Addo Elephant National Park: Main Camp swimming pool to close for maintenance

The swimming pool at Main Camp in Addo Elephant National Park will be closed for approximately four weeks from 13 October 2026 for maintenance ahead of the summer season.

The temporary closure affects overnight guests at Main Camp who will not be able to use the swimming pool during their stay. The pool is expected to reopen in mid-November 2026, subject to the progress of the maintenance work.

Main Camp is Addo Elephant National Park's principal accommodation facility, offering chalets, cottages, safari tents and camping facilities, as well as a restaurant and shop. Located in the southern section of the park, it provides convenient access to the main game-viewing area, which is particularly known for its large elephant population.

Addo Elephant National Park is located approximately 70 km north-east of Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape and is a popular destination for self-drive safaris.

 

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Namibia: No reopening date for Swakopmund’s National Marine Aquarium

Swakopmund's National Marine Aquarium has remained closed since October 2023, when it shut its doors because of structural damage caused by years of seawater corrosion. Although the renovation project has been included in Namibia's multi-year development budget, physical renovation work has not yet started, and the project is still in the planning stage.

Namibia's latest development budget provides further details about the project, including additional funding and plans to refurbish the adjacent Namibia Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre (NATMIRC). Even so, no reopening date has been announced, and travellers should not expect the aquarium to reopen before an official announcement.

Renovation funding extended to 2028 

According to Namibia's 2025/26–2027/28 Development Budget Book, the government has allocated an estimated N$27.12 million for the renovation and upgrading of the National Marine Aquarium. The funding is spread across four financial years, with N$10 million earmarked for 2025/26, N$8.5 million for 2026/27 and a further N$7.55 million for 2027/28. The budget also includes N$1.07 million for 2024/25.

The latest figures are higher than the provisional N$20 million budget reported in June 2025. However, the government has not published a final project cost or a detailed breakdown of actual expenditure.

The renovation is being managed by Namibia's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform. In addition to repairing the aquarium, the project includes the refurbishment of the neighbouring Namibia Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre (NATMIRC), which supports the country’s marine research activities.

No confirmed reopening date

The renovation has experienced considerable delays since the aquarium closed in October 2023 because of structural damage caused by prolonged exposure to seawater. In June 2025, the ministry confirmed that physical renovation work on the aquarium had not yet started. The delays were attributed partly to administrative restructuring and the need for detailed engineering assessments to determine the full extent of the damage and the necessary repairs.

The government’s latest budget schedules the project’s completion for March 2028. However, this is the planned end of the renovation programme and does not necessarily mean that the aquarium will reopen to visitors by then. As of September 2026, the aquarium remains closed, and no official reopening date has been announced.

For travellers planning a visit to Swakopmund, the continued closure means that one of the town’s established indoor attractions remains unavailable. The aquarium is particularly popular with families and visitors interested in Namibia's marine wildlife, making its absence worth considering when planning an itinerary.

Until further notice, travellers should check the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform for updates and should not include the National Marine Aquarium in their travel plans without first confirming that it has reopened.

 

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Durban Beach Water Quality: Most beaches open, Reunion remains closed

Durban's latest beach water-quality results show that most monitored beaches are open for swimming, but Reunion Beach remains closed because of very high E. coli levels.

The latest results, issued on 23 September 2026, show that most of Durban's main swimming beaches currently have an open status. For travellers planning time on the KwaZulu-Natal coast, however, it is worth checking the latest status before heading into the water, as conditions can change.

Reunion Beach remains closed

The main exception is Reunion Beach, south of Durban. Its latest recorded E. coli result was more than 24,196, compared with the municipal limit of 500 for an acceptable result. The beach is therefore closed for swimming.

The municipal classification uses three thresholds:

• Excellent: below 130
• Acceptable: 130–500
• Poor: above 500

The closure means visitors should not swim at Reunion Beach, although other recreational activities can still take place there.

Most major beaches are open

The latest list includes a wide range of beaches in Durban that are open for swimming, including uShaka, Addington, South Beach, North Beach, Bay of Plenty, Battery Beach, Country Club, thekwini Beach, Laguna Beach, Umhlanga Main, Bronze Beach, Umdloti Main and Westbrook.

The individual test results vary considerably. For example, Umdloti Main recorded less than 10 E. coli, while North Beach recorded 135 and Addington 350. All three were nevertheless listed as open in the latest results.
Further south, Amanzimtoti Main recorded 31, Ansteys less than 10 and Winklespruit 20, while Doonside recorded 350. These beaches were also listed as open.

What this means for travellers

For visitors staying in or around Durban, there is currently a choice of beaches where swimming is permitted. Reunion Beach should be avoided for swimming until its status changes.

