Ticket sales for the 2026 APTA Global Forum in Livingstone, Zambia are nearly sold out—and now there’s even more reason to secure one of the final spots. APTA Global Forum pre- and post-Forum FAM opportunities are now available, giving attendees the chance to extend their stay and experience some of Southern Africa’s most compelling tourism…
Uganda has officially declared itself Ebola-free after meeting international health criteria. But will science alone convince governments to lift travel advisories and tourists to return? As neighboring DR Congo battles new Ebola infections, the Pearl of Africa faces its next challenge—restoring global confidence in its tourism industry. Read more from eTurboNews
Four African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) have been photographed in Malawi’s Kasungu National Park for the first time in more than ten years, marking a significant moment for conservation efforts in the region. IFAW Field Operations Manager Gervaz Thamala captured the sighting during a dawn patrol, with scientists from the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP) subsequently identifying the four females as the same…
Marriott International has signed an all-inclusive resort agreement with Catalonia Hotels & Resorts to open an Autograph Collection Resort in Zanzibar. The new-build property is expected to open next year and is expected to feature 271 guestrooms and a wellness-focused guest experience. Planned amenities include multiple swimming pools, a spa, a theatre, an oceanfront jetty…
Fastjet Zimbabwe will introduce a Business Premium product on the Airbus A320-200 from August to September. The new Business Premium class features extra-wide seats at the front of the aircraft, curated menu options, including a full bar service at selected times of the day, access to business-class lounges, and additional baggage with a combined weight…
Jambojet is re-establishing the route between Nairobi and Entebbe after suspending it during COVID. The route is scheduled to resume services in early 2027. This is part of Jambojet’s broader regional expansion, which includes the launch of flights to Dar es Salaam. According to Jambojet, the new routes will be supported by fleet growth with…
Amani Collections has opened Amani Lamai Luxury Camp in Tanzania’s Northern Serengeti. Located less than one kilometre from Mara River Crossing No 4, the camp provides easy access to river crossings during the migration season. Amani Lamai Luxury Camp offers eight tented suites, comprising six two-sleeper tents and two larger family tents. Each features a…
Italian airline Neos has launched a direct flight from Milan, Italy, to Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) in Tanzania before continuing onward to Zanzibar. The inaugural flight landed at KIA on July 15 with 210 travellers. The return journey will follow the same route from Zanzibar via Kilimanjaro and then onto Milan. The new service provides direct…
Cape Winelands Airport and Stellenbosch University have signed a partnership agreement to support research, innovation and skills development linked to the airport’s planned expansion. The partnership will initially create research opportunities for master’s students in Stellenbosch University’s engineering management programme. Collaboration areas include engineering, aviation, transport and logistics with students conducting applied research linked to…
South Africa has introduced a mandatory Travel Health Questionnaire (THQ) for all passengers travelling to the country from Uganda or the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In a notice published last Friday, July 17, the Department of Health said anyone entering South Africa who has travelled from Uganda or the DRC during the preceding 21…
Boeing and Uganda Airlines announced today that the national carrier is ordering four 737-8 and four 787-9 airplanes to grow and modernize its fleet. The airline’s first-ever Boeing airplane purchase will support growing demand across its regional and international network. “This commitment with Boeing marks a defining step in Uganda Airlines’ growth journey and in…
Morocco plans to expand its hotel capacity by 60,000 beds, equal to about a fifth of its current total, by the time the country co-hosts the 2030 World Cup, its tourism minister said. The North African country is riding a wave of publicity from its quarter-final run in the latest World Cup after becoming the…
One may not expect thousands to flock each winter to Lesotho but for many ski enthusiasts from across southern Africa, the small, landlocked mountain kingdom has become the go-to place in recent years. Lesotho’s high elevation and mountainous terrain combine to make it the coldest country on the continent, with temperatures in the highlands typically plunging to minus…
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) As per the latest data available (12 July) by The National Institute of Public Health DRC, there are a total of 1,926 cumulative confirmed cases across five provinces in the DRC. There are 702 cumulative deaths among confirmed cases and case fatality rates in the DRC. The Ebola outbreak in the…
The 2026 Great Migration season in Kenya’s Maasai Mara is unfolding with steady visitor demand, strong wildlife sightings and cautious optimism among tourism operators even as concerns grow about environmental pressures, infrastructure gaps and changing global travel trends. Unlike previous peak seasons, which saw sharp spikes in last minute bookings, this year’s migration has seen…
The JW Marriott Mount Kenya Rhino Reserve Safari Camp has opened in the 45 000 acre Solio Game Reserve, Laikipia. Solio Game Reserve is known for its role in rhino conservation and as home to one of Africa’s largest populations of black and white rhino alongside other wildlife. The camp features 19 tented suites, including a…
As Uganda responds to the Ebola outbreak, its tourism industry is drawing on strategies developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on providing timely information, countering misinformation and keeping the travel trade informed. “The primary lesson from COVID-19 is that rapid, accurate, coordinated communication from authoritative sources is the most effective tool available to the industry,”…
The Cango Caves have been reopened following a road closure due to fallen rocks on the R38 Caves Road. The site was closed from July 2. According to a media statement issued by Cango Caves Management, the national heritage site resumed full operations after the affected access road was cleared. A stop-and-go traffic system remains in…
Nyathi Rest Camp in the Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape, will close for six months for a planned renovation. According to SANParks, the camp will remain closed to all bookings from September 1 to March 31, 2027. Accommodation remains available at Addo Main Rest Camp, Matyholweni Rest Camp, Spekboom Tented Rest Camp and Langebos Huts.
Following the opening of &Beyond Suyian Lodge, the group has announced plans to launch &Beyond Suyian Homestead as an exclusive-use, five-suite private lodge within the 44 000 acre Suyian Conservancy in northern Kenya. Opening in June 2027, &Beyond Suyian Homestead has been designed for small groups, couples or multi-generational families. It will accommodate up to 11 guests…
The 2026 APTA Global Forum is nearly sold out, with only a limited number of spaces remaining for this year’s gathering in Livingstone, Zambia. Taking place September 25–27 at Avani Victoria Falls Resort, the Forum will bring together leading travel advisors, tour operators, safari companies, lodges, tourism organizations, and industry experts from across North America…
South Africa’s MORE Collection has taken the top spot in two separate categories of the 2026 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, becoming the first hospitality collection to hold No. 1 rankings in both a safari and a city hotel category in the same year. Lion Sands Game Reserve, part of the MORE portfolio in…
Please be advised of a recent entry requirement update for travel to Malawi. According to an advisory circulated by Southern Africa destination specialists Crafted Africa, a new health self-screening declaration is now mandatory for all travelers arriving in the country. Travel advisors with clients heading to Malawi should ensure that travelers are informed of this…
Effective 1 July 2026, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has introduced a mandatory online traveler declaration requirement for all individuals entering or leaving the country through air, land, sea and rail ports of entry and departure. Travelers are required to submit their declaration electronically before travel and declare any goods, currency or other items…
Siringit Tarangire Camp has opened in Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park. The Siringit Collection property, designed by Belgian Architect Bram Bortolin, features eight luxury tented suites, including one interconnecting family suite. Each suite features en-suite bathrooms with double vanity sinks, indoor and outdoor showers, flushing toilets and private viewing decks. The camp’s interiors were developed in collaboration…
CemAir has signed a unilateral interline agreement with Air Europa with immediate effect. The airlines say this move is aimed at enhancing connectivity between Southern Africa and key international markets. The agreement will allow Air Europa passengers to connect to CemAir’s domestic and regional network via South Africa with access to destinations across Southern Africa…
Three key international airlines, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Aeroflot, have resumed or expanded services to Seychelles earlier than in previous years. The move is expected to enhance global connectivity and visitor access during the traditionally quieter northern summer months. Qatar Airways now operates four weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from Doha…
Sabi Sabi Collection has added Sandringham Private Game Reserve to its portfolio. The reserve is expected to welcome the first guests in August. The reserve is located along the Timbavati River and shares a border with the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve and Thornybush Game Reserve. Accommodation at the reserve includes two safari camps: N’weti and…
Ngorongoro Crater Camp, an A&K Sanctuary, has reopened following its relocation within Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The camp, accessible by fly-in and overland itineraries, has been repositioned on an elevated site overlooking the Serengeti plains, approximately 25 minutes from the Ngorongoro Crater descent road. Source: A&K Sanctuary Located within the UNESCO-listed Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the…
The 2026 APTA Global Forum is heading to Livingstone, Zambia, September 25–27, 2026, bringing the African tourism community together at Avani Victoria Falls Resort, just steps from one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. This year’s Forum marks a major milestone: the first time APTA Global Forum will be hosted in Zambia. Over…
Lufthansa’s Brussels Airlines Launches Direct Flight to Tanzania As a Strategic Bridge for EU–EAC Economic and Diplomatic Ties The launch of Brussels Airlines’ new direct service between Brussels and Kilimanjaro marks a significant milestone in strengthening economic, tourism, and diplomatic ties between Tanzania and Belgium, while reinforcing Tanzania’s position as a gateway to East Africa…
Air Zimbabwe is set to return to the UK market after a 14-year absence, launching nonstop flights between Harare and London Gatwick on July 1, 2026. The historic route restoration promises faster travel for Zimbabwe’s diaspora, stronger business links, increased tourism, and a renewed chapter for the national carrier. Air Zimbabwe is about to rewrite…
The 2026 APTA Global Forum in Livingstone, Zambia will offer delegates more than a front-row seat to one of Africa’s most iconic natural wonders. As part of the Forum program, attendees will have the opportunity to experience the destination firsthand through a curated Day of Adventure designed to showcase the extraordinary range of experiences available…
The Cape Winelands Airport has cleared a major regulatory hurdle after the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning concluded the appeals process for the project’s environmental authorisation, paving the way for the development to move closer to construction. The airport project received environmental authorisation in October last year following an extensive environmental…
