Namibia introduces a four stage-strategy to exit the coronavirus lockdown! [update]

update (22 June 2020): Namibia has added an additional stage five, estimated from 18 September 2020, to address exclusively the opening of Points of Entry and the resumption of Air Travel.  

Namibia's President Dr. Hage G. Geingob has announced a four-stage strategy for Namibia to exit its coronavirus lockdown at a presidential media briefing on 30 April 2020. As of now Namibia is in stage one (lockdown), which will end at midnight on 04 May 2020. Stage two, which will beginn on 05 May 2020, is the first post-lockdown stage. During this stage, which will last until midnight on 01 June 2020, Namibia will be gradually opening unter strict precautions. Stage three (02 June 2020 - 29 June 2020) will see more moderate precautions. The final stage four will introduce a "new normal" and will last from 30 June 2020 until the end of the State of Emergency (mid-September 2020). The actual duration of each stage may be reduced or extended subject to monitoring reports and a change in situation in Namibia. Each  stage  of  restriction  will  have  an  average  observance  period  of  two incubation periods, which is 28 days.

Namibia's four-stage strategy to exit the coronavirus lockdown (travel and tourism related aspects only):

• Stage 1 (until midnight 04 May 2020) - lockdown
• Stage 2 (05 May 2020 - midnight 01 June 2020) - Face masks will be required in public spaces; domestic travel will be permitted again without restrictions; borders will remain closed for non-Namibians; returning Namibians will be permitted to re-enter the country subject to screening at points of entry and supervised quarantine for 14 days; shopping malls, retail outlets, restaurants (takeaway only), laundromats, hairdressers etc. will be allowed to re-open subjet to specified conditions; Kapana traders may only operate for takeaway and private consumption; buying and selling of alcohol will remain prohibited; theaters, cinemas, night clubs, liquor outlets, bars, shebeens will remain closed; sporting events, entertainment events and concerts will remain prohibited
• Stage 3 (02 June 2020 - 29 June 2020) - Closure of all points of entry; Comprehensive restrictions on cross border movement of persons will remain in force. Exemption: essential goods transportation; Restaurants & Kapana: on-site comsumption of food allowed. Alcohol allowed for takeaway and private comsumption. [updated, 06 May 2020]
• Stage 4 (30 June 2020 - end of State of Emergency/mid-September 2020) - Gradual re-opening of borders to selected countries based on regulary updated information; Resumption of normal flight schedules. Air travel allowed subject to screening and quarantine protocol; on site consumption of alcohol at shebeens, bars, restaurants permitted. [updated, 06 May 2020]

Kruger National Park Calendar - June!

Weather:

• days usually warm, sometimes hot
• generally wind free
• cold evenings
• rarely rain falls
  

Temperatures:

• between 9°C - 26°C (Fahrenheit: e.g. 28°C = [(28x9)]/5 + 32 = 82.4°F)
• visit our webcam page for live footage from Kruger National Park!

Landscape:

• most pans and vleis dry up
• bush thins out
• grasslands begin receding
• umbrella acacia pods twirl out

Animal Activity:

• large elephant populations in northern Kruger
• animals concentrate around reliable water sources
• predators very active around reliable water sources

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Coronavirus pandemic: Proflight Zambia has adjusted plans to resume operations!

Zambian carrier Proflight Zambia has adjusted its plans to resume operations. The airline will only resume flights with a limited schedule on the Lusaka <> Ndola route from 06 May 2020 and hopes to resume other routes in the coming weeks. Flights to Johannesburg will resume as soon as regulations in South Africa allow international scheduled flights. For now the schedule remains as is for 01 June 2020 onwards. Frequency reductions and potential continued suspension of certain routes are likely to occur. All Proflight Zambia flights will be subject to a minimum number of ticketed passengers by a certain time on the day before flight date. Should the minimum passenger number not be reached, the flight will be canceled and all ticketed passengers rebooked to the next operating flight.

Passengers holding an unused ticket for travel dates between 17 March 2020 - 31 August 2020 will be able to use the full value of the same ticket to travel within 18 months of the original flight date and all change fees or reroute fees will be waivered.

