100 delegates, more than 1,000 buyer-seller meetings and an unforgettable program of education, networking and adventure marked APTA’s first-ever Global Forum in Zambia — as the organization announced Canada as the destination for 2027. The Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa (APTA) has concluded a hugely successful 2026 APTA Global Forum in Livingstone,…
Victoria Falls has long been treated as a short stop between safaris — a night or two to see the Falls, take a helicopter flight, enjoy the Zambezi and move on. Now open, Albida – Victoria Falls is making a strong case for staying longer. Part of the Victoria Falls Safari Collection, operated by Africa…
Cape Town’s booming aviation market is running up against capacity constraints, prompting major investment in airport infrastructure that should expand the Western Cape’s ability to accommodate future air traffic. ACSA has acknowledged growing pressure at Cape Town International Airport (CPT), where terminal expansion and a planned runway realignment are intended to ease passenger and aircraft…
Tanzania’s Mandatory Travel Insurance Implementation Effective 1 October 2026, travellers entering Tanzania will be required to obtain the new mandatory inbound travel insurance applicable to their first point of entry into Tanzania. To help ensure a smooth arrival experience, we strongly recommend that travellers purchase the appropriate policy online before departure. Pricing Summary Adults 18+: USD 44…
Anantara Stanley & Livingstone Hotel, set in Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve, has received its first white rhinos joining already resident black rhinos. The translocation was carried out by the Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority and Lake Kyle Recreational Park. The reserve established an intensive protection zone for rhinos in 2006. “Welcoming white…
Banyan Tree makes its safari debut with an intimate six-villa retreat on the banks of the Great Ruaha River There are few places in Tanzania where the sense of wilderness feels quite as pronounced as it does in Ruaha National Park. Far from the well-travelled routes of the northern safari circuit, Ruaha is a vast…
Condor will operate its weekly non-stop Frankfurt-Seychelles service year-round, closing the four-month gap in its previous seasonal schedule. The first flight under the resumed schedule arrived on September 19. The change gives travellers a direct option from Frankfurt during the traditionally quieter months. Condor’s network also offers connections to Frankfurt from other European markets and,…
APTA Global Forum heads to Livingstone, Zambia next week — but you don’t have to be joining us in Africa to take part in one of the Forum’s most exciting opportunities. The 2026 APTA Global Forum Silent Auction is now live, completely online and open to everyone. This year’s auction features 16 incredible African travel…
Africa Showcase is returning to North America this November, bringing together leading African tourism suppliers and travel professionals for three exciting events in Fort Lauderdale, Boston, and Chicago. Organized by On Show Solutions, Africa Showcase offers travel advisors, tour operators, product managers, and Africa specialists the opportunity to connect directly with trusted suppliers from across…
Tswalu Kalahari has opened Boscia: a new restaurant under the creative direction of South African Chef Luke Dale Roberts. Opened in August, the restaurant is built into the earth beneath a century-old farmhouse and takes its name from the shepherd’s tree, Boscia albitrunca, which is found across Tswalu’s semi-arid landscape. Source: Tswalu Boscia has been designed as…
Buyer registration is now open for WTM Africa 2027 set to take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from April 7-9. WTM Africa says its 2027 edition is likely to be its most geographically diverse yet. “Representation on the show floor is expanding with new and returning regions adding depth and diversity to the…
Madagascar Airlines will revert to the name Air Madagascar from October 31 as the national carrier works to rebuild its domestic, regional and international operations. The airline was created in 2021 through the restructuring of Air Madagascar and integration of Tsaradia. Its regional rebuilding has already begun with the resumption of the Antananarivo-Mahajanga-Moroni route on…
With complimentary Boma Terminal & Lounge access at Arusha Airport Miracle Air offers a refined way to connect Tanzania’s coast, safari circuits, and key travel gateways, giving tour operators greater flexibility when planning premium itineraries. Our regular routing connects Zanzibar → Arusha → Serengeti → Arusha → Zanzibar, creating a smoother way for guests to…
FlySafair was named Best Low-Cost Airline in Africa at the 2026 World Airline Awards this September at The Langham Hotel in London. This is FlySafair’s fifth time winning the award, having previously won the Skytrax title in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025. Read more from Timeout
Exclusive Hotel & Convention Centre has opened in Middelburg, Mpumalanga. Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu officially launched the property, which is along the N4 corridor linking Gauteng and Mozambique. The hotel features 150 rooms, a 1 000-seat conference centre, restaurant, spa and gym. According to the developers, the hotel is expected to create more than 120 permanent jobs,…
A wildfire on Mount Kenya has been largely contained after burning approximately 8 700ha. The cause of the fire has not yet been established. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) told Tourism Update that no tourists were affected or injured during the fire. “All critical infrastructure within the park was secured and no visitor facilities or other critical park…
SA Tourism is aiming to open registrations for next year’s Africa’s Travel Indaba (ATI) by the end of September. Responding to a follow-up enquiry from Tourism Update, SA Tourism said: “At present, plans are in motion to have registration start towards the end of September. As such, the ATI website is being updated to accommodate the…
Ker & Downey Zambia has announced it is expanding its portfolio with a new property. Musesenji River Camp, located inside the Lower Zambezi National Park, will open on April 1, 2027. It will feature five luxury safari tents and one family tent – each with its own plunge pool. Guests can access the remote camp via…
Efforts to restore Ishasha’s declining population of tree-climbing lions is part of a new 10-year conservation programme that will also strengthen wildlife protection and tourism development in the Ugandan reserve. The programme could include lion translocations to supplement the remaining population where scientifically justified and following consultation with neighbouring communities. Ishasha, part of Queen Elizabeth…
