30 June 2014

Kruger National Park Calendar - August

Weather:
  • cool mornings and cold evenings
  • temperatures & humidity rise during the day
Temperatures:


Landscape:
  • bush extremely dry
  • landscape a yellow hue through flowering knobthorn, cassias and other
  • veld often overgrassed, especialy around watering holes etc.
Animal Activity:
  • game congrates around watering holes, rivers etc.
  • elephant numbers at their highest in northern Kruger
  • earliest summer migrant birds arrive
  • local raptors breeding
  • weakest animals die of thirst or from predators

South Africa: 496 rhinos killed by poachers so far in 2014

According to the latest statistics released by the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa has lost 496 rhinos to illegal poaching since the beginning of 2014. Of the rhinos poached, 321 rhinos were killed in the Kruger National Park, 51 in Limpopo, 47 in KwaZulu Natal, 35 in the North West, 24 in Mpumalanga, 10 in the Eastern Cape, 4 in the Free State, 3 in Gauteng and 1 in the Western Cape.
A total of 141 people have been arrested for rhino poaching-related offences in South Africa since January this year.

Latest rhino poaching figures (as of 30 June 2014):
  • Kruger National Park (SANParks) - 321 rhinos poached
  • Marakele National Park (SANParks) - 0 rhino poached
  • Gauteng -  3 rhino poached
  • Limpopo - 51 rhino poached
  • Mpumalanga - 24 rhino poached
  • North-West Province - 35 rhino poached
  • Eastern Cape - 10 rhino poached
  • Free State - 4 rhino poached
  • KwaZulu Natal - 47 rhinos poached
  • Western Cape - 1 rhino poached
  • Northern Cape - 0 rhino poached

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) is urging members of the public to report incidents of rhino poaching or any tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.

Kenya Airways set to launch direct flights to Tel Aviv (Israel)

Kenya's flag carrier, Kenya Airways, announced plans to launch direct flights between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi and Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv, Israel. The announcement follows successful bilateral trade relation talks between the Kenyan government and a Israeli business and government delegation, which recently visited Kenya. The date when the flights will be introduced has not yet been disclosed.

27 June 2014

Emirates to introduce fourth daily flight to Johannesburg

The largest airline in the Middle East, Dubai-based Emirates, introduces a fourth daily flight between Dubai International Airport (DXB) in Dubai and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 Oct 2014. All four daily flights are served by 3-class Boeing 777-300ER aircrafts.
The addition boosts Emirates' total number of scheduled flights between the two countries to 49 a week, re-affirming its position as one of the largest flight operators into South Africa. In addition to Johannesburg, Emirates also services the popular cities of Cape Town and Durban.

26 June 2014

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport: Terminal facilities to get new names

Kenya Airport Authority (KAA) will rename the terminal facilities at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi to enhance customer experience and facilitation. As of 30 June 2014 the new signage will be erected.

Current Name > New Name
Terminal 4 > Terminal 1A (international departures/arrivals)
Unit 1 > Terminal 1B (international departures)
Unit 2 > Terminal 1C (international departures)
Unit 3 > Terminal 1D (domestic flights)
Temporary Arrivals Terminal > Terminal 1E (international arrivals)
Interim Terminal (under construction)  > Terminal 2
Green Field Terminal (under construction)  > Terminal 3

25 June 2014

Fastjet to launch flights Dar es Salaam <> Harare

Tanzania-based low-cost airline, Fastjet, is set to launch flights between Dar es Salaam (DAR) and Harare (HRE) in Zimbabwe in August 2014 (05 Aug 2014?). The airline will offer two weekly fligths between the two destinations on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Tickets are already on sale! Fastjet plans to increase the number of fligths in case customer demand dictates.

Flight times:
Dar es Salaam 19:25 > 20:55 Harare
Harare 21:35 > 01:00 Dar es Salaam

24 June 2014

Kruger National Park: Gate quotas in force during coming school holidays

South African National Parks (SANParks)  will stictly enforce gate quotas in Kruger National Park during the coming school holidays (28 June - 20 July 2014). Visitors are therefore advised to either arrive at the gate very early in the morning because the service is on "first come first served" basis or pre-book their entrance with SANParks' central reservations office in order to ensure that they gain access to the park in terms of their own plan and are not sent back at the gate. Day visitors who pre-book their visit are expected to pay a non-refundable deposit of R32 per adult and R16 per child to secure the space so that they can be counted in the number that makes a daily quota at that particular gate.


