Towards the end of last year, the Indaba Hotel in Fourways partnered with Inverroche, one of South Africa’s most famous craft gins – now exported, to open the Gin School at Indaba Hotel. Under the expertise of the master Gin School host, guests can brew and distil their very own hand-crafted gin according to their own…
Airlines have changed their policy with regard to requiring children travelling to SA to have a birth certificate. Iata, the association that guides most airlines flying into SA, is advising their members’ check-in staff to no longer request birth certificates from minors who have visas, or who are exempted from visas, if travelling with their…
The third annual Malawi International Tourism Expo (MITE) wrapped up this past Saturday and was largely considered a smashing success. The show featured 70+ participating suppliers and 41 buyers representing 10 countries traveling to Lilongwe for the expo. The fourth annual Malawi International Tourism Expo is expected to take place in April 2020 once again…
EGYPTAIR IS EXPANDING! New Washington DC (IAD) to CAIRO, NON-STOP starting JUNE 4, 2019. New service is 3x weekly NON-STOP flights from Washington DC, Dulles Airport to CAIRO International Airport EgyptAir also announces the introduction the Dreamliner 787 on NEW YORK to Cairo route starting NOVEMBER 1, 2019!
The third annual Takulandirani Malawi International Tourism Expo (MITE) kicked off today in Lilongwe with 70+ exhibitors showcasing all that Malawi and its neighboring destinations have to offer. The Malawi Department of Tourism is hosting 41 buyers from 10 countries including 11 buyers from the United States and Canada during the two day expo. MITE has…
The US Department of Commerce’s National Travel and Tourism Office has released data that reveals a record 93 million outbound travellers in 2018, with Africa being the destination of choice of 423 000 of those. This marks a 7% increase from the previous period. The total growth of US outbound travel in 2018 was 6%, an…
Malawi has become the first nation to immunize children against malaria. Launched on Tuesday, the Malaria vaccine pilot programme will see at least 120,000 children in Malawi under the age of two injected with the RTS,S vaccine, for partial protection to malaria parasite. Malawi’s Ministry of Health, deputy director, Michael Kayange, said the new system of…
The newly appointed CEO for the African Tourism Board, Ms. Doris Woerfel from Pretoria, South Africa, issued her initial welcome message to ATB members today. She shared her vision for African Tourism and declared her commitment to contribute for Africa to become one tourist destination. She stated: I am thrilled to have been appointed as the CEO of…
If it was not for the standard gauge railway (SGR) train, Gilbert Wandera, a businessman in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, would not have taken his family for this Easter holiday to Mombasa, a tourist resort in the coastal region. Wandera booked the SGR train , dubbed Madaraka Express over a month in advance for his wife…
Rhino Fund Uganda is happy to announce the birth of baby number 22 on Ziwa rhino sanctuary. Malaika gave birth to a healthy boy the morning of 19 April 2019. Both mother and calf are doing well. Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch located in Nakasongola district is the proud home of the only wild rhinos…
United Airlines says it will return to Africa this winter, when it will become the only airline to fly non-stop between the United States and Cape Town, South Africa. Starting Dec. 15, United will fly a Boeing 787-9 between its Newark hub and Cape Town, the second largest city in South Africa with a metropolitan…
From June, Kenya Airways (KQ) will increase its flight frequency from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport NBO to New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) from five to seven days a week. The airline’s CEO Sebastian Mikosz says KQ seeks to cash in on the US summer high season. “The New York route continues to be…
Situated right by the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, a brand new eco safari lodge has recently opened. Known as the Rafiki Safari Camp, the luxury tented safari units include private bathrooms with showers, and even a private verandah offering guests panoramic views over the reserve and distant mountains. Each unit includes electric fans and cotton percale fabric…
WTM Africa 2019 opened yesterday on a high note with thousands of travel professionals visiting from across the globe to attend the leading event for the travel industry in Africa. BIG SHOW, BIG CONTENT Important discussions underscored the role of women in the tourism sector at the Women in travel Meetup, while Business Events Conference powered by IBTM Africa…
Marriott plans to open just under 20 hotels in the Middle East and Africa region in 2019, across brands including St Regis, W Hotels, JW Marriott and The Autograph Collection. The properties will add over 3,000 rooms to the group’s portfolio, and are part of plans to open 100 hotels and around 26,000 rooms across…
The Department of Tourism in the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture is working on revolutionalising the tourism industry in Malawi. Director of Tourism, Isaac Katopola, discusses some of the highlights of 2018 and expectations for 2019 with DENIS MZEMBE. Excerpts: What have been some of the major highlights of the tourism industry in Malawi…
The Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland) government is set to officially open its own Hilton Garden Inn hotel in Mbabane in May, Times of Swaziland reported. This announcement was made by the Minister of Public Service, Christian Ntshangase during a media press conference held at the Public Service Pension Fund (PSPF) conference room recently. The multi-million…
