Several of the Western Cape’s protected natural spaces have been battered by severe weather, with CapeNature reporting widespread flooding, electricity outages and infrastructure damage across multiple reserves. CapeNature/Facebook The damage follows successive cold fronts that swept through the province in recent days, bringing heavy rainfall, gale-force winds and localised flooding to parts of the Western Cape. Roads, hiking trails, visitor facilities, offices and staff accommodation have all been affected in varying degrees. Power disruptions remain among the most significant challenges facing reserve operations, while nearby communities have also experienced outages linked to the severe weather conditions. CapeNature said hazardous travelling…
Author: Chukwu Godlove
A journey through the Cango Caves, South Africa’s first tourist attraction, is filled with breathtaking formations and historical significance dating back 80,000 years. It’s time for a day trip to South Africa’s first tourist attraction, the Cango Caves. The mysterious limestone chambers full of glistening stalactites and stalagmites and strange formations proved irresistible to people in the early 1800s, even though the entry fee was five rixdollars (the equivalent of R2,300 today). Tourists came from all over the world and despite the massive entry fee – or maybe because of it – they were a destructive lot. So many hacked…
Not every hike needs to end with sore legs and a drive home, writes Miriam Kimvangu. Cape of Good Hope/Rahul Chakraborty/Unsplash Across the Western Cape, some of the province’s most memorable trails come with a built-in reward at the finish. Think mountain reservoirs perfect for a cold dip, forest walks that spill into botanical gardens, wine tastings after vineyard trails, and coastal paths where whale sightings become part of the experience. For hikers who like a little payoff after the climb, these Western Cape trails combine movement, scenery and something special waiting at the end. 1. Skeleton Gorge to Hely-Hutchinson…
South African National Parks (SANParks) chairperson Beryl Ferguson says Africa’s Travel Indaba is more than a marketplace – it remains a melting pot for initiatives that expand the horizons of the tourism industry. Africa’s Travel Indaba 2026 started on Tuesday and ends on Thursday, and is being held under the theme: “Unlimited Africa: Growing Africa’s Tourism Economy”. “It is a meeting of ideas, ambition and responsibility. It is where we collectively shape how Africa is experienced by the world and critically, how the continent’s natural and cultural heritage is valued, narrated and sustained,” she said. Taking part in the “Conversation…
A new European Union-funded conservation initiative is set to strengthen biodiversity protection and community livelihoods in the iconic Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, one of Southern Africa’s most significant transboundary wilderness areas. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park/JOBOGAERTS/Wikimedia Commons According to African Parks, the project was officially launched in Gaborone, Botswana, this week, with South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Narend Singh, joining government leaders, conservation organisations and international partners for the event. Funded through the European Union’s NaturAfrica programme, the initiative will see approximately €2.5 million (around R52 million) invested into conservation management, infrastructure upgrades and community resilience projects across…
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille says South Africa has embarked on one of the most important reforms in the tourism and immigration ecosystem — the rollout of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). “This is not just a digital upgrade; it is a fundamental shift in how we welcome visitors, how we compete globally and how we grow our tourism economy,” De Lille said on Wednesday. Speaking at the Electronic Travel Authorisation Workshop at Africa’s Travel Indaba, underway at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre in Durban, De Lille said the ETA is already demonstrating its impact. Keep up with the…
Each winter, South Africa’s coastline becomes part of one of the world’s great marine migrations, writes Miriam Kimvangu. Walker Bay/Olga Ernst/Wikimedia Commons Between June and November, whales travel thousands of kilometres from the cold feeding grounds of Antarctica to the warmer waters of southern Africa, where they mate, calve and nurse their young. For coastal towns and protected marine areas, the arrival of the whales signals the beginning of a seasonal spectacle that attracts travellers, photographers, researchers and conservationists alike. From the cliffs of the Western Cape to the subtropical coastline of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa offers some of the best…
Nairobi — Members of Parliament have raised concerns over the exclusion of key tourism agencies from the proposed 2026/27 budget, warning that the move could derail Kenya’s tourism growth agenda. The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife questioned why several Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs) under the State Department for Tourism had received no allocations despite playing a central role in regulating and marketing the sector. Among agencies affected are the Tourism Regulatory Authority, Tourism Research Institute, Kenya Tourism Board, Kenya Utalii College, Tourism Fund and Kenyatta International Convention Centre. The concerns emerged during a meeting between the committee…
Have you ever been to Namibia? Not many places in the world can compete with its dramatic landscapes, fascinating cultures and seemingly endless horizons. Our hand-picked selection of photos will make you want to visit Namibia for a luxury African safari. The classic Namibia highlight: Big Daddy DuneDesert-Adapted Wildlife Nothing says Namibia like an oryx wandering along orange dunes. Keep your eyes peeled for these desert-adapted antelopes. A postcard picture of Namibia featuring a lone oryx, Image Credit: Juan Carlos MunozThe Tree GraveyardDeadvlei is a must-visit destination in Namibia. The contrasting colours of the white pans, honey-hued dunes and blue sky create the perfect…
As winter settles over Cape Town and the city begins to slow, The Belly Restaurant Group is inviting diners back indoors with a collection of seasonal menus designed around comfort, generosity and accessible fine dining. Claire Gunn/Supplied Founded by chef-restaurateurs Neil Swart and Anouchka Horn, the group has become known for its intimate dining spaces and deeply local approach to food. Across Belly of the Beast, Galjoen and Seebamboes, this year’s winter offerings lean into nostalgia and seasonality, while still maintaining the creativity that has defined the restaurants since their launch. Each restaurant brings its own interpretation of winter to…
