The smallest of all known butterflies, the Dwarf Blue (Oraidium barberae), is found in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The wingspan of the Dwarf Blue, which is measured from where the wing is attached to the body to the tip or apex of the wing, is only 10-15 mm for males and 12-18 mm for females. The butterfly, which prefers savanna or grassveld areas, is found in northern KwaZulu-Natal, in parts of the Free State, in the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape up to the Namaqualand.
There are about 28 000 species of butterflies throughout the world of which slightly more than 660 species are found in South Africa.
The largest butterfly in the world is the Queen Alexandra's Birdwing, which has a wingspan up to approx. 300 mm. This tropical butterfly can be found in the rainforests of northern Papua New Guinea.
15 August 2012
South Africa's most punctual domestic airlines in July 2012
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has published the on-time performance results of domestic airlines’ flying out of OR Tambo in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport, and Durban's King Shaka International Airport in July 2012.
On-Time Performance is measured by comparing the actual off-block time (when aircraft pushes back) against the airline schedule time for a departing flight. The measurement is done in accordance with the IATA (International Airlines Transport Association) universal standard benchmark with considers a 15 minute deviation from the scheduled time as an on-time departure.
OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg - 15 Min on Time Performance July 2012 (airport target 85%)
On-Time Performance is measured by comparing the actual off-block time (when aircraft pushes back) against the airline schedule time for a departing flight. The measurement is done in accordance with the IATA (International Airlines Transport Association) universal standard benchmark with considers a 15 minute deviation from the scheduled time as an on-time departure.
OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg - 15 Min on Time Performance July 2012 (airport target 85%)
- 1time - 95.24% (June 92.51%)
- Airlink - 90.41% (June 92.42%)
- Mango - 90.02% (June 92.49%)
- South African Airways - 87.05% (June 86.19%)
- British Airways Domestic - 86.35% (June 88.41%)
- SA Express - 86.16% (June 85.38%)
- Kulula.com - 76.36% (June 76.85%)
- 1time - 96.53% (June 89.96%)
- SA Express - 91.80% (June 92.33%)
- Mango - 90.85% (June 89.09%)
- Airlink - 90.24% (June 96.82%)
- British Airways Domestic - 89.64% (June 89.59%)
- South African Airways - 89.62% (June 90.79%)
- Kulula.com - 79.41% (June 82.54%)
- 1time - 97.49% (June 92.74%)
- South African Airways - 94.68% (June 95.28%)
- Airlink - 93.88% (June 92.10%)
- Mango - 89.55% (June 94.09%)
- British Airways Domestic - 87.84% (June 89.96%)
- SA Express - 84.67% (June 91.65%)
- Kulula.com - 82.00% (June 82.54%)
14 August 2012
Qatar Airways revealed a new launch date for its service to Mombasa (Kenya)
The state-owned flag carrier of Qatar, Qatar Airways, has revealed a new launch date for its service between Doha (Qatar) - Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) - Mombasa (Kenya). From 30 August 2012 the airline will operate daily flights on-board an Airbus A320 between the destinations.
- Doha (DOH) 02:35 > 08:05 Dar Es Salaam 09:05 > 10:05 Mombasa (MBA)
- Doha (DOH) 07:35 > 13:20 Dar Es Salaam 14:20 > 15:20 Mombasa (MBA)
- Mombasa (MBA) 11:05 > 12:05 Dar Es Salaam 13:05 > 18:45 Doha (DOH)
- Mombasa (MBA) 16:20 > 17:20 Dar Es Salaam 18:20 > 23:45 Doha (DOH)
Ethiopian Airlines to operate daily flights with the Dreamliner to Washington D.C.
update (20 Sept 2012): Ethiopian Airlines has again revised its planned Addis Ababa <> Washington D.C. schedule. First flight is now scheduled on 23 Sept 2012, followed by 25 Sept 2012 and 29 Sept 2012. From 01 Oct 2012, the airline operates 787 aircraft on daily basis.
update (18 Sept 2012): Ethiopian Airlines is postponing planned Boeing 787 Dreamliner operation between Addis Ababa and Washington D.C. (USA) from 20 Sept 2012 to 01 Oct 2012.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IATA: IAD) in Washington D.C. (USA) will be Ethiopian Airlines' debut Boeing 787 Dreamliner destination. From 20 Sept 2012 the Ethiopian flag carrier will be operating daily flights between its main hub at Bole International Airport (IATA: ADD) in Addis Ababa and Washington D.C..
