South African regional low cost-carrier FlySafair is set to introduce flights between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP), located about 30km north east of Mbombela (Nelspruit) in Mpumalanga. The airport is known as the major gateway for tourists traveling (by air) to Kruger National Park. Flights will depart Johannesburg at 11:15 on Fridays and Sundays and arrive in Mbombela at 12:10. The return flight is set to depart Mbombela at 12:45, also on Fridays and Sundays, and arrive in Johannesburg at 13:40. Flights will be operated on board a Boeing 737-800. The new service will commence on 02 August 2024.
04 July 2024
South Africa: FlySafair connects Johannesburg with Kruger National Park!
Durban: Two beaches are currently closed for swimming due to water quality!
The eThekwini Municipality, the local government body responsible for governing and managing Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, has released updated lists of beaches that are currently (as of 03 July 2024) open and safe for swimming, closed for swimming and of swimming pools that are currently open to the public. According to the lists, 21 beaches in Durban are currently open for swimming, while swimming at two beaches is prohibited due to water quality. 33 swimming pools in Durban are currently open to the public.
The following beaches are open for swimming:
- operating hours 06:00 - 18:30 -
- Wedge
- uShaka
- Addington
- Point Beach
- Battery Beach
- Bay of Plenty
- North Beach
- South Beach
- Country Club
- Thekwini Beach
- uMhlanga Main
- Bronze Beach
- mDloti Main
- uMgababa
- Anstey's Beach
- Brighton
- Winkelespruit
- Toti Main Beach
- Pipeline Beach
- Warner Beach
- Reunion
Beach(es) closed for swimming:
- Westbrook
- Laguna Beach
Recreational activities other than swimming at beaches closed for swimming are allowed!
|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park: Upgrading and maintenance is currently taking place at two camps!
South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that much needed upgrading and maintenance is currently taking place at the the chalets at the Sendelingsdrift Rest Camp and Gannakouriep Wilderness Camp in the |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. The upgrading will be during the whole month of July 2024. SANParks apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause and can assure guests that it will not have an impact on booked accommodation.
The Sendelingsdrift Rest Camp is built in the style of an old mining camp and offers its guests ten chalets as well as camping facilities. Sendelingsdrif is the entry point to the South African (Richtersveld) side of the |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park as well as a border post that leads to the Namibian side of the Transfrontier Park.
The Gannakouriep Wilderness Camp is nestled deep within the Richtersveld section of the |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. The camp is accessible by high-clearance 4x4 vehicles only. It comprises of four chalets.
03 July 2024
Cape Town: Nettleton footpath at Lions Head temporarily closed!
South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that the Nettleton footpath at Lions Head in the Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town will be temporarily closed due to the collapsed footpath embankment. This closure is necessary to stabilize the area and ensure public safety and easy access. Only the link between Nettleton Road and the gum belt will be temporarily closed for the repairs. SANParks kindly requests National Park visitors to utilize the alternative footpath from Arcadia Road to access Lions Head.
Lion's Head is a mountain in Cape Town
between Table Mountain and Signal Hill. It peaks at 669 metres above
sea level. Lion's Head is known for its views of both the city and the Atlantic Seaboard. Hikes up to the top is particularly popular during full moon. The next full moon will be on 21 July 2024.
Botswana: Air Botswana expands its regional route network in Southern Africa!
Botswana's state-owned national flag carrier, Air Botswana, is set to grow its current route network. The airline, which purchased three new Embraer jets in June 2024, is planning to introduce new routes as well as reinstate destinations into its network it has previously served.
Air Botswana will launch scheduled flights between Kasane International Airport (BBK) in Kasane and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, Kasane and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) in Mbombela well as between Kasane and Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek, Namibia. The airline will also introduce flights between Maun Airport (MUB) in Maun and Cape Town as well as between Maun and Windhoek. Furthermore, Air Botswana is planing to open new routes between Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) in Gaborone and King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban and between Gaborone and Windhoek.
The airline will also reinstate three routes it has previously operated. These are Kasane <> OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, Maun <> Johannesburg and Phillip Gaonwe Matante International Airport (FRW) in Francistown <> Johannesburg.
Within Botswana, Air Botswana is planning to connect Gaborone with Orapa Airport (ORP) in Orapa, a town in the Central District of Botswana.
Unfortunately, launch dates and flight schedules are currently not available. We'll keep you posted!
01 July 2024
South Africa/Brazil: South African Airways & Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes reinstate codeshare agreement!
South African Airways (SAA) has announced that its codeshare agreement with Brazilian low-cost airline Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes ("Gol") is back in place with immediate effect. This is a renewal of the agreement between the two airlines that was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic. The reinstated agreement includes flights between Cape Town International (CPT) in Cape Town, OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Galeão-Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) in Rio de Janeiro. It extends to domestic routes, connecting Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), giving Brazilian visitors seamless access to the four major economic hubs of South Africa. The agreement also makes it possible for SAA to add its designated code on more than 20 connecting Gol-operated flights in Brazil, including (but not limited to) Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte and Florianópolis.
In time, the two airlines will add 60 additional Latin American destinations and many African ones to the agreement, to give travellers optimal choice and make it easier than ever to plan multi-city itineraries on a single SAA/Gol codeshare ticket.
Kruger National Park Calendar - August!
Weather:
- cool mornings and cold evenings
- temperatures & humidity rise during the day
Temperatures:
- between 12°C - 28°C (Fahrenheit: e.g. 28°C = [(28x9)]/5 + 32 = 82.4°F)
- visit our webcam page for live footage from Kruger National Park!
Landscape:
- bush extremely dry
- landscape a yellow hue through flowering knobthorn, cassias and other
- veld often overgrassed, especialy around watering holes etc.
Animal Activity:
- game congrates around watering holes, rivers etc.
- elephant numbers at their highest in northern Kruger
- earliest summer migrant birds arrive
- local raptors breeding
- weakest animals die of thirst or from predators
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