The Radisson Hotel Group has debuted the Radisson Blu Hotel, Durban Umhlanga. The hotel is just five minutes from King Shaka International Airport, and has easy access to several popular beaches. It is within walking distance of the Umhlanga Beach Promenade, and is also close to the Durban ICC, with direct access to the luxury…
The Urban Lusaka is a 75-key boutique hotel set in the diplomatic area where Kabulonga, Leopards Hill and Woodlands meet. Only 30 minutes from Kenneth Kaunda International airport and convenient to Lusaka’s commercial centers, this architecturally exciting property has become an instant Lusaka landmark. Known as an ‘art hotel’, The Urban Hotel features ArtSpace, an…
Comair has announced the abrupt suspension of all its flights, both kulula and British Airways operated by Comair. The suspension took effect yesterday evening (Tuesday, May 31). Sales of tickets on both carriers have also been suspended. The airline says the suspension is in force while it secures additional funding. In a media release issued…
Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife plans to implement several interventions – including reducing the number of visitors and increasing park fees – to curb high season overcrowding in some of its national parks and to encourage travel throughout the year. This is in response to growing concerns regarding the impact that overcrowding of safari vehicles and…
A new airline, KuvaAir – operated by Zimbabwe-based Executive Air – is set to connect tourism destinations in Zimbabwe, and will launch its inaugural Harare-Hwange-Victoria Falls flight on June 1. This is according to reports from Zimbabwe’s state-owned newspaper, The Herald. The Herald reports that KuvaAir will operate flights linking Harare, Kariba, Victoria Falls and Hwange on…
The Kenyan government recently confirmed that by the year 2030, all of its national parks and game reserves will allow non-fossil fuels. All facilities relating to hospitality and tourism will also be required to prioritise renewable energy in a bid for a more sustainable environment. Kenya’s CO2 emissions amounted to roughly 16m tons in 2020,…
After a journey of 17+ hours and 700+ kilometers across Zimbabwe, the first two white rhino to roam Hwange in nearly 20 years are now settling into their new home in the Imvelo Ngamo Wildlife Sanctuary bordering the park. The two rhinos, Thuza and Kusasa, were named by two generous donors from a list of…
South African Airways welcomes AVIAWORLD (AVIAREPS JV), a global leader in tourism and airline representation, as their general sales agent in North America. Effective immediately, AVIAREPS will be assuming responsibilities for all sales and marketing representation for South African Airways in the U.S. and Canada. South African Airways, together with AVIAREPS, look forward to continuing…
The Malawian Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, has announced that all incoming travellers that are fully vaccinated and have a digital vaccination certificate will no longer be required to produce a COVID-19 PCR certificate to enter the country from June 1. Unvaccinated travellers, or travellers who do not have a valid electronically verifiable COVID-19 full…
The launch of the Thohoyandou National Botanical Garden by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, took place on Sunday (May 22), the International Day for Biodiversity. The South African National Botanical Institute (SANBI) said the official declaration of the Thohoyandou National Botanical Garden was important, as it was the first national botanical…
Ethiopian Airlines is to add a Friday flight from Addis Ababa to São Paulo and Buenos Aires from July 1, reports Simple Flying. The flight currently operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The flights stop at São Paulo before continuing to Buenos Aires. The full schedule is as follows: ET 506 departs Addis Ababa at 10:05…
Discover the iconic safari destinations of Tanzania’s Northern safari circuit, including the baobab dotted Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ngorongoro Crater and an overview of the world-renowned Serenget with this APTA Featured Webinar! https://apta.biz/webinars/tanzanias-northern-circuit/
Uganda Tourism Board and Jinja City Authority have concluded plans to develop Jinja as a gateway tourism city in the Eastern part of Uganda, executives said on May 19. The plans are a result of a meeting held between the UTB, Jinja City Council officials and the Private Sector at the Jinja City Hall under…
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has added five countries to its list of Level 3 ‘high risk’ travel destinations for COVID this week. The five new countries are South Africa, Lesotho, Antigua and Barbuda, and Taiwan. South Africa was previously on Level 2 and Lesotho on Level 1. New omicron sub…
Tanzania National Parks’ (TANAPA) recently introduced bicycle tourism saw 27 cyclists reach the top of the 4 566m-high Mount Meru in the north of the country. The cyclists, including both tour operators and tourists, completed their attempt to conquer Africa’s fifth highest mountain in three days. Speaking at the foot of Mount Meru, Albert Mziray, Assistant Commissioner…
Passengers no longer need to take a PCR test prior to their departure for Kigali, according to a notice issued by the Ministry of Health over the weekend. A rapid antigen test taken 72 hours before departure is now accepted. Travellers still have to take a second antigen test at their own expense (US$5/R80) on…
Delta Air Lines has announced that it will take its Johannesburg frequency from three to six flights a week, with effect from May 25. A Delta spokesperson told Tourism Update the additional flights had been for sale for some time. “We are seeing significant demand for travel between South Africa and the US from both points of…
Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the South African Tourism Board to promote tourism and boost visitor arrivals and inbound traffic to South Africa from key markets across the Emirates network. The MoU was signed on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022 by Badr Abbas, Emirates’…
The luxury travel brand show, We Are Africa – organised by This is Beyond, hosted by the City of Cape Town and headlined by South African Tourism – has drawn approximately 700 people to the DHL Stadium in Cape Town this week. The four day show, which kicked off yesterday, includes participation by 320 exhibitors…
SATSA has received several reports of international travellers, especially travellers arriving from the United States, arriving at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) only to find they have to undergo a rapid antigen test despite showing proof of vaccination. The reason for the test requirement appears to be that most travellers from the US do not have a…
The Kingdom of Eswatini Government and Airlink have agreed to dissolve their joint-venture airline business, Eswatini Airlink, which will cease operations from June 1. Airlink and the Kingdom’s new national carrier, Eswatini Air, will then provide scheduled air services between Johannesburg and King Mswati III International Airport. Eswatini Airlink currently operates multiple daily services between…
Machaba Safaris will open a brand-new classic safari camp, Mana River Camp, in Mana Pools National Park on May 15. The camp is a temporary camp, functioning for seven months of the year, from May to November Mana River Camp occupies the site formerly known as Mwinilunga. It has six classic three-module Sahara Lodge tents…
SANParks has begun its three-year R370m upgrade and refurbishment programme in the Kruger National Park. Funds for the infrastructure upgrade were obtained predominantly from an Infrastructure Development Programme and allocated to SANParks from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment. “The decline in tourist revenues under COVID-19 has impacted our revenue but the need to…
Premier Hotel & Resorts recently hosted a ground-breaking ceremony in Thohoyandou to mark the building of the hospitality gourp’s 25th hotel in the portfolio. Tsakani Masia, who attracted the interests of the Premier Hotel & Resorts, is the owner of African Century Group, and the founder of the project, reports Ghanamama. Premier Hotel Thohoyandou, situated in…
Every Easter weekend, thousands of people from around the world flock to the quiet Ghanaian towns of Kwahu and Atibie for a paragliding festival and Easter carnival that residents hope may establish the West African nation as a hub for extreme sports. This year marked the festival’s return to its annual schedule after the Covid-19 pandemic forced…
Millat Investments has acquired control of the landmark Winston Hotel in Rosebank in Johannesburg, South Africa, adding another key property to its fast-growing hospitality portfolio. The acquisition of the five-star Winston property follows the successful Africa’s Travel Indaba 2022 in Durban last week, an event that focused on reigniting tourism to South Africa and the…
Africa’s Travel Indaba 2022 exceeded expectations and the organisers – South African Tourism, Durban Tourism and Tourism KwaZulu Natal (TKZN) – are optimistic that the 2023 event will be bigger, better and even more meaningful. “Now that stakeholders in the African tourism sector have seen what we can do, we can only grow from here,”…
Close to 625 buyers are attending Africa’s Travel Indaba 2022, which kicked off yesterday (Monday, May 2) at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre & Durban Exhibition Centre in Durban, KwaZulu Natal. Over 20 000 meetings have been confirmed on the matchmaking diary system, matching the right buyers with the right exhibitors. An upbeat Themba Khumalo, South…
Kenya Airways has reinstated flights from Nairobi to Antananarivo, following the lifting of travel restrictions by Madagascar. The airline resumed flights on April 25, operating on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The service also connects in Nairobi with flights to Paris, Johannesburg, Dubai, Amsterdam, London, Mumbai, Dar es Salaam, Accra, Abidjan, and Dakar. Flight KQ256 will…
A new luxury tented camp, Camp Chitubu, will open on June 1 in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. The camp is built on a ridge overlooking a waterhole that attracts a huge variety of wildlife. Six spacious Bedouin-style tented guest rooms sleep two adults in twin or double beds with an option for kids. Each…
Uganda Airlines will launch direct flights between Entebbe International Airport and London Heathrow from November. According to Rahim Shakila Lamar, the airline’s Corporate Affairs and Public Relations Manager, flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Lamar said timings would be announced at a later date after consideration of other flights feeding into the London route.…
Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge, in the &Beyond portfolio, lies on the banks of a tributary of the Grumeti River in the remote western reaches of the Serengeti, is to reopen on June 6. There are very few lodges in this section of the park, and guests can expect the ultimate in exclusivity, says &Beyond. There…
Africa Albida is thrilled to announce that they are building Victoria Falls’ largest and first purpose-built spa, which is scheduled to open in October, and is set to place Zimbabwe’s top tourist attraction on the map as a wellness destination. This development, to be named Victoria Falls Safari Spa, comes as Victoria Falls is experiencing a much more rapid…
