Zanzibar Increases Infrastructure Tax
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.
Airlink to Open Malawi to the World with New Flights
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…
Airlink Increases JNB/Vilanculos Services
Independent regional carrier, Airlink, will increase return flights between Johannesburg and Vilanculos, Mozambique, to 11 a week from January 8 next year. Airlink currently operates a daily service on the route. The decision to add another flight every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday is in response to increased demand for direct services to the popular Indian Ocean…
FlyCemAir Confirms Launch of JNB-VFA Service
South African private carrier FlyCemAir has announced the launch of its latest regional route, with a service between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls, set to start on August 9. The flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The schedule is as follows: JNB to VFA: Departing 11h20 and landing at 13h00 VFA to JNB:…
Kenya Airways Launches New Loyalty Program
Kenya Airways has rolled out its new loyalty programme, Asante Rewards, with redemptions due to begin in October. Customers can redeem points for benefits such as reward ticket flights, seat upgrades, extra baggage allowance, priority services, seat selection, and more, reports afritraveller.com. Ruby is the lowest tier, giving savings on extra checked baggage, discounts on preferred…
MORE Collection Extends Footprint into Thornybush with Monwana Game Lodge
MORE Family Collection, which owns and manages a collection of luxury safari lodges, boutique hotels, and exclusive-use residences in South Africa and Zimbabwe, welcomed Monwana Game Lodge to its property portfolio last week. Previously allied with Safari Lodges and Classic Retreats (SLACRSA), Monwana Game Lodge offers an exclusive safari experience in the Thornybush Nature Reserve,…
Ugandan hotel, CityBlue Hotels, Joins African hotel chain
African hotel chain, CityBlue Hotels, signed an agreement this month with Diar Hospitality and The Emin Pasha Hotel & Spa in Kampala, Uganda, to add the luxury four-star hotel to its growing portfolio. The Emin Pasha Hotel’s 20 rooms include Deluxe Rooms, Deluxe Suites, Executive Suites, and Superior Suites. There are also two lounge areas,…
Ila Safari Lodge in Kafue National Park, Zambia Closes Due to Fire
Ila Safari Lodge in Kafue National Park, Zambia, has closed after its main lodge area was destroyed in a devastating fire that started around midnight last Thursday (June 15), There were no injuries to guests or staff. According to Vincent Kouwenhoven, Green Safaris Founder and Director of the lodge, the boma area (reception, dining, bar, and…
New Ultra-Luxury Madwaleni River Lodge Will Open in KZN
A new ultra-luxury tented lodge will open in the Babanango Game Reserve in the Zululand region of KwaZulu Natal in September, adding to the reserve’s appeal as a new, highly attractive safari destination. Madwaleni River Lodge on the banks of the White Umfolozi River is the fourth and most exclusive lodge to be opened in…
Cycling 4 Wildlife Expedition Across Africa Begins
In an effort to raise awareness on the challenges conservationists face in Africa, four cyclists will embark on a journey of 5000km across Africa, passing through Malawi and three of its top national parks. The project, named the Cycling 4 Wildlife Foundation, sees four cycling enthusiasts on a mission to raise €100k in donations for…
Christo Brand, Prison Guard and Lifelong Friend of Nelson Mandela, Announced as Keynote Speaker of APTA Global Forum
APTA is pleased to announce that Christo Brand will be a keynote speaker at the APTA Global Forum being held in Cape Town, South Africa September 26-30, 2023. Afrikaner farm boy Christo Brand joined the South African prison service at age 17 to avoid having to serve in the military, as all white males were required to…
Emirates and KQ Forge Partnership
Emirates and Kenya Airways announced an interline partnership yesterday (June 12), which allows customers of both airlines access to new destinations on the two airlines’ networks within a single itinerary. The agreement will provide customers with increased travel options and seamless baggage check-in to their final destination. Emirates customers will now be able to fly…
Marriott to Expand Protea Brand with New Hotels in Botswana, Ethiopia, Tanzania & Nigeria
Marriott International has signed five new deals in Africa under its Protea Hotels brand, spanning four countries: Botswana, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Nigeria. Karim Cheltout, Regional Vice President of Development, Africa, and All-Inclusive, EMEA at Marriott International, said: “Protea Hotels has a rich legacy in Africa, and we are thrilled to further strengthen the brand’s footprint.…
New Exclusive-Use Amber Villa Opens at Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge
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’s New Nkuhlu Tented Camp in Kruger NP
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 Finally Drops COVID Entry Regs
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…
LAM Reinstates Lusaka Flights After 30+ Years
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 Reports First Profit since 2011
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…
CPT Reaches Pre-COVID Recovery Numbers
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 Sets Out to Woo Investors
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…
New Walkers Plains Camp to Open in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
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.…
Eswatini Air Launches First Flights to Cape Town
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 to Reopen in October Following December 2022 Fire
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…
Table Mountain Cableway to Close for Two Weeks
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…
Malawi’s Kumbali Lodge Introduces New Summer House & Gardens
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.…
Airlink to Launch New South Africa to Malawi Route
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,…
Tanzania Greenlights New Luxury Hotel in Serengeti National Park
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…
Tech Helps Namibia’s Desert Lions Elude Danger
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…
British Airways Expands African Service Past Pre-Pandemic Levels
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…
Kenya Airways Completes Africa’s First Long-Haul Sustainable Flight
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…
First Confirmed Record of Egyptian Vulture in Malawi
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…
Malawi’s Kumbali Lodge Introduces New Summer House & Gardens
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.…
20 High-Value FAM Trips Available to APTA Global Forum Participants
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…
Major Refurb for Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
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…
Seychelles Signs Codeshare with Qatar Airways
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…
Durban Cruise Terminal Set for Further Expansion
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…
Abbas Moledina: Pioneer of Safari Business and Force Behind Ranger Safaris, Passes
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…
Tanzania Developing Africa’s Largest Carbon Offset Project
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…
Indaba Highlights Strong Africa Tourism Rebound
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 Removes COVID Entry Requirements
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…
Future Looks Bright for St Helena
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…
Mara Siana Luxury Tented Camp to Open in New Kenya Conservancy
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…
Ethiopian Airlines Moves Operations to JFK Terminal 7
Effective May 17th, Ethiopian Airlines will move their operations at New York-JFK from Terminal 8 to Terminal 7.
Who’s Coming to APTA Global Forum?
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…
Grand Opening of Africa’s Largest Hotel, Ethiopian Skylight
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…
Neela Boutique Hotel Stone Town will Open in July in Zanzibar
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…
Eswatini Air Touches Down in Durban
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 Lays Groundwork to Reintroduce International Routes
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…
Samburu Intrepids Re-Opens After 20 Month Closure
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…
Botswana Waives Park Entry Fees for Tour Operators
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…