Category: News

Living with Leopards – A Netflix Showcase of Botswana’s Special Xudum Concession

Renowned wildlife filmmaker Brad Bestelink has spent the last four years based in the Xudum concession in Botswana, where he and his team filmed the captivating Netflix documentary “Living With Leopards.” 

His journey began over 20 years ago in the Xudum region, where his father established a tourism operation. Having known the area intimately, Bestelink has captured its diverse ecosystems on film for projects like National Geographic’s “The Flood” and the BBC’s “Africa’s River Giants.”

His latest documentary showcases his admiration for leopards: Their intelligence, beauty, and solitary nature, particularly the behaviors of mother leopards raising their young. This passion is evident in the documentary, which captures the leopards’ struggles and successes, making them relatable to a broader audience.

Four years ago, Xudum’s landscape transformed due to reduced water levels, becoming a predator hotspot. Recognizing this unique opportunity, Bestelink established a permanent filming camp in Xudum, leading to the creation of both “Surviving Paradise” and “Living With Leopards” for Netflix.

The project, initiated just before the COVID-19 pandemic, required a long-term commitment to film leopard cubs growing up. Despite the risks, Bestelink’s experience and the exceptional qualities of a leopard named Mochima provided confidence in the project’s success.

 Bestelink emphasizes the importance of emotional connection in nature documentaries, aiming to make viewers feel the wilderness’s emotional journey.

Watch Living with Leopards on Netflix.

To experience the magic of Mokolwane and perhaps catch a glimpse of the next big wildlife documentary in the making see Discover Africa’s the latest Tour:  Botswana – Delta & Makgadikgadi Pans Safari

Visitors to Mokolwane, set within the Xudum Concession, have the unique opportunity to experience Bestelink and his team at work while spotting remarkable leopard sightings firsthand. The area boasts one of Africa’s highest leopard densities and a pristine wilderness with diverse wildlife, including lions, wild dogs, and cheetahs.

Mokolwane offers guests an immersive experience, with only seven rooms amidst 200,000 hectares of untouched wilderness, ensuring a profound sense of solitude and connection with nature. Bestelink and his team continue their work, with a new project set for release in September.

Africa Hits Full International Tourism Recovery, as Seasonality Shift

International tourist arrivals to Africa have exceeded pre-pandemic levels for the first time in the first quarter of 2024. 

The latest  UN Tourism Barometer data shows that while the continent was one of the hardest hit during the pandemic, its tourism sector has seen a stronger-than-anticipated recovery, overshadowing the rate of recovery for international markets.   

Visitors to Africa exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 5% in the first quarter of 2024, compared to quarter 1 in 2019, with a 13% growth more than in Q1 2023.

Long-haul travel to North Africa’s Egypt and Morocco and safari hotspots like Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa continue to pique the interest of international travellers.  

Several African destinations reported growth in international tourism receipts in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 2019. Tanzania saw a 62% increase, Mauritius 46%, and Morocco 44%, highlighting the continent’s significant contribution to global tourism recovery.

 

 

South Africa’s Tourism Confidence Spotlighted

South Africa has further top African country rankings in the 2024 Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) by the World Economic Forum.

In 2023, South Africa welcomed close to 8.5 million international visitors, of whom 6.4 million were from the African continent. This represents a significant increase of 48.9% compared to 2022 arrivals.

During the first quarter of 2024 – January to March—South Africa welcomed 2.4 million visitors from the rest of the world, a 15.4% increase compared with the same period in 2023. Africa continues to lead as the key inbound market with 1.8 million tourist arrivals from the rest of the African continent  between January and March 2024, representing 74.5% of all arrivals.

South Africa’s rise in the 2024 Travel and Tourism Development Index, moving up seven places, weighed the country’s strengths in price competitiveness, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) readiness, natural resources, and the socio-economic impact. 

Tourism Minister Patricia De Lille commenting in a statement about the Index ranking said, “We remain committed to significantly increasing arrival numbers and enhancing the tourism sector’s performance. While the sector already contributes substantially to our GDP and job creation, there is much more potential to unlock.” 

Confidence in the growth of international tourists to South Africa remains high, according to Discover Africa Safaris co-founder Andre Van Kets. 

