Airlink Connects Beira Mozambique to Johannesburg

Starting April 2022 Airlink offers five weekly flights to Beira in Mozambique with quick access to Gorongosa National Park in the Great Rift Valley. The convenient flights from Johannesburg allow for a memorable African bush safari. Airlink flights are scheduled to provide convenient connections with its domestic and regional services as well as with long-haul…

New National Carrier Coming to Nigeria

Nigeria, the West African nation, will soon have a new national airline. Nigeria Air is due to make its scheduled flight by the middle of 2022. Let’s look at the planned airline, its operations and investigate how it intends to transform commercial aviation throughout Nigeria and beyond. A new Nigerian national carrier Nigeria is once again…

South Africa Revises COVID Protocols

The South African government has announced amendments to their Covid19 protocols, effective 23 March. This has positive effects for both South Africans travelling, and incoming international visitors.  If you’re arriving in South Africa soon, here are a few changes to be aware of Fully vaccinated travellers arriving into South Africa no longer require a negative…

Marriott to Enter Lodge Business in Kenya

Marriott International has signed an agreement with Baraka Lodges as its entry into the safari segment of the market in Africa. The JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge will be located within the Mara National Reserve in the south east of Kenya, one of Africa’s most renowned wildlife conservation and wilderness regions. It expects to welcome…

Botswana Relaxes COVID-19 Requirements

Botswana has eased Covid-19 requirements for foreigners wishing to enter the country, with those fully vaccinated against the virus now allowed to entry without needing to undergo mandatory testing at the border or airport. The Ministry of Health and Wellness said with effect from this past weekend, all those who have completed the required shots…

Safari Legend Nicky Fitzgerald To Retire

One of the most famous names in the safari industry, Nicky Fitzgerald, is to retire after an adventure-filled 40-year career. She is handing over the reins of Angama to its co-founder, the current COO, Steve Mitchell. This will take effect on July 1. The Fitzgeralds took over the Arniston Hotel in 1982 and since then, Nicky has…

Fastjet Launches Flights Connecting Victoria Falls with Kruger National Park

Fastjet Zimbabwe today launched flights from Zimbabwe’s tourism capital, Victoria Falls, to South Africa’s Mbombela Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, which serves the Kruger National Park and other nearby wildlife reserves. The schedule services operate three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays using a 50-seater Embraer ERJ145 aircraft. Flights depart VFA at 10h30, arriving…

Namibia Drops PCR Tests for Vaccinated Arrivals

Namibia has relaxed COVID-19 measures and scrapped the requirement of a 72-hour negative PCR test result for vaxxed arrivals. Namibian President, Hage Geingob, said on Tuesday (March 15) that the new public health regulations would come into effect from midnight on March 16 until April 15. Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula, said fully vaccinated…

Uganda Maintains Gorilla Permit Price

The new Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) conservation tariff has been published and will come into force on 1st July 2022. The tariff will be valid until June 2024 thus for a period of 2 years. The official UWA tariff was shared with Adventure Consults sales team on 12th March 2022. There are a number of eye-catching areas…

Rwanda Reopens All Borders and Ends Curfew

Since March 5, the following entry regulations apply for entry into Rwanda. All travellers must have a negative COVID-19 certificate – the only accepted test result is that of a PCR test performed in the 72 hours prior to departure. Other tests, such as Rapid Diagnostics Tests (RDTs), are not accepted. The test certificate is…

Zimbabwe Opens All Borders

With effect from last Friday, March 4, travellers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 may now travel into Zimbabwe across all land borders. Zimbabwe press report that the government has now put in place the necessary legal instruments in line with the latest Cabinet decision on the matter (taken two weeks ago) following the gazetting…

Indaba Registration Now Open

Exhibitor registration has opened for Africa’s Travel Indaba 2022 – held at Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre from May 2 to 5. Hosted buyer registration will open on Thursday, March 10. “Africa’s Travel Indaba is back with renewed energy and focus on creating a platform for the recovery of our industry. As the…

