Survey: Cape Town International Airport in Cape Town named Best Airport in Africa for the nineth consecutive year!

Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town was named Best Airport in Africa for the nineth consecutive year at the 2024 SKYTRAX World Airport Awards™. Durban's King Shaka International Airport (DUR) came in second in the continental category, followed by OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg.
Cape Town International Airport (CPT) also won the Best Airport Staff in Africa 2024 award and the Africa: The Cleanest Airports 2024 award, while King Shaka International Airport (DUR) won the Best Regional Airport in Africa 2024 award and its staff was named second best in Africa 2024.
The Intercontinental Johannesburg O.R Tambo Airport in Johannesburg scooped the Best Airport Hotel in Africa 2024 award. Congratulations!

SKYTRAX' annual World Airport Awards™ are prestigious accolades for the airport industry, voted by customers in the largest, annual global airport customer satisfaction survey. They are regarded as the quality benchmark for the world airport industry, assessing customer service and facilities across over 500 airports. The survey and awards are independent of any airport control, influence or input. The survey, which evaluates traveller experiences across different airport service and product key performance indicators, was conducted from  August 2023 until March 2024. Over 100 customer nationalities participated in it.

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Namibia: Visa on arrival at Walvis Bay Harbour!

The Namibian Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security (MHAISS) has announced the introduction of visas upon arrival at Walvis Bay Harbour in Walvis Bay with immediate effect. According to Etienne Maritz, the Executive Director of the MHAISS, this initiative will simplify travel logistics for tourists and business visitors as it eliminates the need for prior visa applications, thereby reducing bureaucratic obstacles and waiting times. The cruise passenger liner industry previously expressed concern about the immigration process at Walvis Bay Harbour, which they described as lengthy.
Walvis Bay is the second largest city in Namibia and the largest coastal city in the country. Walvis Bay Harbour serves as Namibia's principal port and plays a crucial role in facilitating international trade, particularly for landlocked countries in the southern African region. It has two(?) berths specifically designed to accommodate cruise ships of various sizes and is equipped with a dedicated cruise terminal building to handle passenger arrivals and departures.

Namibia's visa on arrival is priced at 1,200 Namibian dollars and offers a validity of 90 days. Travellers can also apply for visas on arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek, Walvis Bay Airport (WVB) in Walvis Bay, Katima Mulilo Border Post (Zambia), Ngoma Border Post (Botswana), Impalila Border Post (Botswana), Trans-Kalahari Border Post (Botswana), Oshikango Border Post (Angola), Mohembo Border Post (Botswana), Ariamsvlei Border Post (South Africa), Noordoewer Border Post (South Africa) and Oranjemund Border Post (South Africa).

Qatar Airways increases flights to Luanda (Angola)!

Qatar Airways, the flag carrier of Qatar, has announced that it will extend the frequency of flights between Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha and Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport (LAD) in Luanda, the capital of Angola. According to the airline, Luanda will see a frequency increase from one weekly flight to four weekly flights with a combined service to N'djili Airport (FIH) in Kinshasa in the DR Congo which Qatar Airways will serve for the first time. The frequency increase on the Luanda route and the launch of flights to Kinshasa will both commmence on 01 June 2024.

• Doha 02:45 > 08:10 Kinshasa
• Kinshasa 09:40 > 10:55 Luanda
• Luanda 12:25 > 22:50 Doha

• Doha 09:20 > 15:40 Luanda
• Luanda 17:10 > 18:25 Kinshasa
• Kinshasa 19:55 > 05:45+1 Doha

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Norse Atlantic Airways launches flights between London <> Cape Town! [update]

update (18 April 2024): Norse Atlantic Airways' new service to Cape Town will operate seasonally.

Norwegian low-cost, long-haul airline Norse Atlantic Airways is set to launch scheduled direct flights between London Gatwick (LGW) in London, England, and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, South Africa. The airline will operate three weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from London to Cape Town and on Tuedays, Thursdays and Sundays from Cape Town to London. The new service will commence on 28 October 2024.

