tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85162482238179230942024-03-18T04:02:53.687+01:00TravelComments.com Official BlogWelcome to the official blog of TravelComments.com - travelling Southern Africa!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6203125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-6990499095184519052024-03-15T14:20:00.000+01:002024-03-15T14:20:05.990+01:00South Africa: Government scraps sale of South African Airways (SAA)!The South African Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has announced the termination of negotiations by mutual consent for the transaction to sell a controlling stake in South African Airways (SAA) to the Takatso Consortium. Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan explained during a media briefing on 13 March 2024 in Cape Town that while three years ago, a valuation of SAA’s business and Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-60559408940156090852024-03-15T10:24:00.002+01:002024-03-15T10:24:21.134+01:00Western Cape: Section of the R43 in the Overberg fully closed until September 2024!The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has announced that a three kilometres section of the R43 from the Kleinmond interchange on the N2 (Exit 90 to Kleinmond and Hermanus) will be closed for at least six month (September 2024). This is due to road safety improvement which involves a full upgrade and reconstruction of layerworks, as well as widening the road to 3.7m wide lanes, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-81961635690485939642024-03-14T14:07:00.005+01:002024-03-15T14:03:31.954+01:00South Africa: South African Airlines (SAA) adjusts its Johannesburg <> Perth schedule!The flag carrier airline of South Africa, South African Airways
(SAA), has announced that it has undertaken a schedule review of its
upcoming service to Perth in Western Australia to identify areas for
enhancement. SAA customers travelling from Perth can expect more
convenient departure and arrival times, allowing for easier domestic and
regional connections and reduced travel times. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-22528023414625886212024-03-14T10:19:00.005+01:002024-03-15T20:25:33.864+01:00Kruger National Park: Problems with diesel pump at Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp! [update]update (15 March 2024): SANParks has announced that the diesel pumps have been repaired and are accessible again.According to South African National Parks (SANParks), problems with the diesel pump are currently experienced at Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp in Kruger National Park. SANParks advises visitors to the Rest Camp to fill up at alternative stations until further notice. The closest Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-55778815639694074302024-03-14T09:19:00.001+01:002024-03-14T09:19:56.203+01:00Durban: Five 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 13 March 2024) open and safe for swimming, closed for swimming and of
swimming pools that are currently open to the public. According to the
lists, 18 beaches in Durban
are currently open for swimming, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-83842893623618135392024-03-12T13:17:00.004+01:002024-03-12T13:17:45.084+01:00Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Park shops with changed opening hours due to stocktaking at the end of March 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 March 2024. The shops in the Mata-Mata Rest Camp (on 22 March 2024) and the Nossob Rest Camp (on 26 March 2024) will be open from 07:30 to 09:00 and from 15:00 to 19:15, while the shop in theUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-82204587465991927242024-03-12T10:35:00.005+01:002024-03-15T09:31:36.755+01:00George: Gwaing River and the Gwaing River mouth temporarily closed for any water activities until further notice! [update #2]update (15 March 2024): The George Municipality has informed the public, that the Gwaing River and River Mouth remain closed following a sewer spill into the river that was caused by a damaged pipeline earlier this week. The damaged pipeline and electrical lines that were damaged by a service provider were subsequently repaired and are operational. However, as a precautionary measure, the George Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-1190260540199106792024-03-11T11:31:00.004+01:002024-03-11T15:34:14.272+01:00South Africa: Airlink suspends flights to Richards Bay after airport downgraded! [update]update (11 March 2024): South African regional and domestic carrier Airlink just announced that it will resume its normal Richards Bay flight schedule from tomorrow (12 March 2024) morning. This follows the reinstatement of ichards Bay Airport's (RCB) fire and rescue approval to accommodate scheduled airline operations. The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-25757661438308887552024-03-11T10:14:00.003+01:002024-03-11T10:14:31.951+01:00South Africa: South African Airways makes Gqeberha a year-round destination!South Africa's flag carrier, South African Airways (SAA), has announced that its seasonal service to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) in the Eastern Cape will continue as a permanent destination on the airlines' flight itinerary beyond 31 March 2024. SAA resumed its service between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ) in December 2023 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-36810939549405441042024-03-08T14:15:00.003+01:002024-03-08T14:15:23.215+01:00Durban: Six 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 08 March 2024) open and safe for swimming, closed for swimming and of swimming pools that are currently open to the public. According to the lists, 17 beaches in Durban are currently open for swimming, whileUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-89566485885297820562024-03-08T13:09:00.003+01:002024-03-08T13:09:46.799+01:00South Africa: CemAir introduces flights to one of the largest private Big Five game reserves in South Africa!South African domestic and regional carrier CemAir is set to launch a new domestic service in South Africa. The airline will introduce flights between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and the MalaMala airstrip in one of the largest private Big Five game reserves in South Africa, the MalaMala Game Reserve. Effective 01 June 2024, CemAir will operate four flights per week Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-59205207552462890102024-03-07T15:34:00.004+01:002024-03-07T15:34:59.926+01:00Cape Town: Free entry to selected Iziko museums on Human Rights Day! Iziko Museums of South Africa has announced that it will be offering free entry to selected museums in Cape Town on Human Rights Day on 21 March 2024. This includes the Bo-Kaap Museum (71 Wale Street), Slave Lodge (Corner Adderley and Wale Streets), Rust en Vreugd (78 Buitenkant Street), Koopman's de Wet House (35 Strand Street), South African Museum (25 Queen Victoria Street) and the SouthUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-77415727164822190742024-03-06T15:15:00.002+01:002024-03-06T15:16:40.120+01:00Major upgrades for South Africa’s main airports!The South African Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, announced during a media briefing on the state of the aviation