New exclusive-use Amber Villa has recently launched at Earth Lodge in the Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve within South Africa’s Greater Kruger National Park region. Responding to a growing call from families to enjoy staying in one space, the Amber Suite has been transformed into a private villa at the edge of the lodge in…
Aha Hotels & Lodges is making the most of the location of its new luxury tented camp in the Kruger National Park, which features seven self-catering tents that overlook the game-rich Sabie River. Aha’s new Nkuhlu Tented Camp is halfway between Skukuza and Lower Sabie on the renowned H4-1 road. It is a popular location…
Zimbabwe has now dropped its COVID-19-related entry health regulations with immediate effect, putting it in step with the rest of the region. There was some confusion when the Zimbabwean government announced on May 12 that regulations would be dropped, when entrants to the country found that the old rules were still in force and they…
Mozambique’s national carrier, LAM, has announced the resumption of flights to Lusaka, a route it had ceased serving over 30 years ago. From June 30, LAM will operate flights to Lusaka three times a week, on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The decision reflects LAM’s commitment to expanding its regional network and fostering greater connectivity between…
SAA has reported a profit to National Treasury this financial year ending March 31, 2023. According to Daily Investor, Treasury has told Parliament that SAA (as a group) had turned a profit of R500 million (€24.2m) for the year, versus a budgeted loss of R740 million (€35.8m). SAA (the airline) turned a profit of R31 million…
In April 2023, the share of overseas tourists to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) reached full recovery compared with pre-pandemic levels in April 2019. In April this year, the airport recorded 67 747 tourist arrivals, 87% of whom originated from overseas markets and 13% from the African continent. This is according to the monthly tourism…
Malawi is actively prospecting for investment in tourism-related projects in an effort to increase visitor numbers by rolling out engaging activities at tourism sites. Speaking at the Malawi Investment Forum in Johannesburg on May 24, Malawi’s State President, Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, introduced multiple investment opportunities in tourism in the country known as ‘the warm heart…
Sales and marketing representation company, Inspirational Places, has extended its portfolio of luxury hotels and safari lodges with the addition of the new Walkers Plains Camp in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. The camp is set to open on June 25, accommodating 16 guests in six luxury rooms and two family rooms that have two bedrooms each.…
The route will initially offer three flights per week on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, with a carefully planned schedule to cater for both leisure and business travellers. The route is between King Mswati III International Airport and Cape Town International Airport. RN 301departs SHO at 10h20 on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and arrives in CPT…
Jamala Madikwe, on the South African side of the border with Botswana, will reopen in October following a complete rebuild of its main lodge area after a devastating fire last December. A new building is under construction at the main lodge with a large new triple-volume entrance, new lounge and bar, dining room, ‘sofa safari’ armchair…
Cable car operations at the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) will close for two weeks in July to allow for annual maintenance work to be carried out. Cable cars will not be operational between July 24 and August 7. “The safety and comfort of our visitors are very important to us. Our annual maintenance…
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.…
A brand new route from Airlink will soon allow travellers to fly direct from Johannesburg to the two main cities of Malawi. Starting in September 2023, Airlink will begin operating flights between Johannesburg and Lilongwe and Blantyre, making Malawi the 16th country to be included in Airlink’s comprehensive route network, reports Travel News. Airlink CEO and MD,…
With its traditional elegant architecture and furnishings reminiscent of the early 1920s, the hotel would have 75 luxurious residential units. Tanzania has approved a construction of a multi-million-dollar five-star lavish contemporary hotel within the Serengeti National Park, as it seeks to enhance leisure travel. The $18 million, stylish and eye-catching, Lake Magadi Serengeti Hotel, stands…
Despite being near extinction in the early ’90s, and thanks to the pioneering work by the conservationist, Philip (Flip) Stander, the desert lions on the Skeleton Coast and in northwest Namibia are now not only surviving, but also breeding and thriving. Numbers have increased from just 20 lions in 1992 to around 100 today and, while…
The number of British Airways flights from London to African gateways has been restored to pre-pandemic levels and the airline is now expanding its services to the continent. BA operates daily flights from Heathrow to Abuja, Accra, Nairobi and Lagos and double-daily services to Johannesburg. It also offers an expanded double-daily service to Cape Town over the city’s summer…
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…