The important point is that the water-quality situation is not uniform along the coast. Individual beaches are tested and their status can change, so travellers should check the latest municipal information rather than assuming that conditions at one beach apply to the entire Durban coastline.

Beach operating hours listed in the update are 06:00–18:00 on weekdays and 09:00–17:00 on Sundays and public holidays.

Traveller tip: If swimming is an important part of your Durban itinerary, check the beach's current status shortly before visiting, particularly after heavy rain or other events that can affect coastal water quality.

Source: eThekwini Municipality, Beach Water Quality Results and Status of Beaches and Swimming Pools, 23 September 2026. 

 

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Kruger National Park: Orpen Road (R31) detour reopens just in time for Heritage Day weekend

Good news for anyone heading to Kruger National Park's Orpen Gate this long weekend: the temporary detour around the flood-damaged section of the R531 is open again — but only for now.

The R531 is the main route linking Hoedspruit with Orpen Gate, and it's been a headache for travellers since April 2026, when a bridge near the Wits Rural Facility was washed away in heavy rains. Repairs have been ongoing ever since, and the road has been intermittently restricted while work continues.

What's changed

South Africa's Department of Transport has confirmed that the temporary detour around the damaged section is now passable. According to Christine du Preez, Ward 1 Councillor for Maruleng Municipality, the detour will be open for use over the Heritage Day long weekend — welcome timing for anyone with a Kruger National Park trip planned for 24–27 September 2026.

Work on the detour itself isn't finished, but it's currently in a state that allows vehicles to travel through safely.

The catch: it's temporary

This isn't a permanent fix, and the window is short. Repair work resumes on Monday (28 September 2026), and access may be restricted again once crews are back on site to complete the remaining work.

What this means for travellers

• If you're driving to Orpen Gate over the long weekend, the detour should get you through — but budget extra time, as detour sections are typically narrower, unsealed, or single-lane. The speed limit is 40km/h.
• Don't assume the same conditions will apply after the weekend. If your trip falls after Monday, check the latest status before you set off, since restrictions could return while work continues.
• Consider Phalaborwa Gate or Paul Kruger Gate as backup entry points if you're travelling later in the week and want to avoid any uncertainty around the R531.
• Drive cautiously through the detour itself — temporary road surfaces near active construction sites are best tackled at a reduced speed, especially with a loaded vehicle or trailer.

Bottom line

The Orpen Road detour is open for Heritage Day weekend travellers, giving a short but useful window to reach Orpen Gate via the R531. It's a temporary reprieve rather than a full reopening, so anyone travelling after Monday  (28 September 2026) should check for updates before relying on this route.

 

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Malawi Tightens Currency Rules: What travellers need to know

Travellers leaving Malawi now face new limits on the amount of foreign and Malawi currency they can take across the country's borders. The changes are particularly relevant to visitors who bring substantial amounts of cash into Malawi for their trip.

The changes are contained in the Foreign Exchange (Limit on Physical Possession of Foreign Currency) Notice, 2026, made on 07 September 2026 and published in the Malawi Government Gazette on 18 September 2026. The new rules set limits both on the physical possession of foreign currency and on taking foreign currency out of Malawi.

click to enlarge

Under the new rules, individuals may not take or send more than US$1,000, or its equivalent in another foreign currency, out of Malawi unless they can provide evidence that the money was obtained from an authorised dealer or have permission from the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM).

Why might travellers carry more than US$1,000?

For some visitors, bringing substantial amounts of cash into Malawi can be a practical precaution. Card and ATM access can be less reliable outside major centres, while travellers heading to remote areas, national parks or rural accommodation may have limited opportunities to obtain cash.

A traveller might therefore arrive with US$1,500 or US$2,000 to cover lodges, activities, transport, tips and other expenses, particularly on a longer trip.

This makes declaring foreign currency on arrival particularly important.

Bringing your own cash into Malawi

Malawi's existing exchange-control framework contains provisions allowing a non-resident to take foreign currency out of the country up to the amount they brought in. A tourist arriving with US$1,000, declaring it at the border and leaving with the same US$1,000, is therefore not necessarily in the same position as someone who acquired the money inside Malawi.

However, the new notice does not clearly explain how this existing provision interacts with the new US$1,000 limit. The position is even less clear for someone arriving with more than US$1,000.

Travellers should keep their arrival currency declaration and evidence of the source of their cash. Anyone planning to bring more than US$1,000 into Malawi and leave with some of it should check the requirements with the RBM or Malawi customs before travelling.

Malawi kwacha is also restricted

The rules separately limit the amount of Malawi kwacha that can be taken out of the country. Ordinary travellers are limited to the equivalent of US$100 in Malawi's currency, while cross-border traders can take or send up to the equivalent of US$5,000 without RBM permission.

