Eswatini’s tourism sector is confident that it will exceed the goal of more than two million tourist arrivals by 2023 through strategic partnerships with other southern African tourism organisations. CEO of the Eswatini Tourism Authority (ETA), Linda Nxumalo, explained to Tourism Update that although the tourism industry was doing well, there was always room for growth. “The government…
Lilongwe Wildlife Centre (LWC) is Malawi’s only wildlife rescue centre, home to around 200 animals and world renowned for its high standards of animal welfare. Set in a beautiful 180-hectare reserve in the heart of the capital, Lilongwe, LWC is a critical part of the city’s unique cultural history and increasingly fragile biodiversity. Read more…
The Magical Kenya Roadshow will be coming to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle next week. Tour operators and travel advisors with an interest in selling Kenya are encouraged to participate in the half day programs that will include 18 suppliers traveling to the US from Kenya. Los Angeles – Monday 24 February 10am-2pm @ Kimpton…
The Elewana Collection reports that the first-ever museum dedicated to music legend Freddie Mercury has opened on the island of Zanzibar. Officially partnered with Queen Productions in the UK, the museum aims to showcase his birth as Farrokh Bulsara, his roots with the Zoroastrian religion, his childhood and upbringing in Zanzibar, followed by his schooling…
Luwawa Forest Lodge, located on the Viphya Plateau, offer guests a unique downhill hike from Luwawa Forest Lodge, high up on the Viphya Plateau, to Kachere Kastle located on the shores of Lake Malawi. The 74km trail spans four days, allowing the opportunity to wild camp for three nights amid stunning natural beauty with close proximity to safe,…
The number of rhinos killed for their horns in South Africa has dropped for a fifth consecutive year, according to recent data released by the Ministry of Environmental Affairs. A total of 594 rhinos were killed in South Africa in 2019, a 22% drop from 769 in 2018. Minister of Environmental Affairs, Barbara Creecy, said…
A new Mandela multi-purpose exhibition centre has been officially opened at The Nelson Mandela Capture Site Precinct in KwaZulu Natal. Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, joined KZN Premier, Sihle Zikalala, for the opening of the centre today (February 11 ), the 30th anniversary of former President Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. The Department of Tourism…
The 5th Annual Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) 2020 opened on February 4,2020, kicking off three days of business-to-business and business-to-customer engagements among key Ugandan and regional tourism players with selected tourism wholesalers from Africa and other overseas tourism markets. POATE, which is taking place at the Speke Resort in Munyonyo on the shores…
The first cruise ship for 2020 docks at the Port of Mombasa this week, where the government has invested in a modern state-of-the-art terminal. MS Marco Polo, owned by the Global Maritime Group under charter to UK-based Cruise and Maritime Voyages, brings in 500 passengers (both tourists and crew), Kenya Tourism Board confirmed yesterday. The…
Turkish Airlines will launch its new Dreamliner on the Cape Town route from March 9. “The new aircraft will bring with it a next-level flying experience, including the latest in-flight entertainment system and a new business class product,” says Kenan Ince, Cape Town General Manager for the airline. “This plane is a game changer in…
The City Lodge Hotel Group (CLHG) opened its 62nd hotel – City Lodge Hotel Maputo – in Mozambique earlier this month. The hotel is on Rua Para o Palmar, which is within each reach of the Costa do Sol beach and is the closest hotel to Maputo International Airport. The hotel has 148 rooms, including…
The Nankumba Peninsula tourism project planned for Mangochi is set to change the face of Malawi’s tourism. It is expected that the sector will be easy to market through available infrastructure contained in the project that will be able to attract more tourists into the country. On Friday evening Afrixembank delegation had an audience with…
A new six-part documentary following the work of conservation NGO Lilongwe Wildlife Trust launched Sunday 9th February 5:30pm GMT in the UK, Europe, Middle East & Africa on the Love Nature TV channel (Virgin Media channel 275 in the UK). Created by Bristol-based Icon Films, Malawi Wildlife Rescue follows the dedicated team behind the award-winning…
Precautions are being taken in Africa to avoid further spread of the coronavirus, although there are currently no confirmed cases on the continent. Air Tanzania announced last week that its new scheduled flights to China, due to start later this month, will be postponed due to the coronavirus. A statement from the World Health Organization’s…
South African Airways has announced resumption of flights to Blantyre, Malawi with effect from Wednesday 1 April 2020. The schedule will remain the same as before: JNB – BLZ 10:00 12:05 BLZ-JNB 12:55 15:10
The world is mourning an icon. Tim, one of the last surviving super tusker elephants in Africa has died in Amboseli National Park. While many elephants in the country die prematurely due to poaching, the Majestic Tim, one of Africa’s last big tusker elephants and an African Elephant ambassador died of natural causes early Tuesday…
Zimbabwe will soon release new higher denomination Zimbabwe dollar banknotes to meet transactional demand for both locals and tourists. Zimbabwe’s Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, said the new notes – $10, $20 and $50 – would be in circulation within the next few months. “We are injecting cash into the economy, but we…
From January 24th through 26th, APTA was on display during the annual New York Times Travel Show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. The New York Times Travel Show attracts more than 35,000 attendees with over 700 exhibitors from more than 175 countries, making it the largest travel trade and consumer show in North…
