Author: Chukwu Godlove

In 1533, the Portuguese carrack Bom Jesus set sail from Lisbon bound for India, carrying a precious cargo that represented the wealth and ambition of Portugal’s maritime empire. Screenshot from Wonder World YouTube video But the journey never reached its destination. Violent storms along the treacherous Atlantic coastline pushed the ship off course, and it ultimately smashed against the jagged rocks of what is now known as Namibia’s Skeleton Coast. For centuries, the Bom Jesus disappeared beneath the shifting desert sands, its treasures lost to time—until 2008, when archaeologists rediscovered the wreck. Buried almost perfectly preserved, the site has become…

Hospitality giant Rainbow Tourism Group Limited (RTG) is set to make its first foray into the South African market with the planned acquisition of a prime commercial property in Cape Town. The deal, valued at approximately ZAR98 million (around US$5.6 million) involves RTG’s South African-registered subsidiary Rainbow Tourism Group (SA) Proprietary Limited purchasing a seven-storey building at 13 Buitengracht Street from Elleke Hospitality Proprietary Limited. The building currently serving as office space and retail units is slated for conversion into a branded hotel under a leading international hospitality group. “This strategic investment represents a major milestone in RTG’s regional expansion…

Cape Town’s waters are a theatre of wild encounters – from playful Cape fur seals to schools of shimmering sardines – but nothing captures the imagination quite like a shark sighting. These apex predators are not only symbols of ocean power but also vital guardians of marine balance. Shortfin mako shark/Patrick Doll/Wikimedia Commons In the kelp forests, offshore reefs, and deep Atlantic channels surrounding the Mother City, five of the ocean’s largest shark species occasionally make their appearance. 1. Great White Shark The legendary Great White is the most famous of Cape Town’s sharks. Although sightings have dipped in recent…

But SANParks says figures are stable Volunteer groups have signed a petition calling on SANParks to tackle crime on Table Mountain. Signatories to the #SaveTableMountain petition, driven by Friends of Table Mountain, say violent crime is on the increase and likely to spike over the summer. But SANParks says the numbers are stable. Violent crime on Table Mountain is on the increase, say volunteers, who have launched a petition calling on SANParks to tackle crime and the deterioration of conditions on the mountain. With nearly 3-million visitors in 2023-4, the park attracts more visitors than any of the other parks…

The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities (MTWA), in partnership with the Presidential CEO Forum (PCF) have convened the first-ever top tourism investment round table at Speke Resort Munyonyo. The high-level engagement brought together 35 key stakeholders, including policymakers, CEOs, investors, development partners, and private sector leaders, to chart a new course for positioning Uganda as a premier tourism and investment destination. The round table discussions generated resounding feedback on how the government can more effectively complement the private sector in unlocking Uganda’s tourism potential. Deliberations centered around infrastructure development, conservation, harmonized tax policies, product diversification, marketing, and enhancing tourist…

It was a regular Wednesday afternoon, and I was working on a story about a pop star’s drama when I got a call with an unexpected suggestion. I had the chance to visit what might be the most exclusive hotel and Members Club in Kigali, a property tucked away in the hills and reserved for those with refined taste. Naturally, I said yes. Also read: Our hospitality sector must match growth with service excellence To get there, we drove up Rebero Hill in Kicukiro District, specifically in Kigarama. Once past the gates, after a quick check of the booking list,…

… Extols Dr. Okpara’s Vision Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has unveiled the reconstructed Hotel Presidential established by the administration of former premier of the defunct Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Okpara, describing the revival of the 62-year old edifice as “a homecoming for history.” Mbah, who performed the unveiling in Enugu on Thursday, extolled the foresightedness of the former premier, regretted that the monument of pride had rotted away for the past 15 years, explaining that Hotel Presidential’s revival was in line with his campaign promise to recover Enugu’s moribund assets and also grow the state’s economy sevenfold.…

All 55 million foreigners who hold visas for the United States are subject to continuous review, the State Department warned Thursday as President Donald Trump ramps up his crackdown on visas and immigration. “The Department’s continuous vetting includes all of the more than 55 million foreigners who currently hold valid US visas,” a State Department official said. “The State Department revokes visas any time there are indications of a potential ineligibility, which includes things like any indicators of overstays, criminal activity, threats to public safety, engaging in any form of terrorist activity or providing support to a terrorist organization.” The…

Monrovia — Two visiting high-ranking members of the United States Congress have called on the Donald Trump led-Administration to ensure fairness in the issuance of US visas to Liberians and others across the African continent. The Congressmen include Jack Reed, Senator of Rhode Island and member of the Committee on Appropriations and Representative Gabe Amo of the First Congressional District of Rhode Island. Rep. Amo serves as Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of the Environmental Committee and Sub-Committee on Science and Technology and the Budget. The two Democrat Congressmen are in the country as…

Oniipa — A group of Namibians is traversing the length and breadth of the country. Their mission is to help tell the Namibian story better. At the centre of the initiative is the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB). The group consists of journalists and social media influencers. They are on a cultural tour which stretches from the northern to the southern regions. The tour allows storytellers to experience Namibia’s culture, traditions and heritage first-hand and share it with both domestic and international audiences. The journey will take the group through some of the country’s most unique cultural landmarks and historic sites.…