Traveller checklist

Before travelling to and from Malawi with cash:

• Declare foreign currency when entering Malawi.
• Keep your declaration or receipt until you leave.
• Keep proof of where the money came from, particularly for cash purchased from an authorised dealer.
• If carrying more than US$1,000, check the current requirements with the RBM or Malawi customs before departure.
• Remember that Malawi kwacha has a separate export limit.
• Don't assume that money you legally brought into Malawi can automatically be taken out again without documentation.

For travellers, the practical message is simple: declare substantial foreign currency when entering Malawi, keep the paperwork, and do not assume that the new US$1,000 export limit automatically settles the question of money you legitimately brought into the country.

The restrictions come as Malawi continues to face severe foreign-exchange shortages and tighter controls over the movement of hard currency.

 

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South Africa's Rhino population grows 4.9%, but poaching remains a threat

South Africa marked World Rhino Day on 22 September 2026 with an update on its rhino population — still the largest in the world. Here's what the numbers actually mean if you're planning a safari.

South Africa remains home to more rhinos than any other country on Earth, and the latest figures suggest the population is heading in the right direction. But the update also comes with a reminder that the threat to these animals hasn't gone away.

The population: up 4.9%

At the end of 2025, South Africa's minimum national rhino population was estimated at 15,096 animals, made up of at least 2,565 black rhinos and 12,531 white rhinos. That's a 4.9% increase since 2024 — a meaningful rebound for a species that has spent decades under pressure from poaching.

Poaching: trending down, but still significant

From January to the end of August 2026, 230 rhinos were poached across the country, down from 248 over the same period in 2025. Kruger National Park, the epicentre of South Africa's poaching crisis, recorded 114 rhino deaths in the first eight months of 2026, compared with 123 the year before.

Poaching accounted for 2.2% of the national rhino population in 2025 — below the 3.5% threshold that conservationists consider the tipping point for population decline. It's a positive trend, though not one to get complacent about: every rhino lost removes a potential breeding animal and can leave calves orphaned.

What's driving the improvement

A few concrete interventions are being credited with the turnaround:

• Dehorning programmes in high-risk reserves, reducing the incentive for poachers
• Additional rangers and rhino monitors deployed in Kruger National Park through the Rhino Renaissance Initiative
• Layered security, tech-assisted monitoring and stronger law enforcement, including more coordinated investigations and prosecutions
• A new 10-year Biodiversity Management Plan for black and white rhino, published in April 2026, aimed at growing and securing populations over the long term
• A dedicated task force targeting the full trafficking chain — from poachers to the financiers profiting from the illegal horn trade

What this means for travellers

If a rhino sighting is on your safari list, the numbers are reassuring: South Africa's national parks remain a strong bet, and conservation investment is visibly paying off. Guides in parks like Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal are often well placed to talk you through the anti-poaching measures in place, which can add real depth to a game drive beyond the sighting itself.

It's also worth knowing that dehorning is increasingly common in high-risk areas — so don't be surprised if the rhino you spot looks a little different from the postcard image. It's a deliberate, effective protection measure, not a sign of a struggling population.

Travellers who notice anything suspicious involving wildlife — in a park or elsewhere — can report it to South Africa's environmental crime hotline on 0800 205 005 or SAPS on 10111.

Bottom line

South Africa's rhino population grew by 4.9% in 2025, and poaching numbers continued to fall through the first eight months of 2026. The country's rhinos are far from out of danger, but the trend is a positive one — and for travellers, it's another reason a safari through Kruger National Park or KwaZulu-Natal's reserves remains one of the most rewarding wildlife experiences on the continent.

Source: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), World Rhino Day media release, 22 September 2026.

 

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Free access to selected Cape Town nature reserves over Heritage Day weekend

The City of Cape Town is giving travellers and locals a good reason to get outdoors in Cape Town this Heritage Day weekend. From Thursday, 24 September to Sunday, 27 September 2026, entry to four of the city's usually-paid nature reserves will be completely free.

The free-entry offer applies to:

• Blaauwberg Nature Reserve
• Helderberg Nature Reserve
• Table Bay Nature Reserve
• Tygerberg Nature Reserve

These four reserves normally charge an entrance fee, so if you've been putting off a visit, this long weekend is the time to go.

What travellers may not know: most City reserves are free year-round

Here's the part that's easy to miss. Beyond the four reserves above, the City of Cape Town manages a much larger network of nature reserves and conservation areas across Cape Town — and most of these are free to enter year-round, no special promotion required.

Which reserve should you visit?

