Jamala Madikwe, on the South African side of the border with Botswana, will reopen in October following a complete rebuild of its main lodge area after a devastating fire last December. A new building is under construction at the main lodge with a large new triple-volume entrance, new lounge and bar, dining room, ‘sofa safari’ armchair…
Cable car operations at the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) will close for two weeks in July to allow for annual maintenance work to be carried out. Cable cars will not be operational between July 24 and August 7. “The safety and comfort of our visitors are very important to us. Our annual maintenance…
Kumbali Country Lodge is especially pleased to invite you to experience the two new features of the property. The Summer House is an enchanting sunlit conservatory that houses an array of vines, potted flora and blossoms interlacing the ceiling. Seating 60 guests, the green house chapel is an inimitable (maybe even magical) place for intimate events.…
The Hideaways team is thrilled to announce the appointment of our new lodge managers at Hideaways Camp Kuzuma in the Chobe Region, Botswana. Please join us in welcoming Arno and Adele, a dynamic duo with a shared passion for Africa and a deep appreciation for the wonders of nature. Arno brings a wealth of experience…
A brand new route from Airlink will soon allow travellers to fly direct from Johannesburg to the two main cities of Malawi. Starting in September 2023, Airlink will begin operating flights between Johannesburg and Lilongwe and Blantyre, making Malawi the 16th country to be included in Airlink’s comprehensive route network, reports Travel News. Airlink CEO and MD,…
Classic Africa Safaris is pleased to report on a special offer with One&Only Rwanda. Helicopter transfers are FREE of charge between lodges if staying 3 nights at O&O Nyungwe House and 3 nights at O&O Gorilla Nest applicable for bookings from 01 Oct through 14 Dec 2023 only. Request availability for this special offer in…
With its traditional elegant architecture and furnishings reminiscent of the early 1920s, the hotel would have 75 luxurious residential units. Tanzania has approved a construction of a multi-million-dollar five-star lavish contemporary hotel within the Serengeti National Park, as it seeks to enhance leisure travel. The $18 million, stylish and eye-catching, Lake Magadi Serengeti Hotel, stands…
The legislation is among the most restrictive of its kind in the world and was condemned by Western leaders and the United Nations human rights body. The president of Uganda signed a punitive anti-gay bill on Monday that includes the death penalty, enshrining into law an intensifying crackdown against L.G.B.T.Q. people in the conservative East…
Despite being near extinction in the early ’90s, and thanks to the pioneering work by the conservationist, Philip (Flip) Stander, the desert lions on the Skeleton Coast and in northwest Namibia are now not only surviving, but also breeding and thriving. Numbers have increased from just 20 lions in 1992 to around 100 today and, while…
The number of British Airways flights from London to African gateways has been restored to pre-pandemic levels and the airline is now expanding its services to the continent. BA operates daily flights from Heathrow to Abuja, Accra, Nairobi and Lagos and double-daily services to Johannesburg. It also offers an expanded double-daily service to Cape Town over the city’s summer…
Last week (Thursday, May 25), Kenya Airways successfully undertook the first long-haul commercial flight from Africa to Europe using sustainable aviation fuel produced by Italian oil and gas company Eni, reports airspace-africa.com. The Boeing 787-800b Dreamliner departed on the ground-breaking flight from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for Schiphol, fuelled by a blend of JetA1 fuel…
For the first time on record, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust has reported a sighting of an Egyptian vulture, an endangered species that has never before been seen in Malawi. The Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) is listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List due to global population and geographic range declines over the last century (BirdLife…
Kumbali Country Lodge is especially pleased to invite you to experience the two new features of the property. The Summer House is an enchanting sunlit conservatory that houses an array of vines, potted flora and blossoms interlacing the ceiling. Seating 60 guests, the green house chapel is an inimitable (maybe even magical) place for intimate events.…
Peermont’s Emperors Palace in Kempton Park opened it’s newest culinary destination on 1 December 2022. Reign replaces the long-standing Aurelia’s Restaurant which closed in July, and establishes a new trendy food destination for lovers of quality cuisine. Reign is a full service destination eatery that offers a contemporary spin on classic dishes that are complicated…
Wellworth Collection is thrilled to announce their participation in the highly anticipated Kili Fair in Arusha, taking place from June 2nd to June 4th. We kindly invite you to visit our stall at T10 & T12 to explore the world of Wellworth Collection and embark on a journey of discovery. At Wellworth Collection, we are…
