South Africa: 891 rhinos killed by poachers so far in 2013

According to the latest statistics released by the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa has lost 891 rhinos to illegal poaching since the beginning of 2013. Of the rhinos poached, 548 rhinos were killed in the Kruger National Park, 89 in Limpopo, 82 in North West, 79 in KwaZulu-Natal, 77 in Mpumalanga, 5 in the Eastern Cape, 4 in Gauteng and the Freestate respectively as well as 3 in the Marakele National Park.
The total number of people facing rhino poaching-related charges in South Africa has increased to 310 since January 2013.

Latest rhino poaching figures (as of 28 November 2013):  

• Kruger National Park (SANParks) - 548 rhinos poached
• Marakele National Park (SANParks) - 3 rhinos poached
• Gauteng - 4 rhinos poached
• Limpopo - 89 rhinos poached
• Mpumalanga - 77 rhinos poached
• North-West Province - 82 rhinos poached
• Eastern Cape - 5 rhinos poached
• Free State - 4 rhino poached
• KwaZulu Natal - 79 rhinos poached
• Western Cape - 0 rhino poached
• Northern Cape - 0 rhino poached

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) is urging members of the public to report incidents of rhino poaching or any tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.

Cape Town named "Best City" in the 2013 Telegraph Travel Awards

Cape Town was named "Best City" in the 2013 edition of Britain's biggest travel survey, the annual Telegraph Travel Awards. More than 75,000 people took part in the survey and voted for their favourite travel destinations and companies, making Telegraph Travel Awards probably one of the most comprehensive and wide-ranging travel surveys in the world.

The Telegraph lists tons of reasons why Cape Town won the award. Here is a selection:

• you can surf the Atlantic
• you can climb mountains
• you can eat in Michelin-starred restaurants
• you can stay in both historical and super-hip accommodation
• you can indulge in wine tours and still find time to relax on the beach (with or without penguins).
• 2014 World Design Capital
• no shortage of designer accommodation
• Cape Town appeals to all ages
• Adrenalin-seekers get their kicks
• Gourmands relish the vineyards just outside the city and the fresh food
• the buzz of the Biscuit Mill market
• the cosmopolitan bars in Long Street
• the cool fashion boutiques and craft shops
• Cape Town's clubs
• an English-speaking destination that offers sun, sea and culture in one place – and all just 11 hours’ flight away, with no jetlag

Emirates to re-introduce its A380 service to Johannesburg during Dec 2013/Jan 2014

The largest airline in the Middle East, Emirates, will re-introduce its Airbus A380 service between its main hub at Dubai International Airport (DXB) in Dubai and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg from 24 Dec 2013 - 03 Jan 2014 and from 08 Jan 2014 - 28 Jan 2014. The Airbus A380 replaces the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft the airline is usually operating between the two destinations. Emirates will also operate an extra Boeing 777-300ER service (2-class configuration) between Dubai and Johannesburg on 04 Jan 2014.

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Rwanda: Nyungwe Forest National Park one of National Geographic Traveler Magazine's must-see places 2014

Great news for Rwanda. The National Geographic Traveler Magazine named the Nyungwe Forest National Park one of the must-see places 2014. The Best Trips 2014-list consists of 20 destinations and reflects what's authentic, culturally rich, sustainable and superlative in the world of travel today. The National Geographic Traveler Magazine's global community of writers, editors and explorers selected the destinations on the Best Trips 2014-list, and for the first time a readers' choice submission was also included. The destinations are featured in the December 2013/January 2014 issue of the National Geographic Traveler Magazine, available internationally on newsstands from 03 December 2013.



The Nyungwe Forest National Park is located in southeast Rwanda, about 225km from the country's capital Kigali. It covers about 1000km² and is known as Africa's largest protected mountain rainforest. The Nyungwe Forest is home to one of Africa's greatest concentrations of chimpanzees and to at least 310 bird species, of which 26 are endemic.