With close to 20 reserves scattered across Cape Town, there's something within reach no matter where you're based. A few options to consider:

Coastal and wetland spots

• Table Bay Nature Reserve (Rietvlei section) — main entrance at the southern end of Grey Avenue, Table View. Good for birdlife and open water views.
• False Bay Nature Reserve — covers both the Rondevlei section (corner of Perth Road and Fisherman's Walk, Grassy Park/Zeekoevlei) and the Zeekoevlei section (01 Shoreline Drive).
• Zandvlei Nature Reserve — Coniston Avenue, Marina Da Gama, Steenberg.
• Wolfgat Nature Reserve — Baden Powell Drive, Mitchells Plain, with an environmental education centre at 5 Pyrenees Road, Tafelsig.

Mountain and fynbos reserves

• Blaauwberg Nature Reserve — Eerste Steen Resort, Otto du Plessis Drive (M14), north of Bloubergstrand. Famous for its Table Mountain views across the bay.
• Tygerberg Nature Reserve — Totius Street, Welgemoed.
• Helderberg Nature Reserve — Verster Avenue, Somerset West, with Cape fynbos and hiking trails.
• Schapenberg Nature Reserve — Romulus Street, Rome Glen, Somerset West.

Smaller and lesser-known reserves worth exploring

• Bothasig Fynbos Nature Reserve — border of Visserhof, Bosmansdam and Potsdam roads, Bothasig.
• Botterblom Nature Reserve — Botterblom Road, Vierlanden, Durbanville.
• Bracken Nature Reserve — 2 Reservoir Road, Brackenfell.
• Durbanville Nature Reserve — Racecourse Road, Durbanville.
• Edith Stephens Nature Reserve — Govan Mbeki Road, Philippi (off Jakes Gerwel Drive).
• Harmony Flats Nature Reserve — 11th Avenue, Strand.
• Paardevlei Nature Reserve — De Beers Avenue, Paardevlei.
• Steenbras Nature Reserve — Faure Marine Drive (R44), about 9 km from Gordon's Bay.
• Uitkamp Wetland Nature Reserve — Mosselbank Road, Durbanville.
• Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve — Atlantis Dunes, Dassenberg Drive (R307), Atlantis.

What this means for travellers

If you're in Cape Town this week — or planning a trip around it — it's a good opportunity to tick off a reserve you've never visited, or to string a few together into a day of exploring further-flung corners of the city, like Atlantis's dune-fynbos at Witzands or Somerset West's Helderberg trails.

One thing to keep in mind: the free entry only covers admission. Paid recreational activities within the reserves — water sports and similar bookings, for example — will still be charged at the normal rate. So if your plan includes kayaking or a guided activity, budget for that separately.

It's also worth checking each reserve's opening hours before setting out, since these can vary, and some of the smaller reserves (like Bothasig Fynbos or Botterblom) are compact enough to combine with other errands in the same part of town.

Bottom line

From 24 to 27 September 2026, Blaauwberg, Helderberg, Table Bay and Tygerberg nature reserves join the rest of the City of Cape Town's reserve network in being free to enter. It's a low-cost way to spend a long weekend outdoors — just budget separately for any paid activities on-site.

 

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Cape Town Beach Alerts: New tool lets travellers check beach water quality

Travellers heading to Cape Town’s beaches and tidal pools now have a new way to check coastal conditions before heading to the water.

The City of Cape Town has launched Cape Town Beach Alerts, an online platform covering beaches and tidal pools along the Atlantic and False Bay coastlines. It brings together recent and longer-term water-quality results, coastal alerts, weather information and lifeguard details in one place.

The platform allows users to search for an individual beach or tidal pool in Cape Town and view its latest available water-quality result, as well as the eight most recent samples and longer-term results over a rolling 365-day period.

Results are shown using a simple colour system: green indicates a result within the national recreational water-quality guidelines, amber indicates a single failed result, while red indicates two consecutive failed results. The site also shows when the last failed result occurred and how frequently a location is tested.

For travellers, the service goes beyond water quality. Individual beach pages also include current weather and a three-day forecast, wind direction and strength, active coastal alerts, and information about seasonal lifeguard services and Blue Flag status.

The City says its monitoring programme covers more than 300 km of coastline, with samples collected every week at more than 100 locations. Water samples are independently analysed for enterococci, an indicator used to assess recreational coastal water quality.

One important point for visitors is that water-quality results are based on samples collected previously rather than real-time measurements. According to information provided by the City, it can take at least 72 hours from sampling to an independently tested result being published.

Cape Town Beach Alerts is available at:

Cape Town Beach Alerts

The service is also available through the City of Cape Town mobile app, where users can register for push notifications about environmental and pollution-related incidents affecting beaches and tidal pools.

For visitors planning beach days in Cape Town, it is a useful page to check alongside the weather and other local safety information—particularly when deciding between different beaches or tidal pools.