“Safari operators are seeing serious intent from key international markets to book and plan transformational travel experiences,” said Van Kets. “Following Africa’s recent Travel Indaba word from suppliers is that rate increases for 2025 are averaging at 10%, and while this is in line with inflationary adjustments currently at 7%, it shows further confidence that the luxury safari sector remains bullish for future bookings.”  

The head of product at the online travel planning company, Murielle Vegezzi, underscored the continued changes to seasonality and how that will drive growing tourism numbers across the continent and the world. 

“Seasonality is changing, and we’re definitely seeing that. Bookings are no longer concentrated in the peak periods, which further shows the intent to travel is high, even during the off-peak or shoulder seasons,” said Vegezzi.

Growth in International Markets for South Africa:

  • Americas Tourist arrivals grew by 12.4% compared to the same period in 2023: 118,194 (January to March 2024)
  • Europe Tourist arrivals grew by 8.6% compared to the same period in 2023: 420,727 (January to March 2024):

– United Kingdom: 125,420 tourists (+5.3% growth)

– Germany: 98,954 tourists (+9.9% growth) 

– Netherlands: 37,548 tourists (+9.9% growth)

– Russia: 9,329 tourists (+9.6% growth)

  • Asia Tourist arrivals grew by 25.4% compared to the same period in 2023: 49,741 (January to March 2024):  

– China: 11,017 tourists (+82% growth)

– India: 16,209 tourists (-0.9% growth)

  • Middle East:

– Saudi Arabia: 2,387 arrivals (+31.7% growth)

– United Arab Emirates: 321 arrivals 

AI Trip Planning Tools Making Travel Easier

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) trip planning tools has transformed the trip planning experience for travellers, particularly for wildlife safaris, enabling more precise and memorable adventures.

Several leading travel companies like Expedia, Tripadvisor, GetYourGuide, and Discover Africa are already offering travellers AI travel planning tools to make the process easier, and the trend is expected to continue.

When it comes to safari trip planning, being able to predict animal movements, weather conditions, and optimal viewing times maximises guests’ chances of witnessing nature’s marvels in the most impactful way possible. To this, tailored recommendations to satisfied seasoned adventurers and the ability to support conservation efforts are some of the added benefits.

Here, we explore five cutting-edge AI tools that are changing the travel planning experience. 

1. Google’s Trip Itinerary Search

Let’s face it: most travel planning efforts start with a Google search. The search giant has dipped into the realm of AI with Gemini, its Generative AI answer to ChatGPT, which took the world by storm just over a year ago.

Now, Google’s new AI-driven tools for Search and Maps assist travellers in creating detailed itineraries and exploring destinations more efficiently.

An experimental AI-based function in search crafts personalized trip itineraries, including suggestions for flights, hotels, attractions, and dining. The function links directly to travel company sites for bookings, According to this review by Skift’s Justin Dawes. 

The updates in Google Maps focus on delivering richer destination information with local recommendations and lists of top dining spots (currently only available in North America). Photos and reviews use AI-enhanced capabilities to help discover notable aspects of places and even identify local dishes. Additionally, Maps users can now organize personalized lists of their favorite spots, further enhancing their travel planning experience.

The introduction of a translation tool, allowing real-time content translation without app switching, further underscores Google’s push for travel planning convenience. 

Google AI Trip Itinerary Screengrab
Google’s new AI-driven tools creates detailed itineraries to plan around. Source: Google.

2. TripAdvisor’s AI-Powered Recommendations

TripAdvisor’s Trips has enhanced its platform with AI to deliver personalized travel recommendations, drawing from users’ past interactions and reviews.

It effectively uses natural language processing to distill and summarize key insights from extensive user reviews, making it easier for travellers to make informed decisions.

The platform also supports collaborative trip planning, providing tailored suggestions that accommodate the preferences of all group members. The AI functionality is only available for select destinations, but the potential for easy trip planning as a global tool is clear. 

Tripadvisor's AI Trip Planning screengrab
Tripadvisor uses natural language processes to simplify and summarize important information from detailed user reviews, helping travellers make informed decisions more easily. Source: Tripadvisor.

3. Herd Tracker: AI Prediction Precision in Safari Planning

Wildlife tracking app HerdTracker has launched a new AI tool to more accurately predict where to see East Africa’s Great Wildebeest Migration, arguably one of the most incredible natural spectacles on the planet. This precision significantly improves the chances of unforgettable encounters, maximizing the value of what can often be a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

The tracking app utilizes ten years of historical and real-time data to predict the location of wildlife herds. Developed with the safari-goer in mind, it allows tour operators and tourists to pinpoint the best times and locations for witnessing the Great Migration across Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara. 

