update (24 September 2019): According to South Africa's Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Barbara Creecy, Kruger National Park lost 190 rhinos in the first six months of this year. [src.]
South Africa's Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Barbara Creecy, announced during her speech at the World Ranger Day commemoration at the Ranger Memorial at the Kruger Gate to the Kruger National Park on 31 July 2019 that in the first six months of 2019, 318 rhinos (2018: 386) have been poached in South Africa. From January 2019 to June 2019, 122 alleged poachers were arrested within the Kruger National Park. Nationally, 253 arrests were effected in the first half of 2019 in respect of both rhino poaching and rhino horn trafficking. A total of 61 firearms were recovered during operations in the the Kruger National Park in this period.
In support of South Africa'sNational Science Week 2019, Iziko Museums of South Africa provides free access to the Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome in Cape Town from 30 July 2019 until 4 August 2019. All free shows during that time are sponsored by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA). Free shows include: Polaris, The Secrets of Gravity, Sky Tonight, Dark Universe, Mayan Archeoastronomy and Dream to Fly. Tickets are available online via quicket or at the door on a first-come-first-serve basis. The Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome is the most advanced digital planetarium on the African continent. It makes virtual voyages of the universe possible, providing an unparalleled experience of animation and 360° cinema. The Planetarium is one of only six fully-fledged planetaria on the African continent. It is located in 25 Queen Victoria Street, Cape Town.
African Parks, in partnership with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), has succesfully translocated a small founder population of four wild cheetahs from South Africa to Majete Wildlife Reserve in the south-western part of Malawi. Cheetahs have not been present in the Wildlife Reserve, which is country's only Big Five reserve, for decades. Donated by Welgevonden Game Reserve, Samara Game Reserve and Dinokeng Game Reserve as well as Rietvlei Nature Reserve in South Africa, the cheetahs were flown to Lilongwe International Airport (LLW) in Lilongwe and transferred by road to Majete Wildlife Reserve where they arrived safely on the evening of 25 July 2019. They were released into enclosures, where they will spend over a month acclimating to their new surroundings before venturing into the wider reserve. The animals are in good health and expected to do well in Majete Wildlife Reserve, where habitat and prey conditions are optimal and measures are in place to ensure their ongoing conservation and protection. Cheetah Return to Majete from African Parks on Vimeo.
African Parks manages Majete Wildlife Reserve and Liwonde National Park in Malawiin partnership with the country's Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW). Majete Wildlife Reserve is located in the Lower Shire Valley in the South West of Malawi, approximately 70km (approx. 90 minutes drive by car) from Blantyre'sChileka International Airport (BLZ) and three hours from Lake Malawi.
update (28 October 2019): CapeNature'sAnysberg Nature Reservein the western Klein Karoowill remain closed until 30 April 2020. This is due to the ongoing drought in the Western Cape
and the severe water shortage at Anysberg. If there is adequate
rainfall before that date, there will be further communication on a
possible earlier opening.
update (02 October 2019):CapeNature'sAnysberg Nature Reservein the western Klein Karoowill remain closed for the rest of the year and will only re-open on 01 January 2019. This is due to the ongoing drought in the Western Cape and the severe water shortage at Anysberg. If there is adequate rainfall before that date, there will be further communication on a possible earlier opening.
Due to the ongoing drought in the Western Cape, there is a severe water shortage at Anysberg in the western Klein Karoo. CapeNature, the public institution with the statutory responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa'sWestern Cape, has closed the Anysberg Nature Reserve, including all accommodation, until 30 September 2019. If there is adequate rainfall before that date, CapeNature might consider to re-open the Nature Reserve earlier. Anysberg Nature Reserve is located between the towns of Ladismith, Laingsburg, Touwsrivier and Montagu in the Klein Karoo. The World Heritage Site encompasses 79 629 hectares of plains and the majestic Cape Fold Mountains. Fed by three rivers, a diversity of life is supported here amid mountain fynbos and the characteristic veld of the Klein Karoo.
In commemoration of South Africa'sNational Women's Day on 09 August 2019, Iziko Museums of South Africa is offering free access to the Iziko South African Museum, South African National Gallery, Bo-Kaap Museum, Iziko Slave Lodge, Iziko Koopmans-de Wet House, Rust en Vreugd and the Maritime Centre. The offering excludes the Planetarium and Digital Dome, the Castle of Good Hope, Groot Constantia and the museums currently closed for repairs, restoration and renovations. National Women's Day is a public holiday in South Africa. Iziko Museums of South Africa operates 11 national museums in Cape Town. The museums house natural history, social history and art collections in magnificent, historic buildings which in themselves are national treasures.
The Government of Mozambique has increased the cost of entry visa with immediate effect. All single-entry visas applied for in foreign travellers' countries of origin will be affected by the fee increases. The cost of a single-entry visa valid for 30 days jumps to US$100 from US$50*, while a visa valid for between 31 days and 60 days now costs US$200*, up from $43. Visas valid for between 61 days and 90 days have been increased from US$60 to US$300*. Visas obtained at Mozambique's border posts (land, sea or air), which allow dual entry within a 30-day period, remain unaffected. Mozambique has signed visa waiver agreements with most Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states whose citizens do not need visas for stays of up to 30 days. *depending on exchange rate!
The City of Windhoek has renamed Arians Street in Windhoek's suburb Klein Windhoek. The street, which connects Nelson Mandela Avenue with Stein Street, has been renamed after Simón Bolívar (Simón Bolívar Street?). Simón Bolívar (1783 - 1830), also known as El Libertador, was a Venezuelan military and political leader who led the secession of what are currently the states of Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Panama from the Spanish Empire. Earlier this week, the City of Windhoek already renamed Burg Street, also in Klein Windhoek, after Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab(Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab Street).
Namibia'sMinister of Environment and Tourism Hon. Pohamba Shifeta has announced at the press conference to announce the country's first 11 declared waste disposal sites that Namibia may ban plastic bags completely by 2022. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism is in consultation with the sector and relevant stakeholders to ensure that by then an alternative to plastic bags may be found especially for plastic producers in the country. The proposed levy on plastic bags is to been seen as temporal measure to mitigate the impact of plastic bag on our environment but ultimately Namibia wishes to ban plastic bags completely in three years.
British Airways, which is operated by Comair in South Africa, will increase domestic flights in South Africa. Effective mid-September 2019, the airline will operate 34 additional flights a week on routes serviced from OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, which includes Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban and Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) in Port Elizabeth as well as between Cape Town and Durban. The flights are available for booking with immediate effect.
CapeNature, the public institution with the statutory responsibility for biodiversity conservation inSouth Africa'sWestern Cape, just announced that due to adverse weather expected over the next few days the Limietberg Nature Reserve, including all hiking trails, has been closed to the public from this afternoon (23 July 2019) until 24 July 2019 and will re-open on 25 July 2019. Limietberg Nature Reserve is located in the Du Toitskloof Mountains near Paarl. The World Heritage Site stretches from Franschhoek in the south, eastwards towards Groot Drakenstein, and northwards as far as Voëlvlei Dam. Limietberg Nature Reserve is known for its beautiful hikes through steep kloofs and deep valleys.
Namibia's flag carrier, Air Namibia, has announced that effective 29 July 2019 its domestic flights to Lüderitz Airport (LUD) in Lüderitz and Oranjemund Airport (OMD) in Oranjemund will be operated from Eros Aiport (ERS) in Windhoek and no longer from Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH). The airline will continue to operate both routes on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Eros Airport (ERS) is located about 5km from Windhoek's central business district and a secundary hub for Air Namibia. Facilities at the airport include services such as car rentals, retail and food and beverages.
Namibia's flag carrier, Air Namibia, has announced that one its Airbus A319 aircraft which was undergoing scheduled maintenance checks will start operating again effective 29 July 2019. This will bring out to three out of four of the airline's Airbus A319s in service. This allows Air Namibia to re-introduce some of its flight frequencies which were withdrawn due to a reduced number of aircraft in the fleet. Effective 29 July 2019, Air Namibia will increase flights between Windhoekand Johannesburg from the current 14 weekly rotions to 21 weekly return flights, as per the normal published schedule. Also effective 29 July 2019, the airline will increase the current seven weekly flights between Windhoekand Cape Town to 14 flights per week, as per normal published schedule. Seven of the return flights will be direct and non-stop while to other seven rotions will go via Walvis Bay. Air Namibia will also re-introduce its twice-daily service between Eros Airport (ERS) in Windhoekand Ondangwa Airport (OND) in Ondangwa as per schedule on 29 July 2019.