 

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Eastern Cape Free Access Week 2026: 11 reserves waive entry fees from 24 September

The Eastern Cape Parks & Tourism Agency (ECPTA) will offer free day access to 11 provincial nature reserves in the Eastern Cape from 24 September to 04 October 2026.

The Free Access Week 2026 promotion waives both gate and conservation fees for day visitors at participating reserves. It does not include accommodation, activities or other additional costs.

The free-access promotion applies to day visitors at the following reserves in the Eastern Cape:

1. Thomas Baines Nature Reserve
2. Waters Meeting Nature Reserve
3. Tsolwana/Commando Drift Nature Reserve
4. Mpofu/Fort Fordyce Nature Reserve
5. Oviston Nature Reserve
6. East London Coast Nature Reserve
7. Ongeluksnek Nature Reserve
8. Silaka Nature Reserve
9. Mkambati Nature Reserve
10. Hluleka Nature Reserve
11. Groendal Nature Reserve

The participating reserves cover several parts of the Eastern Cape, from the coastal reserves around East London and the Wild Coast to inland conservation areas.

The promotion is therefore particularly relevant to travellers planning day trips or self-drive itineraries in the Eastern Cape. Overnight visitors will still have to pay for accommodation, while activities remain subject to the usual charges.

ECPTA says the promotion may be amended or cancelled without notice, so travellers should check directly with their chosen reserve before visiting.

 

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Sendelingsdrift pontoon closed in |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that the the Sendelingsdrift Pontoon at the Sendelingsdrift border post in the |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park is temporarily closed from 21 September 2026 due to high water levels.

The crossing will remain closed until water levels have receded and safety inspections have been completed. Travellers should therefore check the status before planning to enter the park via Sendelingsdrift.

The Sendelingsdrift Pontoon crosses the Orange (Gariep) River between South Africa and Namibia, providing a convenient cross-border route for travellers combining the Richtersveld with southern Namibia. It also avoids the lengthy detour around the river.

Alternative route from Namibia

Visitors travelling from Namibia can still reach the park via the Oranjemund–Alexander Bay border route:

Rosh Pinah > Oranjemund > Alexander Bay > Sanddrift > Sendelingsdrift

The final approximately 95 km between Alexander Bay and Sendelingsdrift is gravel and can be heavily corrugated. A high-clearance vehicle or 4x4 is strongly recommended, particularly for this section and for travel within |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park.

Travellers should also ensure that all required vehicle and cross-border documentation is in order and allow plenty of time for the journey. This is a remote area with limited services.

 

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Durban Beaches Update: 19 of 23 beaches open for swimming

Durban's beaches remain partly open for swimming, but the latest municipal water-quality results show a deterioration at several locations since the previous update.

As of 18 September 2026, 19 of Durban's 23 monitored beaches are listed as open for swimming, while four beaches — Doonside Beach, Reunion Beach, Thekwini Beach and Laguna Beach — are closed.

The latest status is based on water-quality samples taken between 14 and 17 September, with E. coli results ranging from 10 to 1,439 across the monitored beaches. The municipality classifies results below 130 as excellent, 130–500 as acceptable and results above 500 as poor.

Which Durban beaches are open?

The latest municipal status lists the following 19 beaches as open for swimming:

Northern beaches: Westbrook, Umdloti Main, Umhlanga Main and Bronze Beach.

Central beaches: Wedge, Point, uShaka, Addington, South Beach, North Beach, Bay of Plenty, Battery Beach and Country Club.

Southern beaches: Toti Main, Ansteys, Brighton, Umgababa, Winklespruit and Pipeline.

For travellers, this means swimming remains possible at a number of the city's main beachfront areas, including Umhlanga and the central Golden Mile.

Four beaches are currently closed

Four monitored beaches are currently closed for swimming:

• Doonside Beach – E. coli result of 798
• Reunion Beach – 1,439
• Thekwini Beach – 557
• Laguna Beach – 644

All four results are above the municipality's poor-water-quality threshold of 500.
The latest results represent a change from the previous update. On 03 (10) September 2026, 22 of the 23 monitored beaches were open, with only Reunion Beach closed after recording an E. coli result of 638 (583).

Water quality varies between beaches

The results also show why it is useful for travellers to check the individual beach status rather than treating Durban's coastline as having one overall water-quality rating.

Several beaches recorded low E. coli readings. Umdloti Main recorded 10, Brighton 10, Ansteys 20, Westbrook 20 and Umhlanga Main and Bronze Beach both recorded 31.