HerdTracker also personalizes the safari experience with customized data-based recommendations for lodges close to the predicted areas and river crossings according to the user’s preferences.  Each itinerary is uniquely tailored to maximize wildlife viewing opportunities, aiding in managing expectations and trip planning efficiency.

Other wildlife tracking and data analytics players include WildTrack and SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool), which also utilize technology to enhance wildlife conservation and tourism. However, HerdTracker’s focus on the Great Migration and its integration of comprehensive historical data sets it apart as a specialized tool for safari planning.

HerdTracker AI Tracking Tool
HerdTracker uses an AI Clustering Technique accurately predict where to see the Great Migration. Source: HerdTracker.

4. Kayak’s Virtual Travel Assistant

Kayak’s AI-driven virtual assistant, Ask Kayak, ispowered by the online travel booking platform’s historical data and OpenAi’s ChatGPT. Users can ask specific questions about flight routes or destinations for planned trips. Key features include comprehensive displays of flight, lodging, and car rental options alongside tools that suggest the optimal times to travel and provide essential destination information. For now, its options for African destinations are limited.   

In summary, AI will continue to shape travel planning and booking as more companies leverage its capabilities to improve overall trip management and provide a more efficient and tailored travel experience. 

Ask Kayak AI Tool Screengrab
Ask Kayak displays essential destination information along side flights, lodgings and car rental. It’s options for travel to Africa are limited for now. Source: Kayak.

Travel News Digest, 3 May: Flooding in the Maasai Mara, Turtles Rescued in Cape Town

This week’s latest travel news includes proposed changes to visa policies, flooding in the Maasai Mara, and conservation rescue stories from South Africa. Meanwhile, North Africa and Europe could be connected by an underwater railway line as early as 2030. Read about these stories and more as we wrap up the previous week’s travel news:

Airline and Aviation News:

A Delta Airlines aeroplane.
A Delta Airlines plane. Photo Source: Unsplash

 

  • Ireland considering ceasing visa-free travel for South Africans. Reports indicate that individuals from Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo are utilising South African passports to apply for asylum in the Republic of Ireland. With expectations of a surge in asylum seekers in the coming months, the nation might consider enhancing its current procedures.

 

  • Report says almost a third of African applicants were denied Schengen visas in 2022. Despite having the lowest number of applications per capita, Africa experienced a visa refusal rate of 30%, which is 12.5% higher than the global average. Mehari Taddele Maru, from the School of Transnational Governance at the European University Institute, asserts that “the European visa system exhibits evident bias against African applicants.”

Travel and Destination News:

A wildebeest herd crosses the Mara River.
A wildebeest herd crosses the Mara River. Photo Source: Unsplash
  • Heavy rains cause flooding in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. The Talek River overflowed, leading to significant flooding in Talek Town and submerging numerous tourist camps. Additionally, the collapse of the Purungat Bridge has disrupted communication and access. Fortunately, all personnel and visitors have been safely evacuated.

 

  • Firefighters smother Table Mountain fire. The Skeleton Gorge fire charred approximately 238 hectares of vegetation since it started on April 27th. Ongoing “berg” wind conditions persist in spreading the fire, yet firefighters have managed to contain the majority of active areas. Consequently, several hiking trails have been reopened.

 

  • Underwater tunnel could connect Spain to Morocco before 2030 FIFA World Cup. Various stakeholders are investigating the feasibility of linking Morocco’s Al Boraq high-speed rail line to Spain’s existing rail networks through an underwater tunnel. Initially proposed in 1981, the tunnel’s construction could be finalized in preparation for the 2030 World Cup, slated to be hosted across Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

Conservation News:

A sea turtle hatchling on a beach.
A sea turtle crawls along a beach. Photo Source: Unsplash

 

  • Rescued Ukrainian lion arrives at sanctuary in South Africa. Four Paws Netherlands rescued Vasylyna from Ukraine after she managed to escape captivity in the war-torn city of Kharkiv. She has since been relocated to Lionrock, a spacious sanctuary in South Africa operated by Four Paws, along with another lion rescued from Montenegro.

