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Southern African travel news

Showing records 1 to 55 of 55 records
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Wednesday, 18 January 2012

Maropeng top evotourism destination

Local World Heritage site, The Cradle of Humankind, has been ranked as one of the top 12 evotourism destinations in the world, making it the only site in sub-Saharan Africa to have made the list.  
Tuesday, 10 January 2012

Africa’s greenest hotel for Cape Town

Already known as an innovation hub and renowned for the excellence of its hospitality offerings, Cape Town will soon be the home of the most eco-friendly hotel on the continent. As the COP17 conference draws to a close in Durban, and while the world’s focus is on green issues, the news comes at an appropriate time.  
Monday, 5 December 2011

Hermanus wine route re-launched

The southwestern region of South Africa is known particularly for its outstanding wine routes and sought-after tourist attractions, which include the country’s oldest wine route in Stellenbosch, and the ever-popular Cape Town.
Monday, 5 December 2011

Blue Flag beaches for holiday season

Holidaymakers heading for South Africa's coastline can look forward to 27 Blue Flag beaches to choose from when the summer festive season gets underway in December.
Monday, 21 November 2011

Black Tuesday Protest

The latest news in the ongoing controversy surrounding the Protection of Information Bill is that MPs will vote on the matter on Tuesday, 22 November 2011. The National Press Club has dubbed the day "Black Tuesday" and called on South Africans to don black as a form of protest; the Right2Know Campaign is organising multiple simultaneous pickets and public prosecutor Thuli Madonsela has set up a team to investigate concerns around the bill. Whatever happens on Tuesday, South Africans fighting for access to information will not be silenced.
Tuesday, 1 November 2011

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club to play Synergy 2011

Synergy Live returns for 3 more days of sight, sound and wonder… Top international acts, local legends, rock gods and rising stars explode across four stages, backed by top class sound, light and stage design – all set against the natural beauty of Franschhoek valley.
Monday, 31 October 2011

Cape Town: 2014 World Design Capital

Cape Town beat off competition from Dublin and Bilbao to be named as the World Design Capital for 2014 at the International Design Alliance Congress in Taipei, Taiwan on Wednesday.
Thursday, 6 October 2011

Cape Town to host 2011 Freedom to Create Prize Awards Ceremony

Freedom to Create, an international organisation that supports artists from around the world who use the transformative power of the arts to inspire social change in the face of oppression, discrimination and socio-economic challenges, is bringing its prestigious annual Prize awards ceremony, Exhibition and Female Empowerment Forum to Cape Town in November.
Monday, 29 August 2011

Sick passenger 'humiliated' by airline

Air travel can be a harrowing experience for some - most of the time. Add to that a medical condition and the stress levels undoubtedly double.
Monday, 22 August 2011

E-commerce now more accessible

One of South Africa’s leading mobile networks is looking to make online shopping easier for its customers
Wednesday, 3 August 2011

Gautrain’s Pretoria route rolls out

Within five hours of its launch the Gautrain’s new service between Pretoria and Johannesburg had attracted more than 7 000 commuters.
Monday, 20 June 2011

R500m facelift for V&A Waterfront

Cape Town's Victoria and Alfred Waterfront (V&A) is currently undergoing a R500-million (US$74-million) revamp under its new South African owners, Growthpoint Properties and the Public Investment Corporation (PIC).
Tuesday, 17 May 2011

Municipal elections: facts and figures

More than 23 million registered voters will have the opportunity on Wednesday, 18 May 2011, to elect their municipal councillors in South Africa's fourth democratic municipal elections.
Wednesday, 4 May 2011

World's top travel destinations named by TripAdvisor

Cape Town has been named the world's top travel destination in an online poll conducted by TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel website.  
Tuesday, 19 April 2011

Vodacom offers speediest broadband

With the introduction of its double-speed HSPA+ technology, Vodacom can now boast of having the fastest mobile broadband network in South Africa.
Thursday, 7 April 2011

