Etosha National Park Fires: Latest update for travellers

Wildfires that first broke out in Namibia's Etosha National Park in September flared up again in October, burning a reported 3,746.18 km², or 16.3% of the park, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT).

The initial fires were reported on 09 September 2026 in the Halali, Kamaseb and Tsam areas, with lightning identified as the cause. By 14 September 2026, three of the four fires had been extinguished, while the remaining fire was under control. However, strong winds subsequently caused fires to flare up again.

By 17 September 2026, preliminary assessments put the burned area at 2,587 km², with fires spreading around Halali towards the park's southeastern boundary.

Further fires during October increased the affected area. On 24 October 2026, the ministry reported a preliminary total of 3,513 km² burned during the current fire season. Updated fire mapping published the following day put the total at 3,746.18 km².

The latest update is encouraging: all threatening fires had been suppressed by 19:00 on 24 October 2026. Aerial observations the following morning found no active fires at Oberland and Gemsbokvlakte, while fires in the Olifantsbad, Harib and Aus blocks remained contained and posed no threat to Etosha National Park.

Firefighting teams remain on standby, as authorities warn that hot and windy conditions could cause further flare-ups.

What travellers need to know

The latest reports do not announce a general closure of Etosha National Park. Visitors should nevertheless confirm current access arrangements with park authorities or their accommodation providers before travelling.

The full impact on wildlife and game viewing has not yet been established. Travellers should follow instructions from park staff and continue to monitor updates, as the situation may change if fires reignite.

The main points to keep in mind are:

• Fire status: All threatening fires were reported suppressed by the evening of 24 October 2026.
• Area affected: Approximately 3,746.18 km², or 16.3% of Etosha National Park, was affected by fires during September and October.
• Ongoing monitoring: Firefighting teams remain on standby, and authorities continue to monitor conditions.
• Risk of flare-ups: Hot and windy weather could cause fires to reignite.
• Access and accommodation: Check current arrangements directly with park authorities or your accommodation provider; the latest report does not confirm that every visitor area is operating without rest 

 

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Driving into Zimbabwe: What you need to know about temporary import permits

Travellers driving into Zimbabwe in foreign-registered vehicles should take note of stricter controls on Temporary Import Permits (TIPs). The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) announced the changes in Public Notice No. 60 of 2026, issued on 21 October 2026, following concerns about abuse of the permit system.

The main point for travellers is that TIPs will ordinarily be issued for a maximum of 30 days. Longer stays may be approved on a case-by-case basis, but the total period cannot exceed three months.

Zimbabwe TIP requirements in 2026

Under the new measures, travellers bringing foreign-registered vehicles into Zimbabwe temporarily should be aware of the following requirements:

• Permit validity: Ordinarily up to 30 days, with longer stays subject to approval and a maximum total period of three months.
• Vehicle documents: The original vehicle registration book is required; a copy is not sufficient.
• Non-owner drivers: A letter of authority or affidavit is required if the vehicle is not being driven by its registered owner. Additional verification may apply.
• Extensions: Applications must be submitted before the permit expires and supported by valid reasons and relevant documentation.
• Leaving Zimbabwe: The vehicle must be re-exported before the TIP expires unless an extension has been granted.

These requirements are particularly relevant to overlanders planning longer trips through Southern Africa and travellers using vehicles registered in someone else's name.

Documents required at the border

According to ZIMRA, applicants should have the following documents:

• A valid passport.
• The original vehicle registration book.
• A letter of authority or affidavit if the registered owner is not driving.
• A work, employment, study or residence permit if the driver is a Zimbabwean citizen residing abroad.

ZIMRA may carry out additional checks, particularly for vehicles driven by someone other than the registered owner. Travellers using borrowed or company vehicles should arrange the necessary authorisation before departure.

The notice does not specify the requirements for rental vehicles. If you plan to drive a hire car into Zimbabwe, confirm the applicable procedures with your rental company and ZIMRA before travelling.

How much does a Zimbabwe TIP cost?

ZIMRA lists the following charges in its public notice: 

Charge	Amount
Carbon tax	US$10
Third-party insurance	US$30
Bridge toll (Beitbridge only)	US$9
Zimborders fee (Beitbridge only)	US$28
Total at Beitbridge	US$77

Note: The total includes only the charges listed above. Other fees may apply.

The bridge toll and Zimborders fee apply when using Beitbridge Border Post. The notice does not clarify whether the listed charges are new or unchanged, nor does it provide a comprehensive list of any other fees that might apply.

Travellers should confirm the charges applicable to their crossing before departure and carry sufficient funds to cover the costs.

Important conditions for TIP holders

A vehicle entering Zimbabwe under a TIP must remain under the control of the permit holder and cannot be disposed of in Zimbabwe without ZIMRA's approval.

The vehicle must also leave the country before the permit expires unless an extension has been granted. Permit holders should not leave Zimbabwe without their vehicle unless they have made prior arrangements with the nearest ZIMRA office.