sector in South Africa that the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) is planning to upgrade the country's main airports. The majority state-owned airport management company, which operates nine of South Africa's airports, has earmarked ZAR 21.7 billion for an airport Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-47056564796088799572024-03-05T13:44:00.001+01:002024-03-14T10:23:29.007+01:00Kruger National Park: Filling station at Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp closed until further notice!South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that the filling station at the Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp is currently closed for maintenance reasons until further notice. SANParks request that guests fill up at alternative filling stations for the time being. The closest petrol station from Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp is located at Malelane, which is approximately 12 kilometers away. Malelane Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-78580190712973186932024-03-05T09:30:00.001+01:002024-03-05T09:30:16.112+01:00Namibia released rhino & elephant poaching statistics for 2023!The Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has released the rhino and elephant poaching numbers for 2023. According to the figures, Namibia lost 67 rhinos and eight elephants in the last year, compared to 92 rhinos and four elephants that lost their lives to poaching activities during 2022. Over the past 10 years, Namibia has documented a total of 631 poaching incidents, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-66723641902530117512024-03-04T16:10:00.000+01:002024-03-04T16:10:18.959+01:00Zambia: Zambia Airways to launch flights to Mfuwe!The national airline of the Republic of Zambia, Zambia Airways, is set to launch direct flights to Mfuwe International Airport (MFU) in the Eastern Province of Zambia. The airport is the main gateway for South Luangwa National Park and other wildlife areas in the Luangwa Valley. Effective 01 April 2024, Zambia Airways will operate three weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-21491870323089803082024-03-01T09:28:00.001+01:002024-03-01T09:28:21.260+01:00Kruger National Park Calendar - April!Weather:seasonal shift towards autumndrop in daytime temperatures with cool eveningsoccasional late summer rainsTemperatures:between 13°C - 28°C (Fahrenheit: e.g. 28°C = [(28x9)]/5 + 32 = 82.4°F)visit our webcam page for live footage from Kruger National Park!Landscape:vegetation dense > thick tree canopiesmany trees are bearing seeds/fruitspods are out on mopaneveldAnimal Activity:game Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-36654814389032196502024-02-29T15:36:00.003+01:002024-02-29T15:36:43.965+01:00Zimbabwe: Gonarezhou National Park reopens after annual closure! Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, which was temporarily closed to the public since 10 January 2024, is set to reopen. 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 conduct some maintenance work on Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-34589272785678341502024-02-29T10:34:00.004+01:002024-02-29T10:40:20.425+01:00Zambia: Zambia Airways to launch direct flights to Kasama! The national airline of the Republic of Zambia, Zambia Airways, is set to launch direct flights to the city of Kasama in Zambia's Northern Province. The airline will operate one weekly service on Mondays between Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) in Lusaka and Kasama Airport (KAA) in Kasama. Flights will commence on 01 April 2024. Kasama is located in the Northern Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-52071447588416916672024-02-28T10:44:00.000+01:002024-02-28T10:44:45.575+01:00Zimbabwe: Fastjet to temporarily increase flights between Victoria Falls <> Mbombela!Zimbabwean low-cost airline, Fastjet, is set to increase the number of flights between Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Kruger National Park in South Africa. The airline's spokesperson Mr Nunurai Ndawana announced during a media event in Victoria Falls that Fastjet will temporarily increase the number of flights between Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) in Victoria Falls andUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-53969857646320293082024-02-27T11:49:00.002+01:002024-02-27T11:50:33.434+01:00 South Africa has released rhino poaching statistics for 2023!The South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has released the rhino poaching statistics for 2023. A total of 499 rhinos were poached across South Africa, 406 were killed on state properties and 93 on privately owned parks/reserves/farms. This was an increase of 51 rhinos in comparison to 448 rhinos poached in 2022. Out of the 499 rhinos, 307 were illegally killedUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-47532903691328594562024-02-27T10:26:00.006+01:002024-02-27T10:27:28.673+01:00SANParks: Cash-free payment options limited across Addo Elephant National Park!South African National Parks (SANParks) just released a "kind reminder" on Facebook regarding the cash free payment system, which was implemented in Addo Elephant National Park with effect from 01 September 2021. The Addo Main Camp and the Kabouga entrance gates are indeed cashless. The Matyholweni Rest Camp in Addo's Main Game Area is only taking cash due to network challenges. According toUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-44996347133895727792024-02-27T09:02:00.001+01:002024-02-27T09:02:36.501+01:00South Africa: CemAir and British Airways sign & implement an interline agreement! South African regional carrier CemAir and the flag carrier of the United Kingdom, British Airways, have signed and implemented an interline agreement that opens up connections to more destinations in Southern Africa through British Airways' gateways of Johannesburg and Cape Town. The agreement includes the convenience of single ticket itineraries with onwards booking and baggage transfers from Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-24757629137670770942024-02-26T09:48:00.007+01:002024-02-26T09:57:59.808+01:00Zambia: Two roads in Lusaka renamed after former Namibian Presidents!Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema announced during the state funeral of Namibia's former President Dr. Hage Geingob on 24 February 2024 in Windhoek that Kasama Road, a major road in Lusaka, has been renamed after the late Dr Hage Geingob. This is with immediate effect. Dr. Hage Geingob (03 August 1941 – 04 February 2024) was a Namibian politician who served as the third president of Namibia Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8516248223817923094.post-27923055253724550312024-02-24T15:50:00.002+01:002024-02-24T15:50:24.472+01:00Kruger National Park: Phalaborwa Gate's gate structure is temporarily closed for guest use! South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that the gate structure at Kruger National Park's Phalaborwa Gate is currently under construction and closed for guest use. Temporary arrangements have been made to ensure the smooth running of traffic and access into and from Kruger National Park without delays. The gate structure shall remain closed until further notice. Phalaborwa GateUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0