Ethiopian Airlines will take delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner on 14 August 2012 in Seattle, Washington (USA). Two days later, on 16 August 2012, the Dreamliner will make its first touchdown at Bole International Airport (IATA: ADD) in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). The airline is the first airline from Africa, Europe, Americas and Middle East to take delivery of the Dreamliner.
update (18 Sept 2012): Ethiopian Airlines is postponing planned Boeing 787 Dreamliner operation between Addis Ababa and Washington D.C. (USA) from 20 Sept 2012 to 01 Oct 2012.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IATA: IAD) in Washington D.C. (USA) will be Ethiopian Airlines' debut Boeing 787 Dreamliner destination. From 20 Sept 2012 the Ethiopian flag carrier will be operating daily flights between its main hub at Bole International Airport (IATA: ADD) in Addis Ababa and Washington D.C..
Ethiopian Airlines will take delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner on 14 August 2012 in Seattle, Washington (USA). Two days later, on 16 August 2012, the Dreamliner will make its first touchdown at Bole International Airport (IATA: ADD) in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). The airline is the first airline from Africa, Europe, Americas and Middle East to take delivery of the Dreamliner.
10 August 2012
Travel video: A roadtrip through Namibia (6 min)
There are really good travel videos and there not so good ones. Fair enough! And there are travel videos that are even better than just "really good". Felix Sturmberger's video about the roadtrip through Namibia he did in February 2012 is one of those travel videos that are simply better than just "really good"! Watch the outstanding 6-minute video below and follow Felix, his friends and their Landy on their trip through Namibia. Kudos Felix and thx for sharing the stunning video with us!
Zimbabwe/Botswana travel tip: Allow plenty of time at Kazangula border
I just stumbled on a handy advice from Paul Murray of Bradt Travel Guides. According to him, a new computerised immigration system has been introduced on the Botswana side of the Kazangula border between Botswana and Zimbabwe. The new system seems to take some more time than usual when larger groups are arriving, so Paul recommends to allow pleny of time when crossing the border. Especially travellers who are on time and who need to travel to Botswana in the morning should keep the update in mind as this is the time when groups day-trippers usually arrive at the border on their way to e.g. Chobe National Park in Botswana. For more updates on Zimbabwe, check Bradt Travel Guides Zimbabwe Update August 2012. Thx Paul for keeping your readers updated!
South Africa: SA Express to expand its George (SA) & Gaborone (Botswana) operations
South African airline SA Express, a domestic and regional passenger carrier in Southern Africa, has announced that it will increase its flights between Cape Town and Johannesburg and George (South Africa), as well as between Johannesburg and Gaborone in Botswana.
From 02 September 2012, the airline will add a 4th weekly frequency on the Cape Town <> George route and will increase its service on the Johannesburg – George route from currently 20 to 24 weekly flights. Also on 02 September 2012, SA Express will introduce a 6th daily operation on Johannesburg <> Gaborone route.
Although SA Express is operationally independent of the country's flag carrier South African Airways, its flights are incorporated within the strategic alliance with privately owned SA Airlink and South African Airways.
From 02 September 2012, the airline will add a 4th weekly frequency on the Cape Town <> George route and will increase its service on the Johannesburg – George route from currently 20 to 24 weekly flights. Also on 02 September 2012, SA Express will introduce a 6th daily operation on Johannesburg <> Gaborone route.
Although SA Express is operationally independent of the country's flag carrier South African Airways, its flights are incorporated within the strategic alliance with privately owned SA Airlink and South African Airways.
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