Other beaches currently open for swimming recorded results within the municipality's acceptable range. These include Umgababa at 437, Point at 425, uShaka at 336, Toti Main at 153 and Winklespruit at 132.
An “open” status therefore does not necessarily mean that the latest result falls into the municipality's excellent category.

What does this mean for travellers?

If you're visiting Durban and want to swim, there are still 19 monitored beaches available, but four locations should currently be excluded from swimming plans.

The situation can change as new water-quality samples are taken. Travellers planning a beach day should therefore check the latest municipal status before swimming, particularly if they are heading to Doonside, Reunion, Thekwini or Laguna.

The municipality says recreational activities can continue at closed beaches, but swimming is not permitted.

Durban beach swimming hours

The municipal notice lists operating hours of 06:00–18:00 on weekdays and 09:00–17:00 on Sundays and public holidays.

Bottom line

As of 18 September 2026, 19 of Durban's 23 monitored beaches are open for swimming. Doonside, Reunion, Thekwini and Laguna beaches are closed after recording E. coli results above the municipality's poor-water-quality threshold.

For visitors, the key point is that Durban still has a range of beaches open for swimming, but the latest results show that conditions can vary significantly between locations and change from one update to the next.

Source: eThekwini Municipality, Beach Water Quality Results and Status of Beaches and Swimming Pools, 18 September 2026.

 

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Survey: FlySafair named best low-cost airline in Africa 2026!

South African regional carrier FlySafair has been awarded Best Low-Cost Airline in Africa at the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards for the second year running, successfully defending the title it first won in 2025. Zimbabwe-based Fastjet took second place this year, swapping positions with South African domestic carrier LIFT, which finished third after placing second in 2025. FlySafair also placed 8th among all African airlines overall, ahead of several long-established full-service carriers on the continent.

South African Airways (SAA) was named Cleanest Airline in Africa for 2026, reclaiming the title after losing it to Airlink last year. SAA also placed 6th among all African airlines and 72nd in the World's Top 100 Airlines overall, down slightly from 68th in 2025.

Air Mauritius was the region's top performer in the overall rankings, climbing from 64th to 52nd in the World's Top 100 Airlines and placing 3rd in Africa — ahead of SAA, and a 12-place jump on last year's result.

Fastjet and LIFT both featured prominently in the wider African rankings too, placing 9th and 10th respectively among all African airlines.

Across the continent, Ethiopian Airlines was named the top-ranked African airline overall, followed by Egyptair in 2nd and Royal Air Maroc in 4th, with RwandAir and Kenya Airways also featuring in the continent's top 10 alongside the Southern African carriers above.

Globally, Singapore Airlines was named the World's Best Airline for 2026, with Qatar Airways in 2nd and Cathay Pacific Airways in 3rd place. 

The 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards were based on the results of a global passenger satisfaction survey conducted between September 2025 and June 2026. More than 100 nationalities participated, with responses carefully screened to remove duplicate or ineligible entries. Over 325 airlines were included in the final results, making the Skytrax Awards one of the most comprehensive airline rankings in the industry.

 

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British Airways increases London–Cape Town flights for northern summer 2027

British Airways will increase its London Heathrow–Cape Town service from seven to 10 flights per week during the 2027 summer season, giving travellers more flexibility when planning trips between the UK and South Africa.

The additional frequencies will be useful for travellers using Cape Town as the starting or final point of a Southern African itinerary, as well as those connecting through London Heathrow from other destinations.

There is an important seasonal distinction. The increase to 10 weekly flights applies to summer 2027. British Airways is separately scheduled to operate up to 21 flights per week between London Heathrow and Cape Town during the 2026/27 Northern Hemisphere winter, from December 2026.

The 10-weekly summer schedule therefore represents an increase compared with the previous summer schedule, rather than a year-round increase to 10 flights per week.

British Airways is also expanding its wider African network for summer 2027, including the return of flights to Tanzania.

 

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Kruger National Park: Malelane Gate to close temporarily on 22 September 2026

update 22 September 2026: SANParks confirms that following a peaceful march today by unemployed youth from the neighbouring Nkomazi area, Malelane Gate is now open and safe for use. Normal operations have resumed, and guests, staff, suppliers, and visitors may access Kruger National Park through the gate as usual. 

Travellers planning to enter or leave the Kruger National Park through Malelane Gate on Tuesday, 22 September 2026 should make alternative arrangements.

South African National Parks (SANParks) says the gate will be temporarily closed from 08:00 on 22 September because of a planned march by unemployed youth from the Nkomazi area bordering the park.

The protest is expected to focus on concerns affecting unemployed young people in the area. SANParks says the march is intended to be peaceful, but the gate will remain closed as a precaution to protect visitors, staff and protesters.

