Is Namibia safe to visit? Government responds to Canada and Germany travel advisories!

According to the global, multilingual travel media platform Travel and Tour World (TTW), both Canada and Germany have recently issued updated travel advisories for Namibia. In response, Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security - working in consultation with the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation - released an official statement to reassure the international community. The statement emphasizes that Namibia remains a peaceful destination, characterised by good governance, functioning state institutions, and a strong commitment to the rule of law.

The full government statement is attached to this blog post. Readers are encouraged to review the official travel advice issued by the Government of Canada as well as the advisory published by Germany’s Auswärtiges Amt in order to form their own informed assessment.

Zambia waives tourist visa requirements for several countries! [update]

update (09 January 2023): According to a statutory instrument issued by the Zambian Government on 02 November 2022, the following 43 countries are on the list of visa-exempt countries. Visa-exempt nationals are allowed to remain in Zambia up to 30 days with an option to extend up to 90 days. The following countries are exempt from visa requirements:
Australia, Canada, Norway, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, US, UK, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and China

The Zambia Tourism Agency announced on 30 September 2022 that Zambia has waived tourist visa requirements for citizens from several countries in a bid to boost tourism. Effective since 01 October 2022, citizens of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, Norway, Australia, China, South Korea, Gulf States and the European Union no longer need a tourist visa to visit Zambia. 

New Covid-19 variant: USA and Canada are also restricting travel from Southern Africa! [update]

update (29 December 2021): Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on 31 December 2021, fully vaccinated foreign nationals who have been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Malawi will again be allowed to enter the United States.
Canada lifted its travel restriction on flights from South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Nigeria, Malawi and Egypt already on 19 December 2021.

Following the detection of the heavily mutated omicron variant of Covid-19 in South Africa, the US Government has decided to restrict travel to the US for non-U.S. citizens from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Malawi starting 29 November 2021. The travel ban will not apply to citizens of the USA or lawful permanent residents, but they will need to show a negative coronavirus test before coming to the United States.
Canada is also restricting travel to and from Southern Africa. Foreign travellers who have been to South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini in the past 14 days are barred from entering the country. We'll keep you posted!

South African Airways increases West African connectivity!

South Africa's flag carrier, South African Airways (SAA), and Ghanaian airline Africa World Airlines Limited (AWA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU allows the two airlines to enhance their relationship through synergies that include code sharing, franchising and any other related projects.
South African Airways and Africa World Airlines formed a relationship in 2015, which resulted in the lauch of scheduled services between Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Washington D.C. in the USA. The relationship between the two airlines has since grown from the original commercial co-operation into the new interline commercial agreement. Over the coming months the interline agreement will evolve into a code share agreement.
SAA customers will then travel on one ticket from Johannesburg to Accra, or from Washington D.C. to Accra, and onwards to a number of destinations such as Kumasi in central Ghana, Tamale in the north, and Takoradi in the west. SAA customers will also be able to connect from Accra to Lagos and Abuja in Nigeria, Freetown in Sierra Leone, and Monrovia in Liberia.
In turn, customers of Africa World Airlines travelling from Ghana, Lagos, Abuja, Freetown, and Monrovia, are able to travel on one ticket from any AWA point of origin and connect onto SAA international flights to either Washington D.C. or Johannesburg, or further on the SAA network.
With effect from April 2019 South African Airways will increase the frequency from Accra to Washington D.C. currently four to five flights per week. The airline offers the only nonstop flight between Ghana and Washington D.C. and convenient connections to / from over 100 cities across the U.S. and Canada through its Star Alliance partner, United Airlines viaWashington Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Washington D.C..

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Ethiopian Airlines to increase flights to Toronto (Canada)

Great news for Canadians planning to travel to Africa. Ethiopia's flag carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, will increase its service between Addis Ababa and Toronto. From 19 June 2013 the airline will operate three instead of two weekly flights between the two destinations on-board Boeing's 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. The outbound service will be operated via Rome (Italy), while the inbound service will be a direct flight.
Via Ethiopian Airlines' hub in Addis Ababa, travellers can easily get connected to other destinations serviced by the airline, such as Johannesburg (South Africa), Nairobi (Kenya), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Lusaka (Zambia) and Harare (Zimbabwe).

