Eswatini's Umhlanga Reed Dance 2026: Dates, visitor tips and what to expect

If you're planning a trip to Eswatini in late August 2026, you have the chance to experience one of Africa's most remarkable cultural events. The official dates for the 2026 Umhlanga Reed Dance have now been confirmed, with celebrations running from 25 August to 31 August 2026.

The highlight of the festival takes place on Monday, 31 August 2026, when tens of thousands of young women gather at the Royal Residence in Ludzidzini to participate in the main ceremony attended by His Majesty King Mswati III. The day is also a public holiday in Eswatini.

What is the Umhlanga Reed Dance?

The Umhlanga Reed Dance is Eswatini's best-known cultural celebration and one of the country's most important annual traditions. During the festival, unmarried women from across Eswatini—and increasingly from neighbouring countries—collect tall reeds from riverbanks before carrying them to the Queen Mother's Royal Residence at Ludzidzini.

The reeds are presented to the Ndlovukazi (Queen Mother) and used to rebuild the protective reed fence surrounding her residence. Throughout the week, participants sing, dance and celebrate together, with the main ceremony creating an unforgettable display of colour, music and tradition.

While the festival is visually spectacular, it is important to remember that it is first and foremost a cultural and ceremonial event for the people of Eswatini, not a performance staged for tourists. Visitors are warmly welcomed to observe respectfully, but the celebrations remain deeply rooted in Swazi customs and traditions.

Visiting the Umhlanga Reed Dance as a Traveller

For visitors, the best day to attend is 31 August 2026, when the largest gathering takes place at Ludzidzini. Thousands of maidens, led by members of the royal family, dance and sing before presenting their reeds to the Queen Mother in one of Africa's largest cultural ceremonies.

To help international visitors, the Eswatini Tourism Authority operates a Tourist Information Centre within the visitor area at Ludzidzini. A restaurant marquee is also available during the event.

Access to the ceremonial arena is open to tourists, but visitors cannot freely explore the Royal Residence itself. If you'd like a deeper understanding of the traditions and ceremonies, joining a local guided tour is highly recommended.

Photography Rules

Photography is permitted for visitors on Days 6 and 7, including the main ceremony on 31 August 2026, when the maidens process with their reeds and perform in the main arena.

Photography during other parts of the festival is generally restricted to accredited media, so always follow instructions from organisers and respect any areas where cameras are not permitted.

Planning Your Trip

Accommodation in and around Lobamba, Ezulwini and Mbabane tends to fill up well in advance of the festival, so early booking is advisable if you plan to attend.

For travellers seeking experiences beyond the usual sightseeing itinerary, the Umhlanga Reed Dance offers a rare glimpse into one of Southern Africa's most enduring living traditions. Rather than watching a performance created for visitors, you'll be witnessing a cultural ceremony that remains deeply significant to the people of Eswatini. Attending with curiosity, respect and an appreciation for local customs makes this not only a memorable travel experience, but also an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the Kingdom's rich cultural heritage.

 

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CemAir resumes Johannesburg–Richards Bay flights from November 2026

Travellers planning a trip to South Africa's Zululand will soon have another convenient flight option. Regional airline CemAir has announced that it will resume scheduled services between Johannesburg and Richards Bay from 01 November 2026.

Bookings opened on 16 July 2026 and can be made through the CemAir website, its contact centre, accredited travel agents, as well as through the airline's interline and codeshare partners.

The new schedule includes two return flights daily from Sunday to Friday, while one return flight will operate on Saturdays, giving both business and leisure travellers greater flexibility.

For holidaymakers, the route provides an easy gateway to one of South Africa's most rewarding yet often overlooked regions. Richards Bay is famous for its long sandy beaches, excellent fishing, abundant birdlife and relaxed coastal atmosphere. It also serves as an ideal starting point for exploring the wider Zululand region.

Within a relatively short drive are some of South Africa's best-known wildlife destinations, including Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Mkhuze Game Reserve and the coastal town of St Lucia. Whether you're planning a Big Five safari, a birdwatching trip, a beach holiday or a combination of all three, Richards Bay offers a convenient entry point.

The return of the Johannesburg–Richards Bay route adds another domestic connection to CemAir's growing network and provides travellers with additional choice when planning a KwaZulu-Natal getaway.

