update (28 Jan 2016): Pan-African low-cost airline Fastjet has delayed the launch date (03 Feb 2016) of its new service between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) in Victoria Falls to ensure that flying times and the flight frequencies are customer-centric. Once Fastjet has engaged with the tourism industry regarding the optimal flight frequencies and times, schelduled flights will be confirmed. We'll keep you posted!
Pan-African low-cost airline Fastjet just announced the launch of two new routes from Johannesburg in South Africa to Harare and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Starting on 01 February 2016, the airline will operate two flights per day between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Harare International Airport (HRE) in Harare. Two days later, on 03 February 2016, Fastjet will start operating three flights per week on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) in Victoria Falls.
18 January 2016
Hoscars 2016: The best hostels in Southern & East Africa!
Hostelworld.com, the world's leading hostel-focused online booking platform, has announced the winners of the 2016 HOSCARS (Hostelworld.com Customer Annual Ratings). Now in their 14th year, the HOSCARS are known to be the world's most prestigious hostel awards, recognizing the top hostels around the globe as voted for by the Hostelworld.com users. Congrats!
Best Hostels in Africa - The top three hostels in Africa who received the highest ratings on Hostelworld.com in 2015:
Best Hostel by country - The top hostel in each country in Southern & East Africa who received the highest ratings on Hostelworld.com in 2015:
Kenya
Best Hostels in Africa - The top three hostels in Africa who received the highest ratings on Hostelworld.com in 2015:
- The B.I.G in Cape Town, South Africa - 98% rating
- Amber Tree Lodge Backpackers in Cape Town, South Africa - 96% rating
- Atlantic Point Backpackers in Cape Town, South Africa - 94% rating
Best Hostel by country - The top hostel in each country in Southern & East Africa who received the highest ratings on Hostelworld.com in 2015:
Kenya
- South Coast Backpackers in Diani - 87% rating
- Madagascar Underground in Antananarivo - 97% rating
- Skeleton Beach Backpackers in Swakopmund - 91% rating
- Mamba Rwanda Club House in Kigali - 78% rating
- The B.I.G in Cape Town - 98% rating
- Sondzela Backpackers in Malkerns - 84% rating
- Rafiki Backpackers in Moshi - 94% rating
- Livingstone Backpackers in Livingstone - 90% rating
- It's a Small World Backpackers Lodge Avondale in Harare - 85% rating
Western Cape: Kogelberg Nature Reserve closed due to fire!
update (22 Jan 2016): The Kogelberg Nature Reserve has been reopened to the public. The reopening includes all accommodation, the Palmiet trail and the Oudebosch trails. The Kogelberg trail and Mountain Bike trail remain closed!
The Kogelberg Nature Reserve, located along the mountainous coast on the eastern edge of Cape Town, has been closed until further notice due to a fire that broke out in the Overberg region on 16 January 2016. There is no current threat to the reserve or to the accommodation in the Kogelberg Nature Reserve - however there is a great deal of smoke in the area, and the decision has been made by Cape Nature to close for the safety of the public.
The Kogelberg Nature Reserve, located along the mountainous coast on the eastern edge of Cape Town, has been closed until further notice due to a fire that broke out in the Overberg region on 16 January 2016. There is no current threat to the reserve or to the accommodation in the Kogelberg Nature Reserve - however there is a great deal of smoke in the area, and the decision has been made by Cape Nature to close for the safety of the public.
14 January 2016
Kenya introduces new incentives to boost tourism!
Kenya's president Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta has unveiled an incentive package to revitalise the tourism industry in Kenya at the opening of the English Point Marina in Mombasa, the first luxury yachting marina in Kenya.
- Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) fees will be capped at $60 (down from $90) for the 2016/17 financial year
- Value Added Tax (VAT) charges on National Park fees will be removed for the 2016/17 financial year
- Visa fees for children under 16 will be scrapped indefinitely from 01 February 2016
- The Ksh1.2bn charter incentive scheme continues until 30 June 2018. This waives landing fees at Moi International Airport (MBA) in Mombasa and Malindi Airport (MYD) in Malindi for all charter aircraft and provides at $30.00 (thirty dollar) rebate for all disembarking tourists
- expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi and Malindi Airport (MYD) in Malindi to handle greater numbers of visitors
- construction of the Port-Reitz-Airport Road in Mombasa
- construction of the Dongo Kundu bypass that will allow tourists to travel to the South Coast (Diani) without using the ferry
- Kenya Ferry Service (KFSL) will buy and operate two new ferries for the Likoni Channel crossing
13 January 2016
Uganda: Street View goes live in Kampala & Entebbe!
11 January 2016
Zimbabwe: 50 rhinos killed by poachers in 2015!
According to the Lowveld Rhino Trust (LRT), a conservation organization operating primarily in the South-East Lowveld of Zimbabwe, at least 50 rhinos got killed by poachers in Zimbabwe in 2015. Out of the 50 rhinos poached, 42 were black rhino. The majority of losses were suffered in conservancies in the Lowveld, located in the south of Zimbabwe.
The rhino population in the Lowveld is regarded by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as the only one in Zimbabwe being genetically and demographically viable. Zimbabwe only lost around 20 rhino to poachers in 2014.
The rhino population in the Lowveld is regarded by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as the only one in Zimbabwe being genetically and demographically viable. Zimbabwe only lost around 20 rhino to poachers in 2014.
Zimbabwe/Zambia: KAZA univisa has been reinstated!
The KAZA univisa has been reinstated. According to Zimbabwe's Minister of Tourism Dr Walter Mzembi, the visa, which allows visitors from 40 countries to travel between Zimbabwe and Zambia using the same document, was put on hold at the end of December 2015 due to Zambia running out of the required stamps. With the reinstatement, the KAZA univisa moves from pilot stage one to stage two, so that Namibia, Botswana and Angola are also now included (see video at 0:47/2:33).
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