30 August 2017

Cape Town: MyCiti's free Table Mountain shuttle to operate later!

MyCiti, Cape Town's high-quality bus-based transit system, is set to change the schedule of the free 110 Table Mountain route, which connects the bottom of Tafelberg Road with the Lower Cableway Station. Effective 01 September 2017, the buses on the route will operate later, so that locals and visitors can make the most of the longer days and warmer evenings on top of Cape Town's famous landmark.

Direction: to Upper Tafelberg

  • 07:30 - 08:40 > every 15 minutes
  • 08:50 - 18:05 > every 20 minutes
  • 18:05 - 18:50 > every 15 minutes
Direction: to Lower Tafelberg
  • 07:37 - 08:40 > every 15 minutes
  • 08:40 - 18:00 > every 20 minutes
  • 18:00 - 19:00 > every 15 minutes

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Kruger National Park Calendar - October

Weather:
  • daytime temperatures soar
  • first hard rains
  • it can get extremely hot & humid if the rains are late
Temperatures:

giraffe, Kruger National Park, safari, wildlife

Landscape:
  • Grassland beginns turning green
  • many trees in flower
  • lush vegetation
  • river levels start rising
Animal Activity:
  • breeding season begins for many antelopes
  • game begins dispersing through the Park
  • most of the northern migrant raptors arrive

Rwanda builds a new international airport near Kigali!

The current President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, has laid the foundation stone for the country's new Bugesera International Airport (BIA), located about 25 southeast of Kigali near the town of Rilima in the Bugesera District in southeastern Rwanda. The construction works have been planned in two phases for a total budget of $818 million. The first phase will cost $418 million, scheduled for completion by December 2018. During the following phase extension works will be undertaken worth $400 million. Bugesera International Airport will be Rwanda's largest International Airport and will complement Kigali International Airport (KGI) in Kigali, which is now operating at maximum capacity.



Bugesera International Airport (BIA) will have an initial capacity to handle 1.8 million passengers annually. The total construction of the airport is expected to be complete by 2019 and will include the 4,200m runway, a state-of-the-art passenger terminal with a capacity for 4.5 million passengers as well as modern cargo terminal.

Cape Town: Chapman's Peak Drive is closed to traffic again!

update (30 Aug 2017): Chapman's Peak Drive has been reopened to the public!

Cape Town's famous Chapman's Peak Drive has been closed again to traffic until further notice due to rock fall. One of the catchment fences has been damaged and the drive is considered not safe. We'll keep you posted!



Chapman's Peak Drive is a scenic 9km route between Noordhoek and Hout Bay along the western flank of the Chapman's Peak, a mountain on the western side of the Cape Peninsula, located about 15 kilometres south of Cape Town

29 August 2017

Cape Town: Museum Night returns to the V&A Waterfront in October 2017!

The second edition of the Museum Night V&A Waterfront for 2017 will take place at Cape Town's V&A Waterfront on 25 October 2017. The museums at the V&A Waterfront, including the much-anticipated Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), will be open from 17:00 until 22:00. 

Cape Town, South Africa, V&A Waterfront, black and white

Most museum sites will be offering free admission to the public, with a number of other attractions offering half price admission. The museum exhibitions are supported by an exciting programme of artistic performances and walkabouts. More information on the programme will be made available in the lead up to the event. We'll keep you posted! 


South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal released new rhino poaching figures!

update (14 Sept 2017): According to MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Sihle Zikalala, the number of rhinos poached in KwaZulu-Natal  now stands at 172 animals (Jan - Sept 2017).

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlfe* spokesman Musa Mntambo confirmed on 28 August 2017 that poaching gangs have slaughtered (at least) 166 rhinos in KwaZulu-Natal in the first eight months of 2017. Although Ezemvelo KZN Wildlfe does no longer provide a breakdown per protected area, conservation sources assume that the vast majority of rhino killings are taking place in KwaZulu-Natal's flagship Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. KwaZulu-Natal lost 162 rhinos to illegal poaching in 2016‚ 116 animals during 2015 and just 18 in 2008. 

rhino, South Africa, safari

*Ezemvelo KZN Wildlfe is the governmental organisation responsible for maintaining wildlife conservation areas and biodiversity in
KwaZulu-Natal.

28 August 2017

Botswana to build a new international airport near Moremi!

The Government of Botswana is planning to build a brand new airport near Moremi village, located about 40 km east of Palapye in in the country's Central District. The multimillion pula state-of-the-art airport will be designed to the latest international standards with a projected runway of 5 200m, so that it will be able to accomodate ICAO 3C/D standard aircrafts*. The project will also entail the construction of a top class mall, residentials and associated amenities as well as bus and train inter exchange. The envisaged Mophane International Airport is currently at planning stage and the construction is expected to take off between 2019 and 2021.



* ICAO 3C/D standard
aircrafts are unable to land at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) in Gaborone due to limited space

25 August 2017

Namibia: NWR introduces springboks to the Gross Barmen Resort!

Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) has introduced springboks to its Gross Barmen Resort on 19 August 2017. The introduction of the small antilope species is one step towards further introducing other wildlife at the establishment.



Gross Barmen Resort, located around 100 km from Namibia's capital city of Windhoek and 24 km east of Okahandja, has been built around a natural mineral hot spring. The resort includes facilities for spa & wellness, fitness, recreation, and leisure. The main attraction of the resort is the health and hydro/ medical spa centre, featuring thermal springs and providing a full range of treatments, massages, and health activities for relaxation.

24 August 2017

Air Namibia to launch flights to Lagos & Accra!

Namibia's flag carrier, Air Namibia, is set to launch flights to Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) in Lagos, Nigeria, and to Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra, Ghana, on 25 March 2018. The routing for the two new destinations will be Windhoek - Lagos - Accra and the return will be Accra - Lagos - Windhoek. Air Namibia will operate four weekly flights between Windhoek's Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH), Lagos and Accra on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on board an Airbus A319-100 aircraft

23 August 2017

The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series Ep. 10 - Bo-Kaap

Cape Town Tourism has released a new episode of the "The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series" featuring the Bo-Kaap, an area of Cape Town situated on the slopes of Signal Hill above the city centre. The former township is an historical centre of Cape Malay culture in Cape Town and has always been a multicultural area. Previous episodes of the "The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series" include Kalk Bay, Cape Town CBD, Woodstock, Constantia, Somerset West, Langa, Khayelitsha, Durbanville and Blouberg.


"The Love Cape Town Neighbourhood series" was launched by Cape Town Tourism in 2015 to promote and highlight Cape Town's diverse suburbs. The first three episodes were released in September 2015, another three in March 2016, the seventh episode on 15 January 2017, the eigth episode on 07 March 2017, the ninth episode on 04 May 2017 and the tenth episode on 16 August 2017.

Zambia: Shortage of KAZA univisa stickers!

Zambia is currently experiencing a shortage of KAZA univisa stickers. The stickers have run out at the following points of entry into Zambia:
Until this matter has been resolved, no KAZA univisas will be issued at these port of entries. Only the standard Zambian day tripper ($20), single ($50) and double/multiple entry visas ($80) are currently available.

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Zambia

The KAZA univisa (stickers) are valid for 30 days as long as the traveller remains in
Zambia and Zimbabwe and cost $50 per person. The univisa also covers those who wish to visit Botswana for day trips through the Kazungula Border Post.

22 August 2017

South Africa: New increased tariffs at Mpumalanga's Nature Reserves!

The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) has announced that it will increase entry and accommodation fees at its various nature reserves in Mpumalanga from 01 November 2017. These include the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, Manyeleti Nature Reserve, Ohrigstad Nature Reserve, Andover Nature Reserve, Sterkspruit Nature Reserve, Songimvelo Nature Reserve, Nooitgedacht Dam Nature Reserve, Verloren Vallei Nature Reserve, Loskop Nature Reserve, Mabusa Nature Reserve, Mdala Nature Reserve, SS Skosana Nature Reserve and Mkhombo Dam Nature Reserve. All tarifs will be adjusted upwards by a small margin and continue to be charged in South African Rand (ZAR).

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The Mpumalanga Tourism & Parks Agency (MTPA) has the mandate of positioning Mpumalanga as the world class tourism destination through providing an integrated tourism and biodiversity conservation management system in order to stimulate sustainable economic growth in the province.

21 August 2017

Port Elizabeth: The Campanile has been reopened to the public!

One of Port Elizabeth's most visible skyline and audible heritage landmarks, the Campanile in Strand Street, has been reopened to the public after a R20-million facelift. The upgrades and renovations included the installation of an interactive visual-technology array dubbed "Ghost Bells", a new harbour viewing window, a special computerised, purpose-built, electro-mechanical bell ringing system for the tower's 17 ton bell carillon as well as a new reception area that will act as an information desk and several exhibition areas within the Campanile.



The Campanile (Italian for "bell tower") was built in 1920 to mark the centenary of the arrival of the 1820 settlers who came from Britain to help populate the frontier of the Eastern Cape. The 53.5m high tower has a climb of 204 steps that takes one to the Observation Room, offering a magnificent view of the harbor and surroundings. A silver plaque on the 67th step up the Campanile represents the start of the Route 67 - a public art urban meander dedicated to Nelson Mandela.


The Campanile in Port Elizabeth is open for tours to all members of the public and visitors between Monday and Friday from 09:00 to 16:00, Saturdays from 09:00 to 15:00.

Namibia to celebrate the "Namibian Heritage Week" in September 2017!

