Brussels Airlines has announced plans to resume flights to Nairobi in June 2024 and increase Kigali frequencies. The airline last serviced the Nairobi route in 2015. It also plans to increase the frequency of flights to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, to daily. The Belgian airline continues to invest in its intercontinental network and fleet,…
Mozambique’s state-owned national airline Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM), appears to have emerged from its financial crisis and achieved solvency. It’s now on the road to stability according to Sérgio Matos, LAM’s restructuring project manager. South African aviation consultancy, Fly Modern Ark (FMA), was appointed by the Mozambique government to rescue and rejuvenate the airline. So…
Pullman Cape Town City Centre opened in September, Accor’s first property under the exclusive Pullman Hotels & Resorts brand in South Africa. Kasada, the leading independent real estate private equity platform dedicated to the hospitality industry in Africa, acquired the former Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, which has now been rebranded to Pullman Cape Town City Centre.…
Construction of Madagascar’s longest bridge kicked off at the end of last month, providing a new link between some of the country’s emerging tourism regions in the south-west. Once completed, the 800-metre long Mangoky Bridge will connect the Atsimo-Adrefana region (home to the Zombitse-Vohibasia and Tsimanampetsotse National Parks and vast stretches of tropical coastline), to…
Central African Wilderness Safaris, owners of the iconic Mvuu Lodge & Camp in Liwonde National Park providing guests with some of the best safari experiences Malawi, are thrilled to announce an exciting partnership with Lessons in Conservation. Lessons in Conservation is an educational non-profit dedicated to raising awareness and promoting the preservation of biodiversity and natural ecosystems through engaging children of…
United Arab Emirates (UAE) airline, flydubai, is set to launch direct flights to Mombasa from January 17 next year. Flights will operate four times a week. Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, highlighted the carrier’s commitment to opening underserved markets, emphasising the potential of African markets for future growth. Mombasa, Kenya’s second-largest city, offers ancient architecture…
Airlink withdrew from the Johannesburg-Entebbe route, effective Monday, August 28. The airline’s CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster, attributed the move to the commercial non-viability of the route due to thin traffic volumes. Airlink withdrew from the Johannesburg-Entebbe route. Foster said: “Prior to COVID, Airlink operated the Johannesburg-Entebbe route exclusively six times week with sustainable viability.…
Every year, as the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop in Central Africa, carmine bee-eaters start their migration journey across the continent by the thousands, ending up in the wilderness of Zambia at the end of August. The water levels drop along the river banks in Zambia during the dry winter months, revealing the perfect nesting…
Hotel 4:30 is set to soon open its doors in the bustling central business district (CBD) of Gaborone, Botswana, offering an upscale stay experience and boosting the country’s drive to grow its MICE sector. Featuring a total of 100 rooms, Hotel 4:30 offers diverse accommodation options. It includes thirty-five (35) Standard Rooms, each equipped with…
The highly anticipated annual Africa Showcase roadshow is set to return this September, offering an exceptional opportunity for travel industry professionals to connect with an extensive array of leading African suppliers. With an impressive lineup of African experiences and properties, the event promises a dynamic blend of networking, destination insights, and valuable business interactions. Hosted…
Lufthansa has entered into codeshare agreements with South African Airways and Airlink, expanding passenger travel options between Southern Africa and Europe. Passengers can book a single ticket and have their luggage carried to their final destination, saving costs and hassle. The partnership with Airlink adds new destinations in Southern Africa to Lufthansa’s network, providing greater…
The BRICS Aviation Working Group conference, held on the sidelines of the BRIC Summit in Sandton, Johannesburg, this week, concluded with a firm commitment to encouraging co-operation, connectivity, and long-term expansion in the aviation industry. “This conference was a turning point in advancing the aviation industry’s function as a driver of economic growth and regional…
Zimbabwe’s premier international tourism showcase, Sanganai Hlanganani World Tourism Expo, will take place in Bulawayo from October 12-14. The annual event brings together key players and stakeholders in the global tourism industry, providing a platform for networking and collaboration, while showcasing Zimbabwe’s tourism potential. This year’s expo celebrates the resilience, dynamism, and untapped potential of…
East African accommodation provider, Sisini Africa, recently introduced Lamai Nature Camp, the first luxury safari camp in its collection. Located in the Lamai Triangle of northern Serengeti, Tanzania, the camp offers four intimate luxury tents overlooking the endless plains that are home to abundant wildlife. “Each season presents a unique chapter of life in the…
Desert & Delta Safaris has unveiled a new Makgadikgadi helicopter experience. The two-hour excursion can be booked from Leroo La Tau lodge or as an extension from the sleep-out option. The scenic flights include a visit to the Kubu Island and a chance to touch down and explore this mystical place made up of Gondwanaland…
Low-cost airline FlySafair has just announced the relaunch of a key local route to its growing list of local destinations. From September 8, the airline will once again connect the two largest cities in the Western Cape: Cape Town and George. This will be welcome news to both holiday-makers and businesspeople who regularly travel between…
