Qatar and Airlink Sign Codeshare Agreement

Qatar Airways and Airlink have signed a comprehensive new codeshare agreement to offer travellers greater connectivity between 45 destinations in 13 countries across southern Africa and the rest of the world. Now, connecting flights can be purchased on both airlines using a single reservation with seamless ticketing, check-in, boarding and baggage-check for the entire journey.…

SAA Closes US Office

As previously communicated, South African Airways will close its North America Regional Office in Fort Lauderdale, effective June 30,2022. For over 50 years, South African Airways has maintained a strong presence in North America in building and supporting partnerships with customers, the travel trade, tourism organizations, and community affiliations. As our general sales agent in…

Karisoke Research Center’s New Home in Rwanda

Founded in 1967 by Dian Fossey, the Karisoke research camp was built in the forested area between mount karisimbi and Mount Bisoke to study the endangered Mountain Gorillas. The Name Karisoke comes from a combination of the two beautiful Volcanoes’ names (karisimbi and Bisoke) in Rwanda. In the 1990s, a research center was established and named…

Immersive Bush Courses with EcoTraining

You may long to experience a day in the life and work of a safari guide or you may be an avid conservationist who wants to know more about ecosystems, the web of life and all that makes up Mother Nature. At EcoTraining, you can live whatever your African dream might be during educational, adventurous…

Limited Seats Available for Photography Master Class

Acclaimed wildlife photographer and conservationist Pie Aerts is hosting a 10-day photography expedition to Amboseli and Masai Mara in Kenya from October 23-31. Aerts will escort the group through two of his favorite corners of Africa — Kitirua Conservancy in Amboseli and the Mara North Conservancy in the Masai Mara. This group of like-minded people…

Zambia Welcomes ‘The Urban Hotel’ to Lusaka

Located in the diplomatic area of Lusaka: where Kabulonga, Ibex Hill, and Woodlands intersect, the 75-key hotel is conveniently positioned around some of Lusaka’s finest commercial centers; and 30mins away from the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport. The hotel has 4 room categories. The categories being Standard rooms, Business class rooms, lofts and Executive rooms.  It’s a full-service hotel…

Kenya Reinstates Indoor Mask Mandate

Kenya Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe is urging caution in the wake of new COVID-19 infections in the East African nation, and has reinstated the country’s indoor mask mandate. This applies to all closed or confined spaces, such as in public-service vehicles, aircraft, offices, supermarkets, and places of worship. “This sharp rise in numbers of new infections…

Tourism Windfall As ‘Royal Tour’ Film Brings the World to Tanzania

Tanzania’s Royal Tour film content, its strategic premiere USA market and timing have started paying dividends in terms of commanding significant traffic of tourists. Produced by Peter Greenberg, the maiden film featuring President Samia Suluhu Hassan, as his key guide—showcasing Tanzania’s rich cultural, wildlife heritage and array of investment opportunities through her leadership eye, was launched…

United Increases Service to Cape Town

UNITED Airlines is investing more and more precious seat capacity into South Africa, specifically Cape Town, which Regional Director Sales, Bob Schumacher, agrees is a reflection of both North Americans’ insatiable appetite for the destination and pent-up demand for travel to the US. United expanded its Cape Town-New York/Newark service to year-round this week. In SA…

Rwanda Appoints New Chief Tourism Officer

The Rwandan Cabinet has appointed Michaella Rugwizangoga as the new Chief Tourism Officer for the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). She brings a wide range of expertise related to strategic planning, project management and product development to the tourism development team. The Council member of the World Economic Forum has previously served as the CEO of Volkswagen Mobility…

FlySafair’s Regional Aspirations

FlySafair has revealed plans for expansion, including the addition of eight new aircraft to its fleet (five in the short term). The carrier voiced its hopes too, of more regional routes. Comair’s departure from the market has created a supply vacuum, with about 40% of seat capacity lost overnight. FlySafair says this opens opportunities for…

Mobile Camp Launches in Togoro

Newmark Hotels’ Serengeti Sojourn Mobile Camp has announced a new location for its second home. After years of opening in Tanzania’s Lobo region every June, the luxury mobile camp is now making Togoro 1 (there are three camps in the area) its second home base for the month. The Serengeti Sojourn Mobile Camp has a…

APTA’s Explore Africa Webinar on South Africa is TODAY!