Google nurtures talent in SA

South Africa’s tech gurus will finally get a chance to become part of the global technological community after Google announced the creation of its new technology start-up incubator in Cape Town last month.
Friday, 18 February 2011

UCT MBA among world’s best

The profile of the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) shot up recently when its MBA programme was rated 60th in the world by the Financial Times’ Global MBA Top 100 Ranking. It was also named the best value-for-money MBA in the world.  
Tuesday, 15 February 2011

African sun could light world’s cities

Africa’s greatest resources may no longer be diamonds and gold, but instead, its big sun-drenched skies. In coming years, the continent, known for the innovation and determination of its people, could provide enough solar energy to light up some of the world’s biggest cities.
Monday, 31 January 2011

Nelson Mandela 'doing well' at home

Former President Nelson Mandela, who was discharged from Milpark hospital on Friday, is in "good spirits" and resting at his home in Johannesburg, the Presidency said on the weekend following a visit by Acting President Kgalema Motlanthe.
Monday, 24 January 2011

World heritage in South Africa

Did you know that Table Mountain National Park has more plant species in its 22 000 hectares than the British Isles or New Zealand? Or that the Drakensberg has both the highest mountain range in Africa south of Kilimanjaro and the continent's richest concentration of rock art?
Friday, 7 January 2011

Backpacking in South Africa

If you've got more time than money, there's no better way to see South Africa than to backpack your way around its many offerings: spectacular beauty, a mosaic of cultures, incredible value for money, massive adventure potential – and an undeniable penchant for partying!
Tuesday, 4 January 2011

South Africa’s toughest endurance challenges

South Africa, like most of the continent, is a land of great challenges but also of great opportunities. With the resulting mindset of effort and reward, it is perhaps not surprising that the country should host some of the world’s most gruelling endurance sports events, in which athletes put their physical and mental stamina to the ultimate test in their goal to make it to the finish line - in itself an achievement of the highest order.
Friday, 10 December 2010

The adventure starts here

South Africa has some of the best rock climbing in the world, with Cape Town particularly well endowed. There are literally hundreds of bolted and natural routes on excellent quality Cape granite or Table Mountain sandstone within the city limits. There are climbing schools and mountain guides in all the main centres, and route guides are available from climbing shops.
Thursday, 2 December 2010

Joburg wows international press

A group of international journalists recently visited Gauteng as part of a promotional tour for the Brand South Africa campaign. The efficient public transport system and sampling delicious local fare were among the tour highlights.  
Wednesday, 17 November 2010

Hiking across South Africa to find ubuntu

To find out exactly what it is that unites South Africans, Sonja Kruse decided to hitchhike across the country for a year – starting out with only R100 (U$14.42) in her back pocket.
Monday, 1 November 2010

South Africa to create 5-million new jobs

The South African government has unveiled its plan to create 5-million jobs over the next decade and reduce unemployment by 10%. Cabinet ministers have endorsed the government’s new growth path programme, which details its employment plans. The path will prioritise job creation in the government’s economic policy, Minister in the Presidency Colins Chabane said in a statement on 26 October 2010. Chabane is responsible for monitoring and evaluation.
Wednesday, 27 October 2010

South African women strip off for worthy cause

When the women of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape get down to the bare essentials in an eye-catching Guinness World Record attempt on 23 October, they will be showing not only oodles of flesh but also a collective spirit of caring.
Thursday, 23 September 2010

Heritage Day to celebrate World Cup

On 24 September 2010, South Africa celebrates its national Heritage Day, which aims to highlight and promote the country's diverse cultural expressions - such as music, languages, food, and craft - and heritage. These important factors together contribute significantly to nation building.
Thursday, 16 September 2010

Tourism to cash in on 2010 boom

The recent 2010 Fifa World Cup has eradicated many myths about South Africa and boosted growth prospects for the country’s tourism industry, the government said on 7 September 2010. The tournament created a bright image of the country, Minister of Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk said in a statement. “The positive brand value that has been unlocked is immeasurable. The event helped us to turn the corner in terms of foreign perceptions about tourism safety.”
Monday, 16 August 2010

