The New York Travel Show will be held on 26 January 2018 – 28 January 2018 at the Javits Convention Centre in New York. This is the largest travel-trade show of its kind in the US, and the largest consumer travel show in the country, attracting more than 20,000 consumer attendees over 3 days. More…
Marriott International has announced the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Arusha, The Arusha Hotel, marking the debut of the brand in Tanzania.In the course of more than 120 years, The Arusha Hotel has emerged as a city landmark, playing host to many dignitaries and well-known personalities since it was founded in 1894.Rebranded after renovation,…
Following recent upgrades at Robben Island, new requirements have been implemented for those who wish to visit during the upcoming high season. The Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (Satsa), advises that all would-be visitors to the island will now be required to provide relevant identification when purchasing a ticket. This could include identification documents (ID),…
On Thursday, less than three weeks after a museum dedicated to the fashion pioneer was inaugurated in his home city of Paris, the Yves Saint Laurent museum in Marrakech, the sunny Moroccan city beloved by the late designer, opened its doors to the public. The Marrakech museum, designed by the French architectural firm, Studio KO,…
Big Life Foundation was co-founded by photographer Nick Brandt and conservationist Richard Bonham in September 2010. Big Life has expanded to employ hundreds of Maasai rangers to help protect 2 million acres of wilderness in the Amboseli-Tsavo-Kilimanjaro ecosystem of East Africa. Click here to learn more about their recent work to stop the deadly trend of part-time poachers.
Volcanoes Safaris, the leading luxury lodge company in Rwanda and Uganda, is pleased to announce that its four lodges have all received awards in the 30th annual Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards. The four Volcanoes Safaris Lodges in the Top Resorts in Africa category were Virunga Lodge, Mount Gahinga, Kyambura Gorge Lodge and Bwindi. Volcanoes is the only company to have its three properties in Uganda included.…
In the last eight years, travel and tourism grew by 17.3 percent in the top ten fastest-growing global destinations. This reflects the rapid growth rate of the tourism industry. Tourism grew from 30 percent in 1980 to 45 percent in 2015 and is expected to reach 57 percent by 2030. This indicates that countries seeking new…
The Thanda Team is very honoured to have received top accolades at the World Travel Awards. Thanda Island Tanzania won “Africa’s Leading Luxury Island” and Thanda Safari South Africa won both Africa’s and South Africa’s Leading Luxury Private Villa for our five-bedroom Villa iZulu. Thanda Island is a truly private tropical island. Situated within southern Tanzania’s Marine Reserve, Thanda offers complete exclusivity for families and…
The line-up for the 2017/2018 Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts has been announced. Along with a string of local stars, three international acts have been added to the concert season, which starts on 19 November 2017 and ends on 1 April 2018. Ismaël Lô from Senegal will be kicking off the Summer Sunset Concerts on 19…
Pollman’s Tours & Safaris has received the award for Kenya’s Leading Inbound Tour Operator in the World Travel Awards for the second consecutive year. Managing Director of Pollman’s, Khalid Shapi, and Zaheer Moledina were on hand for the ceremonies in Kigali on 10 October, where they accepted this prestigious award. Speaking on behalf of Pollman’s…
With the festive season fast approaching, Pan-Africa’s low-cost airline, fastjet, has announced its schedule for domestic flights in Mozambique. The airline recently announced that it has established brand licence agreements with Federal Airlines and Solenta Aviation Mozambique, to gain the correct permissions for launching fastjet Mozambique. Fastjet will also launch flights between Johannesburg and Maputo, a…
In anticipation of the Africa Hotel Investment Forum, STR has highlighted Africa’s key hotel development and performance trends. Based on August 2017 data, Africa currently shows 301 hotel projects in the pipeline, accounting for 57,011 rooms, or 11 per cent of the continent’s existing room supply. Before his AHIF presentation on Wednesday, October 11th, Thomas…
Fastjet, the aspiring pan-African budget airline, has increased its presence in SA and Southern Africa through a brand-licensing agreement with Federal Airlines in SA and Solenta Aviation in Mozambique.Travel industry publication, Travel Meetings & Buyer, reports that the airline has moved its head office from London to SA. On Friday, holding company fastjet plc informed…
At the Africa Gala Ceremony of the World Travel Awards, the Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa received industry honours, not only as South Africa’s, but also as Africa’s Leading Boutique Hotel. Shambala Private Game Reserve, which was officially included as part of the Saxons all-inclusive urban bush offering in 2015, also won honours as South…
On Monday, the Moroccan rail office announced that engineers are preparing to test Africa’s first high-speed railway this week, with trains reaching 320kilometres (200 miles) per hour. The ONCF reported that one train reached 275kph (170 mph) on Monday, along a stretch of track between the northern cities of Kenitra and Tangier. ‘This is already the…
Organizers have announced that conservation will feature prominently in an annual commemoration of Tanzania’s founding father, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, on October 14, 2017. The Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) expressed its resolve to place more energy and time into marketing Nyerere Day in Arusha, Tanzania’s designated safari capital this year, to recognize his…