In case the the gate quota has been reached, day visitors who did not pre-book with SANParks have the option to make use of the park and ride scheme available at Numbi Gate, Phabeni Gate and Paul Kruger Gate. The duration of such drives is 4 hours. The morning drives start at 07:00 and end at 11:00, while the afternoon drives start at 14:00 and end at 18:00 from each gate.
Kruger National Park has ten entrance gates: Pafuri Gate, Punda Maria Gate, Phalaborwa Gate, Giriyondo Gate, Orpen Gate, Paul Kruger Gate, Phabeni Gate, Numbi Gate, Malelane Gate and Crocodile Bridge Gate.

20 June 2014

Botswana: Okavango Delta named 1,000th UNESCO World Heritage Site

update (23 June 2014): The Okavango Delta in Botswana became the 1000th site inscribed on the World Heritage List. It was inscribed as a natural site by the World Heritage Committee [more]

The 38th Session of the World Heritage Committee (15-25 June 2014 in Doha, Qatar) has agreed to inscribe the Okavango Delta on the list of World Heritage Sites. The Okavango Delta is Botswana's second World Heritage Site; the country's first World Heritage Site is Tsodilo Hills which was inscribed in 2001. In his acceptance speech following the announcement Botswana's Minister of Environement, Wildlife and Tourism, the Tshedkedi Khama, assured the committee that Botswana will continue to work with relevant stakeholders, most importantly the communities living in and around the Okavango Delta, and the riparian States of Angola and Namibia to maintain the integrity of the Okavango Delta. We'll update the post as soon as more details are available!

Tanzania: Selous Game Reserve now on List of World Heritage in Danger

One of the largest protected areas in Africa and one of the largest faunal reserves of the world, the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania, is now inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger by the World Heritage Committee (38th session of the World Heritage Committee, 15-25 June 2014 in Doha, Qatar) due to widespread poaching which is decimating wildlife populations on the property. Selous Game Reserve is renowned for its populations of elephant, black rhinoceros, cheetah, giraffe, hippopotamus and crocodile, amongst many other species. The reserve is located in the south of Tanzania and covers a total area of 54,600 km².
The List of World Heritage in Danger is designed to inform the international community of conditions which threaten the very characteristics for which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List, and to encourage corrective action. 

18 June 2014

FlyAfrica.com set to launch flights Victoria Falls <> Johannesburg in July 2014

update (04 August 2014): FlyAfrica.com launched scheduled operations between Victoria Falls International Airport in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on 01 Aug 2014!

update (30 July 2014): According to FlyAfrica.com's website the airline is still grounded...

update (23 July 2014): Late last night (22 July 2014), FlyAfrica.com received notification from the CAA of Zimbabwe that their South African pilots' validation to fly in Zimbabwe had been revoked. Due to this the airline was unable to launch its first scheduled flight.  All passengers booked for today (23 July 2014) have been accommodated on another flight and will still be flown into Zimbabwe today. In addition, all passengers will be given a credit to fly free on another flight in the future. [src]

FlyAfrica.com, a new low cost carrier with plans to operate scheduled regional flights in Africa from various hubs, is set to launch flights between Victoria Falls International Airport in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on 23 July 2014 (16 July 2014?). The initial oneway fare is R99 (excluding airport and government taxes of R570). The airline will service the route three times a week every Wednesday, Friday & Sunday. According to FlyAfrica.com's facebook page, the airline has five Boeing 737's and offers tablets to rent onboard; food and beverages will also be available for pre-purchase or purchase onboard. FlyAfrica.com plans to expand operations and will reveal new destinations in coming weeks. We will keep you posted!

17 June 2014

Tanzania: Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani & Ruins of Songo Mnara removed from List of World Heritage in Danger

The Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara in Tanzania have been removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger by the World Heritage Committee (38th session of the World Heritage Committee, 15-25 June 2014 in Doha, Qatar) due to an improved management and safeguarding. The site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2004, because of deterioration and decay leading to the collapse of the historical and archaeological structures for which the property was inscribed.
The Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara are located  on two islands close to each other just off the Tanzanian coast about 300km south of Dar es Salaam.


The List of World Heritage in Danger is designed to inform the international community of conditions which threaten the very characteristics for which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List, and to encourage corrective action.

