The flag carrier of the Swazi Kingdom, Eswatini Air, finally got its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) in December and is preparing for its launch, but no date has yet been fixed. The airline announced its news via its Facebook site, noting that there were “just a few logistics” to attend to before it would publish a…
While Mauritius is best-known for its resort offerings, the island destination is also banking on its cruise sector, which is set to be boosted when the new cruise terminal in Port Louis becomes operational this year. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector in Mauritius was starting to flourish. In the 2016/17 season, Port Louis welcomed…
Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT), responsible for running Malawi’s only wildlife rehabilitation centre and a key campaigner in Malawi’s fight against wildlife crime, have reported news of cheetah cubs recently born spotted in Liwonde National Park. These cubs represent the third generation of cheetahs to be born in Liwonde since the reintroduction in 2017 by African Parks in partnership…
Botswana’s Maun International Airport, an important gateway into the Okavango Delta and regional destinations, can now accommodate aircraft as large as the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320. On Friday, January 20, the President of Botswana Mokgweetsi Masisi officially opened the upgraded facility. The upgrades include a runway extension to 3.7km and modernisation of the terminal building. The…
Travulous is delighted to announce the dates for their familiarisation trips to Rwanda in 2023 and 2024. As a special addition to the Volcanoes NP segment of the FAM trip, travel professionals will be led and hosted by one of Travulous’ inspiring and knowledgeable Tour Leaders who worked with Dian Fossey at the original Karisoke…
Airlink will restart scheduled services between South Africa and Madagascar after they were suspended for almost three years. The resumption of flights linking Johannesburg with Antananarivo follows the lifting of Madagascar’s COVID-19 travel restrictions and a subsequent ban on air services to and from South Africa. The ban was put in place by the Madagascar…
10% Discount on selected guided group tours from JENMAN African Safaris JENMAN African Safaris have made planning your next adventure to Africa an exciting endeavor with a 10% discount on a choice selection of some of our most popular guided group tours! Experience Africa at its finest as you criss-cross this alluring continent, taking in…
Hideaways Elephant’s Eye Tented Camp in Hwange, Zimbabwe is starting 2023 with a brand-new outlook on the safari landscape after a soft refurb and upgrades across the board. The camp was Hideaways’ first hand-built eco-lodge in Zimbabwe in 2013. VIEW GALLERY From the beginning, “touching the earth lightly” has been at the heart of all…
Classic Africa Safaris Uganda is elated to announce that the Minister of Health, Dr. Aceng Jane Ruth Ocero, declared Uganda Ebola-free. In an MOH statement, Dr. Aceng outlines the WHO requirement for a full 42 day clearance period to declare the outbreak ended. Uganda has now reached that mark with no new cases. “Having spent…
Although mostly known for the stunning Lake Malawi and, more recently, for its extensive programme of successful conservation and wildlife rehabilitation, Malawi’s beautiful and varied landscapes are also a key attraction for its visitors. Despite its small size, the country is home to a remarkable diversity of scenery – mountains, plateaux, highlands, plains, river valleys…
Spanish hotel company, Meliá Hotels International, is to open its first hotel in the Seychelles. It is expected to open in 2025. Meliá Sea Front Mahé Island will be located on the beachfront in Mahé and will have 120 rooms, 12 of them suites. Dining facilities will include three restaurants, one of which will be…
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has granted $2.5 million in catalytic funding for conservation and tourism across southern Africa, intended to spur total investment of $75 million and create up to 44 000 jobs. Created in partnership with ThirdWay Partners and The Nature Conservancy, the Africa Conservation and Communities Fund is the first…
The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo which was scheduled to be held next month has been extended by a month, organisers have said. This year’s expo was set to be held February 8 – 11 but has now been postponed to April 26 – 28, 2023 and according to Uganda Tourism Board, the rescheduling of…
Dereck & Beverly Joubert at Zoo Miami’s Speaker Series January 26th Dereck and Beverly are the Founders of Great Plains Conservation, award-winning filmmakers, conservationists and National Geographic Explorers-at-Large. Learn more about their decades of work is documenting African wildlife, founding Rhinos Without Borders and Big Cats Initiative, their conservation outreach through the Great Plains Foundation,…
Africa’s Eden invites you to learn about their beautiful destinations, attractions, accommodations and more in Atlanta 30 Jan – 1 Feb 2023 at the Thompson Buckhead Hotel. Africa’s Eden has its heart in Southern Africa. It is the expansive wildlife area shared between Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. A place of unparalleled biodiversity and magnificent…
For over 30 years Shenton Safaris have been offering authentic safari experiences in the South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, renowned for its diverse landscapes and high population of big cats. We have two camps located deep within the park: Kaingo Camp: Comprising six tranquil thatched chalets, nestled discretely along the banks of the Luangwa River.…
Fly Als, a local charter flight company in Kenya, has released its 2023 afternoon flight schedule for flights across some of the country’s national parks. The service operates between Wilson Airport, Amboseli National Park, and Tsavo West National Park. Note that flights only operate with a minimum of six passengers. Find the schedule below: Read…
