30 April 2013

South Africa: 273 rhinos killed by poachers so far in 2013

According to the latest statistics released by the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa has lost 273 rhinos to illegal poaching since the beginning of 2013. Of the rhinos poached, 201 rhinos were killed in the Kruger National Park, 21 in North West, 19 in KwaZulu-Natal, 19 in Limpopo and 13 in Mpumalanga.
A total of 83 people have been arrested since the beginning of the year for rhino poaching and related activities.

Latest rhino poaching figures (as of 30 April 2013):  
  • Kruger National Park (SANParks) - 201 rhinos poached
  • Mapungubwe National Park (SANParks) - 0 rhino poached
  • Gauteng - 0 rhino poached
  • Limpopo - 19 rhinos poached
  • Mpumalanga - 13 rhino poached
  • North-West Province - 21 rhinos poached
  • Eastern Cape - 0 rhino poached
  • Free State - 0 rhino poached
  • KwaZulu Natal - 19 rhinos poached
  • Western Cape - 0 rhino poached
  • Northern Cape - 0 rhino poached

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) is urging members of the public to report incidents of rhino poaching or any tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.

Kruger National Park Calendar - June

Weather:
  • days usually warm, sometimes hot
  • generally wind free
  • cold evenings
  • rarely rain falls
Temperatures:


Landscape:
  • most pans and vleis dry up
  • bush thins out
  • grasslands begin receding
  • umbrella acacia pods twirl out
Animal Activity:
  • large elephant populations in northern Kruger
  • animals concentrate around reliable water sources
  • predators very active around reliable water sources

Air Namibia to operate flights between Harare & Lusaka

The national airline of Namibia, Air Namibia, has announced the planned introduction of passenger and cargo services between Harare (Zimbabwe) and Lusaka (Zambia) using its Embraer ERJ 135 regional jets. From 01 May 2013 the airline will initially operate four weekly flights between the two destinations.
  • 11:45 Harare (HRE) > 12:40 Lusaka (LUN) on Sundays & Wednesdays
  • 11:45 Lusaka (LUN) > 12:40 Harare (HRE) on Mondays & Fridays

29 April 2013

South Africa: Whale watching hotspots between Cape Town & Hermanus

Every year between June and November, the coastline between Cape Town and Hermanus is becoming one of the best land-based whale watching spots of the world. During those five to max. six month Southern Right Whales are migrating from their icy feeding grounds off Antarctica to warmer climates off South Africa to play and breed in the sheltered bays of the Western Cape coast and to nurse their newborn calves.


View Top five whale watching spots in Cape Town and surrounds in a larger map

Top whale watching sports between Cape Town & Hermanus:

Did we miss a great spot? Let us know and we'll update the list asap!

26 April 2013

South African Airways and Air Seychelles to codeshare

South Africa's flag carrier, South African Airways, and the national airline of the Seychelles, Air Seychelles, have signed a codeshare agreement. In the first phase of the agreement, South African Airways will place its code (SA) on Air Seychelles' non-stop flights between Johannesburg and Seychelles International Airport on the island of Mahé. The airline will also place its code on flights between the two largest islands of Seychelles, Mahé and Praslin, subject to approvals.
Under the codeshare, passengers from South Africa can currently travel from 26 South African destinations to the Seychelles on a single ticket.
In a later extension of the partnership, South African Airways' direct flights from Johannesburg to other South African destinations may also carry Air Seychelles' code (HM). Ticket sales are set to open on 29 April 2013, for travel from 30 April 2013.

South Africa: Three lions released into Mountain Zebra National Park after 130-year absence

update (06 June 2014): According to South African National Parks (SANParks), the three lion introduced into Mountain Zebra National Park in the Eastern Cape in April 2013 have settled down well in their new home. After their release, the two male lion (brothers) were mostly seen together, while the lioness has been exploring the Mountain Zebra National Park on her own most of the time and only occasionally meeting up with them. Monitoring has also shown that cheetah tended to avoid areas where lion roamed. Although the two species had encountered one another, there appears to have been no major incidents yet, with the cheetah fleeing from the lion when conflict arose. 

