The Belmond Eagle Island Lodge Reopening

After a complete rebuild, the Belmond Eagle Island Lodge is re-opening its doors in the Okavango Delta on November 1. When re-opened, this “green” safari lodge will become Belmond’s flagship safari lodge.   Each of the lodge’s 12 spacious Deluxe Tented Rooms will have its own plunge pool and large outdoor deck, overlooking the delta. The new design, featuring…

Tourists Flock To Cape Verde In 2015

Cape Verde’s National Statistics Institute (INE) reported a 2% annual increase in visitor numbers in the first half of 2015, placing the country on target for a bumper tourism year. Attracted by its fabulous beaches, known as jumping-off points for windsports and a great location for diving among shipwrecks, more than 278,000 visitors arrived on…

‘Car Free Zone’ Implemented in Kigali

KIGALI, Rwanda, Aug. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ —  Effective August 24, no vehicles will be allowed in the heart of Rwanda’s capital Kigali, widely regarded as the cleanest city in Africa. All vehicles, other than special services vehicles such as ambulances, are prohibited in the streets of the declared ‘Car-Free Zone.’ “Normally, a city is for…

Into the Virungas

 ”Into the Virungas” is an inspiring conversation with founder of Volcanoes Safaris and passionate conservationist, Praveen Moman and is available for sale from Volcanoes Safaris and Amazon. Praveen was an instrumental force behind the award-winning Volcanoes Lodges. A core value has been ensuring that our safaris respect the culture of local communities, the fragility of…

Jane Goodall to give free lecture at CU

BOULDER- Pioneering primatologist and conservationist, Dr. Jane Goodall, will give a free lecture at the University of Colorado Boulder campus this fall. She will deliver the 50th annual George Gamow Memorial Lecture on October 1 at Macky Auditorium. It will be her first talk in Colorado in more than two years. She has no other…

Flydubai launching direct flights to Eritrea

Dubai-based flydubai has announced it will add direct flights between Dubai and Eritrea’s capital city, Asmara, beginning Oct. 25 with four flights a week. Asmara is the second African destination added to the flydubai network this year after Hargeisa, Somaliland, which began in June.  “We are keen to reflect the UAE’s efforts to support emerging markets,…

APTA Members featured among Fodor’s Top 10

APTA is proud to congratulate five members among a list of top 10 African Safari Tour Operators selected by Fodor’s Travel:  &Beyond, Abecrombie & Kent, African Portfolio,  Micato Safaris and Wilderness Safaris all made the cut. Recent controversy surrounding the death of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe at the hands of a big-game hunter has…

OPENING OF FIRST-EVER PROTEA HOTEL IN GHANA

Marriott International’s footprint in Middle East and Africa extends to 19 countries  Cape Town, South Africa – August 20, 2015: Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) has announced the opening of the Protea Hotel Select Takoradi, its first establishment in Ghana.  “This opening under the Protea Hotels brand reinforces our focus on continuing to grow the…

Namaqua National Park gearing up for flower season

Bernard van Lente, Namaqua National Park manager, reports that the park experienced some warm days recently and that the Skilpad area suddenly came to life.  “It is currently looking good for the remainder of the season, particularly if we get more rain. Lower-lying areas of the park, in particular Soebatsfontein, Kookfontein and the Wildeperdehoek areas,…

A Big Shiny Guide to African Safaris

There’s nothing like your first time — first time embarking on a safari, that is. Deciding to do one is easy (yes! – a resounding yes!) but picking a destination is more difficult — what with a long list of magnificent countries to choose from. To help, here’s a handy overview of when to go,…

Kwita Izina in Rwanda!

In Rwanda, it is that time of year again when the newborn baby mountain gorillas are named. This annual ceremony is called Kwita Izina and is an extremely popular attraction for guests. The ceremony derives its name from the ancestral Rwandan baby-naming ceremony observed  after the birth of a child. The 11th Kwita Izina will…

Luangwa Safari House Turns 10

2015 marks the 10-year anniversary of the opening of this beautifully-designed private safari house in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park. Luangwa Safari House owes its success to its African-style castle appearance and ethnic interior but it’s the surroundings of the house that really make this place so special and keep the guests returning. The safari…

Reasons to Visit Mauritius (In 15 Photos)

If the last days of summer have you searching for a spectacular vacation, look no further. Thanks to its tropical climate, beautiful beaches, and modern, well-run hotels that employ local workers, Mauritius is one of the world’s top luxury tourism destinations.  Situated about 1,200 miles off the southeast coast of Africa, this tiny island nation…