Morocco’s newest hotel will open in its Red City later this month. Nobu Hotel Marrakech is gearing up to welcome its first overnight guests on January 23. Located a stone’s throw from the heart of the 1,000-year-old city, the sleek hotel is the first in Africa from the ultra-luxury hotel brand that’s headed by actor Robert De Niro,…
Ethiopian Airlines has announced and put on sale Addis Ababa to Atlanta. It will be the sixth airport in the US and Canada served by Africa’s largest carrier on a passenger basis and the fourth destination in Africa for Atlanta, the world’s busiest airport. Ethiopian to Atlanta Taking off on May 16th, Ethiopian will launch a 4x…
USAID announced a new Prosper Africa partnership with ThirdWay Partners and The Nature Conservancy to protect African landscapes and bolster the tourism sector. With $2.5 million in catalytic funding from USAID, ThirdWay, and the Nature Conservancy will unlock a $75 million Africa Conservation and Communities Tourism Fund. This is the first continent-wide investment agreement under…
Turkish Airlines is to relaunch its Lusaka service with two flights a week from March 26. The flights will go via Dar es Salaam. Outbound flights to Istanbul will operate on Mondays and Saturdays, and inbound flights on Sundays and Fridays. Flights depart from Lusaka at 02h50 and arrive in Istanbul at 14h40, after a…
Accra, Ghana, the Namib Desert in Namibia and Tassili n’Ajjer in Algeria have all been named on this year’s “52 Places to Go in 2023” by the New York Times which was published Thursday January 12th. This list is largely considered to be the most exclusive annual destination list in publishing. View the full list…
The inbound and outbound African travel community can now register to attend WTM Africa, held from April 3 to 5 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). “Registration is already open for exhibitors, hosted buyers, Buyers’ Club members, the media, and travel trade professionals,” said Megan De Jager, Portfolio Director: Travel, Tourism & RX Africa…
Air Algérie is planning twice-weekly flights from Algiers to Johannesburg, from March 26. The airline says it will use an Airbus A330-200 for the service. The same frequency will be laid on for Addis Ababa from March 27. Twice- to thrice-weekly flights to Libreville will start from March 26. The Johannesburg service will connect in…
Mount Kilimanjaro’s famed Uhuru Peak is now covered by high-speed Internet access, following the conclusion of the Tanzanian government’s project to bring connectivity to the very top of Africa’s highest mountain. Between August and December last year, Internet access was steadily expanded from all rest camps below 3 795 metres, to the 5 895-metre peak of the mountain,…
Effective January 2023, the management of Nyungwe National Park made changes to its pricing for some of it’s activities with the aim objectives of: (1) Simplifying the existing pricing for visitors and harmonization of the pricing structure between two Rwandan parks whose management is entrusted to African Parks (Akagera and Nyungwe). 2) Facilitating longer stays…
Tanzania tour operators will embark on executing a strategic destination-marketing blitz in the middle of this month. Under the auspices of Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO), through United Nations Development Programs (UNDP) support, among other initiatives, this will endeavor to recoup the multi-billion-dollars tourism industry. The marketing plan will deploy a high-profile delegation led…
After experiencing an 80 percent decrease in tourist arrivals due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Malawi government has decided to put an end to visa requirements in several countries. The measure, introduced in efforts to revive tourism, will apply to tourists from 16 countries, among which the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China…
On December 17, South African Tourism (SAT) celebrated the launch of Delta Air Lines new nonstop service between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Cape Town International Airport (CPT). The year-round service will operate three times weekly on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The route also compliments Delta’s existing service from ATL to O.R. Tambo International…
The APTA Executive Board is busy planning the APTA Global Forum September 26-30, 2023 at The Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town. Registration for the APTA Global Forum will be available in early January 2023, along with an outline of the planned agenda. Since this is the first time that APTA will be hosting a…
Tanzania Association of Tour Operators -TATO is delighted to announce the 2023 dates for its massively informative Tanzania FAM trip program: TATO TOURISM REBOOT. This program consists of 7-day and 10-day familiarisation trips around Tanzania’s most famous national parks and tourist attractions, including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Mount Kilimanjaro, among others. There will be…
Effective 01 January 2023, Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority will increase conservation fees for the Victoria Falls National Park. Please find the official notification here. The Victoria Falls Rainforest Entrance Fee will increase to $50 for International travellers, $30 for SADC residents and $10 for Zimbabwean visitors. Please be advised that this affects all entrance fees, including guests…
On June 12, 2023, Air France will launch a new route from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, as a continuation of its Zanzibar service. The flight will be operated three times a week by a B787-9, equipped with 30 seats in business class, 21 in premium economy and 225 in economy class.…
Jamala Madikwe Royal Safari Lodge has closed after its main lodge area was destroyed in a devastating overnight fire that started at around 23:00 on Monday (December 12). There were no injuries to guests or staff, who were all safely evacuated from the lodge. The main lodge, comprising the lounge, dining room, kitchen, curio shop,…
