31 October 2019

Kruger National Park Calendar - December!

Weather:
  • height of summer
  • very hot & humid days
  • warm nights
  • often spectacular lightning storms
Temperatures:

Landscape:
  • vigorous plat growth everywhere in the park
  • tree canopy very thick
  • fig trees in fruit
  • mopane tree in flower
Animal Activity:
  • height of the impala breeding season
  • predators out to get their young
  • most resident non-raptor birds breeding
  • animal activity all over the park

Annual conservation tariff increase for National Parks in South Africa's Cape Region!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced the annual tariff increase for Agulhas National Park, Bontebok National Park, Table Mountain National Park, Tankwa Karoo National Park and West Coast National Park as of 1 November 2019. All funds generated from conservation fees are used with the primary mandate of South African National Parks (SANParks) which is to oversee the conservation of South Africa's biodiversity, landscapes, seascapes and associated heritage assets through a system of National Parks.

Agulhas National Park daily conservation fees as of 01 November 2019:

  • Standard conservation fee - adults: R184
  • Standard conservation fee - children under 12 years old*: R92
  • Citizens of South Africa (with a valid SA identification document) - adults: R46
  • Citizens of South Africa (with a valid SA identification document) - children under 12 years old*: R23
  • Southern African Development Community (SADC) Nationals (with passport) - adults: R92
  • Southern African Development Community (SADC) Nationals (with passport) - children under 12 years old*: R46
Bontebok National Park daily conservation fees as of 01 November 2019:
  • Standard conservation fee - adults: R132
  • Standard conservation fee - children under 12 years old*: R61
  • Citizens of South Africa (with a valid SA identification document) - adults: R46
  • Citizens of South Africa (with a valid SA identification document) - children under 12 years old*: R23
  • Southern African Development Community (SADC) Nationals (with passport) - adults: R66
  • Southern African Development Community (SADC) Nationals (with passport) - children under 12 years old*: R33
Table Mountain National Park daily conservation fees as of 01 November 2019:

Please see below table of the rate increase for Table Mountain National Park sections consisting of Boulders Penguin Colony; Cape of Good Hope; Newlands; Oudekraal; Perdekloof; Silvermine and the Tokai Picnic and Braai Area:


South African National Parks, SANParks, Table Mountain National Park, conservation fees
-- click to enlarge --
src.: SANParks

Tankwa Karoo National Park daily conservation fees as of 01 November 2019:
  • Standard conservation fee - adults: R184
  • Standard conservation fee - children under 12 years old*: R92
  • Citizens of South Africa (with a valid SA identification document) - adults: R46
  • Citizens of South Africa (with a valid SA identification document) - children under 12 years old*: R23
  • Southern African Development Community (SADC) Nationals (with passport) - adults: R92
  • Southern African Development Community (SADC) Nationals (with passport) - children under 12 years old*: R46
West Coast National Park daily conservation fees as of 01 November 2019:
  • Standard conservation fee - adults: R96
  • Standard conservation fee - children under 12 years old*: R48
  • Citizens of South Africa (with a valid SA identification document) - adults: R64
  • Citizens of South Africa (with a valid SA identification document) - children under 12 years old*: R32
  • Southern African Development Community (SADC) Nationals (with passport) - adults: R96
  • Southern African Development Community (SADC) Nationals (with passport) - children under 12 years old*: R48
West Coast National Park daily conservation fees as of 01 November 2019 (Flower Season):
  • Standard conservation fee - adults: R198
  • Standard conservation fee - children under 12 years old*: R94
  • Citizens of South Africa (with a valid SA identification document) - adults: R90
  • Citizens of South Africa (with a valid SA identification document) - children under 12 years old*: R45
  • Southern African Development Community (SADC) Nationals (with passport) - adults: R136
  • Southern African Development Community (SADC) Nationals (with passport) - children under 12 years old*: R68
Please note that the standard rate is automatically applied to all visitors at the gate. To claim/qualify for the local rate, South Africans over 18 years of age must provide Original Proof of South African ID on arrival at the gate. No refunds will be provided after entering through the gate if the SA rate was not claimed and billed for on arrival.

* Children under two years of age enter the park for free.

30 October 2019

Airlink re-introduces early morning flights between Cape Town <> Windhoek!

South African regional carrier Airlink is set to re-introduce its early morning fligth between Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town and Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek, Namibia. Effective 18 November 2019, the additional morning flight will from Mondays to Fridays depart Cape Town at 05:55 and arrive in Windhoek at 08:00. The return flight will depart Windhoek at 08:50 and arrive in Cape Town at 10:55. The service is operated by an Embraer ERJ135 regional jet. According to Airlink, the re-introduction of the early morning flight is in response to customer requests and will allow travelers the freedom to choose from two flights per day between Cape Town and Windhoek.

29 October 2019

South Africa: Cape Town to host the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022!