Discover the New Johannesburg with Four Seasons

The latest offer from Four Seasons Hotel, The Westcliff Johannesburg, provides guests with the opportunity to experience revitalized Johannesburg on a private walking tour,   This takes them through the Western Edge (Ferreirastown), the Corporate Mining District (Marshalltown), the Historic Core, the Retail District and Braamfontein. Expert tour guides will recount the astonishing story of…

Gabon – central Africa’s oasis

80% of Gabon is covered in dense forest and it has nearly 900km of coastline and 13 national parks. Its exceptional biodiversity includes a bird-list of 774 species and mega-species such as gorillas, chimpanzees, mandrills and forest elephants.   It is estimated that Gabon has 60,000 forest elephants, 35,000 western lowland gorillas and 64,000 chimpanzees. An…

Four Seasons Serengeti Lodge Honeymoon Offer

Surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of undisturbed nature and magnificent wildlife, your Serengeti adventure provides countless opportunities for romance.   Escape into an enchanted world and experience the thrill of animal sightings, uninterrupted, secluded relaxation and private pool suites  to create lifelong memories. The Honeymoon Offer includes: Complimentary upgrade to a Waterhole view for all Savannah,…

Fire at Susuwe Island Lodge

PRESS RELEASE  04 August 2015 SUSUWE  During the night of Sunday, 02 August 2015 local fires severely damaged Susuwe Island Lodge. Fortunately, we can report that, despite the intensity of the fire, there has been no loss of life and no-one was hurt. The fire destroyed nearly 70% of the property, which necessitates immediate closure…

Airbnb doubled in size in Africa in the last year

Calling itself a community-driven hospitality company, Airbnb CEO, Brian Chesky, attended GES 2015 to meet with entrepreneurs from around the world and explore the sharing economy’s impact and expansion, particularly on the African continent. In the last 12 months, Airbnb has more than doubled in size in Africa. “The spirit of entrepreneurialism is a common…

TATO Re-elects Chambulo for Chairman

The Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) has unanimously re-elected Mr. Willy Chambulo as its chairman for two more years. Mr. Chambulo is the Managing Director of Kibo Guides and Tanganyika Wilderness camps. After his successfully serving TATO for two years, .his first term of office expired in June.  However, the newly-held annual general meeting…

a2b Destination Marketing to represent Shamwari

a2b Destination Marketing is excited to announce the addition of the Shamwari Group to their 5-star collection. The Group takes its name from the Shona term for ‘friend’ and from the original, award-winning Shamwari Game Reserve. The six 5-star-graded lodges are located on 25000 hectares in the Eastern Cape in a Malaria-free, Big 5 game…

A quick guide to planning your trip to Lake Malawi

Captivated by Lake Malawi’s beauty – and the glow of fishermen’s lanterns at night – explorer David Livingstone called it “the Lake of Stars”. Despite growing population pressures, it is one of earth’s last unspoiled places – little bays marked with sculpted boulders, mountains that rise sheer from the shoreline, bright blue fish and water…

Rwanda: 120 park rangers graduate at Gishari

One hundred and twenty rangers have completed a two-month training course, aimed at equipping them with skills and knowledge to provide security to national parks and natural resources. For two months, the park rangers were trained in several disciplines, including paramilitary and field ranger techniques, that entailed physical fitness drills, fire-arm handling, navigation, wilderness communication and…

African Profile Safaris Gets the NG Treatment

APTA members African Profile Safaris were recently featured in the British edition of National Geographic Traveller. According to the article, Conservationist pilot guides are the biggest drawcard — trained and experienced naturalists, providing expertise on each and every guided fly-in safari. Their informative but entertaining professional qualities, combined with an in-depth understanding of different guest…

British Airways suspends flights to Entebbe

British Airways has said it is stopping all flights to and from Uganda as they are “no longer commercially viable”. The last flight out from Entebbe airport to London’s Heathrow will depart on 3 October 2015, the UK carrier said. British Airways operates four flights a week to Entebbe. However, their rates are not as…

Fastjet launches latest low-cost route in Africa

fastjet, Tanzania’s first flight between Dar es Salaam and Lilongwe in Malawi took off earlier, marking the launch of the low-cost airline’s sixth international route in Africa. Flight FN209 departed Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport at 09:40 with Tanzanian government officials, local passengers and media on board. Upon arrival at Malawi’s Lilongwe International…

Accor to open 50 hotels in Angola

AccorHotels announced an exclusive partnership with the major Angolan company AAA ACTIVOS LDA, to open 50 hotels (more than 6,200 rooms) in Angola from luxury to economy between 2015 and 2017. Carlos Manuel de Sao Vicente, Chairman of AAA, said, “We are sure that Angola will become soon a big player in the hospitality and…