Brazil: LATAM to increase flights between São Paulo <> Johannesburg!

LATAM Airlines Brasil, the Brazilian brand of the LATAM Airlines Group, considered the largest airline company in Latin America, is set to increase its three-weekly service between São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU) in São Paulo (Brazil) and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg. Effective 28 October 2024, the airline will operate two additional weekly return flights to Johannesburg.

• São Paulo 22:45 > 12:25+1 Johannesburg on Mondays, Wednesdays (new), Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays (new)
• Johannesburg 15:15 > 20:00 São Paulo on Mondays (new), Tuesdays, Thursdays (new), Fridays, Sundays

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Kruger National Park: Petrol pumps at the Orpen Rest Camp filling station are currently not working!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that that the petrol pumps at the Total Energies service station at Orpen Rest Camp in Kruger National Park are currently not working. This is due to a system error. TotalEnergies have been made aware of the issue. We'll keep you posted!
Orpen Rest Camp is situated in the central-western region of the Kruger National Park. It is located near the Orpen Gate, which is one of the entry points into the National Park. Facilities at the rest camp include a restaurant, grocery store, fuel station and a swimming pool to cool off during the warmer days. Additionally, there are picnic sites and communal kitchen facilities available for use.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Park shops with changed opening hours due to stocktaking at the end of May 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 May 2024. The shops at Nossob Rest Camp (on 22 May 2024) and Mata-Mata Rest Camp (on 23 May 2024) will only be open from 07:00 to 09:00 and from 15:00 to 18:15, while the shop at Twee Rivieren Rest Camp will only be open from 15:00 to 18:15 on 27 May 2024.

Zimbabwe builds a new stadium in Victoria Falls for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup!

Zimbabwe is set to build a new multi-purpose stadium in Victoria Falls. According to the 14th post-cabinet briefing 2024, Zimbabwe Cricket, the national governing body for competitive cricket in Zimbabwe, was allocated 10 hectares of land for the construction of an (international cricket) stadium and ancillary facilities in the Masuwe Special Economic Zone for Tourism in Victoria Falls. The new stadium will be used in the hosting of the 2026 ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup, which will be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia, and the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. According to news repots from Zimbabwe, the country's President Emerson Mnangagwa is expected to lay the foundation stone on the site of the new stadium on 23 May 2024. The stadium is expected to be completed in August 2025. The venue will seat 10,000 and will also be able to host other sports such as rugby, tennis, hockey, and squash We'll keep you posted!

Zambia: Zambia Airways to launch a new regional service to East Africa!

The national airline of the Republic of Zambia, Zambia Airways, has announced the launch of a new regional service to East Africa. Effective 27 June 2024, the airline will operate three return flights from Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) in Lusaka to Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi, Kenya. Flights will be operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

• Lusaka 07:00 > 10:30 Dar es Salaam 11:15 > 12:35 Nairobi 13:20 > 15:20 Lusaka on Tuesdays and Thursdays
• Lusaka 07:00 > 11:00 Nairobi 11:45 > 13:05 Dar es Salaam 13:50 > 15:20 Lusaka on Saturdays

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Table Mountain National Park: Trail connecting Smuts Track and Echo Valley trail is temporarly closed!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that the trail connecting Smuts Track and Echo Valley trail in the Northern Section of Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town is temporarily closed until further notice. This is due to the recent fires in Table Mountain National Park that caused damage to the infrastructure. SANParks has decided to close the trail to ensure public safety and facilitate the necessary rehabilitation and repairs of the wooden boardwalks. We'll keep you posted!

Smuts Track is a 4km hike and one of the most popular walks on Table Mountain. It starts in the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, but the heart of this route begins at the intersection of Skeleton Gorge and the Contour Path.
Echo Valley Trail also starts in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, located on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. The main loop trail is approximately 3km to 4km long.

Malawi: Malawi Airlines is planning to introduce new routes to three African countries!

According to news reports from Malawi, the flag carrier of the country, Malawi Airlines, is planning to launch new routes to three African countries. The marketing mangager of the airline, Only Taulo, told local reporters recently that Malawi Airlines will introduce new services to Rwanda, Mozambique and Uganda. Flights to Kigali in Rwanda as well as Nampula and Pemba in Mozambique  will "soon" be introduced, while the launch of flights to Uganda is expected to take place towards the end of 2024. We'll keep you posted!

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Cape Town: Maintenance work at Pipe Track in Table Mountain National Park

South African National Parks (SANParks) has informed the public that maintenance work is currently underway at the Camps Bay Pipe Track in the Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town. The work is including the fixing of gabions to prevent soil erosion ahead of the winter rainy season and the construction of a hiking trail footbridge. SANParks kindly request hikers to exercise caution during this time. The maintenance work is expected to be completed by Friday, 24 May 2024.

Pipe Track is a 6km hiking trail that is located on the slopes of Table Mountain, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It starts near the Kloof Nek parking area and follows the path of an old water pipeline that was built in the late 19th century to supply water to Cape Town. Although the Pipe Track does not go up all the way to the top of Table Mountain, it circles around the mountain.

Garden Route National Park: Waterside Boardwalk in the Ebb and Flow Rest Camp is temporarily closed!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has informed the public that the Waterside Boardwalk in the Ebb and Flow Rest Camp in Garden Route National Park's Wilderness section is temporarily closed until further notice. Due to the recent floods, the Waterside Boardwalk has incurred structural damages, rendering it unsafe for public use. According to SANParks, work is underway to address the situation. We'll keep you posted!

