June Chepkemei, former Acting MD of the Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest), has been named the new CEO of the Kenya Tourism Board. Chepkemei will hold the position for the next three years, succeeding John Chirchir who has been at the helm of the tourism board in acting capacity since November 2022. Her appointment was confirmed via a…
The Lighthouse Precinct project in the Cape Agulhas National Park – a R54.9 million (€2.6m) investment by the Department of Tourism – is about 73% complete and is on track to open in June. This was announced by Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, following her progress visit to the project yesterday (Tuesday, March 26). She…
New York Stock Exchange-listed hospitality company, Hilton, has opened its newest property, Canopy by Hilton Seychelles – marking the boutique lifestyle brand’s debut in the Indian Ocean. Situated in the south of Mahé, Canopy by Hilton Seychelles is the brand’s first resort property in the world. Located just a short drive from the Jardin du Roi (Spice…
Drier than usual conditions owing to less summer rain have allowed Liuwa Plain National Park in Zambia to open early rather than closer to autumn as is more usual. The park opened on March 1. Situated to the far west of the country (almost on the border with Angola), Liuwa Plain is a small conservation area…
Kenya Airways (KQ) has partnered with the Kenya Tourism Board to strategically position the country as a tourist destination in North America through a trade roadshow. The roadshow, scheduled to take place from today (March 19) until Thursday (March 21) in New York, Boston, and Toronto, aims to showcase Kenya and stimulate travel demand for…
South African domestic and regional airline, CemAir, will launch direct flights between Johannesburg and MalaMala Game Reserve, starting June 1. MalaMala is one of the largest private Big Five game reserves in South Africa. It shares an unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park and is situated between the park and Sabi Sand Nature Reserve. The…
uShaka Marine World has welcomed the settlement of its wage dispute with the South African Municipal Workers Union – the union representing the bargaining unit employees. The strike officially ended on Friday (March 15). Following the end of strike, the employees returned to work and the venue reopened to guests on Saturday (March 16). Village Walk Mall,…
Join Painteddog.tv’s Brent Leo-Smith for an evening of drinks and lively conversation about the African safari experience and conservation initiatives. Painteddog.tv is a technology-driven wildlife film production company, and provider of life-changing safaris. Brent Leo-Smith has over 20 years of combined safari, conservation, and film-making experience has helped guide Painteddog.tv to achieving some remarkable feats…
Exhibitor registrations are now open for Essence of Africa, Africa’s International Buyer Forum, an innovative meetings-driven tourism event designed to facilitate meaningful interactions between buyers and sellers within Africa’s tourism industry. The event is scheduled to take place from October 2-4, at the Sarit Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. Launched by On Show Solutions and Experience Africa…
A new luxury sole-use tented camp, Daunara Safari Camp, is scheduled to open in the Okavango Delta in April. The five spacious tented suites offer panoramic views of the Delta. Connected by raised wooden walkways, three standalone suites provide privacy, while two interconnected suites with a shared sitting room cater for families. Owners Lisa and Dave Lubbock, inspired by…
Airlink will resume its Richards Bay flights on Tuesday, March 12. The resumption of flights follows the reinstatement of the approval by the SA Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) of Richards Bay Airport’s fire and rescue services to Category 5 level, allowing the facility to accommodate scheduled airline operations. Half day Gauteng easy e-Bike with wild…
South African National Parks (SANParks) has confirmed the presence of a female elephant in the Knysna forest and fynbos area under its management. As a result, the entity has conducted two types of assessments (sociological and ecological) to make evidence-based decisions for managing the elephant/s in the future. A targeted survey was conducted as part…
Minor Hotels is set to launch a luxury holiday development in the Tanzanian archipelago of Zanzibar alongside resort chain Anantara. The Bangkok-headquartered hotel owner and operator announced its intention to build the 181-key Anantara Zanzibar Resort on 5 March, with a scheduled launch date in 2027. Africa has established itself as the second-fastest-growing tourism market in recent…
Ethiopian Airlines has announced the launch of a thrice-weekly passenger service to Freetown, Sierra Leone, via Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, starting from May 31. The new service will be operated by a Boeing 787-800. The flight schedule is as follows: Flight ET 943 from Addis Ababa (ADD) to Freetown (FNA) via Ouagadougou (OUA) will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Flight ET…
Ol Pejeta Conservancy’s ‘Behind the Scenes’ experience at Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary has now reopened to visitors. The experience offers an exclusive look at the fascinating world of its chimp residents. Established in 1993, Ol Pejeta’s Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary provides safety and solace to rescued and orphaned chimpanzees that cannot be reintroduced back into the wild.…
Kenya Airways will launch direct flights from Nairobi to the Mozambican capital, Maputo, from June 14. The flights will operate on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Flight KQ740 will depart Nairobi at 09h50 and arrive in Maputo at 13h00. Return flight KQ741 departs from Maputo at 13h50 and arrives in Nairobi at 18h45.The new route is…
Effective from July 1st, 2024, there will be an increase in permit fees for primate trekking experiences in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park. The new tariffs are as follows; Gorilla trekking permit fee for non-resident visitors: $800 (previously $700) Chimpanzee permits in Kibale Forest…
