On the 1st of July 2018, Lanzerac Hotel & Spa will reopen after a year-long regeneration journey that has seen the Hotel being restored to its former grandeur following a devastating fire in 2017. Like the fynbos endemic to the Cape, which rejuvenates by fire every few years, this iconic landmark is now blooming with enhanced…
Tsavo National Park in Kenya is set to develop a new tourist attraction: the park will package its World War One battlefield as a cultural heritage sight for tourists. The package will include a visit to Mwashoti Hill, the location of a British fort and cemeteries for both British and German soldiers. Other sites will…
Ethiopian Airlines, the largest Aviation Group in Africa and SKYTRAX certified Four Star Global Airline, has finalized preparations to launch new flight services (4x per week) to Barcelona, Spain as of July 1, 2018, deploying the ultra-modern B787–800 Dreamliner. Barcelona, the capital and largest city of Catalonia and the second most populous municipality of Spain,…
It was our honour and a privilege to host Virginia McKenna recently at Elewana Elsa’s Kopje Meru. On our final evening we had the opportunity to sit with her, as the candles flickered in the lounge, we listened to her tales of Meru, filming Born Free and her life’s work with The Born Free Foundation.…
Former US president Barack Obama is set to visit Kenya next month. According to the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Obama Foundation, the former president will be in the country on July 16 before he heads to South Africa where he will deliver the 16th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Johannesburg. He is expected to…
In a poll titled “Travel World Cup”, which was posted by British newspaper The Telegraph, comparing World Cup groups as travel destinations, Egypt came as the voters’ most popular travel destination within group A, surprisingly taking over Russia and Uruguay and less surprisingly taking over Saudi Arabia. Telegraph Travel posted a tweet on 14 June…
Last month, a team of biologists, logistical crew, researchers and plant experts were led on their first expedition to Mount Lico in Mozambique by Dr Julian Bayliss, from Oxford Brookes University in the UK, where an undisturbed tropical rainforest was discovered in the heart of a volcano. Bayliss was looking at satellite imagery from Google Earth…
The Uganda government has earmarked a staggering Shs 32bn for the tourism sector which is expected to attract at least 4 million tourists per year by the year 2020. Finance Minister Matia Kasaija said the tourism sector today earns USD 1.4 billion compared to USD 498.3 Million in 2008. “By 2020, tourism is targeted to…
A surprise announcement by Ethiopia’s prime minister to mend relations with neighbouring Eritrea is highlighting the rapid pace of his government’s agenda just eleven weeks since he was sworn in. Abiy Ahmed of the ruling EPRDF coalition is offering to cede control of the northern border town of Badme and other disputed regions to Eritrea and abide fully…
Various countries have updated their travel advisories for Mozambique, advising travellers to exercise a high degree of caution when travelling in Cabo Delgado Province, or ideally, avoid all travel in the area. The US Embassy issued a security alert for the district headquarters of Palma, situated in Cabo Delgado Province, advising American citizens to consider…
RwandAir, has been granted a licence to start direct flight services to the United States (New York) and China (Guangzhou). While details are still being finalised, the arrival airport in New York will be either JFK or Newark, and the flights are likely to start towards the end of the year. Thembela Dladla, Country Manager…
Newly designed Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge has launched! Timeless Explorers Lodge in the heart of wild Africa 11 June 2018 -This summer, Belmond unveils its new-look Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge in the Chobe National Park, following a full redesign. Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge, one of Belmond’s three safari experiences in the heart of Botswana, reopens…
It is critical to work with communities that are sharing land and resources with the wildlife that we want to protect. To better understand the ways that people are interacting with and perceiving leopards, in June 2017 a collaborative partnership between San Diego Zoo Global and Loisaba Conservancy was set up to conduct social and…
28 African penguin chicks have been rescued following recent stormy weather that caused flooding of some of the nests on Dyer Island, a 20-hectare nature reserve situated 8.5km from Kleinbaai harbour in Gansbaai, Western Cape. The chicks, which are not yet waterproof and would therefore die from exposure if not rescued, were admitted to the…
Ethiopian Airlines Group, the largest Aviation Holding Company in Africa, is pleased to announce it will link Chicago and Africa for the first time today with its inaugural flight from O’Hare International Airport to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital. The flight will be operated together with Star Alliance partner United Airlines and is scheduled to expediently connect flyers from…
Day 1 Arrive Kigali and Travel to Ruhengeri You will be met by Golden Rwanda Safaris Ltd driver guide at the Kigali International airport and stop for lunch then after drive to Musanze if time allows you you will visit two twin Lakes Burera and Ruhondo. Their deep blue waters ringed by steep hills and…
A recent survey documented 604 mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei), the largest number of mountain gorillas ever recorded in the transboundary Virunga Massif, one the two remaining areas where this critically endangered great ape is still found. When combined with the published figure of 400 mountain gorillas from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda, as of…
