Last week (Thursday, May 25), Kenya Airways successfully undertook the first long-haul commercial flight from Africa to Europe using sustainable aviation fuel produced by Italian oil and gas company Eni, reports airspace-africa.com. The Boeing 787-800b Dreamliner departed on the ground-breaking flight from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for Schiphol, fuelled by a blend of JetA1 fuel…
For the first time on record, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust has reported a sighting of an Egyptian vulture, an endangered species that has never before been seen in Malawi. The Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) is listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List due to global population and geographic range declines over the last century (BirdLife…
Kumbali Country Lodge is especially pleased to invite you to experience the two new features of the property. The Summer House is an enchanting sunlit conservatory that houses an array of vines, potted flora and blossoms interlacing the ceiling. Seating 60 guests, the green house chapel is an inimitable (maybe even magical) place for intimate events.…
Registration is open for the APTA Global Forum and FAM trips are now fully rolled out. Many of the APTA Corporate Members are extending special offers for pre and post tours throughout Africa in conjunction with the APTA Global Forum. Offers so far include (click for details and booking info): Mont Rochelle in Franschhoek – Discounted room…
The renowned Victoria Falls Safari Lodge in Zimbabwe is getting a fresh new look, with new furniture, soft furnishings and décor across its 72 rooms and central area, which includes the Buffalo Bar and MaKuwa-Kuwa Restaurant. Africa Albida Tourism (AAT) CEO, Ross Kennedy, said the refurbishment, which should be completed by the end of June, was part of the…
Qatar Airways and Air Seychelles have signed a codeshare agreement. Under the codeshare, Qatar Airways will place its code on Air Seychelles-operated flights between Mahé and Praslin, enabling passengers to continue their journey using a single booking. Currently, Qatar Airways operates a daily flight between Doha and Seychelles International Airport (SEZ). Qatar Airways serves over…
MSC Cruises SA plans to invest a further R30 million (€1.45m) in Durban’s cruise terminal, and expects to see a slight increase in the number of cruise passengers sailing out of the city in the 2023/24 cruise season, according to Ross Volk, MD of MSC South Africa. The cruise line, the only one that currently homeports…
It is a sad and difficult time for the family, the tourism industry and the business community in Tanzania. Abbas Moledina, the pillar of Ranger Safaris in Arusha, one of the most successful tour companies in Tanzania, has passed. The astute businessman described as “soft spoken but sharp as a razor “passed away on May 11th…
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entered between the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) and GreenCop Development PTE, Ltd., a Singapore-registered company, will develop the carbon-offset project as they seek to hook a share of the carbon credit billions to bankroll conservation of a territory covering 2.4 million hectares in Southern Tanzania. The voluntary carbon offset project that…
Post-outbreak travel to Africa tourism is rebounding strongly, with key destinations including South Africa experiencing significant visitor growth, outpacing global arrivals in 2023. African tourism was “one of the hardest-hit sectors” during the pandemic, said Patricia de Lille, South Africa’s minister of tourism, speaking at the Africa Travel Indaba conference in Durban, South Africa this past…
Kenya has revised its COVID-19 travel regulations, removing the requirement for all travellers entering the country to show proof of either vaccination or a pre-departure COVID-19 test, with effect from May 9. Now, only travellers arriving at any port of entry into Kenya with flu-like symptoms will be required to fill the passenger locator form…
The COVID-19 pandemic severely affected the island of St Helena’s tourism sector, but since the lifting of restrictions in August 2022, the remote destination has shown strong signs of recovery. Estimates forecasted that the peak tourist demand season for 2022/23 (between October to March) was likely to see around 50% of the number of visitor…
A brand new luxury tented camp, Mara Siana, is poised to open in the newly formed conservancy, Mara Ripoi (just outside Kenya’s famed Masai Mara National Reserve) on June 10. The camp is one of the founding members of the conservancy that was officially established on February 15 this year. The 7 700-hectare Mara Ripoi…
Effective May 17th, Ethiopian Airlines will move their operations at New York-JFK from Terminal 8 to Terminal 7.
