Kruger National Park Calendar - March!

Weather:

• end of summer...
• still hot and humid during the day, but nights begin to get colder
• last major rainfalls of the season

Temperatures:

• between 18°C - 33°C (Fahrenheit: e.g. 33°C = [(33x9)]/5 + 32 = 91.4°F)
• visit our webcam page for live footage from Kruger National Park!

Landscape:

• water availability at its peak
• river levels high
• dense vegetation
• grasslands in full seed

Animal Activity:

• animal dispersal at its widest
• animals rather relaxed - least competition for resources
• water sources throughout the park are usually full
• buffalo & kudu breeding peak
• many migrant birds leaving

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Hong Kong: Cathay Pacific to return to South Africa!

The flag carrier of Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific, is set to return to South Africa. The airline has announced that it will resume direct flights between Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) in Hong Kong and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) Johannesburg on 01 02 August 2023. Cathay Pacific will operate three weekly flights on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The flights will be on board an Airbus A350-900 with 280 seats in three classes - business class (38 seats), premium economy class (28 seats) and economy class (214 seats).
Cathay Pacific stopped operating flights to South Africa in November 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Hong Kong 00:40 > 07:35 Johannesburg on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays
• Johannesburg 11:20 > 06:00+1 Hong Kong on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays

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KwaZulu-Natal: Three beaches closed due to "Cheneso"!

The KwaDukuza Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal in consultation with the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board Maritime Centre of Excellence (KZNSB) has taken the decision on 27 January 2023 to officially close three beaches from 28 January 2023 until further notice. This is a precautionary measure due to Tropical Cyclone Cheneso, which affected Madagascar during the last week. The three closed beaches are Blythedale Beach, Thompson’s Bay Beach and Clarke Bay Beach.
Cheneso has in the meantime been reclassified as a post-tropical depression by Météo-France (MFR). The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) also discontinued warnings on the system. We'll keep you posted!

Rugby: South Africa to host next two World Rugby U20 Championships!

World Rugby and South African Rugby (SA Rugby) have confirmed that South Africa will host the next two editions of the World Rugby U20 Championship, in 2023 and 2024, while Kenya is set to host the U20 Trophy in 2023.
The World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 will take place from 24 Jun 2023 to 14 July 2023 and will be played over five match days in Stellenbosch, Paarl and Wellington, with the world’s best 12 U20 teams staying in Cape Town. The participating teams are: France, Wales, New Zealand, Japan (Pool A), Australia, England, Ireland, Fiji (Pool B), South Africa, Argentina, Italy and Georgia (Pool C).

Pool matches:

• Match day 1: Saturday 24 June 2023
• Match day 2: Thursday 29 June 2023
• Match day 3: Tuesday 4 July 2023

Knock-out matches:

• Match day 4: Sunday 9 July 2023
• Match day 5 (final): Friday 14 July 2023

Photo by Hanson Lu on Unsplash

The U20 Trophy, which will be contested by eight teams, will be hosted at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya, from 15 July 2023 to 30 July 2023. The participating teams are: Scotland (relegated from the U20 Championship in 2019), Kenya (hosts), Hong Kong (Asia), Samoa (Oceania), Spain (Europe), Uruguay (South America) and two teams still to qualify through regional competition from North America and Africa.

Kruger National Park: R40 blocked by protesters between Acornhoek and Bushbuckridge!

South African National Parks (SANParks) earlier today (25 January 2023) announced that the R40 has been blocked by protesters between Acornhoek and Bushbuckridge. Guests traveling between Orpen Gate/ Orpen Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park and the town of Hazyview outside the National Park are adviced to use alternative routes preferably travel inside Kruger National Park.
Orpen Gate/ Orpen Rest Camp is situated centrally on the western border of the Kruger National Park. According to SANPArks, the recommended way to get to Orpen Gate/ Orpen Rest Camp from central Gauteng by road is the following: Head toward Nelspruit on the N4 and take the R540 Belfast turn off. At Lydenburg turn left onto the R36 heading north. 30 km before Hoedspruit turn right onto the R531 and head to Orpen Gate. Allow between 4 to 5 hours for the trip to the gate. Orpen Rest Camp is right at the gate.

Botswana: Refurbished Maun International Airport (MUB) in Maun officially opened!

