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…
After a decade marked by terrorism and other setbacks to its tourism brand, Kenya is now reveling in growth that is sure to be further nurtured by the first direct flight between the U.S. and East Africa. Read the feature article on Travel Weekly
Malawi Department of Tourism will once again be hosting a hosted buyer program + FAM trip around the annual Malawi International Tourism Expo (MITE) taking place in Lilongwe 25-27 April. Hosted buyers will attend the conference and then a post-conference FAM trip taking place 27 April – 1 May. Qualified buyers with an interest in…
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 western escarpment of the Albertine rift in the north east of the park, the lodge offers panoramic views stretching for miles over the…
If you’ve been on safari, you’ll know how noisy game-viewing vehicles are: the great thrum the engines make on starting and the clatter as they drive through the bush. Yet it’s the kind of noise you get used to and might not even notice – until it isn’t there anymore. That’s what happened when I…
Annual maintenance on Cape Town’s Table Mountain Cableway has been extended this year to six weeks instead of five, from July 8 until August 18. The renovations include the replacing of cable car ropes and more. All the planned changes are to ensure an improved visitor experience. The public can still hike up Table Mountain…
The Zimbabwean government as appointed famous Black Panther star Danai Gurira as one of the tourism ambassadors of the Southern African nation. Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira made the appointment on Tuesday at the launch of Tour Africa-New Horizon Project. The block buster movie was the highest grossing film in southern, East…
This weekend, APTA members will be exhibiting at the New York Times Travel Show in the APTA pavilion. Participating members include: Seychelles Tourism Infinite Safari Adventures Africa Angel Tours Duma Explorer Camps Uganda Tourism Board In addition, APTA will be running the Friday morning “Focus on Africa” session. The schedule of speakers is as follows.…
Rwanda has signed and initialled a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with 20 countries to expand its air transport network. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, Rwanda’s Minister of State in charge of transport, last month signed the BASA on behalf of the government of Rwanda, at the eleventh International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) Air Services Negotiation…
Kuwona Cottage, situated on the pristine sands of Lake Malawi in the Senga Bay area, is now open for 2019 bookings. Kuwona Cottage is a private, self-catering lakeside accommodation in the popular Senga Bay area. The cottage is a great place to visit if you are looking for a couple of days away from the…
Assailants identified as Shabab militants attacked a Nairobi luxury hotel and office complex on Tuesday, spreading death and panic as the police in Kenya’s capital evacuated civilians and sealed off the area. President Uhuru Kenyatta said on Wednesday that at least 14 people were killed in the assault, during which one of Nairobi’s most secure…
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…
Just before boarding a hired B787 Dreamliner to embark on a two-week working visit to five countries, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mgnangagwa shocked his country by announcing a 150% hike in fuel prices, effective midnight January 13, catapulting the country into protest action. A swift sequel to this announcement on January 14 spurred the country to outrage, when government…
The ‘Protecting our Wildlife’ campaign is launching through every copy of the Guardian newspaper and www.globalcause.co.uk on 2nd March this year in light of World Wildlife Day with six months of international distribution and events such as CITES COP, UN Environment Assembly and G20 Summit & Ministerial Meeting. We are actively looking for industry partners from travel tourism and transport to support and raise awareness on this…
The Namib Desert in southern Africa may not be as desolately quiet as you’d expect, thanks to a new sound installation that aims to play Toto’s “Africa” on eternal repeat, NPR reports. Namibian-German artist Max Siedentopf’s installation is appropriately titled “Toto Forever.” Utilizing six speakers, an MP3 player featuring literally just that one song, and solar energy, the…
Lilly Ajarova, one of the Top 100 women in Tourism honoured at the 13th Akwaaba African Travel Market has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Tourism Board (UTB). Ajarova is the Executive Director of the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and wildlife trust. She was, on Thursday, announced by the State minister for tourism,…