The Mountain Zebra National Park in the Eastern Cape is now home to three lions. The lions, one female and two males, are the first lions first free-roaming lions in the area after an absence of over 130 years. They are the third predator species in the Mountain Zebra National Park - cheetahs got already introduced in 2007 and brown hyenas in 2008. The lions are collared so that the management of the National Park can monitor them in the first few months or years after release and so that rangers and researchers can observe what habitats they use and which species they prey on.
Mountain Zebra National Park Manager, Megan Taplin, says the decision to introduce lion into the Park was mainly for biodiversity reasons. "Lions would have occurred here historically and it is SANParks policy to reintroduce the wildlife species which would have occurred in an area before hunting or habitat loss forced them to local extinction in earlier centuries.  They will also occupy the niche of large predator in the ecosystem, keeping the numbers of larger herbivores in the Park in check," said Taplin. (via SANParks)

25 April 2013

South Africa: 249 rhinos killed by poachers so far in 2013

According to the latest statistics released by the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa has lost 249 rhinos to illegal poaching since the beginning of 2013. Of the rhinos poached, 180 rhinos were killed in the Kruger National Park, 21 in North West, 18 in KwaZulu-Natal, 17 in Limpopo and 13 in Mpumalanga.
A total of 78 people have been arrested since the beginning of the year for rhino poaching and related activities.

Latest rhino poaching figures (as of 25 April 2013):  
  • Kruger National Park (SANParks) - 180 rhinos poached
  • Mapungubwe National Park (SANParks) - 0 rhino poached
  • Gauteng - 0 rhino poached
  • Limpopo - 17 rhinos poached
  • Mpumalanga - 13 rhino poached
  • North-West Province - 21 rhinos poached
  • Eastern Cape - 0 rhino poached
  • Free State - 0 rhino poached
  • KwaZulu Natal - 18 rhinos poached
  • Western Cape - 0 rhino poached
  • Northern Cape - 0 rhino poached

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) is urging members of the public to report incidents of rhino poaching or any tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.

Video: Skateboarding in Kampala, Uganda

update (13 Jan 2014): The guys from the Uganda Skateboard Union have uploaded a new video abou skateboarding in Kampala. Kudos & enjoy!


We featured a couple of skateboarding videos in the blog over the last year, but, except for one video of the adidas South Africa skateboard team in Mozambique's capital Maputo, all films were about skatebording in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. Knowing that there are skaters all over Africa, we searched the web and found this great video of the Uganda Skateboarding Union and their "Park Days" at the Kitintale Skatepark in Kampala, the first ever skateboard ramp in Uganda. Enjoy & kudos Peter, Douglas, John, Nico, Ken, Trevor, Morris, Gilbert, Titi & David and all others!



btw - checkout the Uganda Skateboard Union’s blog and Facebook page and keep up on their work and donate to the cause.

24 April 2013

Video: A Cape Town bucket list!

Do you remember the video "10 reasons why Cape Town is the Best City in the World" we blogged about last month? Well, Andrew unfortunately didn't make it to the Top 10 with his entry to Mydestination.com's "Biggest Baddest Bucket List" travel competition, but another Capetonian, Ceara, did so with her video about Cape Town. If you want to know which places in Cape Town her favourites are, check out the three minute-video and follow her through the Mother City! Enjoy & good luck, Ceara!



btw - check out the dudes on one of Longstreet Backpackers' balcony at 01:43... ;)

South Africa: Jeffrey's Bay to host the first "Jeffreys Bay Open Of Surfing" in July 2013

Good news for Jeffrey's Bay and the surfing community in South Africa. Billabong South Africa and the JBU Surf Club from Jeffrey's Bay have teamed up to organise the first "Jeffreys Bay Open Of Surfing". The surfing event will take place at Supertubes in Jeffrey's Bay from 09 - 13 July 2013 and will also anchor an extreme sports festival that will run in town and environs during a one week period. The "Jeffreys Bay Open Of Surfing" will be presented as a Specialty Surfing Event, with an entry field of 64 surfers. There will also be a limited entry girls division and possibly secondary divisions to run concurrently within the main surfing event


The tournament is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa, recognised by the South African Sports Confederation (SASCOC) as the governing body of the sport in South Africa.
The annual Billabong Pro surfing contest at Supertubes in Jeffrey's Bay, usually taking place in July, has recently been canceled for the first time in 25 years. [more]

Google's Street View now live in Lesotho

The landlocked country of Lesotho, completely surrounded by its only neighbouring country South Africa, is the third country in Africa to be covered by Google's Street View service. Explore the "Kingdom in the sky" and get to (virturally) know the roads, landscapes and lakes, Maseru, the capital of Lesotho, and other highlights, such as the AfriSki Ski & Mountain Resort near Butha-Buthe or the impressive Katse Dam, famous for its pony treks! Enjoy!