The President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi, has officially opened the refurbished Maun International Airport (MUB) in Maun on 20 January 2023. The upgrade of the airport included the modernisation of the terminal building, which can now accommodate and process 270 passengers per hour, as well as a runway extension to 3.7km to accommodate aircraft equivalent to Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.

Maun International Airport (MUB) is located in the city of Maun in Botswana's North-West District. In 2021, the airport recorded a total of 116,345 passengers and the number increased to a total of 200,929 between January and October 2022. Maun is known as the gateway to the Okavango Delta and the Moremi Game Reserve.

Namibia released rhino & elephant poaching statistics for 2022! [update]

update (30 January 2023): According to an update on high-value species poaching in Namibia, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT) announced that 87 rhinos were poached in 2022, including 61 black rhinos and 26 white rhinos. 15 rhinos were poached on rhino custodianship farms, another 25 on white rhino private farms, and 46 in Etosha National Park. The four elephants, that Namibia lost to poaching activities, were killed in the Zambezi Region (2), the Kavango West Region (1) and the Kunene Region (1). 

The Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has released the rhino and elephant poaching numbers for 2022. According to the figures, Namibia lost 77 rhinos and four elephants in the last year, compared to 45  rhinos and 10 elephants that lost their lives to poaching activities during 2021. The rhino poaching statistics of 2022 is the third highest recorded since 2013.
In 2022, a total of 43 rhinos were poached in Namibia, while 61 were killed in 2019, 55 in 2017, 66 in 2016, 56 in 2014 and 9 in 2013. 12 elephants were poached in Namibia in 2020, while 13 elephants were killed by poachers in 2019, 27 in 2018, 50 in 2017, 101 in 2016, 49 in 2015 and 78 in 2014.

Namibia is home to 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 free-roaming black rhinos as well as the largest population of black rhinos in protected areas.

Karoo National Park: Embizweni Cottage temporarily closed! [update #4]

update (17 April 2023): SANParks just informed us that the Embizweni Cottage in the Karoo National Park in South Africa's Western Cape is once again functional and open for bookings.

update (28 February 2023): SANParks just informed us, that the Embizweni Cottage in the Karoo National Park is still closed.

update (16 February 2023): SANParks just informed us, that the Embizweni Cottage in the Karoo National Park is still closed. The maintenance team is "working hard to get it back on the system". We'll keep you posted!

update (01 February 2023): According to SANParks, the Embizweni Cottage in the Karoo National Park remains closed. The National Park's maintenance team is still trying to get to the bottom of a couple of technical issues. We'll keep you posted!

South African National Parks (SANParks) just announced that the Embizweni Cottage in the Karoo National Park in South Africa's Western Cape will be closed until further notice. This is due to some technical issues. According to SANParks, guests with existing bookings will be contacted directly and alternate arrangements will be made with them.
The Embezweni Cottage is situated 45 km from Karoo National Park's main rest camp, along the Nuweveld 4x4 trail. The cottage, which can sleep up to seven people, consists of two bedrooms - one bedroom with a double bed and the other with a double bed and single sleeper couch. Another double bunk bed is provided in the lounge. The house also offers a bathroom (bath and shower) and lounge/living area with a lovely verandah with a built-in braai, which overlooks a waterhole.

Botswana/South Africa: Three border posts currently inaccessible!

The Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS), the revenue service and a government agency of the Botswana government, just informed the public that there is traffic disruption on the roads linking Botswana and South Africa. The affected border posts are Pioneer Gate/Skilpadshek, Ramotswa/Swartkopfontein and Tlokweng/Kopfontein. BURS is advising travellers to use alternative ports of entry. We'll keep you posted!

Airlink to resume flights between South Africa <> Madagascar! [update]

update (20 January 2023): The resumption of services to Nosy-Be will be considered in due course.

South African regional carrier Airlink is set to resume operations between South Africa and Madagascar. According to Rodger Foster, Airlink CEO and managing director, the airline "welcomes the Madagascar government’s lifting of the prohibition which lets us [Airlink] re-establish these air services that are vitally important economic, trade and tourism connections between the two countries." Effective 30 January 2023, Airlink will operate one weekly flight on Mondays between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Ivato International Airport (TNR) in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. From 14 February 2023, the airline will increase the service to three weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays with the intention of re-instating daily services as demand increases. Flights between South Africa and Madagascar were suspended for almost three years.

