AirKenya has notified the tourism industry that, following a presidential directive and an authorisation by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority released on May 1, the airline has fully resumed its operations, offering services from its exclusive terminal at Wilson Airport Nairobi, to the following destinations: Serengeti (via Kilimanjaro), Kilimanjaro, Entebbe (via Kisumu), Maasai Mara, Amboseli,…
The business rescue practitioners (BRPs) of South African Airways’ (SAA) have filed a notice of substantial implementation with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) that effectively brings to an end the airline’s 17 months in business rescue. Simultaneously, while this took place on April 30, the operations of SAA were handed back to its board.…
Mango is preparing to be placed in business rescue, as it will have no aircraft available for operations from May 1. Acting CEO, William Ndlovu, sent a communication to major travel agencies and tour operators yesterday, outlining the “operational challenges” the airline has, which appear to have been caused by a string of broken promises relating to…
The NamibRand Nature Reserve is the only official Dark-Sky reserve in Africa. The reserve not only protects the unique wildlife of the southwest Namib Desert, but also keeps its light pollution reduced to the point where the Milky Way is visible to the unaided eye. The International Dark-Sky Association, which has recognised the reserve as…
Zimbabwe’s biggest annual trade expo, the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair – which includes the tourism sector – will be held in Bulawayo from July 20 to 23. The event was cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The exhibition will be held under the theme, ‘Showcasing the New Normal for Business and Industry: Realities…
The National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) has approved in principle that tourism sector frontline workers should be prioritised for vaccinations. “We are now waiting on the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) to decide on how and when this will be rolled out,” said Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) CEO, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, speaking to Tourism…
Classic Africa Safaris co-founder Mel Gormley just visited Uganda’s Murchison Falls NP and reports that the Nile River is at its highest recorded levels. The flood makes for an amazing and historical experience for visitors in the park. Travelers can cruise the Nile while it’s in full flood – both the Nile Delta and Base…
Turkish Airlines has returned to the sandy shores of Seychelles, landing in paradise on the morning of Friday, April 23, 2021. Restarting its COVID-safe international passenger services, Turkish Airlines A330-300 aircraft from Istanbul carrying 171 passengers was greeted by a traditional water salute upon arrival at the Indian Ocean destination. Contributing to the revival of…
A research study in South Africa further evaluating Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine in the field will resume on Wednesday, the health ministry said, after the study was paused over rare cases of blood clots in people given the vaccine. During the pause, it had been established that there is a one in a million…
Leopard Sands River Lodge by BON Hotels is set to open its doors on August 1. The lodge, overlooking the Sabi River, shares a border with Kruger National Park and is located only minutes away from the Paul Kruger Gate entrance to the park. Group Sales Director at BON Hotels, Lindi Mthethwa, told Tourism Update that international tourists…
Malawian inbound operator “Malawian Style” and Zambian inbound operator “Zambia in Style” have now rebranded as “Crafted Africa”. You can learn more at http://www.craftedafrica.com/
The directors of KARIBU-KILIFAIR regret to inform you that the ongoing developments of COVID-19 pandemic in our top source markets, have forced us to postpone the scheduled KARIBU-KILIFAIR 2021 to next year. The new date for KARIBU-KILIFAIR will be June 3-5, 2022. More info here
Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is in final stages of relocating rhinos from Ziwa Rhino & Wildlife Ranch to other sanctuaries in Uganda as the sanctuary transitions to other uses. The program was created in 2005 as a collaborative effort between UWA, the Rhino Fund Uganda and Ziwa Ranchers Ltd, owners of the 16,000-acre property where…
Boundless Southern Africa, the tourism marketing and investment promotion initiative for Southern Africa’s Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs), has developed a new e-learning tool for tourism in the region. The first courses on the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area and the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area are now live online. What is a Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA)?…
APTA’s webinar library continues to be a valuable resource for members looking to share knowledge, stay visible within the APTA community, and deepen engagement around travel to Africa. Corporate members can submit webinars by logging into their APTA profile. From your Dashboard, simply click “Add a Webinar” and complete all required fields. A helpful “how…
Fire crews had largely contained a big wildfire on the slopes of Cape Town’s Table Mountain on Tuesday as the city started to come to terms with the damage caused by what officials described as one of the area’s worst blazes in years. About 90% of the fire had been contained, the Table Mountain National…
United Airlines will launch a daily Newark-Johannesburg service on June 3, subject to government approval. Last year, the carrier suspended its seasonal summer Cape Town flights and also postponed the original launch date of its daily flights to Johannesburg from March 2021 to June this year. United is also adding two new African routes from Washington Dulles, with services to Accra, Ghana, beginning next month,…
