31 March 2023

Air China has resumed flights between China <> South Africa!

Air China, the flag carrier of the People's Republic of China, has resumed flights to South Africa on 29 March 2023. The airline, which last flew to the country three years ago, just before the Covid-19 pandemic, operates three weekly flights between Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) in Beijing and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg via Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX) in Shenzhen

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Kruger National Park Calendar - May!

Weather:

  • autumn
  • warm to hot days
  • warm to rather cold evenings
  • occasional rain only

Temperatures:


Landscape:

  • the bush starts drying out
  • landscape changes from green to yellow, orange and brown
  • the waterholes in the mopaneveld are drying out first
  • the baobab trees are dropping their last pods

Animal Activity:

  • Elephants begin migration into northern Kruger
  • game seeking for warmer areas
  • Impala rut continues
  • Wild Dog breeding season

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30 March 2023

Zimbabwe: Zimparks increases the entrance fees for Victoria Falls National Park and the Zambezi National Park!

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) announced in December 2022 that it will raise the entrance fees to Victoria Falls National Park and the Zambezi National Park in the area of the world-famous Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe with effect from 01 January 2023. Following criticism from tourism stakeholders, ZimParks at the end of December 2022 agreed to postpone the increase in park entry fees until 01 April 2023.
The new entrance fee for Victoria Falls National Park will be US$10/person (up from US$7) for citizens of Zimbabwe, US$30/person (up from US$20) for nationals of the Southern African Development Communtiy (SADC) and US$50/person (up from US$30) for all other international visitors of the National Park. Rates for entering Victoria Falls National Park through the VIP Gate will be US$30/person (citizens of Zimbabwe), US$75/person (SADC nationals) and US$150/person (all other international visitors). The rainforest tour under moonlight will cost citizens of Zimbabwe USD15/person, nationals of the SADC US$70/person and for all other international visitors US$100/person.
The entrance fee for the Zambezi National Park will be US5/person (citizens of Zimbabwe), US$12/person (SADC nationals) and US$15/person (all other Nationalities).
Children above five years of age will pay half the adult fees. Vehicles will be charged between US$5 for small cars and US$20 for buses and lories. Foreign registered vehicles will be charged US$30 each.

29 March 2023

Namibia/Botswana: Trans-Kalahari/Mamuno border post operates 24/7!

The Namibian Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security (MHAISS) has announced that the Trans-Kalahari/Mamuno border post between Namibia and Botswana will begin daily 24-hour operations from 01 April 2023. Previously, the two border posts opened at 06:00 and closed at midnight. 


The Trans-Kalahari/Mamuno border post is located along the Trans-Kalahari Corridor, a paved road network spanning approximately 1900 kilometers across the territories of Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. It starts in the Gauteng in South Africa and continues through Rustenburg and Zeerust in the North-West Province, through Lobatse and Kanye in Botswana, the Mamuno and Trans Kalahari Border Posts, through Gobabis, Windhoek and Okahandja in Namibia and right through to the Port of Walvis Bay.

Addo Elephant National Park: Annual elephant contraception exercise to take place!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that the annual elephant contraception exercise will be taking place in Addo Elephant National Park's Main Camp section on 31 March 2023. For safety reasons SANParks kindly request visitors in the National Park to be cautious and steer well clear if they see the helicopter in the area.

The annual contraception program was implemented in Addo Elephant National Park in the early 2000s as a way to manage the elephant population without resorting to culling. The elephants are darted with tranquilizers from a helicopter, and then the female elephants receive the contraceptive injection. The process is carefully monitored to ensure that the correct dosage is administered, and that the elephants are not harmed during the procedure.
The elephant contraception exercise has been successful in reducing the elephant population growth rate in Addo Elephant National Park, and has been praised as a humane and effective way to manage elephant populations.
Information on Addo's annual contraception exercise was retrieved from OpenAI. (29 March 2023). ChatGPT [Computer software].

28 March 2023

Angola: TAAG increases flights to Portugal!

The state-owned flag carrier of Angola, TAAG Angola Airlines, increases the number of flights to Portugal. Effective today (28 March 2023), the airline is adding a new frequency to its schedule between Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport (LAD) in Luanda and Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) in Lisbon, making 14 weekly frequencies overall with double daily flights.
TAAG's Luanda <> Lisbon connection is one of the most consolidated routes within the airline's operation. Between January and February 2023, TAAG transported 39,306 passengers on the Luanda <> Lisbon route, meaning the airline was able to double the figures from the same period last year, where 18,8798 passengers were transported.

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24 March 2023

South Africa: Airlink and Etihad Airways launch reciprocal interline partnership!

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, the second flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has launched a reciprocal interline partnership with South African regional carrier Airlink. The deal means customers of both airlines will enjoy enhanced connectivity to destinations across each other’s networks, can book on a single ticket and only have to check in once at the start of their flight, with their baggage checked through to their end destination.
Arik De, Etihad Airways’ Chief Revenue Officer, said: “Our deal with Airlink South Africa gives connecting guests via our Johannesburg flight seamless access to 16 domestic destinations in South Africa, and 25 regional African destinations, and it complements our existing options with South African Airways."

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