The World Rugby Council, which manages and controls the affairs of World Rugby, has awarded  the hosting rights for the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 to South Africa at its Interim Meeting in Tokyo on 29 October 2019. The eighth edition of the Rugby World Cup Sevens will take place in Cape Town in September 2022. The three-day event will be held at the 55 000-capacity Cape Town Stadium in Green Point. Competition dates will be confirmed in due course. The tournament will feature the world's best 24 men's and 16 women's rugby sevens teams. Congratulations SA Rugby, South Africa and Cape Town!

Uganda: Uganda Wildlife Authority re-introduces Rothschild giraffes to Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve!

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is currently in the process of re-introducing 15 Rothschild giraffes (5 male and 10 female) into the Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve in the Karamoja subregion of northeastern Uganda. A first batch of five animals has been released on 28 October 2019. The other 10 giraffes will follow within the next three weeks. The giraffes have been translocated from Murchison Falls National Park.
The UWA last year translocated 92 Impalas into Pian Upe Wildlife Resort, while its efforts to protect the wildlife in the resort aLso resulted in significantly increased numbers of e.g. Roan Antelope, Eland, Zebra, Hartebeest and Cheetah.
Through enhancing the conservation value of
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve the UWA hopes not just to resore and manage viable populations of extict or endangered species, but also to increase tourism in the region and create other benefits such as employment, sale of food and crafts as well as accommodation, increased revenue sharing and other indirect economic benefits.



The
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is located in the northeastern semi-arid part of Uganda, spanning a land area of 2,043km². It is undisputedly the largest wildlife reserve in the country and the second largest protected area in Uganda, after the Murchison Falls National Park in northwest Uganda.

28 October 2019

Windhoek: Change of access into the terminal building of Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH)!

The Namibia Airports Company Limited (NAC) has announced that access to the departure doors into the terminal building of Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek are closed with effect from 28 October 2019 until further notice due to the ongoing upgrade of the airport. All passengers are urged to access the airport's terminal building through the arrival doors which have been widened to ensure that both departing and arriving passengers enter and exit in the best possible manner. Passengers are also advised to observe the applicable signage to navigate their way through Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH).

Ethiopian Airlines increases flights to Buenos Aires (Argentina)!

Ethiopia's flag carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, is set to increase the number of flights to Argentina. Effective 28 October 2019, the airline will operate five weekly flights instead of the current three weekly flights between Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) in Addis Ababa and Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) in the Ezeiza Partido in Greater Buenos Aires via São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governador -André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU) in São Paulo, Brazil. The route is operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.

South African Airways and Africa World Airlines have launched a codeshare agreement!

South Africa's flag carrier, South African Airways, and Ghanaian airline company Africa World Airlines have launched a codeshare partnership. Effective since 27 October 2019, the codeshare agreement applies between Accra (ACC) <> Kumasi (KMS), Accra <> Lagos (LOS) and Accra <> Abuja (ABV). The partnership is unilateral at the moment, with South African Airways marketing on the services of Africa World Airlines as the operating carrier. South African Airways customers are able to travel on the routes on one South African Airways ticket where travel includes Johannesburg. The airlines are planning more destinations in the near future.
South African Airways and Africa World Airlines currently have an interline agreement established in 2018 and it provides seamless connections for their customers to/from
Abuja, Lagos, Monrovia, Freetown, Kumasi, Tamale, Wa and Takoradi over Accra, to South African Airways mainline flights to/from Johannesburg and Washington, DC.

South Africa's Blue Flag beaches, boats & marinas 2019/20!

A total of 45 beaches in South Africa, along with 10 sustainable tourism boats and 9 marinas have been awarded Full Blue Flag status by the 2019/20 International Blue Flag Jury. The Western Cape has achieved the highest number of Blue Flag sites, with 33 beaches, 10 boats and seven of the nine Blue Flag marinas. The Eastern Cape has been awarded two Blue Flag marina sites, as well as six Blue Flag beaches. KwaZulu-Natal has been awarded six Blue Flag beaches.
The Blue Flag programme also allows for potential Blue Flag sites to participate in the Pilot Programme. This year will see 35 beaches (
Western Cape: 5 beaches; Eastern Cape: 11 beaches; KwaZulu-Natal: 19 beaches) across South Africa's three coastal provinces on this development phase of the programme.

beach, South Africa, Garden Route

Western Cape Blue Flag beaches:
Western Cape Blue Flag marinas:
Western Cape Blue Flag boats:
Eastern Cape Blue Flag beaches:
Eastern Cape Blue Flag Marina:
 KwaZulu Natal Blue Flag beaches:

Blue Flag is a certification issued by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that a beach or marina meets its stringent standards. The main criterias include standards for water quality, safety, environmental education and information, the provision of services and general environmental management criteria. Blue Flag is sought for beaches and marinas as an indication of their high environmental and quality standards.
In
South Africa, the first country outside Europe to be granted Blue Flag accreditation for its beaches, the Blue Flag programme is managed by WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) in partnership with participating coastal municipalities.