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…
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…
Lemala Camps and Lodges has announced plans to expand its Tanzania offering with the opening of a new lodge, Lemala Ngorongoro Lodge. “Lemala Ngorongoro Lodge will echo the style and ethos of the existing Tanzanian lodge portfolio of Lemala Kuria Hills, Mpingo Ridge and Nanyukie with the same focus on space, guest comfort and the…
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’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…
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…
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 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…
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 –…
The Tanzania Tourist Board has appointed a new MD who is expected to continue the growth trajectory of the country’s tourism sector. Damasi Mfugale, who was formerly the head of the Hospitality Association of Tanzania, was officially appointed by President Samia Suluhu, replacing acting MD Felix John. Mfugale has 20 years of professional tourism and hospitality experience…
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,…
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…
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…
The airport is a New Brand Airport constructed in a different location in Lungi from scratch. The entrance to the new airport is from the Port Loko Road away from where the old one is. The newly constructed airport will host up to ten (10) planes at every given point in time with a capacity…
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…
Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has recently amended the VAT regulations which has a direct effect on all flights that Skysafari offers within our Tanzania itineraries effective from 1 January 2023. Therefore, SkySafari in accordance with our contract’s Terms and Conditions, and to remain compliant with the new regulations, will have to apply a VAT supplement…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
Spanish hotel company, Meliá Hotels International, is to open its first hotel in the Seychelles. It is expected to open in 2025. Meliá Sea Front Mahé Island will be located on the beachfront in Mahé and will have 120 rooms, 12 of them suites. Dining facilities will include three restaurants, one of which will be…
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has granted $2.5 million in catalytic funding for conservation and tourism across southern Africa, intended to spur total investment of $75 million and create up to 44 000 jobs. Created in partnership with ThirdWay Partners and The Nature Conservancy, the Africa Conservation and Communities Fund is the first…
The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo which was scheduled to be held next month has been extended by a month, organisers have said. This year’s expo was set to be held February 8 – 11 but has now been postponed to April 26 – 28, 2023 and according to Uganda Tourism Board, the rescheduling of…
Fly Als, a local charter flight company in Kenya, has released its 2023 afternoon flight schedule for flights across some of the country’s national parks. The service operates between Wilson Airport, Amboseli National Park, and Tsavo West National Park. Note that flights only operate with a minimum of six passengers. Find the schedule below: Read…
Morocco’s newest hotel will open in its Red City later this month. Nobu Hotel Marrakech is gearing up to welcome its first overnight guests on January 23. Located a stone’s throw from the heart of the 1,000-year-old city, the sleek hotel is the first in Africa from the ultra-luxury hotel brand that’s headed by actor Robert De Niro,…
Ethiopian Airlines has announced and put on sale Addis Ababa to Atlanta. It will be the sixth airport in the US and Canada served by Africa’s largest carrier on a passenger basis and the fourth destination in Africa for Atlanta, the world’s busiest airport. Ethiopian to Atlanta Taking off on May 16th, Ethiopian will launch a 4x…
USAID announced a new Prosper Africa partnership with ThirdWay Partners and The Nature Conservancy to protect African landscapes and bolster the tourism sector. With $2.5 million in catalytic funding from USAID, ThirdWay, and the Nature Conservancy will unlock a $75 million Africa Conservation and Communities Tourism Fund. This is the first continent-wide investment agreement under…
Turkish Airlines is to relaunch its Lusaka service with two flights a week from March 26. The flights will go via Dar es Salaam. Outbound flights to Istanbul will operate on Mondays and Saturdays, and inbound flights on Sundays and Fridays. Flights depart from Lusaka at 02h50 and arrive in Istanbul at 14h40, after a…
Accra, Ghana, the Namib Desert in Namibia and Tassili n’Ajjer in Algeria have all been named on this year’s “52 Places to Go in 2023” by the New York Times which was published Thursday January 12th. This list is largely considered to be the most exclusive annual destination list in publishing. View the full list…
The inbound and outbound African travel community can now register to attend WTM Africa, held from April 3 to 5 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). “Registration is already open for exhibitors, hosted buyers, Buyers’ Club members, the media, and travel trade professionals,” said Megan De Jager, Portfolio Director: Travel, Tourism & RX Africa…
Air Algérie is planning twice-weekly flights from Algiers to Johannesburg, from March 26. The airline says it will use an Airbus A330-200 for the service. The same frequency will be laid on for Addis Ababa from March 27. Twice- to thrice-weekly flights to Libreville will start from March 26. The Johannesburg service will connect in…