The following flights in May and June 2020 have been canceled:

• Lusaka <> Durban 01 May 2020 - 30 June 2020
• Ndola <> Johannesburg 01 May 2020 - 31 May 2020
• Lusaka <> Solwezi 01 May 2020 - 31 May 2020
• Ndola <> Solwezi 01 May 2020 - 31 May 2020
• Lusaka <> Livingstone 01 May 2020 - 31 May 2020
• Lusaka <> Mfuwe 01 May 2020 - 21 May 2020
• Lusaka <> Ndola 01 May 2020 - 05 May 2020
• Lusaka <> Ndola 06 May 2020 - 31 May 2020 (all flights except for Wednesday/Friday morning/evening)
  

Flight tickets for travel dates from the 17 March 2020 onwards will remain valid in Proflight Zambia's system for a period of 18 months from the original flight date and can be rebooked accordingly. Passengers can cancel without rebooking in case new travel dates are not known. The airline's revised ticket validity gives passengers 18 months to rebook from the original ticketed departure date, so if the original departure date was 01 June 2020, the ticket can be rebooked for a flight on or before 30 November 2021.

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Zambia: The re-launch date of Zambia Airways has been delayed again due to the coronavirus pandemic!

The much-delayed re-launch of Zambia Airways, the flag carrier of Zambia, has been delayed again due to the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the global aviation industry. According to the country's Minister of Transport and Communications, Mutotwe Kafwaya, "it will not be ideal to launch Zambian Airways now when the aviation industry is paralyzed" [src.].
Zambia Airways, a joint venture between Zambia's state-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC; 55%) and Ethiopian Airlines (45%), was initially set to be re-established in October 2018. In August 2018, the re-launch date got postponed to January 2019. In early 2019, the re-launch date was again postponed to April 2019. In July 2019, the Zambia Tourism Agency announced that Zambia Airways is scheduled to start operating in the last quarter of 2019. We'll keep you posted!

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Namibia: New rhino and elephant poaching figures!

According to Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MET), the country has lost eleven rhinos and one elephant to poaching since the beginning of 2020. The poaching took place in Etosha National Park as welll as inside private owned farms.
A total of 45 rhinos and 12 elephants got illegally killed by poachers in Namibia in 2019, compared to 57 rhinos and 26 elephants that lost their lives to poaching activities during 2018. Namibia has the second largest population of white rhinos in the world after South Africa and, according to Save the Rhino, it holds one-third of the world’s remaining black rhinos.

South Africa to phase out coronavius lockdown: Airlines have adjusted plans to resume operations! [update]

update (11 May 2020): South Africa's state-owned flag carrier, South African Airways (SAA), which has been fighting for its survival since entering a form of bankruptcy protection in December 2019, has announced that it will continue to operate repatriation and cargo flights during the month of May 2020 and beyond. [more]

update (07 May 2020): All flights, "repatriation or otherwise", operated by South African Airways (SAA) will stop on 08 May 2020. According to South Africa's Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, announced that "SAA, as it exists, will not exist into the future, partly for the reasons that it was not competitive and unviable, but also because of the whole environment – both within aviation and the economy more generally – has changed very significantly. […] Nobody can quite anticipate what air travel is going to be like even two months down the line".

update (05 May 2020): Comair enters business rescue! [more]

South Africa's Government will implement a gradual and phased recovery of economic activity from 01 May 2020 with the alert level be eased from highest level 5 to level 4. The Government has indicated that this risk-adjusted approach to the coronavirus is expected to last at least 6 - 8 months until the alert level will reach level 1. Limited domestic air travel will be permitted only from alert level 3 in special circumstances, while unristricted interprovincial travel is only permitted from lockdown level 2. 

via www.stateofthenation.gov.za/

South Africa's airlines have therefore again adjusted their planes to resume operations.  The country's flag carrier, South African Airways, as well as its subsidary Mango, have provisionally suspended all flights until 31 May 2020 and anticipate to resume services from 01 June 2020. FlySafair will suspend all scheduled operations until the travel restrictions are lifted. Comair, which operates scheduled services on domestic routes in South Africa as a British Airways franchisee and also operates as a low-cost carrier under its own kulula.com brand, has announced that flights will remain suspended for the duration of the lockdown in South Africa. Regional carrier will inform the public regarding the date or service resumption once the lockdown in South Africa has been phased out. CemAir, which will operate several repatriation flights in early May 2020, has not made any further plans public. We'll keep you posted!