• London 20:00 > 09:30+1 Cape Town
• Cape Town 11:45 > 21:35 London

Norse Atlantic Airways is an airline specializing in low-cost, long-haul, direct flights to a range of exciting destinations on the intercontinental market. The company’s first flight took off from Oslo to New York on 14 June 2022. The airline holds two Air Operator’s Certificates (AOCs), one in Norway and one in the UK. The new service between London and Cape Town will be operated by Norse Atlantic UK Ltd, a fully integrated subsidiary of Norse Atlantic Airways.

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Durban: Ten beaches are currently closed for swimming due to water quality!

The eThekwini Municipality, the local government body responsible for governing and managing Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, has released updated lists of beaches that are currently (as of 16 April 2024) open and safe for swimming, closed for swimming and of swimming pools that are currently open to the public. According to the lists, 13 beaches in Durban are currently open for swimming, while swimming at ten beaches, namely Country Club, uMhlanga Main Beach, Bronze Beach, Anstey's Beach, Brighton, Pipeline Beach, Winkelespruit, Warner Beach, Toti Main Beach and Reunion is prohibited due to water quality. 32 swimming pools in Durban are currently open to the public.

The following beaches are open for swimming:
- operating hours 06:00 - 18:30 -  

1. Point Beach
2. Wedge
3. Bay of Plenty
4. South Beach
5. Addington
6. North Beach
7. Thekwini Beach
8. Battery Beach
9. uShaka
10. Laguna Beach
11. uMgababa
12. mDloti Main
13. Westbrook 

Beach(es) closed for swimming:

1. Country Club
2. uMhlanga Main Beach
3. Bronze Beach
4. Anstey's Beach
5. Brighton
6. Pipeline Beach
7. Winkelespruit
8. Warner Beach
9. Toti Main Beach
10. Reunion

Recreational activities other than swimming at beaches closed for swimming are allowed!

KwaZulu-Natal: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife initiated a rhino dehorning programme in Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park!

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the governmental organisation responsible for maintaining wildlife conservation areas and biodiversity in KwaZulu-Natal, that is has, in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund South Africa (WWF South Africa), initiated a rhino dehorning programme in the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park (HiP) on 08 April 2024. KwaZulu-Natal lost a total of 325 rhinos in 2023 to poaching, with a significant 307 of those illegally killed within Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park.

“It is with a heavy heart that the organisation has decided to dehorn. Rhino dehorning goes against the grain of what we stand for, but the persistent threat posed by poachers has necessitated more drastic measures to protect our rhinos”, said Ezemvelo CEO Sihle Mkhize.

According to the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), a total of 499 rhinos were poached across South Africa in 2023. 406 of those were killed on state properties and 93 on privately owned parks/reserves/farms. This was an increase of 51 rhinos in comparison to 448 rhinos poached in 2022.

Cape Town: Free entry to selected Iziko museums on Freedom Day!

The 27th April 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of South Africa's first democratic elections. This day, now known as Freedom Day in South Africa, is commemorated every year to pay tribute to the courageous heroes and heroines who bravely fought for freedom, justice, and equality in South Africa. Iziko Museums of South Africa will be offering free entry to selected museums in Cape Town on Freedom Day 2024. This includes the Bo-Kaap Museum (71 Wale Street), South African National Gallery (Government Avenue, Company’s Garden), Slave Lodge (Corner Adderley and Wale Streets) and the South African Museum (25 Queen Victoria Street).

• Bo-Kaap Museum
• Mondays to Saturdays from 09:00 – 17:00
• South African National Gallery
• Monday to Sunday 09:00 – 17:00
• Slave Lodge
• Monday to Saturday 09:00 – 17:00
• South African Museum
• Monday to Sunday 09:00 – 17:00

Iziko Museums of South Africa operates 11 national museums in Cape Town as well as collection-specific libraries, a world-class Social History Archive and the most advanced digital Planetarium and Digital Dome on the African continent.