The dreaded 15% Value Added Tax on payments for accommodation and tourism services by foreign visitors to Zimbabwe will become a reality from January 2015. This was announced during the African Sun breakfast in the presence of tourism minister, Walter Mzembi at Indaba this year. 
Dr Shingi Munyeza, African Sun ceo, said it was good news that a position was reached on the implementation date, as now the tourism industry could plan for it accordingly. He added that members of the trade recognised that it was unsustainable for the country to not implement VAT.


However, Shingi said he would continue to appeal to finance minister, Patrick Chinamasa, to further extend the VAT deadline to give the tourism industry more time to recover from the financial crisis. 
Emmanuel Fundira, group ce at Astoc Leisure Group, agreed that talks with the government were ongoing about the best timeframe for the implementation of the tax. He said an option of a more gradual implementation of the tax was being discussed. 


Earlier this year, Francis Ngwenya, Zimbabwe Council for Tourism president, said a 15% increase on prices would be extremely disruptive and detrimental to the industry, and would almost certainly stop growth in its tracks. Francis explained in a letter to the minister of tourism that the Zimbabwe industry was still very fragile and needed a minimum of five years to recover.  

Source: e-Travel News Weekly

Source: Southern Africa Tourism Update: 07 Fri, Mar 2014

Heavy rains in and around the southern part of the Kruger National Park have led to logistical challenges, such as road and camp closures.

Talamati, Biyamiti, Shimuwini, Bateleur and Sirheni Bush Camps have been closed for the time being as they have become inaccessible due to the heavy  rain. Ike Phaahla, Media Specialist for SANParks, told Tourism Update that 
visitors who were overnighting in these camps have been evacuated to other camps within the park. Travellers holding existing reservations for these camps are requested to contact reservations on 012 428 9111 to make alternative  arrangements.

The Wolhuter, Bushman and Sweni trails are also all closed due to the rain. Guests booked at these Wilderness trails are advised to contact Hester van den Berg on 012 426 5117 / hesther.vandenberg@sanparks.org for changes to bookings.


All gravel roads in the south of the park as well as the Crocodile Bridge have been closed to the public. Skukuza and Lower Sabie are only accessible through Phabeni and Kruger Gate or from the north of the park. Pretoriuskop is only accessible from Numbi Gate.

Private game lodges in the greater Kruger Park area have also been affected by the heavy rains. Dale Jackson, Manager of Tanda Tula Safari Camp in the Timbavati, says the heavy rains have made the river almost impassable, which has led to ‘logistical adventures’ to get clients in and out of the camp. However, game drives took place without problems today, with guests still going out on game walks this morning. Jackson fears, however, that if the rain persists, the lodge will become completely  inaccessible. 

Other camps report not having problems as yet. Kings Camp in the Timbavati told Tourism Update that it had been spared from flooding problems so far as the camp is not situated close to the river. 

Lion Sands Game Reserve in Sabi Sand has also been unaffected so far. Ronnie Barrageiro, GM Lion Sands, said the only measures the lodge had taken was to escort guests to and from the lodge to make sure they were safe when travelling on the sand roads in the rain.

by Sandy Fowler - Orient Express

JANUARY  – THE BUSH IS VERY ALIVE 
January is the middle of the rainy season with spectacular afternoon thunderstorms. Daytime temperatures are warm, averaging 86F. Night time’s averages are 68F.
 · Peak breeding time for many of the  colourful migrant bird species
 · 2 Excellent wildflowers and brilliant green foliage 
·  Constant sounds day and night from insects and birds
·  Game viewing is average with active predators chasing the fast developing young of the their prey species
 · An ideal month for photography with brilliant colours and dramatic skies
 · The contrast between the predators’ natural winter camouflage and the vibrant summer colours stunning photos
 · More easily seen by their prey species, the predators have to work hard while the prey has a time of plenty.