What this means for travellers

Anyone planning to use Malelane Gate to enter or exit Kruger National Park on Tuesday should use another park entrance where possible. The closure will remain in place until the protesters have left the affected area and SANParks considers it safe to resume normal operations.

This could affect itineraries involving Malelane, Berg-en-Dal, Pretoriuskop and the southern Kruger National Park area, particularly for visitors with accommodation bookings or onward travel arrangements based around the gate.

Travellers should therefore allow extra time if using an alternative entrance and check the latest SANParks information before setting out.

SANParks has not given a fixed reopening time and says it will provide updates if the situation changes or Malelane Gate can reopen earlier.

Travellers should check the gate status before travelling to Malelane Gate on 22 September 2026.

 

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Cape Town's Kalk Bay among the world’s coolest neighbourhoods in 2026

Kalk Bay on Cape Town’s False Bay coast has been named one of the world’s 40 coolest neighbourhoods for 2026 by Time Out.

The small coastal village ranks 31st on the magazine’s 2026 list and is the only South African neighbourhood included.

Time Out highlights Kalk Bay’s working fishing harbour, independent shops, cafés, restaurants, galleries and strong local character. Its location also makes it a useful stop for travellers exploring the Cape Peninsula.

Kalk Bay is close to Muizenberg, St James, Fish Hoek, Simon’s Town and Boulders Beach. The village itself is compact enough to explore on foot, with the harbour, Main Road and Dalebrook Tidal Pool among the main attractions.

Kalk Bay can also be reached from Cape Town by train, although travellers should check current Metrorail services before travelling.

The Time Out ranking puts further international attention on a part of Cape Town that has long been popular with locals and visitors. For travellers planning a Cape Town trip,Kalk Bay makes a useful addition to a Cape Peninsula itinerary.

Getting there

Kalk Bay sits about 25–30 km south of Cape Town’s city centre along the False Bay coast, roughly a 40-minute drive via the M3 and M4, although journey times can be considerably longer in peak traffic.

Kalk Bay can also be reached by train from Cape Town on Metrorail’s Southern Line, which follows the False Bay coast via Muizenberg and St James. Services currently operate through Kalk Bay, with trains continuing to Simon’s Town on weekdays. However, schedules and weekend services can differ, so travellers should check the latest timetable before travelling. 

Best time to visit

September and October are among the better months for whale watching in False Bay, when southern right whales can be seen close to shore. The elevated coastal road around Boyes Drive offers good views across the bay.

Cape Town's spring and summer months, roughly September to March, generally offer favourable conditions for exploring the Peninsula. However, weather can change quickly, so a light jacket or windbreaker is useful throughout the year.

 

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Netherlands and Sweden are closing their embassies in Harare — what it means if you're travelling to Zimbabwe

If Zimbabwe is on your itinerary and you're Dutch or Swedish, there's a practical change coming that's worth knowing about before you go: both countries are shutting their embassies in Harare. Neither closure is really about Zimbabwe itself — both are line items in much bigger, unrelated budget shuffles back home — but the effect on the ground is the same. If something goes wrong on your trip (lost passport, hospitalisation, an arrest, or any other situation requiring consular assistance), there'll no longer be a national embassy in the country to call.

Here's what's actually been announced, and what it means for your trip.

What's happening

The Netherlands confirmed the Harare closure on 15 September 2026. No closing date yet, and Dutch interests will be handed to "an embassy in a neighbouring country" — not yet named.

Sweden announced its Harare closure back in December 2025, and has already closed its embassy to visitors. Visa and migration casework is being reassigned to another post in the region — also not yet named.

Two confirmed closures, no confirmed dates, no confirmed replacement missions. If you're Dutch or Swedish and planning Zimbabwe travel, check your foreign ministry's travel advisory again closer to your departure date — these details tend to get filled in a few months out.

Does this actually affect you as a traveller?

For most day-to-day travel, no — visas, border crossings and tourism operations in Zimbabwe are unaffected. Where it matters is if you need consular assistance: a lost or stolen passport, a medical emergency, an arrest, or help getting back home. That's the function that disappears locally once these embassies shut.

The good news, if you're an EU citizen, is that you're not entirely on your own. Under EU rules, if your own country has no embassy or consulate in a non-EU country, you're entitled to consular protection from any other EU member state that does have representation there — same as any of their own citizens. Harare currently hosts around 50 embassies, including several other EU countries (Germany, France and Spain among them), so this isn't a theoretical protection — there'll be real options on the ground even after the Dutch and Swedish missions close.

Non-EU nationals reading this for context: it's a good reminder generally to check what representation your own country has in Zimbabwe before you travel, rather than assuming a Harare embassy will always be there.