If you need to extend your stay, submit your application before the existing permit expires and provide supporting documentation. Do not assume that an extension will be granted automatically.

Where to get further information

Travellers who are unsure about the requirements should contact ZIMRA before setting off, particularly if they plan to stay in Zimbabwe for more than 30 days or are driving a vehicle that is not registered in their name.

ZIMRA provides the following email contacts in Public Notice No. 60 of 2026:

• Beitbridge: BeitbridgePrivateImports@zimra.co.zw
• Plumtree: PlumtreePrivateImports@zimra.co.zw
• Harare: HararePortMotorTraffic@zimra.co.zw

Travellers returning to South Africa should also check the separate South African customs requirements for foreign-registered vehicles. These are not covered by ZIMRA's notice.

For most visitors, the ordinary 30-day TIP period should be sufficient. However, anyone planning a longer stay should confirm the arrangements in advance and ensure that the vehicle leaves Zimbabwe before the permit expires.

 

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Addo Elephant National Park receives R136.5 million upgrade

South African National Parks (SANParks) is investing R136.5 million in upgrading accommodation and visitor facilities at Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape.

Eight new family accommodation units are already open, while further accommodation upgrades, a refurbished guest house and a swimming pool are expected to be ready in December 2026. A new spa is also operational.

A new 10-unit Community Lodge is scheduled to open in January 2027, alongside the commissioning of a 705-kW solar power plant. Upgrades to Addo Elephant National Park's main sewer and electrical infrastructure have already been completed, while road maintenance is ongoing.

Despite the progress, further improvements are still needed. SANParks has identified ablution facilities and hiking trails as priorities for additional work.

What this means for visitors: Travellers planning a stay at Addo Elephant National Park over the coming months should check accommodation availability and the status of visitor facilities with SANParks before travelling. Road maintenance and ongoing upgrades may affect access to certain facilities or game-viewing routes. Check with SANParks or return to umhambi.blogspot.com for further updates. 

 

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Lufthansa Group expands Cape Town and Windhoek flights for summer 2027

The Lufthansa Group is increasing its Southern Africa flight offering for the northern summer 2027 season, with more flights to Cape Town and additional services to Windhoek from Munich. The changes give travellers from Europe more options for reaching South Africa and Namibia during the popular travel period.

Lufthansa will increase frequencies on its Frankfurt–Cape Town route, while Discover Airlines will add two weekly flights between Munich and Windhoek, bringing the route to five weekly departures. Swiss leisure airline Edelweiss will also increase its seasonal Zurich–Windhoek service to three flights per week from July 2027. Lufthansa Group's summer 2027 schedule is available for booking, although travellers should check individual dates and flight availability before making plans.

What travellers need to know

• Cape Town: Lufthansa will increase the number of flights from Frankfurt during summer 2027. The airline has not specified the revised frequency in its schedule announcement.
• Windhoek from Munich: Discover Airlines will operate five weekly flights from April 2027, including two additional departures on Mondays and Thursdays. Combined with its Frankfurt services, Discover Airlines will offer 12 weekly flights to Windhoek from Germany.
• Windhoek from Zurich: Edelweiss will start its seasonal flights on 16 March 2027, increasing the service to three flights per week from July.

The expanded schedules offer more flexibility for travellers planning trips to Cape Town or Namibia, particularly those looking for direct flights from Germany or Switzerland. As flight frequencies vary by season, it is worth checking the timetable for your intended travel dates before finalising an itinerary.

 

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Proflight Zambia adds Johannesburg and Cape Town flights ahead of the festive season

Proflight Zambia is increasing flights between Lusaka in Zambia and South Africa ahead of the 2026/27 festive season, giving travellers more options for trips between the two countries.

The airline has introduced a third daily return service between Lusaka and Johannesburg on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The additional weekend flights began on 19 September 2026, with a new evening departure from Johannesburg at 18:25, arriving in Lusaka at 20:25. A further 54 flights will operate on the route during December 2026 and January 2027.

From 11 December 2026, Proflight Zambia will also add a fourth weekly flight between Lusaka and Cape Town. The new Friday service complements the existing Monday, Wednesday and Saturday flights. Departures are scheduled for 10:40 from Lusaka and 15:55 from Cape Town, with the service operating via Livingstone.

The additional Cape Town flight also provides another weekly connection to Livingstone, making it easier to combine a visit to Victoria Falls with a trip to South Africa. Connections are available to other Zambian destinations, including Mfuwe, Ndola and Solwezi, subject to the published schedules.

Travellers planning a festive-season trip should check flight availability and timings directly with Proflight Zambia before booking. No flights will operate on Christmas Day, 25 December 2026.

 

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South Africa's best and worst-rated beaches revealed

Dias Beach at Cape Town's Cape Point has been named South Africa's best-rated beach in a new ranking based on Google reviews. At the other end of the list, Monwabisi Beach, located along the False Bay coastline in Khayelitsha, received the lowest average rating.

