British Airways has set a new Guinness World Records title for letting the comedians Dara O Briain, Jack Whitehall and Jon Richardson perform the "highest stand-up comedy gig in the world" in one of their airplanes while flying over the UK.
The smile high gig, which took place on Saturday, 12 March 2011, raised almost £100,000 for Red Nose Day, as part of the airline’s partnership with Comic Relief.
The comedians performed for 45 minutes at 35,000ft, to a crowd of 180 guests and prize winners, to set the new world record. The comedy gig was hosted on flight BA9230c, on a dedicated British Airways A321 aircraft from London Terminal 5, flying over the UK for two and a half hours.
23 March 2011
Rwanda: Malaria decreased by 70%
According to a Rwanda malaria performance program review Rwanda has managed to decrease Malaria by 70% over the last 10 years (2001 - 2010). During the same time the number of deaths caused by malaria dropped by 61%.
- Malaria case management - from 77.4% in 2006 to 85.7% in 2010
- Percentage of children (< 5 years) with malaria who received treatment within 24 hours - from 62% in 2008 to 89% in 2010
- Percentage of pregnant women with malaria who received treatment within 24 hours - from 60% to 89.2% in 2010
- More than six million mosquito nets have been distributed in Rwanda since 2009 > each household has at least three mosquito nets
- Rwanda intends to reduce Malaria infection by 90 percent by 2012
Namaqua National Park: First ever Flower Beach Camp open for bookings
update (31 May 2011): South African National Parks (SANParks) announced the first ever Flowers Beach Camp in Namaqua National Park is now available to the travel trade at a discount. The 10% discount is only applicable to all tour operators who are presently contracted to SANParks. The discount is given on rack rate and the STO rate does not apply. Click here for more info.
South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced the opening of bookings for the first-ever Flowers Beach Camp in Namaqua National Park. The temporary camp will be an annual event (01 Aug - 30 Sept 2011) and bookings are open on first come first serve. The camp, situated in a remote part of the National Park, will only be accessible by 4x4 vehicles. SANParks is therefore offering a shuttle service (R340/person return) for guests who do not have a 4x4.
View Larger Map
Single tented accommodation visitors will be expected to pay R2250, while double will cost R3000 per night. Visit to the camp is divided into a two nights and three nights stay which also include a weekend. Here guests will amongst others have an opportunity to take solitary strolls along the coastline looking for seals, birds and other wildlife or have guided flower walks.
Anyone wishing to experience the Flowers Beach Camp can book through:
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South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced the opening of bookings for the first-ever Flowers Beach Camp in Namaqua National Park. The temporary camp will be an annual event (01 Aug - 30 Sept 2011) and bookings are open on first come first serve. The camp, situated in a remote part of the National Park, will only be accessible by 4x4 vehicles. SANParks is therefore offering a shuttle service (R340/person return) for guests who do not have a 4x4.
View Larger Map
Single tented accommodation visitors will be expected to pay R2250, while double will cost R3000 per night. Visit to the camp is divided into a two nights and three nights stay which also include a weekend. Here guests will amongst others have an opportunity to take solitary strolls along the coastline looking for seals, birds and other wildlife or have guided flower walks.
Anyone wishing to experience the Flowers Beach Camp can book through:
- SANParks online booking system on www.sanparks.org or
- by visiting or phoning the SANParks Head Office or
- book through Central Reservations on (012) 428 9111 or
- e-mail: reservations@sanparks.org
22 March 2011
SANParks: Hard facts on Skukuza Conference Centre & Malelane Safari Lodge in Kruger National Park
In the recent weeks, South African National Parks (SANPArks) was in the (international) media concerning two new hotels in the Kruger National Park. The hotels will, according to SANParks, modernise the bush experience in the Park and will, at the same time, only have a minimal impact on the environment.
Earlier this month, former park head Dr Salomon Joubert was quoted saying that if the two hotels were built, it would be "the end of the park" as [the two new hotels] "will change the whole character, ethos and the original aim of the park".
The Skukuza Conference Centre and Malelane Safari Lodge, which will, again according to SANParks, tap into the middle class market, will be opened in 2013. The traditional camping spots and rondavels in Skukuza and Malelane will remain untouched.
