Uganda Opens Borders to International Travelers

As of Oct.1, Uganda’s borders have reopened, and Entebbe International Airport (EBB) has resumed operations for international airlines following a six-month closure during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. All of Uganda’s national parks are open to international visitors as well. The reopening signals a return to business for Uganda’s tourism industry as international travelers…

Rhino Population Grows in Malawi

On World Rhino Day last week, African Parks were pleased to announce encouraging signs of a growing black rhino population as the nation re-emerges as a regionally significant conservation stronghold for this critically endangered species. Malawi is overseeing a resurgence of wildlife and its parks under progressive new conservation policies helping to restore its natural…

Zimbabwe and Malawi Bolster Ties

Zimbabwe President Mnangagwa yesterday urged SADC countries to harness natural resources abundant in the region so as to improve the lives of their citizens through production and productivity. Speaking at a State banquet for the visiting Malawian President Lazarus Chikwera at the State House last night, the President traced the historical ties between Zimbabwe and Malawi…

United States Excluded from South Africa Reopening

South Africa’s borders will reopen on October 1 for international travel, except for leisure travellers from a group of countries classed ‘high risk’. In a media briefing today, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, explained that South Africa had used WHO guidelines to determine three categories of countries – high-, medium- and low-risk. Pandor…

SAA Finalizing Restructuring Process

The South African Department of Public Enterprises confirms that government will reprioritize funds to finalise the restructuring of South African Airways (SAA) and the implementation of the airline’s business rescue plan. An announcement to this effect will be announced in the Adjustments Appropriation Bill, which will be introduced in Parliament soon. The national carrier will…

South Africa Establishes ‘Wildlife Zones’ for Rhino Protection

Seven integrated ‘wildlife zones’ will be introduced across South Africa to protect the endangered rhinoceros population. By demarcating areas primarily around rhino populations, both wildlife and people living in and around the conservation areas will be protected, said Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy. “By introducing a zoning approach, the necessary resources can be…

Seychelles Streamlines Arrivals

Seychelles has gone live with Travizory technology to facilitate the collection and analysis of traveller documentation to ensure the reopening of borders takes place safely. The new technology allows authorities to collect and identify health information directly from the traveller via easy-to-use web and mobile apps. The information is fed securely into a single system,…

Comair Gets ‘Back to Business’

Comair has taken the most significant step along the path towards getting ‘back to business’ and emerging from business rescue. On Friday September 18, a “vast majority” of creditors and shareholders voted to adopt the business rescue plan. In terms of the business rescue plan, the preferred investment consortium, comprising a number of former Comair board members…

WTM London Goes Entirely Virtual

WTM London will be entirely virtual this November. WTM Virtual will take place from November 9-11, offering delegates the chance to arrange one-on-one virtual meetings to do business, attend conference sessions and roundtables, take part in speed networking and more. There will be four virtual theatres to host webinars and debates. “Sadly, this year will…

Namibia Reverses Quarantine Policy

International tourists are no longer required to spend seven days at one facility in Namibia as per the amended health and safety protocols. This was announced by Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, who pointed out that the amended protocols now allowed tourists – intending to spend less than five days at a pre-booked…

Kenya to Host Elephant-Naming Festival

Kenya will host the first annual Magical Kenya Elephant Naming Festival in August 2021. Kenya Tourism Board CEO, Dr Betty Radier, said the annual event would go a long way to support tourism and wildlife conservation efforts. She added that the festival had the potential to encourage more people to engage in conservation efforts. It also…

Botswana Tourism Sector Receives $1.4MM Funding Boost

Germany has donated €1.2 million to Botswana’s Ministry of Environment Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism. Minister Philda Kereng said the financial assistance would help to cushion the tourism industry, which has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Through the donation, Botswana will be able to subsidise wages for community-based organisations within the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area,”…

The Blue Train is Back on Track

The Blue Train will resume services for private charters from September 1 and will operate a full schedule from November 1. During lockdown, The Blue Train has shared news regarding its new hygiene protocols to ensure the highest level of health and safety for guests and staff. “We are pleased to be opening up operations…

Emirates Returns to Lusaka

Emirates will resume its Lusaka service with two flights a week, starting September 4, according to a press release. Flights will operate on Fridays and Sundays using a Boeing 777-300ER. EK 713 will depart from Dubai at 08h20, arriving in Lusaka at 13h30. Return flight EK 714 departs Lusaka at 15h30, arriving in Dubai at…