 

Discover Africa’s Travel Experts are on the pulse of travel news and tourism trends across Africa. Get in touch to start planning your Safari bucket list adventure today. 

Delta Expands New York Service to Boosts US-Africa Flight Connectivity 

Tourism between the U.S. and Africa will see improved service and flight connectivity from U.S. carrier Delta Airlines. The carrier announced plans to restart its service to Nigeria from New York-JFK, and fleet upgrades for its Ghana and South Africa service have been confirmed.

 Expanded Delta Service to Nigeria

Starting 1 December, the airline will revive its daily service from New York-JFK to Lagos, Nigeria, complementing its existing daily flights from Atlanta. This expansion will see Delta offer up to 14 weekly flights to Nigeria during early winter and maintain ten weekly flights for the remainder of the season. The New York-JFK to Lagos, Nigeria route will shift from a daily to three times per week on 16 January next year.

Joe Esposito, Delta’s Senior Vice President of Network Planning, emphasized that the move reflects the airline’s commitment to adapt to customer needs, offering more travel options and premium services. Passengers can choose from several cabin experiences, including Delta One, Delta Premium Select, and Comfort+ on the Airbus A330-200.

Upgraded Fleet for Ghana and South Africa  

Delta is also set to upgrade its aircraft on Ghana and South Africa routes. The New York-JFK to Accra service will see the introduction of the larger Airbus Airbus A330-900neo in late October 2024, increasing capacity by nearly 1,000 seats weekly.

Similarly, flights from Atlanta to Johannesburg and Cape Town will be upgraded to the Airbus A350-900, enhancing the customer experience with 40 Delta One Suite seats now available on the route. The airline operates 10 weekly flights year-round to Johannesburg (JNB) and Cape Town (CPT). The fleet upgrade comes into effect for the Johannesburg route from 20 June and for Delta’s Cape Town Route from 9 September.   

UPDATED: New Flight Routes Improving Access to Top Safari Destinations

Travel News Digest, 26 April: Namibia Adds Visa-on-Arrival in Walvis Bay, Uganda Deforestation Concerns

This week’s latest travel news includes updates from SAA, a heartwarming captive tiger rescue story, and insights into a new tourism initiative in Namibia. Meanwhile, petrol station-related crime is on the rise in South Africa and Lift will temporarily suspend its flights between Cape Town and Durban. Read about these stories and more as we wrap up the previous week’s travel news:

Airline and Aviation News:

An aeroplane lands in Paris, France.
An aeroplane lands in Paris, France. Photo Source: Unsplash
  • Lift to temporarily suspend flights between Cape Town and Durban. The regional airline has updated its winter schedule, announcing the temporary suspension of all flights between the cities from May 7th to June 12th. Passengers are being informed accordingly, and the airline assures that it will arrange alternative flights for those impacted during this period.

 

  • Strike threat disrupts hundreds of flights in France. According to Reuters, French air traffic controllers had initially threatened to strike on April 25th but eventually reached an agreement with authorities. Unfortunately, the resolution arrived too late to prevent numerous flight cancellations, leading to significant disruptions across France.

 

  • ACSA introduces mandatory physical searches of all persons wearing head coverings. The Airports Company of South Africa has announced that passengers wearing “fixed headgear, headwraps, hijabs, burkas, doeks, izicholo, or niqabs” will undergo physical searches at airport security gates. It assures that these searches will be carried out with sensitivity to recognised religious and cultural practices, though it acknowledges that they may cause discomfort.

 

  • Interim Chairman Derek Hanekom: SAA broke even in 2023. In an interview with ENCA, the former Minister of Tourism revealed that the national airline achieved break-even during the 2023-2024 financial year. Now, it is actively pursuing new investment avenues to support network expansion.

 

Travel and Destination News:

Flamingos in Walvis Bay, Namibia.
Flamingos in Walvis Bay, Namibia. Photo Source: Unsplash
  • Namibia launches visas-on-arrival at Walvis Bay Harbour. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism urged for streamlined immigration procedures for cruise ships following the arrival of over 1,000 passengers on the Queen Mary II at Walvis Bay this month. Many passengers experienced lengthy waiting periods. As a response, a new visa system has been implemented, removing the requirement for advance visa applications.

 

  • South African motorists warned as petrol station hijackings increase. Louis Nyahunda, a senior research fellow at the Tshwane University of Technology Department of Law, Safety, and Security Management, says there has been a significant rise in petrol station-related crimes in South Africa. Motorists are being urged to remain vigilant.