Namibia is celebrating the "Namibian Heritage Week" from 18 - 24 September 2017 to encourage Namibians to keep culture alive and to pass on inherited traditions and knowledge to our descendants. During that time, the citizens of Namibia will have free access to various heritage sites in the country, including:
rock engravings, Twyfelfontein, Namibia

South Africa: Kruger National Park to implement new ID control access

South African National Parks (SANParks) is currently implementing additional gate access control systems at the entrance gates in the southern part of Kruger National Park. As from 01 September 2017, all visitors who are 18 years old and above must produce a positive identity document for scanning in order to gain access. For non-South African visitors, they must produce passports but a South African driver's licence will also be acceptable. Visitors will still be required to go through their normal check-in or check-out at the gate receptions before proceeding to the security scanning process. 

Wild Dog, Kruger National Park, safari, South Africa

The new system, which applies to everybody including SANParks staff members, suppliers and other residents of
Kruger National Park, will assist with monitoring of people's movement who enter and exit the Park and will ensure that information related to any persons entering the Kruger National Park is centrally recorded and monitored.

Fastjet launches new route between Harare <> Lusaka!

Low cost-carrier fastjet is set to introduce a new route between Harare International Airport (HRE) in Harare, Zimbabwe, and Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) in Lusaka, Zambia, on 13 November 2017. The airline will operate two weekly flights on Mondays and Thursdays (HRE > LUN) and on Tuedays and Saturdays (LUN > HRE). The additional route is the fifth route in Zimbabwe for fastjet as the airline celebrates its second anniversary in the country and fifth brand birthday this year.

10 August 2017

Namibia plans to prosecute people posting trophy hunting photos on social media!

update (11 July 2018): According to the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) "the implementation of the condition on the restriction of the posting of images of trophy animals on social media made by the Minister is for now on hold, until such time that the industry has reverted back with proposed guidelines for ethical marketing practices for the hunting community." [src.]

update (03 July 2018): According to recent media reports Namibia is still planning to punish individuals who post photos with dead wild animals on social media. The country's Ministry of Environment & Tourism is working on having the Nature Conservation Ordinance 4 of 1975 amended, so that posting photos of dead wild animals on social media platforms becomes illegal.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, the official press agency of the People's Republic of China, Namibia will start to prosecute people posting trophy hunting photos on social media once the new Protection Areas and Wildlife Management Bill passes into law. The news agency quotes Namibia's Environment and Tourism Minister Pohamba Shifeta saying at a press conference on 09 August 2017 "that people who kill wildlife, whether with a permit or not, and post photos on social media and boast will face the wrath of the law [...]". We'll keep you posted!

Namibia, Etosha National Park, Gemsbok, Impala, Zebra

09 August 2017

Fastjet temporarily suspended flights between Johannesburg <> Dar es Salaam!

Low cost-carrier Fastjet has temporarily suspended its service between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam. According to tweets on twitter, the airline suspended the route due to operational changes and can't give a specific date as to when the service will resume. Thx Dr. Wolfgang H Thome @whthome!

 

South Africa's most punctual domestic airlines in July 2017!

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has published the on-time performance results of domestic airlines’ flying out of OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town and Durban's King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in July 2017.
On-Time Performance is measured by comparing the actual off-block time (when aircraft pushes back) against the airline schedule time for a departing flight. The measurement is done in accordance with the IATA (International Airlines Transport Association) universal standard benchmark with considers a 15 minute deviation from the scheduled time as an on-time departure.


OR Tambo International Airport (JNB), Johannesburg - 15 Min on Time Performance July 2017 (airport target 87%)
  1. FlySafair - 93.59% (June 97.91%)
  2. CemAir - 90.30% (June 88.86%)
  3. British Airways Domestic - 88.41% (June 90.76%)
  4. Airlink - 86.40% (June 88.58%)
  5. Kulula.com - 85.15% (June 91.79%)
  6. South African Airways - 80.83% (June 90.43%)
  7. Mango - 79.87% (June 88.56%)
  8. SA Express - 54.29% (June 65.51%)
  9. Fly Blue Crane Aviation - --.-- (June --.--%)
Cape Town International Airport (CPT) - 15 Min on Time Performance July 2017 (airport target 90%)
  1. CemAir - 98.11% (June 93.48%)
  2. FlySafair - 93.42% (June 95.87%)
  3. British Airways Domestic - 87.92% (June 89.31%)
  4. Airlink - 87.73% (June 88.13%)
  5. Kulula.com - 81.55% (June 88.34%)
  6. Mango - 80.38% (June 90.00%) 
  7. South African Airways - 80.29% (June 90.44%) 
  8. SA Express - 71.12% (June 82.30% 
  9. Fly Blue Crane Aviation - --.-- (June --.--%)
King Shaka International Airport (DUR), Durban - 15 Min on Time Performance July 2017 (airport target 91%)
  1. FlySafair - 96.27% (June 99.24%) 
  2. Airlink - 93.75% (June 94.12%)
  3. Kulula.com - 87.61% (June 93.26%)
  4. Mango - 87.05% (June 94.26%) 
  5. British Airways Domestic - 86.16% (June 93.00%) 
  6. South African Airways - 84.26% (June 93.23%)
  7. SA Express - 69.40% (June 75.62%)