St Helena Airport one step closer to operating

Cape Town – Another major milestone for St Helena was achieved when Air Safety Support International (ASSI) issued an Aerodrome Certificate to the island’s first-ever airport on Tuesday afternoon, 10 May.  This follows a final inspection of the Airport by an ASSI team last month, after the first large passenger jet touched down on the island. …

Newmark announces expansion into Africa

Newmark hotels, reserves and lodges is embarking on an aggressive growth plan on the African continent. A key strategic intervention for the group’s expansion is the establishment of Newmark’s first office outside South Africa in Lusaka and the creation of the Kaufela Collection in Zambia. Kaufela, which means ‘together’ in Lozi, brings together lodges of…

Air Mauritius adds two new African destinations

Air Mauritius has added two new destinations from Mauritius (MRU) to its African network. On 4 May, the carrier began weekly (Wednesday) flights on the 2,633-kilometre route to Maputo (MPM) in Mozambique. The return flight operates via Durban. Two days later, on 6 May, it began weekly (Friday) flights on the 2,494-kilometre route to Dar…

SAA VACATIONS® PROMOTES KENYA TOURISM

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (May 12, 2016) – South African Airways Vacations® (SAA Vacations®) has launched a new safari vacation package for travellers to explore the scenic beauty of Kenya’s national parks and experience Africa’s exciting wildlife – a life-changing opportunity. The 7-night “Discover Kilimanjaro & the Masai Mara” package is a scheduled safari, starting at…

New grading for SA’s tourism offering

 Cape Town – New hospitality data grading to raise the benchmark of SA’s tourism offering In the online age, which brings with it accommodation bookings made on the fly via various devices, employing the likes of geo-location and all manner of trends, quality assurance becomes vital.   As a direct result, the The Tourism Grading Council…

Elewana Launches Land & Life Foundation

Last week saw the launch of the brand new Land & Life Foundation, the new charitable face of Elewana and Cheli & Peacock Safaris. Building on the work of the former Cheli & Peacock Trust, Land & Life Foundation will continue to work with communities and conservation projects in the areas surrounding Elewana’s properties. Please visit…

Table Mountain Annual Maintenance

The Table Mountain Cableway will be closed for annual maintenance from 25 July 2016 to 7 August 2016, weather permitting. As of 3 May 2016, Table Mountain Café will only be open from 10.30am to 4pm.  Breakfast will, therefore, no longer be served at 11.30am and only lunches and light meals are available for the remainder…

Saile Airstrip Re-opened

The Saile Airstrip, which is the access point to Linyanti Camps, is back in operation after some work on it. Guests will now be able to fly direct to Linyanti for Saile Tented Camp, Camp Linyanti, Linyanti Ebony & Linyanti Bush Camp. However, in the event of wet & rainy conditions, guests may still need…

SA escapes making the simplest eco difference

Eco tourism and carbon-neutral are all buzzwords we’ve grown accustomed to. No, they’re not sexy – not in the least. But then again, neither is wiping out an entire species or coming to terms with the idea that our consumerist nature has some unforgiving consequences.   More and more, however, we’ve seen the collective social…

New Venue for Karibu Travel Market, Tanzania

This year, KARIBU Travel Market Tanzania, presented by the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators, will be held at the Magereza grounds, opposite the International school of moshi Arusha campus. It is a superb, secure, new and more convenient venue in a natural setting with ideally-designed layout and new exhibition tents. Read More:

Two New Camps in Botswana

Sun Destinations, in association with Wildside Africa, is pleased to announce that we have opened two new camps in Botswana: Tuskers Bush Camp is an 8-bed classic safari camp that lies on a 365 000 ha private concession, between Nxai Pan National Park in the east and Moremi Game Reserve in the west. Xobega Island…

Uganda to Launch e-Visa Applications

As of 01 June 2016, Uganda’s e-Visa applications will come into effect. A barcoded email notification (sent after the appropriate documentation has been completed online) will be required upon entry, where a Visa sticker will then be printed (including a scanned picture) and inserted into the guests’ passport. Guests requiring a Visa extension must apply…