Conservation News:

A cheetah walks through tall grass.
A wild cheetah walks through African grassland. Photo Source: Unsplash

 

  • Deforestation forcing Ugandan wildlife to consume disease-ridden bat guano to survive. According to researchers, tobacco farming has led to significant selective deforestation in Budongo Forest, Uganda. This environmental impact has compelled animals such as chimpanzees, antelopes, and monkeys to resort to bat guano as a food source. However, bat guano serves as a significant reservoir for zoonotic viruses, prompting concerns about the potential spread of additional diseases from wildlife to humans.

 

  • “Boksburg Tigers” rescued and released to big cat sanctuary. For more than two years, the tigers endured substandard conditions at a residential property in Boksburg until their rescue by the NSPCA and Boksburg SPCA. They have since been relocated to the Isindile Big Cat and Predator Sanctuary in Fouriesburg, Free State.

 

Discover Africa’s Travel Experts are on the pulse of travel news and tourism trends across Africa. Get in touch to start planning your Safari bucket list adventure today. 

Norse Atlantic Adds New Direct Flight to Cape Town

UK travellers now have more direct routes to Cape Town to choose from, with the launch of the Norse Atlantic Airways flight between Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW).

The service will operate seasonally with three weekly flights, starting on 28 October. The flight will arrive in Cape Town at 09:30 (SAST) on a Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday before departing for London Gatwick (LGW) at 11:45 (SAST). Norse Atlantic Airways will operate the service on a Boeing 787-9. 

UPDATED: New Flight Routes Improving Access to Top Destinations

The United Kingdom is Cape Town’s top international source market, followed by the United States and Germany. In 2023, two-way passenger traffic from the UK grew by 54% compared to 2022, with more than 360,000 passengers flying between the two destinations.

Cape Town is one of the world’s most sought-after destinations, drawing tourists with attractions such as Table Mountain, Robben Island, and the Cape Winelands.  The new direct flight route further extends the appeal of visiting Cape Town as part of a Southern African bucket list safari. Get in touch with a Discover Africa travel expert to find out more. 

Travel News Digest, 19 April: SA Airports Celebrated, Rhino Poaching Concerns, Cape Town ‘Big Six’ Appeal

This week’s latest travel news includes updates on two of South Africa’s airports winning Skytrax accolades and the latest rhino poaching figures. Meanwhile, Airlink and South African Airways continued to battle in court. Read about these stories and more as we wrap up the previous week’s travel news:

Airline and Aviation News:

An aeroplane at an airport for the Africa travel news digest.
An aeroplane at OR Tambo International Airport. Photo Source: Unsplash
  • Judge rules in Airlink case against SAA and former employee. Airlink alleged that a former staffer defected to the national airline, divulging confidential trade secrets along the way. The Johannesburg High Court has now ruled that SAA is obligated to purge any trace of Airlink’s intellectual property from its records and to not use it in any form going forward.

 

 

Travel and Destination News:

An aerial view of Cape Town.
An aerial view over Cape Town, South Africa. Photo Source: Unsplash

 

  • City of Cape Town introduces “Six Pillar Content Partnership Programme”. The objective is to place Capetonians “at the heart” of destination narratives. The initiative seeks to elevate Cape Town’s international visibility and allure and features esteemed partners known as the “Cape Town Big Six,” including the V&A Waterfront, Groot Constantia, Robben Island Museum, Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, Cape Point, and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.

 

  • SANParks reopens Wilderness Ebb-and-Flow Rest Camp after flooding. Extensive flooding caused by rain last week, shut the camp. Conditions have since cleared and several attractions in the Garden Route National Park remain inaccessible, including the Half Collared Kingfisher Trail, Gallinule Bird Hide, Brown Hooded Kingfisher Trail, Waterside Boardwalk, Woodville Big Tree, Outeniqua Hiking Trail, and Outeniqua canoeing.

Conservation News:

A wild tortoise in Langebaan.
A wild tortoise moves through the bush in the Western Cape. Photo Source: Unsplash
  • South African reptile species under threat, but better off than elsewhere. A collective of South African herpetologists has expressed concern over the heightened risk of extinction faced by indigenous species such as tortoises, chameleons, and vipers. They emphasize the urgency of implementing enhanced protection measures. Despite these challenges, they acknowledge that South Africa’s reptile population benefits from comparatively robust conservation efforts.

