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…
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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…
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.…
Mara Elatia Camp and is now ready to begin bookings. Nestled in the peaceful North Western plains, ELATIA, meaning “The Good Neighbour” in Maa, rests a twelve tented camp gracefully perched along the Oloololo escarpment of the Masai Mara. ELATIA is an easily accessible luxury camp set on the interlocking hills of the Mara triangle…
Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge is expanding its product offering with the introduction of two Bedouin-style family tents elevated on a wooden platform. The tents offer a scenic view of the Karatu Hills and will welcome guests from July. Perched atop a hill, the lodge is in Tanzania’s northern safari circuit in Rhotia, near Karatu on…
Polentswa Lodge – owned by the Ta Shebube group and located in the Mabuasehube area on the Botswana side of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park – has reopened following a devastating veld fire that destroyed the nine-unit tented lodge in September 2021. Shabani Ndzinge, Ta Shebube MD, told Tourism Update: “We have decided to open the lodge with just…
Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority Director-General, Emile Arao, has announced that soon, passengers departing the country’s airports won’t need to remove electronics, such as laptops and iPads from their carry-on baggage for security screening before boarding. This, said Arao, should save time spent in queues. There will also be a revision to the liquids allowance for carry-on…
The country’s catchphrase of Tanzania unforgettable has got a boost, thanks to the tour operators and police in Arusha for rolling out an ambitious training package for tour drivers in a bid to offer tourists hustle free trips. The first batch of Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) and Arusha Regional Traffic Police Office initiated…
The Malawi International Tourism Expo (MITE) is back after a COVID hiatus and currently underway in Lilongwe. A record number of international attendees are in Lilongwe this week, well over 100, making this the biggest and most successful itineration of MITE ever. More info at http://tourism.mw/
Jill Polsky, Getaway Journeys, L.L.C. – exclusive representation for Machaba Safaris is proud to announce that we are now APTA Corporate Members. Machaba Safaris operates in Botswana and Zimbabwe with locations in prime safari destinations including the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, Mana Pools National Park, and Hwange National Park. While each site has its own…
The Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa (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…
Arusha Airport in Tanzania, popular for charter flights for tourists, will soon be back to full operation after a TZS6.3 billion (€2.4m) expansion. The airport, located on the outskirts of Arusha, is one of the oldest in the country and work has been carried out recently to extend its runway to accommodate larger aircraft. The…
RwandAir will launch its first ever direct flights to Paris in June. This means passengers flying from Kigali to Paris will reach their destination in eight and a half hours. From June 27, the thrice-weekly flights will link the two cities – a signal event in the life of the young, rapidly-growing airline. RwandAir CEO, Yvonne…
Southern Sun has announced the rebranding of the Holiday Inn Sandton to Southern Sun Sandton. “We are delighted to extend our presence in Sandton with this exciting addition, providing our signature Southern Sun Hotels brand to one of the area’s most well-established business and conferencing hotels,” said Southern Sun CEO, Marcel von Aulock. “In addition to…
JENMAN African Safaris: Celebrating 25 years of creating unforgettable travel and safari experiences Cape Town, South Africa – JENMAN African Safaris, one of the leading tour operators in Southern Africa, East Africa and Madagascar, is proud to announce its 25th anniversary. Since its inception in 1993, JENMAN has been dedicated to providing high-quality service, expert…
It’s been just over a year since we officially launched Waybird and we are proud to have built an amazing community of “Waybirders” as we like to call them. But every good business has a plan – and now it’s time for stage two of ours: Welcome to Waybird for Individuals! If you’ve ever wanted to…
The Sabi Sand Wildtuin has changed name to the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve. Inyati Game Lodge itself lies within the Western sector of the famed, now named, Sabi Sand Nature Reserve which was named after its two boundary rivers – the Sand and Sabie Rivers. Experience an exceptional safari in the African wilderness. The commitment…
Mbano Manor Hotel Victoria Falls by Mantis will be an eco-luxury experience within a bird and tree sanctuary. Accor, a world leading hospitality group, today announced its first hotel in Zimbabwe, in partnership with Mbano Hotels Limited. Mbano Manor Hotel Victoria Falls by Mantis will be the first internationally branded hotel in Victoria Falls in…
Mantis Soanambo Hotel & Spa Sainte Marie will be the first internationally branded resort in Nosy Boraha Accor, a world leading hospitality group, today announced plans to open Mantis Soanambo Hotel & Spa on Nosy Boraha (Ile Sainte-Marie) in Madagascar. The Mantis Collection, part of Accor, is a leading conservation-led hospitality company renowned for its…
“Rich in contrast, compact in size and big in hospitality!” That’s how Sarah Njanji, Vice Consul Tourism at the Malawi Consulate in Johannesburg describes Malawi in a nutshell. Malawi has several national parks, which are enjoying more and more attention for the successes of their conservation efforts over the past 20 years and for the richness…
Mauritius beach resort, Outrigger, on the south coast of the island at Bel Ombre, has been temporarily closed to visitors since February 18, due to the detection of the presence of Legionnella, the microorganism that causes Legionnaire’s disease. Although no new cases related to the hotel have been identified since February 18, the property has…
RwandAir has signed a new codeshare with Turkish Airlines. Passengers coming to Africa on Turkish Airlines’ flights into Kigali will have access to RwandAir’s growing African network in Southern, West, Central and East Africa, in a seamless experience, including their baggage. RwandAir passengers, when travelling from Africa, will now have access to the Turkish carrier’s…
Wilderness has revealed plans to open a new luxury tented camp in September on the eastern edge of the Okavango Delta. Wilderness Mokete will be situated in the game-rich Mababe concession. Nine solar-powered en-suite canvas tents, each with a retractable roof, will be linked by ground-level wooden walkways leading to a tented lounge area and…
Vered Tours is happy to announce its post Forum fam trip: APTA Taste of South Africa Tour! This fam will include visits to Soweto, Pilanesberg National Park, Sun City, then on to Johannesburg for your international flights onward. For more detailed information, please go to www.apta.biz where our pre and post fam trips are listed.
