Although Malawi has historically not been one of the most visited African countries, times appear to be changing. Over the last decade, tourism has grown steadily, with the last five years seeing a rapid acceleration. Malawi has a beautiful landscape and friendly population, so it is a natural choice for holidaymakers. However, one avenue that…
The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) will focus on safe tourism as a main part of its marketing strategy. STB Chief Executive, Sherin Francis, conveyed this to key stakeholders via an online meeting as Seychelles prepares to welcome commercial flights from August 1. Francis reiterated the precautionary measures taken by the destination through the Department of Tourism,…
Malawi is being widely applauded over the successful and peaceful completion of its recent Presidential election, which was historic for a number of reasons. It was only the second time an election had been re-run in Africa after an annulment, and the very first that the opposition subsequently went on to win. It is notably…
Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, has announced a phased reopening of the country, including the resumption of international flights from August 1. Domestic flights will resume on July 15. However, the current nationwide curfew has been extended for a further 30 days. “In the next 21 days we shall study patterns of interactions and the spread of the…
The Protea Hotel by Marriott Masa Square opened in Gaborone, on July 2, the first of its brand in Botswana. It features 152 rooms and 30 extended-stay apartments. It is located in Masa Square lifestyle centre in Gaborone, a 20-minute drive from Sir Seretse Khama International Airport. The hotel also offers conference facilities and meeting…
The Red Carnation Hotel Collection’s Xigera Safari Lodge in Botswana will open in October. The lodge is on the western side of the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta. The 12 individually designed air-conditioned suites include a two-bedroom family suite situated on two linked islands. Xigera Safari Lodge will feature two luxury spa rooms,…
The Kampala Serena Hotel reopened its doors this month, following Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa, which reopened on June 1. Hotels have been allowed to reopen from June 1. “We are selling to the local market, since regional borders and international flights are not open yet,” said Country Sales Manager of Kampala Serena…
Malawi has many attributes that make it ideal for post-lockdown tourism, covering the need for distancing and providing what many travellers are now seeking: Open spaces – Malawi is all about wildernesses, highland areas, wildlife reserves and wide beaches. No mass tourism/Uncrowded – Malawi is still off the beaten path in tourism terms with no…
The quick action taken by Stellenbosch means it is the first destination in sub Saharan Africa to be awarded the prestigious Safe Travels Stamp by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, designed the special Safe Travels stamp to enable travellers to identify destinations and…
In the middle of Mozambique, at the southern end of the Great African Rift Valley, Gorongosa National Park is a haven for wildlife. Crocodiles patrol its rivers, hippos splash in its lakes, antelopes graze on the floodplains and lions stalk the savanna, looking for their next meal. Some of the park’s creatures, such as the…
As steps get into high gear on re-opening the country, Kenya has been awarded the Safe Travel Stamp by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) which is a forum for the travel and tourism industry. The accreditation came in recognition of the country’s adoption of the global health and hygiene standardized protocols dubbed ‘Safe Travels’ in the wake…
A meeting of the Ministerial Coordination Committee for Transport, Logistics and Trade of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has just ended. It took place over 4 days by videoconference resulting in West Africa reopening borders. The objective was to provide a coordinated response to the fight against the coronavirus and to examine the possibility of reopening…
This May, two new mountain gorilla babies were born in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, joining the species’ growing, population of more than 1,000 in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Every birth is a success for the species. Mother Kabagyenyi and father (Silverback) Bweza are looking after their baby in the Nshongi…
Kenya’s National Treasury has allocated KES11.3billion (€94m) to the tourism sector to help it recover following the effects of COVID-19. This is in addition to the KES500 million (€4.1m) the government set aside earlier this year. Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani said KES2billion (€16.6m) of the amount would be shared by community reserves to jump-start the tourism…
The National Heritage Council of Namibia has announced the reopening of heritage sites under its direct management. All sites reopened on June 20 except the Brandberg Mountain National Heritage Site, which will open on June 29. Namibia’s State of Emergency continues with eased restrictive measures and COVID-19 regulations will be observed at the heritage sites,…
Malawi’s new President Lazarus Chakwera was sworn in Sunday in the capital Lilongwe, after he defeated two candidates, including former President Peter Mutharika, in the tightly contested presidential election rerun held last week. There was jubilation from hundreds of people who gathered at the Bingu International Convention Center, in Lilongwe to witness Chakwera and his…
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has announced the reopening of tourism activities, with international charter flights resuming on Wednesday (June 17). “Rwanda’s tourism industry is adapting to create a safe environment for travellers and operators to thrive in these unprecedented times,” said Chief Tourism Officer of RDB, Belise Kariza. “We encourage all travel enthusiasts and nature…
