Botswana has committed to join the Kavango-Zambezi (Kaza) uni-visa system, which will expedite the movement of tourists between the country and other Kaza members, Zimbabwe and Zambia. “The two Presidents [Zimbabwe and Botswana] welcomed Botswana’s decision to consider joining the Kaza uni-visa system, as it will assist in the promotion of tourism among the countries…
The narrow valleys and lush, steep slopes of southwestern Uganda are home to the legendary mountain gorillas – half the world’s population live here in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (the remainder live in neighboring Rwanda and the Congo). Mount Elgon national park in Uganda. GETTY IMAGES The aptly named 128-square-mile national park at the edge of the…
The Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) and the Rwanda Tours and Travel Association (RTTA) have agreed to jointly market the two countries as complementary destinations in a bid to provide tourists with an array of adventure experiences. TATO CEO, Sirili Akko, said the main objective of the partnership was to encourage tourists to increase their…
Tragedy can send a person spinning downward, and inward. Or the centrifugal forces can release them outward, into new endeavors. In the last seven years, Crystal Dyer has lost both her grandson, Devin, to gang violence and her own son, Christoph, through an accidental death. Instead of allowing these events to deter her spirit and…
We are delighted to announce the opening of our 3 new Luxury Safari properties, Ole Serai Luxury Camp – Kuro, Serengeti Lake Magadi Lodge, and Ole Serai Luxury Camp – Seronera that are set to open in June and March respectively. They are perfect for both a short or long stay. All the properties are…
The Government of Botswana is at a crossroads on whether to lift the ban placed on elephant hunting in 2014, or leave it in place. A report submitted by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Hunting Ban Social Dialogue, which was commissioned by Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, has put forward the recommendation that the ban be…
Sierra Leone will welcome Dr. Jane Goodall (DBE, anthropologist and UN Messenger of Peace), the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, during her three-day visit to the country, February 27 to March 1st where, 27 years ago, she was instrumental in the founding of the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary. The three-day visit highlights the emerging conservation movement…
The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC) is pleased to announce that we have released a captive-bred female cheetah in the Pidwa Wilderness Reserve yesterday, Tuesday 29 January 2019. The release forms part of the Southern African cheetah meta-population programme facilitated by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and entails selectively releasing captive-bred cheetahs to enhance the genetic diversity of the limited number of free-ranging members of the species…
Shanga by Elewana Collection has been selected as one of 3 finalists for the ‘Investing in People’ Tourism for Tomorrow Awards from the World Travel & Tourism Council. Shanga is a social enterprise based in Arusha Tanzania that trains and employs people with disabilities to produce high quality handmade craft items – glass blowing, beading…
Mara Nyika, a sister camp to Mara Plains, is the newest edition to the Great Plains Conservation family of camps in Kenya. Mara Nyika opens in August 2019 in the Naboisho Conservancy just in time for the migration! More about Mara Nyika This intimate four tent camp is set in a valley, straddling a small…
In July, Rovos Rail will introduce a new 15-day expedition through Tanzania, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. This will be the first time in history that a passenger train will travel the famous east-to-west copper trail. Rovos Rail Communications Manager, Brenda Vos-Fitchet says this inaugural voyage sets off on July 16 from Dar es…
Machaba Safaris is set to open two new luxury safari camps in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. Deteema Springs Camp will open on May 1. The eight tents include a family tent, with children aged over six welcome. Tents are smaller than Machaba’s traditional tents, with facilities including hot and cold running water, flush toilets and…
Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s Largest Airline Group and SKYTRAX Certified Four Star Global Airline, is pleased to announce to its customers that it has finalized all preparations to once again celebrate International Women’s Day by operating an All-Women Functioned Flight this time on Addis Ababa – Stockholm – Oslo route on March 8, 2019. The all-women…
Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO of Africa’s Largest Airline Group and SKYTRAX Certified Four Star Global Airline, has been inducted into The African CEO’s Hall Of Fame during the African Leadership Magazine’s Persons of the Year ceremony which took place on February 22, 2019 in Johannesburg. The annual African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year…
Zambia Tourism Agency (ZTA) announced on Tuesday (February 19) that the dates set for the Zambia Travel Expo (ZATEX) have been affected by the rescheduling of Africa’s Travel Indaba 2019 in South Africa, which were brought forward due to the country’s upcoming national elections. The ZTA is therefore consulting the trade on two possible date…
Traveling to East Africa during the months of April, May, October and November is ideal – the wild flowers are in full blossom attracting a kaleidoscope of butterflies that transform the landscape into a spectacular display of colour. With the lush vegetation comes new life and many of the antelope take advantage of this to…
The dates for Africa’s Travel Indaba have been brought forward to May 2 to 4, remaining at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban. This is due to the SA President Cyril Ramaphosa announcing at his State Of The Nation Address (SONA) that the national elections would take place on May 8 – falling in…
The Intimate Botswana and Zimbabwe Encounter has become one of our most popular safaris in 2019. By creatively combining highlights such as a house-boat experience on Lake Kariba, rhino-tracking in Matopos and famous Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana guests experience a diverse and unique African safari. Due to high-season dates being sold out; we have…
Rio Azul is fantastic for families! Our two family villas have upstairs lofts that can sleep up to 4 kids, and our beach chalets have a spare bed for one child staying with parents or guardians. And as for keeping the little ones happy and entertained, that’s easy: each beach chalet has the use of…
The green season, the season for new life and youthful beginnings. The season for families and memory making. African Bush Camps encourage families of all ages to bring your babies to meet our babies. The green season brings the first rains which intern brings the birth of new life. African Bush Camps have a variety…
a2b Destination Marketing celebrated their 5th Anniversary along with the Florida APTA Chapter. It was a successful evening allowing guest to learn about their 5 star portfolio consisting of The Cape Grace Hotel, Victoria Falls River Lodge, Shamwari Private Game Reserve, Camp Jabulani and Taasa Lodge.