• Johannesburg 10:00 > 14:10 Antananarivo on Mondays
• Antananarivo 15:00 > 17:40 Johannesburg on Mondays
  As of 14 February 2023, the same schedule will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

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Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Park shops with changed opening hours due to stocktaking!

According to a posting by Regional Communications Manager: Arid Parks at South African National Parks (SANParks), Genevieve Maasdorp, in the SANParks - Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park facebook group, stocktaking needs to be performed at all shops in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. The operating hours of the shops at Nossob Rest Camp, Mata-Mata Rest Camp and Twee Rivieren Rest Camp will therefore change between 24 January 2023 and 30 January 2023.

• Nossob Rest Camp: Shop will be open from 07:30 - 09:00 and again from 15:00 - 18:15 on 24 January 2023
• Mata-Mata Rest Camp: Shop will be open from 07:30 - 09:00 and again from 15:00 - 18:15 on 25 January 2023
• Twee Rivieren Rest Camp: Shop will be open from 15:00 - 18:15 on 30 January 2023

Kruger National Park: Phabeni Gate is currently inaccessible!

South African National Parks (SANParks) just informed the public that Kruger National Park's Phabeni Gate is currently inaccessible due to blockages by protesters. Guests are advised to use alternative gates such as Paul Kruger Gate to enter and exit the park.
Phabeni Gate is the closest entrance into the Kruger National Park from Hazyview and the best way to get into the southern parts of the National Park and Skukuza Main Rest Camp from Johannesburg and Pretoria. To get to Paul Kruger Gate, travellers should take the N4 to Nelspruit then take the R40 to White River, Hazyview via the R40. From Hazyview, take the R536 to the Paul Kruger Gate. It is advised to allow between 5 to 6 hours for the trip to the gate. Skukuza Main Rest Camp is 12km (30 min)  away from Paul Kruger Gate.

South Africa: Airlink ranked most punctual South African carrier operating from ACSA airports!

South African regional carrier Airlink has announced that it is the most punctual South African carrier operating from all the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA)-operated airports. According to ACSA’s latest statistics, the airline achieved a 95.52% average on-time performance (OTP) for 2022 measured across all the its airports in South Africa. A flight is considered "on time" if it departs or arrives within 15 minutes of the scheduled time.
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) owns and operates South Africa's nine principal airports, including three international gateways: O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town and King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban. 

n.b.: According to OAG's annual Punctuality League, which reveals on-time performance rankings for airlines and airports, South African airline FlySafair is the second-most punctual airline in the world, Africa's most-punctual airline and therefore South Africa's airline with the best on-time performance (OTP). Statistics...

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Western Cape: Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve reopens in February 2023!

The Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve, situated under 2.5 hours from Cape Town in the Ceres Karoo in South Africa's Western Cape, has announced its reopening date. The Game Reserve is closed to the public since mid-December 2022 due to flooding and extreme weather. According to Inverdoorn's Facebook page, it will open its gates again from 01 February 2023. Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve covers an area of 10 000 hectare, is home to the Big 5 and is known for its cheetah rescue and rehabilitation centre. Safaris in the Game Reserve are offered on a day trip option or overnight stay with game drives presented by qualified rangers in traditional 4 x 4 vehicles.

Zimbabwe: Gonarezhou National Park closed until end of February 2023! [update]

update (23 February 2023): Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe has announced that it will reopen to the public on 01 March 2023!

The management of the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe has announced the annual closure of the National Park from today (13 January 2023) until the end of February 2023. The temporary closure to tourism during the traditionally wettest months of the year allows the roads to have a rest and the roads team to upgrade them. It also allows Gonarezhou National Park's tourism infrastructure team to spruce up and address maintenance issues in the camps around the National Park.
Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe's second largest National Park, is located in the south-eastern part of the country and is managed by the Gonarezhou Conservation Trust (GTC), an innovative new model for protected area management drawn up between the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) and the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS). 

These two airports in South Africa are among the world's 20 most punctual airports 2022!

According to OAG's annual Punctuality League, which reveals on-time performance rankings for airlines and airports, two airports in South Africa are among the world's top 20 airports with the best on-time performance (OTP) during 2022 (01 January 2022 - 31 December 2022). King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban is the world's fifth and Africa's most-punctual airport with an on-time performance of 89.73% and a cancellation rate of 1.37%. Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town is the world sixteen's and Africa's second most-punctual airport with an OTP of 87.02% and a cancellation rate of 1.02%. OAG’s definition of on-time performance (OTP) is flights that arrive or depart within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival or departure times. Cancellations are included within the OTP calculations and are counted as late flights.