Mount Kilimanjaro’s famed Uhuru Peak is now covered by high-speed Internet access, following the conclusion of the Tanzanian government’s project to bring connectivity to the very top of Africa’s highest mountain. Between August and December last year, Internet access was steadily expanded from all rest camps below 3 795 metres, to the 5 895-metre peak of the mountain,…
Effective January 2023, the management of Nyungwe National Park made changes to its pricing for some of it’s activities with the aim objectives of: (1) Simplifying the existing pricing for visitors and harmonization of the pricing structure between two Rwandan parks whose management is entrusted to African Parks (Akagera and Nyungwe). 2) Facilitating longer stays…
Tanzania tour operators will embark on executing a strategic destination-marketing blitz in the middle of this month. Under the auspices of Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO), through United Nations Development Programs (UNDP) support, among other initiatives, this will endeavor to recoup the multi-billion-dollars tourism industry. The marketing plan will deploy a high-profile delegation led…
After experiencing an 80 percent decrease in tourist arrivals due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Malawi government has decided to put an end to visa requirements in several countries. The measure, introduced in efforts to revive tourism, will apply to tourists from 16 countries, among which the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China…
On December 17, South African Tourism (SAT) celebrated the launch of Delta Air Lines new nonstop service between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Cape Town International Airport (CPT). The year-round service will operate three times weekly on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The route also compliments Delta’s existing service from ATL to O.R. Tambo International…
The APTA Executive Board is busy planning the APTA Global Forum September 26-30, 2023 at The Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town. Registration for the APTA Global Forum will be available in early January 2023, along with an outline of the planned agenda. Since this is the first time that APTA will be hosting a…
Tanzania Association of Tour Operators -TATO is delighted to announce the 2023 dates for its massively informative Tanzania FAM trip program: TATO TOURISM REBOOT. This program consists of 7-day and 10-day familiarisation trips around Tanzania’s most famous national parks and tourist attractions, including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Mount Kilimanjaro, among others. There will be…
Effective 01 January 2023, Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority will increase conservation fees for the Victoria Falls National Park. Please find the official notification here. The Victoria Falls Rainforest Entrance Fee will increase to $50 for International travellers, $30 for SADC residents and $10 for Zimbabwean visitors. Please be advised that this affects all entrance fees, including guests…
On June 12, 2023, Air France will launch a new route from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, as a continuation of its Zanzibar service. The flight will be operated three times a week by a B787-9, equipped with 30 seats in business class, 21 in premium economy and 225 in economy class.…
Jamala Madikwe Royal Safari Lodge has closed after its main lodge area was destroyed in a devastating overnight fire that started at around 23:00 on Monday (December 12). There were no injuries to guests or staff, who were all safely evacuated from the lodge. The main lodge, comprising the lounge, dining room, kitchen, curio shop,…
Commencing 27 March 2023, fastjet Zimbabwe is set to introduce new services from Harare and Victoria Falls to Kariba Airport and Hwange National Park Airport. The planned additional new routes to our domestic network will offer seamless connections for travellers from Harare and Victoria Falls to Zimbabwe’s top domestic tourism destinations of Kariba and Hwange,…
The Seychelles government is working with the Department of Information Communication and Technology to introduce a new system where hikers will be offered bracelets with satellite links. President Wavel Ramkalawan said in a press conference last week that visitors often got lost on La Digue, and that it was costing the government dearly. “It is a cost…
A new luxury adults-only (no children under 16) lodge, Shongwe Oasis Boutique Lodge & Spa, has opened two kilometres from the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. The lodge’s 19 guest rooms comprise 13 double deluxe rooms with bath and shower, three honeymoon suites with outdoor and indoor baths, showers and a private garden. There are also…
Better days for tourism industry in Tanzania are in the offing, thanks to the UNWTO Academy for imparting tour operators with the pertinent digital marketing skills, as part of a joint ambitious strategy to spur the industry. Dubbed, on-site modules training on tourism digitization for tour operators’, is the brainchild of two key UN agencies,…
“We are proud to have this service,” said Paul Hassenstab, Delta Air Lines Director Sales EMEAI at a press function ahead of the arrival of the first Delta flight to Cape Town. After waiting patiently for regulators to approve its new route, Delta will touch down at Cape Town International Airport on Saturday, December 3. The…
Tour operators, tourism exhibitors and stakeholders from Kenya recently met in Uganda for the inaugural five-day Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference, Exhibition and fam trip. The theme was ‘Strengthening Networks, Synergies, and Diversity to maximise the tourism potential between Uganda and the Kenya Coastal Region’. “This conference is historic because it is the first-ever regional tourism conference…