Ethiopian Airlines, the largest network operator in Africa, is pleased to announce a launch of a thrice weekly passenger services to Freetown, Sierra Leone via Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso starting from 31st of May 2024. This new route marks yet another milestone in the airline’s extensive network expansion endeavor, connecting more African countries and providing travelers with convenient and efficient…
Well-known historic landmark in Cape Town, The Lenox, is to be transformed into an artist residency and boutique hotel. The transformation initiative marks a pivotal movement in South Africa’s cultural landscape as it becomes France’s first artist residency established in a public-private partnership model. It will also create a unique boutique hotel, operated and managed…
Roots and Journeys is expanding its accommodation offering with the addition of four new adventure camps: Chora, Ngonti, Guda, and Manju, complementing their existing portfolio. These camps, designed to have minimal environmental impact, will welcome guests from March 1. Chora and Ngonti are situated within the Mababe River Private Reserve, while Guda and Manju are…
Zambian airline Proflight has expanded its Cape Town to Lusaka route, adding additional capacity, just seven months after the introduction of the route. The 3.5 hour flight is the only direct air connection between the two cities. First introduced as a twice-weekly flight in July 2023, Proflight launched its three-times weekly offering at an event…
Great Plains Conservation will open its new Mara Toto Tree Camp on July 1. The camp is located in a forest canopy of ebony trees in Kenya’s Maasai Mara. “This was the original site of our Explorer-Collection Mara Toto Camp, setup at ground level and, as a result, prone to higher water levels at times.…
Marriott International has signed an agreement with Morogoro Mishama Company to launch Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts to Zanzibar in 2025. Le Méridien Zanzibar Resort will feature 75 contemporary guest rooms and villas, all with views of the Indian Ocean. The resort will be in Bwejuu on the eastern coast of Zanzibar Island. Plans for…
Samara Karoo Reserve, near Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape’s Great Karoo region, has opened the doors of its re-imagined Karoo Lodge. Closed for seven months for extensive renovations, Samara’s flagship lodge, a restored farmhouse, re-opened just ahead of the festive season. “The redesign pays homage to this special region we call home. A great deal of…
The Malawian government has lifted the visa requirement for travelers from China, the United States (US), and the United Kingdom (UK), among several other countries, to boost tourism, one of the country’s key foreign exchange-earners. The development follows the amendment of a section in the country’s Immigration Act to aid the entry of international visitors…
Voaara, a new luxury barefoot resort, will open on the island of Sainte-Marie (also known as Nosy Boraha) off the northeast coast of Madagascar in March. Initially, the resort – which has been extensively renovated – will open with eight luxurious bungalows and a three-bedroom villa. The property will ultimately host 45 rooms, with construction…
Lemala Camps and Lodges, a provider of safari accommodation in Tanzania and Uganda, has added Lemala Osonjoi Lodge to its portfolio. It will welcome its first guests from March 1, 2025. The lodge is situated on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater and will offer guests an immersive experience. It is designed to seamlessly integrate…
Radisson Safari Hotel Hoedspruit, the hotel group’s first safari hotel in Africa, has partnered with Nkombe Rhino and My Africa Adventures to support a conservation project aimed at preserving rhinos in the Greater Kruger region. Nkombe Rhino is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the preservation of the endangered species, and My Africa Adventures is one of the leading…
Ethiopian Airlines will commence a triangular route connecting Addis Ababa, Ndola, and Maun from June 10. The flight will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays using a Boeing 738-MAX. Flight ET 0833 will depart Addis Ababa at 08h30, arriving in Maun at 12h40. The return flight departs from Maun at 13h30, arriving in Ndola at…
Kumbali Country Lodge has opened Kumbali Conference Centre, about a 10-minute drive from Malawi’s capital Lilongwe. The versatile venue has been designed for conferences, planning meetings, and team-building events. Its environmentally friendly interiors are crafted from locally sourced materials. The conference centre has two halls: Mibawa, which has a capacity of 80 participants; and Kachere, which can hold 120…
Emerging Destinations, a leader in the travel industry, is thrilled to announce the newest addition to their team, Paula Newton, an esteemed veteran in the field. Paula will be joining in January, bringing with her a wealth of experience in travel industry sales, promotions, sponsorships, and media relations. A Trailblazer in the Travel Industry Paula…
FlySafair has announced a new route direct route between Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA), starting April 2. It’s an exciting piece of news for the travel industry, and will make travel between the Mother City and the Kruger National Park much easier – KMIA lies just outside the park.…
African Vision launch Pedal Power cycling tour of Malawi Thursday, 25 January 2024 African Vision Malawi, a UK charity that support Malawians to become self-sufficient by providing vocational and life skills training, are running a cycling tour of Central and Southern Malawi, exploring beautiful landscapes and discovering the charity’s programmes along the…
