Cape Town: Upgrade of the Seaforth beachfront in Simon’s Town!

The City of Cape Town has informed the public that it has commenced with the upgrade of the Seaforth beachfront in Simon’s Town last week. The work will continue until December 2023 and includes the upgrading the existing footways, the reconstructing the retaining walls, the upgrading the stairs and existing railings as well as the upgrading the hard and soft landscaping. During the upgrade, visitors and residents are advised of the following:

• The walkway from Martello Road (IMT bus parking) to Seaforth beach (parking) will be closed for the duration of the project. All tour bus commuters visiting Boulders Beach are advised to walk back up to Main Road and down Whalers Way to accessBoulders Beach. Signage will direct visitors along the 1km detour route via Martello – Queen Victoria – Whalers Way.
• Beach access form Seaforth parking will change as construction work moves around on site. Whenever the main access points are closed off, visitors may be directed along the blue access route to the beach.
• Beach access from the IMT parking area will be via a side gate when construction activities allow. Access will be clearly directed through signage.

Namibia: Skeleton Coast National Park is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar upgrade!

According to a report by the Namibian Broadcasting Corporaton (NBC), the Skeleton Coast National Park in northwest Namibia is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar upgrade. The NBC is quoting the Governor of the Kunene Region, Marius Sheya, saying that "the government, together with its developmental partners, felt that it was necessary to start upgrading the infrastructure and putting up proper infrastructure in terms of the receiving of visitors to this area [...]".
New offices and a workshop are being set up for both the police and staff of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MEFT). Housing units with proper sanitation are also nearing completion. The area is to be powered by solar energy. Similar upgrades are also taking shape at Möwe Bay and the Ugabmund Gate in the south of the Skeleton Coast National Park, which borders Namibia's Erongo region.

Established in 1971, the Skeleton Coast National Park covers an area of 16 390 km². It is home to the world's largest ship graveyard, whale skeletons, and desert-adapted wildlife.

Namibia: The upgrade of Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek about to begin!

The Namibia Airports Company Ltd. (NAC) has announced on Facebook that the upgrade of  Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek is about to begin. The project, which has a budget of N$250 million, will commence on 23 September 2019 and is expected to be completed by the end of September 2020. According to the NAC, the Hosea Kutako International Airport expansion project is aimed at doubling the handling capacity of the airport to accommodate increased passenger movements up until 2030. The project will include:

• Departure:
• increase in check-in counters to a total of 18 counters
• additional five self-service check-in kiosks
• increase in the departure security screening points from three to five
• increase in the departure immigration counters form the current three to seven counters 
• expansion of the departure hall to accommodate the growing passenger movement at the airport
  
• Arrivals:
• the construction of a new departure hall, as an extension to the existing terminal 
• 17 immigrations counters as compared to the current eigh
• expansion of the baggage reclaim hall 
• three modern baggage carousels
  

Namibia to upgrade Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek!

The chairman of the board of directors of the Namibia Airports Company (NAC), Dr. Leake S. Hangala, announced in a recent statement (07 November 2018) that Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek is getting a major upgrade. The project, which is expected to start in March 2019 and complete in November 2019, will include the revamp and modernizing of the check-in and departure halls, security screening point, arrivals hall and the luggage handling areas as well as the introduction of latest advance technologies and software systems related to self-check ins and screening for both passengers and luggage. Installation of a CCTV and intrusion detection system at Hosea Kutako International Airport has already commenced. According to Dr. Hangala, the upgrade work will have minimal effect on the current airport operations, which will continue as usual. The upgrading of Namibia's main airport is expected to cost at least N$ 245 Million.

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Travel: How to get upgraded... at least in theory!

A kinda dream all travellers from around the world have in common when checkin in at an airport is getting upgraded to Business Class or even First Class. But with airlines cutting back on flights and extras, there are fewer freebies only available. According to Budget Travel, your chances of an airline upgrade have dropped to "one in 100." However, you can improve your chances. Check the video:

Mountain Zebra National Park: New gate, new roads and future plans

The Mountain Zebra National Park, near Cradock in the Eastern Cape recently celebrated the opening of their new upgraded entrance gate - now named the Sasol Gate - and the complete renovation of its tourist roads. Around 43km of of existing gravel roads got upgraded and 13.4km of new roads were built, so that visitors can now explore all areas of the Park for wildlife viewing on roads suitable for all vehicle types.

According to Lucius Moolman, South African National Parks (SANParks) Regional Manager, plans to link Mountain Zebra National Park to Camdeboo National Park in Graaff-Reinet to form a mega-conservation area of about 300 000 hectares had now been officially declared by SANParks. These plans envisaged a linkage formed through contractual agreements with private game reserves and landowners, some of whom had already expressed interest in the idea.

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South Africa: Cape Town's new departures terminal to open on Saturday

The old departures terminal will close this week. It is going to become the new airside section of the domestic arrivals terminal by March 2010. The domestic departures tent which is currently used will get removed by mid-December 2009.
From March 2010 on both domestic and international arrivals will be linked to the new central terminal building.
Located near the current International Terminal, a 5-storey parkade will increase the airport’s parking by 4000 bays upon its completion. The 1st and 2nd floors will be made available in December 2009, while the 3rd and 4th floors are coming on stream in January 2010 and completion of the parkade earmarked for March 2010.
The growth of the airport has necessitated the separation of arriving and departing vehicular traffic. For this reason, an upper roadway, similar to O.R.Tambo international Airport (ORTIA), has been constructed. This roadway will see all drop off’s on the upper roadway, with all collections for shuttles and metered taxis at the ground level and all pick-ups for the general public located along the central boulevard.

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What to expect when the Departures portion of the Central Terminal Building opens?

• A common check-in area for departing domestic and international pax on the second floor with 120 check-in desks and 20 self-service kiosks.
• In-transit passengers will not need to move from one terminal to another anymore.
• A central security screening point for all departing pax.
• The domestic departure hall is now about 200m long
• Five new air bridges for domestic departures
• A new automated baggage-sorting system which will process up to 3000 bags per hour
• 30 shops and restaurants occupying a total of 1 080sqm
• A viewing deck and restaurants on the mezzanine level.

some usefull tipps:

• If you’re meeting a person at the aiport, proceed to the current international or domestic arrival terminals.
• The route for domestic car hire has changed. When returning to drop off your vehicle, make use of the current drop-off road called Central Boulevard to return your car. Look for the directional signage. This is a temporary inconvenience until March 2010.
• Domestic flights: arrive at least 1hrs30 before departure
• International flights:arrive at least 2hs30 before departure.

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