Tanzania’s New Power Backup System Means Seamless Immigration Services

A key driver of a multi-billion-dollar tourism industry in Tanzania has offered a cutting-edge power backup system worth more than $15,000 to immigration department to guarantee seamless clearance services at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Idea behind the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) to step up support is to complement the government efforts to create seamless,…

JENMAN Opens The Hideout in Cape Town

This is JENMAN African Safaris’ very own “sundowner spot”, right in the middle of Cape Town, South Africa! The Hideout was officially opened on Thursday, 23 February 2023 by managing director Garth Jenman and general manager Johann Barnard, with staff members gathering for some celebratory drinks and snacks. It is sure to become just the…

Zim Signs New ‘Open Skies’ Agreements

Zimbabwe’s Civil Aviation Authority (ZCAA) has announced the signing of new air service agreements (ASAs) and reviews of existing agreements, to both accelerate the country’s integration into the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and enhance access from overseas source markets. Signed at the ICAO Air Services Negotiation Conference in Nigeria in December 2022, the…

Uganda Gets Serious About MICE

The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) is on a quest to secure more Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Events (MICE) business from key source markets, including South Africa, in 2023 and beyond. Anthony Ochieng, UTB Market Development Representative, Africa, said there were already a good number of hotel meeting spaces in Uganda, with many exciting projects on…

Mad Mikes on Bikes

Help Mad Mikes on Bikes to raise £20,000 to fund education for children-in-need within the Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe community! Mike Davis and Mike Johnson, the two slightly overweight, mid-life crisis-afflicted individuals are more known for their hedonistic lifestyles than for their feats of endurance. But they have thrown themselves into a “New Year, New Me” mentality and have undertaken…

EcoTraining Celebrates 30 Years

PIONEERS in safari guide and wildlife training, EcoTraining celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.“What sets us apart is the fact that our formally accredited courses are the most recognised of any training school in Africa. We are the original guide training school in South Africa with the largest, most diverse footprint in Africa,” said Corne…

Tanzania Recovery Hits 95% of Pre-COVID Figures

Tanzania’s full-year official figures show that international arrivals for 2022 were at over 95% of those recorded before the pandemic. According to the country’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the number of foreign tourists who visited Tanzania last year increased to 1.45 million, up by 57.7% from the 922 692 recorded in 2021. More impressively, the…

SAA Confirms Return to Malawi

South African Airways will officially return to Malawi on March 16, with ticket sales for the service having already begun on February 6. Malawi’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently shared the update on its Facebook page. According to the post, the resumption of flights was announced by SAA CEO, Professor John Lamola, during a meeting held…

FlySafair Gets Coveted Zanzibar Flights

South African-based regional carrier, FlySafair has announced that it now has the rights to fly three scheduled flights per week, direct between Johannesburg and Zanzibar. The airline said the Zanzibar service should be up and running reasonably soon, thanks to an existing charter arrangement. “Translating this existing chartered operation into a scheduled operation should be…

Emirates Rolls Out More JNB Flights

Emirates will add a third daily flight to Johannesburg from Dubai starting on March 1. The existing two daily flights, both currently operated by Airbus A380s, will downsize to a Boeing 777-300ER. “This will increase our total frequency into South Africa to 42 weekly flights,” Emirates Regional Manager, Afzal Parambil, tells Travel News. The upcoming schedule for…

Uganda Wildlife Numbers Soar

Uganda’s wildlife population has boomed over the past four decades, according to Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Tom Butime. One of the most biodiverse countries on the planet according to the UN, Uganda has seen the population of several species more than double between 1983 and 2021 “due to enhanced integrity of the protected areas,” said…

Born Free Safaris Welcomes Two Safari Industry Veterans

Anne Bellamy joins BORN FREE as Vice President, Africa Division, after most recently serving as President of Great Safaris and 20 years as President at African Travel Inc.   Anne’s specialty is a comprehensive understanding of the tour operations as well as long-term relationships with suppliers and experienced in travel agency relationships. Richard Haas-Winkelman also comes out of Great Safaris…

Mantis Collection and Zambezi Queen Collection Appoints Dedicated Sales Manager for North American Market

The South African born Mantis Collection is a leading conservation-focused hotel group with luxury hotels, eco-lodges and waterway experiences located across the globe. Travelers who want sustainable experiences have been enjoying eco-tourism, safaris and adventure travel with Mantis since its inception in 2000. Mantis pursues sustainable business practices and develops tourism products that are respectful…

Kruger Rhino Poaching Drops 40%

Anti-poaching measures appear to be paying off in the Kruger National Park, where a total of 124 rhino were poached for their horns last year, representing a 40% decrease from 2021. Not a single rhino was poached in any of South Africa’s other national parks. “The steady decline in rhino poaching in national parks is…

Uber Resumes Services in Tanzania

Uber has resumed its services in Tanzania after settling a fare dispute with the government. The ride-hailing giant suspended services in the East African country last April after the government introduced legislation capping maximum commission from drivers at 15% (from the previous 33%). Uber said the new regulations made it difficult to continue operating while…

Demand for Sustainable Safaris Skyrockets

Global demand for sustainable travel is mushrooming, according to a report – based on a recent survey – by leading DMC, Go2Africa. Data gathered from more than 40 000 enquiries and bookings has revealed some key insights into the safari industry across southern and East Africa. In its first Annual Safari Travel Report, the company –…