A new museum is set to open in Uganda, showcasing the country’s volatile history, in a bid to attract more tourists to the East African nation. The museum will display Uganda’s history, including its pre-colonial and colonial past. Furthermore, it will exhibit the violent reign of Idi Amin, former President of Uganda, reports BBC. Stephen Asiimwe, CEO…
Volcanoes Safaris is thrilled to announce the launch of a permanent village for one of the oldest surviving indigenous people in the Central African Forest, the Mount Gahinga Batwa Community. The building of the village broke ground in Fall 2017. With their own village, the Batwa Community of Mount Gahinga will no longer have to…
When it comes to an Indian Ocean escape, it’s time to look beyond traditional stalwarts The Seychelles, Mauritius and the Maldives and consider rising star Mozambique. Here’s why now is the time to visit… The marine life is second-to-none Mozambique boasts some of the finest marine life in the Indian Ocean. Its coral…
For every year, Sainte Marie Island which located in the East of Madagascar has become the home of the Whale Festival. Considered as the beautiful world sanctuary of the humpback whale, it is at the heart of a high potential economic zone composed of Vanilla Islands (Comoros-Mauritius-Réunion-Seychelles-Mayotte-Maldives-Madagascar). The festival is an initiative of the CETAMADA…
The Ethiopian Immigration and Nationality Affairs Main Department in collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines has launched an e-visa service for all international visitors to Ethiopia effective June 01, 2018. Though the e-visa service initially launched in June, 2017 was available for a limited number of countries, under the new initiative all international visitors will be able…
Ethiopian Airlines, the largest Aviation Group in Africa and SKYTRAX certified Four Star Global Airline, is pleased to announce that it has won the 2017 Airline Reliability Performance Award, for the 7th year in a row, from Bombardier Aerospace. Mr. Tewolde Gebremariam, GCEO of Ethiopian Airlines said, “We are pleased to receive the award for…
In Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, Hwange Bush Camp is a rustic camp that provides the comforts of home. With running water but no internet, the camp offers a down-to-earth safari experience that’s comfortable without the excessive “glam” of other glamping experiences. At this exclusive hotel you won’t just be surrounded by the nature and wildlife of the…
Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi are in Africa right now. They visited Kenya and stayed at the famous Giraffe Manor in Nairobi. Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi are now in Rwanda and visited the Genocide Museum on Tuesday following an in-office meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame before heading to Volcanoes…
Zuri Zanzibar has confirmed its opening date of July 2, following a series of delays. Marketing and PR manager, Michaela Karabcova, says that the delays were caused by unusually heavy rains. At this stage, the main beach bar, wellness area and spice house will not be completed by the beginning of July deadline, but rather by…
The phrase ‘In Harmony with Africa’ is at the core of who we are; from the modern urban populations from where we recruit our dedicated staff members, to the local communities amongst whom our properties operate, from the mega fauna scientific studies ans conservation projects of the savannahs and plains to the protection of tiny…
The APTA Executive Board is pleased to welcome our newest member, Jessie Bligh of Emerging Destinations. Jessie recently won a national election to become the newest board member of APTA. We look forward to working with her for years to come. Jessie joined the Emerging Destinations team in 2014, Jessie is a Georgia native who…
The Uganda government plans to buy six passenger aircraft for Uganda Airlines, which is scheduled to resume flying in late November after ceasing operations in May 2001. Minister of Works and Transport, Monica Azuba-Ntege, said the government had made an initial cash deposit of US$1.2 million (UGX4,43bn) for the purchase of the aircraft for Uganda Airlines,…
Beginning in January, guests on board will now enjoy two night’s accommodation as opposed to one night on board the most lavish train on the planet as they travel between Pretoria & Cape Town (or reverse). Here are the benefits in an easy to digest recap: Both guests travelling from Pretoria or Cape Town will now experience a uniform, guaranteed 2…
Located on the west coast of Madagascar, Morondava and its surroundings, one of the famous destinations of international and even local people, Bemaraha National Park is now open to all nature lovers and hikers. In addition to the beautiful beaches of Morondava, this is the ideal time to visit the Tsingy of Bemaraha and discover…
Saruni, the Kenyan portfolio of lodges in Samburu and the Masai Mara, is launching new exciting activities from its Northern Kenya properties: panoramic air excursions and transfers with an aircraft based at Kalama airstrip, starting from 1st July until the end of September 2018. The plane – a 6-seater Cessna 206 – will provide quicker, easier…
Jenman African Safaris are thrilled to announce the impending arrival of Jenman’s most exclusive product range yet – JENMAN SELECT. Designed to provide personalised itineraries with exceptional service and exclusive overnight experiences, this new tailor-made product category will offer privately guided custom tours in exclusive and remote areas of Africa. Travel ideas include itineraries of up to…
