Desert & Delta Safaris has unveiled a new Makgadikgadi helicopter experience. The two-hour excursion can be booked from Leroo La Tau lodge or as an extension from the sleep-out option. The scenic flights include a visit to the Kubu Island and a chance to touch down and explore this mystical place made up of Gondwanaland…
Low-cost airline FlySafair has just announced the relaunch of a key local route to its growing list of local destinations. From September 8, the airline will once again connect the two largest cities in the Western Cape: Cape Town and George. This will be welcome news to both holiday-makers and businesspeople who regularly travel between…
Nigeria Air – which aims to be the West African country’s national carrier – will officially commence operations in October, under the management of Ethiopian Airlines. The airline will be owned 49% by Ethiopian Airlines, 46% by Nigerian private investors, and 5% by the Nigerian Government. Ethiopian Airlines CEO, Mesfin Tasew, confirmed the airline’s imminent launch…
The fourth edition of Zomba City Festival will be held across various venues in the former capital city of Malawi from 26 to 28 April 2024. The event, which is a celebration of culture, nature and heritage, will feature an array of activities including live music, fashion shows, comedy, art exhibitions, theatre performances, poetry recitals,…
Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) and Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) have forged a partnership to inculcate conservation values to the youth, as TATO seeks to payback to the community and nature, as part of its 40 years anniversary. Founded in 1983, TATO has witnessed tourism development and tourist streams in the country surged from…
Ethiopian Airlines Group and Addis-Africa International Convention and Exhibition Centre (AAICEC) have signed an equity investment agreement to establish an international convention centre in Addis Ababa to host multiple business events. The centre, built by and named AAICEC, is one of the airline’s major national projects to transform the country’s image after it recently held a grand opening of the…
Ethiopian Airlines, a Star Alliance member is excited to announce that it will begin flying from London-Gatwick on Tuesday 21st November 2023 expanding their UK service for travellers to Africa. Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s leading airline, serves Malawi with daily flights to Lilongwe and Blantyre. The new service will operate a 3 x weekly operation every…
The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) will implement a cashless service system at all its nature reserves and its Visitor Information Centre with effect from September 1. The cashless service promotes transactions that do not expose the tourists and the employees to danger. It responds to the control environment that ensures optimal revenue collection,…
In another boost for Cape Town’s sports tourism sector, the Mother City will host a weekend of National Football League (NFL) fan events in September to celebrate the kick-off of the 2023 season. The events form part of the NFL Africa programme – a long-term, multi-market commitment to growing the sport at every level across the…
Namibia recorded a 98.1% increase in inbound tourist arrivals last year, according to the 2022 Tourism Arrival Statistical Report released in August. Tourist arrivals grew from 232 756 in 2021 to 461 027 in 2022. This is, however, far from the 1 681 336 foreign visitors achieved in 2019 (pre-pandemic). “With the sector’s recovery gaining momentum, the…
APTA is pleased to announce two upcoming webinars: African Bush Camps Tuesday, August 29th at 2pm eastern time REGISTER HERE: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4116588460317649751 African Bush Camps (ABC) own & operate 17 safaris camps in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. Their properties range from down-to-earth tented camps to ultra-luxury lodges, always with an emphasis on sustainability, authentic service and…
Kenya Airways (KQ) and Delta Air Lines (DL) have expanded their codeshare agreement by including Kenya Airways’ nonstop Nairobi to New York service, effective August 5. This is the only nonstop flight from East Africa to America. The expanded partnership also offers customers additional travel options within the US and increased flying opportunities within Africa,…
Val du Charron Wine & Leisure Estate in Wellington in the Cape Winelands recently debuted two new family rooms at The Guesthouse. With the two new rooms, The Guesthouse now offers a total of three family rooms, each accommodating two adults and two children. The four-star The Guesthouse – represented in the UK by Kusa…
The 18th annual SA National Parks Week will occur from September 16-24. The week, hosted by South African National Parks (SANParks), grants free access to most of the country’s 21 national parks for day visitors, especially people from the local communities. It should be noted that free access to parks does not include free access to…
Algerian flag carrier, Air Algérie, will launch two weekly non-stop flights to Johannesburg from September 21. The connection is part of the airline’s greater route expansion plan. The airline said in a press statement that the service would connect Algiers Houari Boumediene Airport (ALG) and Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB) during the southern summer season, and that the service…
The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) recently undertook a nationwide grading and classification exercise of its hospitality industry for the first time in five years. The first phase of the exercise began on August 1 and will run until September 4, and will be conducted around Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja, Masaka, Mbarara, Fort- portal and Mbale. Lilly…
