South African regional low cost-carrier FlySafair is set to introduce a new domestic route in South Africa. Effective 02 April 2024, the airline will operate two weekly direct flights between Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP), located about 30km north east of Mbombela (Nelspruit) in Mpumalanga. The airport is know as the major gateway for tourists traveling (by air) to Kruger National Park. Flights will depart Cape Town at 09:00 on Tuesdays and Saturdays and arrive in Mbombela at 11:30. The return flight is set to depart Mbombela at 12:05 and arrive in Cape Town at 14:50. Flights will be operated on board a Boeing 737-800.
31 January 2024
Windhoek: The US Embassy has now officially moved to its new location!
The US Embassy in Windhoek, Namibia, has now officially moved to its new location. The ceremonial lowering of the American flag and the removal of the Great Seal at the site of the old U.S. Embassy on 14 Lossen Street took place on 26 January 2024. Moments later, the American flag was raised for the first time at the new U.S. Embassy building. The new U.S. Embassy is now fully operational at 38 Metje Street in Klein Windhoek. The state-of-the-art facility is equipped to meet the evolving diplomatic, consular, health, and cultural needs, providing a platform for enhanced engagement between the US and Namibia. The grand opening of the new US Embassy Compound in Windhoek already took place on 07 December 2023.
30 January 2024
Qatar Airways changes its Southern Africa flight schedule!
The flag carrier of Qatar, Qatar Airways, is set to adjust its flight schedule to Southern Africa. Effective 31 March 2024, the airline will extend its service between Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha and Maputo International Airport (MPM) in Maputo, Mozambique, to King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban, South Africa. This new routing replaces the airline's current service to Durban via OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg. Qatar Airways will also increase the number of weekly flights to Maputo, and Durban, from curently four flights to five flights, effective 31 March 2024. The airline does not have local traffic rights on Maputo <> Durban sector.
Qatar Airways will continue to operate flights between Doha and Johannesburg (18 weekly flights) and betweem Doha and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. The airline currently operates 10 weekly return flights to Cape Town, but will reduce it to seven weekly flights from 11 May 2024.
Cape Town: Important repair work to Tafelberg Road to take place!
The City of Cape Town has announced that a road rehabilitation project will take place along Tafelberg Road, from Kloof Nek Road to the Lower Cableway Station located in the Table Mountain National Park. The work is planned to commence this week, for a period of 12 months. Tafelberg Road is the main access route to the Table Mountain National Park and the Table Mountain aerial cableway. To ensure access, a stop-and-go system will be implemented along sections of no more than 500m at a time.
The rehabilitation work is intended to:
- Restore and upgrade the road
- Rehabilitate the parking facilities
- Rehabilitate the stormwater infrastructure
- Restore and maintain the non-motorised transport facilities such as the formal walkways in and around the cableway
- Restore the embankment retaining structures
Cape Town: Tygerberg Nature Reserve closed until further notice! [update]
update (16 February 2024): Tygerberg Nature Reserve reopened to the public on 2 February 2024. The reserve’s opening times are Monday to Friday from 07:30 till 18:00 and on weekends from 7.30 till 19:00.
The City of Cape Town has announced that the Tygerberg Nature Reserve is temporarily closed to allow for mop-up operations after a fire on Tygerberg Hills that broke out on 25 January 2024. The reserve will remain closed to the public until it is safe again to enter and the mopping-up operations have been completed. Luckily, no infrastructure was damaged in the fire.
"On the up-side, I can inform residents the area that burnt was old and in terms of ecological integrity the burn will rejuvenate the veld. We hope to see a myriad of spring flowers on the now blackened Tygerberg Hill by September," said the Cape Town's Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.Tygerberg Nature Reserve is a 388-hectare nature reserve in the northern suburbs of Cape Town. It is home to some 24 different mammal species, 137 bird species, 22 different reptiles, 7 types of frogs, and numerous different butterfly species. Of the 562 different plant species that can be found in the nature reserve, 23 are threatened, 8 are endemic to Cape Town, and 3 are endemic to Tygerberg itself. Tygerberg Nature Reserve is one of the few surviving pockets of the highly threatened Swartland Shale Renosterveld vegetation type.
29 January 2024
Western Cape: Limietberg Nature Reserve closed until further notice! [update]
update (29 February 2024): CapeNature has announced that Limietberg Nature Reserve will be closed till 04 March 2024 due to fires.
CapeNature, the public institution with the responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape has announced that the Limietberg Nature Reserve is closed due to a fire until further notice. The Nature Reserve is located in the Du Toitskloof Mountains, near Paarl. It stretches from Franschhoek in the south towards Groot Drakenstein in the east and northwards as far as the Voëlvlei dam, covering an area of some 117 000 hectares.