Virgin Atlantic plans to relaunch its London Heathrow-Johannesburg route on September 15. Johannesburg is one of 17 destinations that the airline aims to relaunch as soon as travel restrictions are eased. Head of Middle East, Africa and India of Virgin Atlantic Airways, Liezl Gericke, says the relaunch of the Johannesburg route is tied to acquiring the…
Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has on Tuesday, June 23 kicked off the inspection of hotels to ensure compliance of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) put in place by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities in the wake of COVID-19. The SOPs aim to provide health and safety protocols for all s hotel and accommodation…
Serendib Hotels, a chain of hotels and resorts in some of Malawi’s most popular hotspots, have some exciting opportunities for those wishing to volunteer and also benefit from an extended working holiday in the sunshine! Responsible for running the Serendib Blantyre collection, the Blue Waters and Kambiri Beach resorts in Salima and the Zaburi Beach resort by the Mangochi Lakeshore, Serendib hotels are offering a wide…
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has provided some clarity on the ‘Advanced Level Three’ easing of further restrictions. This was to ensure the further opening up of certain economic sectors, the president said. The eased restrictions include opening up of registered and licensed accommodation facilities as well as allowing conferences and meetings for a maximum of 50…
One of Uganda’s best known mountain gorillas, Rafiki, has been killed. Four men have been arrested, and they face a life sentence or a fine of $5.4m (£4.3m) if found guilty of killing an endangered species. Investigations showed that Rafiki was killed by a sharp object that penetrated his internal organs. There are just over…
Air Namibia, which requested and was refused a US$119m government bailout last October, has been rescued by an allocation from the Namibian department of public enterprises. But the carrier could still be heading for possible restructuring, Namibian President, Hage Geingob, told parliament on June 5 that the airline should be liquidated since it required constant government…
Kenya Airways has again postponed taking to the skies after President Uhuru Kenyatta announced last week that nationwide lockdown measures would remain in place until July 6. Earlier this month, Kenyan Transport Ministry Cabinet Secretary James Macharia announced that that the national carrier would resume passenger flights on June 8. The airline has not indicated when passenger flights will…
Serendib Hotels, a chain of hotels and resorts in some of Malawi’s most popular hotspots, have some exciting opportunities for those wishing to volunteer and also benefit from an extended working holiday in the sunshine! Responsible for running the Serendib Blantyre collection, the Blue Waters and Kambiri Beach resorts in Salima and the Zaburi Beach resort by the Mangochi Lakeshore, Serendib hotels are offering a wide…
The Association of Uganda Tour Operators chief executive, Gloria Tumwesigye, spoke with Bamuturaki Musinguzi on the impact of the coronavirus on Uganda’s travel industry. What is the state of the travel industry in Uganda? The pandemic has affected global tourism, which is hardest-hit by border closures, grounded air traffic and travel restrictions. Uganda earns over…
South Africa could reopen its borders for international tourism as early as September, according to a plan being proposed by tourism industry officials there. The proposal is being presented to Parliament today. It has already been submitted to the minister of tourism, who will lobby for it on behalf of industry to the South African…
South African National Parks (SANParks) has opened parks for day visitors to parks that cater for self-drives. CEO, Fundisile Mketeni, said SANParks used last week to prepare for the expected arrival of guests. “We appreciate that after two months of confinement, the public is keen to engage with nature, and the excitement as shown by enquiries…
The way ahead is now clear for 26 areas in KwaZulu Natal to be legally recognised as nature reserves, according to a press release. This effort was led by NGOs WWF South Africa and Conservation Outcomes, and Ndlovu de Villiers Attorneys. The 26 areas consist of a mixture of communal, private and state-owned land, and…
The Gondwana Collection Namibia is opening a new lodge, Etosha King Nehale Lodge, on June 10 as it begins to reopen most properties within the group. The 40-room lodge, which is on the Andoni Plains in the King Nehale Conservancy, was initially meant to open in May but due to the nationwide lockdown, the opening date…
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Najib Balala, has launched a virtual safari live-streamed campaign to showcase safaris in some of the parks and reserves across the country. The six-week expedition – which started on June 2 – will be part of the ongoing #MagicAwaits campaign led by the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB). The campaign…
The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has acknowledged the efforts undertaken by the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority and given the country the global safety and hygiene stamp. It is the only African country among the 17 countries that have received the WTTC’s Safe Travels stamp. The organisation, which represents the global travel and tourism private…
If you’ve heard of Malawi, there’s a chance this is due to Prince Harry, Madonna or tropical fish. There there is also delicious tea and coffee, and rural farmers embracing creative innovations! Direct from Africa’s Great Rift Valley, Malawi tea is a delicious artisanal crop new to most Americans and recently available on Amazon. Relax…
Malawian Style, in conjunction with Green Safaris, are pleases to introduce a brand new 14 night photography tour across Malawi and Zambia led by top safari photographer and guide Matt Armstrong. Take a trip round some of Zambia’s and Malawi’s most picturesque places with Matt’s guidance. From beginner to expert, Matt can not only find you…