 

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South African Airways and Turkish Airlines launch new codeshare partnership

Travellers heading to Southern Africa now have more flexible flight options thanks to a new codeshare partnership between South African Airways (SAA), the national flag carrier of South Africa, and Turkish Airlines, the national flag carrier of Türkiye. The agreement officially took effect on 15 July 2026, with the first codeshare flights operating from 16 July 2026.

A codeshare allows two airlines to sell seats on each other's flights, making it easier to book connecting journeys on a single ticket and, on eligible itineraries, enjoy smoother transfers and through-checked baggage.

Under the new partnership:

• Turkish Airlines now places its TK flight code on selected South African Airways domestic and regional services from Johannesburg to:
• Cape Town
• Durban
• Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
• Windhoek
• Harare
• Victoria Falls
• Mauritius

• South African Airways places its SA flight code on Turkish Airlines services linking Southern Africa with:
• Istanbul
• Paris
• London
• Frankfurt

For travellers, the partnership offers easier connections via Johannesburg and Istanbul, providing improved access to destinations across Southern Africa as well as Turkish Airlines' extensive global network.

 

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Kruger National Park: Fire damages Skukuza maintenance warehouse

If you're visiting Kruger National Park over the coming days or weeks, there is no indication that your trip will be affected by a fire that damaged a maintenance warehouse in Skukuza on Saturday night (18 July 2026). 

According to South African National Parks (SANParks), the warehouse is located well away from visitor accommodation, restaurants and administrative buildings. No injuries were reported, and tourism facilities continue to operate as normal.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. An investigation is underway while emergency and technical teams assess the damage and secure the site.

The warehouse was used to store maintenance equipment and infrastructure, including spare generators, geysers, electrical cabling and other supplies needed to keep facilities across the park in good working order.

Although the loss of these materials could slow some maintenance work in the short term, SANParks has not reported any disruption to visitor services. Rest camps, roads, guided activities and other tourism operations in Kruger National Park remain unaffected.

For travellers, the incident is therefore mainly one to be aware of rather than one that should alter travel plans. If you have an upcoming stay in Skukuza or elsewhere in Kruger National Park, you can expect your visit to continue as planned.

As always, we'll keep an eye on the situation and update this article should SANParks release further information about the investigation or any changes that could affect visitors.

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Latest Durban beach water quality results: Only one swimming beach remains closed

If you're planning a beach holiday in Durban, there's good news. According to the latest beach water quality results released by the eThekwini Municipality on 16 July 2026, 22 of Durban's 23 regularly monitored bathing beaches are open and safe for swimming.

The latest update sees Laguna Beach reopen, while Reunion Beach has temporarily closed after recording elevated E. coli levels.

Good news for winter visitors

Durban's warm winter weather makes July an ideal time to enjoy the city's beaches. Whether you're visiting the Golden Mile or exploring the north and south coast beaches, almost the entire monitored coastline is currently open.

South Africa classifies recreational water quality as:

• Excellent: Less than 130 E. coli per 100 ml
• Acceptable: Between 130 and 500 E. coli per 100 ml
• Poor: More than 500 E. coli per 100 ml

All beaches currently open for swimming fall within the excellent or acceptable categories.

Which beaches are open?

The following monitored beaches are currently open for swimming:

• Central Durban: Wedge, Point, uShaka, Addington, South Beach, North Beach, Bay of Plenty, Battery Beach, Country Club and Thekwini Beach.
• North Coast: Westbrook, Umdloti Main, Umhlanga Main, Bronze Beach and Laguna Beach.
• South Coast: Toti Main, Anstey's, Brighton, Umgababa, Doonside Beach, Winklespruit and Pipeline.

Reunion Beach is currently the only monitored bathing beach closed to swimmers after recording an E. coli count of 546, just above the national recreational guideline. Visitors can still enjoy the beach, but swimming is temporarily prohibited.

Planning a Durban beach holiday

With 22 of Durban's 23 monitored bathing beaches currently open,  the city remains one of South Africa's best beach destinations.

Water quality can change after heavy rainfall, so it's always advisable to check the latest municipal updates before visiting. For the safest experience, swim only at lifeguard-protected beaches and between the designated bathing flags.

 

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Temporary closure of Tsitsikamma's iconic Suspension Bridge: What travellers need to know

If you're planning to visit the Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park over the next two weeks, you'll need to adjust your itinerary. One of the Garden Route's most popular attractions, the famous Storms River Suspension Bridge, will be completely closed from 20 July to 31 July 2026 while the final phase of refurbishment is completed.

