Livingstone: Public WiFi launched on the Zambian side of the Victoria Falls!

A new public WiFi service is now available in Livingstone on the Zambian side of the Victoria Falls. The new service was launched on 23 April 2024 by the Zambian Minister of Tourism, Rodney Sikumba, and Constance Nalishebo Muleabai, the Mayor of Livingstone. The public Wi-Fi service is powered by the Zambia branch of Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a pan-African technology group present in more than 20 countries. Mr Sikumba said during the official launch that the Ministry of Tourism is committed to digitizing the tourism sector in Zambia by the second quarter of 2024, to enhance the visitor experience at various tourist sites, a move which will help better tourism management and promotion.

We are delighted to announce the launch of Liquid Wi-Fi in LIvingstone. The service was launched by the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Rodney Sikumba, and Her Worship the Mayor of Livingstone, Ms. Constance Muleabai at the Victoria Falls on 23rd April 2024. 1/3 #WeAreLiquid pic.twitter.com/UnrzaW1FxV

— Liquid Intelligent Technologies Zambia (@LiquidInTechZM) April 23, 2024

Robben Island Museum: The 2024 tour rates remain unchanged!

The Robben Island Museum (RIM), the public entity responsible for managing, maintaining, presenting, developing and marketing Robben Island as a national estate and World Heritage Site, has announced that it will not introduce new tariffs for 2024. The current rates will be retained for the next 12 month. RIM  has not increased its tariffs since 2021. The following tariffs will remain applicable for 2024:

• R600 for non-South African adults
• R310 for non-South African children (2 - 18 years)
• R400 for South African adults
• R210 for South African children (2 - 18 years)

Robben Island an island in the Table Bay, about 7 kilometres west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, north of Cape Town. From 1961, Robben Island was used by the South African government as a prison for political prisoners and convicted criminals. Many prominent anti-apartheid leaders, including South Africa's first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, were incarcerated on Robben Island, enduring harsh conditions and forced labor. Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison on Robben Island. His time there became emblematic of the struggle against apartheid and his eventual rise to the presidency. 

Since the end of apartheid, Robben Island has been transformed into a museum and heritage site. It offers guided tours, allowing visitors to learn about the island's history and the struggle against apartheid. In 1999, Robben Island was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its historical significance and contribution to the fight for human rights and democracy.

Cape Town: Free entry to the Castle of Good Hope on Freedom Day 2024!

The Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town, the oldest existing building in South Africa, has announced that it will grant free entry on Freedom Day 2024 to everyone. The  historical landmark, which was built by the Dutch East India Company between 1666 and 1679, houses a collection of several ‘permanent’ boutique museums, including the The Koena Art Institute, The Camissa Museum - The Peopling of the Cape, The Cape Heritage Museum, The Donkergat (Ammunition room), The torture chamber, The prison cells, The Military Museum, The William Fare Collection (Iziko Museums of South Africa) and many more.
The opening times of the Castle of Good Hope are daily, except for Christmas Day and New Year's Day, from 09:00 - 16:00 (the last tour is at 15:00). Tickets cost R50/adult and R25/South African pensioners & children.

The Castle of Good Hope is a bastion fort built by the Dutch East India Company between 1666 and 1679 in Cape Town. It was constructed as a maritime replenishment station, fortress, and administrative center for the Dutch colony at the Cape of Good Hope. The Castle was originally located on the coastline of Table Bay but, following reclamation, the fort is now located a short distance inland within Cape Town's CBD. It was declared a provincial heritage site in 1936 and a national monument in 1969.

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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