Tongole Wilderness Lodge, located in the untouched rugged terrain of the Nkhotakota Wilderness Reserve, have rebranded to the Tongole Wilderness Retreat (TWR). TWR is made to make guests rest and reflect disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with nature in the pristine Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve. Because of its tranquil surroundings and healthy fresh air, staying at Tongole, whether…
More African countries could soon be caught in the cross-hairs of US president Donald Trump’s immigration clampdown. Three years after issuing a controversial travel ban initially slapped on seven Muslim-majority countries, the Trump administration is planning to expand the ban to reportedly include four more African countries: Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania and Eritrea. The others are:…
Almost a year later, Black & Abroad is still getting dividends from its provocative Go Back to Africa marketing campaign, designed to combat racism, diversify travel advertising, and help black Americans envision themselves on the continent. The boutique Atlanta-based company sells international trips and is a staple of the black travel movement. The campaign was unexpectedly popular in Ghana, according to…
Malawi this month opened the first African Drone and Data Academy, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF. The academy aims to improve drone technology skills across Africa, beginning with Malawi and neighboring countries. Karen Asaba developed an interest in drones at Uganda Flying Labs, a Kampala-based drone mapping and data hub. As…
Wilderness Safaris’ Linkwasha Camp – situated on a private concession in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park – has completed refurbishments that incorporate the local Ndebele culture. PR and Media Relations Manager, Nirvani Pillay, said the vibrant Ndebele pattern was also incorporated into the handmade embroidered cushions, which add a colorful touch to the natural hues, while locally sourced…
Ecotourism, sustainability and responsible travel may be current ‘buzz words‘ but Malawi’s tourism operators have always taken their responsibilities to the local environment and local communities very seriously – long before it started to become common practice. They are behind a very wide range of conservation initiatives and projects, as well as introducing practices within their…
International visitors to Africa are to be offered ‘twin-centre’ packages by the Seychelles Tourism Board this year. These offer the combination of a safari in Africa followed by a stay on the beaches of the Seychelles. This programme targets European and American travellers to Africa. This marketing strategy is supported by daily flights between Africa…
Although there are many factors that have led to Kigali’s solid infrastructure and booming development, one thing stands out as the organising principle: umuganda. I was sitting on the terrace of La Brioche, a popular bakery-cafe in Kigali’s Gacuriro neighbourhood. It was twilight – the streetlights were coming on, and the first hint of cool wafted…
SAA will be implementing ADHOC cancellations on our flights operating between JNB-LVI-JNB, Effective 08 Jan 2020 through 31 January 2020, on flights SA048 JNB-LVI and SA049 LVI-JNB. Due to above flight cancellations, South African Airways (SAA) would like to notify its customers of its decision to re-accommodate passengers on the alternate scheduled flights or the following options listed below: …
LESOTHO A quiet mountainous country isa wonderland for adventurers Joao Silva/The New York Times The tiny country of Lesotho — a picturesque enclave of jagged desert mountains fully surrounded by South Africa — has been lost to most African itineraries. But things are changing in landlocked Lesotho, known as the “mountain kingdom,” where most residents,…
British troops have helped a conservation organization relocate critically endangered black rhinos from South Africa to Malawi, the Ministry of Defence announced Thursday, in what it described as “one of the largest international rhino translocations to date.” Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles worked alongside African Parks to transport the animals by air and road…
Newmark Hotels is set to launch The Catalyst Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, toward the end of the year. The Catalyst Hotel will offer 207 rooms for long or short stays by business and leisure travellers. The hotel will also feature a restaurant, conference facility, gym, swimming pool and a full-service spa. It will be situated…
Ghana’s economy has benefited from a revenue of $1.9 billion through activities linked to the Ghana Tourism Authority’s ‘The Year of Return, Ghana 2019’ marketing campaign. The campaign was launched to mark 400 years since the first black slaves from Ghana landed in Jamestown, Virginia. The Year of Return campaign encompassed air travel, accommodation, transport…
The Tanzanian government has secured funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for construction of a new international airport 12km from the administrative capital, Dodoma. Work will be carried out over four years and the new facility is expected to handle at least 50 000 aircraft and a million passengers per year – the majority of…
Voyages Afriq has published a tourism review of 2019 and it is one of the most comprehensive overviews of the advances seen in the African tourism industry we have yet to see. The report includes a comprehensive overview of airport and airline updates, tourism policy and updates on African Continental Free Trade Area, VISA updates,…