Due to the high (media) interest in the new developments in the Kruger National Park, SANParks has now decided to give the public a breakdown of these new projects.
Earlier this month, former park head Dr Salomon Joubert was quoted saying that if the two hotels were built, it would be "the end of the park" as [the two new hotels] "will change the whole character, ethos and the original aim of the park".
The Skukuza Conference Centre and Malelane Safari Lodge, which will, again according to SANParks, tap into the middle class market, will be opened in 2013. The traditional camping spots and rondavels in Skukuza and Malelane will remain untouched.
Due to the high (media) interest in the new developments in the Kruger National Park, SANParks has now decided to give the public a breakdown of these new projects.
21 March 2011
Supermarket prices in South Africa
Most independent travellers, such as backpackers or "self-catering" travellers, don't visit restaurants for breakie, lunch and/or dinner that often or at least not every day. We therefore made a (price)list of the items that we think are in the average groceries basket of travellers. It hopefully helps planning your hols in South Africa. [exchange rates in the daily news]
- bread - from R6-R11/loaf
- butter - from R15/250gr
- eggs - from R10/6ea free range
- fruit jam - from R8.50/225gr
- baked beans - from R5/can
- bacon - from R18/250gr
- milk - from R9/1l
- muesli - from R22/750gr
- yoghurt - from R5/150ml
- cheese - from R25/300gr
- fruits - price depending on season... relatively cheap
- bottled water (still) - from R4/500ml
- coke - from R6.50/500ml
- juice - from R13/1l
- biscuits - from R5/packing
- pasta - from R8/500gr
- pasta sauce - from R15/200gr
- instant soup - from R3/portion (Cup-a-Soup)
- steak - from R45/kg (rump etc.)
- chakalaka - from R10/can
- chutney - from R12/bottle
- chili sauce - from R10/bottle
- potato chips - from R9/125gr
- bovril - from R19/125gr
- marmite - from R19/125gr
- beer - from R7/330ml
- cider - from R8/330ml
- wine - from R15/bottle R53/3l box (babalas guaranteed)
18 March 2011
Budget airline 1time to fly from Lanseria Airport, Johannesburg
South Africa's budget airline 1time will will start flights out from Johannesburg’s Lanseria airport in the third quarter of 2011.
The airline is currently flying to and fron Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, East London, George and Port Elizabeth, as well as to and from Zanzibar (Tanzania), Livingstone (Zambia) and Maputo (Mozambique). According to news reports 1time has also set its sights on both Harare in Zimbabwe and Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, as destinations.
The airline is currently flying to and fron Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, East London, George and Port Elizabeth, as well as to and from Zanzibar (Tanzania), Livingstone (Zambia) and Maputo (Mozambique). According to news reports 1time has also set its sights on both Harare in Zimbabwe and Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, as destinations.
South Africa's new budget airline to start operating on 22 March 2011
update (05 April 2011): Velvet Sky to introduce flights between Cape Town and its home airport of Durban in June 2011.
South Africa's new budget airline Velvet Sky, a subsidiary of South African steel company Macdonald Holdings, will start operating next week. Tickets will go on sale from the flyvelvetsky.com website from midday on 18 March 2011.
The airline’s inaugural flight will take off from OR Tambo on the Johannesburg to Durban route on Tuesday, 22 March 2011.
Velvet Sky is based at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport and will fly Boeing 737-300s (one now, two more in May & June 2011).
The airline will fly seven daily flights between King Shaka International Airport (Durban), Oliver Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) and Cape Town International Airport.
South Africa's new budget airline Velvet Sky, a subsidiary of South African steel company Macdonald Holdings, will start operating next week. Tickets will go on sale from the flyvelvetsky.com website from midday on 18 March 2011.
The airline’s inaugural flight will take off from OR Tambo on the Johannesburg to Durban route on Tuesday, 22 March 2011.
Velvet Sky is based at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport and will fly Boeing 737-300s (one now, two more in May & June 2011).
The airline will fly seven daily flights between King Shaka International Airport (Durban), Oliver Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) and Cape Town International Airport.
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