View Larger Map

btw - the other two countries in Africa covered by Street View are currently South Africa (since 2010) and Botswana (since 2012).

23 April 2013

South Africa: Roadworks on the N2 between Kokstad & Harding (KwaZulu Natal)

If you are planning to travel along the N2 between Kokstad and Harding on your way to eg Port Shepstone, Margate or the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve, keep in mind that roadworks are underway between the two town. The construction of the Stafford’s Post Interchange (kilometer mark 44.30 on the N2 section 21) commenced on 19 April 2013 and will last until December 2014. The speed limit through the construction zones is reduced to 60km/h and traffic is accommodated on the existing carriageway and temporary bypasses or deviations with STOP/GO traffic accommodation towards the latter part of the construction. Safe travels!


View Larger Map

22 April 2013

(Mobile) gaming for good: "WWF Rhino Raid" for iOS & Android

The World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) South Africa and Flint Sky Interactive have teamed up to develop a mobile game that delivers anti-poaching messaging and facts about rhinos. WWF Rhino Raid is an exciting sidescrolling runner that tells the story of Rad the Rhino and his quest to save his species by outwitting the poachers. The game, which is already available on iTunes and will come out for Android phones on 23 April 2013, costs US$1.99 (or equivalent). By buying the game, you are supporting WWF South Africa to save South Africa’s rhinos through the organisation's numerous rhino conservation projects and counter poaching initiatives.

WWF Rhino Raid Game Trailer from Flint Sky Interactive on Vimeo.

19 April 2013

South Africa: 232 rhinos killed by poachers so far in 2013

According to the latest statistics released by the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa has lost 232 rhinos to illegal poaching since the beginning of 2013. Of the rhinos poached, 167 rhinos were killed in the Kruger National Park, 21 in North West, 18 in KwaZulu-Natal, 16 in Limpopo and 10 in Mpumalanga.
A total of 66 people have been arrested since the beginning of the year for rhino poaching and related activities.

Latest rhino poaching figures (as of 18 April 2013):  
  • Kruger National Park (SANParks) - 167 rhinos poached
  • Mapungubwe National Park (SANParks) - 0 rhino poached
  • Gauteng - 0 rhino poached
  • Limpopo - 16 rhinos poached
  • Mpumalanga - 10 rhino poached
  • North-West Province - 21 rhinos poached
  • Eastern Cape - 0 rhino poached
  • Free State - 0 rhino poached
  • KwaZulu Natal - 18 rhinos poached
  • Western Cape - 0 rhino poached
  • Northern Cape - 0 rhino poached

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) is urging members of the public to report incidents of rhino poaching or any tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.

Air Namibia to amend baggage allowances

update (22 April 2013): Tickets issued before 01 May 2013 will have the old baggage scheme or policy. Tickets issued with the travel date on or after 01 May 2013 date will have the new baggage policy.

Namibia's flag carrier, Air Namibia, is set to introduce the piece baggage concept on its flights. Effective from 01 May 2013, economy-class passengers on flights to Frankfurt (Germany), on regional flights, as well as on domestic flights will be allowed one piece of checked baggage weighing 23kg. Passengers travelling to and from Johannesburg (South Africa), Accra (Ghana) and Lagos (Nigeria) will be allowed two pieces of checked luggage in economy class at 23kg each. Travellers will be allowed one piece of hand luggage at max. 10kg (Size: 55x38x20cm) plus one laptop on all flights in economy class.
Business class passengers on flights to Frankfurt (Germany), on regional flights, as well as on domestic flights will be allowed two pieces of checked luggage, each weighing 32kg. Travellers will be allowed two pieces of hand luggage at max. 10kg each (Size: 55x38x20cm) plus one laptop.