Springbok Atlas Tours & Safaris is offering Cape Peninsula and Winelands tours that are available on the Day-of-Adventure (September 27) during the APTA Global Forum. Click here for more information and to book FULL DAY WINELANDS TOUR | 27 September 2023 (Wednesday) While South Africa’s fertile valleys are world famous for their crisp white and…
Flights between Europe and several nations in Africa just got longer. On Sunday, Niger’s ruling military group — or junta — suddenly closed the country’s airspace until further notice, citing threats from neighboring nations who have called for a reverse of the junta’s July 26 coup. According to FlightRadar24, this restriction means airlines that used to fly…
Rwanda is set to complete work on a new airport – about 40 kilometres south of Kigali – by 2026. Work on the airport kicked off in 2017 but construction was halted during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a statement by the Ministry of Infrastructure, the new airport, costing an estimated US$2 billion to build,…
Kenya Airways (KQ) and Delta Air Lines (DL) have expanded their codeshare agreement by including Kenya Airways’ nonstop Nairobi to New York service, effective August 5. This is the only nonstop flight from East Africa to America. The expanded partnership also offers customers additional travel options within the US and increased flying opportunities within Africa,…
Air Seychelles recently announced a profit of US$8.4m for 2022, the first time the carrier had shown a profit since 2016, when it reported a small gain of US$425 000. After reporting a loss of US$22.7m in 2021, and starting the year 2022 with a negative nett asset position of US$100.6m, 2022 was one of…
Sarova Mara Game Camp in the heart of the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in southwest Kenya, is undergoing an extensive refurbishment of its tented units. The first and second phases of the upgrade saw 45 standard tents upgraded into deluxe tents and two family tents updated to offer more space by the end of June.…
Fisherman’s Rest, who run a beautiful lodge in southern Malawi, and also set up and run sustainable and ethical community projects, have a uplifting story to share. Written in their own words, find out how their work and the generous donations they receive is transforming education i their region as they celebrate the graduation of…
Southern Sun de Wagen, a boutique hotel in Stellenbosch, officially reopened last week, six weeks after a flash flood wreaked havoc on its premises. “The flood caused significant destruction to the hotel’s ground level, including the Kuyperhuis courtyard pool, woodwork, furniture, joineries, and floors. Once the water subsided, we realised the extent of the damage…
SAA has appointed Discover the World (DTW) as its GSA in North America. The partnership is expected to see the airline grow revenue across North America by raising awareness with more trade and corporate partners. SAA CEO, Professor John Lamola said the move was part of the airline’s long-term growth strategy. He said activating the partnership with DTW was…
FYN restaurant in Cape Town has recently been selected as the first restaurant in Africa to join the Relais & Châteaux collection. Relais & Châteaux is a prestigious global association of five-star hotels and two- or three-star Michelin restaurants. With a presence on five continents and in 68 countries, the Relais & Châteaux collection comprises…
Tanzania climbs to second place in Africa’s tourism rankings, thanks to a robust recovery from COVID-19 setbacks and increased investments. The United Nations World Tourism Organization ranks Tanzania as Africa’s second top tourism performer, citing a substantial increase in visitors and positive industry developments. Tanzania’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism emphasizes lessons learned, including…
The Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa (APTA) is excited to be hosting its Global Forum in Cape Town, South Africa September 26-30, 2023. This is the first time that APTA has held the Global Forum on the African continent, so this will be a great opportunity for travel advisors from North America…
Rhino poaching decreased in South Africa in the first six months of 2023, thanks to joint initiatives by various role players within the wildlife industry. This was announced by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, at a press conference earlier this week. She said between January 1 and June 30, 231 rhinos…
I meet Donald Macauley, the 37-year-old founder of Sierra Leone’s first surf school, along a sunny swath of silky yellow sand at Bureh Beach, a surfing destination on the Western Peninsula where he’s been catching waves for more than 20 years. Macauley learned how to surf from a British soldier; before he had access to a…
Eco-tourism and conservation brand, Singita, is to open a new luxury private exclusive-use villa, Singita Milele, in northern Tanzania. The villa, on Sasakwa Hill and overlooking the Serengeti, is expected to open in May next year. Designed for large groups of friends or families, Singita Milele will accommodate up to 10 guests in five individually…
Meetings Africa – set to take place at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, from February 27-28, 2024, with Business Opportunity Networking Day (BONDay) preceding the show on February 26 – has opened for registration. “I am pleased to invite business events product owners from across the continent to register to exhibit at Meetings Africa 2024. This…
APTA will host its first-ever Global Forum on the African continent from September 26-30, 2023, at The Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa. The theme of the 2023 Global Forum is “Africa: Where It Begins,” which pays homage to the importance of Africa to the travel and tourism industry. The event will include…