The Waterside Boardwalk is located in the Ebb and Flow Rest Camp in the Wilderness section of Garden Route National Park and provides visitors with a scenic pathway that meanders alongside the Touw River, offering beautiful views of the surrounding forest and wetland habitats.
The Wilderness section of Garden Route National Park is located around the seaside town of Wilderness, Western Cape between the larger towns of George, Sedgefield and Knysna, in the Western Cape. It stretches from the Touw River mouth to the Swartvlei estuary and beyond, where it links with the Goukamma Nature Reserve.

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA): Travel advisory for Cape Town International Airport's passengers!

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has informed the public that passengers departing from or arriving at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town are currently experiencing delays at the Border Management Authority's immigration processing points due to extended queues. ACSA has therefore deployed additional personel to assist with passenger movement and is working to expedite the processing procedures. Additionally ACSA is urging passengers to allow for extra travel time when travelling to Cape Town International Airport (CPT). We'll keep you posted!

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Durban: Nine beaches are currently closed for swimming 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 09 May 2024) open and safe for swimming, closed for swimming and of swimming pools that are currently open to the public. According to the lists, 14 beaches in Durban are currently open for swimming, while swimming at nine beaches is prohibited due to water quality. 32 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 Beach
2. Wedge
3. South Beach
4. Addington
5. Laguna Beach
6. Thekwini Beach
7. Battery Beach
8. uShaka
9. Country Club
10. uMgababa
11. mDloti Main
12. Westbrook
13. uMhlanga Main Beach
14. Bronze Beach

Beach(es) closed for swimming:

1. North Beach
2. Bay of Plenty
3. Anstey's Beach
4. Brighton
5. Pipeline Beach
6. Winkelespruit
7. Warner Beach
8. Toti Main Beach
9. Reunion 

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

Iziko Museums of South Africa: Free entry to selected museums on International Museum Day!

 Every year since 1977, the worldwide community of museums is celebrating International Museum Day (IMD) around or on 18 May. This year’s theme is "Museums, Education, and Research", focusing on the importance of museum collections and exhibitions in knowledge production and learning experiences. To commemorate the global event, Iziko Museums of South Africa is offering free entry to selected Iziko Museum sites in Cape Town on 18 May 2024. The Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome, the Castle of Good Hope and Groot Constantia will not take part.

Iziko Museums of South Africa operates 11 national museums in Cape Town as well as collection-specific libraries, a world-class Social History Archive and the most advanced digital Planetarium and Digital Dome on the African continent.

Mountain Zebra National Park: Cheetah re-collared to continue tracking efforts!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that cheetah conservation in Mountain Zebra National Park (MZNP) outside Cradock in South Africa's Eastern Cape got a welcomed boost. A new cheetah collar was donated to the National Park, which was fitted to one of the MZNP's resident females. The collar fitted previously was about to reach the end of its life span.
Mountain Zebra National Park is currently home to eight cheetahs. Of these, four are collared. The National Park is the only one in South Africa offering a cheetah tracking activity, and these cheetahs are the ones which are sought out by activity guides through the use of a VHF (very high frequency) telemetry device. If guests are lucky enough, they could get to within 40 metres of one or more cheetah in their natural habitat. They also help MZNP's Management gather ecological data for research purposes which help in the management of the species.
Cheetahs were reintroduced to Mountain Zebra National Park in 2007 after being absent from the plains of the Karoo for 130 years.

Augrabies Falls National Park: Unleaded fuel is currently not available! [update]

update (06 May 2024): The management of Augrabies Falls National Park just confirmed that unleaded fuel is still not available.

The management of Augrabies Falls National Park in South Africa's Northern Cape just announced that unleaded fuel is currently not available in the National Park. However, Diesel is available. It is recommended to make use of fuel stations outside Augrabies National Park. The next fuel station outside the National Park is in the town of Kakamas, located about 40km from Augrabies Falls National Park entrance/exit gate.
Augrabies Falls National Park is located around the Augrabies Falls, about 120 km west of Upington in South Africa's Northern Cape. The National Park stretches along the Orange River and covers an area of 820km². Travelling from Upington on the N14 (that runs between Upington and Springbok) turn right just after Kakamas. From here it’s 28km further to Augrabies Falls National Park entrance/exit gate and another 3km to Reception and the Augrabies Falls Rest Camp.

/Ai-/Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park: Bo Plaas campsite (Namibia) reopens!

Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), the state-owned enterprise mandated to run the tourism facilities within the protected areas of Namibia, has announced that the Bo Plaas Campsite in the /Ai-/Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park has reopened on 30 April 2024 following a temorary closure. The campsite was closed since September 2023 for security and infrastructure upgrades. These included the implementation of enhanced securiy measures and the construction of additional ablution blocks.

The Bo Plaas Campsite is located along the Orange River on the scenic Aussenkehr and Rosh Pinah Road, known to be one of the most scenic routes in Namibia. The Campsite is easily accessible from either the Ai-Ais Hotsprings Spa or the Hobas Lodge, as well as from South Africa and Botswana.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: SANParks is upgrading the old chalets at Nossob Rest Camp!

The management of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. has announced that the upgrading of the old chalets at Nossob Rest Camp commenced on 29 April 2024. The project is expected to take approximately four months.  

Nossob Rest Camp is situated within the dry riverbed of the Nossob. The camp is surrounded by tree savannah and is famous for spectacular predator sightings. Nossob Rest Camp has a reception, swimming pool, predator information centre, shop and fuel facilities. A generator provides electricity for 16.5 hrs per day. No phone reception is available at the Rest Camp. Nossob Rest Camp is 3,5 hour drive from Twee Rivieren Rest Camp, the largest rest camp and administrative headquarters of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.