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South Africa: FlySafair is the second-most punctual airline worldwide!

According to OAG's annual Punctuality League, which reveals on-time performance rankings for airlines and airports, South African airline FlySafair is the second-most punctual airline in the world and Africa's most-punctual airline. The airline recorded an on-time performance (OTP) of 95.3% and a cancellation rate of 0.02% during 2022 (01 January 2022 - 31 December 2022), despite operating 47% more flights in 2022 than in 2019. No other Southern African is on the Top 10-list of the Middle East and Africa as well as the world's top-20 list.
OAG’s definition of on-time performance (OTP) is flights that arrive or depart within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival or departure times. Cancellations are included within the OTP calculations and are counted as late flights.

Middle East & Africa - Airlines by OTP 2022:

1. FlySafair OTP: 95.30% | Cancellation rate: 0.02%
2. Ethihad Airways OTP: 81.14% | Cancellation rate: 0.55%
3. Emirates OTP: 81.13% | Cancellation rate: 0.02%
4. Gulf Air OTP: 79.92% | Cancellation rate: 2.42%
5. Qatar Airways OTP: 77.50% | Cancellation rate: 0.34%
6. Ethiopian Airlines OTP: 76.73% | Cancellation rate: 0.04%
7. FLYNAS OTP: 68.25% | Cancellation rate: 1.65%
8. Saudi Arabian Airlines OTP: 65.63% | Cancellation rate: 1.72%
9. Oman Air OTP: 91.28% | Cancellation rate: 0.69%
10. Royal Jordanian OTP: 85.82% | Cancellation rate: 0.85%

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Turkish Airlines to resume flights between Istanbul <> Lusaka!

The President of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, announced in December 2022 that Türkiye's flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, is planning to return to Zambia. According the airline's website, a direct two-weekly service between Istanbul Airport (IST) in Istanbul and Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) in Lusaka is set to resume on 26 March 2023. Flights will be operated on Sundays and Thursdays from Istanbul to Lusaka and on Mondays and Fridays from Lusaka to Istanbul. Turkish Airlines launched the route in 2018 and suspended it in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Istanbul 15:50 > 01:50+1 Lusaka
• Lusaka 02:50 > 14:40+1 Istanbul

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Cape Town: Hout Bay beach temporarily closed! [update #2]

update (16 January 2023): The City of Cape Town has announced that Hout Bay beach in Hout Bay was reopened on 14 January 2023. Water samples taken for water quality testing indicated the levels are within the minimum requirement for recreational activities as determined by South Africa's National Water Quality Guidelines for coastal waters.

update (14 January 2023): The City of Cape Town has announced that Hout Bay beach in Hout Bay remains closed until further notice. The City continues to investigate (a) possible pollution source(s) that has led to the temporary closure of Hout Bay beach, as a precautionary measure.

The City of Cape Town has announced that Hout Bay beach in Hout Bay has been closed as a precautionary measure. Various City departments are investigating (a) possible pollution source(s) that has led to the temporary closure of the beach. The City of Cape Town's City Health is taking water samples on a daily basis for water quality testing until such time as the levels are within the minimum requirement for recreational activities as determined by South Africa's National Water Quality Guidelines. We'll keep you posted!

Cape Town: Llandudno beach temporarily closed! [update]

update (11 January 2023): The City of Cape Town has announced that Llandudno beach has been reopened. Water samples taken for water quality testing indicated the levels are within the minimum requirement for recreational activities as determinated by South Africa's National Water Quality Guidelines.

The City of Cape Town has announced that Llandudno beach is closed since 09 January 2023 until further notice. This is a precautionary measure. There was an overflow from a sewer pump station after an ultrasonic level sensor became faulty due to a power surge caused by load-shedding. This sensor has been replaced. The overflow has stopped. This sensor helps to measure the sump (storage) levels at the pump station so that pumps can be switched on or off automatically to help manage the flow of sewage through this site. The City of Cape Town continues to monitor this situation.

Photo by Jonny Hayes auf Unsplash

The City of Cape Town's City Health is taking water samples on a daily basis for water quality testing until such time as the levels are within the minimum requirement for recreational activities as determined by South Africa's National Water Quality Guidelines. We'll keep you posted!