SA’s Marine Dynamics wins global sustainable tourism award South African shark-cage diving company, Marine Dynamics, scooped a prestigious eco-tourism award at the Skål World Congress, Sustainable Tourism Awards 2017, in Hyderabad, India, on Friday, 6 October. Skål International is an organisation of tourism leaders around the world, “promoting global tourism and friendship”. Marine Dynamics won the award for…
The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company is celebrating its 88th birthday this week, with discount vouchers available in community newspapers. The cable cars have been running up the mountain since 1929, taking Capetonians and tourists to great heights to see the best of the iconic natural landmark of the city. Not only has the company been around…
The 2017 Tusk Conservation Awards took place in Cape Town on Wednesday evening, 4 October. Paying tribute to the “unrelenting dedication and commitment” of Africa’s wildlife heroes, Tusk’s royal patron, Prince William, addressed attendees via video. “I worry a great deal that our generation is not meeting our moral obligation to leave this planet in better shape…
As North America’s AfricaExperts for over 47 years, Goway Travel first began opening up the world’s most mysterious continent with overland expeditions. Its product range has since grown to include fly-in safaris, exotic beach getaways, and romantic rail journeys, which have helped globetrotters see the real Africa. Goway now offers more ways than ever before to get…
To help protect 2 million acres of wilderness in the Amboseli-Tsavo-Kilimanjaro ecosystem of East Africa, Big Life Foundation, which was co-founded by photographer Nick Brandt and conservationist Richard Bonham in September 2010, has expanded to employ hundreds of Maasai rangers . Click here to learn more about their recent work to stop the deadly trend of part-time poachers.
World Travel Market delivers the leading global events for the travel industry. One of six shows in the WTM portfolio, the Africa show, was launched in 2014 to bring the benefits and opportunities of its global industry expertise to travel professionals in this region. Nearly 5000 travel industry professionals will attend Africa’s leading and only business-to-business…
The Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards have begun and it’s no surprise that Kenya is nominated for best destination in Africa for 2017. Visit www.travelweekly.com/rcfinalist and cast your vote for Kenya today! Travel Weekly is a leading national newspaper for the travel industry, producing articles through print and digital. Travel Weekly has launched the 2017 Readers Choice Awards…
“Going up that river was like travelling back to the earliest beginnings of the world … an empty stream, a great silence, an impenetrable forest,” wrote Joseph Conrad in classic novella “Heart of Darkness.… Read more:
Smithsonian Fuelled by a $38 million renovation project, a decrepit grain silo complex in Cape Town, South Africa, has been transformed into the largest contemporary art institution on the continent. Khanya Mtshali reports for Quartz that the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), located on the V&A Waterfront, a popular cultural hub overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, opened its…
East Africa Tourism & Hospitality Conference and Trade Expo is Tanzania’s leading business-to-customer (B2C) event, which attracts representatives of the hospitality and tourism industry from the East Africa region and other parts of the world. This is the only event in Tanzania for Tourism and Hospitality companies to carry out direct sales to Corporate bodies, the General Public and Expatriate Communities in Tanzania. The Expo is designed to ensure that, at the…
There’s no denying that Mauritius is a country which looks at visitors with ‘come to the beach’ eyes. However, the seaside is not the be-all and end-all of this part of the Indian Ocean. The island abounds with mountain ranges, waterfalls, gorges and historical spots as well. Let this blog give you the low-down on…
With 54 countries calling it home, Africa’s topography, landscape and activities vary drastically by region. I’ve been to the continent 26 times, yet each time I go I’m surprised at just how many new things there are to see and do. To make it easier for you to plan a trip, I’ve highlighted some of…
15 September 2017 Today, the member States of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) approved an historical document – the UNWTO Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics. The Convention, approved at the 22nd UNWTO General Assembly, transforms the Code of Ethics for Tourism into an international convention, the first in the life of the Organization. Read more:
This year, TED Global 2017, was hosted in Arusha Tanzania, where Shanga was invited to showcase and sell its products at the Artisan market. The Shanga team worked very hard to put together a striking display. Besides this, they had the opportunity to teach guests sign language, as well as beading and weaving! Shanga is a heart-warming…
Travel agents in South Africa will soon be able to apply for the official designation of Travel Practitioner (TPrac), following the accreditation of the Association of Southern African Travel Agents (ASATA) by the South African Qualifications Authority. SAQA has recognised ASATA as a professional body and registered the professional designation Travel Practitioner on the National…
For the first time in a decade, Africa did not record any airline accident last year.Globally, 65 accidents with 268 fatalities were recorded last year, but sub-Saharan Africa’s zero passenger fatalities and jet hull losses was its best performance in a decade, thanks to enforcement of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) safety regulations.The feat…