Click Here to Register – https://t.e2ma.net/click/gqlvzo/wq078n/01bfovb Session 3: Spring Back to South Africa! Regions covered: Southern Africa Corporate Member Presenters: South Africa Tourism & Springbok Atlas Date: Thursday, June 9th Time: 2PM New York time  The APTA Executive Board is excited to host Session 3 of 3 in our Explore Africa Webinar Series. We are thrilled to have Springbok Atlas and South African Tourism join us for this…

Tanzania Renovates National Parks Roads

Tanzanian authorities have renovated 2 000km of roads in 22 national parks as the country braces for an influx of tourists following the decline of the COVID-19 pandemic, says an official. According to reports, Francis Michael, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, said the roads were renovated using funds given by…

Miracle Elephant Twins Born in Kenya

The Kenya Wildlife Service, which conserves and manages the diverse wildlife of the East African nation, tweeted that yesterday morning (June 7) an extremely rare and special birth happened in Aberdare National Park. Twin baby elephants were safely introduced to the world, bringing the total number of known living sets of elephant twins in the…

The New Urban Hotel Opens in Lusaka, Zambia

The Urban Lusaka is a 75-key boutique hotel set in the diplomatic area where Kabulonga, Leopards Hill and Woodlands meet.  Only 30 minutes from Kenneth Kaunda International airport and convenient to Lusaka’s commercial centers, this architecturally exciting property has become an instant Lusaka landmark.  Known as an ‘art hotel’, The Urban Hotel features ArtSpace, an…

Relaunch South Africa: Level Up On Luxury Travel

From spine-tingling wildlife encounters to legendary landscapes and a whole lot of wine, we can’t say enough about South Africa – it really does seem to have it all. With luxury travellers itching for something new, we hosted an exclusive ‘Relaunch South Africa’ trip in March for our US trade partners. Our goal was to showcase…

2023 – The New Era of Travel

Over the last 2+ years, the world has changed. Countries, economies, political realities, social structures, and personal opinions on various issues have permanently altered. But one thing has not changed – the basic human desire to travel, to explore, to define the world around us as we live and breathe. We invite you to our…

Comair Suspends All Flights

Comair has announced the abrupt suspension of all its flights, both kulula and British Airways operated by Comair. The suspension took effect yesterday evening (Tuesday, May 31). Sales of tickets on both carriers have also been suspended. The airline says the suspension is in force while it secures additional funding. In a media release issued…

Kenya to Cap Tourist Numbers During ‘High Season’

Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife plans to implement several interventions – including reducing the number of visitors and increasing park fees – to curb high season overcrowding in some of its national parks and to encourage travel throughout the year. This is in response to growing concerns regarding the impact that overcrowding of safari vehicles and…

New Airline KuvaAir to Link Zimbabwe Destinations

A new airline, KuvaAir – operated by Zimbabwe-based Executive Air – is set to connect tourism destinations in Zimbabwe, and will launch its inaugural Harare-Hwange-Victoria Falls flight on June 1. This is according to reports from Zimbabwe’s state-owned newspaper, The Herald. The Herald reports that KuvaAir will operate flights linking Harare, Kariba, Victoria Falls and Hwange on…

SAA Welcomes AVIAREPS as General Sales Agent

South African Airways welcomes AVIAWORLD (AVIAREPS JV), a global leader in tourism and airline representation, as their general sales agent in North America. Effective immediately, AVIAREPS will be assuming responsibilities for all sales and marketing representation for South African Airways in the U.S. and Canada. South African Airways, together with AVIAREPS, look forward to continuing…