SAA Will Resume Malawi Flights Next Month

South African Airways (SAA) will resume direct flights between South Africa and Malawi from March 16, following an agreement with the High Commission of Malawi in Pretoria. SAA started selling tickets on Monday and announced that, as of next month, passengers traveling to Lilongwe could fly directly from Johannesburg. The announcement was made by Professor John Lamola,…

Okavango River Bridge Officially Open

The Okavango River Bridge, also known as the Mohembo Bridge, has been officially opened by Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi. The 1.2km-long bridge will ease the movement of people and goods in the Okavango area. Constructed at a cost of about BWP1bn (€72.1m), the bridge connects villages on the eastern side of the Okavango (Mohembo East) to…

Samburu Intrepids Camp is Open

Heritage Hotels’ Samburu Intrepids Camp is open as of Feb 1st 2023. Samburu Intrepids is a lush oasis on the banks of the great Uaso Nyiro River in Samburu Game Reserve. The tented luxury camp is a delight to be in – deliciously cooled by the river breeze and the forest. The camp sits on…

Cruising Ramps Up in Mombasa

The return of cruise ships to the Kenyan city of Mombasa has provided a welcome boost to the region’s tourism industry. Last Thursday (January 26) the MV World Odyssey arrived for the second time at the newly refurbished port, carrying 800 passengers who will be in the region for six days. This was the third cruise ship…

Exclusive-Use Villa Opens in the Waterberg

The exclusive-use luxury Kingfisher Villa, owned and managed by Extraordinary, opened in Limpopo’s Greater Mabula Private Game Reserve yesterday (January 31). Located two-and-a-half hours’ drive from Johannesburg in the Waterberg, Kingfisher Villa offers an exclusive bush getaway for family and friends to come together and enjoy a private safari experience. An airstrip on the reserve…

Eswatini Air Ready to Fly

The flag carrier of the Swazi Kingdom, Eswatini Air, finally got its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) in December and is preparing for its launch, but no date has yet been fixed. The airline announced its news via its Facebook site, noting that there were “just a few logistics” to attend to before it would publish a…

Mauritius Diversifies into Cruising

While Mauritius is best-known for its resort offerings, the island destination is also banking on its cruise sector, which is set to be boosted when the new cruise terminal in Port Louis becomes operational this year. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector in Mauritius was starting to flourish. In the 2016/17 season, Port Louis welcomed…

A New Generation of Cheetahs Born in Malawi’s Liwonde National Park

Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT), responsible for running Malawi’s only wildlife rehabilitation centre and a key campaigner in Malawi’s fight against wildlife crime, have reported news of cheetah cubs recently born spotted in Liwonde National Park. These cubs represent the third generation of cheetahs to be born in Liwonde since the reintroduction in 2017 by African Parks in partnership…

Maun Upgraded to Handle Large Aircraft

Botswana’s Maun International Airport, an important gateway into the Okavango Delta and regional destinations, can now accommodate aircraft as large as the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320. On Friday, January 20, the President of Botswana Mokgweetsi Masisi officially opened the upgraded facility. The upgrades include a runway extension to 3.7km and modernisation of the terminal building. The…

Airlink Reopens Madagascar Route

Airlink will restart scheduled services between South Africa and Madagascar after they were suspended for almost three years. The resumption of flights linking Johannesburg with Antananarivo follows the lifting of Madagascar’s COVID-19 travel restrictions and a subsequent ban on air services to and from South Africa. The ban was put in place by the Madagascar…

Jenman Tours Releases Discounts

10% Discount on selected guided group tours from JENMAN African Safaris JENMAN African Safaris have made planning your next adventure to Africa an exciting endeavor with a 10% discount on a choice selection of some of our most popular guided group tours! Experience Africa at its finest as you criss-cross this alluring continent, taking in…

Uganda Declared Ebola Free

Classic Africa Safaris Uganda is elated to announce that the Minister of Health, Dr. Aceng Jane Ruth Ocero, declared Uganda Ebola-free. In an MOH statement, Dr. Aceng outlines the WHO requirement for a full 42 day clearance period to declare the outbreak ended. Uganda has now reached that mark with no new cases. “Having spent…

Climbing Shows Endless Potential in Malawi

Although mostly known for the stunning Lake Malawi and, more recently, for its extensive programme of successful conservation and wildlife rehabilitation, Malawi’s beautiful and varied landscapes are also a key attraction for its visitors. Despite its small size, the country is home to a remarkable diversity of scenery – mountains, plateaux, highlands, plains, river valleys…

Dereck and Beverly Joubert at Zoo Miami January 26th

Dereck & Beverly Joubert at Zoo Miami’s Speaker Series January 26th Dereck and Beverly are the Founders of Great Plains Conservation, award-winning filmmakers, conservationists and National Geographic Explorers-at-Large. Learn more about their decades of work is documenting African wildlife, founding Rhinos Without Borders and Big Cats Initiative, their conservation outreach through the Great Plains Foundation,…

Shenton Safaris is Hiring

For over 30 years Shenton Safaris have been offering authentic safari experiences in the South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, renowned for its diverse landscapes and high population of big cats. We have two camps located deep within the park: Kaingo Camp: Comprising six tranquil thatched chalets, nestled discretely along the banks of the Luangwa River.…