Limietberg Nature Reserve is home to small antelope, baboon, caracal, leopard, endemic birds such as the Cape sugarbird and the protea canary, as well as the majestic black eagle. The reserve offers some great hiking trails. Visitors can also visit the many historical sites along the trails, including ancient rock art, a disused manganese mine and the graves of convicts who helped build the Bainskloof Pass.
26 January 2024
Israel: El Al suspends flights to South Africa!
El Al, the flag carrier of Israel, has announced that it will stop operating direct flights between Israel and South Africa. According to the airline, "a significant fall in demand by Israeli travellers" led to this decision. El Al's last flight from Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv to OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg will take place on 27 March 2024. The return flight is set to depart for Tel Aviv on 28 March 2024.
El Al's announcement of the suspension of flights to Johannesburg in South Africa was released just hours before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) releases its findings on South Africa's case against Israel over alleged genocidal acts in Gaza.
Garden Route National Park: Road maintenance on the main access road to the Storms River Mouth Rest Camp!
South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that there will be road maintenance conducted on the main access road to the Storms River Mouth Rest Camp in the Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park. The road maintenance work will start on 01 February 2024 and is expected to be completed on 06 May 2024.
Garden Route National Park encompasses the Tsitsikamma, Wilderness and Knysna sections, a variety of mountain catchments, indigenous forests and fynbos areas, all valued for their diverse natural and cultural heritage. The Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park covers an 80 kilometreslong stretch of coastline with Nature's Valley is at the western end of the park. The main accommodation is the Storms River Mouth Rest Camp, location at Storms River Mouth.
25 January 2024
Mozambique: LAM - Mozambique Airlines launches three new routes to Johannesburg in South Africa!
The flag carrier of Mozambique, LAM - Mozambique Airlines, has announced on its Facebook page that it is set to launch direct flights to Johannesburg from the cities of Tete, Nampula and Pempa. Flights between Pemba Airport (POL) in Pempa, the capital of the province of Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique, and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg will commence on 29 January 2024, while flights between Chingozi Airport (TET) in Tete, the capital city of Tete Province in west-central Mozambique, and Johannesburg as well as between Nampula Airport (NPL) in Nampula, the capital city of Nampula Province in northern Mozambique, and Johannesburg are set to start on 30 January 2024. LAM - Mozambique Airlines will operate three weekly flights on all three new routes.
online flight booking on TravelComments.com >>
24 January 2024
Cape Town named Time Out’s 2nd Best City in the World for 2024!
Each year, global culture, entertainment and events magazine Time Out is asking thousands of locals to get a unique insight into the reality of living in the world’s greatest cities right now. This year, city-dwellers were asked about the quality and affordability of the food, culture and nightlife scenes in their city and how their city makes them feel, from happiness to romance. Survey respondents were also asked about which other city they would most like to live in. Time Out combined these insights with those of more than 100 well-travelled Time Out staff writers and editors from around the world. All these factors contributed to this ranking of Time Out’s Best Cities in the World for 2024.
According to the findings of the survey, Cape Town in South Africa is the second best city in the world 2024. Cape Town's culture scene is ranked highest in the world and the food scene is getting described as "exciting, diverse and vibrant". Time Out recommends to visit the District Six Museum and Robben Island, as well as the Bo-Kaap and the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, which is taking place each February.
From the heights of Table Mountain to the stunning beaches on the coastline, it’s not hard to see why every single survey respondent said Cape Town was beautiful. [src.]nb. The Time Out Group opened Africa's first and only "Time Out Market" at Cape Town's V&A Waterfront in November 2023. The market is a curated showcase of some of the best culinary (!) and cultural (!) experiences Cape Town has to offer.
Time Out’s 50 Best Cities in the World right now:
- New York
- Cape Town
- Berlin
- London
- Madrid
- Mexico City
- Liverpool
- Tokyo
- Rome
- Porto
- Paris
- Mumbai
- Lisbon
- Chicago
- Manchester
- São Paulo
- Los Angeles
- Amsterdam
- Lagos
- Melbourne
- Naples
- Singapore
- Miami
- Bangkok
- Lima
- Budapest
- Beijing
- Dubai
- Montreal
- Glasgow
- Sydney
- Buenos Aires
- Kuala Lumpur
- Manila
- Seoul
- Hanoi
- San Francisco
- Barcelona
- Abu Dhabi
- New Orleans
- Philadelphia
- Austin
- Boston
- Accra
- Marseille
- Taipei
- Istanbul
- Osaka
- Hong Kong
- Vancouver
23 January 2024
Angola: Fly Angola resumes operations!