Excess luggage
Passengers
1st piece @ no more than 23kg
Weight more than 23kg, but not above 32kg
any additional piece
to/from Germany
FREE
$150
NAD1275
$200
NAD1700
to/from Accra (ACC) & Lagos (LOS)
FREE
$80
NAD680
$150
NAD1275
regional flights
FREE
$90
NAD765
$110
NAD935
domestic flights
FREE
$50
NAD425
$100
NAD850

If you need info about sports equipment charges, let us know!

18 April 2013

CapeNature: The Swartberg & Anysberg Nature Reserves are now linked

Two of CapeNature's biggest nature reserves in the Karoo, the Anysberg Nature Reserve and the Swartberg Nature Reserve, are now linked. The 12 800ha property connecting the two reserves, known as Grand Canyon, is extending the protected area to a size of 215 044ha and to an east-west stretch of land of about 280 km.
According to CapeNature, the new landscape corridor between the two reserves will help to restore landscape connectivity and will benefit the species living in the area, such as leopards, by increasing their home ranges and food resources. It will also help to reconnect fragmented and isolated animal and plant populations.
CapeNature's biggest nature reserve, the Swartberg Nature Reserve, lies in the Oudtshoorn district between the Great and Little Karoo, while the Anysberg Nature Reserve is situated between Montagu and Laingsburg.

Cape Town: Green Point Park opening hours change during winter

The 105 ha Green Point Park, previously a dysfunctional public open space, is one of the new highlights of Cape Town. The urban park, located close to the Cape Town Stadium in Green Point, is linking the city, the Waterfront and the Atlantic Seaboard to each other. Now that winter is approaching in Cape Town, the Green Point Park has instituted its winter operating hours. The new opening hours are daily from 07:00 to 18:00 (15 April - 30 Sept). The summer opening hours of 06:00 to 20:30 will resume on 01 October 2013, taking into account the longer summer days. The park management will use the winter month for some essential maintenance and upgrades to the gardens and park equipment, which will not affect park users.


View Larger Map

Green Point Park opened to the public at the end of 2010 and features a Biodiversity Garden, children's play park, outdoor gym area, amphitheatre, a network of pathways, shade structures and recreational areas. The new labyrinth, situated near the gate closest to the Mouille Point lighthouse, is now open to the public and is in use.
Entry to the Green Point Park is free.

Uganda Wildlife Authority: The National Parks of Uganda (videos)

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Uganda's semi-autonomous government agency that conserves and manages the country’s wildlife, has released nine new videos (they are acutally more slide shows) about its National Parks. Uganda is known to be the prime bird watching destination in Africa with over 1,000 species of birds – several of which are found nowhere else on the planet. The country is also home to 13 types of primates including over half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas, as well as to our closest relative – the chimpanzee.



  1. Queen Elizabeth National Park - A Medley of Wonders
  2. Mt. Elgon National Park - The World's Largest Mountain Caldera
  3. Murchinson Falls National Park - The World's Most Powerfull Waterfall
  4. Kibale National Park - The Primate Capital of the World
  5. Kidepo National Park - True African Wilderness
  6. Lake Mburo National Park - Whispers of the Wild
  7. Mgahinga National Park - Where Gold Meets Silver
  8. Rwenzori National Park - The Mystical Challenge
  9. Semuliki National Park - The True Birder's Heaven
btw: For some unknown reason Uganda Wildlife Authority didn't release a video about the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. We'll add the a video as soon as UWA is uploading it!

17 April 2013

Uganda Wildlife Authority: Queen Elizabeth National Park - A Medley of Wonders (video)

update (18 April 2013): Uganda Wildlife Authority has released eight more videos about its National Parks. Click here for the videos.

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Uganda's semi-autonomous government agency that conserves and manages the country’s wildlife, has released a new promotional video (it is acutally more a slide show) about Queen Elizabeth National Park. Uganda's most popular and most-visited tourist destination is located about 380 kilometres (by road) southwest of Kampala. Queen Elizabeth National Park, covering an estimated approx. 2000km², is home to 95 species of mammal, to about 600 species of birds and is famous for its volcanic features.



Pretoria: //hapo museum to open at Freedom Park

The Freedom Park in Pretoria will see the opening of the new //hapo museum, the last phase of the monument complex, on 27 April 2013 22 April 2013. //hapo, a Khoi word meaning "a dream", showcases South Africa’s rich and colourful history in an interactive manner. It covers 3.6 billion years, from creation to the issues of reconciliation and nation building that the country faces today. According to Freedom Park CEO, Fana Jiyane, the museum transports visitors from mere spectators to active participants, thus creating a sense of awe and wonder in Southern African history.

