Over the next decade, Africa’s travel and tourism sector could add US$168 billion to the continent’s economy and create over 18 million jobs. This was revealed at the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, last week based on a report by the WTTC titled, ‘Unlocking Opportunities for Travel & Tourism Growth…
The Council of the City of Cape Town has supported the proclamation of six new City-managed nature reserves across Cape Town, and the extension of various nature reserves. The proposed new nature reserves are Ariesfontein Nature Reserve; Haasendal Nature Reserve; Soetwater Nature Reserve; Symphony Way Nature Reserve; Van Schoorsdrift Nature Reserve and Westlake Nature Reserve.…
Wilderness’s luxury tented camp Desert Rhino Camp in Namibia’s vast Palmwag Concession in Damaraland, will close on December 7 to undergo an extensive rebuild. The reconstruction will enhance guests’ safari experience in the unique Namib Desert landscape. The camp, which is expected to reopen in July, was built in 2003, with eight Meru-style tents and…
Seychelles’ highly anticipated 2023-2024 cruise season was launched with the arrival of the newly built SH Diana late last month. To kick off the new season, Mahé Shipping, the Seychelles shipping agent responsible for co-ordinating this year’s launch event, orchestrated a ceremony in collaboration with the Seychelles Ports Authority, the Tourism Department, and key partners such as…
Starting March 1, 2024, Halsted’s Aviation Corporation (HAC) will begin operating weekly flights between Buffalo Range Airport (Chiredzi, Zimbabwe) and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (Mbombela, South Africa), enhancing connectivity between two sought-after safari destinations in sub-Saharan Africa. This new flight routing will enable guests to seamlessly link Singita Malilangwe in Zimbabwe and the Singita Kruger…
Angama Amboseli, a new 10-suite lodge from the team behind Maasai Mara’s Angama Mara, has opened in Kenya’s private 5,700-acre Kimana Sanctuary against the dramatic backdrop of Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain. Angama, which was opened in partnership with Big Life Foundation, helps protect a critical wildlife corridor. Elephants are the star of the show at…
Gondwana Collection Namibia has recently unveiled the latest addition to its upmarket Secret Collection, The Pearls, in the coastal town of Swakopmund. Situated just steps from the beach, The Pearls’ accommodation offering includes all meals and drinks, a fully stocked kitchen, and a private bar. There is also a central dining area and lounge with…
Land and Lake Safaris, one of Malawi’s longstanding tour operators offering some of the best experiences in the country, have just launched a huge discount on their vehicle hire during the green season, giving adventurous travellers the opportunity to travel Malawi on their own terms for a fraction of the price! The discount is available…
Cable Cars Botswana (CCB) has revealed ambitious plans for the installation of cable cars in the southern region of Gaborone, atop the scenic Kgale Hill. The cable cars will offer an exciting urban adventure, providing visitors with panoramic views of Gaborone and its surroundings. In 2019, CCB initially tried to launch cable cars in Chobe…
There is a drive to develop rural tourism assets globally, with inclusive tourism economies beneficial for both tourists and hosts. Through rural tourism, outlying communities are included in mainstream economies, tourists are afforded more authentic, nature-based experiences, and conservation becomes a central tenet. On the KZN South Coast, this welcome trend has unearthed unique tourism…
Zimbabwe’s tourism industry has welcomed fastjet Zimbabwe’s continued route investment into the country, celebrating the additional flight frequencies from Bulawayo’s JM Nkomo International Airport to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport that launched on Monday (October 30). The new weekday flights increase the daily service to 12 weekly flights from Bulawayo to Johannesburg, introducing choice and…
WETRAVEL – THE BOOKING & PAYMENTS PLATFORM FOR MULTI-DAY AND GROUP TRAVEL BUSINESSES EVENT DETAILS Wednesday, November 15th at 2pm Eastern REGISTER HERE: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/292904651107414 Join this webinar to learn about WeTravel, a platform built to support travel businesses by digitizing and simplifying the booking and payment process. Now used by more than 5,000 travel companies,…
Airlink, Southern Africa’s premier airline, will expand its South Africa – Malawi operations with additional flights between Johannesburg and Lilongwe from 16 December 2023. In September, Airlink launched services to both Lilongwe and Blantyre in its foray into the Malawi market, which became the 15th country in the independent regional airline’s comprehensive route network. “As anticipated,…
Ethiopian Airlines soared back to the top of the African aviation scene as they reclaimed the prestigious title of ‘Africa’s Leading Airline’ at the 2023 World Travel Awards, which took place in Dubai for Africa and the Indian Ocean regions. In a stunning comeback, Africa’s largest airline managed to regain the title it had held…
Lilongwe Wildlife Centre has been selected as the winner of the GFAS 2023 Outstanding International Sanctuary Award. The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) is one of the leading global bodies for accrediting ethical sanctuaries. Lilongwe Wildlife Centre has been accredited by GFAS since 2015 and was selected from over 200 other GFAS-certified sanctuaries for the…
More than two dozen suppliers and destinations – from South Africa to Saudi Arabia – took part in Goway’s Africa & Middle East event, the first since 2019. Moira Smith, Goway’s VP, Africa and Asia, connected with Travelweek to talk about what’s new. Moira Smith, Goway’s VP, Africa and Asia, connected with Travelweek to talk…