Angolan privately owned airline Fly Angola is set to resume operations next month. The airline, which temporarily canceled all operations in August 2023 due to economic and operational constraints, will initially operate four weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays between Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport (LAD) in Luanda and São Tomé International Airport (TMS) on São Tomé Island, about five kilometres from the city of São Tomé. This will be Fly Angola's first regional route. The airline previously only operated domestic flights in Angola. Fly Angola will commence operations between Luanda and São Tomé on 29 February 2024. We'll keep you posted!
22 January 2024
Durban: Seven beaches are currently closed due to water quality!
The eThekwini Municipality, the local government body responsible for governing and managing Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, has released updated lists of beaches that are currently (as of 21 January 2024) open and safe for swimming, closed for swimming and of swimming pools that are currently open to the public. According to the lists, 16 beaches in Durban are currently open for swimming, while swimming at seven beaches, namely uMhlanga Main, uMdloti Main, Bronze, Westbrook, Battery, Country Club and eThekwini Beach, is prohibited due to water quality. 33 swimming pools in Durban are currently open to the public.
The following beaches are open for swimming:
- operating hours 06:00 - 18:30 -
- Laguna
- Bay of Plenty
- North
- Wedge
- South
- Addington
- uShaka
- Point
- Anstey's
- Brighton
- Reunion
- Pipeline
- Toti Main Beach
- Warner
- Winklespruit
- uMgababa
Beach(es) closed for swimming:
- uMhlanga Main
- uMdloti Main
- Bronze
- Westbrook
- Battery
- Country Club
- eThekwini Beach
Recreational activities other than swimming at beaches closed for swimming are allowed!
17 January 2024
South Africa: Airlink resumes flights between Durban <> Bloemfontein!
South African regional and domestic airline Airlink is set to resume direct flights between King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban and Bram Fischer International Airport (BFN) in Bloemfontein. Effective 26 February 2024, the airline will operate morning flights on the route from Monday to Friday and late afternoon flights daily except for Saturdays. According to the Airlink, the resumption of flights between Durban and Bloemfontein is part of its strategy to expand the network of flights from Durban as a third hub with Bloemfontein joining Johannesburg, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Mbombela (Nelspruit) and Harare as directly-served destinations.
- Durban 07:00 > 08:00 Bloemfontein (Mondays - Fridays)
- Bloemfontein 08:30 > 09:25 Durban (Mondays - Fridays)
- Durban 15:55 > 16:55 Bloemfontein (Mondays - Fridays, Sundays)
- Bloemfontein 17:40 > 18:45 Durban (Mondays - Fridays, Sundays)
South Africa: Seasonal rainfall & temperature outlook (January 2024 - April 2024)!
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has released the Seasonal Climate Watch for the period January 2024 to April 2024. According to the seasonal outlook, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is currently in a strong El Niño state. This El Niño event is predicted to persist through the 2023/2024 summer (October to March), whereafter it is predicted to weaken with ENSO neutral conditions by the coming winter.
ENSO usually provides Soutern Africa with generally drier and warmer conditions during the summer seasons. However, current global forecasts indicate some uncertainty for the typical drier conditions that South Africa experiences during typical El Niño seasons, in particular over the eastern parts of the country.
SAWS' multi-model rainfall forecast indicates mostly below-normal rainfall over most of South Africa between January 2024 and May 2024 with the exception of the central and eastern coastal areas indicating higher likelihood of above-normal rainfall. SAWS points out that there remains uncertainty on the exact outcome of rainfall over the summer rainfall areas. Minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to be mostly above-normal in South Africa for the forecast period (January 2024 - April 2024).
16 January 2024
Zimbabwe/Mozambique: Forbes/Machipanda Border Post now operates 24/7!
The Governments of Zimbabwe and Mozambique have agreed to operate the Forbes Border Post (Zimbabwe)/Machipanda Border Post (Mozambique) 24 hours on seven days a week. The new operating hours are in place since 15 January 2024. Previously, both border posts closed at 22:00 and reopened at 06:00 daily. The Forbes/Machipanda Border Post is located just outside Mutare, the capital of the Manicaland Province and largest city in eastern Zimbabwe, and the town of Machipanda in Mozambique's Manica District.
Forbes Border Post is one of Zimbabwe's busiest ports of entry. According to state-owned newspaper "The Herald", the border post serves almost half of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and is clearing about 550 haulage trucks every day.