For a long time Malawi’s stunning beaches, beautiful and varied landscapes and fascinating and friendly cultural experiences have been some of the best that Africa has to offer. With the wildlife transformations continuing courtesy of African Parks, Malawi’s safari experiences are now starting to match its other attractions as it emerges as one of the most…
An increase in the number of endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda has been partly put down to help from the tourism industry. Results from the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s 2018 Bwindi-Sarambwe mountain gorilla population survey has revealed at least 459 of the species in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – up from 400 in 2011. With…
Elba was born in London in 1972, but this year marks a new type of birth – that of becoming a citizen of Sierra Leone. Elba’s father, Winston, was from Sierra Leone, and his mother, Eve, from Ghana. His parents got married in Sierra Leone and later moved to London. After decades of living between…
All-inclusive specialist Club Med will open a 294-room luxury resort next October, on the private island of Sainte Anne in the Seychelles. Club Med Seychelles will be an Exclusive Collection resort, featuring three swimming pools, a Zen zone, beach lounge and yoga school. Set in a national park, the island is 15 minutes by speedboat…
African parks, responsible for restoring Malawi’s Liwonde National Park to its former glory through their massive conservation efforts in the park, have now launched helicopter flights so you can see with your own eyes the success they’ve had in turning this park into the wildlife hotspot it is today. Liwonde National Park, covering a relatively…
The Kenya Tourism Board has launched a sales incentive campaign for travel agents. Agents interested in participating should visit the following link, and complete details of their Kenya sales for September, October, November and December. The agent with the highest verifiable Kenya sales will be invited to visit Kenya in early 2020 on an exclusive…
Kachere Kastle, the towering castle situated on the pristine shores of Lake Malawi, enchants guests with its Moroccan-style interior design, courtyard pool, and meals fused with international and local ingredients. Introducing Kachere Kastle, where tropical vibes, relaxation, and rejuvenation collide to create a magical, getaway. Russ and Kate Smith, the owners from the U.K, opened…
Tourism and wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has urged tourism providers to model their offerings to suit today’s demanding traveller’s expectation. He said this during the inaugural Magical Kenya Signature Experiences (MKSE) Award Ceremony held to unveil outstanding tourism offerings among Kenyan travel industry players. Fifteen facilities were awarded after meeting the required criteria of…
Wildlife excursions in Africa are going deeper, highlighting less-visited regions and ecosystems while also leading the charge for conservation in innovative ways. Here are three unconventional safaris in Sierra Leone, Rwanda, and South Africa that reveal as well as protect the extraordinary animals that travelers long to see. Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Sierra Leone Why go: This…
APTA has a single booth available at the New York Times Travel Show taking place from 24-26 January 2020 as part of the APTA Pavilion. If you are interested in securing this space for your company, please contact Cheryle Velsor at cheryle@svi-marketing.com. You must be an APTA corporate member to qualify. Cost is $3,000, which…
Zozibini Tunzi was crowned Miss Universe Sunday night after excelling through rounds of swimsuit and evening gown struts, questions on social issues and one final chance to explain why she was the right choice. “I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me — with my kind of skin and my kind of…
The inaugural flight between Cabo Verde and the U.S. Capital Washington DC, took place this Sunday, December 8th, and departed from Amílcar Cabral International Airport, in Sal, at 09:30 am, landing at Dulles International Airport at 02:00 pm. Before leaving, Jens Bjarnason, CEO of Cabo Verde Airlines, praised the beginning of the connection to the…
David Attenborough’s much-loved BBC series, ‘Seven Worlds, One Planet’, has had the UK gripped for the last 6 weeks. Viewers have been educated on how humankind is impacting the planet and its wildlife in both a positive and negative way, as well as learning more about a variety of species and habitats. The series has…
The US was the top market for Kenya for foreign arrivals from January to September this year, according to the Kenya Tourism Research Institute’s January-September 2019 tourism performance report. The report highlights international arrival statistics breakdown by points of entry, the Top 30 source markets, the Top 10 source markets in comparison with January-September 2018…
Due to current financial conditions, South African Airways’ Board of Directors and the Department of Public Enterprise within the South African Government have announced that South African Airways will be placed under business rescue with immediate effect. The business rescue process in South Africa is very similar to the Chapter 11 protection under U.S. bankruptcy laws, which will allow South African…
When United Airlines announced its new non-stop route from the New York City area’s Newark Liberty International Airport in April, it was seen as a huge win for tourism to the South African city, which is the legislative capital of the country, as well as home to top attractions like the flat-topped Table Mountain and…
The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) will host the 5th annual Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) from February 4-6 at the Speke Resort in Munyonyo. The three-day tourism and travel trade exhibition will bring together regional and international tour operators, travel agents, destination agencies and other service providers to network and facilitate tourism business. Lilly…