South Africa: Cape Town to host the Netball World Cup 2023!

Cape Town in South Africa will host the sixteenth staging of Netball World Cup in 2023. The tournament will take place from 28 July 2023 to 06 August 2023 at the International Convention Centre (CTICC). It will be the first Netball World Cup held in Africa. There will be 16 nations competing in 60 matches over the 10-day period, with progressing nations competing in semi-finals and the final to decide the new World Champion. The first round of tickets for the 2023 Netball World Cup already went on sale on 05 December 2022. The next phase of ticket sales opens on 10 February 2023.

The participating nations are:

• Group A: Australia, Tonga, Zimbabwe, Fiji
• Group B: England, Malawi, Scotland, Barbados
• Group C: South Africa, Jamaica, Wales, Sri Lanka
• Group D: New Zealand, Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago, Singapore

Durban: Fourteen beaches are currently open and safe for swimming! [update]

update (12 January 2023): eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda today confirmed that 14 beaches in Durban are currently open and safe for swimming. According to the mayor, swimming at ten beaches (new: Casuarina Beach) is prohibited due to water quality. 31 swimming pools in Durban are currently open to the public.

The eThekwini Municipality, the local government body responsible for governing and managing Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, has released lists of beaches that are currently (as of 08 January 2023) open and safe for swimming, closed for swimming and of swimming pools that are currently open to the public. According to the lists, fourteen beaches in Durban are currently open for swimming, while swimming at nine beaches is prohibited due to water quality. 30 swimming pools in Durban are currently open to the public.

The following beaches are open for swimming:
- operating hours 06:00 - 18:30 -

1. Point
2. uShaka
3. Addington
4. South Beach
5. Wedge
6. North Beach
7. Bay of Plenty
8. Toti Man 
9. Brighton
10. uMdloti Main
11. uMgababa
12. uMhlanga Main
13. Westbrook
14. Battery
    

Beaches closed for swimming:

1. Bronze
2. Country Club
3. Thekweni
4. Laguna
5. Reunion
6. Warner
7. Winkelspruit
8. Pipeline
9. Anstey's

Recreational activities other than swimming at beaches closed for swimming are allowed!

Cape Town: Beach section and tidal pools between Dalebrook and Kalk Bay temporarily closed! [update #4]

update (14 January 2023): The beach between Dalebrook and Kalk Bay, including the Dalebrook tidal pool, has reopened. Water samples taken for water quality testing indicated the levels are within the minimum requirement for recreational activities as determined by South Africa's National Water Quality Guidelines.

update (11 January 2023): Dalebrook tidal pool has been temporarily closed again. The beach section between the tidal pools, fron Dalebrook to Kalk Bay, remains closed until further notice. The temporary closure is due to a sewer overflow, and the cause is still under investigation.

update (10 January 2023): The tidal pools in Kalk Bay and Dalebrook reopened on 09 January 2023. However, the beach section between the tidal pools, from Dalebrook to Kalk Bay, remains closed until further notice.

The City of Cape Town has announced that the beach section between the tidal pools in Kalk Bay and Dalebrook, including the tidal pools, have been temporarily closed until further notice. The temporary closure is due to a sewer overflow, and the cause is being investigated. The City of Cape Town's City Health is taking water samples on a daily basis for water quality testing until such time as the levels are within the minimum requirement for recreational activities as determined by South Africa's National Water Quality Guidelines. We'll keep you posted!

 

Air Algérie to launch flights between Algeria <> South Africa!

The flag carrier of Algeria, Air Algérie, is set to launch direct flights to South Africa. The airline has announced that it will be operating flights between Houari Boumediene International Airport (ALG) in Algiers, Algeria, and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg. Effective 26 March 2023, Air Algérie will be offering two weekly return flights to South Africa on board an Airbus A330-200. 

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South Africa: NSRI releases a full moon spring tide alert!

South Africa's National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), a voluntary non-profit organization tasked with saving lives through drowning prevention in South Africa, has released a safety advisory for “higher-than-normal high tides and lower-than-normal low tides” caused by today’s (06 January 2023) peak of the full moon spring tide. Caution is advised for today, over this weekend and for the first few days of next week.
The concern is that coastal bathers and shoreline anglers who are not aware of the full moon (and new moon) spring tides may be caught off guard. Rip currents can be stronger in places during a spring tide.