SA wins big at World Travel Awards

South Africa cleaned up at the annual World Travel Awards for Africa last night, winning 36 awards out of the total 49 categories. Despite the pyramids, Egypt, its nearest rival, managed to win only four. For the sixth time in seven years the city of Cape Town was named Africa's leading destination, at an awards ceremony held in Sandton, Johannesburg. South African Airways was named Africa's leading airline, South African Tourism the continent's leading tourism board and Durban harbour the leading port.
Monday, 16 August 2010

Cape Town tops with British Airways

Cape Town is one of British Airways passengers' favourite international destinations, an impromptu study of global booking trends has revealed. Although the 2010 Fifa World Cup undoubtedly contributed to the trend, with 34 000 passengers flying from London to South Africa during the month-long event, "demand for flights to Cape Town was on the rise even before the tournament", said BA's commercial manager in South Africa, Sue Botes. Airline spokesperson Stephen Forbes said the World Cup success built on the city's 2009/10 summer season, when Cape Town emerged as one of the 10 most popular destinations for BA passengers flying from London.
Friday, 30 July 2010

Skateboarder's epic trip for charity

Brad Morgan 29 July 2010 Professional skateboarder Johann "Puddy" Zwennis will set off on an ambitious fund-raising journey on 31 July, skating from Johannesburg to Cape Town to raise money for SOS Children's Villages through his "Skate for Change" project. Zwennis, who is well known in skateboarding circles and has represented South African at the Asian X-Games, reckons it will take him three months to cover the trip of 1 800 kilometres. He explains on www.skateforchange.co.za why he is taking on the challenge.
Monday, 19 July 2010

Backpacking tips

South Africa delivers a host of exciting possibilities for the backpacker as the country is abundant with diverse and exciting things to see and do from adventure and safaris to more relaxed sightseeing. South Africa is the second most popular backpacking destination, second only to Australia. As a result the backpacking industry is very well organised and offers plenty of choice and flexibility. It is always a good idea to be well prepared and knowledgeable about the country you are visiting and to be aware of some useful tips that should help your backpacking holiday run more smoothly.
Monday, 5 July 2010

Soccer tourists opt for budget beds.

While big hotels have struggled to fill beds for the World Cup, budget backpacking lodges are bursting at the seams.  Clean, cheerful and charging just R150 to R300 a dormitory bed, most are full and turning away fans still pouring into the country.  The reduced number of foreign visitors dashed hoteliers' hopes of 100% occupancy.  Brett Dungan, head of the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa, said Cape Town's hotel occupancy stood at about 60%, while Johannesburg was "looking very good". 
Thursday, 20 May 2010

Cannes ovation for South African film

Life, Above All, directed by South African born Oliver Schmitz and shot on location in South Africa, received a 10-minute standing ovation at its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday.
Thursday, 20 May 2010

SA soccer fans, most colourful in the world

South African soccer fans are among the most colorful in the world, leaving lasting impressions on television screens with their colourful gear and sometimes near-silly antics.
Thursday, 20 May 2010

Visas, border security ready for World Cup

Cape Town - With 22 days till the kick off of the FIFA World Cup, South Africa was on track to issue free visas to soccer fans and process the thousands of visitors expected in the country next month.
Tuesday, 13 April 2010

Reggae icon Eddy Grant pens song for Bafana

Well-known reggae star Eddy Grant has penned a song for Bafana Bafana, South Africa's national soccer team, shortly before the start op the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Tuesday, 13 April 2010

South Africans hand in 30,000 guns

Over 30,000 firearms were surrendered during the firearms amnesty which ended this Sunday 11 April, South African Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said.
Tuesday, 13 April 2010

Expert gives World Cup security thumbs-up

The security precautions taken by South Africa in the run-up to the Soccer World Cup meet the highest standards, a security expert from Germany's Parliament said.
Thursday, 1 April 2010