South Africa: SA Express has been placed under provisional liquidation! [update]

update (10 June 2020): According to Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Alf Lees, the liquidators have been granted the three-month extension by the Johannesburg High Court this morning.

update (10 June 2020): The liquidators of South African state-owned regional airline SA Express want the Johannesburg High Court to delay the final closure of the airline by three months, so that there is more time to investigate its affairs and work on a potential rescue plan. The request has been supported by some SA Express creditors and trade unions representing the airline's workers including the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the South African Cabin Crew Association (Sacca).
 
update (29 April 2020): The final decision on the future of state-owned airline SA Express is to be made in June 2020.

South African state-owned regional airline SA Express has been placed under provisional liquidation by the Johannesburg High Court on 28 April 2020. The airline is the first state-owned entity to do so after the failure of its business rescue process. The appointed business rescue practitioners of SA Express, Phahlani Mkhombo and Daniel Terblanche, filed an urgent court application to the Johannesburg High Court on 25 March 2020 to provisionally liquidate the airline after the South African Government denied post-commencement funding. This comes after SA Express was placed under business rescue, a form of bankruptcy protection, in February 2020 and the suspension of operations due to the coronavirus pandemic on 18 March 2020. We'll keep you posted!

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SA Wealth Report 2020: South Africa's most expensive streets and suburbs!

According to the "SA Wealth Report 2020" by South African wealth research group New World Wealth (NWW), Johannesburg (total wealth* held in the city: US$243 billion), Cape Town (US$131 billion), Durban and Umhlanga (US$ 56 billion) as well as Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch (one of the fastest growing areas in South Africa for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs)) are the four wealthiest cities in South Africa. While Johannesburg holds the top position in terms of total wealth*, Cape Town takes the lead in the property market (measured in US$/m²). South Africa's top five most expensive streets and suburbs are all located in the Mother City.

South Africa's most expensive streets:

1. Victoria Road, Clifton and Bantry Bay, Cape Town - US$5700/m² (R80000/m²)
2. The Ridge & Cliff Road, Clifton, Cape Town - US$ 5600/m² (R78000/m²)
3. Nettelton Road, Clifton, Cape Town - US$5400/m² (R76000/m²)
4. Clifton Road, Clifton, Cape Town - US$5400/m² (R75000/m²)
5. V&A Marina, Dock Road, City Bowl, Cape Town - US$5100/m² (R72000/m²)
6. Lagoon Drive, Umhlanga - US$2900/m² (R40000/m²)
7. Beachyhead Drive, Plettenberg Bay - US$2600/m² (R37000/m²)

South Africa's most expensive suburbs:

1. Clifton - US$5100/m² (R72000/m²)
2. Bantry Bay - US$4800/m² (R67000/m²)
3. Fresnaye - US$3900/m² (R54000/m²)
4. Camps Bay & Bakoven - US$3500/m² (R49000/m²)
5. Llandudno - US$3300/m² (R46000/m²)

Note: Figures for December 2019. Exchange rate: R14.00/US$.

As part of the research for the "SA Wealth Report 2020", NWW also took a look at the top holiday hotspots for the wealthy in South Africa. According to the findings, Cape Town, Umhlanga and La Lucia, Ballito, Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, George and Oubaai, Hermanus, Wilderness, St Francis Bay and Natures Valley are the top holiday spots for South Africa's high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs). 

*The term "total wealth" refers to the private wealth held by all the individuals living in each city.

Coronavirus pandemic: Botswana extends nationwide lockdown before easing restrictions!

The Government of Botswana has extended the national lockdown period to curb the spread of the coronavirus by one week starting from 01 May 2020 to 07 May 2020. The extended lockdown period is followed by further two weeks during which the lockdown will be sequentially eased (08 May 2020 to 22 May 2020). The extension of the current twenty eight (28) day lockdown will be implemented in the following phases:
Phase 1: Extension of the current lockdown period conditions by one week (01 May 2020 - 07 May 2020). During this period, the Government of Botswana will also develop and finalize regulations for a phased lifting of lockdown rules in low risk sectors.
Phase 2: Starting from 08 May 2020 to 14 May 2020, the Government of Botswana will lift in a phased manner, some lockdown rules while at the same time introducing additional plans for further lifting of the remaining lockdown rules.
Phase 3: From 15 May 2020 to 22 May 2020, which will be the final week of the lockdown extension, the Government of Botswana will be lifting the remaining rules from the original lockdown rules implemented on 31 March 2020.
As of 28 April 2020, Botswana has recorded 22 cases of COVID-19, including one death, and has tested 6,210 of its 2.2 million inhabitants.