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Air Seychelles is adding a Tuesday flight to Johannesburg from July 3, taking the frequency to six flights a week following the addition of a Wednesday flight in March. Remco Althuis, CEO of Air Seychelles, said: “The new service, which will be operated by an Airbus A320, will provide an additional 252 seats per week.” Althuis also…
Swaziland has officially changed its name to Eswatini. The change comes after King Mswati III made the announcement at the country’s celebration of its 50th year of independence in April. The full name will be The Kingdom of Eswatini and means the place of the Swati people in the local siSwati language. During his speech at the celebration…
Ethiopian Airlines, the largest Aviation Group in Africa and SKYTRAX certified Four Star Global Airline, is pleased to announce that it will take delivery on 5 June 2018 of its 100th aircraft, a Boeing 787-900, the 1st for an African airline to operate 100 aircraft fleet in the history of the continent, thus maintaining its…
Travelers and adventurers who wanted to experience the most heightened and thrilling escapade must take advantage of the 2-Day Gorilla Trek in Uganda offered by Congo Discovery Safaris. This 2-day tour will begin and will end in Kigali, a closer drive to Bwindi National Park than from the Kampala. The first day of this gorilla…
The inauguration date has officially been scheduled for the longest suspension bridge in Africa, the Maputo-Catembe Bridge. The inaugural event, which will take place on June 25, coincides with Mozambique’s Independence Day. The bridge, which will link Maputo and the Catembe district, will reduce travel times significantly. Furthermore, the bridge is part of a larger project…
The service was launched with a reception at Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday, May 12. Event photo shows Ethiopian crew with Nigusu Worku, (third from left), Ethiopian’s Regional Director, USA and Ismael Sanogo, (second from right), from the Cote d’Ivoire Economic Promotion Office In New York. Under the new codeshare partnership, passengers flying from…
São Tomé and Príncipe is best known for stunning beaches, Galapagos-caliber birdwatching and historic coffee plantations. But in recent years, the maritime nation has acquired a new reputation as one of Africa’s most successful countries in fighting malaria, a disease that kills more than 400,000 people across the continent every year. According to the World Health…
(Seychelles News Agency) – After a 20-year absence, Air France is returning to Seychelles through its subsidiary airline, Joon, an event marked by an inaugural ceremony on Tuesday. Joon has been linking Seychelles – a 115-island archipelago in the western Indian Ocean – with Paris, France since May 5, with three weekly flights on Tuesdays,…
In 2017, Prince Harry spent three weeks in Malawi where he worked alongside volunteers, vets and experts on the frontline of one of the largest and most significant elephant translocations in conservation history. During that time he developed a great affinity for the Warm Heart of Africa and has since become President of African Parks,…
Ethiopian Airlines has been granted a second daily flight to Mombasa’s Moi International Airport (MIA) following an agreement between Kenya President, Uhuru Kenyatta, and Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiv Ahmed Ali. The additional daily flight is expected to boost tourism in the southern coastal region of Kenya, which, until now has been heavily reliant on charter flights from…
The Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has closed to tourists until June 4. The announcement comes after two British tourists were kidnapped on May 11 and later released. Their ranger, 25-year-old Rachel Masika Baraka, was killed in the ambush. Until the attacks last week, no incidents against tourists had been reported…
South African bus companies have announced that services have resumed following a three-week-long strike over wages. The South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council confirmed that an agreement had been reached late Monday (May 14). All unions involved have agreed to a 9% wage increase in the first year and an 8% increase is to be…
Ethiopian Holidays, the tour operator wing of Ethiopian Airlines, is pleased to announce the launching of its newly revamped website. The new website avails accessible, affordable and attractive tour packages to Ethiopian Airlines’ major tourist destinations in Ethiopia and its vast international network. Announcing the launch of the newly designed website, Ethiopian Group CEO,…
Malawi is in the process of rebranding itself as a Big Five safari destination, expanding its marketed tourism offering beyond Lake Malawi. Increased conservation efforts, including the introduction of more lions and cheetahs, as well as the dispersion of 500 elephants across the three major national parks – Majete, Nyika and Liwonde – are increasing…
Malawi is making plans to construct a new airport to take the world directly to Lake Malawi, President Arthur Peter Mutharika announced on Friday, May 4. Mutharika said his government was transforming air transport in the country further with plans to rehabilitate and upgrade two other airports. “We are making progress with rehabilitation and expansion works at…
A decision by British Airways to introduce a direct, non-stop flight between London’s Heathrow Airport and Durban’s King Shaka International Airport is a game changer for KwaZulu-Natal as it will be instrumental in contributing to an increase in international arrivals from the United Kingdom and North America. British Airways announced the introduction of the route…