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South African Airways and Porter Airlines (Canada) signed new interline agreement

Great news for all travellers who are looking to travel between Canada and Africa. Canada-based Porter Airlines and South African Airways (SAA) announced a new interline agreement, which allows travellers to purchase tickets and access easy connections between 12 Porter Airlines' Canadian destinations and South African Airways’s 44 African destinations via Washington, DC (Dulles). The agreement took effect on 17 September 2012, with tickets between the two airlines now available for purchase.
South African Airways offers non-stop service from Washington, DC (Dulles) to Dakar, Senegal, with a continuation to Johannesburg in South Africa.  Porter Airlines' service between Washington, DC (Dulles) and Toronto's City Airport opens up 12 destinations in Canada for SAA’s passengers including Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa, Thunder Bay, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Windsor, St. John’s, Halifax and Moncton.

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Ethiopian Airlines to connect Canada with Africa

Ethiopian Airlines has announced the introduction of flights to Toronto from its hub in Addis Ababa. The first flight will operate on 16 July 2012. The new route will be the only regularly scheduled non-stop connection between Toronto and the African continent. The flight will be operated with Ethiopian’s brand new B777-200LR aircraft, configured with 34 seats in business class and 287 seats in economy class.
Toronto will be Ethiopian’s 67th international destination, and second in the Americas. Thanks to the new flight, the Canadian city will be connected to dozens of cities in Africa via Ethiopian Airlines' hub at Addis Ababa, including Johannesburg (South Africa), Nairobi (Kenya), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania),  Lusaka (Zambia), the Seychelles and Harare (Zimbabwe) etc..
Passengers traveling from North American cities such as Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver (all Canada) and from Boston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis or San Francisco (all USA) will find convenient connections via Toronto using Ethiopian Airlines’ partner Air Canada on the new flight.

Namibia Tourism Board launches "Conservation Destination" campaign (USA & Canada)

The Namibian tourism board, Namibia Tourism Board (NTB), has launched an online marketing campaign called "Conservation Destination" that aims at increasing tourism arrivals from North America (USA & Canada).
Conservation Destination, which is highlighting the remarkable conservation story taking place in Namibia, lasts six weeks (22 Apri 2012 - 01 June 2012) and centers around the stories of four personable animals from Namibia (Dara the Damara Tern, Chase the Cheetah, Roger the Rhino & Holden the Golden Mole) as they journey to Windhoek and face real conservation threats along the way.

Part of the campaign is the "Conservation Destination Sweepstake/Lucky Draw" which offers a chance to win an all-inclusive 10 day trip for two pax to Namibia (USA & Canada only).
Air Namibia will fly the winner and a friend from anywhere in North America to Namibia's capital city, Windhoek. The trip through Namibia includes the Cheetah Conservation Fund, the Skeleton Coast the Namib Desert and Sossusvlei. Good luck!

Air France & KLM - new baggage policy on flights between Southern Africa and the US and Canada

Air France and KLM have revised their baggage policy on flights between Southern Africa and the US and Canada effective for all new bookings made and valid for travel after 01 November 2011.

The free baggage allowance in Economy (Voyager) is now 1 baggage item per person weighing 23 kg maximum at no extra charge. Flying Blue Silver, Gold, Platinum, or SkyTeam Elite/Elite Plus member can transport one additional baggage item weighing up to 23 kg. All other passengers will be charged for a 2nd baggage item at CAD/USD75 on flights departing from Canada and the US or at an additional fee of €100 (or equivalent to the local currency) on flights departing from Southern Africa.
If the weight of one of your baggage items exceeds 23 kg/50lb, you must pay a fee of CAD/USD75 on flights departing from Canada or the US or an additional fee of €100 (or equivalent to the local currency) on flights departing from Southern Africa. A special authorization is required from the telephone sales service for all baggage items that exceed 32kg/70lb in weight.
If the dimensions (height + length + width) of one of your baggage items exceeds 158cm/62in, you must pay an additional fee of CAD/USD300 on flights departing from Canada or the US and €300 (or equivalent to the local currency) on flights departing from Southern Africa. A special authorization is required from the telephone sales service for all baggage items whose dimensions exceed 158cm/70in (height + length + width).

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