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.

System malfunction at South Africa’s busiest airport delays departures! [update]

[update 02 August 2025]: Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) has confirmed that the system failure affecting Air Traffic Control (ATC) operations at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg has been successfully restored.

The Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) of South Africa has confirmed a systems failure affecting operations at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg. The disruption involves the Flight Plan Management System, a critical component of Air Traffic Control (ATC), resulting in departure delays and operational disruptions.
ATNS is actively coordinating with all relevant aviation stakeholders to minimise flight delays and manage the situation as efficiently as possible. While the issue impacts departures, strict safety protocols remain in place, and air traffic is being managed with utmost caution to ensure passenger safety.
Travellers flying through O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg are advised to check with their respective airlines for the latest flight status updates. ATNS has assured the public that every effort is being made to restore normal operations swiftly and to keep disruptions to a minimum.

Stay tuned to umhambi.blogspot.com for ongoing updates regarding the situation at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg.

 

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Cape Town: SANParks increases safety on Table Mountain!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town has received eighteen so-called Tourism Safety Officers who will join Park Rangers in their daily safety patrols. The programme is in partnership with the Western Cape Government: Department of Community Safety and provides for the officers to be stationed in Table Mountain National Park to assist Park Rangers with their daily activities. Their duties are mainly visible policing and assisting rangers with their daily conservation and tourism duties.

"Table Mountain National Park is an open-access park surrounded by the City of Cape Town and requires more support to combat criminal activities affecting our visitors as well as tackle environmental crime. The Tourism Safety Officer team will boost our existing visitor safety and law enforcement work alongside our rangers", said Manager, Table Mountain National Park Ms. Megan Taplin.

Table Mountain National Park was proclaimed on 29 May 1998 for the purpose of protecting the natural environment of the Table Mountain Chain, and in particular the rare fynbos vegetation. The National Park contains two well-known landmarks: Table Mountain, for which the park is named; and the Cape of Good Hope, the most southwestern extremity of Africa.
Table Mountain National Park is a Natural World Heritage Site and home to one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. It stretches 70km from Signal Hill and Table Mountain in the north to Cape Point in the south and includes a Marine Protected Area and many of the beaches around the Cape Peninsula.

Addo Elephant National Park: Visitors travelling from Gqeberha are advised to avoid the R335 via Motherwell route!

South African National Parks (SANParks) is urging travellers planning to visit Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape to avoid the R335 via Motherwell route from Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) due to safety concerns. Instead, SANParks suggests to make use of the N2 via Colchester and either enter Addo Elephant National Park at Camp Matyholweni near Colchester, or via Paterson to the National Park's Main Camp.

Addo Elephant National Park is situated in the malaria-free Sundays River valley in the Eastern Cape, just over an hour's drive from Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth).

Ranking: Zimbabwe named "Safest Place to Travel When Borders Open" by US travel agency!

Zimbabwe has been named "Safest Place to Travel When Borders Open" post Covid-19. The southern African country is followed by Thailand (#2) and Fiji (#3). Zambia (#6), Uganda (#8), Kenya (#10), Rwanda (#13) and Namibia (#14) also made it into the Top 15 of the safest places to visit in the world when countries reopen borders for international travel. The ranking was produced by Tourlane (USA), an international travel and tourism agency, in collaboration with their Head of Safety, Johann Jones, a former US Department of Defence and NATO security expert with years of experience on risk assessment. Tourlane's ranking is based on key indicators such as COVID-19 cases, health regulations, population density, hours of sunlight, and flight connections to the USA. Tourlane will update the data on a weekly basis, so Zimbabwe's top position might be only a temporary one. We'll keep you posted!

The Top 15 of The Safest Places to Travel When Borders Open (as of 27 October 2020):

1. Zimbabwe
2. Thailand
3. Fiji
4. Uruguay
5. Japan
6. Zambia
7. Cambodia
8. Uganda
9. Seychelles
10. Kenya
11. Vietnam
    
12. Mauritius
13. Rwanda
14. Namibia
15. Sri Lanka
    

Johannesburg: Vilakazi Street gets CCTV cameras!

The City of Johannesburg has installed closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance cameras along the popular Vilakazi Street in Orlando West in Soweto, the only street in the world where two Nobel Laureates - former South African President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu - once lived. The new CCTV system was unveiled by Johannesburg's mayor Herman Mashaba on 19 July 2017. The cameras are installed to  ensure the safety of tourists and locals in Sowetos most popular street. The footage of the 25 hi-tech surveillance cameras in Vilakzi Street is monitored around the clock by the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD). Over and above the installation of the CCTV cameras, the Vilakazi precinct is also getting patrolled by JMPD officers.

"Increasing security along Vilakazi Street, foreign and local tourists will enjoy their stay knowing that someone is guarding them. We need to invest in fighting crime as it has a negative impact on business and investment." Herman Masashaba during the launch of the new CCTV system in Vilakazi Street

Johannesburg Tour: Cycle Soweto with a Local Guide >>

Drakensberg Amphitheatre: KZN Wildlife issues set of safety precautions!

Following the recent attacks on hikers/campers (end of April 2016) in the Drakensberg Amphitheatre region, KZN Wildlife has issued a set of safety precautions all visitors to the region should be aware of.