Cape Town launches new tourism campaign: "We Are Worth Waiting For!" [update]

update (04 June 2020): Cape Town Tourism has released a couple of more "We are worth waiting for" campaign videos. We'll update the playlist below accordingly.

Cape Town Tourism, the official destination marketing organisation for the City of Cape Town, has a launched a new campaign with the theme "We Are Worth Waiting For!" to maintain the long-distance relationship between Cape Town and its visitors during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Through the campaign, Cape Town Tourism encourages potential visitors to love the city from a distance until such time has come to visit the Mother City. The campaign's video is showcasing (almost!) everything Cape Town has to offer and ensures the viewer that once the coronavirus pandemic is over the city will be welcoming its visitors in true Cape Town style! Kudos Cape Town Tourism!

"You may not be able to dive into our oceans right now or laze on our shores. You can’t explore our wine farms or eat at our award-winning restaurants or be face-to-face with our locals, but we want you to know that we are still thinking about you and when the time is right, we’ll be here ready to welcome you in true Cape Town style". Enver Duminy, CEO of Cape Town Tourism.

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Namibia: Vlog series - "LOCKDOWN: Photographers STUCK on SAFARI in AFRICA!"

Imagine being stuck in a Game Reserve in Namibia due to a global standstill. Imagine being the only guests in such an environment. This is exactly what happened to three conservation photographers in Namibia during the worldwide coronavirus lockdown. Jenni Lisacek and Chase Teron came to Namibia to take part in Donal Byd's photography workshop at Erindi Private Game Reserve, a protected reserve in central Namibia. While there, the coronavirus pandemic broke out and countries around the world - including Namibia - went into lockdown. Travel bans were imposed and further restrictions made travelling close to impossible. Let thing let to another and the three were unable to leave Namibia. So the management of Erindi Private Game Reserve invited Jenni, Chase and Donal to stay - and this is what they did. As the last remaining guests on a 70,719 hectares game reserve, they have the entire place to themselves. Jenni, Chase and Donal are documenting their "self isolation" at Erindi on Youtube. "LOCKDOWN: Photographers STUCK on SAFARI in AFRICA!" lets us follow their adventures as the three - accompanied by their guide Steve - explore the largest private game reserve in southern Africa. Kudos Jenni, Chase, Donal and Steve!

btw - also while in self isolation at Erindi Private Game Reserve, Jenni, Chase, Donal have launched the first ever in-field wildlife safari photography workshop. Click here for more information!

Fastjet (Zimbabwe) postpones flights between Victoria Falls and Kruger National Park!

Low-cost carrier Fastjet (Zimbabwe) has announced that it will postpone the launch scheduled operations between Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) in Victoria Falls and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) in Nelspruit, South Africa, until next year. The airline initially planed to commence flights to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP), which is located about 30km from Nelspruit and about 40hm from Kruger National Park's Numbi Gate, on 06 July 2020. Fastjet (Zimbawbe) also made public that it will postpone domestic flights between Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (BUQ) in Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, also intitially planed to commence on 06 July 2020, until further notice. The airline names the decline in demand and the likelihood of the coronavirus pandemic resurging and persisting well into 2021 as the main reasons for the change of plans. Costumers who have already made valid bookings are advised to contact Fastjet (Zimbabwe) for further assistance.

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Video: The "Best Ever Food Review Show" visits Namibia!

One of the most popular and fastest-growing food-themed channels on YouTube, the "Best Ever Food Review Show", recently* travelled to Namibia to explore the local cuisine of the Southern African country. While in Windhoek, the host of the show, Sonny Side, meets Namibian comedian Slick the Dick (@slickthadick) and the two take off to a tour through the city's local street food scene. Sonny gets to try some boerewors in Otjomuise, chicken liver scrambled eggs at the Wernhil Flea Market, "walkie talkie" at the Tukondjeni Market in Okuryangava and finally some Kapana and, of course, mopane wors at the Single Quarters in Katutura. 
In the second video, Sonny travels up north to Kamanjab in Namibia's Kunene Region to meet - and eat with - the Himba people. Accompanied by local woman Uno (@unounotjari), the he visits a traditional Himba village and gets to try some cooked sheep, some mopane worms and pap. 
In the third and final episode, Sonny travels to the Ombu Cultural Village where he meets his guide Gersoliena Karita. The Ombu Cultural Village is a living museum that includes a traditional Herero homestead, comprising 9 houses with dinstinctive original designs and building methods dating back to 1880, and other periodic designs over the last 150 years. At Ombu, Sonny is invited to try a traditional breakfast consisting of dry out mushrooms, spinach, biltong and tripe, as well as ground beans, traditional sour milk, grilled cow testicals (yes, balls!), cooked goat meat, cooked goat intestines and the "smiley". 

