Mozambique Closes Beaches

Mozambique has instituted a lockdown with effect from today, Friday, January 15. Beaches must close, along with casinos, nightclubs, bars, gymnasiums, cinemas, theatres, museums and galleries. President Filipe Nyusi announced new restrictive measures for 21 days, to combat the spread of the pandemic. Other measures are: All commercial establishments must close at 18h00. No private events, including…

Emirates Suspends Durban Flights

Emirates has announced the suspension of its flights between Dubai and South Africa, with effect from Saturday, January 16. Flights are expected to resume on January 28. The last three flights from Dubai to South Africa will be on Friday, January 15. EK772 will depart Dubai at 02h50 and arrive in Cape Town at 10h35.…

Johannesburg Nature Reserves Reopen

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo has reopened nature reserves, with adequate access control measures in place. According to a statement made on the organisation’s Facebook page, the following reserves have reopened in line with current COVID-19 regulations: Kloofendal Municipal Nature Reserve in Roodepoort Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve in Johannesburg South Rietfontein Nature Reserve in Sandton Beaulieu Bird…

Malawi’s Dzalanyama Forest Reserve Now Open

The Dzalanyama Forest Reserve, close to Lilongwe, provides both international and domestic tourists an experience different from Malawi’s more famous lake, national parks and mountains: a hilly Brachystegia/miombo forest escape that is great for walking, forest bathing, trekking and mountain biking as well as being a premier woodland birding location. Its distinctive ecosystem attracts both animal…

Kenya eVisa Application Now Mandatory

Kenya’s electronic visa (eVisa) came into effect this month and is mandatory for visitors from all applicable countries. Principal Secretary in the Kenyan Ministry of Home Affairs, Alexander Mukeshi Imbenzi, said in a statement that implementation was timely as it eliminated the need for physical contact between applicants and officials as well as reducing the handling of…

Monika Iuel Appointed as New CMO of Wesgro

Wesgro has appointed Monika Iuel as its new chief marketing officer. David Maynier, Western Cape Minister of finance and economic opportunities comments: “We welcome Monika Iuel to the team. With the tourism industry hard-hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, we are grateful to have someone of her calibre and experience on the team to promote Cape…

Revised COVID-19 Regulations for Seychelles

As part of the new measures enforced and effective immediately, visitors already in Seychelles will be required to remain in one accommodation establishment for the first ten days of their stay in the destination and this measure extends to all new visitors entering Seychelles as of Sunday, January 3, 2020. No transfer of accommodation will…

British Airways Suspends Durban-London Route

British Airways will suspend its direct flights between Durban and London as part of a network reduction due to the impact of COVID-19. Durban-Heathrow is just one of 13 destinations earmarked for suspension. “Coronavirus is having a major impact on customer travel. Like other airlines, due to the pandemic and global travel restrictions, we are…

Uganda to Market Little Known Mount Rwenzori

The Rwenzori mountain ranges are among the UNESCO World Heritage sites. In a fresh drive to revive the tourism sector that has suffered as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns globally and locally, Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), sponsored by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), organised an expedition to Mt. Rwenzori located in Kasese and Bundibugyo districts.…

Ethiopian and Kenya Airways Prepare to Fly COVID-19 Vaccines to Africa

As countries begin placing orders and administering COVID-19 vaccines, questions have been asked about who will handle the logistical nightmare that is transportation and distribution of the vaccines (when they become available) in Africa. Ethiopian airlines has announced the launch of a cold chain air freight to transport temperature-sensitive medicines, including a potential COVID-19 vaccine.…

First Radisson Collection Hotel Opens in Africa

Radisson Hotel Group debuts its Radisson Collection in Africa by opening a Radisson Collection Hotel in Bamako, the capital and largest city of Mali. Perfectly placed in one of the city’s most sought-after neighborhoods, ACI 2000, the new Radisson Collection Hotel, Bamako is the epitome of convenience, just 20 minutes from Bamako’s Modibo Keita International Airport and…

Malawi Closes Borders for 14 Days

Malawi on Wednesday closed its border for the next 14 days following a new surge in coronavirus cases in the country. “The only people who will be allowed through the entry border posts are Malawians deported from other countries, those returning home and providers of essential services,” Information Minister Gospel Kazako said at a news…