The City of Windhoek has renamed Burg Street in Windhoek's suburb Klein Windhoek after Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab (Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab Street) as part of the city's naming/renaming policy to pay tribute to heroes and leaders who selflessly championed the struggle to liberate oppressed people across the world. Theo-Ben Gurirab (23 January 1938 – 14 July 2018) was a Namibian politician who served in various senior government positions, such as Minister of Foreign Affairs (1990 - 2002), Prime Minister (2002 - 2005) and Speaker of the National Assembly (2005 - 2015). Before Namibia's independence, Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab served as Associate Representative of the SWAPO Mission to United Nations and United States (1964 - 1972), Head of the SWAPO Mission to the United Nations (1972 - 1986) and as SWAPO's Secretary for Foreign Affairs (1986 - 1990).
update (12 October 2019): According to TourismUpdate, Air India will resume its service between Mumbaiand Nairobion 19 November 2019.
update (03 September 2019): According to RoutesOnline, Air India will resume its service between Mumbaiand Nairobion 27 November 2019.
Air India, the national carrier of India, is set to resume direct flights between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi, Kenya. Effective 27 September 2019 ("World Tourism Day"), the airline will operate four weekly return flights on board a Boeing B787 Dreamliner to Kenya's capital. Air India used to operate directly between Indiaand Kenyabut later abandoned its operations.
update (30 August 2019): According to the official Overstrand Municipality twitter account, the Stony Point Penguin Colony has re-opened after repairs to the boardwalk.
CapeNature, the public institution with the statutory responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa'sWestern Cape, just announced that the Stony Point Nature Reserve is currently closed until further notice for scheduled maintenance and repairs to the famous boardwalk. The Nature Reserve offers visitors the chance to see African Penguins up close, via the boardwalk through the colony, which allows visitors to observe these flightless birds go about their daily activities in their natural habitat, without disturbing or disrupting them. Stony Point Nature Reserve is located in the coastal town of Betty's Bay in the Overberg about 70 - 90 minutes by car from Cape Town.
update (14 November 2019):Qatar Airways will launch its inaugural flight to Gaborone on 15 December 2019.
The state-owned flag carrier of Qatar, Qatar Airways, is set to launch a new service between Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha and Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) in Gaborone via OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg. Effective 27 October 2019, the airline will operate three weekly return flights on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays on board an Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Gaboronewill be the airline's first destination in the African country.
The shop facility at Nossob Rest Camp in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park will undergo essential maintenance work for the duration of August 2019 to November 2019. As of 05 August 2019, the shop will be relocated to one of the residential units in Nossob Rest Camp. The Rest Camp's reception will provide visitors of the location and directions to get there upon arrival. During the maintenance, only the most essential items will be available for purchase at the shop. The management of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park will try to provide card facilities at the shop. However this can not be guaranteed due to possible disruption of communications. The work that needs to be conducted at the existing shop facility will be conducted between 08:00 and 16:00. Please note that the shops located at Twee Rivieren Rest Camp and Mata Mata Rest Camp will not be affected. Further note that the remaining four units (numbers 11 - 14) at Kalahari Tented Camp in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park will also be renovated and completed between August 2019 and November 2019. Work will also be conducted between 08:00 and 16:00 daily.
update (26 July 2019): The water main has been fixed!
The water supply to the Cape Point area in the Cape of Good Hope section of Table Mountain National Park ist currently limited due to a burst water main within the Cape of Good Hope section. The City of Cape Town is already working on it and will fix it as soon as possible. Cape Point has a backup water supply in place which can accommodate the area for the next two days and therefore appeal to all visitors to use water sparingly during this time. We'll keep you posted!
The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in Cape Town, in partnership with advertising agency M&C Saatchi Africa, has launched the world’s first museum Insta Map. The constantly changing and immersive map on Instagram guides visitors through the galleries of the seven-floored building in Cape Town'sSilo District. In the highlights section of the Instagram page @zeitzmocaa.map, visitors can embark on a 2-hour tour through the Museum, get some insights into the latest exhibit, check out the guide to Zeitz MOCAA's most Instagrammable spots and find out what's available in the store.
Visitors can either scan the QR code at the entrance of the Zeitz MOCAA or just go to the Instagram page @zeitzmocaa.map directly on their phones.
South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced the dates of the South African National Parks Week 2019. The 14th edition of the annual event will take place from 08 - 15 September 2019. Following the request from South Africans who don't have time to visit national parks during the week, SANParks has decided to extent this year's South African National Parks Week to include weekends.
The South African National Parks Week gives South African (!) day visitors free access to most of the 21 national parks in South Africa, with special emphasis on ensuring that people from local communities close to parks get to know and experience a national park. Like in the previous years, only the Namaqua National Park (annual natural flower show will be in full bloom in September) and the Boulders Penguin Colony area in the Table Mountain National Park will be excluded from the South African National Parks Week 2019. The free access does not include accommodation facilities and other tourist activities (including the Table Mountain Cableway).
update (12 July 2019):South Africa is currently in talks with the seven countries regarding the implementation date for visa-free access to South Africa as well as reciprocity. According to BusinessTech, talks are expected to be concluded by September 2019. We'll keep you posted!