Ombu Cultural Village is situated about 48 km from Otjiwarongo and 122 km from Okahandja on the B1. It is conveniently located half-way between Etosha National Park and Windhoek.

The "Best Ever Food Review Show", or just BEFRS, is a team of hungry storytellers on a mission to hunt down and document the most unique cuisine from around the world, encouraging empathy, understanding and appreciation of different cultures through their food. The viral YouTube channel has amassed over 5 million social media followers, with an average of 30 million video views on YouTube each month.

*the show was filmed earlier this year before the coronavirus pandemic broke out!

Coronavirus pandemic: Lesotho extends the nationwide lockdown by 14 days!

The Government of Lesotho has extended the three-week nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus by 14 days until 05 May 2020. The country's Prime Minister Thomas Thabane said in a televised address to the nation on 21 April 2020 that the Government will procure specialised equipment (oxygen ventilators, patient monitors and protective clothing for health facilities) and that mass testing in hospitals and high-risk areas will be carried out in Lesotho during the extended lockdown. As of now (22 April 2020), Lesotho is one of the few countries worldwide - and the only one in the southern Africa - that has not reported a coronavirus case.

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Namibia: Swakopmund's elephant bull has finally been relocated! [update]

update (21 April 2020): According to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MET) the elephant was kept in a one-hectare temporary release pen at N/a'an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary for two days to ensure he is healthy and has since been released into the the Sanctuary.
 
Over the christmas period 2019 an elephant bull made various visists to the vicinity of Swakopmund and eventually decided to stay along the Swakop River near the Rossmund Golf Club Estate over the past few months. Officials of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MET) and the Namibian police along with other emergency services immediately redirected the elephant with the distinctive torn left ear inland towards the Omaruru district. While there, the 25 year old elephant was successfully collared by the MET in January 2020, so that wardens are able monitor its movements. The MET expected the elephant to stay somewhere between Uis and Spitzkoppe along the Omaruru River and not come back to the coastal town of Swakopmund, but for some reasons the elephant seemed to have loved the area along the Swakop River better and returned in February 2020. The MET than decided to let the elephant stay there for the time beeing, monitor him and to assist the elephant to find a home.

Since February 2020, the bull roamed the area around the Rossmund Golf Club Estate and was closely monitored by the MET. During this time, the elephant became too comfortable around the Golf Estate, where it was seen moving between houses and breaking trees. To avoid conflict with the public, the elephant was darted and tranquilised on 18 April 2020 and successfully relocated to to the N/a'an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary near Windhoek on 18 April 2020, where he has joined two younger bulls.

Cape Town Tourism released a new video about Khayelitsha! [update]

update (30 May 2020): Cape Town Tourism's "Welcome to Khayelitsha" was awarded second prize in the "Tourism Destination - City" category at the International Tourism Film Festival, Africa Awards (ITTF Africa)! Congratulations!

Cape Town Tourism has released a new video in which Cape Town's largest township, Khayelitsha, is getting portrayed. Located about 30 km south east of the city centre, just off the N2, the township is home to about 400.000 people. Khayelitsha is a vibrant township known for its entrepreneurial spirit and social development projects. The people are friendly and inviting and the area is rich in culture and diversity. Cape Town Tourism has now teamed up with several Khayelitsha neighbourhood ambassadors to curate four unique tourism routes that explore culture, nightlife, accommodation and adventure in the area. Enjoy!