New Gorilla Educational Evenings Launched in Rwanda with Dian Fossey’s Former Colleagues

Rwanda operator Travulous has announced their new educational evenings in Rwanda which offer the chance to meet the former research colleagues of legendary gorilla primatologist, Dian Fossey. These exclusive Dian Fossey-inspired Events are designed to be either a specialist afternoon or evening activity that will easily slot into any one of your existing or forthcoming client itineraries.…

Etihad Returns to Zanzibar

Abu Dhabi-based airline, Etihad Airways, has announced that it will return to Zanzibar, Tanzania, from mid-June for the summer season. Flights will operate three times a week on Fridays, Tuesdays and Sundays. Flight EY637 will depart Abu Dhabi at 23h50 and arrive in Zanzibar at 04h40 the next day. The return flight EY638 will depart…

Airlink will Launch New Direct Service Between Durban and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)

Airlink’s flights on this route will commence on April 04, 2022 and will operate daily excluding Saturdays by modern Embraer Regional Jets. Airlink’s great value fares include a 20kg free economy class checked-in luggage allowance plus a 15kg sporting equipment allowance. Onboard, customers are treated to a complimentary light meal, refreshments, comfort with generous leg…

Wild Dog Puppies Spotted in Malawi

In July 2021, eight African wild dogs were successfully translocated to Liwonde National Park in Malawi. We are delighted to announce that after seven months establishing themselves in their new environment, pups have now been seen by visitors and caught on camera! Six weeks after the pack, composed of five males and three females, arrived…

Akagera Safari Camp to Open in Rwanda

A new camp, Akagera Safari Camp, is set to open in Akagera National Park, in Rwanda’s Great Lakes region. Martin Chege, Reservations Manager of 3B Group of Hotels, told Tourism Update that construction was ongoing and was expected to be complete in July. The camp will have 30 rooms and is expected to welcome guests in August.…

SAA Signs Long Awaited Deal

The Department of Public Enterprise (DPE) has finally signed an agreement for the sale of 51% of SAA to strategic equity partner, Takatso Consortium, says the Ministry in the Presidency following a Cabinet meeting on February 23. The signing took place after eight months of negotiations between the two parties, due diligence and evaluation by the…

IATA Posts Positive Forecast for Air Pax Numbers

Iata expects overall air traveller numbers to reach four billion in 2024 (counting multi-sector connecting trips as one passenger), exceeding pre-COVID-19 levels (103% of the 2019 total). “The trajectory for the recovery in passenger numbers from COVID-19 was not changed by the Omicron variant. People want to travel. And when travel restrictions are lifted, they…

Elewana Invests in East Africa’s Future

The Elewana Collection has boosted its investment in the future of East African tourism by creating two new educational curriculums at its safari resorts in Kenya and Tanzania. The Elewana Service Training & Hospitality School at The Manor Ngorongoro will recruit trainees from colleges around Tanzania for a 3.5-month intensive course that covers service training, housekeeping, food…

What People Are Saying About Babanango

The first reviews on South Africa’s newest game reserve are in. And they’re pretty boffo! See what the first batch of visitors had to say on the TripAdvisor website about their experience and adventures at Babanango. Heaven on Earth “Babanango Game Reserve is going to be one of the top 3 reserves in South Africa, from the landscape…

Indaba Prep in Full-Swing

Last week, South African Tourism met with its bid partners for Africa’s Travel Indaba – including Durban Tourism, Tourism KwaZulu Natal and the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban – and preparations for the show are in “full swing”, said Chief Convention Bureau Officer of the South African National Convention Bureau, Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo. She…

Botswana Increases Park and License Fees

Botswana has increased its park and licence fees for all its visitors and guides, effective April 1. For visitors, citizens, residents and non-residents, current entry park fees are BWP10 (€1), BWP30 (€3) and BWP120 (€9) respectively. The revised user and service fees for citizens, residents and non-residents in Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve…