Madagascar Lifts All COVID-19 Restrictions
All restrictions against COVID 19 are now lifted. No more quarantine. No more PCR test on departure. No more antigen test upon arrival. No vaccination required. Visa for free for 15 days stay.
Dead Heat for Kenya Presidency as Election Results Trickle In
Two days after Kenya’s general election, officials had yet to announce who is leading the presidential race in East Africa’s regional powerhouse, as confused citizens struggled to make sense of divergent tallies from the media in a nail-bitingly close race. Media houses are compiling results from images of forms that the election commission uploaded on…
Zambian National Park Joins UNESCO Biosphere Network
The Kafue National Park in Zambia is the latest reserve in Africa (of 89) to join the Unesco World Biosphere Network. The addition of Zambia, along with Georgia in Eastern Europe and Chad in central Africa, was announced recently by Audrey Azoulay, Director General of Unesco, who said: “I am delighted to see three new member…
Mauritius Sees Strong Post-COVID Tourism Growth
The Indian Ocean island of Mauritius is seeing huge demand from international visitors, including the South African market and new source markets such as the Middle East. Tourism Update discovered this on a Constance Hotels educational visit to the east coast of the island late last month, with the hotels noting that they were experiencing high…
263 Elephants Translocated from Malawi’s Liwonde National Park to Kasungu
The 31st of July, 2022 marked the conclusion of the successful translocation of 263 elephants and 431 additional wildlife from Liwonde National Park to Kasungu National Park in Malawi. The translocation was undertaken by Malawi’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) in partnership with African Parks and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), in an effort to…
Airlink to Connect Johannesburg with St Helena Island
Starting October 15, 2022, Airlink will offer a weekly service between Johannesburg (JNB) and St Helena Island (HLE). The flight will operate every Saturday with a modern 98-seat Embraer E-190 jetliner making a fuel stop at Walvis Bay on the Namibian coast on the west-bound flight only. St Helena Island is known for the abundance…
The Bushcamp Company Remembers Phil Berry
The Bushcamp Company pays tribute and says farewell to our great friend, and much loved colleague, Phil Berry, who sadly passed away in the USA on the 30th July. Phil was a remarkable man… an incredibly knowledgeable guide, outstanding naturalist and tireless conservationist who devoted his life to the wildlife and people of Zambia’s Luangwa Valley.…
Delta’s Direct CPT flights start Dec 18
Delta Air Lines is adding a brand-new nonstop flight from Cape Town to Atlanta, effective December 18. These direct flights will complement the airline’s existing service between Johannesburg and Atlanta, and will operate three times weekly. The new Cape Town flights will operate using the airline’s new, state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900, with all four Delta cabin…
InterContinental Sandton Rebranded as “Sandton Towers”
Southern Sun has announced the rebranding of the InterContinental Sandton to Sandton Towers, which reopened this week. This landmark hotel on the Sandton skyline, together with the Sandton Sun hotel, will be operated as one destination complex, integrated into the Sandton City Shopping Centre Diamond Walk. Accommodating guests for business, leisure, groups or conferencing travel,…
New Usangu Expedition Camp Opens in Tanzania
Asilia Africa has opened Usangu Expedition Camp, a new luxury tented camp, in the remote corner of Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park. The seasonal camp, on the banks of Usangu wetlands, is the first tourism operation in the area. It operates from June to November and accommodates a maximum of eight guests. The four solar-powered guest…
Zambia Tourism Agency to Host Educational Webinar on Zambia Next Week
Welcome to Zambia – the land of the legendary African walking safari, Victoria Falls, the wild Zambezi River, abundant wildlife, and raw wilderness, all in one friendly country. Zambia is blessed with awe-inspiring natural wonders, an abundance of wildlife, huge water bodies and vast open spaces offering unforgettable holidays exploring the real Africa. You are…
Magical Kenya Travel Expo 2022 Returns After Two-Year Hiatus
The Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) is set for a physical return from October 5-7 after a two-year hiatus occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic. Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) Chief Executive Officer, Betty Radier says that the 2022 expo is expected to attract participation from about 30 countries from across the globe. “We have not been…
Airlink to Connect Cape Town with Maputo
Airlink, Southern Africa’s premier airline, will launch nonstop service between Cape Town and Maputo in Mozambique starting August 31, 2022. The service between the two coastal cities will operate 3 times a week using the modern and efficient Embraer 135 regional jet. Flight schedule For more information check your GDS. Airlink’s Route Network Airlink currently…
Cape Town-Mauritius Flights to Resume this November
Air Mauritius has confirmed it will resume non-stop flights between Cape Town and Mauritius from November 16, operated with its A350/A330neo aircraft. The flights will depart from Cape Town at 22h05 on Wednesdays and Sundays, and arrive in Mauritius at 05h10 the next morning. Nooriena Davids, Acting Regional Manager Southern Africa and Latin America, tells Travel…
New Weekly Ferry Service Between Kampala and Jinja
As the Government of Uganda seeks to prioritise water transportation tourism on Lake Victoria, cruise operator Nyanza Evergreen Waterways has opened a new regular weekly route between the capital, Kampala, and the country’s adventure destination, Jinja. Water-based transport, utilising the vast expanse of Africa’s largest lake, has been identified as not only a cost-effective alternative to…
Rwanda’s Nyandungu Eco-Park Opens to Public
Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) and Rwanda Development Board (RDB) have signed a six-month agreement with QA Venue Solutions to open and manage Nyandungu Eco-Park. QA Venue Solutions is a pan-African venue solutions provider in the event venue, entertainment & hospitality industry in South Africa and Rwanda. From a degraded wetland to an educational and recreational eco-park in…
Seychelles Focuses on Boosting Tourism Capacity
With 65% of the Seychelles’ GDP dependent on tourism, the training of tourism and hospitality staff is a crucial factor for the recovery of the sector post-COVID. As Hilton Hotels continues to expand its Seychelles footprint, it is aiming to train at least 200 new tourism and hospitality graduates at the Fitir Academy at Hilton…
Both Delta & United Approved to Fly to Cape Town
After a closely fought contest over the last remaining rights for US carriers to fly to Cape Town, both Delta and United have emerged victorious. There were four frequencies available to US carriers of the total of 21, and both carriers had applied for thrice-weekly flights. The applications by the two airlines resulted in the…
USA Takes Top Spot as South Africa’s No. 1 Overseas Market for 2021
As destinations around the globe accelerate tourism sector recovery efforts following more than two years of the pandemic and related restrictions, South African Tourism released an encouraging report highlighting that for the first time, the US was its top source market for overseas travel. In 2021, the US bested the UK who has held this…
Adrift to Open Two New Properties in Uganda
Adrift, the Uganda-based adventure brand associated with Lemala Camps and Lodges, has announced the expansion of its range of activities, along with the opening of its two new Adrift-branded properties close to Lemala Wildwaters. The two new child-friendly facilities at Adrift Overland Camp and Adrift River Club are on the western banks of the River Nile, two hours east of Kampala. Adjacent to the…
TIME Magazine Names Zambia’s Lower Zambezi One of the World’s Greatest Places
Get your credit card out and your favorite booking platforms at the ready: US magazine and news website TIME has just released its list of the world’s 50 greatest places of 2022. The list was compiled by its international network of correspondents and contributors, and, says TIME in a statement, “with an eye toward those offering…
Vic Falls to Cater to Visually Impaired Travelers
Victoria Falls has become the first inclusive destination in Zimbabwe, and Africa, catering for visually impaired members of society locally and globally. The historic milestone was launched last week by the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry in conjunction with Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Vic Falls City Council and Airports…
End of the Road for SA Express
It looks as though SA Express may finally have run out of runway. According to a News24 report on July 13, the Air Services Council has cancelled all licences and related route rights currently allocated to this clearly defunct airline, with immediate effect. The Licensing Council has already come under fire over the past year for the fact…
Culture is Tanzania’s Next Tourism Frontier
Cultural tourism has the potential to diversify Tanzania’s wildlife safari, mountain climbing and beach offerings, a key US Travel Agent has said. Ms Welcome Jerde, who is in the northern tourism circuit with a group of 18 tourists, said that Tanzania, home to 120 ethnic tribes, could brand culture as a tourism product. “Personally, I love Tanzania,…
African Parks to Manage Zambia’s Kafue National Park
The Government of Zambia and African Parks (AP) have signed a 20-year agreement in a commitment to secure the protection and effective management of Kafue National Park. Zambia Ministry of Tourism Permanent Secretary, Evans Muhanga, said by collaborating with African Parks, the Government of Zambia was confident that the partnership would protect Kafue’s valuable landscape for…
Table Mountain Ranked Best Viewpoint in Africa
Seeking out the picture-perfect view of a new location is often a priority for travellers and people moving to a new city, so Remitly analysed over 1.4 million TripAdvisor reviews to find which attractions had left visitors talking about its view most regularly. Offering 360-degree views of the Cape Peninsula and Cape Town harbour, Table…
South Africa’s Lift Airlines Will Take Off Given Bankruptcy of Rivals
Lift Airlines, South Africa’s youngest airline, had wagered its future on steady organic growth in the shadows of Comair, the largest private airline in South Africa, and operator of Kulula.com and the BA franchise. Then Covid-19 threw the industry into turmoil. Jonathan Ayache, CEO and co-founder of Lift Airlines speaks to The Africa Report about…
Fastjet’s Vic Falls-Maun Flights Take Off
Fastjet Zimbabwe inaugurated its new service from Victoria Falls to Maun when the first flight took place on Thursday, June 30. The service will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The new route, which provides more packaging opportunities for tour operators, links two more of the region’s premier wildlife destinations and two global icons –…
Four Points by Sheraton Brand Debuts in Rwanda
Four Points by Sheraton – part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of hotel brands – has announced the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Kigali, marking the brand’s debut in Rwanda. “We are very proud to work with Marriott International to bring the Four Points by Sheraton brand into Rwanda and we are confident this hotel will…
Rhinos Beat Extinction in Mozambique
Rhinos have returned to Mozambique, just over 40 years after they became extinct in the region, thanks to a Peace Parks Foundation project that transported the precious cargo 1 610km from South Africa. The Black and White rhinos have made their new home in Zinave National Park, which spans more than 400 000ha and already has 2 300…
Zambia Tourism Agency Appoints CornerSun Destination Marketing
CornerSun Destination Marketing, a full-service consulting firm specializing in promoting African tourism destinations to the North American market, has been selected by the Zambia Tourism Agency to lead its tourism promotional efforts in North America. The partnership is part of a larger program to re-introduce Zambia to the world following the COVID-19 pandemic that largely…
Featured Webinar: Spring Back to South Africa
The APTA Executive Board is excited to host Session 3 of 3 in our Explore Africa Webinar Series. We are thrilled to have Springbok Atlas and South African Tourism join us for this third installment featuring South Africa. This is not your typical webinar series. We know that you know and love Africa. This is…
Qatar and Airlink Sign Codeshare Agreement
Qatar Airways and Airlink have signed a comprehensive new codeshare agreement to offer travellers greater connectivity between 45 destinations in 13 countries across southern Africa and the rest of the world. Now, connecting flights can be purchased on both airlines using a single reservation with seamless ticketing, check-in, boarding and baggage-check for the entire journey.…
SAA Closes US Office
As previously communicated, South African Airways will close its North America Regional Office in Fort Lauderdale, effective June 30,2022. For over 50 years, South African Airways has maintained a strong presence in North America in building and supporting partnerships with customers, the travel trade, tourism organizations, and community affiliations. As our general sales agent in…
South Africa Lifts COVID-19 Restrictions and Regulations for Visitors
South African Tourism is welcoming the end of all COVID-19 restrictions after South Africa’s cabinet last week concluded that they had served their purpose. And these days it seems it’s only news when a country keeps its COVID restrictions. The revision of the COVID-19 management regulations heralds a new chapter for the country and is…
Air Senegal Connects NY and Baltimore to Accra, Ghana
Air Senegal, the flag carrier of the Republic of Senegal has added connecting service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Baltimore-Washington (BWI) to Accra, Ghana (ACC) via Dakar, Senegal (DSS). Service is scheduled to commence on Air Senegal flights departing from the USA on Thursdays and Sundays starting September 1st, 2022.…
Zambia Welcomes ‘The Urban Hotel’ to Lusaka
Located in the diplomatic area of Lusaka: where Kabulonga, Ibex Hill, and Woodlands intersect, the 75-key hotel is conveniently positioned around some of Lusaka’s finest commercial centers; and 30mins away from the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport. The hotel has 4 room categories. The categories being Standard rooms, Business class rooms, lofts and Executive rooms. It’s a full-service hotel…
Kenya Reinstates Indoor Mask Mandate
Kenya Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe is urging caution in the wake of new COVID-19 infections in the East African nation, and has reinstated the country’s indoor mask mandate. This applies to all closed or confined spaces, such as in public-service vehicles, aircraft, offices, supermarkets, and places of worship. “This sharp rise in numbers of new infections…
Kempinski to Open Three Luxury Properties in Tanzania
European luxury hotel group, Kempinski Hotels, has signed management contracts for three luxury safari properties – two lodges and a tented camp – which will open in Tanzania next year. The new luxury tented camp, Kempinski Msasa Lodge Lake Manyara, will have 19 tents with terrace and outdoor showers, two junior suite tents with an…
New Museum of African Liberation to Put Western Harare On The Map
With the introduction of the Museum Of African Liberation that is being built in the Warren Park area of Harare, there are calls for western Harare to be marketed and recognised as its own unique tourism corridor in the southern African nation. The 101ha museum site will be known as the Liberation City, accompanied by…
Tourism Windfall As ‘Royal Tour’ Film Brings the World to Tanzania
Tanzania’s Royal Tour film content, its strategic premiere USA market and timing have started paying dividends in terms of commanding significant traffic of tourists. Produced by Peter Greenberg, the maiden film featuring President Samia Suluhu Hassan, as his key guide—showcasing Tanzania’s rich cultural, wildlife heritage and array of investment opportunities through her leadership eye, was launched…
United Increases Service to Cape Town
UNITED Airlines is investing more and more precious seat capacity into South Africa, specifically Cape Town, which Regional Director Sales, Bob Schumacher, agrees is a reflection of both North Americans’ insatiable appetite for the destination and pent-up demand for travel to the US. United expanded its Cape Town-New York/Newark service to year-round this week. In SA…
Rwanda Appoints New Chief Tourism Officer
The Rwandan Cabinet has appointed Michaella Rugwizangoga as the new Chief Tourism Officer for the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). She brings a wide range of expertise related to strategic planning, project management and product development to the tourism development team. The Council member of the World Economic Forum has previously served as the CEO of Volkswagen Mobility…
Fastjet Adds Capacity Between Johannesburg and VicFalls
Trade partners in the Victoria Falls region have welcomed the start of a second daily fastjet flight between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls, adding much-needed airline seat capacity over peak dates. Fastjet’s extra frequency also replaces some of the capacity lost from South Africa owing to the cancellation of flights by British Airways (operated by Comair),…
FlySafair’s Regional Aspirations
FlySafair has revealed plans for expansion, including the addition of eight new aircraft to its fleet (five in the short term). The carrier voiced its hopes too, of more regional routes. Comair’s departure from the market has created a supply vacuum, with about 40% of seat capacity lost overnight. FlySafair says this opens opportunities for…
Comair to Permanently Exit the South African Skies
Comair, which grounded its British Airways (domestic) and Kulula flights a week ago due to a funding crunch, has failed to raise the cash it needs to return to the air. Its business rescue practitioners said in a statement on Thursday the “requisite funding could not be raised for the company to continue with its…
Mobile Camp Launches in Togoro
Newmark Hotels’ Serengeti Sojourn Mobile Camp has announced a new location for its second home. After years of opening in Tanzania’s Lobo region every June, the luxury mobile camp is now making Togoro 1 (there are three camps in the area) its second home base for the month. The Serengeti Sojourn Mobile Camp has a…
Iconic Cape Wheel Closes Temporarily for Relocation
By the end of June, the iconic Cape Wheel will move from its current location in front of the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre to a new location offering views of Robben Island and beyond, passing ships moving to and from the Waterfront and the commercial port, while still retaining views of the city bowl and Table…
Fastjet Zimbabwe Launches Second Flight to Vic Falls
Fastjet Zimbabwe has introduced a second daily flight between Victoria Falls International Airport and OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg. The flights commenced on June 8 and are operated by a 50-seat Embraer Regional Jet. Flights now depart from Johannesburg at 09h55 and 11h10. The return flights depart from Victoria Falls at 13h00 and 13h20. Fastjet…
Rhinos Back in Hwange After Nearly 20 Years
After a journey of more than 17 hours and 700 kilometres across Zimbabwe, the first two White rhino to roam Hwange in nearly 20 years are now settling into their new home in the Imvelo Ngamo Wildlife Sanctuary bordering the park. Guests staying at Bomani or Camelthorn lodges inside Hwange National Park and on Imvelo’s…