Commencing 27 March 2023, fastjet Zimbabwe is set to introduce new services from Harare and Victoria Falls to Kariba Airport and Hwange National Park Airport. The planned additional new routes to our domestic network will offer seamless connections for travellers from Harare and Victoria Falls to Zimbabwe’s top domestic tourism destinations of Kariba and Hwange,…
The Seychelles government is working with the Department of Information Communication and Technology to introduce a new system where hikers will be offered bracelets with satellite links. President Wavel Ramkalawan said in a press conference last week that visitors often got lost on La Digue, and that it was costing the government dearly. “It is a cost…
A new luxury adults-only (no children under 16) lodge, Shongwe Oasis Boutique Lodge & Spa, has opened two kilometres from the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. The lodge’s 19 guest rooms comprise 13 double deluxe rooms with bath and shower, three honeymoon suites with outdoor and indoor baths, showers and a private garden. There are also…
NEW FLIGHT OPTIONS: Hideaways is pleased to announce some positive progress for Zimbabwe-bound travellers. Fastjet has confirmed their partnership with Mackair and will offer daily internal seat rate flights connecting East and West, from March 2023. This means that country-wide travel across Zimbabwe’s top destinations will be easy, frequent and more affordable than before. Imagine the delight in planning a journey…
Better days for tourism industry in Tanzania are in the offing, thanks to the UNWTO Academy for imparting tour operators with the pertinent digital marketing skills, as part of a joint ambitious strategy to spur the industry. Dubbed, on-site modules training on tourism digitization for tour operators’, is the brainchild of two key UN agencies,…
“We are proud to have this service,” said Paul Hassenstab, Delta Air Lines Director Sales EMEAI at a press function ahead of the arrival of the first Delta flight to Cape Town. After waiting patiently for regulators to approve its new route, Delta will touch down at Cape Town International Airport on Saturday, December 3. The…
Tour operators, tourism exhibitors and stakeholders from Kenya recently met in Uganda for the inaugural five-day Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference, Exhibition and fam trip. The theme was ‘Strengthening Networks, Synergies, and Diversity to maximise the tourism potential between Uganda and the Kenya Coastal Region’. “This conference is historic because it is the first-ever regional tourism conference…
The 2022/2023 summer season is set to be “the biggest and boldest summer period yet” following the two-year hiatus occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic’s lockdowns, restrictions and travel bans”, according to Minister of Tourism, Lindiwe Sisulu. Speaking at the launch of South African Tourism’s latest Sho’t Left campaign – ‘Gimme Summer That!’ which will run from…
Malawi and the World Health Organization are rolling out a new malaria vaccine for young children that backers say will reduce deaths from the mosquito-borne disease. The RTSS vaccine was pilot tested on more than one million children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi and recommended a year ago by the WHO. Despite a low effectiveness…
Uganda Tourism Board CEO, Lilly Ajarova, met the media during the annual United States Tour Operators Association annual conference in Austin, Texas on December 1st. Representatives from Insider Travel Report, Recommend, Travel Market Report, Travel Weekly, TravelAge West and Travel Pulse convened in Austin to meet and hear updates from Uganda Tourism Board across a…
South Africa is one of 17 African countries that have set in motion the long-awaited Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) that aims to consolidate the aviation market at continental level. The other countries are Senegal, Togo, Zambia, Niger, Gabon, Namibia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco, Mozambique, and Namibia.These are…
Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated visitors disembarking in Seychelles will not be required to present a negative PCR or antigen test to be allowed entry into the country. Similarly, fully vaccinated passengers will not be required to show proof of vaccination either. However, all visitors will be required to complete their travel declaration online through www.govtas.sc and provide valid travel…
Running from November 26 to December 3, the week-long event currently is carrying a banner and a theme of “Adopting Innovative Approaches to Boost Intra-Africa Travel as a drive for Tourism Business Recovery.” Taking place at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (KCEV) and Kigali Convention Centre (KCC) in Rwandan capital, the Rwanda Tourism Week in…
RwandAir is now offering a nonstop service between London (LHR) and Kigali (KGL) in Rwanda. Flights started at the beginning of November with the inaugural flight WB710 operated by an Airbus A330-200, which can accommodate 20 passengers in Business Class, 21 in Premium and 203 in Economy. Flight Number Departure Arrival Days of Operation WB…
One of Classic Africa Safaris’ favorite lodges in Buhoma town, Mahogany Springs Lodge, has undergone extensive refurbishments and is looking great! Recent CAS guest feedback is excellent and, as always, the Mahogany Springs cuisine is delicious and service is superb. Buhoma is located in the Northern Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and provides easy access…
CornerSun Destination Marketing, a full-service consulting firm specializing in introducing African travel destinations to the North American market, has been selected by the National Tourist Board of Sierra Leone to manage and grow the country’s tourism presence in the U.S. and Canada. The collaboration, which includes strategic partner Emerging Destinations, serves to build brand and…