The Uganda Wildlife authority has announced an increase in permit fees for primate trekking experiences in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park, Kibale forest National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park, effective from 1st July 2024. For non-resident visitors, the gorilla trekking permit fee will increase from $700 to $800. Chimpanzee permits in Kibale Forest National Park…
Wednesday February 7th at 1pm Eastern Register Here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3805252950047952734 “Tourism Without Boundaries” in the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA). Come and find out more about the expansive Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Trans-frontier Conservation Area (TFCA), the world’s largest terrestrial TFCA at approximately 520,000 km². Occupying part of the Okavango and Zambezi river basins, it…
Air Mauritius is on a growth and restoration path this year. This was revealed during a cocktail function hosted on Monday evening by Air Mauritius (MK) at the Octo Bar at The Leonardo in Sandton, members of the travel trade were treated to a night of networking and exclusive insights into what’s on the cards…
An innovative new meetings-driven tourism event aimed at facilitating meaningful interactions between buyers and sellers across Africa’s vibrant tourism industry is being launched by On Show Solutions and Experience Africa Events, the ATTA events division. As the leading global organiser of high-impact tourism trade events, we recognise the immense potential of the African travel market.…
ZIMBABWE’s tourism industry is expected to surge by 6.9% in 2024, driven by rebounding interest from international tourists and improved accessibility made possible by infrastructure investments. The latest official tourism statistics for the country, covering January to September 2023, show a 52% increase in tourist arrivals compared with the same period in 2022, as numbers…
Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts, a luxury hotel and resort brand under Hilton Hotels, will open bookings for its luxury resort on Platte Island in the Seychelles from the end of the month. This is the first Waldorf Astoria to make the Seychelles its home and the fifth destination in Hilton’s Seychelles portfolio. With a…
Villa Martins on Inhaca Island, Mozambique, officially opened its doors to guests in December. Located at the southernmost tip of the island, Villa Martins is a brief ten-minute boat journey from the Machangulo Peninsula and Santa Maria. Inhaca Island is approximately 34km east of Maputo. Part of the Inhaca District, the island is relatively compact,…
The Rwandan government has extended the promotion for the reduced gorilla trekking fees in the Volcanoes National Park for Rwandans, East African nationals, foreign residents in Rwanda, all African residents and all foreigners residing in Africa. This extended reduction is in place for the year to December 31. The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) noted that this…
In May, Wild Expeditions Africa will open its newest tented camp, Karangoma, in the secluded northeastern corner of the Okavango Delta. The camp will features six Meru tents, including a family tent, with five strategically positioned to maximise panoramic views of the floodplain. Each tent will comprise an open bedroom and lounge with floor-to-ceiling gauze facing…
Dawie Mullins officially assumed the role of Director of Global Sales for Africa at Minor Hotels on January 1. The promotion marks a pivotal moment in Mullins’ career, underscoring his wealth of experience and expertise in the field. Mullins embarked on his journey in hospitality in 2005, following the completion of a three-year diploma at Tshwane…
Safarilink and Yellow Wings are aiming to potentially transform regional aviation within Kenya and East Africa by demonstrating the viability and impact that electrified Cessna Caravans will have on the industry. Safarilink, an airline connecting domestic scheduled flights to destinations within Kenya and Tanzania, and Yellow Wings Air Services, a Kenyan air operator that serves…
The Sustainable Seychelles brand aims to elevate sustainability in Seychelles to unprecedented heights, with a shared goal of preserving the destination for future generations. With a focus on harmony and shared responsibility, the brand seeks to offer a thorough road map for implementing and advancing sustainable practices throughout the travel and tourism sector and adjacent…
In recent developments, Kenya has introduced the Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) system, touted as a move towards a visa-free entry process. However, this has led to significant confusion and a lack of clarity, casting doubt on the true nature of the ‘visa-free’ claim. The eTA system was rolled out following Kenya’s announcement of abolishing traditional…
According to a report by the Tanzanian newspaper, The Citizen, Zanzibar’s intention of establishing a seven-star hotel was revealed by Sharif Ali Sharif, the executive director of Zanzibar Investment Authority (ZIPA). He made the announcement at the ceremony of a different resort in North Unguja on Saturday, January 6th. “We have many exciting developments on the…
Southern African hospitality management group, Cresta Hotels, has added a new wing, with 60 new rooms, to the Mahalapye Cresta Hotel. The property is strategically located along the A1 highway, about 180 kilometres from Gaborone. The new South Wing complements the existing North Wing and brings the total room count to 124. It includes 55…
The second UNWTO Regional Conference on Brand Africa under the theme ‘Promoting Africa to unlock the tourism sector’s growth potential’ will be held in Livingstone, Zambia, from April 16-18. The conference is open to UNWTO Member States, UNWTO Affiliate Members, and invited delegations, tourism professionals and technical experts, representatives of funding institutions and financial services, and…
Bird enthusiasts will be excited to know that the South African endemic Knysna Warbler, thought to be locally extinct in Cape Town, has recently been rediscovered. The Knysna Warbler (Bradypterus sylvaticus) is a small bird that inhabits dense tangles and thickets in or on the edge of forests. It is extremely secretive as it creeps…