 

  • Rhino poaching in South Africa increased by 10.3% in 2023. Some 406 rhinos were killed on state land in 2023, with a further 93 killed on private land. South Africa is home to almost half of Africa’s critically endangered black rhinos and the largest population of near-threatened white rhinos in the world.

 

  • CapeNature reports back on Cape mountain zebra genetic rescue project. According to the organization, a male Cape mountain zebra named GB42 successfully sired a foal in January with genetic material from two of the three genetically distinct stocks. This was followed by another foal born in March, incorporating genes from all three stocks. The project’s objective is to reintroduce lost genetic diversity among Cape mountain zebras by amalgamating genetic stocks that had been artificially isolated from each other decades ago.

 

Discover Africa’s Travel Experts are on the pulse of travel and tourism trends across Africa. Get in touch to start planning your Safari bucket list adventure today. 

FastJet Adds Surcharge to Vic Falls Route

Fastjet flights between South Africa’s OR Tambo International in Johannesburg and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe will be slightly more expensive from May. The route is a popular part of the Southern Africa safari circuit.

The airline announced on Wednesday that it would be charging R250 per leg, effective 22 April. This increase will apply to travel from 1 May to 31 December. It’s crucial to note that all pending bookings in the system must be ticketed by 21 April to avoid the charge.

UPDATED: New Flight Routes Improving Access to Top Destinations

The surcharges will be incorporated into the total IT fare, said Fastjet.

Route Fare Per Person:

  • JNB – VFA R4,300*
  • VFA – JNB R4,750*

Dollar exchange rate fluctuations and rising fuel costs, further exacerbated by the Middle East conflict, have pressured the airline to increase its prices. 

“Due to a significant change in the overall cost base over the last couple of years, with the Rand/Dollar relationship having shifted significantly and the price of aviation fuel having increased dramatically in this period, Fastjet, unfortunately, needs to impose a surcharge of R250 per leg, per person for travel from 1 May 2024 on JNB VFA and VFA JNB legs,” the airline stated.

‘Amazing Zimbabwe’

Whether the increase will impact the airline’s recent campaign,’ Amazing Zimbabwe’ to promote Zimbabwe’s hidden gems remains to be seen.

The campaign is centred on showcasing Zimbabwe’s “natural beauty, vibrant culture, and rich heritage through four pillars synonymous with Zimbabwe’s Rich Traditions, Splendid Heritage, Iconic Sites, and Great People,” Fastjet spokesperson Nunurai Ndawana previously stated. 

*Flight estimates shared at the time of publishing. 

WTM Africa 2024: Increased Global Interest and Sustainable Tourism Focus

Africa’s travel and tourism sectors were on full display at the 2024 Africa Travel Week, which included the 10th edition of World Travel Market Africa (WTM Africa). The event has seen a 53% boost this year compared to 2023.

The event organisers said that 88 countries were represented at the conference. This included 12 first-time participants Greece, Iran, Switzerland, Lithuania, Tunisia, Benin, Philippines, Singapore, New Zealand, Japan, Colombia, and Peru.

Collective Africa Tourism Effort

South Africa’s Tourism Minister Patricia De Lille, during a streamed opening address, highlighted the need to take “collective measures” to grow tourism to the continent.

These included focusing on “safety, sustainability, and expanding tourism beyond well-known destinations to include the hidden gems of lesser-known towns and villages across the continent.”

Africa Travel Week includes shows like the Tourism Investment Forum Africa (TIFA), WTM Africa, and Equal Africa. The show also features seven networking events and the support of 53 partners, demonstrating the collaborative spirit that drives ATW.

Focus on Meaningful Impact

Discover Africa’s head of product, Murielle Vegezzi, stated, “We have had very productive meetings with suppliers, either based in Cape Town or from other regions, that we will not be seeing at Indaba.” 

Vegezzi noted a marked trend of “connecting socially & environmentally conscious buyers & suppliers throughout the African tourism supply chain for more meaningful impact,” as shared by the African Travel and Tourism Association. 

Vegezzi said Discover Africa would place considerable emphasis on partnering with the best operators who ascribe to environmentally conscious best practices through valid registration for the sectors they work in and proven track records.