The research by SEO Backlinks analysed 119 public beaches in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, using Google review data collected on 05 October 2026. The Western Cape dominates the top ten, while seven of the ten lowest-rated beaches are in KwaZulu-Natal.

South Africa's 10 Best-Rated Beaches

Rank	Beach	Location	Rating
1	Dias Beach	Cape Point, Western Cape	4.87/5
2	Robberg 5 Beach	Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape	4.75/5
3	Struisbaai Main Beach	Struisbaai, Western Cape	4.75/5
4	Keurbooms Beach	Keurboomstrand, Western Cape	4.75/5
5	Coney Glen Beach	Knysna, Western Cape	4.73/5
6	Sardinia Bay Beach	Gqeberha, Eastern Cape	4.72/5
7	Llandudno Beach	Cape Town, Western Cape	4.71/5
8	Bakoven Beach	Cape Town, Western Cape	4.71/5
9	Pringle Bay Beach	Pringle Bay, Western Cape	4.71/5
10	The Point	Jeffreys Bay, Eastern Cape	4.71/5

Source: SEO Backlinks. Google review data collected on 05 October 2026.

Dias Beach leads the ranking with an average score of 4.87 out of five from 333 reviews. Located within Table Mountain National Park at Cape Point, it is a more remote option than Cape Town's easily accessible urban beaches.

The Garden Route also features prominently, with Robberg 5 Beach, Keurbooms Beach and Coney Glen Beach among the top five. In the Eastern Cape, Sardinia Bay near Gqeberha and The Point in Jeffreys Bay make the top ten.

South Africa's 10 Lowest-Rated Beaches

Rank	Beach	Location	Rating
1	Monwabisi Beach	Khayelitsha, Cape Town	3.67/5
2	Brighton Beach	Gqeberha, Eastern Cape	3.78/5
3	Alkantstrand Beach	Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal	3.82/5
4	Orient Beach	KuGompo City (East London), Eastern Cape	3.85/5
5	Blythedale Beach	KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal	4.10/5
6	St Winifred's Beach	Kingsburgh, KwaZulu-Natal	4.20/5
7	Hibberdene Beach	Hibberdene, KwaZulu-Natal	4.21/5
8	Blue Lagoon Beach	Durban, KwaZulu-Natal	4.21/5
9	Thekwini Beach	Durban, KwaZulu-Natal	4.25/5
10	Westbrook Beach	Westbrook, north of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal	4.26/5

Source: SEO Backlinks. Google review data collected on 5 October 2026.

Monwabisi Beach recorded the lowest average rating in the study, at 3.67 from 353 reviews. Alkantstrand Beach in Richards Bay was the lowest-rated beach in KwaZulu-Natal.

These ratings should be treated as a guide rather than a definitive assessment of beach quality. Google reviews reflect visitors' overall experiences and do not necessarily indicate water quality, swimming safety or the condition of facilities.

Which province has the highest-rated beaches?

The Western Cape recorded the highest average rating, followed by the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

Average Beach Ratings by Province

Rank	Province	Beaches Surveyed	Average Rating
1	Western Cape	66	4.58/5
2	Eastern Cape	15	4.42/5
3	KwaZulu-Natal	38	4.39/5

Source: SEO Backlinks. Average ratings calculated across the surveyed beaches in each province.

The study included beaches with at least 200 Google reviews and covered only these three coastal provinces. It therefore does not represent every beach in South Africa.

For travellers planning a coastal road trip, the rankings offer a few ideas for beach stops along the way. The Western Cape's highly rated beaches can be combined with a journey along the Garden Route towards Plettenberg Bay, while those continuing east towards Gqeberha and Jeffreys Bay will find two Eastern Cape beaches in the top ten. Further north, KwaZulu-Natal offers an extensive coastline to explore, despite its lower average rating in the study.

Google ratings are only a starting point, however. Check local swimming advisories and water-quality updates before visiting, as conditions can change and a high rating does not necessarily mean a beach is suitable for swimming.

 

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Namibia: Gross Barmen Resort’s indoor swimming facilities temporarily closed

Travellers planning a visit to Gross Barmen Resort in Namibia should be aware that its indoor swimming facilities have been temporarily closed to allow for repair work.

Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), which operates the resort, announced the closure on 15 October 2026 with immediate effect. The repairs are intended to address issues affecting the facilities, which will remain closed until the necessary work has been completed and the swimming areas have been confirmed safe for use.

No reopening date has been announced. NWR says it will provide further updates once more information becomes available.

Visiting Gross Barmen Resort

Gross Barmen Resort is situated approximately 100 km north of Windhoek and 25 km west of Okahandja, on the banks of a tributary of the Swakop River. Its natural hot springs are the main attraction, with the resort offering thermal swimming facilities, accommodation and camping. The resort is a popular destination for day visitors and a potential stop on a road trip through central Namibia.

For travellers with an upcoming stay, it is worth checking directly with NWR before arrival, particularly if access to the indoor thermal pool is an important part of the visit.

 

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