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, leading Uganda tour company, Great Lakes Safaris launches a new charitable arm of the business, Great Lakes Safaris Foundation, to provide community support and conservation of wildlife. And an exciting new 20 night immersive ‘Ultimate Uganda’ tour taking in the best the country has to offer. The Great Lakes…
The Seychelles Islands invite visitors around the world to take residence in the little corner of paradise through their Workcation Retreat Programme – a blend of work and leisure in a tropical getaway. The programme entices remote workers with an irresistible offer to relocate their office to the island destination for a long-term escape from…
Edison Komora, Assistant General Manager at Elewana Tortilis Camp, Talks About The Advantages Of Travelling In Green Season. What do you consider to be the main advantages of traveling in Green Season There are a surprising number of benefits from traveling during the green season compared to the dry season. No crowds is the obvious…
The landscapes and waterways of Zimbabwe hold a certain type of magic, each area unique in its charm. Jenman African Safaris summons the intrepid explorer to these magical spaces, wild and wonder filled, cruising through one’s safari experience in style. Our freshly launched Wild Wonders itinerary is an invitation to awaken the wanderer within while exploring Zimbabwe’s…
Airlink has announced the resumption of its Nelspruit-Livingstone service from May 1. This will enable travellers to combine the Victoria Falls with the Kruger National Park and surrounding areas. The airline is also starting Johannesburg-Livingstone flights on May 26. The new service augments Airlink’s presence in Zambia, provided by its daily services between Johannesburg and…
JA Resorts & Hotels has opened its second property, JA Enchanted Waterfront Villas, in Seychelles. The oceanfront resort is on the east coast of Mahé and has 10 villas designed in a contemporary Creole style set against a backdrop of mountains. Each has a sheltered veranda overlooking a garden, and private infinity pool with ocean…
After more than a year of overwhelming and often instant change — and the anxiety that comes with making micro-decisions for everyday actions — people deserve a break. So why not Africa? Cheli + Peacock Safaris offers 10 reasons (originally compiled by African Bush Camps) why you should choose Africa’s national parks and other wilderness areas to…
Egyptian archeologists have unearthed a 3,000 year-old lost city complete with mud brick houses, artifacts and tools from the times of the pharaohs. The mortuary city, in the southern province of Luxor, is being called the most important such find since the tomb of Tutankhamun. It dates back to the period under King Amenhotep III…
Najin and Fatu are the last two northern white rhinos on the planet and they are both female and cannot carry pregnancies. Scientists around the world are now in a race against time to save the species at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia in Kenya. “Having the last two northern white rhino is a…
The Mauritian government has expanded its COVID-19 vaccination programme to include all citizens, residents and long-term international visitors over the age of 18. Visitors holding the Premium Visa as well as residents of Mauritius holding a Work Permit, Residence Permit or Occupational Permit are eligible to receive their vaccinations free of charge. The expanded vaccination…
Fastjet Zimbabwe will increase its current schedule to daily services between Victoria Falls, International Airport and Johannesburg, OR Tambo International Airport, effective May 30. “The flight arrival times in Victoria Falls have been adjusted, offering customers the opportunity to minimise the time spent at the airport with a likely faster airport exit and more time at hand to enjoy…
Ethiopian Airlines on Thursday marked 75 years since it began commercial flights, with CEO Tewolde GebreMariam warning of ‘a serious challenge posed by COVID-19’. On April 8 1946, the company operated its first-ever commercial flight. It flew from Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital to Cairo, Egypt. The carrier’s initial fleet consisted of five C-47s acquired…
The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) on Monday launched a digital tourism platform in an effort to increase the visibility of the island nation through the internet and support the local tourism industry with online and digital marketing. Called ParrAPI, the platform will serve to collect, store and distribute digital tourism information. The first four letters – Parr –…
Turkish Airlines has announced that it will be resuming regular flights to the Seychelles islands from its home base, Istanbul Airport from Friday, April 23, 2021. This is part of Turkish Airlines’ plans to restart COVID-safe international passenger services to several destinations including Seychelles, after the airline suspended its services to the island in March…
Auric Air Services Ltd is excited to announce the acquisition of a Dash 8-100 aircraft, increasing the total fleet to 16 aircraft adding up to 234 Seats. The new acquisition will boost capacity to deliver exceptional services to the tourists to the various sectors the company serves, the Dash 8-100 is considered high performance and…
South Africa has signed an agreement with Pfizer Inc for 20 million dual shot COVID-19 vaccine doses, a government official told Reuters on Tuesday, boosting plans to start mass vaccinations from April. The deal is another fillip for the country worst hit by COVID-19 infections in Africa as it adds to the 31 million single-shot…
