated page on the EcoTraining website to enjoy WildEarth safaris. Viewers…

Indaba Declared a ‘Resounding Success’

Africa’s Travel Indaba 2022 exceeded expectations and the organisers – South African Tourism, Durban Tourism and Tourism KwaZulu Natal  (TKZN) – are optimistic that the 2023 event will be bigger, better and even more meaningful. “Now that stakeholders in the African tourism sector have seen what we can do, we can only grow from here,”…

Indaba Kicks Off with 625 Buyers and 20,000 Meetings

Close to 625 buyers are attending Africa’s Travel Indaba 2022, which kicked off yesterday (Monday, May 2) at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre & Durban Exhibition Centre in Durban, KwaZulu Natal. Over 20 000 meetings have been confirmed on the matchmaking diary system, matching the right buyers with the right exhibitors. An upbeat Themba Khumalo, South…

Kenya Airways Reinstates Madagascar Flights

Kenya Airways has reinstated flights from Nairobi to Antananarivo, following the lifting of travel restrictions by Madagascar. The airline resumed flights on April 25, operating on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The service also connects in Nairobi with flights to Paris, Johannesburg, Dubai, Amsterdam, London, Mumbai, Dar es Salaam, Accra, Abidjan, and Dakar. Flight KQ256 will…

Luxury Safari Camp to Open in Hwange

A new luxury tented camp, Camp Chitubu, will open on June 1 in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. The camp is built on a ridge overlooking a waterhole that attracts a huge variety of wildlife. Six spacious Bedouin-style tented guest rooms sleep two adults in twin or double beds with an option for kids. Each…

Uganda Airlines to Launch UK Flights

Uganda Airlines will launch direct flights between Entebbe International Airport and London Heathrow from November. According to Rahim Shakila Lamar, the airline’s Corporate Affairs and Public Relations Manager, flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Lamar said timings would be announced at a later date after consideration of other flights feeding into the London route.…

Serengeti River Lodge to Reopen in June

Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge, in the &Beyond portfolio, lies on the banks of a tributary of the Grumeti River in the remote western reaches of the Serengeti, is to reopen on June 6. There are very few lodges in this section of the park, and guests can expect the ultimate in exclusivity, says &Beyond. There…

First Destination Spa in Victoria Falls to Open Soon

Africa Albida is thrilled to announce that they are building Victoria Falls’ largest and first purpose-built spa, which is scheduled to open in October, and is set to place Zimbabwe’s top tourist attraction on the map as a wellness destination. This development, to be named Victoria Falls Safari Spa, comes as Victoria Falls is experiencing a much more rapid…

Nairobi Hilton to Shut Down After 53 Years

The iconic Hilton Hotel located in the Nairobi central business district (CBD) will shut down after 53 years of operation. The Standard understands that several staff members will lose jobs following the decision, which has already been communicated to the Kenya Tourism Board. The Five-Star hotel began operations in the capital city on December 7,…