Mack Air, the first private commercial operator in Botswana to hold both scheduled and non-scheduled licenses, has announced a collaboration with South West Aviation, an air charter service in Zimbabwe. Through this relationship, the two companies aim to jointly create new flight services linking Mack Air’s established Botswana network, with a new and expansive network service across Zimbabwe. The first Cessna Grand Caravan EX has been positioned in Zimbabwe, is currently operational, and MackAir expects to expand the fleet by March 2023 to an additional five aircraft and result in the partnership operating a fleet of six aircraft for the 2023 season in Zimbabwe. This fleet of aircraft will be operating from two principle hubs in Harare and Victoria Falls.
The hub in Harare will principally service all domestic destinations and safari camps in Zimbabwe as well as neighbouring regional business and tourist destinations in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. The hub in Victoria Falls will principally service all domestic destinations and safari camps in Zimbabwe, as well as neighbouring tourist destinations in Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and Zambia.
08 November 2022
Mack Air & South West Aviation to offer flights services across Zimbabwe!
04 November 2022
The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) implements new tariffs at its nature reserves in Mpumalanga!
The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) has announced that it will implement the tariffs for the 2022/2023 financial year at its various nature reserves around Mpumalanga with effect from 01 December 2022. The tariffs will remain largely unchanged in order to cater for the domestic market and to respond to the economic challenges that continue to be faced by the tourism industry due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the MTPA has made some adjustments in the following areas:
- New pricing will apply on game viewing at Manyeleti Nature Reserve. Patrons using the MTPA OSV will be charged R450.00 per person as opposed to the R350.00 per person that was charged before. Those using their own vehicle (self-drive) will be charged R350.
- The tariffs for the conference centre hire at Mahushe Shongwe Nature Reserve will increase from R600.00 to R700.00 per day (terms and conditions will apply).
- Boat Launching Entrance to increase from R170.00 to R180.00 per person (this is applicable for our own boat launching at Loskop Dam Nature Reserve and Nooitgedacht Dam Nature Reserve).
- There will be no increase on the pricing of the current accommodation.
- The upgraded camping site at Loskop Dam Nature Reserve, which will be introduced during the course of the 2022/2023 financial year, will have a luxury tent. The market-related rate of R2,500.00 per person per night will be charged.
- Entrance fees at Nooitgedacht Dam Nature Reserve will increase to R55 for adults and R30 for children.
- Filming rates will increase by 10%.
- All the other tariffs for the various nature reserves will remain unchanged.
For a detailed schedule of tariffs for each nature reserve, click here (pdf) >>
03 November 2022
South African Airways announces the addition of four regional destinations!
South African Airways (SAA) has confirmed that the International Air Services Council (IASC) has ratified the airline’s retention of all its historical route traffic rights, following SAA’s voluntary relinquishing of the number of frequencies on the destinations it is not currently servicing. In accordance with legislated and prescribed procedures South African Airways has meetings with the IASC on a quarterly basis to review and justify its route network plan and traffic rights to destinations it is not yet flying to.
“SAA, as a buoyant national airline, has an important enabling role in the South African economy. Those routes and frequencies that are not part of SAA’s medium-term plans will progressively be released to the Council for the benefit of the industry”, said Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at South African Airways, Professor John Lamola.South African Airways (SAA) further announced plans to introduce regional flights to Blantyre and Lilongwe in Malawi, Windhoek in Namibia, and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe before the start of the festive season 2022/23. Together with increased frequencies from Johannesburg to Cape Town and Durban as well as to Harare in Zimbabwe, Lusaka in Zambia, Mauritius, Kinshasa in the DRC and Accra in Ghana, these changes represent the second phase of the airline's post-Covid restart operations which commenced thirteen months ago. South African Airways (SAA) is also planning to launch its first post re-start intercontinental route during the first quarter of 2023. We'll keep you posted!
Two South African burger restaurants are on the World’s Best Burger list!