Silver Africa Tours and Safaris, in business for 20 years, is a boutique Kenya DMC with fully customized vehicles that have extra large windows, pop-up roof, padded seats, charging points and more. Their experienced guides are full time employees, their safari planners experts in all things Kenya and their internal air team can book flights…
The Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa (APTA), the largest and longest operating travel trade organization for African specialists in North America, is extending the early registration date for its Global Forum through April 15, 2023. The APTA Global Forum will be held in Cape Town, South Africa September 26-30, 2023 and the…
The Warm Heart of Africa will welcome guests to the 4th edition of “Takulandirani” Malawi International Tourism Expo (MITE) to be held from 26th to 27th April, 2023 at the Bingu Wa Mutharika International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe. More info here.
Zimbabwe’s National Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) will raise the conservation fees for accessing Victoria Falls National Park from April 1. This decision was made despite the previous backlash from stakeholders who claimed they were not consulted earlier this year when Zimparks first proposed the increase. Back in December, the Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe…
SAUDIA, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, launched its first direct flight to Dar es Salaam this past weekend. The airline will be operating four weekly flights between King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The flights are operated with an…
J.W. Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of 30 hotel brands, officially announced the opening of J.W. Marriott Masai Mara Lodge, marking the company’s highly anticipated debut in the luxury safari segment. Located within the Masai Mara National Reserve in Southwestern Kenya, one of Africa’s most renowned wildlife and wilderness conservation regions, the lodge…
Marriott International has signed a franchise agreement with Tingana Hospitality Group to open a new Autograph Collection Hotel in the Kruger National Park (KNP). The property, called Leopard Sands, is currently being built and will undergo brand positioning before opening as a Marriott Autograph Collection property. Tingana Hospitality Group has a collection of luxury lodges…
While there are major actions needed to elevate the tourism sector – improving safety, increasing air access, increasing investment, and growing tourism’s contribution to the economy – the industry is ready to come back with a bang! This was the positive message from the Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, speaking at WTM Africa, which kicked…
Continuing with its impressive international route expansion, Ethiopian Airlines is set to operate yet another route between New York and Côte d’Ivoire starting on May 23. The airline will resume the flight between New York JFK international and Felix Houphouet Boigny International Airport in Côte d’Ivoire, commonly known as the Ivory Coast. This route was launched in June 2019…
Johannesburg to Nosy Be will re-commence from 25 June 2023 with a once-weekly direct flight on Sundays as part of the drive to restore flights between South Africa and Madagascar to pre-pandemic levels. “Having just recently re-established connectivity between Johannesburg and Antananarivo, which is a predominantly business and trade route. Airlink is preparing to re-ignite tourism…
Classic Africa Safaris is pleased to report that Ugandan officials have lifted the Covid-19 vaccination requirement for all arrivals into Entebbe International Airport (EBB) effective immediately. For departing passengers, proof of vaccination will be checked only if the airline or an onward country of destination requires it. CAS asks that trade partners confirm any Covid-19…
Africa’s Travel Indaba 2023 is expected to almost double in size, drawing growing revenue and attracting thousands of delegates and international buyers to the Durban International Convention Centre from May 9-11. This is the forecast business and government tourism leaders, including Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille, gave of the continent’s upcoming premier tourism and travel business…
Zimbabwe’s National Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) will raise the conservation fees for accessing Victoria Falls National Park from April 1. This decision was made despite the previous backlash from stakeholders who claimed they were not consulted earlier this year when Zimparks first proposed the increase. Back in December, the Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe…
Classic Africa Safaris is pleased to report the opening of a new luxury property in Uganda, the Entebbe Forest Lodge. Our general manager Hilda recently visited the property and reports that the lodge sits in a beautiful forested area overlooking Lake Victoria (approx. 30 minutes from EBB Airport). The six cabins have forest views and…
Shenton Safaris are offering the ultimate Zambian adventure. Launching all-new 2-week and 3-week itineraries, the emphasis is on personalized, owner-run camps in remote areas, with passionate guides, excellent wildlife and incredible experiences. “The Shentons and their extended family of extraordinary guides, have been sharing the magic of South Luangwa National Park with guests from all…
Banyan Tree Ilha Caldeira, on a private island off the coast of Mozambique’s Nampula province, is on track for opening in the first quarter of 2024. Prior to the COVID pandemic, the ultra-luxurious resort was slated for opening in the second quarter of 2022. The property will be only the third Banyan Tree resort in…
As of 22nd March 2023, Zambia no longer requires proof of Covid vaccination or a negative PCR test to enter the country. Botswana, Namibia and Zambia now offer free movement with regards to any Covid-19 restrictions. We hope that Zimbabwe will soon follow. For up-to-date travel information regarding Covid-19, please refer your clients to the…