Nigeria Air – which aims to be the West African country’s national carrier – will officially commence operations in October, under the management of Ethiopian Airlines. The airline will be owned 49% by Ethiopian Airlines, 46% by Nigerian private investors, and 5% by the Nigerian Government. Ethiopian Airlines CEO, Mesfin Tasew, confirmed the airline’s imminent launch…
The fourth edition of Zomba City Festival will be held across various venues in the former capital city of Malawi from 26 to 28 April 2024. The event, which is a celebration of culture, nature and heritage, will feature an array of activities including live music, fashion shows, comedy, art exhibitions, theatre performances, poetry recitals,…
Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) and Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) have forged a partnership to inculcate conservation values to the youth, as TATO seeks to payback to the community and nature, as part of its 40 years anniversary. Founded in 1983, TATO has witnessed tourism development and tourist streams in the country surged from…
Ethiopian Airlines Group and Addis-Africa International Convention and Exhibition Centre (AAICEC) have signed an equity investment agreement to establish an international convention centre in Addis Ababa to host multiple business events. The centre, built by and named AAICEC, is one of the airline’s major national projects to transform the country’s image after it recently held a grand opening of the…
Ethiopian Airlines, a Star Alliance member is excited to announce that it will begin flying from London-Gatwick on Tuesday 21st November 2023 expanding their UK service for travellers to Africa. Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s leading airline, serves Malawi with daily flights to Lilongwe and Blantyre. The new service will operate a 3 x weekly operation every…
The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) will implement a cashless service system at all its nature reserves and its Visitor Information Centre with effect from September 1. The cashless service promotes transactions that do not expose the tourists and the employees to danger. It responds to the control environment that ensures optimal revenue collection,…
In another boost for Cape Town’s sports tourism sector, the Mother City will host a weekend of National Football League (NFL) fan events in September to celebrate the kick-off of the 2023 season. The events form part of the NFL Africa programme – a long-term, multi-market commitment to growing the sport at every level across the…
Namibia recorded a 98.1% increase in inbound tourist arrivals last year, according to the 2022 Tourism Arrival Statistical Report released in August. Tourist arrivals grew from 232 756 in 2021 to 461 027 in 2022. This is, however, far from the 1 681 336 foreign visitors achieved in 2019 (pre-pandemic). “With the sector’s recovery gaining momentum, the…
APTA is pleased to announce two upcoming webinars: African Bush Camps Tuesday, August 29th at 2pm eastern time REGISTER HERE: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4116588460317649751 African Bush Camps (ABC) own & operate 17 safaris camps in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. Their properties range from down-to-earth tented camps to ultra-luxury lodges, always with an emphasis on sustainability, authentic service and…
Kenya Airways (KQ) and Delta Air Lines (DL) have expanded their codeshare agreement by including Kenya Airways’ nonstop Nairobi to New York service, effective August 5. This is the only nonstop flight from East Africa to America. The expanded partnership also offers customers additional travel options within the US and increased flying opportunities within Africa,…
Val du Charron Wine & Leisure Estate in Wellington in the Cape Winelands recently debuted two new family rooms at The Guesthouse. With the two new rooms, The Guesthouse now offers a total of three family rooms, each accommodating two adults and two children. The four-star The Guesthouse – represented in the UK by Kusa…
The 18th annual SA National Parks Week will occur from September 16-24. The week, hosted by South African National Parks (SANParks), grants free access to most of the country’s 21 national parks for day visitors, especially people from the local communities. It should be noted that free access to parks does not include free access to…
Algerian flag carrier, Air Algérie, will launch two weekly non-stop flights to Johannesburg from September 21. The connection is part of the airline’s greater route expansion plan. The airline said in a press statement that the service would connect Algiers Houari Boumediene Airport (ALG) and Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB) during the southern summer season, and that the service…
The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) recently undertook a nationwide grading and classification exercise of its hospitality industry for the first time in five years. The first phase of the exercise began on August 1 and will run until September 4, and will be conducted around Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja, Masaka, Mbarara, Fort- portal and Mbale. Lilly…
Springbok Atlas Tours & Safaris is offering Cape Peninsula and Winelands tours that are available on the Day-of-Adventure (September 27) during the APTA Global Forum. Click here for more information and to book FULL DAY WINELANDS TOUR | 27 September 2023 (Wednesday) While South Africa’s fertile valleys are world famous for their crisp white and…
Flights between Europe and several nations in Africa just got longer. On Sunday, Niger’s ruling military group — or junta — suddenly closed the country’s airspace until further notice, citing threats from neighboring nations who have called for a reverse of the junta’s July 26 coup. According to FlightRadar24, this restriction means airlines that used to fly…
Rwanda is set to complete work on a new airport – about 40 kilometres south of Kigali – by 2026. Work on the airport kicked off in 2017 but construction was halted during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a statement by the Ministry of Infrastructure, the new airport, costing an estimated US$2 billion to build,…