16 June 2014

Ethiopian Airlines to launch flights to Madrid (Spain)

Great news for all Spaniards planning to travel in Africa. Ethiopia's flag carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, launches three weekly services between Addis Ababa and Madrid, Spain, via Rome in Italy on 02 September 2014. Spain's capital will bring the number of the airline's international destinations across five continents to 83. Passengers to and from Madrid will enjoy convenient connections to Ethiopian Airlines' destinations in Africa such as Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam (all Tanzania), Nairobi (Kenya), Entebbe (Uganda), Lusaka (Zambia), Luanda (Angola) and Johannesburg (South Africa).
Ethiopian Airlines is a global Pan-African carrier currently serving 82 international destinations across 5 continents with over 200 daily flights.

13 June 2014

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA): Free App to navigate airports

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has released its first free airport application for smartphones and tablets. The app assists passengers to navigate any of ACSA's nine airports in South Africa, including OR Tambo Interantional Airport in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport in Cape Town and King Shaka International Airport in Durban. The app, which is available for download on Android, Apple iOS and Blackberry devices (except for the Q and Z series), is called "Airports Company South Africa" and provides the user with tools to find shops and restaurants, airline, travel and traffic information, weather reports and customer care details.


  • Flights: Search for flights can be done via a flight number or an advanced search option as well as checking in online. Once the flight is activated, any changes related to the flight will be visible to the passenger on their mobile device.
  • Shop and Dine: A selection of restaurants and shops to choose from can be searched either by category, terminal or name. A currency calculator is also available.
  • At the Airport: A list of the airlines that operate at the respective airports, as well as their contact numbers are provided. There is also a list of frequently asked information and contact details of the Customer Care department as well as the airport. Users will have access to a map of the airport developed in conjunction with TomTom and Micello Indoor Maps. This allows the passenger to search for, and be routed to, a location at the airport. Parking options and other information such as a parking cost calculator are also available. Weather updates of conditions at the airport are sent through on an hourly basis.
  • To and From the Airport: Traffic updates mean travellers can plan their trip to the airport more effectively. Also, there are listings and contact details of the car rental companies, Gautrain, taxis, and shuttle services.

11 June 2014

Travelling with children to South Africa: unabridged birth certificate required!

update (16 Sept 2014): Eyewitness News just tweeted that the requirement for unabridged certificates has been delayed until 01 june 2015! We'll keep you posted!



update (07 July 2014): South Africa's flag carrier, South African Airways (SAA), has announced that it comply with new regulations relating to children who travel to and from South Africa. The national carrier said as of 01 October 2014, it will observe the new regulations by the Department of Home Affairs, which come into effect in terms of the South African Immigration Amendment Act of 2010. As from 01 October 2014, the airline will not be able to check in all travellers who cannot produce the necessary documentation in terms of this Act.

According to a new amendment to the Immigration Act regulation 6, which was published in the Government Gazette No 37679 (22 May 2014), parents travelling to South Africa with children under the age of 18 are soon required to be in possession of a fully unabridged birth certificate (including the details of the child's father as well as the mother), in addition to a valid passport. When children are travelling with guardians, these adults are required to produce affidavits from parents proving permission for the children to travel. The new regulation will come in effect on 01 October 2014. The regulations are aimed at fighting child trafficking. We'll keep you posted!

(12)(a) Where parents are travelling with a child, such parents must produce an unabridged birth certificate of the child reflecting the particulars of the parents of the child.
(b) In the case of one parent travelling with a child, he or she must produce an unabridged birth certificate and-
(i) consent in the form of an affidavit from the other parent registered as a parent on the birth certificate of the child authorising him or her to enter into or depart from the Republic with the child he or she is travelling with;
(ii) a court order granting full parental responsibilities and rights or legal guardianship in respect of the child, if he or she is the parent or legal guardian of the child; or
(iii) where applicable, a death certificate of the other parent registered as a parent of the child on the birth certificate;
Provided that the Director-General may, where the parents of the child are both deceased and the child is travelling with a relative or another person related to him or her or his or her parents, approve such a person to enter into or depart from the Republic with such a child.
(c) Where a person is travelling with a child who is not his or her biological child, he or she must produce-
(i) a copy of the unabridged birth certificate of the child;
(ii) an affidavit from the parents or legal guardian of the child confirming that he or she has permission to travel with the child;
(iii) copies of the identity documents or passports of the parents or legal guardian of the child; and
(iv) the contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child, Provided that the Director-General may, where the parents of the child are both deceased and the child is travelling with a relative or another person related to him or her or his or her parents, approve such a person to enter into or depart from the Republic with such a child. (via Regulation Gazette No. 10199, p 13/14 (pdf))

10 June 2014

South Africa: 442 rhinos killed by poachers so far in 2014

According to the latest statistics released by the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa has lost 442 rhinos to illegal poaching since the beginning of 2014. Of the rhinos poached, 293 rhinos were killed in the Kruger National Park, 48 in Limpopo, 41 in KwaZulu Natal, 28 in the North West, 14 in Mpumalanga, 10 in the Eastern Cape, 4 in the Free State, 3 in Gauteng and 1 in the Western Cape.
A total of 123 people have been arrested for rhino poaching-related offences in South Africa since January this year.