Shangri La Coffee Estate, home to the Manor at Ngorongoro have started experimenting on growing wine grape varietals on the slopes surrounding the estate. Elewana The Manor hope to serve some of these in our restaurant in the future. The vineyard managers have reported that the first harvest is due this year, and the fruits…
This phenomenal level of positive media coverage is driving a massive increase in demand for Malawi on the back of the transformation of its wildlife that has been on-going for a few years. With the largest elephant translocation in history already completed, last year has seen lions moved into Liwonde (to join the cheetahs from…
Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africa’s Largest Airline Group and SKYTRAX Certified Four Star Global Airline, is pleased and extends its congratulations to the entire Ethiopian family and the country at large, on the recognition of Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, as one of the most influential people of African descent in the category…
Whispers of a mangrove forest, a crystal-clear lagoon, white powdery sands, and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean lapping gently against the shore… It’s serenity in a tropical wilderness, it’s Rio Azul in Mozambique, the newest lodge in the Hideaways portfolio. This beach paradise in a remote and secluded location is waiting for guests…
The extremely rare female cat has melanism, a condition in which the body produces an excess of pigment. They say that black cats bring bad luck, but when Nick Pilfold heard about one lurking around central Kenya, he knew he was onto something special. The Kenya-based biologist and his team deployed a set of camera…
Major roads in Mount Kenya National Park and Tsavo East National Park have been upgraded. The Mount Kenya roads project has seen major improvement of access roads along Kalalu Farm to Sirmon Gate and Old Moses Camp, and Naromoru Gate to Met Station Road – a stretch of 27km. The upgrade of the road along…
Experience, expertise and adventure is why guests choose to travel with Jenman African Safaris. The portfolio provides specialized private guided safaris, tailor-made travel and small-group guided safaris in Southern Africa, East Africa and Madagascar. The recently introduced exclusive Jenman Select product range offers private custom safaris for the high-end traveller, with a strong focus on…
When Great Plains Conservation acquired the lease for the 118,000-hectare private Sapi Reserve in Zimbabwe – land that was previously used for hunting – we determined that the only way for us to rehabilitate the land, increase wildlife numbers and improve the guest safari experience was to follow what we did successfully in the Selinda Reserve of northern Botswana. Like Selinda we obviously…
Ethiopian Airlines is delighted to announce the launch of a new state-of-the-art terminal at their international hub Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. The launch ceremony also unveiled a brand new ultra-modern 5-star Skylight Hotel. The launch ceremony was attended by FDRE Prime Minister H.E. Dr Abiy Ahmed, African Union Chairperson H.E. Mr Moussa Faki, Ministers,…
The national animal of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the okapi, is often described as ‘half-zebra, half-giraffe, an animal so rare that is was unknown to the western word until the turn of the 20th century’. However this hybrid-looking creature faces many growing threats, including habitat loss due to the exploitation of the country’s resources. …
African Bush Camps in-house artist Rens Lipsius has submerged himself into his surroundings drawing from the beautiful landscapes, wildlife, and culture of people whose paths he has crossed. Rens, commenting on his arrival in Zimbabwe, “all is absolutely wonderful. I heard they are kind (Zimbabwean’s), but it is beyond what I expected” Rens has wasted…
South African Airways (SAA) has resumed flights between Johannesburg and Malawi, SAnews.gov.za reported on Monday. The national carrier resumed flights between Johannesburg and Blantyre on Saturday. “We are pleased that we are able to reinstate flights between the two points following the implementation of our corrective action plan. The plan was a battery of remedial…
Airlink will from 4 February 2019, enhance its Cape Town to Hoedspruit and Cape Town to Nelspruit KMIA service to include business class. Airlink’s E-Jet services between Cape Town – Hoedspruit and Cape Town – Nelspruit KMIA will now offer an intra-continental (as in intra Europe) style business class service. The cabin layout features expansive…
Elewana Collection is proud to announce it will open Elewana Lodo Springs on the 15th June 2019 bringing the total number of destinations to 16 award-winning luxurious camps, lodges and boutique beach hotels in Tanzania, Zanzibar and Kenya for the luxury safari camp and lodge operator. The new high-end tented property will complement the existing…
