Author: Chukwu Godlove
Nairobi — Various travel agency stakeholders have been challenged to embrace greater collaboration including Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to strengthen Kenya’s travel payment ecosystem particularly in the digital payment space. Speaking during the Kenya Travel Industry Payment Summit 2025 (KTRIPS 2025) in Nairobi on Thursday, Juanita Omanga, the Deputy Director Digital Payment Services Division at Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) emphasized that the collaborations will promote innovation, enhance consumer protection, and improve service delivery across the travel payments ecosystem. “Public-private partnerships will be instrumental in scaling digital travel payment solutions. Ensuring that technology benefits major airlines, small travel agencies, and individual…
Image: Facebook / Ian Lombard The NSPCA has taken a significant step forward by filing charges in the horrific killing of Raygun, a baboon whose brutal death has ignited widespread public anger. Despite facing considerable resistance from community members throughout the investigation, the NSPCA has gathered sufficient evidence to push the case into the hands of the South African Police Service (SAPS). Raygun’s death, marked by extreme violence, has left many demanding accountability. Chief Inspector Douglas Wolhuter, head of the NSPCA’s Wildlife Protection Unit, revealed that a detailed pathology report was pivotal in uncovering the severity of Raygun’s injuries, confirming…
‘Stellenbosch has got wine and food, and activities to get your heart pumping and galleries to soothe your soul.’ writes Lorraine Kearney. ‘Known as Eikestad because of the many oak trees planted by its founder, Simon van der Stel, the historic town sits among hills and vineyards and is surrounded by significant magnificent mountains: Stellenbosch Mountain, Jonkershoek, Simonsberg and Botmaskop. Probably best known as the seat of Cabernet Sauvignon in South Africa, it’s also known for its Chenin Blanc. There are more than 200 wine farms in Stellenbosch, of which 126 are members of Stellenbosch Wine Routes. ALSO READ: The…
Around midnight on a Thursday night in June last year, a fire started at Green Safari’s Ila Safari Lodge in Kafue National Park, Zambia. By sunrise the entire boma area (reception, dining, bar and pool) was gone. Fortunately, the guest rooms remained intact, and the guests were unharmed. The blaze had also not spread to the surrounding national park. Green Safaris is passionate about preserving some of the most pristine wildlife areas in Africa, and its goal is to leave the areas where it operates as untouched as possible. It all started with Ila Lodge back in 2016. The Ila…
Travelling with children can be a rewarding experience, especially when the trip is designed to be educational. Through educational travel, your children have the opportunity to learn about different cultures, histories and environments. Image: Unsplash/Hanson Lu An educational trip also fosters creativity, curiosity and a sense of adventure. Here are some things to consider as you embark on educational travel with kids: Set clear educational goals Before packing your bags, have a conversation with your children about what they look forward to and what they hope to learn. Are they interested in exploring the destination’s history, or learning more about…
The Namibian government’s newly launched visa-on-arrival e-platform has been met with criticism from stakeholders in the tourism industry. They have raised concerns over security flaws, pricing inconsistencies, and overall functionality. The long-awaited platform, launched on Monday by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, aims to streamline the visa application process for international visitors. The roll-out has, however, been marred by technical glitches and confusion. An industry expert, who wishes to remain anonymous, has expressed concerns about the platform’s lack of verification measures during the application process. This is the first concern: One can apply with any fake…
Santorini is safe and prepared to welcome tourists again. As reported by Tourism Update, this comes after recent seismic activity prompted evacuations for both visitors and residents. Between the 26th of January and the 22nd of February, the Interdisciplinary Committee for Risk and Crisis Management at the University of Athens recorded over 20,000 minor earthquakes in the vicinity of the island. Photo by Tânia Mousinho on Unsplash According to CNN, seismic activity has decreased, allowing for evacuees to return home, schools to reopen and hotel construction to resume. ALSO READ: Thousands flee Santorini as earthquakes rattle Greek island The state…
South Africa hosted a successful first G20 Tourism Working Group meeting virtually from the Head Office of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (DIRCO) today. The Director General of the South African Department of Tourism, Mister Nkhumeleni Victor Vele chaired the first Tourism Working Group meeting which was attended by senior officials and experts in the tourism sector of the G20 countries, invited guest countries and international organisations. Delegates deliberated on and agreed to work on four priorities for the year, namely: People-Centered Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Innovation to enhance Travel and Tourism Start-Ups and SMMEs; Tourism Financing and…
Titanic Rock, an epic, jutting cliff, salutes you as you enter Clarens. Mountain ranges wrap around you from left and right. This small town’s beauty is awe-inspiring. It is chock-full of picturesque views, good food and drinks, and a bounty of art galleries and artisanal shops. It is no wonder creative souls find inspiration and solace in the jewel of the Free State, writes Werner Labuscagne. ALSO READ: Four small towns you probably did not know A highlight of any visit to Clarens is the surrounding wilderness. It is the closest town to the Golden Gate Highlands National Park,…
Image: Instagram / @jayroode Videos and photographs that have surfaced online capture a young male leopard leaping onto the hood of a safari vehicle during a game drive in the Kruger National Park (KNP). ALSO READ: Not all heroes wear capes, some wear safari uniforms and wield garden rakes The unusual sighting, which occurred within a private concession in the KNP, captures the leopard as it lands onto the head of the safari vehicle, less than a meter away from the safari guide, and but a few paces away from guests, who whip out their phones and cameras as the…