Author: Chukwu Godlove

South Africa’s aviation scene has plenty to celebrate this year, with four local carriers recognised in the prestigious Skytrax 2025 World Airline Awards—a benchmark in global airline excellence. Picture/Wikipedia South African Airways (SAA) ranked as the fourth-best airline in Africa, showing its continued relevance on the continent despite recent operational hurdles, as reported by Travel News. FlySafair took the crown for Best Low-Cost Airline in Africa for 2025 and secured the eighth spot among all African airlines, a significant nod to its no-frills efficiency and punctual service. LIFT made an impressive entry into the rankings, coming in second among low-cost…

Ancient cities aren’t stuck in the past. From Venice to Marrakesh, they’re rewriting their stories with cutting-edge art in centuries-old spaces. Here’s where modern creativity meets old-world charm. Venice – Italy  Picture/Venice Biennale/Tourist Italy Venice may be a floating relic of the Renaissance, but every two years it becomes one of the most important cities for modern art. The Venice Biennale transforms the historic Arsenale and Giardini into hubs of avant-garde installations, sculpture, and performance art. Even outside Biennale season, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection—set in an 18th-century palace—hosts surrealist and abstract works by the likes of Pollock and Duchamp. Kyoto…

The Last Word — Many people are angry with President Donald Trump for canceling the visas of many students studying in the USA. This is bad for individual families and students. I have friends whose children have been denied visas to return to America to study. I feel their frustrations. However, for Africa, Trump has done the right thing. I hope it changes our attitudes. African elites are outward-looking. They seek education opportunities and medical care for themselves and their families in rich countries, especially the West. This dilemma is best captured in Exit, Voice and Loyalty: Responses to Decline…

Jason Gipson of Lion Sands Game Reserve has officially been crowned Safari Guide of the Year at this year’s prestigious awards held in the Eastern Cape. Hosted at Kariega Game Reserve, the hotly contested event brought together five of South Africa’s top field guides, each vying for the coveted title in one of the country’s most respected competitions. This year’s finalist nominees included Cameron Schmidt from Pumba Private Game Reserve, Jason Gipson from Lion Sands Game Reserve, Kalie Otimile representing Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, Matthew Derry of Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, as well as Megan Heramb-Smith, a freelance Guide and Partner at The Great Outdoors. Image:…

MONROVIA – With a 60-day clock already ticking on a potential U.S. travel ban, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has created an inter-agency Presidential Task Force charged with delivering the swift, documented reforms Washington insists must be in place if Liberians are to keep ordinary access to American visas. The Task Force, which Mr Boakai will chair personally, held its inaugural meeting at the Executive Mansion on Tuesday, 17 June. Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti serves as co-chair alongside key security and service ministries: Justice, Health, State for Presidential Affairs, the Liberia National Police, the Office of the National Security Advisor…

You don’t need hours behind the wheel—or a week off—to enjoy a proper escape. These quick-and-easy road trips across South Africa are close enough for a weekend and laid-back enough to return feeling better, not busier. Pack light, hit the road, and let the stress melt away. Johannesburg to Clarens ±3.5 hours (335 km) Picture/Clarens.co.za Tucked in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains, Clarens offers one of the most rejuvenating escapes from Gauteng. Known as the “Jewel of the Free State,” this small town is big on charm. Wander through art galleries, browse antique stores, or unwind at a coffee…

Nairobi — Air France has deployed the Airbus A350-900 on its Paris-Nairobi route, boosting seat capacity by 16% and reinforcing its commitment to modernising its African operations. The aircraft replaces the Boeing 787-9 previously flying the route. The switch comes amid growing demand for business and leisure travel between Kenya and Europe. The A350-900 made its inaugural flight to Nairobi on Monday, landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. This marks a milestone in Air France’s regional expansion and broader fleet renewal strategy. “This aircraft brings about 16% more seats to Kenya, enabling us to meet growing demand for Paris and…

In the rugged terrain of Klipbokkop Mountain Reserve near Worcester, conservation work unfolds quietly—but powerfully. This reserve, nestled in the folds of the Cape’s fynbos biome, forms part of an ambitious leopard monitoring project run by the Cape Leopard Trust (CLT), one of South Africa’s leading predator conservation organisations. Anita Wilkinson and Dr Katy Williams of Cape Leopard Trust/Picture by Rob Till Supported by the Ford Wildlife Foundation (FWF), the CLT is working to protect these elusive cats through research, community education, and ongoing fieldwork across challenging mountain terrain. Founded in 2004 to study the Cederberg’s leopard population, the CLT…

President Boakai has set up a special committee to investigate growing concerns of a possible US travel ban on Liberians The Executive Mansion says the President chaired the first meeting of the body on Wednesday At the heart of the potential ban is the overstay of Liberians in the U.S. The country has one of the highest overstay rates in the world, according to the U.S. Homeland Security Department The proposed list of 36 countries to face the ban also includes other key U.S. allies–Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast and The Gambia President Joseph Boakai has set up a high-level…

Sharks suffer from a serious PR problem. Popular media have long misrepresented them as mindless brutes. But walk through the doors of the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, and that image starts to dissolve. Here, the story of sharks is rewritten – not one of fear, but of fascination. The Aquarium is home to a remarkable variety of shark species, many of them found only in South African waters. From the iconic ragged-tooth sharks cruising through the Save our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit to the elusive puffadder shysharks, visitors are offered a glimpse into the complexity and beauty of…