As 2019 promises to be an exciting year for Malawi, we look back at 2018 to see how the country’s wildlife has transformed, catching the attention of the world. Tours & trails have developed by local operators as the country becomes a hot destination for safaris in Africa. Wildlife Transformation ‘Completing’ Malawi For a long…
The big surf discoveries of the past 10 years have surprisingly been in Africa. Gone are the Hawaiian shirts and SoCal woody wagons. “Here, surfing is about exploration,” says Andy Davis, cofounder of the Cape Town–based surf brand Mami Wata, “in places that are still so wild—jungles, deserts, and unspoiled vistas—where there could be crocs and hippos in…
Ethiopian Airlines, the Largest Aviation Group in Africa and SKYTRAX Certified Four Star Global Airline, is pleased to announce to its customers worldwide that it has extended free transit tour to global passengers as of February 1, 2019. The new complimentary city tour package organized by ET Holidays, the tour operator wing of Ethiopian Airlines,…
510 children at Ganako Primary School were overwhelmed when we opened their new playground – fully built with recycled goods. A team of Elewana guides and maintenance team at Elewana The Manor, as well as interns from the Watoto Foundation, built some great Swings, Rocking Horses, and Slides all made out of old recycled tyres…
Ethiopian Airlines, the largest Aviation Group in Africa and SKYTRAX certified 4-Star global airline, is pleased to announce that it will restructure its U.S. network, adding frequencies and shifting gateways as of the summer of 2019. The new U.S. network is aimed at giving passengers travelling between the U.S. and all over Africa the best…
After a decade marked by terrorism and other setbacks to its tourism brand, Kenya is now reveling in growth that is sure to be further nurtured by the first direct flight between the U.S. and East Africa. Read the feature article on Travel Weekly
Malawi Department of Tourism will once again be hosting a hosted buyer program + FAM trip around the annual Malawi International Tourism Expo (MITE) taking place in Lilongwe 25-27 April. Hosted buyers will attend the conference and then a post-conference FAM trip taking place 27 April – 1 May. Qualified buyers with an interest in…
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Elephant Plains is a brand new luxury lodge located on the most spectacular view point in the whole of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Perched 941 metres above sea level, high upon the western escarpment of the Albertine rift in the north east of the park, the lodge offers panoramic views stretching for miles over the…
If you’ve been on safari, you’ll know how noisy game-viewing vehicles are: the great thrum the engines make on starting and the clatter as they drive through the bush. Yet it’s the kind of noise you get used to and might not even notice – until it isn’t there anymore. That’s what happened when I…
Annual maintenance on Cape Town’s Table Mountain Cableway has been extended this year to six weeks instead of five, from July 8 until August 18. The renovations include the replacing of cable car ropes and more. All the planned changes are to ensure an improved visitor experience. The public can still hike up Table Mountain…
The Zimbabwean government as appointed famous Black Panther star Danai Gurira as one of the tourism ambassadors of the Southern African nation. Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira made the appointment on Tuesday at the launch of Tour Africa-New Horizon Project. The block buster movie was the highest grossing film in southern, East…
Ethiopian Airlines, the Largest Aviation Group in Africa and SKYTRAX Certified Four Star Global Airline, inaugurated state-of-the-art passenger terminal and its Skylight Hotel on January 27, 2019 in the presence of FDRE Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed, African Union Chairperson H.E. Mr. Moussa Faki, Ministers, high level government officials, Ethiopian Airlines Board Members, Group…
Once a home for sport hunters and a meeting place for former Ugandan president Idi Amin’s international guest in the seventies, Kidepo Valley National Park finally gets a new boost to the list of accommodations The Kidepo Safari Lodge, now known as the Katurum Lodge Kidepo was built in 1971 by Danish master architect Hans…
This weekend, APTA members will be exhibiting at the New York Times Travel Show in the APTA pavilion. Participating members include: Seychelles Tourism Infinite Safari Adventures Africa Angel Tours Duma Explorer Camps Uganda Tourism Board In addition, APTA will be running the Friday morning “Focus on Africa” session. The schedule of speakers is as follows.…