The flag carrier airline of Qatar, Qatar Airways, has increased the number of flights to South Africa for the southern hemisphere summer season. Since the end of October 2024, the airline is operating 11 weekly flights between Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. From 17 December 2024 to 13 January 2025 the airline will operate an additional flight between the two destinations. Return flights from Doha to OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg have been increased to 18 per week for the season, while Qatar Airways' service to King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban has been expanded to five weekly flights via Maputo in Mozambique.
05 November 2024
04 November 2024
Durban: Four 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 01 November 2024) open and safe for swimming, closed for swimming and of swimming pools that are currently open to the public. According to the lists, 19 beaches in Durban are currently open for swimming, while swimming at four beaches 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
- Point Beach
- Addington
- North Beach
- South Beach
- Bay of Plenty
- Battery Beach
- Thekwini Beach
- Laguna Beach
- Country Club
- Westbrook
- mDloti Main
- uMhlanga Main
- Bronze Beach
- Warner Beach
- uMgababa
- Brighton
- Winkelespruit
Beach(es) closed for swimming:
- Anstey's Beach
- Toti Main Beach
- Pipeline Beach
- Reunion
Recreational activities other than swimming at beaches closed for swimming are allowed!
Kruger National Park: Letaba Rest Camp once again humming with cicadas!
South African National Parks (SANParks) has informed the public that the Letaba Rest Camp in Kruger National Park is once again buzzing with cicadas and of their noise which can be amplified by multitudes of insects into an overpowering hum. Their sound varies widely, with some species more musical than others.
Cicadas are known to entirely disappear for many years, only to reappear in force at a regular interval. Their abundance can be triggered by the temperature, humidity and rainfall the area receives at certain periods. Although harmless, the insects are attracted to light. SANParks is therefor advising guests staying at Letaba Rest Camp to keep their unit doors closed in the evenings as well as keeping the veranda light off where possible.
Letaba Rest Camp is located in the northern part of the Kruger National Park between the Olifants Rest Camp and the Mopani Rest Camp. Situated along the lush banks of the Letaba River, the Rest Camp offers diverse landscapes, incredible wildlife viewing, and a range of accommodation options.
Kruger National Park: Power outage challenges at Satara Rest Camp!
South African National Parks (SANParks) on Saturday (02 November 2024) announced that Satara Rest Camp in Kruger National Park was badly affected by the recent hail storm that has broken down 21 Eskom power poles. The team from Eskom has been working at the camp to restore the fault for several days.
Satara Rest Camp is currently operating on contingency plans such as generator power supply for the whole camp. For this reason, multiple services have suffered a significant setback. The camp is still fully operational while the management team works to restore the power together with Eskom personnel. Guests are advised to please ensure that they have enough cash to access fuel services as all card machines are not working. Satara Rest Camp is also struggling with cell phone reception. We'll keep you posted!
Etosha National Park: Condition of roads is being addressed as matter of urgency!
The Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has announced on 29 October 2024 that the condition of roads in the Etosha National Park is being addressed as matter of urgency. According to the Ministry, the deterioration of the road between Okaukuejo and Namutoni, for instance, is impacted by large traffic volumes. This leads to loss of gravel, severe corrugations, pottholes and drainage problems. As an immediate remedy, three graders have been deployed to blade the roads between Halali and Namutoni, Okaukuejo and Halali as well as between Namutoni and King Nehale Gate. The Ministry anticipates that this intervention will improve the road condition in the specified sections within a period of two weeks. Furthermore, the roads from Okaukuejo, Halali, Namutoni to King Nehale Gate will soon be upgraded from gravel to low-seal volume (tarred road).
While the road situation in Etosha National Park is being addressed, the Ministry encourages visitors to consider alternative routes from Okaukuejo to Halali via Gemsbokvlagte, Olifantsbad and Aus for a better travel experience.
Since 2018, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has succesfully rehabilitated the western section of the tourist road between Okaukuejo and Galton Gate, completing over 200 kilometers of road upgrade by March 2024.
31 October 2024
Durban: Three 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 31 October 2024) open and safe for swimming, closed for swimming and of swimming pools that are currently open to the public. According to the lists, 20 beaches in Durban are currently open for swimming, while swimming at three beaches 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
- Point Beach
- Addington
- North Beach
- South Beach
- Bay of Plenty
- Battery Beach
- Thekwini Beach
- Laguna Beach
- Country Club
- Westbrook
- mDloti Main
- uMhlanga Main
- Bronze Beach
- Warner Beach
- uMgababa
- Reunion
- Brighton
- Winkelespruit
Beach(es) closed for swimming:
- Anstey's Beach
- Toti Main Beach
- Pipeline Beach
Mozambique: Tourism bodies call for travel postponement amid potential protests! [update]
update (06 November 2024): SATSA has released an update on the current situation in Mozambique. South Africa's Border Management Authority (BMA) announced the temporary closure of the Lebombo/Ressano Garcia Border Post due to safety concerns on the Mozambican side on 05 November 2024.
Key tourism destinations in Mozambique remain unaffected but there have been more reports of unrest in urban areas.
According to SATSA CEO David Frost, opposition leaders suggested that the week-long protest action would culminate in a mass demonstration in Maputo on 07 November 2024.
The Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA), a non-profit organization based in South Africa that serves as the leading voice for inbound tourism in the region, in cooperation with Africa’s Eden, a registered non-profit company based in Botswana that focuses on promoting sustainable tourism across several African countries, are encouraging travellers intending to visit Mozambique over the next week to postpone their plans. Following recent election-related unrest, Mozambique’s opposition leaders have called for week-long protest action, including public demonstrations and a national strike, from Thursday, 31 October 2024 to Thursday, 07 November 2024.
According to SATSA/Africa's Eden, the full impact on the tourism industry in Mozambique is currently unclear. However, the next seven days may see public protests across the country as well as mass mobilisation in Maputo. The Lebombo/Ressano Garcia Border Post between South Africa and Mozambique, as well as other key border crossings, may be impacted by civil action. Access to Maputo International Airport (MPM) in Maputo may be intermittently affected by road blockades. Access to healthcare may also be affected in areas with ongoing protests. At this point, popular tourism destinations across Mozambique are planning to remain open and hotels and tourism services to remain operational during the next seven days. We'll keep you posted!
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