Practical tips before you go

• Check your government's current travel advisory for Zimbabwe shortly before departure — both ministries are likely to update guidance once closure dates and successor embassies are confirmed.
• Register your trip with your foreign ministry if that's a service they offer (the Netherlands' BZ Reisapp / "Informatie Service Buitenland", Sweden's svenskarutomlands registration) — this is exactly the kind of situation it's designed for.
• Save the contact details of the nearest alternative embassy for your nationality before you fly, rather than trying to find one after something's gone wrong.
• Comprehensive travel insurance with emergency assistance and repatriation cover matters more, not less, once your home country's consular safety net locally disappears.
• If you're mid-trip with visa or passport business already in progress at the Harare embassy, contact them directly for guidance on how your case will be handled through the transition — don't assume it carries over automatically.

Bottom line

Zimbabwe remains very much open for travel — this is a diplomatic footprint story, not a tourism or safety one. But if you're Dutch or Swedish, it's worth building "no local embassy" into your risk planning for a Zimbabwe trip once these closures take effect, and leaning on the EU consular-protection safety net (or your travel insurer) if you need help on the ground.

Sources: Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government.nl announcement, 15 September 2026; Swedish Government Offices, Government.se press release, 08 December 2025.

 

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|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park: Fuel up before you arrive — Sendelingsdrift's 95 unleaded fuel pump Is down

update (28 September 2026): SANParks has confirmed that the technical issue affecting the 95 unleaded fuel pump at Sendelingsdrift has been resolved, and an adequate supply of fuel is once again available. 

Planning a self-drive into the |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park via Sendelingsdrift? South African National Parks (SANParks) has confirmed that the 95 unleaded fuel pump at Sendelingsdrift is currently experiencing technical difficulties.

Visitors are being asked to fill up with 95 unleaded fuel outside the park before arrival, until further notice.

What this means for your trip

The pump fault affects unleaded 95 only — there's no indication diesel is affected by this particular notice, though |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park's fuel supply has had a rocky few months generally, so it's worth checking both fuel types before you set off.

How to plan around it

• Fill up fully before you leave tar — Springbok on the N7 is your last guaranteed stop.
• Carry extra 95 unleaded fuel in jerry cans.
• Plan your route and distances in advance rather than improvising once inside.
• Check with SANParks shortly before you travel to confirm whether the pump is back in service.

Nearest fuel stops outside the park

• Alexander Bay — 90km away, but pumps here often run dry. Don't rely on it.
• Port Nolloth — 180km away, and the safer bet: fuel, shops and accommodation.
• Springbok — just over 300km away on the N7, the most reliable stop in the region.
• Rosh Pinah, Namibia — handy if approaching via the Sendelingsdrift pontoon.

 

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Kruger National Park: Shingwedzi Rest Camp closed 18–26 September for classical music festival

Travellers visiting Kruger National Park should be aware of a temporary closure affecting Shingwedzi Rest Camp from 18 to 26 September 2026.

South African National Parks (SANParks) has confirmed that the entire camp has been booked for the annual Baroque in the Bush classical music festival. As a result, access to Shingwedzi Rest Camp will be restricted during the event.

For most visitors, the main practical change is that Shingwedzi will not be available as a normal stop or overnight destination during this period. The Day Visitors Area will also be closed.

Some facilities will nevertheless remain operational. The filling station, shop and public ablutions will continue to operate, while the restaurant will offer take-away orders only.

Taxis and buses will not be permitted into the camp, as no parking will be available for them during the festival.

What this means for your Kruger trip

If your itinerary includes Shingwedzi Rest Camp between 18 and 26 September 2026, check your accommodation and routing arrangements before travelling. Visitors passing through the northern Kruger National Park should also factor the restricted access into their plans.

Normal access and facilities are expected to resume after the festival.

 

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Ethiopian Airlines to launch daily Addis Ababa <> Durban flights

Ethiopian Airlines will launch daily non-stop flights between Addis Ababa  and Durban from 11 December 2026, creating a new option for international travellers heading to and from KwaZulu-Natal.

The new service will operate as follows:

• Addis Ababa 08:35 > 13:25 Durban
• Durban 14:15 > 21:00 Addis Ababa

All times are local.

For international travellers, the new route provides a direct connection between Durban and Ethiopian Airlines' Addis Ababa hub, with onward connections to destinations across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America.

This includes one-stop options from Durban to cities such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, Mumbai, Delhi and Washington, making the new service particularly relevant for travellers combining KwaZulu-Natal with other destinations in (Southern) Africa or travelling to South Africa from further afield.

For South African travellers, the route opens additional options for reaching Ethiopia and Ethiopian Airlines' wider international network from Durban, without first having to travel to Johannesburg or Cape Town.

The route is currently scheduled to operate daily from 11 December 2026. 

 

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