The NSRI is appealing to coastal bathers and shoreline anglers in South Africa to be cautious and bathers should only swim at beaches protected by lifeguards, swim in between the safe swimming areas lifeguards post using their red and yellow flags.

Cape Town: Section of Gordon’s Bay Beach temporarily closed to the public! [update]

update (09 January 2023): The section of Gordon’s Bay Beach between the walkway and area in front of Spur was reopened on 07 January 2023. 

The City of Cape Town has announced that the section of Gordon’s Bay Beach between the walkway and area in front of Spur has been temporarily closed from yesterday (04 January 2023) until further notice. This is again a precautionary measure. The temporary closure is due to a sewer overflow in the area related to a sewer pump station that tripped because inappropriate materials had been thrown into the local sewer network yet again. The pumps are being serviced and mitigation measures have been implemented in the meantime to maintain the sewer operations. 

The City of Cape Town's City Health is taking water samples on a daily basis for water quality testing until such time as the levels are within the minimum requirement for recreational activities as determined by South Africa's National Water Quality Guidelines. We'll keep you posted!

eSwatini: Countrywide fuel shortage!

The Kingdom of eSwatini is currently facing a shortage of unleaded 95 petrol. According to the country's Ministy of Natural Resources and Energy, the disruption in the availabillity is mainly due to fuel supply logistic problems at loading terminals and the high demand of unleaded 95 petrol in eSwatini during the festive season. The Ministry further said in a press statement that it has been assured by the affected oil companies (not all oil companies in eSwatini seem to experience the shortage) that the fuel supply situation is improving. We'll keep you posted!

Cape Town: Main bathing area section at Fish Hoek Beach is temporarily closed to the public! [update]

update (05 January 2023): The City of Cape Town has announced that the section of Fish Hoek Beach that was temporarily closed was reopened yesterday afternoon (04 January 2023). The temporary closure was due to a sewer overflow caused by a blocked sewer pipe that was cleared. Items such as plastics and materials were removed from the sewer pipe.

The City of Cape Town has announced (02 January 2023) that the main bathing area section at Fish Hoek Beach between the lifeguard station and Jager Walk is temporarily closed to the public until further notice. This is a precautionary measure. The temporary closure is due to a sewer overflow caused by a blocked sewer pipe that has now been cleared. Items such as plastics and materials were removed from the sewer pipe. The City of Cape Town's City Health is taking water samples on a daily basis for water quality testing until such time as the levels are within the minimum requirement for recreational activities as determined by South Africa's National Water Quality Guidelines. We'll keep you posted!

Kruger National Park Calendar - February!

Weather:

• much the same as January
• traditionally flood season
• heavy rains can cause rivers to suddenly burst their banks

Temperatures:

• between 18°C - 33°C (Fahrenheit: e.g. 33°C = [(33x9)]/5 + 32 = 91.4°F)
• visit our webcam page for live footage from Kruger National Park!

Landscape:

• plants at their most nutrtious
• large vleis (shallow seasonal or intermittent lakes) on the basalt plain
• many aloes in flower

Animal Activity:

• large herds of grazers spread across the Eastern Grasslands
• many nursery herds (protected by matriachs or alpha males)
• breading season for Waterbucks
• loads of bird activity around the flowering aloes

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Cape Town: Two coastal areas temporarily closed to the public due to sewage spills! [update]

update (05 January 2023): The City of Cape Town has reopened Small Bay and the Deep Blue section of Strand Beach. The affected section of Strand beach was closed due to an electrical fault at the pump station, but the issue has since been resolved. “Small Bay was closed due to a damaged sewer pipe. The damaged pipe section was isolated inside the manhole. Sewer flow is being diverted by means of a mobile pump that is running 24 hours,” the City said.

The City of Cape Town yesterday announced the partial closure of two coastal areas to the public as a precautionary measure until further notice. The temporary closures are due to sewage spills in the respective areas - the causes of which are currently under investigation. The affected coastal areas are the Deep Blue section of Strand beach on the False Bay coastline as well as Small Bay in Blaauwberg. The City of Cape Town's City Health is taking water samples for water quality testing until the levels are within the minimum requirement for recreational activites as determined by South Africa's Water Quality Guidelines. We'll keep you posted!