The destinations featured in the 2014 Best of the World-list are (in alphabetical order):

• Alentejo, Portugal
• Arbil, Iraq
• Bolaven Plateau, Laos
• Cacao Trail, Ecuador
• Cape Verde
• Cathar Country, France
• Cordoba, Argentina
• Derawan Islands, Indonesia (readers' choice)
• Guyana
• John Muir Trail, Scotland
• Liechtenstein
• Nahanni National Park, Canada
• New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
• Northern Territory, Australia
• Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda
• Puglia, Italy
• Ranthambore National Park, India
• Riga, Latvia
• Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA
• Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Sochi, Russia

Video: Skateboarding in Port Elizabeth

South African skaters Pieter Retief, Jansen van Staden, Yann Horowitz, Khulu Dlamini from the adidas Skateboarding Team South Africa recently visited Port Elizabeth. As always on their trips - also check their videos about Cape Town, Durban and Maputo - they got themselves filmed while skating through the city and came up with a unique skater's view on Port Elizabeth. Kiff! Kudos adi three leaf, Pieter, Jansen, Yann and Khulu for the video! Enjoy!

adidas skateboarding | Port Elizabeth | South Africa from adi three leaf on Vimeo.

South Africa: 860 rhinos killed by poachers so far in 2013

According to the latest statistics released by the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa has lost 860 rhinos to illegal poaching since the beginning of 2013. Of the rhinos poached, 521 rhinos were killed in the Kruger National Park, 87 in Limpopo, 82 in North West, 79 in KwaZulu-Natal, 77 in Mpumalanga, 5 in the Eastern Cape, 4 in Gauteng,  3 in the Marakele National Park and 2 in the Free State.
The total number of people facing rhino poaching-related charges in South Africa has increased to 285 since January 2013.

 Latest rhino poaching figures (as of 22 November 2013):  

• Kruger National Park (SANParks) - 521 rhinos poached
• Marakele National Park (SANParks) - 3 rhinos poached
• Gauteng - 4 rhinos poached
• Limpopo - 87 rhinos poached
• Mpumalanga - 77 rhinos poached
• North-West Province - 82 rhinos poached
• Eastern Cape - 5 rhinos poached
• Free State - 2 rhino poached
• KwaZulu Natal - 79 rhinos poached
• Western Cape - 0 rhino poached
• Northern Cape - 0 rhino poached

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) is urging members of the public to report incidents of rhino poaching or any tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.

2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN): Tickets go on sale on 29 Nov 2013

South Africa hosts the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) from 11 January 2014 to 01 February 2014. Tickets for the event, which will be available at Shoprite, Checkers and all Computicket outlets countrywide, go on sale on 29 November 2013 and will cost as little as R40 - up to a maximum of R200. According to Local Organising Committee (LOC) CEO Mvuzo Mbebe, the tickets will be sold in three discount phases, varying from up 20% discount for the 1st Phase (29 Nov 2013 - 05 Jan 2014), and up 15% and 10% for 2nd (06 Jan - 18 Jan 2014) and 3rd phases (19 Jan 2014 - 22 Jan 2014), respectively.
The 16 countries vying for the Championship are: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda, Zimbabwe and the host nation South Africa. The host cities of the tournament are Cape Town (Cape Town Stadium & Athlone Stadium), Polokwane (Peter Mokaba Stadium) and Mangaung/Bloemfontein (Free State Stadium).

Cape Town, Cape Town Stadium

• 11 January 2014, 18:00 - South Africa vs. Mozambique
• 11 January 2014, 21:00 - Mali vs. Nigeria
• 15 January 2014, 17:00 - South Africa vs. Mali
• 15 January 2014, 20:00 - Nigeria vs. Mozambique
• 19 January 2014, 19:00 - Nigeria vs. South Africa
• 20 January 2014, 19:00 - Morocco vs. Uganda
• 25 January 2014, 20:30 - Quarterfinal A1 vs. B2
• 26 January 2014, 17:00 - Quarterfinal B1 vs. A2
• 01 February 2014, 17:00 - 3rd Place match
• 01 February 2014, 20:00 - Final

Cape Town, Athlone Stadium

• 12 January 2014, 17:00 - Zimbabwe vs. Morocco
• 12 January 2014, 20:00 - Uganda vs. Burkina Faso
• 16 January 2014, 17:00 - Zimbabwe vs. Uganda
• 16 January 2014, 20:00 - Burkina Faso vs. Morocco
• 19 January 2014, 19:00 - Mozambique vs. Mali
• 20 January 2014, 19:00 - Burkina Faso vs. Zimbabwe