&Beyond has opened two new camps: &Beyond Sandibe Under Canvas and &Beyond Nxabega Under Canvas. Together with the newly refurbished &Beyond Chobe Under Canvas, the camps complete a seven-night circuit through the Okavango Delta. Located just outside the Moremi Game Reserve, &Beyond Sandibe Under Canvas offers game drives, walking safaris and community visits… Read more…
Kenya Airways (KQ) plans to expand its fleet with up to 60 aircraft by 2035. The announcement was made during the KQ Aviation Media Lab in Mombasa at the end of May and reported by the Kenya Association of Travel Agents. The expansion is expected to nearly triple the airline’s current fleet with an initial target…
The elephant population in Mozambique has doubled since 2018 to approximately 21 700, according to the country’s Minister of Agriculture Roberto Albino, citing 2025 census data from the National Administration of Conservation Areas. The data shows a reversal of the earlier decline with elephant numbers falling from 20 000 in 2008 to 10 800 in 2014 and further to…
The rehabilitation of Tanzania’s Nduli Airport has been completed. The airport, a key gateway to Ruaha National Park, reportedly faced infrastructure and operational challenges that may have deterred international visitors. According to Streamline, the US$22.6 million infrastructure project included an expanded runway, which can now accommodate larger aircraft, terminal modernisation and new advanced navigation systems to ensure…
The Wellworth Collection has opened Mikumi Wildlife Lodge in southern Tanzania’s Mikumi National Park. Tanzania’s Prime Minister, Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba, presided over the opening ceremony on May 8. The lodge has 32 double rooms, 14 twin rooms and two suites with outdoor showers. Amenities include air-conditioning, mini-bar fridge, bathroom amenities and space for a baby cot (on…
The Mozambican government has established the National Agency for Tourism Development and Investment (Anditur) to coordinate tourism development, facilitate investment and promote the country as a tourism destination. According to Lusa, a Cabinet-approved decree mandates the agency to coordinate and monitor tourism investments, support strategic tourism projects and promote public-private partnerships in the sector. Anidtur will…
APTA members selling South Africa now have another domestic air option to consider for client itineraries, as LIFT Airlines has joined ARC and the AirlinePros portfolio of represented carriers. Based in South Africa, LIFT operates key domestic routes between Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, known as the country’s “Golden Triangle.” The airline currently offers up…
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has confirmed that there were no cases of Ebola in Rwanda and that the country remains open for tourism. In a May 25 statement, the RDB said national parks, hotels, conference venues and tourism facilities continue to operate as normal while maintaining health and safety standards. The Ministry of Health has…
Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania is set to open Uhuru VIP Terminal – its newest airport terminal – on July 1. The terminal will be operated by Miracle Concierge. It will provide check-in support, immigration assistance and security screening alongside direct boarding and arrival clearance services. A lounge area will serve meals and drinks while additional…
Uganda Airlines has suspended Kinshasa flights until further notice, following recent Ebola developments in the region. “This decision has been taken as a precautionary measure in the interest of health, safety and wellbeing of our passengers, crew and the wider public,” the airline said in a statement. Those affected by the cancellations are advised to…
Effective June 10, Emirates will operate its direct daily Durban services, EK775 and EK776. Currently, the flights operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The flights operate according to the following schedule: EK776 departs Durban at 18h40 and arrives in Dubai at 05h00, the following day. EK775 departs Dubai at 10h15 and arrives in Durban…
Effective June 15, Etihad will resume flights between Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg. The flights will operate three times weekly. The route restoration comes as Gulf carriers continue rebuilding schedules after severe operational disruptions caused by regional airspace restrictions and conflict-related closures earlier this year. In March, Etihad suspended scheduled commercial services to and from Abu…
The 2026 APTA Global Forum is set for September 25–27 in Livingstone, Zambia, at the newly renovated Avani Victoria Falls Resort — steps from Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. This year’s program is shaping up to be exceptional, bringing together leading buyers, operators, and destination partners from across North…
Travel advisors selling Africa may be fielding questions about the recently reported Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has also spread into Uganda. While the situation is serious and should be monitored closely, it is important to put the news in context for clients. According to NBC News, the outbreak has grown…
Hilton and Umfolozi Hotel and Spa have signed an agreement for the development of Umfolozi River Hotel in KwaZulu-Natal. The signing marks the brand’s second Tapestry Collection property in South Africa within the past year. The hotel is expected to open in 2028. “With 12 hotels trading and in the pipeline across the country, and…
Privately owned Zimbabwean start-up Flycristal Airways has secured its first aircraft as it prepares to launch domestic and regional charters. Johannes Simau, Founder of Flycristal Airways, told Travel News they would charter a 19-seat Let 410 and an Embraer 120. The Let 410 will initially be deployed on key domestic routes linking Harare to Bulawayo, Mutare, Kariba, and…