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South African National Parks (SANParks) has released a new destination video showcasing |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has released a new destination video showcasing |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park in the Northern Cape. Formed in 2003 by combining the |Ai-|Ais Hot Springs Game Park in Namibia and the Richtersveld National Park in South Africa, the Peace Park spans some of the most spectacular arid and desert mountain scenery in southern Africa. Most of the South African part of the Transfrontier Park forms part of the buffer zone of the Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape World Heritage Site, which measures 5,920 km². |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park is made up of rugged kloofs, high mountains and dramatic landscapes. With less than 50mm of rain each year, it is home to leopards, lizards, rock hyrax, ground squirrel, jackal buzzard, Hartmans Mountain Zebra as well as to about one-third of the world’s 10 000 succulent species.

|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park is located in South Africa's Northern Cape, off of the N7, about 326 km from Springbok. The quickest way to get to the Transfrontier Park from South Africa (N7) and Namibia (B1)is to turn off at Steinkopf and approach via Port Nolloth and Alexander Bay with only the last 80 km being on dirt.

Coronavirus pandemic: Zimbabwe has extended the lockdown by two weeks!

The Government of Zimbabwe has extended the nationwide coronavirus lockdown by two weeks until 03 May 2020, but has allowed the country's mining and manufacturing sectors to resume operations under rules set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and public health authorities. According to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe had not yet met conditions set down by the WHO to lift the lockdown, which was imposed on 30 March 2020. As of Sunday (19 April 2020), Zimbabwe has confirmed 25 coronavirus cases, including three deaths.

South African National Parks (SANParks) has released a new destination video showcasing West Coast National Park!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has released a new destination video showcasing West Coast National Park. Located only approximately 120 km from Cape Town, the National Park is the perfect place to experience the raw, authentic, outdoors side of the Western Cape. Highlights of the West Coast National Park include the Langebaan Lagoon, rare fynbos, white sandy dunes, internationally acclaimed wetlands, an abundant birdlife and the spring flowers which occur in the months from August to September, especially in the Postberg flower reserve section of the National Park. West Coast National Park comprises some 32 000 ha and stretches from the town of Yzerfontein in the south up to the Langebaan Lagoon. 

Coronavirus pandemic: eSwatini has extended the lockdown by 21 days! [update]

update (24 April 2020): The Government of eSwatini on 22 April 2020 has reversed a decision to relax coronavirus restrictions after infections almost doubled to 31 in one week.

The Government of eSwatini has extended the partial lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus by 21 days. The decision to extend the countrywide confinement, which became effective at midnight on 15 April 2020, was announced by Prime Minster Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini in a televised broadcast on the evening of the same day. According to the Prime Minister, the extended lockdown in eSwatini is a partial lockdown and allows low-risk non-essential businesses to operate under strict hygiene conditions. The initial lockdown in eSwatini was due to end on 15 April 2020. As of today (17 April 2020), the country has recorded 16 cases of Covid-19 with eight recoveries.

PARTIAL LOCKDOWN EXTENSION - COVID-19 15 April

PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT PARTIAL LOCKDOWN EXTENSION - COVID-19 The Kingdom of Eswatini has embarked on a robust drive to transform the economy and set this country on a path towards sustainable growth and stability. This noble mission is shared and supported by EmaSwati from all corners of our Kingdom.

South African National Parks (SANParks) has released a new destination video showcasing Tankwa Karoo National Park!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has released a new destination video showcasing Tankwa Karoo National Park, which is located on the southern boundary of the Northern Cape. The National Park is bounded on the east by the Roggeveld Escarpment, on the west by the Cederberg, to the north by the Kouebokkeveld Mountains and on the south by the Klein Roggeveld Mountains. Tankwa Karoo National Park's size currently stands at approximately 143 600ha.

Tankwa Karoo National Park is part of the Great Karoo, one of the richest arid areas in the world. The vegetation in the National Park falls within the Succulent Karoo biome, one of only two Southern African regions designated as Biodiversity Hotspots by Conservation International. One is the Cape Floristic Region in the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape, and the other the Succulent Karoo, which stretches along the coastal strip of southwestern Namibia and South Africa's Northern Cape.

Air Namibia extends the current flight suspension period!

According to German website Touristik Aktuell, which quotes a media statement by Air Namibia, the flag carrier of Namibia will resume its only intercontinental service between Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek and Frankfurt Airport (FRA) in Frankfurt, Germany, from 18 May 2020. All regional (and domestic?) operations will remain suspended until 05 May 2020. We have contacted Air Namibia regarding the resumption of services, but are still waiting for response. We'll keep you posted!

Coronavirus pandemic: Namibia extends the lockdown and enforces it countrywide! >>

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