South Africa'sMinister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, has announced on the occation of the Home Affairs Budget Vote 2019 that South Africa has scrapped visa requirements for seven countries, including New Zealand. According to the Minister, the Deparment of Home Affairs (DHA) will with immediate effect enter into discussions with these seven countries about how a visa-free regime will work. The following countries will be able to enter South Africa, visa-free:
update (11 July 2019): According to the Facebook page of Fastjet (Zimbabwe), the airline's new service between Victoria Falls and Johannesburgwill be operated until 15 September 2019.
Low cost carrier Fastjet (Zimbabwe) resumes its service between Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) in Victoria Falls and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg. According to the airline's Facebook page and Twitter account, Fastjet (Zimbabwe) now operates three weekly return flights on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays from Victoria Fallsto Johannesburg. The airline announced in January 2019, that its service between the two destination is no longer a year-round service, but a seasonal programme and that the schedule will be geared for customer demands during the popular Holiday seasons - Easter, Christmas and the months of August and September.
Cape Town Tourism has released a new image video about Cape Town. The 90-second video gives us viewers a full dose of everything the Mother City has to offer and lets us dive into Cape Town'svery unique world of experiences. Switch the videos to full screen, put your headphones on, sit back and enjoy the beauty of Cape Town. Kudos Cape Town Tourism!
update (12 August 2019): Karoo National Park is still unable to offer guided hikes.
Due to a number of unforeseen circumstances, Karoo National Park is currently unable to offer guided hikes. All other activities, such as guided game drives, are still available as usual, though. We'll keep you posted! Hikes through Karoo National Park are led by a qualified guides who introduce participants to the fascinating Karoo ecosystems. They depart from the National Park's reception at 06:00 during summer and 07:00 during winter. Guided hikes cost R233 per person and are to be booked at the Karoo National Park's reception before 19:00 the day prior to the intended hike, to ensure the availability of a guide.
update (11 July 2019): According to the Kruger National Park's twitter account, Paul Kruger Gate is accessible again.
update (10 July 2019): According to the local newspaper "Lowvelder", the R536 road is clear and open but visitors planning to enter or exit Kruger National Park through Paul Kruger Gate are still advised to use alternate routes.
South African National Parks (SANParks) advises visitors that Kruger National Park'sPaul Kruger Gate is currently inaccessible due to protests (10 July 2019). The protests are taking place at Cork Trust, on the R536 road, leading to Paul Kruger Gate. Travellers entering and exiting the Kruger National Park should please make use of alternative gates such as Phabeni Gate and Numbi Gate, until further notice. We'll keep you posted!
update (24 July 2019): According to Namibia's "Allgemeine Zeitung", two poached rhinos have been discovered in Etosha National Park. This brings the number of illegally killed rhinos to 23 in 2019, while a total of eight elephants have been poached since January 2019.
According to the latest poaching statistics by Namibia'sMinistry of Environment and Tourism (MET), the country has lost 19 rhinos and 7 elephants to illegal poaching since the beginning of 2019. In May 2019, the MET recorded 18 incidents in which eight animals were killed. Most poaching incidents took place on private and custodian farms. Six poaching incidents were recorded in Etosha National Park and Waterberg Plateau Park. In 2018, a total of 57 rhinos and 26 elephants were poached in Namibiawhile a total of 120 suspected poachers were arrested.
South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that the the Pioneer Dam hide, located about 4km outside the Mopani Rest Camp in Kruger National Park, will temporarily be closed from 11 July 2019 to 12 July 2019 due to renovations. Visitors to the National Park are advised to utilise the Shipandani sleep-over bird hide, located about 3km outsie Mopani Rest Camp, for the duration of the closure.
update (11 July 2019):Proflight Zambia will operate flights between Ndolaand Johannesburgon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on board a 50-seat Bombardier CRJ jet aircraft. Flights will depart Ndolaat 08:05 and arrive in Johannesburgat 10:35. The return flight will depart Johannesburgat 11:40 and arrive in Ndolaat 14:10. The new route is expected to beginn on 02 September 2019.
Zambian airline Proflight Zambia has plans to temporarily introduce a new service to South Africa. The airline will operate three weekly flights between Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport (NLA) in Ndola and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburgbetween 02 September 2019 and 03 January 2019. Proflight Zambia currently operates one direct service to South Africa - a three weekly service between Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) in Lusaka and King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban.