Latest rhino poaching figures (as of 06 June 2014)
  • Kruger National Park (SANParks) - 293 rhinos poached
  • Marakele National Park (SANParks) - 0 rhino poached
  • Gauteng -  3 rhino poached
  • Limpopo - 48 rhino poached
  • Mpumalanga - 14 rhino poached
  • North-West Province - 28 rhino poached
  • Eastern Cape - 10 rhino poached
  • Free State - 4 rhino poached
  • KwaZulu Natal - 41 rhinos poached
  • Western Cape - 1 rhino poached
  • Northern Cape - 0 rhino poached

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) is urging members of the public to report incidents of rhino poaching or any tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.

06 June 2014

South African Airways releases new promo video

update (21 Aug 2014): South African Airways (SAA) has released a new brand ad on youtube. Enjoy "Meet the airline on the rise!"!

Just a few days after South African Tourism relased its current image film "Reconsider South Africa", South Africa's flag carrier, South African Airways (SAA), released its brandnew promotional video named "Meet Africa's favorite airline". How do you like it?



05 June 2014

Airlink to launch flights between Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and Vilanculos

South African airline Airlink is set to launch scheduled flights between Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (IATA: MQP), located north east of Nelspruit, and Vilankulo Airport (IATA: VNX) in Vilanculos in Mozambique's Inhambane Province on 19 June 2014. The flights between the two destinations, which will be operated twice weekly (Thursday and Sunday) on one of Airlink's 12 Embraer ERJ135 regional jets, will depart Nelspruit at 11:35 and will arrive in Vilanculos at 12:50. The return flight will depart Vilanculos at 13:45 and arrive in Nelspruit at 15:30.

04 June 2014

Kenya: Tourism recovery plan implemented to boost tourism

The goverment of Kenya has implemented a tourism recovery plan aimed at stimulating the struggling tourism sector in the country. As part of the initiative, the government reduced entrance fees for several National Parks (premium parks only?) in Kenya from US$90 to US$80. To encourage flights to Mombasa and Malindi, Kenya's government has reduced the airport taxes/landing fees by 40% for the Moi International Airport (IATA: MBA) in Mombasa and by 10% for the Malindi Airport (IATA: MYD) in Malindi. The goverment also allocated special funds to adapt the landing strips of the Malindi Airport to fit international standards, so that larger capacity aircrafts are allowed to land in Malindi. With effect from 29 May 2014, flight tickets sold by tourism professionals will also be exempt from the VAT.

03 June 2014

South Africa's most punctual domestic airlines in May 2014

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has published the on-time performance results of domestic airlines’ flying out of OR Tambo in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport, and Durban's King Shaka International Airport in May 2014.
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, Johannesburg - 15 Min on Time Performance May  2014 (airport target 85%)
  1. Mango - 93.45% (April 88.96%)
  2. Airlink - 92.01% (April 92.19%)
  3. South African Airways 91.35% (April 91.73%)
  4. British Airways Domestic89.95% (April 86.69%)
  5. Kulula.com - 82.94% (April 84.07%)
  6. SA Express - 80.94% (April 81.45%)
Cape Town International Airport - 15 Min on Time Performance May 2014 (airport target 87%)
  1. Airlink - 98.18% (April 95.99%)
  2. Mango - 93.43% (April 92.30%) 
  3. SA Express - 92.83% (April 92.39%)
  4. South African Airways 91.75% (April 92.55%)
  5. British Airways Domestic89.04% (April 91.90%)
  6. Kulula.com - 86.04% (April 83.93%)
King Shaka International Airport, Durban - 15 Min on Time Performance May 2014 (airport target 89%)
  1. SA Express - 94.59% (April 89.98%)
  2. Mango - 94.36% (April 92.67%)  
  3. South African Airways - 93.20% (April 94.98%)
  4. Airlink - 91.24% (April 84.19%)
  5. Kulula.com - 88.29% (April 85.06%)
  6. British Airways Domestic - 87.87% (April 86.53%)