Global travel website Big 7 Travel has released its list of the best burgers in the world for 2022. Based on a ranking system that considers editorial experience, critic reviews, customer feedback, location and accessibility, presentation, value for money and atmosphere, the list consists of 50 burger restaurants from locations from around the globe. Two burger joints from South Africa made it to Big 7 Travel's list - Smokin’ Joe’s in Durban was ranked 12th best burger (and Africa's best) while The Dogs Bollocks in Cape Town came in on rank 34. Congratulations!
Overall winner of the ranking is Royal Stacks in Melbourne, Australia, followed by Midcity Smashedburger from Portland in Oregon (USA) and Burger Creek in Auckland, New Zealand.
The 10 Best Burgers In The World 2022:
01. Royal Stacks, Melbourne, Australia
02. Midcity Smashedburger, Portland, Oregon, USA
03. Burger Creek, Auckland, New Zealand
04. BAP - Burgers and Pastrami, Stockholm, Sweden
05. La Birra Bar, Buenos Aires, Argentina (now also Miami & Madrid)
06. The Nook, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
07. Mother Flipper, London, UK
08. Smash Tag, Rome, Italy
09. Mamo Burger Bar, Ontario, Canada
10. Burgermeister, Berlin, Germany
...
12. Smokin’ Joe’s, Durban, South Africa
34. The Dogs Bollocks, Cape Town, South Africa
Smokin' Joe's
54 Problem Mkhize Road,
Berea, Durban. 4001.
Yard Gardens.
The Dogs Bollocks.
Pizza Warehouse.
6 Roodehek Street.
Gardens, Cape Town. 8001.
02 November 2022
Botswana voted one of the ten friendliest countries in the world!
As part of Condé Nast Traveler's 2022 Readers' Choice Awards, the readers of the travel magazine also voted for the countries they consider to be home to the friendliest people and Botswana secured a top 10 spot. The Southern African country was voted sixth friendliest country in the world. According to Condé Nast Traveler, the Batswana people are never shy away from being outwardly proud of their culture and open communication is an important part of it, are predominantly respecting the elderly and making eye contact (avoiding this is thought to be suspicious). [src.]
Overall winner in the friendliest country category of the 2022 edition of the Readers' Choice Awards is French Polynesia, followed by Colombia, New Zealand, Thailand and Costa Rica. Congratulations!
Condé Nast Traveler's 2022 Readers' Choice Awards: The 10 friendliest countries in the world:
- French Polynesia
- Colombia
- New Zealand
- Thailand
- Costa Rica
- Botswana
- Peru
- Belize
- Sri Lanka
- Philippines
South Africa: Annual conservation tariff increase for National Parks in the Cape Region!
South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced the annual conservation tariff increase for National Parks in South Africa's Cape Region. The annual conservation tariffs for Agulhas National Park, Bontebok National Park, Table Mountain National Park, Tankwa Karoo National Park, and West Coast National Park increased as of 01 November 2022 and will be applicable until 31 October 2023. All funds generated from conservation fees are used with the primary mandate of South African National Parks (SANParks) which is to oversee the conservation of South Africa's biodiversity, landscapes, seascapes and associated heritage assets through a system of National Parks.
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KwaZulu-Natal: eThekwini Municipality has opened more beaches in Durban as water quality improves!
The eThekwini Municipality, the local government body responsible for governing and managing Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, yesterday (01 November 2022) announced the re-opening of more beaches in Durban following improved water quality standards. The decision to open these beaches was taken after recent water tests conducted by experts confirmed that beach water is at an acceptable level for recreational activities. Beaches that are now open for swimming include Point Beach, uShaka Beach, Addington Beach, South Beach, Wedge Beach, North Beach, Bay of Plenty Beach, Battery Beach, Country Club Beach, Brighton Beach, Reunion Beach, Pipeline Beach, Toti Main Beach, and Warner Beach.
Westbrook Beach, Bronze Beach, Laguna Beach, Thekwini Beach, uMhlanga Beach, uMdloti Beach and uMgababa Beach remain closed until further notice.