From tanzanites to cute travel trinkets, shopping in Cape Town has come along over the last few years. The international inflections and blend of Afro-Euro style is evident in the sophisticated and styled prints, decor items, art, jewels, accessories and clothing. While many designers have found themselves in boutiques around the globe, there is nothing…
The CEO of South African Tourism, Sisa Ntshona, has been suspended, the board said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon. The board is investigating allegations received against Ntshona via its anonymous tip-offs reporting mechanism, the statement said. It did not elaborate on what the allegations were. It said the investigations would be conducted in the…
Cycle Malawi currently have a collection of special offers on their tours and scheduled departures. With day trips such as the Zomba Plateau MTB Day Tour at only $90 per person, and 7-10 Day departures exploring the country from $1470 per person. There is limited availability, so enquire today for further information. Mount Mulanje is a dramatic towering…
Uganda’s newest lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Elephant Plains, is seeking to position itself as a destination for wedding and honeymoon business. Elephant Plains is a brand new luxury lodge located on the most spectacular view point in the whole of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Perched 941 metres above sea level, high upon the…
Zimbabwe’s biggest tourism expo, the annual Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo (SHWTE), is predicted to see even greater numbers than last year. The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has announced that the expo will take place from September 12 to 14 at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds in Bulawayo, and will showcase a wide variety of…
Tongole Wilderness Lodge is excited to finally be within the fenced sanctuary area of Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve (NKKWR). The fence was initially erected by African Parks to ensure a safe and controlled release of the 500 elephants and other wildlife that was translocated from Liwonde and Majete to Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve in 2016 and 2017. The fence line…
AirKenya will launch flights between the Maasai Mara and Entebbe, Uganda, starting June 1, via Kisumu for immigration purposes. AirKenya Reservations Manager, Catherine Kimwele, told Tourism Update that the flights would be daily, “initially starting with a Grand Caravan (11-seater), and will progress to an 18 or 50-seater, depending on the loads”. The flight will depart the Maasai…
Known as “the warm heart of Africa” for many reasons, Malawi is brimming with opportunity and generosity, just begging to be discovered by the outside world. Largely untouched by modern-day tourism, Malawi is an incredibly diverse, welcoming nation well worth exploring. After you’ve gone on a Big 5 Safari and explored Africa’s Greatest Lake, dive deeper into Malawi with our…
As Sierra Leone honours the work of Dr. Jane Goodall (DBE, anthropologist and UN Messenger of Peace), the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, during her three-day visit to the country last week, there are major changes being made by the government to seriously position the country as a ‘must visit’ tourist destination. The Order of…
Sierra Leone honored Dr. Jane Goodall (DBE, anthropologist and UN Messenger of Peace), the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, during her three-day visit to the country this past week, with three major announcements – first, bestowing the country’s highest honors on Dr Jane Goodall; second, the announcement of changes in the visa policy to allow…
In December, Seychelles North Island resort will join the Marriott International portfolio of properties through a franchise agreement, following which it will be operating as ‘North Island, a Luxury Collection Resort’. North Island will join over 100 hotels and resorts across 35 countries in The Luxury Collection portfolio – but will be the first hotel…
The Order of the Rokel, Sierra Leone’s highest and most prestigious decoration, is awarded to those in Sierra Leone who have made valuable contributions to the country. The award was presented to Dr. Goodall on February 27th in recognition of her diligent and committed work to the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary and the conservation of the…
Satemwa Tea Estate, located in the Thyolo region of South Malawi, has been nominated as one of Africa’s most dynamic growth businesses by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), in the second edition of the London Stock Exchange Group’s Companies to inspire Africa 2019. Satemwa has been in operation since the early 1920’s, and in the…
KLM has announced that, due to operational issues, 10 of its scheduled flights between Amsterdam and Nairobi will be operated by Kenya Airways between March 4 and 14. The 10 KLM-operated flights (KL566 and KL565) using a B747-400, will be operated by Kenya Airways using a Boeing 787-8. THE Kenya Airways flight numbers are KQ194…
Botswana has committed to join the Kavango-Zambezi (Kaza) uni-visa system, which will expedite the movement of tourists between the country and other Kaza members, Zimbabwe and Zambia. “The two Presidents [Zimbabwe and Botswana] welcomed Botswana’s decision to consider joining the Kaza uni-visa system, as it will assist in the promotion of tourism among the countries…
The narrow valleys and lush, steep slopes of southwestern Uganda are home to the legendary mountain gorillas – half the world’s population live here in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (the remainder live in neighboring Rwanda and the Congo). Mount Elgon national park in Uganda. GETTY IMAGES The aptly named 128-square-mile national park at the edge of the…
The Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) and the Rwanda Tours and Travel Association (RTTA) have agreed to jointly market the two countries as complementary destinations in a bid to provide tourists with an array of adventure experiences. TATO CEO, Sirili Akko, said the main objective of the partnership was to encourage tourists to increase their…
Tragedy can send a person spinning downward, and inward. Or the centrifugal forces can release them outward, into new endeavors. In the last seven years, Crystal Dyer has lost both her grandson, Devin, to gang violence and her own son, Christoph, through an accidental death. Instead of allowing these events to deter her spirit and…
The Government of Botswana is at a crossroads on whether to lift the ban placed on elephant hunting in 2014, or leave it in place. A report submitted by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Hunting Ban Social Dialogue, which was commissioned by Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, has put forward the recommendation that the ban be…
In July, Rovos Rail will introduce a new 15-day expedition through Tanzania, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. This will be the first time in history that a passenger train will travel the famous east-to-west copper trail. Rovos Rail Communications Manager, Brenda Vos-Fitchet says this inaugural voyage sets off on July 16 from Dar es…
Machaba Safaris is set to open two new luxury safari camps in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. Deteema Springs Camp will open on May 1. The eight tents include a family tent, with children aged over six welcome. Tents are smaller than Machaba’s traditional tents, with facilities including hot and cold running water, flush toilets and…
Zambia Tourism Agency (ZTA) announced on Tuesday (February 19) that the dates set for the Zambia Travel Expo (ZATEX) have been affected by the rescheduling of Africa’s Travel Indaba 2019 in South Africa, which were brought forward due to the country’s upcoming national elections. The ZTA is therefore consulting the trade on two possible date…
The dates for Africa’s Travel Indaba have been brought forward to May 2 to 4, remaining at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban. This is due to the SA President Cyril Ramaphosa announcing at his State Of The Nation Address (SONA) that the national elections would take place on May 8 – falling in…
a2b Destination Marketing celebrated their 5th Anniversary along with the Florida APTA Chapter. It was a successful evening allowing guest to learn about their 5 star portfolio consisting of The Cape Grace Hotel, Victoria Falls River Lodge, Shamwari Private Game Reserve, Camp Jabulani and Taasa Lodge.
This phenomenal level of positive media coverage is driving a massive increase in demand for Malawi on the back of the transformation of its wildlife that has been on-going for a few years. With the largest elephant translocation in history already completed, last year has seen lions moved into Liwonde (to join the cheetahs from…
The extremely rare female cat has melanism, a condition in which the body produces an excess of pigment. They say that black cats bring bad luck, but when Nick Pilfold heard about one lurking around central Kenya, he knew he was onto something special. The Kenya-based biologist and his team deployed a set of camera…
Major roads in Mount Kenya National Park and Tsavo East National Park have been upgraded. The Mount Kenya roads project has seen major improvement of access roads along Kalalu Farm to Sirmon Gate and Old Moses Camp, and Naromoru Gate to Met Station Road – a stretch of 27km. The upgrade of the road along…
Ethiopian Airlines is delighted to announce the launch of a new state-of-the-art terminal at their international hub Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. The launch ceremony also unveiled a brand new ultra-modern 5-star Skylight Hotel. The launch ceremony was attended by FDRE Prime Minister H.E. Dr Abiy Ahmed, African Union Chairperson H.E. Mr Moussa Faki, Ministers,…
The national animal of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the okapi, is often described as ‘half-zebra, half-giraffe, an animal so rare that is was unknown to the western word until the turn of the 20th century’. However this hybrid-looking creature faces many growing threats, including habitat loss due to the exploitation of the country’s resources. …
South African Airways (SAA) has resumed flights between Johannesburg and Malawi, SAnews.gov.za reported on Monday. The national carrier resumed flights between Johannesburg and Blantyre on Saturday. “We are pleased that we are able to reinstate flights between the two points following the implementation of our corrective action plan. The plan was a battery of remedial…
Airlink will from 4 February 2019, enhance its Cape Town to Hoedspruit and Cape Town to Nelspruit KMIA service to include business class. Airlink’s E-Jet services between Cape Town – Hoedspruit and Cape Town – Nelspruit KMIA will now offer an intra-continental (as in intra Europe) style business class service. The cabin layout features expansive…
As 2019 promises to be an exciting year for Malawi, we look back at 2018 to see how the country’s wildlife has transformed, catching the attention of the world. Tours & trails have developed by local operators as the country becomes a hot destination for safaris in Africa. Wildlife Transformation ‘Completing’ Malawi For a long…
The big surf discoveries of the past 10 years have surprisingly been in Africa. Gone are the Hawaiian shirts and SoCal woody wagons. “Here, surfing is about exploration,” says Andy Davis, cofounder of the Cape Town–based surf brand Mami Wata, “in places that are still so wild—jungles, deserts, and unspoiled vistas—where there could be crocs and hippos in…