15 January 2024
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Park shops with changed opening hours due to stocktaking at the end of January 2024!
The Management of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park has announced that due to monthly stocktaking all shops in the National Park will have to temporarily change its operating hours on selected dates at the end of January 2024. The shops in the Mata-Mata Rest Camp (on 29 January 2024) and the Nossob Rest Camp (on 30 January 2024) will only be open from 07:30 to 09:00 and from 15:00 to 19:45, while the shop in the Twee Rivieren Rest Camp will only be open from 15:00 to 19:45 on 31 January 2024.
Durban: Some beaches closed following recent heavy rains!
The eThekwini Municipality, the local government body responsible for governing and managing Durban in KwaZulu-Natal,, yesterday (14 January 2024) announced that all beaches in the north and some in the southern region are closed until further notice. Only Umgababa Beach remains open in the south region. The beaches are closed due to damage caused by heavy rains that tool place on 13 January 2023. Logs and other debris has been washed into rivers and the sea. This has rendered beaches unsafe for swimming. All water activities are prohibited in the beaches located in the regions mentioned above. However, activities along the beach that do not require coming into contact with sea water are allowed.
All of Durban's central beaches remain open and are safe for swimming and other water related activities. We'll keep you posted!
12 January 2024
Durban: All beaches are open and safe for swimming - except for one!
The eThekwini Municipality, the local government body responsible for governing and managing Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, has released updated lists of beaches that are currently (as of 11 January 2024) open and safe for swimming, closed for swimming and of swimming pools that are currently open to the public. According to the lists, 22 beaches in Durban are currently open for swimming, while swimming at one beach, namely Laguna Beach, is prohibited due to water quality. 33 swimming pools in Durban are currently open to the public.
The following beaches are open for swimming:
- operating hours 06:00 - 18:30 -
- Wedge
- uShaka
- Addington
- Point Beach
- Battery Beach
- Bay of Plenty
- North Beach
- South Beach
- Country Club
- Thekwini Beach
- uMhlanga Main
- Bronze Beach
- mDloti Main
- Westbrook
- uMgababa
- Anstey's Beach
- Brighton
- Winkelespruit
- Toti Main Beach
- Pipeline Beach
- Warner Beach
- Reunion
Beach(es) closed for swimming:
- Laguna Beach
Recreational activities other than swimming at beaches closed for swimming are allowed!
11 January 2024
Zambia among ABTA's "10 Destinations to Watch in 2024"!
The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has announced its 10 Destinations to Watch in 2024. Based on the trends and buying habits of the UK travelling public as well as industry and insights, the list offers holidaymakers inspiration for their trips this year and insight on places ABTA anticipates will become increasingly popular with the UK traveller. Zambia is the only country in Africa that made it to the list of the 10 destinations for 2024. ABTA describes the southern African country as follows: "Zambia offers nature at its finest with a wealth of national parks teeming with wildlife, mighty waterfalls, and friendly vibrant cities. For animal lovers, very few countries compare - with almost a third of the country set aside for wildlife." [src.] Congratulations Zambia!
ABTA's 10 Destinations to Watch in alphabetical order are:
- Albania
- Aruba
- Crete
- Extremadura
- Mauritius
- Saxony
- The Tyrol
- Vietnam
- Zambia
09 January 2024
KwaZulu-Natal: Resumption of toll fee collections at N2 oThongathi north ramps!
The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL), a South African parastatal responsible for the management, maintenance and development of South Africa's proclaimed National Road network which includes many (not all!) National ("N") and some Provincial and Regional ("R") route segments, has announced that toll fee collections at the N2 oThongathi north ramps will resume on 15 January 2024. This follows the reopening of the M4 Tongaat River Bridge on 14 December 2023.
“Road users now have a choice to either use the N2 or the M4 and, with the reopening, we hope that communities and businesses of Zimbali, Ballito, Salt Rock, Shaka’s Head and other locations within KwaDukuza Local Municipality can once again resume normal operations,” said Dumisani Nkabinde, SANRAL’s Eastern Regional Manager.
The M4 Tongaat River Bridge suffered major damage during the devastating floods of April 2022 and motorists had to use the alternative N2 national highway. The collection of toll fees on the N2 oThongathi north ramps were therefore suspended as per a Government Gazette issued on 17 March 2023.
08 January 2024
South Africa: South African Airways returns to Australia!