Tanzania’s new president Samia Suluhu Hassan said on Tuesday that her government would form a committee for scientific research into COVID-19, in a departure from the pandemic-sceptic policies of her predecessor John Magufuli who died last month. Magufuli, who Hassan said died of heart disease at 61, had dismissed the threat from the coronavirus pandemic,…
Kenya Airways (KQ) says the Kenyan government has decided to suspend its passenger air links with UK, effective from midnight April 9. This is said to be because Kenya has been added to the UK’s ‘Red List’. As a result of the directive, all flights from the UK to Kenya will be suspended until further…
In a meeting held on Wednesday 31st March 2021, Cabinet discussed the resumption of cruise ship calls in Seychelles. The meeting approved the immediate re-opening of the cruise sector following the moratorium imposed in May 2020. This followed a stakeholder meeting held on 16th March, 2021 chaired by the Minister responsible for Tourism consisting of…
The World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has added the Egyptian Museum in Cairo’s Tahrir Square to its World Heritage Tentative List. Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities applied, last February, in accordance with the established criteria for registering such sites. Abdel Mohsen Shafi’i, Supervisor of the Central…
All provincial parks managed by Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) are closed until an ongoing employee strike – which started yesterday (April 6) – has been resolved. “All MTPA offices are closed, as are all tourist facilities and parks,” said Senior Manager: Communications for MTPA, Kholofelo Nkambule, highlighting that tour buses were being turned away at…
Two years ago, Malawi became the first country in the world to introduce the malaria vaccine into its childhood immunization programme, followed by Ghana and then Kenya. The vaccine was introduced in a phased approach that targeted 11 districts in Malawi. Globally, more than half of childhood deaths occur in Africa, and malaria is a…
SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM AND GOOGLE ARTS & CULTURE AND HAVE ANNOUNCED THE LAUNCH OF ‘SOUTH AFRICA: AN EXPLORER’S PARADISE’, AN ONLINE EXHIBITION WHERE VISITORS CAN EXPLORE THE COUNTRY THROUGH A COLLECTION OF 500 IMAGES AND VIDEOS, 55 STREET VIEWS AND 20 DIGITAL STORIES. The project marks the first phase in a long-term collaboration to celebrate…
Insurgents seized control of much of a town in Mozambique on Saturday, after a three-day siege that has left at least several people dead and hundreds of other civilians unaccounted for as government forces try to regain control, according to private security contractors in East Africa and news reports. Nearly 200 people, including dozens of foreign workers,…
Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta, has rejected claims by local airlines that domestic flights for international tourists will be allowed. He reiterated in a statement: “All domestic passenger flights into and out of the zoned area of Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu and Nakuru shall cease to operate until further notice. This includes international tourists on planned itineraries with tour…
Following an aggressive vaccination program that has enabled it to become the world’s first nation to achieve COVID-19 herd immunity, Seychelles has reopened to all tourists regardless of vaccination status as of March 25th 2021! Join the Seychelles Tourist Board for a one hour session reintroducing the Seychelles and all its 115 islands have to…
Effective May 1, Botswana local airline, Mack Air, is set to introduce flights in a new regional route linking Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe to Kasane, Botswana. Mack Air MD, Michael Weyl, said: “Victoria Falls is well known as a hub for tourist activity. Our new scheduled flight route brings neighbours closer together. Now, they can take in…
Although there have been delays in securing vaccine supplies, government was still confident in achieving its vaccination targets, said President Cyril Ramaphosa in his latest ‘family meeting’ address to the nation yesterday (March 30). He noted that South Africa had begun Phase 1 of its vaccination programme in February – the vaccination of health workers – which…
Royal Migration Camp is Tanzania’s newest, luxury seasonal migration camp that moves twice – from Ndutu to Kogatende. This intimate 6-tent camp has a separate dining tent, lounge tent, bar tent with a billiard table and a massage tent. Along with his Tanzanian partner, Saad bin Jung of the royal Bhopal family brings the royal…
One year after Seychelles legally designated 30 percent of its territorial waters as marine protected areas 10 years ahead of international targets, efforts are now underway to develop a legal and strategic framework as well as a management plan for each of these sites. The principal secretary for the environment, Alain Decomarmond, said each site…
Clifftop Exclusive Safari Hideaway has pushed design boundaries and the aesthetic of African safari luxury since its inception. In anticipation of the recovery of South African tourism in 2021, the Extraordinary team embarked on an ambitious project to elevate this jewel of Welgevonden Private Game Reserve to the next level. A glamourous refashioning commenced at…
A total of 44 schemes with 10,468 rooms are due for completion in 2021, making this by far the busiest year in the near future. For 2022, another 29 openings with 6,179 keys are planned. In 2023, 18 hotels are expected to open their doors, bringing 7,282 additional keys into play. Another 25 launches are…
Mafia Island is a unique destination off Tanzania’s coast with secluded sandbars, nesting turtles and migrating whale sharks. It is much less known and definitely much quieter than Zanzibar, but it offers the most incredible diving experiences and embodies the real definition of barefoot luxury. Mafia is part of a small archipelago consisting of one…