The good news is that the project is now entering its final stretch. SANParks expects the upgraded bridges to reopen to visitors on 01 August 2026, earlier than previously anticipated.

What will be closed?

During the closure, visitors will not be able to access any of the three suspension bridges at Storms River Mouth.

The temporary closure is necessary to allow contractors to safely complete the remaining refurbishment work. For safety reasons, access to the suspension bridge trail will not be possible while construction crews are on site.

Good news for August visitors

There is a silver lining for anyone visiting later in the winter season. Earlier project timelines suggested the refurbishment would continue until the end of August, but the work has progressed faster than expected.

If everything stays on schedule, the bridge will reopen on 01 August 2026, allowing visitors to once again enjoy one of South Africa's most photographed coastal walks.

Can you still visit Tsitsikamma?

Yes. Although the suspension bridge will be inaccessible during the closure period, the Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park remains open.

Travellers can still enjoy many of the area's other highlights, including:

• The spectacular indigenous forests.
• Scenic coastal viewpoints.
• Hiking trails that remain open outside the closed bridge section.
• The Storms River Mouth Rest Camp.
• Activities such as kayaking, lilo adventures and nearby zipline experiences (subject to operator schedules).

If seeing the suspension bridge is the main reason for your visit, it is worth postponing your trip until after 01 August 2026.

About the Tsitsikamma Suspension Bridges

The Storms River Suspension Bridge is among the Garden Route's most iconic landmarks. The three pedestrian bridges that actually make the Storms River Suspension Bridge span the dramatic mouth of the Storms River, where towering cliffs meet the Indian Ocean.

The short walk to the bridge is one of the park's signature experiences, offering spectacular coastal scenery, crashing waves and excellent opportunities to spot seabirds, dolphins and, during the migration season, even southern right whales offshore.

The refurbishment project will help preserve this much-loved attraction for years to come while improving visitor safety.

Traveller's tip

If you're driving the Garden Route in late July, consider spending extra time exploring nearby attractions such as Nature's Valley, Bloukrans Bridge, the Storms River village or Robberg Nature Reserve before returning to Tsitsikamma once the suspension bridges reopen.

With the reopening now expected on 01 August 2026, visitors arriving in August should once again be able to experience one of South Africa's most spectacular short walks.

 

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Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail reopens from 17 July 2026

Travellers planning to hike Namibia's famous Fish River Canyon can once again include the trail in their itinerary. After recent high water levels led to concerns about conditions in the canyon, the Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail will reopen on Friday, 17 July 2026.

According to Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), recent water assessments have confirmed that river levels and flow are once again suitable for hiking. While the trail is reopening, hikers should still expect some sections to be slippery, particularly at river crossings, where rocks remain wet after the recent high water.

Hiking one of Africa's most spectacular canyons

The Fish River Canyon is one of Namibia's best-known natural attractions and among the largest canyons in the world. Carved over millions of years, it stretches for around 160 kilometres through southern Namibia, with sheer rock walls dropping as much as 550 metres to the canyon floor.

For many visitors, the highlight is the Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail. Covering roughly 85 kilometres between Hobas and Ai-Ais, the route usually takes four to five days to complete and is widely regarded as one of Africa's finest wilderness hikes. Along the way, hikers follow the river through dramatic scenery, tackle numerous river crossings and spend their nights camping beneath exceptionally dark skies.

Because summer temperatures regularly exceed 40°C and flash floods are possible, the trail is only open during the cooler winter months.

Expect slippery river crossings

Although the trail is considered safe to reopen, recent conditions mean hikers should still take extra care when crossing the Fish River. Wet rocks and uneven surfaces can remain slippery even after water levels have dropped.

Anyone setting out should wear sturdy hiking boots with good grip, take their time at river crossings and be prepared for conditions to vary along the route. Authorities will continue monitoring water levels throughout the hiking season.

Planning your hike

July and August are among the most popular months to hike the Fish River Canyon thanks to mild daytime temperatures and cool nights. As permits are limited and the trail is only open seasonally, accommodation in nearby Hobas and Ai-Ais, as well as hiking permits, should be booked well in advance.

If you're heading to southern Namibia in the coming weeks, the reopening of the Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail means one of the country's most iconic outdoor experiences is once again available. Even so, it's worth checking the latest trail conditions before setting off and allowing extra time for river crossings if recent rain has affected the route.

 

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