Author: Chukwu Godlove
Exploring the Western Cape through its lesser-known roads reveals a side of the region few visitors see. Beyond the scenic drives highlighted in guidebooks, locals rely on farm roads, mountain passes, coastal service routes, and gravel connectors that link towns, valleys, and farms. Part of Cloetes Pass/Vdiest at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons These roads show the heart of the province and the everyday life that keeps its communities moving, writes Lee-Ann Steyn. What locals use: farm roads and regional connectors Farm roads and secondary routes connect towns and valleys in ways the main highways never can. Routes…
Addis Ababa — The Ministry of Tourism affirmed that Ethiopia’s newly developed urban corridors are blending modern design with deep rooted cultural heritage, transforming Addis Ababa into a world class gateway for diplomats and tourists. According to the ministry, the largescale corridor developments are reshaping the capital’s urban landscape, offering visitors an experience that combines contemporary elegance with authentic Ethiopian identity. The initiative aims to leave a strong first impression on African Union delegates, international visitors, and investors arriving in the city. In an interview with the ENA, Teshome Teklu, Lead Executive for the Promotion Sector at the Ministry of…
There are relationships in the safari world that begin with NDAs, rate sheets, and very serious conversations about “synergy.” And then there’s Rhino Africa and Londolozi. Which, if I’m honest, has always felt less like a partnership and more like one of those long-running friendships where nobody remembers who called whom first – only that things tend to click when you’re sitting at the same table. I’ve been at Rhino Africa long enough to know which stories get retold for effect… and which ones get retold because they still matter. This one sits firmly in the second camp.This is where…
Safari travel in South Africa is often framed as a clean break from everyday life. Gravel roads replace highways, phones lose signal, and the wild takes over. Few safari experiences, however, exist in isolation. Around the country’s most iconic game reserves sit towns, villages, and regional hubs that quietly shape how travellers arrive, explore, and connect with the landscapes around them. These towns are more than logistical stopovers. They are places where safari staff live, where trips pause for coffee or supplies, and where nights are spent before entering the bush. Safari escapes are often shaped by the places travellers…
Summer in South Africa can be relentless, with heatwaves pushing temperatures well beyond comfort levels. Wildlife does not escape this reality. Across savannas, deserts, forests, and coastlines, animals rely on a suite of clever behavioural adaptations to survive extreme heat, writes Lee-Ann Steyn. A leopard on the tree/High Tea With Elephants/Unsplash Heat is one of the biggest daily challenges animals face High temperatures affect everything from hydration and energy use to predator and prey dynamics. Unlike humans, animals cannot retreat indoors or switch on air conditioning. Survival depends on timing, movement, body position and an intimate understanding of the landscape.…
RIGHT now, the southern plains of the Serengeti are home to nature’s most dramatic spectacle. As the Great Migration settles into the Ndutu area, the landscape transforms into a massive, bustling nursery where life begins on a scale found nowhere else on earth. This is the calving season–a short, intense window of time where the circle of life plays out in its purest and most powerful form. Between late January and March, over half a million wildebeest calves are born, with as many as 9,000 newborns arriving in a single day. This synchronized birth is a brilliant survival strategy; by…
The Western Cape has become one of the most filmed regions in the world, with Cape Town and its surrounds regularly appearing in international films and TV series, writes Miriam Kimvangu. Night view of Cape Town/YUXUAN WANG/Unsplash Over the past few years, streaming platforms, studios and other local filmmakers have continued to choose the province for its visual range and production infrastructure. This growing screen presence offers a fresh way for adventurers to explore the region, using film and television as a guide to landscapes, neighbourhoods and lesser known corners of the province. Cape Town City Bowl and CBD In…
Cover Story — When U.S. Ambassador William W. Popp stepped-up to address the press at the American Centre in Kampala on Feb. 5, he was carrying a message that blended diplomacy with warning. The United States, he said, values its strong partnership with Uganda, rooted in people-to-people ties that see thousands of Ugandans travel to America each year for tourism, business, study and family visits. But that openness now comes with tougher expectations, he said. “The Trump Administration continues to put America and its interests first by fully enforcing U.S immigration laws and ensuring lawful travel through our visa process,”…
Summer is the season of easy escapes, the kind that don’t require weeks of planning or an overnight bag, writes Zoë Erasmus. Kevin Benkenstein / Unsplash Just an open road, good weather, and somewhere new to explore. Wellington, tucked at the foot of the Hawequa Mountains and just over an hour from Cape Town, is made for days like this. It’s a town where time slows naturally, where wine farms feel welcoming rather than overwhelming, and where a single day is more than enough to leave you refreshed. From lazy lunches and quiet vineyard visits to shaded walks and golden-hour…
Addis Ababa — Addis Ababa’s sweeping corridor development and riverside rehabilitation projects are emerging as major drivers of sports and conference tourism, attracting growing local and international interest. City officials and tourism stakeholders say the large-scale projects have reshaped public spaces, upgraded infrastructure and enhanced the city’s appeal as a destination for sporting events and international conferences. The initiatives form part of Ethiopia’s broader effort to reposition Addis Ababa as a modern diplomatic, business and tourism hub while improving livability for residents. According to the Addis Ababa City Tourism Commission, the rehabilitation of riverbanks and the development of green public…