Registration is open for the APTA Global Forum and FAM trips are now fully rolled out. Many of the APTA Corporate Members are extending special offers for pre and post tours throughout Africa in conjunction with the APTA Global Forum. Offers so far include (click for details and booking info): Mont Rochelle in Franschhoek – Discounted room…
The renowned Victoria Falls Safari Lodge in Zimbabwe is getting a fresh new look, with new furniture, soft furnishings and décor across its 72 rooms and central area, which includes the Buffalo Bar and MaKuwa-Kuwa Restaurant. Africa Albida Tourism (AAT) CEO, Ross Kennedy, said the refurbishment, which should be completed by the end of June, was part of the…
Great Plains Conservation has unveiled a range of upgrades for some of its luxury tented camps in Kenya’s Maasai Mara. Mara Nyika Camp has reopened after an upgrade, showcasing its exclusive new two-bedroom Sambuk Suite. The suite has a private entrance and includes the services of a dedicated butler, vehicle, and guide, all included in…
Qatar Airways and Air Seychelles have signed a codeshare agreement. Under the codeshare, Qatar Airways will place its code on Air Seychelles-operated flights between Mahé and Praslin, enabling passengers to continue their journey using a single booking. Currently, Qatar Airways operates a daily flight between Doha and Seychelles International Airport (SEZ). Qatar Airways serves over…
MSC Cruises SA plans to invest a further R30 million (€1.45m) in Durban’s cruise terminal, and expects to see a slight increase in the number of cruise passengers sailing out of the city in the 2023/24 cruise season, according to Ross Volk, MD of MSC South Africa. The cruise line, the only one that currently homeports…
They look wildly different from us but Southern Ground-Hornbills have surprisingly ‘human’ characteristics when it comes to their behaviour. According to Dr Lucy Kemp, this is just one of the reasons that this species is truly remarkable, and she is certainly the expert. “Southern Ground-Hornbills are amazing tourism attractions; they are a flagship umbrella…
It is a sad and difficult time for the family, the tourism industry and the business community in Tanzania. Abbas Moledina, the pillar of Ranger Safaris in Arusha, one of the most successful tour companies in Tanzania, has passed. The astute businessman described as “soft spoken but sharp as a razor “passed away on May 11th…
African Bush Camps is excited to introduce the newest addition to its collection: Atzaro Okavango Camp. Opening March 2024, this ultra-luxury property is ideally situated in the heart of the Okavango Delta in the NG32 area, offering an eco-friendly oasis in the heart of Botswana’s wilderness, and providing a harmonious integration with the natural environment.…
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entered between the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) and GreenCop Development PTE, Ltd., a Singapore-registered company, will develop the carbon-offset project as they seek to hook a share of the carbon credit billions to bankroll conservation of a territory covering 2.4 million hectares in Southern Tanzania. The voluntary carbon offset project that…
Post-outbreak travel to Africa tourism is rebounding strongly, with key destinations including South Africa experiencing significant visitor growth, outpacing global arrivals in 2023. African tourism was “one of the hardest-hit sectors” during the pandemic, said Patricia de Lille, South Africa’s minister of tourism, speaking at the Africa Travel Indaba conference in Durban, South Africa this past…
Kenya has revised its COVID-19 travel regulations, removing the requirement for all travellers entering the country to show proof of either vaccination or a pre-departure COVID-19 test, with effect from May 9. Now, only travellers arriving at any port of entry into Kenya with flu-like symptoms will be required to fill the passenger locator form…
The COVID-19 pandemic severely affected the island of St Helena’s tourism sector, but since the lifting of restrictions in August 2022, the remote destination has shown strong signs of recovery. Estimates forecasted that the peak tourist demand season for 2022/23 (between October to March) was likely to see around 50% of the number of visitor…
A brand new luxury tented camp, Mara Siana, is poised to open in the newly formed conservancy, Mara Ripoi (just outside Kenya’s famed Masai Mara National Reserve) on June 10. The camp is one of the founding members of the conservancy that was officially established on February 15 this year. The 7 700-hectare Mara Ripoi…
REGISTER HERE Welcome to Waybird for Individuals! If you’ve ever wanted to build (or are currently building!) your own travel business, this is the platform for you. Included is liability insurance, licensing and a whole host of other features. What can you expect from Waybird for Individuals? — Cutting edge tech — Liability insurance and…
JENMAN African Safaris proudly presents our exciting new Photo of the Year competition, open to all passionate travelers who have explored the breathtaking landscapes of Africa and Madagascar. Entries are now open for the highly anticipated JENMAN Photo of the Year competition. This year’s theme is “Wildlife,” inviting photographers and travelers from around the world…
Effective May 17th, Ethiopian Airlines will move their operations at New York-JFK from Terminal 8 to Terminal 7.