How Stellenbosch Got its Groove Back

Known as one of South Africa’s oldest towns and boasting itself as a wine, food, art and cultural destination, Stellenbosch hit a slump like many other destinations in the country when the Covid-19 pandemic struck. But, that hasn’t stopped the small town from innovating and moving forward from an unfortunate ordeal. In a bid to…

Africa Eliminates Polio in Historic Health Win

African leaders said Tuesday the continent is free of wild poliovirus, a historic public health achievement that will spare tens of thousands of children from the devastating disease every year. The Africa Regional Certification Commission for Polio Eradication officially declared the continent free of polio, four years after Nigeria reported the last known case. “This is a…

Egypt Upgrades Giza Plateau to Attract Tourists Back to Pyramids

Construction engineers and workers have almost completed the first restaurant at the Giza Plateau, where the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx are located. It will serve tourists visiting the plateau, the epicenter of Egypt’s ancient civilization. Those visiting the restaurant — an unostentatious structure decorated with simple furniture and tables, but potentially serving the most authentic of…

Seychelles Celebrates 250 Years

On August 27, 250 years ago, the first settlers arrived in Seychelles – today recognized as a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean. The 28 people were French and their slaves from Africa and India. The first settlers came to the islands onboard the vessel Telemaque, and they established their first settlement…

Kenya to Market Wildebeest and Whale Migrations

Kenya is positioning both the annual Wildebeest Migration in the Maasai Mara and the Whale Migration in the coastal region as a unique natural tourism experience in the destination. Now dubbed the “Twin migration” because of the simultaneous occurrence of the phenomenon, tourists have the option of witnessing both migrations which happen on Savanna and…

Uganda to Focus on Film Tourism

Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) and Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly promote “Destination Uganda” as a premier film and tourist destination. The MoU enjoins the two parties to collaborate and jointly market Destination Uganda, and to improve Uganda’s brand as a film and tourism destination. Speaking at the signing…

Rangers Receive Million-Dollar Relief Fund

Wildlands Conservation Trust has been awarded emergency relief funding by The Wildlife Ranger Challenge to combat the immediate threat to operations posed by COVID-19. The Wildlife Ranger Challenge is a pan-African virtual fund-raising race uniting ranger teams across the continent to raise money needed to support the thousands of rangers affected by the  COVID-19 pandemic…

Eswatini Receives WTTC Safe Travels Stamp

The Kingdom of Eswatini is one of the first southern African countries to receive the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Safe Travels Stamp. “Eswatini is pleased to join other destinations in being part of the globally recognised WTTC Safe Travels protocols,” said Minister of Tourism, Moses Vilakati. “Implementation of these protocols is part of our message…

Swiss Air Resumes Flights to Nairobi

The Lufthansa Group has announced that Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) will resume flights to Nairobi from September 5. The airline will operate a weekly flight, departing from Zurich at 13h25 on Saturdays, arriving in Nairobi at 22h35. The return flight departs Nairobi at 23h00 on Sundays, arriving in Zurich at 06h10 the next day.…

Malawi’s Lilongwe Wildlife Trust Offers Conservation Trip

Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT), responsible for running Malawi’s only wildlife rehabilitation centre, saving malawi’s wildlife in the wild, and educating and campaigning for wildlife crime prevention, have released their latest newsletter. The work that Lilongwe Wildlife Trust do can be experienced first hand by you. The Malawi Conservation Experience trip, perfect for animal lovers and adventurous…

Tanzania Receives WTTC Safe Travels Stamp

Tanzania is the latest East African country to receive the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Safe Travels Stamp. Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Hamisi Kigwangalla, said Tanzania would use the stamp to promote its attractions in all its global source markets. “It will give travellers the confidence to visit our rich and varied attractions. We…

Malawi Gears Up to Open Borders

The Malawian government is working on developing risk management plans for the tourism industry as it gears up to resume international flights in the first week of September. This is according to Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture, Michael Bizwuick Usi, who was quoted by the Malawi News Agency as saying the plans would ensure proper management of…

All South African Tourism Attractions Open for Business

South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, announced that all tourism attractions were open to operate under Alert Level 2 of the COVID-19 risk-adjusted strategy, at a media briefing earlier today (August 19). “These include, but are not limited to, theme parks, amusement parks, water parks, family entertainment centres, zoos, aquariums, science centres, nature and game…

Military Uprising Underway in Mali

A military uprising is reportedly underway in Mali, as the reports of gun battles at a military base and arrests of prominent politicians and high-ranking military officers are pouring in. The mutiny apparently started following weeks of protests calling for the president to resign. There have been several reports of gunfire at a base in…