10 Million tourists to visit SA in 2010

A record 10 million tourists are expected to pass through South Africa's ports of entry in 2010, 500 000 more than were recorded in 2008.
Thursday, 1 April 2010

Tourism in SA up by 3.6 percent

South Africa outperformed most international tourist destinations in 2009 and recorded growth in foreign visitors of 3.6 percent Minister of Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk said earlier this week.
Thursday, 1 April 2010

$9m boost for SA wetland

The Isimangaliso Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site that spans 332 000 hectares along the north eastern coast of South Africa, received a US9 million grant (about R65.7 million) for empowerment projects in the area.
Wednesday, 10 March 2010

South Africans say 'no' to porn channel on TV

A dedicated porn channel on South African television? Over our dead bodies, say more than 40 000 South Africans in a recent campaign launched by the Solidarity trade union.
Wednesday, 10 March 2010

Touring made easy with Cape Town Go Card

Sightseeing has become a whole lot easier (and cheaper!) with the introduction of the Go Cape Town Card offering access to three popular tourist attractions in the Mother City at a reduced price.
Wednesday, 10 March 2010

First black airline for Lesotho

Lesotho entrepreneur Sam Matekane has launched a new airline at Moshoeshoe I International Airport in Maseru, the country's capital. Matekane is managing director of the Matekane Group of Companies (MGC). The new airline has two state-of-the-art aircrafts, an eight-passenger Hawker 700A jet and seven-seater Euro Copter 135 helicopter.
Monday, 22 February 2010

Tourism boss looks beyond World Cup

For Thandiwe January-McLean, the 2010 FIFA Soccer  World Cup is a done deal. For SA Tourism's new chief executive, it's what takes place afterwards that will be the major challenge.
Monday, 22 February 2010

Tourists shun KwaZulu-Natal over prices

Empty beds and seats are giving nightmares to B&Bs, hotels and airline companies, as the expected 2010 boom has yet to materialise.
Monday, 22 February 2010

Cape Tourism introduces code to counter 2010 overpricing

Cape Town’s tourism industry stakeholders have taken steps to combat international perceptions of South Africa as “an expensive destination”, ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Monday, 22 February 2010

First backpackers opens on Cape Flats

2010 tourists will get the chance to experience a different side of Cape Town when they visit the first ever backpackers on the Cape Flats. The Blue Flag Backpackers was opened by partners Hylton Mitchell and Jerome Hofmeester,  local tour operators.
Friday, 19 February 2010

South Africa shine on the Oscars list

Two South Africa-themed movies, filmed locally, have been nominated for six Oscar awards between them. The popular sci-fi thriller District 9 and the Nelson Mandela/Rugby World Cup drama Invictus are both in the running for the coveted golden statue.
Friday, 19 February 2010

Red Cross opens office in Johannesburg

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is to open a zone office in Johannesburg, which will be responsible for 10 countries in Southern Africa.  
Friday, 19 February 2010

World Cup stadiums pass the test

Just as the world’s football players have to be put through their paces in the build up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, so too do the new stadiums. And with a few months left until the tournament gets underway, all but two have successfully hosted major sporting events.  
Friday, 19 February 2010

SA musicians geared for World Cup

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is set to offer South Africa much more than just on-field football action. Focusing the eyes of the world on the southern tip of Africa, the event offers an exciting opportunity for some of the country's top musical talent.
Monday, 1 February 2010

Cape Town is beautiful, friendly and cheap

By Clare Nullis, Associated Press Writer CAPE TOWN, South Africa — One of the world's most beautiful cities is probably one of the cheapest. Cape Town, the sparkling jewel in South Africa's tourist crown, regularly wins international travel awards. It combines excellent infrastructure and hotels with magnificent beaches, wildlife and winelands, making it a favorite among business conventions and wealthy surf and safari seekers. But even for those on a budget, the so-called Mother City is as welcoming as its name. Best news is the weakness of the South African rand, which make dollars and euros go further.
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