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – Today, at the 41st Annual World Tourism Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, market research company Euromonitor International revealed the key trends shaping travel and tourism in AfricaAccording to Euromonitor’s new data, international arrivals to Africa grew by 6.5 percent in 2017, to reach 18,550 million, up from 16,351 million in 2012. Key…
An analysis of seat capacity for travel to the top ten international airports in Africa, produced byForwardKeys, shows double-digit growth in flight arrivals for the first half of this year, with little indication that the pace of growth will slow down soon. The wider report makes encouraging reading for airlines, governments and hoteliers planning to…
More Lodges & Hotels has partnered with the Aujan family, owners of the Stanley and Livingstone Hotel at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, to manage the hotel. Thanks to this partnership, More will include some of Southern Africa’s most distinctive destinations and experiences in its portfolio – Cape Town; Big 5 safaris in four South African game…
For a small, family-owned hotel, Cape Town‘s new Silo has certainly made a big impact. It was the talk of the town for years before it opened in March, defying any need for a hotshot global brand name, or endorsement by a celebrity chef. Of course, the novelty of the building helped stir up interest. A…
Shamwari Game Reserve (Eastern Cape, South Africa) will undertake a series of refurbishments and upgrades of its lodges during 2018 and 2019. Details of the properties which will be closed are as follows: Eagles Crag Lodge will be closed for May and June 2018 and will re-open on 01 July 2018. Riverdene Family Lodge will be closed…
Mr Karl Snarter, Hospitality Operations Director for Aujun, has confirmed that The Stanley and Livingstone will be closing its doors for a major refurbishment on the 12th November 2017.. Re-opening is set for the 1st August 2018. “All bookings confirmed over this period will be upgraded to Elephant Camp at no additional cost, while Ursula’s…
NAIROBI September 08, 2017… As part of the ongoing process to commence flights to the US, Kenya Airways has received a final order from the U.S. Department of Transportation. This approval grants the airline permission to fly both passengers and cargo and is one of the many approval stages expected to be concluded soon. “The…
The increasing number of domestic and international tourists to Kenya has accelerated the development of accommodation for these visitors and 13 new hotels are expected to open their doors in the country by 2021, including additional units by Radisson, Marriot and Best Western brands. .Incentives aimed at attracting more visitors include the waiving of VAT…
Since starting in 1985 as a small mobile safari company, Cheli & Peacock Safaris has grown and expanded over the years to become one of East Africa’s leading safari operators. Cheli & Peacock operates up-market, exclusive and bespoke safaris for clients who still want the “real safari” experience. More than 30 years of rapturous client feedback and…
Spotting the Big Five—lions, leopards, elephants, Cape buffalo, and rhinos—depends on a skilled guide, not to mention a decent dose of luck. Where visitors stay is also an important factor. Fortunately, visitors to Kenya are spoilt for choice with regard not only to wildlife safaris, but also to an enjoyable resort experience. The following properties offer close…
African Travel, Inc. recently appointed Garrett Landry as the new district sales manager for the Northwestern United States. Landry, a Seattle native, will be overseeing the brand’s sales in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and parts of Northern California. Read more:
Praveen Moman was born in Uganda. Until he was 16, his backyard was a place his father called paradise: the Western Rift Valley, which runs along Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC, creating spectacular geological formations, ecosystems, and wildlife parks in its path.Read more:Praveen Moman (Illustration by Chantel Delulio)
Zambia may be home to Victoria Falls, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a vast country, as large as France, Switzerland, Austria, and Hungary combined, with a rich history of conservation and responsible tourism that continues to thrive today. It’s also culturally diverse, with more than 70 tribes living seamlessly side by side.Many, including…
The mode of transportation one uses to move from one location to another has a direct effect on one’s travelling experience, either for the good or bad. No wonder the launch of the new railway from Mombasa to Nairobi, a feat resulting from a prolonged effort by the government, was embraced with overwhelming enthusiasm. Apart from…
Celebrity Cruises is to become the first to recruit female bridge officers from West Africa, thanks to its new Celebrity Cadet Program, which is being run in partnership with the Regional Maritime University (RMU) in Ghana. The partnership with RMU was formed after Celebrity’s president and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo met with students from the Mandela…
AFAR magazine has announced the winners of the annual 2017 Travelers’ Choice Hotel Awards, naming Kenya’s premier luxury safari lodge Angama Mara as the number one hotel in the world in its “Top Outdoor Adventure Hotels”.Click Here
This year, Zimbabwe’s premier tourist resort, Victoria Falls, has witnessed a tourism boom equivalent to a record last experienced in 1999, Africa Albida Tourism, chief executive, Ross Kennedy reports. Kennedy, who heads a leading hospitality group, pointed out that room occupancy in Victoria Falls for the six months ended June 30, 2017, had increased by…
Terrorism and political turmoil have slashed tourism revenue in some North African countries, leaving governments and businesses desperate to re-ignite interest in the wake of the reputational damage and dwindling numbers. Three countries, in particular, manifest the grave penalties paid for the outbreak of violence at home and the battle to overcome bad reputations. However,…