Heritage Hotels has introduced their newest property, Mara Elatia Camp, in a new webinar. Mara Elatia Camp is a new and exciting addition to the Heritage Hotels brand in Kenya. This luxury camp is set on the interlocking hills of the Mara triangle and offers impressive panoramic views, indulgent amenities, and easy accessibility. Mara Elatia…
THE government of Zambia has approved an almost 25% increase in the budget allocated for tourism in 2024, with a focus on the development of tourism infrastructure, marketing, wildlife management and development of tourism products. Presenting the 2024 National Budget at the end of September, Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwanesaid government had…
Uganda Airlines has launched flights between Entebbe and Lagos, with the inaugural flight touching down in Nigeria last week. The flight will operate on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays, using a 258-seat Airbus A330-800neo. “Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy while Uganda’s central location on the continent makes it the ideal connection hub between East, West, North…
SAA and SunExpress – a joint venture between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines – entered into a damp lease agreement that will allow SAA to operate a schedule using two SunExpress aircraft for six months, commencing this month. The first of the two aircraft was received on October 11. The SAA lease covers the provision of…
The African Development Bank has provided US$53 million to develop a cutting-edge aviation training facility in Rwanda. The facility, the Centre of Excellence for Aviation (CEAS), scheduled to open in 2025, is designed to accommodate 500 students annually. It will offer pilot training, maintenance instruction, air traffic control expertise and drone piloting proficiency, reports airspace-africa.com. In anticipation of…
Selati Bridge – where the Kruger Shalati Train on The Bridge is located – marked 100 years today (October 25) since the first tourists entered Kruger National Park by rail. The rich history of Kruger Shalati began in 1886 with the discovery of gold in the Selati River basin, drawing a surge of fortune seekers…
THE World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has endorsed the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) as a new member, raising the profile of the country tourism high. TATO, is Tanzania’s leading members-only group advocating for over 300 private expert tour operators in Tanzania, the home of the number one safari destination in the world. “I’ve the…
Did you miss the APTA Global Forum in Cape Town last month? Curious what it was like to have been there? Our friends and sponsors at South African Tourism were kind enough to put together an outstanding video recap of the Global Forum’s Opening Night. Check it out!
The Babanango Game Reserve in KwaZulu Natal, which has become one of South Africa’s latest Big Five wilderness areas through a successful rewilding project, has reintroduced another seven elephants to the 20 000-hectare property. The elephants were successfully relocated from the Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape, bringing the total number of the mega-herbivores…
White Pearl Resorts, located at Ponta Mamoli, 88km south of Maputo, has recently launched its luxury private beach villa, which will complement its 22 stilted pool suites. ‘The Villa @ White Pearl’ offers experiences for multi-generational families and small groups of friends with five spacious suites overlooking the Indian Ocean. It has a dedicated team,…
Turkish Airlines has its sights set on ambitious targets to cement its market position. It aims to have 53 new destinations by the end of the year – and Windhoek flights are among those planned. Other African destinations in the pipeline are Luanda, Lusaka and Juba. The Windhoek flights will be fortuitous for Namibia, as…
Malawi is a hidden gem for walking and hiking enthusiasts. With its stunning and diverse landscapes, this tiny African nation is perfect for those looking for some action and adventurers on their holidays. From the shimmering shores of Lake Malawi to serene forests, roaming zebras and ancient rock art, trace the Rift Valley’s escarpment or…
Located in the heart of Anse Royale district, on the main island of Mahé, in Seychelles, the newly built boutique resort joins the dynamic portfolio of independent Tribute Portfolio Hotels, by Marriott International around the world in which each stay is a stay with character. Translated from the native Creole, meaning “here it is”, laïla…
In line with their vision to enhance their operational capacity and routes, South African Airways (SAA) has welcomed an additional Airbus A330-300 to its fleet, the airline reports. The aircraft, registered as ZS-SXI, comes as part of SAA’s strategy to reconnect with passengers and rebuild its network. The current fleet of South African Airways stands at…
Morocco’s airlines RAM will launch a tender by the end of the year to purchase 200 airplanes to be delivered within 10 years to meet rising demand from tourists ahead of the 2030 World Cup, RAM chief executive officer Abdelhamid Addou said on Monday. RAM seeks to buy mostly medium haul planes, but would also…
The Western Cape Government released an update on road closures and repairs today (October 10), following the devastating storms over the Heritage long weekend. “Our primary focus is on reopening all affected roads when it is safe. Our repair and reconstruction efforts are a top priority. This process cannot be rushed. But we are doing everything possible…
Cycle Malawi, a tour operator in Malawi specialising in cycling excursions across the country’s contrasting landscapes, will be returning in 2024. The inability to travel during the height of the pandemic meant the operator had to put on the brakes before launching more tours. But now tourism is back in full flow, Cycle Malawi has…
