30 November 2020

Kruger National Park: Facilities at Nkuhlu Picnic Spot to temporarily close due to renovations!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that due to renovations taking place at the Nkuhlu Picnic Spot in the Marula Region of Kruger National Park, the shop and one ablution block will be temporarily closed effective from 04 December 2020 until further notice. SANParks advises travellers in Kruger National Park to buy their picnic goods from nearby/alternative shops as they will be allowed to utilize the area if they bring their own gas bottles.
The Nkuhlu Picnic Spot is located on the H4-1 between the Skukuza Rest Camp and the Lower Sabie Rest Camp on the banks of the Sabie River.

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Namibia: Revised tourist-related Covid-19 regulations!

Namibia's President Dr. Hage G. Geingob has announced a number of changes to the status quo of the tourist-related COVID-19 regulations in the country during a public briefing on the national COVID-19 response measures on 30 November 2020. The current dispensation of measures to fight the pandemic which came into force on 17 October 2020, will expire at midnight on 30 November 2020. From 01 December 2020 t0 25 January 2021 the following measures will apply.

People arriving in Namibia:

Requirements for COVID-10 test results:

  • All non-Namibian travellers arriving in Namibia are required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from the country of departure, which is not older than 72 hours.
  • This requirement does not apply to children under the age of five years.
  • Non-Namibian travellers arriving with a negative result, which is older than 72 hours, will be placed in quarantine and tested for COVID-19 on the same day, at own cost. If results come out negative, they will be released from quarantine. If positive, they will be isolated at own cost, according to Namibian isolation protocols.
  • Returning Namibian citizens or holders of Namibian permanent residence or employment permits may enter the country without a COVID-19 PCR test result or with a positive result. But in cases of arrival without a COVID-19 test result, s/he will be swabbed immediately upon arrival while observing quarantine and if the result comes out negative, they will be released from quarantine.
  • A Namibian who arrives with a positive COVID-19 PCR test result, will be isolated at a designated isolation facility or home isolation, subject to approval after assessment by an authorized medical officer.

Public gatherings:

  • Public gatherings will remain at 200 people. Members of the public are strongly encouraged to arrange and host all public gatherings outdoors. Registers of attendees at such gatherings and events must be maintained.

Liquor sale restriction:

  • Sale of alcohol by shebeens, bars and nightclubs shall be extended to midnight.
    • The business must:
      • ensure physical distancing
      • all business premises must be equipped with functional hand-sanitizer dispensers, at all times.

Keeping COVID-19 registers:

  • Shopping outletts and businesses will no longer be required to keep registers of persons visiting their premises. Registers should, however, be maintained at public events such as weddings, funerals, religious gatherings, sports and entertainment events.
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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 23 rhinos and two elephants to poaching since the beginning of 2020. A total of 46 rhinos and 13 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 is home to the largest population of black rhino of the subspecies Diceros bicornis bicornis in the world. Approximately 93% of the total population of this taxon are found in the country (as of 31 December 2020). 
 

Namibia hosts a third of the entire remaining population of back rhino on the planet and the second largest white rhino population in the world after South Africa. The country also has the largest population of black rhinos in protected areas and the largest free roaming black rhino population in the world.  
Between 2012 and 2018, the black rhino (diceros bicornis) population across Africa has grown at a modest annual rate of 2.5% from an estimated 4,845 to 5,630 animals in the wild, respectively.
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South Africa's Blue Flag beaches, boats & marinas 2020/21!

A total of 48 beaches in South Africa, along with four sustainable tourism boats and six marinas have been awarded Full Blue Flag status by the 2020/21 International Blue Flag Jury. The Western Cape has achieved the highest number of Blue Flag sites, with 31 beaches, all four boats and five of the six Blue Flag marinas. The Eastern Cape has been awarded two Blue Flag marina sites, as well as six Blue Flag beaches. KwaZulu-Natal has been awarded six Blue Flag beaches.
The Blue Flag programme also allows for potential Blue Flag sites to participate in the Pilot Programme. This year will see 19 beaches (Western Cape: two beaches; Eastern Cape: six beaches; KwaZulu-Natal: eleven beaches) across three of  South Africa's four coastal provinces on this development phase of the programme.

 
Western Cape Blue Flag beaches:

  Western Cape Blue Flag marinas:

Western Cape Blue Flag boats:
Eastern Cape Blue Flag beaches:
Eastern Cape Blue Flag Marina:
 KwaZulu Natal Blue Flag beaches:
Blue Flag is a certification issued by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that a beach or marina meets its stringent standards. The main criterias include standards for water quality, safety, environmental education and information, the provision of services and general environmental management criteria. Blue Flag is sought for beaches and marinas as an indication of their high environmental and quality standards. In South Africa, the first country outside Europe to be granted Blue Flag accreditation for its beaches, the Blue Flag programme is managed by WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) in partnership with participating coastal municipalities.
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