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 to experience and explore one of the most beautiful…
Ethiopian Airlines Group holds a grand opening of the largest hotel on the African continent as it inaugurates the second phase of Ethiopian Skylight Hotel. Ethiopian Airlines opened the first phase of Ethiopian Skylight Hotel back in January 2019. With the new extension, the hotel now has a total of 1,024 modern rooms and suites with different…
The 14-room Neela Boutique Hotel Stone Town will open in July in Zanzibar. The hotel is the first of two new offerings from The Neela Collection, a hotel group with a reputation for providing guests with exceptional experiences in beautiful locations. The hotel is located in one of the city’s most desirable tourism areas and…
The national carrier of the Kingdom of Eswatini, Eswatini Air, touched down at King Shaka International Airport in Durban on its inaugural flight from King Mswati III International Airport in Manzini on Friday (May 5). An Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft, with a maximum capacity of 50 passengers, will be deployed on the route, offering three…
SAA is expanding its fleet and laying the groundwork for its first overseas routes. The long-awaited development was announced on Friday, May 5, in a media release. The airline said it had been greenlighted by the Government for “a significant expansion” of its fleet. The intention is to pave the way for the national carrier…
Heritage Hotel’s Samburu Intrepids has reopened following a 20-month COVID-era closing. The lodge is once again open for business and already receiving guests at normal capacity. Samburu Intrepids’ location deep inside the reserve guarantees close encounters with Samburu’s shier species, including elephant, leopard and Samburu’s famous ‘special five’ – the rare reticulated giraffe, long-necked gerenuk…
The Botswana government has announced that employees of tour operators in the country who are Botswana citizens will no longer have to pay park entry fees. This development was confirmed by Thato Raphaka, the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation, and Tourism. The new regulation was effective from April, pending a gazette…
Africa’s Travel Indaba (ATI) 2023, the continent’s iconic leisure trade show, officially kicked off yesterday (May 9) at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban, and will continue until tomorrow (May 11). Ministers, tourism officials, exhibitors, media and more, were all in attendance at the opening ceremony. “It gives me great pleasure to…
Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa, took delivery of its 20th A350-900 aircraft from Airbus at the end of April. With the delivery of the A350, the airline now operates 144 modern aircraft to more than 150 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Airbus A350-900s, Boeing 737s, 777s, 787s, and Bombardier…
Mont Eco, a new Big Five private game reserve in the Klein Karoo has opened this month. It is 25km outside the historic town of Montagu, close to Cape Town. A 6 500-hectare rehabilitated conservation stronghold, the reserve offers an experience that is truly off grid. Guests will enjoy not only the diversity of game but the…
With 12 storeys, a breathtaking view of Cape Town’s imposing Table Mountain and a minimal ecological footprint, the world’s tallest building made with industrial hemp is soon to open its doors in South Africa. Workers in central Cape Town are putting the finishing touches on the 54-room Hemp Hotel, which is due to be completed…
Independent regional airline, Airlink, will launch flights between Mbombela (Nelspruit) and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, from November 28. The new route will complement Airlink’s existing service between Mbombela’s Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) and Livingstone on the Zambian side of the world-famous waterfall. “The new service to Victoria Falls expands our direct connections between Southern Africa’s…
Starting July 1, Proflight Zambia is launching the first direct flights between Lusaka and Cape Town, making it the airline’s fourth South African route, adding to its Lusaka-Johannesburg, Ndola-Johannesburg and Lusaka-Durban flights. The direct service to South Africa’s second-largest city means that, for the first time, travellers will no longer need to transit through Johannesburg. Proflight…
Classic Portfolio, the group of independently owned lodges and camps in Africa, has recently appointed Olivia Havens as its Head of Trade Relations in North America. Based outside Chicago, Havens will be working closely with Classic Portfolio’s Managing Director Suzanne Bayly in managing North American trade partnerships. Known for her strengths in driving sales and networking, Havens has been…
The Malawi Ministry of Tourism has hailed the return of the Malawi International Tourism Expo (MITE), which was an overwhelming success this year. The two-day international tourism expo tagged “Takulandirani” brought together tourism operators, experts, DMCs, and local suppliers to transact business at the Bingu Wa International Convention Centre in Lilongwe. Speaking at the official…
Mara Elatia Camp and is now ready to begin bookings. Nestled in the peaceful North Western plains, ELATIA, meaning “The Good Neighbour” in Maa, rests a twelve tented camp gracefully perched along the Oloololo escarpment of the Masai Mara. ELATIA is an easily accessible luxury camp set on the interlocking hills of the Mara triangle…
Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge is expanding its product offering with the introduction of two Bedouin-style family tents elevated on a wooden platform. The tents offer a scenic view of the Karatu Hills and will welcome guests from July. Perched atop a hill, the lodge is in Tanzania’s northern safari circuit in Rhotia, near Karatu on…
Polentswa Lodge – owned by the Ta Shebube group and located in the Mabuasehube area on the Botswana side of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park – has reopened following a devastating veld fire that destroyed the nine-unit tented lodge in September 2021. Shabani Ndzinge, Ta Shebube MD, told Tourism Update: “We have decided to open the lodge with just…
Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority Director-General, Emile Arao, has announced that soon, passengers departing the country’s airports won’t need to remove electronics, such as laptops and iPads from their carry-on baggage for security screening before boarding. This, said Arao, should save time spent in queues. There will also be a revision to the liquids allowance for carry-on…
The country’s catchphrase of Tanzania unforgettable has got a boost, thanks to the tour operators and police in Arusha for rolling out an ambitious training package for tour drivers in a bid to offer tourists hustle free trips. The first batch of Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) and Arusha Regional Traffic Police Office initiated…
The Malawi International Tourism Expo (MITE) is back after a COVID hiatus and currently underway in Lilongwe. A record number of international attendees are in Lilongwe this week, well over 100, making this the biggest and most successful itineration of MITE ever. More info at http://tourism.mw/
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…
Arusha Airport in Tanzania, popular for charter flights for tourists, will soon be back to full operation after a TZS6.3 billion (€2.4m) expansion. The airport, located on the outskirts of Arusha, is one of the oldest in the country and work has been carried out recently to extend its runway to accommodate larger aircraft. The…
RwandAir will launch its first ever direct flights to Paris in June. This means passengers flying from Kigali to Paris will reach their destination in eight and a half hours. From June 27, the thrice-weekly flights will link the two cities – a signal event in the life of the young, rapidly-growing airline. RwandAir CEO, Yvonne…
Southern Sun has announced the rebranding of the Holiday Inn Sandton to Southern Sun Sandton. “We are delighted to extend our presence in Sandton with this exciting addition, providing our signature Southern Sun Hotels brand to one of the area’s most well-established business and conferencing hotels,” said Southern Sun CEO, Marcel von Aulock. “In addition to…
“Rich in contrast, compact in size and big in hospitality!” That’s how Sarah Njanji, Vice Consul Tourism at the Malawi Consulate in Johannesburg describes Malawi in a nutshell. Malawi has several national parks, which are enjoying more and more attention for the successes of their conservation efforts over the past 20 years and for the richness…
Mauritius beach resort, Outrigger, on the south coast of the island at Bel Ombre, has been temporarily closed to visitors since February 18, due to the detection of the presence of Legionnella, the microorganism that causes Legionnaire’s disease. Although no new cases related to the hotel have been identified since February 18, the property has…
RwandAir has signed a new codeshare with Turkish Airlines. Passengers coming to Africa on Turkish Airlines’ flights into Kigali will have access to RwandAir’s growing African network in Southern, West, Central and East Africa, in a seamless experience, including their baggage. RwandAir passengers, when travelling from Africa, will now have access to the Turkish carrier’s…
Wilderness has revealed plans to open a new luxury tented camp in September on the eastern edge of the Okavango Delta. Wilderness Mokete will be situated in the game-rich Mababe concession. Nine solar-powered en-suite canvas tents, each with a retractable roof, will be linked by ground-level wooden walkways leading to a tented lounge area and…
The Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa (APTA), the largest and longest operating travel trade organization for African specialists in North America, is extending the early registration date for its Global Forum through April 15, 2023. The APTA Global Forum will be held in Cape Town, South Africa September 26-30, 2023 and the…
The Warm Heart of Africa will welcome guests to the 4th edition of “Takulandirani” Malawi International Tourism Expo (MITE) to be held from 26th to 27th April, 2023 at the Bingu Wa Mutharika International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe. More info here.
Zimbabwe’s National Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) will raise the conservation fees for accessing Victoria Falls National Park from April 1. This decision was made despite the previous backlash from stakeholders who claimed they were not consulted earlier this year when Zimparks first proposed the increase. Back in December, the Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe…
SAUDIA, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, launched its first direct flight to Dar es Salaam this past weekend. The airline will be operating four weekly flights between King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The flights are operated with an…
J.W. Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of 30 hotel brands, officially announced the opening of J.W. Marriott Masai Mara Lodge, marking the company’s highly anticipated debut in the luxury safari segment. Located within the Masai Mara National Reserve in Southwestern Kenya, one of Africa’s most renowned wildlife and wilderness conservation regions, the lodge…
Marriott International has signed a franchise agreement with Tingana Hospitality Group to open a new Autograph Collection Hotel in the Kruger National Park (KNP). The property, called Leopard Sands, is currently being built and will undergo brand positioning before opening as a Marriott Autograph Collection property. Tingana Hospitality Group has a collection of luxury lodges…
While there are major actions needed to elevate the tourism sector – improving safety, increasing air access, increasing investment, and growing tourism’s contribution to the economy – the industry is ready to come back with a bang! This was the positive message from the Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, speaking at WTM Africa, which kicked…