The First Lady of Zimbabwe, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, was recognised by UNWTO Secretary General Zurub Pololikashvili for “championing gastronomy tourism” in the country and region at the eighth UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism in San Sebastián, Spain, over the weekend. Mnangagwe took University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor, Professor Paul Mapfumo, and students from three other universities in the country…
The City Lodge Hotel Group (CLHG) has entered into a sale agreement for the City Lodge Hotel Sandton, Katherine Street property in Sandton, Johannesburg. “The sale agreement includes a restriction on the use of the property for short-term accommodation purposes,” said Andrew Widegger, the group’s CEO. He did not elaborate on who the buyer was or…
Ultra Properties, which manages The River Club in Livingstone, Zambia, recently announced the closure of the property as a lodge, effective January 1, 2024. The River Club property was passed on to new owners on December 1 last year, and they have now decided to refocus the use of the property. “The Ultra Properties team is now…
Historic APTA Annual Forum in Cape Town Celebrates Success with 113 Delegates from Over a Dozen Countries The Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa (APTA) is thrilled to announce the resounding success of its Annual Forum, held on the African continent for the first time in the vibrant city of Cape Town beginning…
APTA is pleased to announce four upcoming webinars from APTA members. All webinars are open for registration right now. A2B Marketing, Explore our African Portfolio Wed, Oct 4, 2023 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT Join us for the opportunity to learn about our luxury, five star portfolio. We will start off by taking you…
KWS and Narok County Council have jointly recommended revised entrance fees for the Masai Mara National Reserve, as well as all KWS-managed parks, reserves, sanctuaries, and marine reserves. This adjustment aims to enhance the effective preservation of these natural areas for the enjoyment of future generations. Masai Mara – move from 24 hour to 12…
Recently resuming its flights to Seychelles was Condor, introducing the new Airbus A330 Neo-900 for the Seychelles route. On Saturday, September 30, the airline made its return from Frankfurt, carrying 305 passengers. This aircraft will operate one weekly direct flight, further enhancing the connection between Germany and Seychelles. From November 21, 2023, to March 12, 2024, an…
Johannesburg has recently been announced as the host city for the second World Tourism Association for Culture and Heritage (WTACH) Global Leaders Summit, which will be held in September next year. The announcement was made by the CEO of WTACH, Nigel Fell, during this year’s inaugural WTACH Global Leaders Summit, which took place in Valencia, Spain,…
Green Safaris, which operates eight camps in Zambia and one in Malawi, recently launched the world’s first electric dhow at the Tongabezi Lodge, just upstream of Victoria Falls. Offered as a ‘silent safari’, the eDhow allows guests to cruise the Zambezi River without an engine’s loud and intrusive sound. In addition to cutting noise pollution, the eDhow reduces carbon…
A new luxury lodge, Kuoom Serengeti, opened in Serengeti, Tanzania, this September. Joel Saura, Kuoom General Manager, revealed that the lodge would begin welcoming guests even while construction continued on another part of the property – expected to be completed within the next three months. Saura said the lodge introduced a completely new and distinctive concept…
South African Airways has announced the launch of flights to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, its 12th destination since relaunching operations. Flights will operate three times a week, departing from Johannesburg on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 11h00 and arriving in Abidjan at 17h00 on the same day, with a 55-minute stopover in Accra. Bookings will open for…
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) has registered Ethiopia’s Gedeo Cultural Landscape as an official World Heritage Site. The registration was announced on Sunday (September 17) at the 45th extended session of the World Heritage Committee currently under way in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the presence of Ethiopian Minister of Tourism Nasise Chale.…
The Unesco World Heritage Committee – which is meeting in Riyadh until September 25 – has decided to remove the site of the Tombs of the Buganda Kings in Kasubi, Uganda, from the List of World Heritage in Danger. This follows the successful restoration work carried out by Uganda with Unesco’s support. In 2010, a…
What’s In A Name… David Livingstone was the first European to map Lake Malawi. He named it Lake Nyasa, probably unintentionally as Nyasa actually means ‘lake’ in the local Yao language, so he’d effectively christened it ‘Lake Lake’. Livingstone also referred to the lake as the Lake of Stars, inspired by the fishermen’s lanterns bobbing…
Growthpoint Properties is moving ahead with its final improvement to the Longkloof precinct in Cape Town – the development of the Canopy by Hilton Cape Town Longkloof Hotel. The project was originally planned for completion towards the end of 2021 but was put on hold as South Africa navigated a period of economic uncertainty. Hilton has…
Nyungwe National Park, in Rwanda’s Southern and Western Provinces, was officially designated as a natural World Heritage Site by Unesco’s World Heritage Committee on Tuesday (September 19). It is the first site in Rwanda to be featured on the Unesco World Heritage list. “The inscription of Nyungwe National Park serves as a vital step in…
The latest edition of Africa Showcase, the largest Africa-focused travel trade show in North America, has just concluded with events taking place in Seattle, Denver, Ft Lauderdale and Boston over the past two weeks. 44 travel suppliers from all across the African continent criss-crossed the United States to meet with hundreds of buyers eager to…