APTA is excited to be hosting its Global Forum in Cape Town, South Africa September 26-30, 2023. This is the first time that APTA has held the Global Forum on the African continent, so this will be a great opportunity for travel advisors from North America to experience and explore one of the most beautiful…
Ethiopian Airlines Group holds a grand opening of the largest hotel on the African continent as it inaugurates the second phase of Ethiopian Skylight Hotel. Ethiopian Airlines opened the first phase of Ethiopian Skylight Hotel back in January 2019. With the new extension, the hotel now has a total of 1,024 modern rooms and suites with different…
The 14-room Neela Boutique Hotel Stone Town will open in July in Zanzibar. The hotel is the first of two new offerings from The Neela Collection, a hotel group with a reputation for providing guests with exceptional experiences in beautiful locations. The hotel is located in one of the city’s most desirable tourism areas and…
The national carrier of the Kingdom of Eswatini, Eswatini Air, touched down at King Shaka International Airport in Durban on its inaugural flight from King Mswati III International Airport in Manzini on Friday (May 5). An Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft, with a maximum capacity of 50 passengers, will be deployed on the route, offering three…
SAA is expanding its fleet and laying the groundwork for its first overseas routes. The long-awaited development was announced on Friday, May 5, in a media release. The airline said it had been greenlighted by the Government for “a significant expansion” of its fleet. The intention is to pave the way for the national carrier…
Heritage Hotel’s Samburu Intrepids has reopened following a 20-month COVID-era closing. The lodge is once again open for business and already receiving guests at normal capacity. Samburu Intrepids’ location deep inside the reserve guarantees close encounters with Samburu’s shier species, including elephant, leopard and Samburu’s famous ‘special five’ – the rare reticulated giraffe, long-necked gerenuk…
The Botswana government has announced that employees of tour operators in the country who are Botswana citizens will no longer have to pay park entry fees. This development was confirmed by Thato Raphaka, the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation, and Tourism. The new regulation was effective from April, pending a gazette…
Africa’s Travel Indaba (ATI) 2023, the continent’s iconic leisure trade show, officially kicked off yesterday (May 9) at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban, and will continue until tomorrow (May 11). Ministers, tourism officials, exhibitors, media and more, were all in attendance at the opening ceremony. “It gives me great pleasure to…
Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa, took delivery of its 20th A350-900 aircraft from Airbus at the end of April. With the delivery of the A350, the airline now operates 144 modern aircraft to more than 150 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Airbus A350-900s, Boeing 737s, 777s, 787s, and Bombardier…
Mont Eco, a new Big Five private game reserve in the Klein Karoo has opened this month. It is 25km outside the historic town of Montagu, close to Cape Town. A 6 500-hectare rehabilitated conservation stronghold, the reserve offers an experience that is truly off grid. Guests will enjoy not only the diversity of game but the…
We’re looking for someone to join our US team to empower independent travel specialists to easily plan trips to remote and specialist destinations such as Africa, Latin America and Asia. Check out the role here or get in touch with us on hello@waybird.com
With 12 storeys, a breathtaking view of Cape Town’s imposing Table Mountain and a minimal ecological footprint, the world’s tallest building made with industrial hemp is soon to open its doors in South Africa. Workers in central Cape Town are putting the finishing touches on the 54-room Hemp Hotel, which is due to be completed…
Independent regional airline, Airlink, will launch flights between Mbombela (Nelspruit) and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, from November 28. The new route will complement Airlink’s existing service between Mbombela’s Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) and Livingstone on the Zambian side of the world-famous waterfall. “The new service to Victoria Falls expands our direct connections between Southern Africa’s…
Starting July 1, Proflight Zambia is launching the first direct flights between Lusaka and Cape Town, making it the airline’s fourth South African route, adding to its Lusaka-Johannesburg, Ndola-Johannesburg and Lusaka-Durban flights. The direct service to South Africa’s second-largest city means that, for the first time, travellers will no longer need to transit through Johannesburg. Proflight…
Classic Portfolio, the group of independently owned lodges and camps in Africa, has recently appointed Olivia Havens as its Head of Trade Relations in North America. Based outside Chicago, Havens will be working closely with Classic Portfolio’s Managing Director Suzanne Bayly in managing North American trade partnerships. Known for her strengths in driving sales and networking, Havens has been…
The Malawi Ministry of Tourism has hailed the return of the Malawi International Tourism Expo (MITE), which was an overwhelming success this year. The two-day international tourism expo tagged “Takulandirani” brought together tourism operators, experts, DMCs, and local suppliers to transact business at the Bingu Wa International Convention Centre in Lilongwe. Speaking at the official…
WeTravel launched a course in partnership with JourneyWoman on Marketing Your Trips to Women Over 50. While it may seem like a niche topic, women over 50 represent more than $15 trillion dollars in purchasing power and account for the majority of travel bookings. And yet, they report feeling very ignored by travel companies. Simply put:…
It’s the year of reimagination and rejuvenation as many of the Great Plains Conservation Camps are, and have been, undergoing refurbishments and rebuilds. It is an exciting time as guests are welcomed back; watching their awe and elation has been a delight for the teams at camp. For more information, please feel free to reach…
Auric Air is delighted to inform that it has attained the official certification of ISSA and is now a certified airline. ISSA (IATA Safety Standard Assessment) is IATA’s internationally recognized and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of airlines operating smaller aircraft not eligible for the larger IOSA program.…