South Africa's flag carrier, South African Airways (SAA), has announced its return to Australia. The airline will resume flights between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Perth Airport (PER) in Perth in Western Australia on 28 April 2024. According to the CEO of SAA, Professor John Lamola, "SAA’s operations to Perth are in line with the airline’s strategic plans to scale its operations to a profitable level by leveraging SAA’s unique capabilities as a national carrier with wide-body aircraft that can provide South Africa with long-haul intercontinental air connectivity." The Perth route marks the second interoceanic route to be reopened within six months of the successful launch of the Sao Paulo, Brazil route on 31 October 2023.
South African Airways (SAA) will operate three weekly return flights to Perth. Flights will depart Johannesburg on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 20:55 and arrive in Perth the following day at 12:20, while flights from Perth will depart on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 14:40 and arrive in Johannesburg the following day at 19:35.
For the launch phase of the route, SAA will operate an Airbus A340 – 300, with a total seat capacity of 253 (38 business class seats and 215 economy seats). Bookings open today, 08 January 2024.
Durban: Swimming at eight beaches is currently prohibited due to water quality!
The eThekwini Municipality, the local government body responsible for governing and managing Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, has released updated lists of beaches that are currently (as of 05 January 2024) open and safe for swimming, closed for swimming and of swimming pools that are currently open to the public. According to the lists, 15 beaches in Durban are currently open for swimming, while swimming at eight beaches, namely South Beach, Country Club, Thekwini Beach, Laguna Beach, uMhlanga Main Beach, Bronze Beach, Warner Beach and Reunion, is prohibited due to water quality. 33 swimming pools in Durban are currently open to the public.
The following beaches are open for swimming:
- operating hours 06:00 - 18:30 -
- Wegde
- uShaka
- Addington
- Point Beach
- Battery Beach
- Bay of Plenty
- North Beach
- mDloti Main
- Westbrook
- uMgababa
- Anstey's Beach
- Brighton
- Winkelespruit
- Toti Main Beach
- Pipeline Beach
Beaches closed for swimming:
- South Beach
- Country Club
- Thekwini Beach
- Laguna Beach
- uMhlanga Main Beach
- Bronze Beach
- Warner Beach
- Reunion
05 January 2024
Zimbabwe introduces an Online Border Management System (OBMS)!
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), the national brodcaster of Zimbabwe, is reporting that Zimbabwe is set to introduce an Online Border Management System (OBMS). The new system is being rolled out in a phased approach during 2024. The ZBC quotes Chief Immigration Officer Ms Respect Gono saying that the OBMS will be starting this January with major border posts and is envisaged to link the entire country of Zimbabwe by the end of 2024. According to Ms Gono, the OBMS will come with a cocktail of functionalities that will improve our efficiency including e-gates, online visa application, improved security and others. We'll keep you posted!
04 January 2024
Angola among CNN's top travel destinations for 2024!
The CNN Travel Team has revealed its list of the world's 24 best places to visit in 2024. According to the travel experts of the multinational news channel and website, all these destinations "are still largely undiscovered, or alluring in the offseason, or frequently overlooked for their larger first cities or neighbors". Angola is the only African destination on the list of the 24. CNN writes about the country the following: "This southern African nation is trying hard to make a break on the tourism scene, having recently introduced a quick-approval tourism e-visa. While major tourism infrastructure might not be up to speed yet, it’s a chance to explore a country still off the travel radar." Congrats Angola!
CNN's best places to visit 2024 [src.]:
- Sumba, Indonesia
- Turkey’s Black Sea coast
- Tartu, Estonia
- Tainan, Taiwan
- Northwest Michigan
- Trans Dinarica Cycle Route, Balkans
- Culebra, Puerto Rico
- Angola
- Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
- South Korea
- Albania
- Chile
- Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia
- Macedonia, Greece
- Panama
- Galicia, Spain
- Singapore’s offshore islands
- Mérida, Mexico
- Morocco
- Florida’s freshwater springs
- Texas Hill Country
- Fujairah
- Greenland
- Uzbekistan
Angola lifts tourist visa requirement for travellers from 98 countries! >>
03 January 2024
South Africa: FlySafair named world's leading low-cost carrier 2023!
Aviation analytics company Cirium has announced the winner of its annual On-Time Performance Review. According to the company's set of extensive and unbiased data, derived from over 600 real-time information sources, South African regional low cost-carrier FlySafair delivered the second best on-time performance in the Middle East and Africa in 2023 and has been named the world's leading low-cost carrier 2023. The Cirium analysis for FlySafair showed an on-time arrivals percentage of 92.36% for 2023 (55,444 flights). Congratulations!
An on-time flight is defined as a flight that arrives within 15 minutes of the scheduled gate arrival. For an airport, it is defined as departing within 15 minutes of its scheduled departure.
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