Kenya Airways (KQ) and Delta Air Lines (DL) have expanded their codeshare agreement by including Kenya Airways’ nonstop Nairobi to New York service, effective August 5. This is the only nonstop flight from East Africa to America. The expanded partnership also offers customers additional travel options within the US and increased flying opportunities within Africa,…
Air Seychelles recently announced a profit of US$8.4m for 2022, the first time the carrier had shown a profit since 2016, when it reported a small gain of US$425 000. After reporting a loss of US$22.7m in 2021, and starting the year 2022 with a negative nett asset position of US$100.6m, 2022 was one of…
Sarova Mara Game Camp in the heart of the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in southwest Kenya, is undergoing an extensive refurbishment of its tented units. The first and second phases of the upgrade saw 45 standard tents upgraded into deluxe tents and two family tents updated to offer more space by the end of June.…
Fisherman’s Rest, who run a beautiful lodge in southern Malawi, and also set up and run sustainable and ethical community projects, have a uplifting story to share. Written in their own words, find out how their work and the generous donations they receive is transforming education i their region as they celebrate the graduation of…
Southern Sun de Wagen, a boutique hotel in Stellenbosch, officially reopened last week, six weeks after a flash flood wreaked havoc on its premises. “The flood caused significant destruction to the hotel’s ground level, including the Kuyperhuis courtyard pool, woodwork, furniture, joineries, and floors. Once the water subsided, we realised the extent of the damage…
SAA has appointed Discover the World (DTW) as its GSA in North America. The partnership is expected to see the airline grow revenue across North America by raising awareness with more trade and corporate partners. SAA CEO, Professor John Lamola said the move was part of the airline’s long-term growth strategy. He said activating the partnership with DTW was…
FYN restaurant in Cape Town has recently been selected as the first restaurant in Africa to join the Relais & Châteaux collection. Relais & Châteaux is a prestigious global association of five-star hotels and two- or three-star Michelin restaurants. With a presence on five continents and in 68 countries, the Relais & Châteaux collection comprises…
Tanzania climbs to second place in Africa’s tourism rankings, thanks to a robust recovery from COVID-19 setbacks and increased investments. The United Nations World Tourism Organization ranks Tanzania as Africa’s second top tourism performer, citing a substantial increase in visitors and positive industry developments. Tanzania’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism emphasizes lessons learned, including…
The Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa (APTA) is excited to be hosting its Global Forum in Cape Town, South Africa September 26-30, 2023. This is the first time that APTA has held the Global Forum on the African continent, so this will be a great opportunity for travel advisors from North America…
Rhino poaching decreased in South Africa in the first six months of 2023, thanks to joint initiatives by various role players within the wildlife industry. This was announced by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, at a press conference earlier this week. She said between January 1 and June 30, 231 rhinos…
I meet Donald Macauley, the 37-year-old founder of Sierra Leone’s first surf school, along a sunny swath of silky yellow sand at Bureh Beach, a surfing destination on the Western Peninsula where he’s been catching waves for more than 20 years. Macauley learned how to surf from a British soldier; before he had access to a…
Eco-tourism and conservation brand, Singita, is to open a new luxury private exclusive-use villa, Singita Milele, in northern Tanzania. The villa, on Sasakwa Hill and overlooking the Serengeti, is expected to open in May next year. Designed for large groups of friends or families, Singita Milele will accommodate up to 10 guests in five individually…
Meetings Africa – set to take place at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, from February 27-28, 2024, with Business Opportunity Networking Day (BONDay) preceding the show on February 26 – has opened for registration. “I am pleased to invite business events product owners from across the continent to register to exhibit at Meetings Africa 2024. This…
APTA will host its first-ever Global Forum on the African continent from September 26-30, 2023, at The Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa. The theme of the 2023 Global Forum is “Africa: Where It Begins,” which pays homage to the importance of Africa to the travel and tourism industry. The event will include…
The Ministry of Tourism reports that Madagascar received 25,448 international and domestic visitors in the first four months of 2023. This is compared to 11,595 in 2022 during the same period. Specifically, from January 1 to April 30, 2023, 18,657 international tourists visited Madagascar, nearly four times more than last year’s figure of 5,044. However, according to…
South African Airways (SAA) is set to reintroduce long-haul flights for the first time in over three years, establishing a new route linking Cape Town and São Paulo. Additionally, the airline will resume services between Johannesburg and the Brazilian city. Starting on Oct. 31, flights from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) to Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos…
Despite some industry concerns about the project – the environmental impact and access roads, amongst others – the proposed Drakensberg Cable Car project is going ahead. Over the past weekend, KwaZulu Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs, Siboniso Duma, conducted an oversight visit to monitor the progress of the Drakensberg Cable Car project.…