Namibia Expecting Surge in Tourism

International interest for Namibia is growing with promise for the early months of 2021. “We have surprisingly had a lot of interest for what is typically our low season, in February, March and April,” said MD of Natural Selection Namibia, Ally Karaerua. He told Tourism Update that should the tourism situation in the country remain positive, Natural Selection…

South Africa is Open, but its Beaches are Not

With 866,127 COVID-19 cases and 23,451 deaths, South Africa is the hardest-hit country on the African continent, Africa News reported last week. Despite the staggering numbers, the nation opened its borders to international travelers, as long as they are able to show a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of their departure, the nation’s tourism site states. South Africa’s…

British Airways Resumes Seychelles Flights

Pointe Larue International Airport in Seychelles welcomed British Airways again on Sunday, (December 13) after the airline took a four-week break amid a second wave of COVID-19 in Europe and the UK. The airline resumed its weekly flight after the UK loosened restrictions over several areas within BA’s network. Some 171 visitors disembarked from the…

A Radical Reset for Conservation in Africa

With tourism all but gone, the pandemic could provide the momentum necessary to activate much-needed changes in how we approach conservation. Kafue National Park in the heart of Zambia is one of the largest protected areas in Africa, encompassing a wilderness the size of New Jersey. Rivers meander through woodlands, teak forests, and open plains that…

Rapid Rail Link to Nairobi Airport Opens

It now takes around 20 minutes from the centre of Nairobi to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Kenyan Transport Cabinet Secretary, James Macharia, officially launched the new rail link this week – the JKIA Express Service – noting that it was an extension of the Nairobi commuter rail service upgrade project that would alleviate congestion on…

Zimbabwe to Intensify Marketing Efforts in 2021

Zimbabwe has lined up tourism marketing initiatives at home and abroad for 2021, to create a more positive image of the country post-COVID-19. “Key activities in 2021 will include hosting educational and familiarisation tours for influencers, including celebrities, local and international media, and the travel trade,” said a government spokesperson. There will also be engagement…

12 Durban Beaches Get Blue Flags

Twelve beaches in Durban have been awarded national blue flag status for the 2020/21 season, according to a release on the Ethekwini website. Five of the city’s beaches received full status – uShaka, Durban North, Point, Amanzimtoti and uMhlanga Main. Seven received blue flag pilot status – South Beach Central, Umgababa, Umdloti Tidal, Westbrook, Ansteys,…

Delta Delays Flights to SA Again

Delta Air Lines has again delayed its return to South Africa. According to the airline’s new schedule, flights to Atlanta will now commence on March 28, 2021. When South Africa’s borders reopened on October 1, Delta initially announced that it would restart its Johannesburg Atlanta route in December. These plans were then postponed and a…

New Rhino Calves Born in Malawi

Four rhino calves have been born in Liwonde National Park in Malawi this year. One year ago, together with the Government of Malawi, African Parks undertook one of the largest international airlifts of black rhino when 17 black rhinos were flown from South Africa to Malawi. By translocating this endangered species, African Parks were able to boost…

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Named #1 on Conde Nast’s ’21 Best Places to go in 2021′

Ethiopia’s profile has risen in recent years. The introduction of an e-visa in late 2017, which made it easier to visit, boosted tourism by 48.6 percent, while Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed caught the world’s attention when he was awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. But even as visitors flocked to Ethiopia’s nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, its historic capital city remained a…

South Africa’s First Hilton Garden Inn Opens

Hilton’s award-winning Hilton Garden Inn brand that provides business and leisure guests upscale, affordable accommodations and unexpected amenities arrives in South Africa. The 14-story, 203-room Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga Arch opens its doors to guests in Umhlanga. Ideally located within the business hub of the mixed-use Umhlanga Arch, only 20 minutes from King Shaka International Airport, Hilton…

Seychelles Steps Up Health Measures

Responding to the increase in the number of Covid-19 cases and the second wave in certain regions around the world, destination Seychelles is re-enforcing measures to curb probabilities of local infection on its shores. The review has been done by the tourism task force, a committee regrouping tourism stakeholders, health decision-makers and various other local…