The Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), in collaboration with Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), have announced that there is sufficient water in the Fish River Canyon for the upcoming hiking season (01 May 2024 - 15 September 2024 (?)). Like in the previous year, in which the water levels in the canyon were lower than expected due to the low rainfall season in the south of Namibia, water marshals will be stationed at strategic points along the hiking routes, including King Palace and Bushy Corner, to ensure the safety and well-being of all hikers.
The Fish River Canyon forms part of the |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, a peace park straddling the border between South Africa and Namibia. It is the largest canyon in Africa and the second largest canyon in the world after the Grand Cayon in the Fish River Canyon hiking trail is a 4-5 day guided or unguided hike with a total length of 86 km.
26 April 2024
Namibia: Sufficient water in the Fish River Canyon for the upcoming hiking season!
25 April 2024
South Africa: LIFT temporarily suspends one of its daily routes to Durban!
South African domestic airline LIFT has announced that it will temporarily discontinue one of its daily routes to Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. During the upcoming winter period, the airline will suspend its service between King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town from 07 May 2024 to 12 June 2024. All bookings already made for this period will be accommodated for. LIFT currently operates two daily direct flights between Cape Town and Durban as well as several daily flights between Johannesburg and Durban.
Kruger National Park: Gate structure at Mopani Rest Camp is undergoing maintenance and upgrades!
South African National Parks (SANParks) has informed the public that the gate structure at Mopani Rest Camp in Kruger National Park is currently undergoing maintenance and upgrades. The gate itself will remain accessible for exit and entrance into the camp while the work continues.
Mopani Rest Camp is located on the north bank of Pioneer dam along the Tsendze River in Kruger National Park.
The rest camp provides a day visitors picnic area, cafeteria,
restaurant, ladies bar, swimming pool, shop, public laundry facilites, a
filling station and a mini ATM inside the restaurant. The closest gate
to Mopani Rest Camp is Phalaborwa Gate, which is 74 kilometres away. It is situated about 47 kilometres from Letaba Rest Camp and 65 kilometres from Shingwedzi Rest Camp.
Namibia: FlyNamibia launches flights to Botswana!
Namibian domestic and regional carrier FlyNamibia is set to launch flights to Botswana. The airline will operate three weekly direct flights on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays between Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek and Maun Airport (MUB) in Maun. Flights will depart Windhoek at 10:15 and arrive in Maun at 11:15, while the return flights will depart Maun at 12:15 and arrive in Windhoek at 13:15. FlyNamibia's new route to Botswana will commence on 03 July 2024.
Maun Airport (MUB) is is situated in Maun in Botswana's North West District. The airport is the second busiest airport in the country in terms of passenger traffic and the main gateway to the famous Okavango Delta, the Moremi Game Reserve and other parts of the North West District.
24 April 2024
Livingstone: Public WiFi launched on the Zambian side of the Victoria Falls!
A new public WiFi service is now available in Livingstone on the Zambian side of the Victoria Falls. The new service was launched on 23 April 2024 by the Zambian Minister of Tourism, Rodney Sikumba, and Constance Nalishebo Muleabai, the Mayor of Livingstone. The public Wi-Fi service is powered by the Zambia branch of Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a pan-African technology group present in more than 20 countries. Mr Sikumba said during the official launch that the Ministry of Tourism is committed to digitizing the tourism sector in Zambia by the second quarter of 2024, to enhance the visitor experience at various tourist sites, a move which will help better tourism management and promotion.
We are delighted to announce the launch of Liquid Wi-Fi in LIvingstone. The service was launched by the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Rodney Sikumba, and Her Worship the Mayor of Livingstone, Ms. Constance Muleabai at the Victoria Falls on 23rd April 2024. 1/3 #WeAreLiquid pic.twitter.com/UnrzaW1FxV
— Liquid Intelligent Technologies Zambia (@LiquidInTechZM) April 23, 2024
23 April 2024
Robben Island Museum: The 2024 tour rates remain unchanged!
The Robben Island Museum (RIM), the public entity responsible for managing, maintaining, presenting, developing and marketing Robben Island as a national estate and World Heritage Site, has announced that it will not introduce new tariffs for 2024. The current rates will be retained for the next 12 month. RIM has not increased its tariffs since 2021. The following tariffs will remain applicable for 2024:
- R600 for non-South African adults
- R310 for non-South African children (2 - 18 years)
- R400 for South African adults
- R210 for South African children (2 - 18 years)
Robben Island an island in the Table Bay, about 7 kilometres west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, north of Cape Town. From 1961, Robben Island was used by the South African government as a prison for political prisoners and convicted criminals. Many prominent anti-apartheid leaders, including South Africa's first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, were incarcerated on Robben Island, enduring harsh conditions and forced labor. Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison on Robben Island. His time there became emblematic of the struggle against apartheid and his eventual rise to the presidency.
Since the end of apartheid, Robben Island has been transformed into a museum and heritage site. It offers guided tours, allowing visitors to learn about the island's history and the struggle against apartheid. In 1999, Robben Island was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its historical significance and contribution to the fight for human rights and democracy.
Cape Town: Free entry to the Castle of Good Hope on Freedom Day 2024!
The Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town, the oldest existing building in South Africa, has announced that it will grant free entry on Freedom Day 2024 to everyone. The historical landmark, which was built by the Dutch East India Company between 1666 and 1679, houses a collection of several ‘permanent’ boutique museums, including the The Koena Art Institute, The Camissa Museum - The Peopling of the Cape, The Cape Heritage Museum, The Donkergat (Ammunition room), The torture chamber, The prison cells, The Military Museum, The William Fare Collection (Iziko Museums of South Africa) and many more.
The opening times of the Castle of Good Hope are daily, except for Christmas Day and New Year's Day, from 09:00 - 16:00 (the last tour is at 15:00). Tickets cost R50/adult and R25/South African pensioners & children.
The Castle of Good Hope is a bastion fort built by the Dutch East India Company between 1666 and 1679 in Cape Town. It was constructed as a maritime replenishment station, fortress, and administrative center for the Dutch colony at the Cape of Good Hope. The Castle was originally located on the coastline of Table Bay but, following reclamation, the fort is now located a short distance inland within Cape Town's CBD. It was declared a provincial heritage site in 1936 and a national monument in 1969.