The Freedom Park is open 7 days a week and on public holidays (except for Good Friday & Christmas Day). The entrance fee is currently (17 April 2013) R45 for adults (16 years +) and R25 for children (from 3 years) and pensioners. Guided tours are available daily at 09am, 12pm & 03pm. Self-guided tours are also possible.

Tanzania: Fastjet to drop new domestic routes

Not so good news for travellers in Tanzania. African low-cost airline Fastjet is forced to temporarily drop its recently introduced routes between Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) on Zanzibar as well as between Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and Mwanza Airport (MWZ). Both flights will be suspended between 18 April 2013 to 30 June 2013. Travellers booked on flights on the particular routes will be fully refunded at Fastjet's offices.
Fastjet will continue to service its routes between Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and between Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) and Mwanza Airport (MWZ) as usual.

16 April 2013

South African Airways & Jet Airways to enter into a code share agreement

South Africa's flag carrier, South African Airways, and the second largest Indian airline, Jet Airways, will enter into a code share agreement . The agreement comes into effect from 18 April 2013 and will allow the airlines to book its passengers on its partner carriers and provide seamless transport to multiple destinations where it has no presence.
Under the arrangement South African Airways will codeshare on Jet Airways’ domestic operations between Mumbai and Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram, while Jet Airways will codeshare on South African Airways’ flights between Mumbai and Johannesburg and beyond to Cape Town and Durban.
Jet Airways suspended its South African operations in June 2012.

15 April 2013

"Africa on a Plate" - a webseries about the culinary world of South Africa

We just updated the "Africa on a Plate" playlist. "Africa on a Plate", produded by Green Zebra Productions & Jurgens van Wyk, is a web series that follows Lentswe Bhengu, a young hip chef around Cape Town and South Africa, discovering new and interesting dishes. The show is a regular feature on mweb.co.za. Enjoy!



Episode 01 [Video 02.03]: Tokai EarthFair Food Market
Episode 02 [Video 04.05]: Madame Zingara's "The Sidewalk Cafe"
Episode 03 [Video 06.07]: Vergelegen Wine Estate
Episode 04 [Video 08.09]: Josephine's Cookhouse
Episode 05 [Video 10.11]: Madame Zingara's "Cafe Paradiso
Episode 06 [Video 12.13]: Camphors Restaurant @ Vergelegen Wine Estate
Episode 07 [Video 14.15]: The Creamery
Episode 08 [Video 16.17]: Market day at The Biscuit Mill
Episode 09 [Video 18.19]: Madame Zingara's "Don Pedro's" NEW
Episode 10 [Video 20.21]: Savoy Cabbage NEW
tbc.

12 April 2013

Cape Town International Airport named Best Airport in Africa at the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2013

Cape Town International Airport in Cape Town has been named Best Airport in Africa 2013 at the SKYTRAX World Airport Awards™, held at the Passenger Terminal EXPO in Geneva (Switzerland). OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg became second in the ranking followed by Durban's King Shaka International Airport. East London Airport in East London was named 6th best Airport in Africa while Port Elizabeth International Airport in Port Elizabeth was ranked 8th best on the continent. Congratulations!
  1. Cape Town International Airport, Cape Town (South Africa)
  2. OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg (South Africa)
  3. King Shaka International Airport, Durban (South Africa)
  4. Cairo International Airport, Cairo (Egypt)
  5. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, Port Louis (Mauritius)
  6. East London Airport, East London (South Africa)
  7. Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
  8. Port Elizabeth International Airport, Port Elizabeth (South Africa)
  9. Marrakech Menara International Airport, Marrakech (Morocco)
  10. Seychelles International Airport, Victoria, Mahe (Seychelles)
The SKYTRAX World Airport Awards™ are based on 12.1 million survey questionnaires completed by 108 different nationalities of airline customers during the nine month survey period in 2012 and 2013, covering more than 395 airports worldwide. The survey evaluates the total passenger experience across 39 different airport service and product features, from arrival at an airport, through transit and departure processes to the boarding gate. Operating since 1999, the SKYTRAX World Airport Awards™ is held in highest esteem for its clarity of process and rigorously applied rules of complete independence.