The iconic Hilton Hotel located in the Nairobi central business district (CBD) will shut down after 53 years of operation. The Standard understands that several staff members will lose jobs following the decision, which has already been communicated to the Kenya Tourism Board. The Five-Star hotel began operations in the capital city on December 7,…
With new flights on the horizon, an overhaul of traditional seasonality and improved traveler confidence, the future for Africa’s travel and tourism industry is looking up. This is in part thanks to American travelers, which African tourism has highlighted as one of the top three source markets leading the continent’s recovery. During a presentation at…
With immediate effect, the requirement of PCR testing by all incoming and outgoing travelers at Entebbe International Airport has been adjusted as follows: All in-bound and outbound travellers will be required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination, except for travellers aged 5 years and below. Requirement for negative PCR test done within 72 hours…
More options and more capacity between Johannesburg and Cape Town to Windhoek, Namibia Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city, is known for its modern, German influenced architecture, rich culture and welcoming people. It is a doorway into Africa’s wild landscapes with nature reserves, sand dunes and safari activities on the city’s outskirts. Why not book your customers…
TOA Hotel & Spa, a new luxury beach hotel on a private white-sand beach in Pongwe on the east coast of Zanzibar, is due to open in May. The hotel will offer 86 guestrooms, three swimming pools with ocean views, three bars, a restaurant, a spa with treatment rooms, a sun deck and a gym.…
Machaba Safaris will open Kiri Camp in the Okavango Delta in June. The new luxury tented camp is in a private concession on the Kiri River system, between the Boro and Kiri rivers. The camp is built on raised wooden decks with views of the Kiri floodplains which stretch out in front of the camp.…
Tanzania and the United States have pledged to promote and develop trade and tourism between the two countries following a meeting last Friday (April 15) between Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and US Vice President, Kamala Harris. “Our administration is deeply committed to strengthening the ties in Tanzania and to African countries in general. The United States and…
Rwanda’s tourism revenue increased by 25% in 2021 – from US$131 million recorded in 2020 to US$164 million for 2021 – according to the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Statistics released earlier this week by the RDB show that the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions sector generated US$12.5 million in 2021 compared with US$5.4 million in…
Delta Air Lines’ application to fly a triangular route between Atlanta, Johannesburg and Cape Town has finally been approved by national government – a move welcomed by the Western Cape government, which had reinstated an intergovernmental dispute process last month to ensure a speedy resolution. Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier, said that while…
South Africa’s captivating coastlines and unique ecosystems attract millions of travellers every year. With tourism bringing in an estimated $10 billion (€ 8.2 billion) to the economy and employing millions throughout the country. However, South Africa’s tourism industry suffered a major setback in 2020, when COVID-19 reached the country’s shores. Before the pandemic, international visitors…
Malawi, in southeastern Africa, is often confused with Mali, or even the Maldives in the Indian Ocean — but it is working hard right now to change that. On my one visit there about 20 years ago I could see the reasons that, despite its natural beauty and wildlife opportunities, Malawi had yet to be…
Airlink’s new logo of a sunbird adorning the full size of the tail being applied to its 50 Embraer jets marks a decisive step in the company’s history. Previously the bird only flew over the top half of the empennage, inserted into the tail design of South African Airways (SAA), as Airlink had been operating…
The historic town of Zomba in southern Malawi is ready to be the backdrop of the second Zomba City Festival from April 29 to May 2. Venues will offer entertainment for all ages at various lodges and public spaces. There will be arts and culture, sports and kids’ activities spread throughout the town, including ‘Art in the…
TANZANIA is the home of the Number #1 Safari destination in the World and houses four of the most coveted adventure destinations on earth: the Serengeti, Mount Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, and Ngorongoro Crater. TATO, Tanzania Association of Tour Operators, Tanzania’s leading members-only group advocating for over 300 private expert tour operators in Tanzania, will deploy a…
Malawi may become the tourism investment paradise in Africa. This was made clear after Malawi’s President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera last week Monday unveiled a $660 million tourism investment master plan. This plan will help map up the infrastructure development for this southeast African Nation. Malawi has no history of political instability and has all the…
Air arrivals to East Africa are set to surpass pre-pandemic levels by 8.8% in 2024, according to GlobalData, an international data and analytics company. Projected growth in air travel would be due to investment in airport infrastructure and East Africa’s global reputation as one of the world’s best ecotourism and wildlife destinations, said Craig Bradley, GlobalData…
Air Mauritius is now operating four flights a week between Mauritius and Madagascar. Flights started yesterday, April 7. The flights operate on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and both an Airbus A350-900 and an A330-900neo aircraft will be used on the route. Flight MK288 departs Mauritius at 14h20 and arrives in Antananarivo at 15h15. MK289…