BOTSWANA — September 2026: From tracking spoor and identifying animal calls to discovering insects, bush skills and the smaller wonders of the wilderness, the Kids@Mashatu Programme gives young travellers their own way into the African bush. At Mashatu Game Reserve, the 42,000 hectare privately owned game reserve in eastern Botswana, younger travellers are encouraged to experience…
Mukwa River Lodge is a family-owned, intimate retreat on the banks of the Zambezi, just 20 minutes from Victoria Falls in Livingstone, Zambia, and part of The Residence Collection. The property is known for its classic, bush-chic elegance, on-site spa, and locally inspired dining, alongside activities like river cruises, tiger fishing, and village cultural tours.…
If your travel wishlist is starting to look a little bit predictable, Time Out’s global team of editors and writers has just dropped the cure. We’ve compiled our guide to the world’s 33 most beautiful hotels, and five jaw-dropping properties in Africa feature on the list. We aren’t just ticking the standard five-star luxury boxes, either. These…
Africa’s young, increasingly urban population, growing middle class and improving infrastructure will drive passenger traffic to grow nearly 6% annually through 2045, one of the fastest rates globally, Boeing [NYSE: BA] said today. The region’s commercial airplane fleet will more than double from 755 to 1,625 over the next 20 years to support this demand,…
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has announced the opening of Taj Bush Lodge in the Greater Kruger region of South Africa. The new property marks Taj’s entry into the wildlife tourism segment in the region and forms part of the brand’s growing presence in South Africa. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and CEO of IHCL, said the…
Angola’s Immigration and Foreigners Service (SME) has rolled out a new official platform for online visa applications. The new portal, e-visa.ao and the Angolan Electronic Passport are part of SME’s push to digitise the visa and immigration process. New features include personal user accounts, electronic payment of visa fees and a new application tracking system. Applicants are…
Air France is bringing back its Cape Town-Paris route for the 2026/27 season. Flights will operate from September 22, 2026, through to March 27, 2027, with frequencies increasing as the season progresses. Three weekly flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from September 22 to October 31 this year before increasing to five weekly flights every day, except…
Malawi Airlines has expanded its flight schedule with additional services between Lilongwe and Johannesburg, alongside extra domestic flights connecting Lilongwe and Blantyre. The new services, which came into effect on 24 August 2026, provide greater flexibility for both international visitors and those travelling within Malawi. The additional Johannesburg flight operates every day except Monday, departing Lilongwe at 16:50 and…
Stellenbosch, South Africa — Ascot Tours marked its 30th birthday in style on Tuesday, throwing the biggest party the company has seen yet. The Chris ‘Fridge’ McAlpine Trophy touched down at De Zalze Golf Club for the very first time on South African soil, pitting a touring group of New Zealand golfers against a fired…
There is just one week left to register for the 2026 APTA Global Forum in Livingstone, Zambia. All registrations will close on September 10, and no registrations can be accommodated after that date. Supplier registration has been sold out for some time, and only two buyer spaces remain. Taking place September 25–27 at Avani Victoria…
Uganda has been declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) after recording 42 days without a new case. The country’s last confirmed imported Ebola patient was discharged on July 16, with no subsequent transmission linked to the case, according to WHO. Uganda recorded 20 Ebola cases during the outbreak, most involving people who had…
Hilton has announced that it will enter the Zimbabwean hotel market after signing an agreement with Terrace Africa to develop a Hilton Garden Inn property in Harare’s upmarket Highlands Precinct. Expected to open in early 2029, the 140-room hotel will feature a restaurant, terrace, lobby café and bar, gym, pool and meeting rooms. The Highlands…
An investigation is underway into an accident in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park where a safari vehicle carrying four Swiss tourists and a guide plunged into a river in the Kogatende area during this year’s annual Great Migration. The incident occurred on August 30 at the Kogatende Nyumbu crossing area, according to a notice issued by the…
Kenya Airways plans to install Wi-Fi on its long-haul aircraft from the second quarter of 2027. The rollout will commence with aircraft serving the airline’s long-haul routes such as London, Paris, New York, China and Amsterdam. It will then extend to aircraft operating within the region and across Africa. Wi-Fi has already been installed on…
&Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge has reopened in South Africa’s Phinda Private Game Reserve following a thoughtful refurbishment that places the surrounding vlei landscape at the heart of the guest experience. The intimate lodge features just six suites, each offering a private sala and pool, with wildlife and birdlife frequently visible from the property itself. The…
Babanango Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, has announced the official approval of Eagle’s View Airstrip, creating a new and more convenient way for travelers to access the reserve and opening the door to expanded fly-in safari itineraries. Located within the reserve in Zululand, Eagle’s View was approved as a Type A Aerodrome by the…
Angola has officially opened its largest convention centre. Located in Chicala, in the centre of Luanda, the Luanda Convention Palace was inaugurated by President João Lourenço. The facility is reported to have cost approximately €280 million (US$325 million). It features a multi-purpose theatre with capacity for 3 000 people, several conference halls and other multi-purpose rooms. The convention centre…
Sussex based Travel Promoters, one of the UK’s leading luxury representation companies specialising in Africa and the Indian Ocean, is delighted to share its appointment by Kaelo Destinations from 1 September 2026, including the iconic Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana’s Tuli Block and Pambele Beach House in the Vilanculos Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary in Mozambique. This new partnership will see Travel Promoters’ dynamic…