Game rangers adopt modern technology in gorilla census

Trackers and park rangers from Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo have started using the Global Positioning System (GPS) for the gorilla census exercise in the Virunga Volcanoes Region. Enumerators followed a gorilla trail through Rwanda’s thick towering bamboos of Volcanoes National Park until they located the nest site, from where they carried out a scientific…

South African Airways Freedom Day Special Fare

5-Day Sale for Summer Travel Starting at $1,299.00* (restrictions apply)  Fort Lauderdale, FL (April 26, 2016) – South African Airways (SAA), Africa’s most awarded airline, is celebrating South Africa’s Freedom Day with a 5-day sale, offering special fares from New York-JFK and Washington, DC-Dulles to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and East London.  The…

A new museum for Africa

2017 will see the opening of Africa’s most significant museum in over one hundred years. The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCCAA) will open its doors to the world on 25 September 2017. The unique partnership between the V&A Waterfront and Jochen Zeitz will create a new cultural institution focusing on collecting, preserving and…

Extraordinary news: New Appointment

Extraordinary is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Kate Davidson as Head of Sales & Marketing of the group, with effect from 15th May 2016, reporting to Mrs Cindy Sheedy-Walker, Chief Executive Officer of Extraordinary Marketing Concepts (Pty) Ltd.  In this role, Ms. Kate Davidson will be responsible and accountable for the supervision of…

Ethiopian to Launch Flights to New York-Newark

Ethiopian Airlines, the fastest-growing airline in Africa, is pleased to announce that it will commence scheduled thrice-weekly flights to New York-Newark from Addis Ababa, via Lomé, Togo, on 03 July 2016.  Ethiopian will be deploying the modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner on this route.   Not only does it offer passengers unparalleled on-board comfort, but with its lower…

Harnessing Tourism for Growth and Improved Livelihoods

Tourism energizes economies and fuels the economic transformation of countries from Cape Verde to South Africa. Its benefits are clear: It can trigger infrastructure improvements, create good jobs, increase domestic consumption and diversify exports. It also empowers women, young people and marginalized populations, besides contributing to each country’s national image, and stimulating cultural heritage and…

New Arrivals Terminal in Nairobi

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome, ETN Africa correspondent,  Apr 13, 2016 Since the devastating fire on August 2013 destroyed the main arrival hall, travellers flying to Nairobi have had to use the converted parking garage, which was turned into an arrival facility with immigration and customs and baggage delivery.   This long-lasting temporary measure will come…

Ulusaba: Sabi Sand Guest Conservation Contribution

As of 1st January 2016 the Sabi Sand Wildtuin (SSW) implemented the Guest Conservation Contribution as per a press release communicated in December 2015. The introduction of this is to assist in the anti-poaching and conservation efforts to secure the long term survival of endangered and compromised animal species, particularly in light of the devastating…

fastjet scoops top title at World Travel Awards

fastjet has won the title of Africa’s Leading Low-Cost Airline at the 23rd annual World Travel Awards ceremony held in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The globally-recognized World Travel Awards was instituted to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. The title of Africa’s Leading Low-Cost Airline, which is voted for…

Elephant Eye – Luxury Lodge of the Year

African Luxury Hideaways is delighted to announce that Elephant’s Eye, Hwange, has won the 2016 Luxury Lodge Award prize. Over the past 12 months, Luxury Travel Guide has been receiving votes for accommodations with a focus on luxury throughout Africa and the Middle East. The brand’s subscribers, hotel guests, travel agencies and industry experts who…

WTMAfrica: Responsible Tourism winners announced

Cape Town – The African Responsible Tourism Awards 2016 took place on Thursday at the World Travel Market Africa in Cape Town. The winners were announced at a ceremony attended by SA’s influential travel bloggers, industry experts and Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom. The overall winner was Mara Naboisho Conservancy. The judges’ reasons for winning:…

2016 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards Winners

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is pleased to announce the Winners of the 2016 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. The Awards, which were presented at a special ceremony during the 16th WTTC Global Summit in Dallas, Texas, USA, showcase business leadership in sustainable tourism, celebrating ground-breaking and inspiring initiatives across five categories. The 2016…