Mangaung/Bloemfontein, Free State Stadium

• 13 January 2014, 17:00 - Ghana vs. Congo
• 13 January 2014, 20:00 - Libya vs. Ethiopia
• 17 January 2014, 17:00 - Ghana vs. Libya
• 17 January 2014, 20:00 - Ethiopia vs. Congo
• 21 January 2014, 19:00 - Ethiopia vs. Ghana
• 22 January 2014, 19:00 - Mauritania vs. Gabon
• 26 January 2014, 20:30 - Quarterfinal C1 vs. D2
• 29 January 2014, 17:00 - Semifinal
• 29 January 2014, 20:30 - Semifinal

Polokwane, Peter Mokaba Stadium

• 14 January 2014, 17:00 - DR Congo vs. Mauritania
• 14 January 2014, 20:00 - Gabon vs. Burundi
• 18 January 2014, 17:00 - DR Congo vs. Gabon
• 18 January 2014, 17:00 - Burundi vs. Mauritania
• 21 January 2014, 19:00 - Congo vs. Libya
• 22 January 2014, 19:00 - Burundi vs. DR Congo
• 26 January 2014, 17:00 - Quarterfinal D1 vs C2

Kevin Richardson: Lions - The new endangered species? (video)

A team from GoPro's production crew recently visited Kevin Richardson, also known as the "lion whisperer", to explore the danger and beauty of his passions for lions and their future. Kevin's "Kevin Richardson Wildlife Sanctuary" is located just an hour north east of Johannesburg and half an hour from Pretoria in the Welgedacht Private Game Reserve, which forms part of the Dinokeng Game Reserve. Since 01 Nov 2013 Kevin's Wildlife Sanctuary is open to the public. Tours include a welcome refreshment, sanctuary tour and a guided game drive with a Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) guide in the greater area of the Big Five Reserve, as well as a boma braai lunch at the end of the tour. For more information please visit Kevin's website! Kudos GoPro!

Tanzania/Zambia: TAZARA shut after accident!

update (25 Nove 2013): We just received an email from Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA). All operations went back to normal on 24 Nov 2013.

update (25 Nov 2013): According to the online edition of the Ugandan newspaper "New Vision", the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) reopened on Sunday (24 Nov 2013) after a 7-day-long closure.

The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which links the Tanzanian port of Dar Es Salaam with the town of New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia's Central Province, has suspended the transportation of passengers and freight between the two countries. The railway is expected to remain closed for at least seven days (since 18 Nov 2013) after a truck destroyed a section of the Chimbuya railway bridge, some 650km from Dar Es Salaam. We'll keep you posted!

South Africa's first museum of contemporary African art to open in Cape Town

The V&A Waterfront and Jochen Zeitz, a German art collecter and entrepreneur, yesterday announced a unique partnership to create South Africa's first museum of contemporary African art at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. The museum, which will be located in the historic Grain Silos at the waterfront, will be named the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) after the Zeitz Collection, which will form the museum's founding collection.
Zeitz MOCAA will comprise over 9,500m² and will be spread over nine floors. It will focus on collecting, preserving, researching and exhibiting cutting-edge contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. Through an entire floor dedicated to education, the museum will develop a new art-loving, museum-going audience. The architect for the Zeitz MOCAA will be announced in February 2014, and it is expected to open its doors to visitors at the end of 2016. The inaugural exhibition, which opens at the Zeitz MOCAA Pavilion on 23 November 2013, will present the work of Swazi artist Nandipha Mntambo.

Keetmanshoop: 10,000 m² shopping mall set to open

update (22 Nov 2013): According to a report in the online edition of Namibian newspaper "New Era", the Keetmanshoop Old Mutual Retail Centre will only officially open in April 2014. However, the mall opened partially for business on 15 Nov 2013.

It might not necessarily be interesting for all travellers in Namibia, but a N$92 million retail centre named Keetmanshoop Old Mutual Retail Centre will open in Keetmanshoop on 15 Dec 2013. The mall boasts a total of 10,000 m² of gross lettable space. Retailers such as Foschini, Markhams, Shoprite, Legit, Edgars, Jet and Mr Price, as well as food outlets such as Hungry Lion and Spur will open their stores & restaurants in the mall. So far two commercial banks, namely FNB and Standard Bank, will install ATMs at the centre; it is expected that Nedbank and Bank Windhoek will follow the two banks.


View Larger Map

Keetmanshoop is located about 500km south of Windhoek in Namibia's Karas Region at the "B1", which connects Windhoek with South Africa ("N7", Noordoewer border post), and the "B4", which connects Keetmanshoop with the coastal town of Luderitz. The town is the biggest urban centre in the Karas Region and known for its two quiver tree forests, one of them being a national monument.