The Ministry of Tourism reports that Madagascar received 25,448 international and domestic visitors in the first four months of 2023. This is compared to 11,595 in 2022 during the same period. Specifically, from January 1 to April 30, 2023, 18,657 international tourists visited Madagascar, nearly four times more than last year’s figure of 5,044. However, according to…
South African Airways (SAA) is set to reintroduce long-haul flights for the first time in over three years, establishing a new route linking Cape Town and São Paulo. Additionally, the airline will resume services between Johannesburg and the Brazilian city. Starting on Oct. 31, flights from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) to Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos…
Despite some industry concerns about the project – the environmental impact and access roads, amongst others – the proposed Drakensberg Cable Car project is going ahead. Over the past weekend, KwaZulu Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs, Siboniso Duma, conducted an oversight visit to monitor the progress of the Drakensberg Cable Car project.…
THE 138-room Radisson Safari Hotel Hoedspruit – the global group’s first safari hotel in South Africa – is set to open within the next quarter. This is part of Radisson reinforcing its position as one of the fastest-growing hotel companies in Africa, aiming to open more than 50 new hotels on the continent over the…
In a significant achievement for conservation, Babanango Game Reserve, in Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, has achieved Big Five status. The 20 000 hectare reserve is now home to lion, rhino, buffalo, leopard and elephant and many more significant species. Last month, a small breeding herd of seven elephants were brought in from Manyoni Game Reserve in Maputaland,…
Wilderness has opened two new luxury mobile tented camps in Tanzania that will follow the Serengeti National Park’s legendary Great Migration. The mobile camps have been set up in key locations on the migration route, moving with the herds throughout the year. Both camps, accommodating a maximum of 12 guests each, operate under the same…
RwandAir will launch daily flights between Kigali International Airport and London Heathrow on October 29. The carrier launched four direct flights a week to Heathrow in November last year. Before that it operated flights to the UK capital via an indirect service through Brussels. “Having first launched flights to the British capital in 2017, we…
Malawi has been nominated for the most Desirable Emerging Destination in the 2023 Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards! Having been a a top Country in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel for 2022, and regularly featuring again in a variety of ‘Top Places’ lists (top places to visit in Africa, top lakes of the world, etc, etc). Malawi is emerging as a…
The Elewana Collection is refurbishing and upgrading several of its properties, with renovations scheduled for completion by July. At Serengeti Migration Camp, a new rooftop bar and organic design materials will create a contemporary African aesthetic. At the same time, the dining room, bedrooms, and pool area will receive upgrades and refurbishments. At Serengeti Pioneer…
Namibian conservation travel company, Ultimate Safaris, has recently opened its new Camp Doros in Damaraland. The camp is perched on a high bank overlooking a (generally) dry riverbed and groves of Mopane trees in the heart of Damaraland. The camp’s six shaded guest tents (one of which is a family unit) are raised on platforms,…
The new Seychelles’ tourism environmental sustainability levy will be effective from August 1 and will be on a three-tiered basis, Vice President Ahmed Afif said this month, according to Seychelles News Agency. “The government decided after several discussions with all parties to put the levy at Rs25 (€1.7), Rs75 (€5) or Rs100 (€6.8) which at the moment is the more agreeable way to implement it.” He…
Fishermans Rest, an organisation in Malawi that do excellent work in local communities, whilst also running a lodge and a range of cultural activities for guests, have proudly been awarded The Future Generations Award by Hub Cymru Africa at the 2023 Partnership Awards. 2023 has been a monumental year for FROM Wales and FRCP in Malawi and…
Soroi Collection’s luxury tented camp, Soroi Larsens Camp, in Samburu, Kenya, is undergoing a complete transformation and is expected to reopen in July. The entire camp is being rebuilt and is currently in the final phase of reconstruction. According to Monet Tiran, Head of Sales and Marketing for the Soroi Collection, the new Soroi Larsens Camp…
Meliá Hotels International has recently unveiled its latest addition in Tanzania – the luxury Ngorongoro Lodge – marking the company’s fourth property in the country. The lodge joins Gran Melia Arusha, amidst the Serengeti and Kilimanjaro peaks, and Meliá Zanzibar and Meliá Serengeti Lodge. Ngorongoro Lodge features 52 rooms, each with views of the Ngorongoro…
The expansion of Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare has been completed, and the revamped facility will be officially opened on July 13. According to the chronicle.co.zw, while touring the airport, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the completion of the revamp was a sign that the government was taking modernisation and industrialisation seriously. The government’s airport expansion project,…
Effective 01 July 2023, the Zanzibar Revenue Authority has implemented an increase in infrastructure tax, from USD 1 per person per day to USD 5 per person per day.
In what will be a monumental step in increasing seamless travel to Malawi from not only across Africa but worldwide, privately-owned and regional airline Airlink are launching flights to both of Malawi’s international airports in Lilongwe and Blantyre from September 2023. Malawi becomes the 16th country to be included in Airlink’s comprehensive route network. Airlink…