• Do not camp anywhere on the main Amphitheatre "bowl" or major paths. Rather choose a valley well away from the main trails and set up camp uphill, so that you have the advantage of high ground.
• Do not set up tents when you are being watched. Generally the culprits will hang around on the ridges above hiking parties in the late afternoons. If you are being watched, keep moving and don't set up camp anywhere near them.
• Do not set up camp near huts or areas of obvious habitation.
• Be friendly and polite to those you meet, but firm. Don't display cameras and other valuables openly if you can help it.
• A party size of three or more is recommended.
• A watch system at night can be exhausting but might be a good option for known trouble spots.
• Going with a guide or experienced porters helps tremendously as they can often spot trouble and some speak the local language.
• Keep all your belongings in the tent with you, and tie your boots to your pack or sleeping bag to avoid them being taken without your knowledge.
• Consider putting survival items such as a space blanket, cell phones and boots into a smaller daypack or jacket that can be quickly retrieved if need be.

The current modus operandi of the suspected attackers at the Amphitheatre area is as follows:

• Aggressive begging for food or money at the Chain ladders. Some hikers have had stones thrown at them when descending after refusing to give food or money.
• Shepherds watching hiking parties late afternoon when they set up camp to see what can be stolen. Attacks then generally occur around 23:00 to 03:00.
• Some tents are cut open and items stolen.

The Amphitheatre is located in the Northern Drakensberg and forms part of the Royal Natal National Park. It is over 5,000m in length and has precipitous cliffs rising approximately 1,220 metres along its entire length. The Amphitheatre is regarded as one of the most impressive cliff faces on earth.

Rwanda Development Board: Rwanda is safe for tourists

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has published a press release (06 Dec 2012) reassuring tourists and the business community that it is safe to travel to all parts of Rwanda. According to the press release, the situation in the east of the DR Congo has resulted in two recent isolated skirmishes in Rwanda. Both incidents got rapidly contained and border security has been reinforced to prevent recurrence.

"We would like to reassure visitors that it is business as usual at all our tourism destinations. Travellers to Rwanda continue to enjoy the magnificent scenery, pleasant climate, rich culture and diverse wildlife in our national parks, including the rare mountain gorillas." (Clare Akamanzi, acting CEO of RDB)

World's top 10 safest airlines named

The independent Air Transport Rating Agency (ATRA), based in Switzerland, has ranked the ten safest airlines in a recent report. For the study, ATRA examined publicly available information on 15 criteria, such as the average age of the aircraft used or the homogeneity of the fleet.

The top ten airlines 2011 (2009 data) are (by alphabetic order):

• Air France-KLM
• AMR Corporation (American Airlines, American Eagles)
• British Airways
• Continental Airlines
• Delta Airlines
• Japan Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Southwest Airlines
• United Airlines
• US Airways

According to the agency, airline safety is not only about accident figures (such on the EU black list), but also about "technical, human, organisational and external" elements.
ATRA'S top 10 list is in contrast to the annual Skytrax survey that ranks airlines based on customer service. None of the airlines in the Skytrax top 10 made the ATRA's top 10 safety list.

Cape Town: SANParks to increase the number of (armed) rangers patrolling Table Mountain National Park

South African National Parks (SANParks) Chief Executive Officer, Dr David Mabunda, announced today that SANParks will increase the number of (armed) rangers patrolling Table Mountain National Park by 50. Over the next three years efforts will be made to increase the number of additional rangers by a 100 in total. The impact of crime over the years in parts of the National Park has resulted in this decision. The rangers will be responsible for all matters related to the functions of rangers in National Parks including visitor safety, visitor rescue, anti-poaching, disaster management, and crime prevention in general.
SANParks has also decided to expand the number of dogs utilised in the Park as these have been shown to be an effective mechanism in security operations.
The recruitment process for the rangers will begin immediately. Rangers will be trained to the same level of the Kruger National Park rangers, with emphasis on safety, rescue and disaster management. It is envisaged that the first recruits will report for duty within the next three months.
Dr Mabunda also said that "SANParks is aiming at making a significant dent in the incidence of crime on Table Mountain. To achieve this SANParks will be increasing the visibility of rangers on the TMNP and will be providing the needed resources to ensure both an effective deterrent and a quick response to crime scenes".
He further said "We cannot allow the internationally iconic status of Table Mountain National Park to be negatively impacted by ongoing crime in this area. The economic implications for the Cape Town City and the country are significant, such that, together with our partners, we have to act decisively in dealing with this issue. At the end of the day the Table Mountain National Park is there for all, and we want both our domestic and international visitors to be able to enjoy the Park to its fullest without any fear". (src.: sanparks.org)

Nelson Mandela Bay stadium: robbery at sports bar after Lions match

According to "The Herald" (PE local newspaper) thought to be bogus cops robbed one of the sports bars at the new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth right after the rugby match between the Southern Kings and the touring British & Irish Lions. A barman was robbed at gunpoint, no more incidents were reported.
The match was the first official sports event in the 48,000 pax capacity stadium, the first of five new World Cup stadiums to be completed earlier this month. Because of certain delays and other problems the stadium got axed from FIFA a hosting stadium for the ongoing Confederations Cup.

btw - check the comments made about the article in "The Herald"... interesting...