Johannesburg: The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory to open

update (19 March 2014): Just to confirm it: Nelson Mandela Centre Of Memory is free of charge, but by appointment only. Be sure to book well in advance.

update (18 Nov 2013): According to the BBC, the Nelson Mandela Centre Of Memory will open to the public in the first week of Feb 2014. It will be free of charge, but visitors will have to book online first.

The current President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, will today (18 Nov 2013) officially open the Nelson Mandela Centre Of Memory public facility and the permanent exhibition on the life and times of former President Nelson Mandela at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg in South Africa. The Nelson Mandela Centre Of Memory will be launched as a public facility that bears testament to the living legacy of former President Mandela.



The Nelson Mandela Foundation is located in 107 Central Street, Houghton, Johannesburg. We'll keep you posted regarding opening times, entrance fees etc.

Lusaka: Kenneth Kaunda International Airport set for major upgrades!

Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (IATA: LUN) in Lusaka (Zambia), located about 15km northeast of the city's CBD, will see various major upgrades over the next at least 4.5 years. It is projected that the construction of the upgrades will cost approx. US$360 million.


View Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in a larger map

The upgrades at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (IATA: LUN) in Lusaka will include:

• a two-story terminal building of 34,500 m²
•  including 22 check-in counters
• 12 border channels
• 6 security check counters;
• a presidential terminal (4,000 m²) for the president, ministers and VIP guests
• a new air traffic control building and tower (2,000 m²)
• a new National Airport Corporation office/shops complex (1,200 m²)
• an airport hotel of 80 rooms
• a new car park (22,200 m²)
• a new cargo hangar (5,000 m²)
• new aprons and taxiways

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Video: Safari Etiquette 101

David Hoffmann from Davidsbeenhere.com recently visited Swaziland and went on a safari in the Mkhaya Game Reserve. While there, he summed up his experiences on game drives in Africa and compiled what he calls the "Safari Etiquette 101". Definitely a helpful video for safari newbies! Would you add anything? Please let us know! Kudos David for the 101!

South African Airways to increase flights to five African destinations

South Africa's flag carrier, South African Airways (SAA), will increase the number of flights to five of its African destinations. The frequencies that will be increased are as follows:

• Johannesburg <> Kinshasa, DR Congo
  from four flights per week to six (10 Dec 2013)
• Johannesburg <> Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
  from 12 flights per week to 13 flights per week (13 Dec 2013)
• Johannesburg <> Windhoek, Namibia
  from 20 flights per week to 21 flights per week (12 Jan 2014)
• Johannesburg <> Ndola, Zambia
  from 19 flights per week to 20 flights per week (13 Jan 2014)
• Johannesburg <> Lusaka, Zambia
  from 19 flights per week to 20 flights per week (14 Jan 2014)

From 07 Dec 2013 South African Airways (SAA) will no longer operate its own aircraft between Johannesburg and Kigali (Rwanda). The airline's new codeshare partner, RwandAir, will service the route instead.

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Kenya Airways & KLM expand their cooperation

The national airline of Kenya, Kenya Airways, and the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, will expand their codeshare agreement. From 01 January 2014, the cooperation between the two airlines will be expanded through the addition of the following four routes:

• London – Nairobi
• Amsterdam –Entebbe/Kigali
• Amsterdam – Lusaka - Harare
• Amsterdam - Kilimanjaro/Dar es Salam (subject to regulatory approval)

This will bring the total number of frequencies operated jointly by Kenya Airways and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to approximately 44 weekly flights. Currently, the two airlines operate a daily service between Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in Amsterdam and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. The airlines jointly operate 19 weekly return flights between the Netherlands, France (Air France) and Kenya.

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Tanzania: Fastjet to increase flights between Dar Es Salaam & Mbeya

Due to the high popularity of Fastjet's (new) route between Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar Es Salaam and Songwe International Airport in Mbeya, the airline will increase the number of flights between the two destinations. From 24 November 2013 Fastjet will introduce a Sunday flight and then, from the 17th December 2014, a further three flights per week.
The city of Mbeya is located in southwest Tanzania. It is the first larger urban settlement encountered when travelling overland from neighbouring Zambia and the location of a regional TAZARA Railway hub. The city's airport is located approximately 10 km from the city center.

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