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has allocated RWF3.5 billion (USD $3.5mm) for tourism marketing activities as it seeks to help the tourism and hospitality industry to recover from the effects of COVID-19 in the next fiscal year. CEO of the RDB, Clare Akamanzi, made the announcement during a budget hearing session with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on National…
Kenya Airways will resume passenger flights on June 8, confirms Kenyan Transport Ministry Cabinet Secretary James Macharia, in an interview with The Star. Meanwhile, the Kenya Airports Authority is putting in place the necessary operational measures ahead of the opening of the country’s airports. “This will, however, be subject to medical protocols,” said Macharia. The airline indicated to Tourism…
Airlink will launch limited scheduled domestic service starting Monday, 8th June, with flights on the Johannesburg-Cape Town and Johannesburg-Durban trunk routes. This follows the implementation of South Africa’s COVID-19 “Level 3” restrictions, which permits a three-phase resumption of domestic flights, based on the following: Phase 1 – Now in effect and permits flights between Johannesburg, Cape…
The Seychelles Department of Tourism issued its ‘Seychelles Safety Travel Guidelines’ preceding the re-opening of its borders scheduled on June 1, 2020. The guidelines, based on the advice of the Public Health Authority, provides necessary recommendations for tourism related business providers to resume operations in a safe manner while also targeting potential visitors planning to…
With so much to offer, from sun-drenched beaches and majestic mountain ranges to the bustling harbor city of Durban and the colorful Zulu culture, KwaZulu-Natal is easily one of South Africa’s most diverse and welcoming travel destinations. Not to mention, it’s blissfully warm and sunny all-year long, making it an excellent choice no matter the…
The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has unveiled plans to aggressively market Uganda as the safest destination to visit after the COVID-19 but also re-brand destination Uganda. UTB Chief Executive Officer Lilly Ajarova said that the COVID-19 pandemic has put the world tourism sector back to the same level and that it is important for Uganda…
Conservation groups from South Africa and around the globe have called on the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and their Global Tourism Crisis Committee to phase out close-contact wildlife encounters and entertainment practices in tourism to help build a more resilient and sustainable industry going forward. This as the world continues to navigate the…
As President Yoweri Museveni and the Ugandan government continue to take action to contain the spread of COVID-19 within the country, the Ministry of Wildlife Tourism & Antiquities and the Uganda Tourism Board have created guidelines for tourism and hospitality enterprises as part of Uganda’s COVID-19 mitigation and recovery plans. While Uganda’s borders remain closed,…
A lion cub was welcomed to the pride at Liwonde National Park. This is the first cub to be born at the park since lions were reintroduced to the park in 2018. A partnership between African Parks and Department of National parks has seen the re-introduction of iconic species such as the cheetah and lions at the…
Seychelles, has attained virus-free status after the Health Ministry announced full recoveries as of Monday May 18. The country becomes the third in recent times to achieve the feat behind Mauritius and Eritrea. The last cabinet meeting held on May 13 largely focused on COVID-19 containment efforts in the country as a resumption of life was being rolled out.…
Days after President John Magufuli announced the reopening Tanzania’s airspace to scheduled and non-scheduled international flights, the first charter flight with Greek tourists landed at Kilimanjaro International Airport late last week. From today (May 25), more international commercial flights would be operating from the country’s airports, said Minister for Works, Transport and Communications, Isack Kamwelwe. “Airlines that will…
Kenya’s tourism sector is set to receive a KES6bn (€50.8m) stimulus package from the government to help it recover from the negative impact of COVID-19. A further KES2bn (€16.9m) will be set aside to support renovation of facilities and the restructuring of business operations by stakeholders in the industry. President Uhuru Kenyatta said the tourism industry was…
SAA’s business rescue practitioners (BRPs), Les Matuson and Siviwe Dongwana, have clarified that the national carrier will not be resuming domestic flights by mid-June. The statement from the BRPs, issued today (May 27), follows a flysaa press statement announcing that SAA was retaining its domestic schedule as published between Johannesburg and Cape Town, with effect from mid-June. In the statement,…
The Seychelles is taking the bold step of banning all cruise ship tourism through the end of 2021 as a measure to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. The East Africa island nation’s largest newspaper, the Seychelles Nation, reports that Didier Dogley, the country’s Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, made the decision. According…
At least 40,000 people could die with coronavirus in South Africa by the end of the year, scientists have warned. The projections were made by a group of academics and health experts advising the government. They assume tough lockdown restrictions will be eased from June, as President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced. The curbs – which…
In a bid to save its South Africa service, Delta Air Lines will be adding Cape Town to its route network. Delta president Glen Hauenstein stated this in a virtual town hall on May 20th for employees. In it, airline executives reaffirmed confidence that the A350 could continue to fly where the 777s used to.…