FEBRUARY – THE OKAVANGO DELTA IS BRILLIANT, NOISY AND ALIVE 
The rains continue in the form of afternoon thunderstorms with dramatic skies and sounds. Daytime temperature can reach up to 104F but average around 86 F. The nights are also warm, averaging 68F. There can be both wet and dry spells during this month.
 · Ripe figs are eaten by many species including the fruit bats who make interesting night sounds while feeding
 · Water lilies are at their flowering peak
 · Colourful and noisy reed frogs are abundant
 · All plants are growing actively due to the rain
 · Butterflies, birds, frogs and all the small creature are at their most active and best
 · The giant bullfrog emerges from months and sometimes years of hibernation to indulge in nocturnal feeding frenzies
 · The resident game species do not have far to go for water and the young are almost as tall as the adults

MARCH – VISIT NOW AND SEE WHY THE VICTORIA FALLS ARE TRULY ONE OF THE 7 WONDERS OF THE
WORLD
Temperatures are still warm both day and night but the air is drier and rains less frequently
 · The mighty Zambezi River is in full spate
 · The Victoria Falls are incredible and as powerful as they can be
 · River rafting is often closed during this time
 · The Marula trees are fruiting which attracts bull elephants who wander from tree to tree in search of their favourite meals
 · The start of the rutting leads to the sleek and fat male impala snorting and cavorting to attract females

APRIL  – THE FIRST SIGNS OF THE CHANGING SEASON APPEAR
Night time temperature drop to below 68F on average but daytime temperature continue to rise up to 104F on some days
 · Cooler morning temperature with high relatively humidity lead to wonderful early morning misty magic especially over the waters
 · The impala rut is in full swing and the impala noise continues right through the night with major clashes between rival  males
 · Baboon are often seen with impala as they assist with the safety of the preoccupied impala
 · The trees have completed flowering and fruit is ripening over with massive sausages hanging from the Sausage Trees
 · The reptiles are actively breeding and feeding in anticipation of the dry about to start

MAY – FLOOD WATERS FROM ANGOLA START TO REACH THE TOP OF OKOVANGO DELTA AND BEGIN THEIR SLOW AND DELIBERATE PROGRESS THROUGH THE DELTA 
The rains are over and the nights are cooler with temperatures averaging 59F. Daytime temperatures remains warm but have lost their edge with maximum temperature seldom exceeding 95F. Jackets are advisable for night drives
 · The buffalo begin to group into large herds and visit more often as the seasonal pans begin to dry 
 · Breeding herds of elephant increases in density daily as they visit the permanent waters 
 · The green colours are starting to fade into the duller dry season colours 
 · The predators begin to enjoy themselves again as their colour to blend with their surroundings
 · The migratory birds begin their flights to winter feeding and breeding grounds in far away places
 
JUNE – AN EXCITING TIME 
Temperatures have dropped to their coldest by the end of the month with night temperature
reaching as low as 41F. It is very cold on early morning and night drives due to the wind chill. Daytime temperatures rise up to a very comfortable 77 F and dusty dry conditions begin to dominate.
 · The African Wild Dog begins to search for their den. Once they have denned these endangered animals are easy to view for 3 – 4 months as they operate from these dens. 
· Some green bushes and tree persist however, they are beginning to loose their leaves
· Animals now concentrate at the permanent water as do their predators 
· Pans are dying up everywhere 

JULY – MORE ANIMALS CONGREGATE NEAR THE WATER AND FLOODPLAINS MAKING IT A SPECIAL
TIME OF THE YEAR
 The nights are still cold but the days are marginally warmer and the weather becomes typical of Botswana – sunny and clear
· The floods arrive in the Okovango Delta and other areas after a slow path from the wet Angolan highlands thousands of kilometres away
· Water spreads into the areas where there was none the day before
· Mekoro and boat trips become more exciting as new place can now be accessed
· Soft early morning and evening light combine with dust to provide excellent photo opportunities

AUGUST – THERE IS PLENTY OF ACTION AROUND WITH PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE, THE REWARDS
ARE GREAT
The weather is warming, even at night, with daytime peaks average near 86F and night time averages rising to 50F
· The herds are getting larger 
· Limited space near the water leads to tension between the breeding herds of elephant
· The nights are filled with elephant sounds
· The bush is bare and dust pervades
· The herons, storks and other birds start to concentrate at the Godikwe heronry and begin nest building
· The floods have passed through the Delta and reach as far south as Maun

SEPTEMBER – THE CLIMATE HAS CHANGED AGAIN AND WINTER IS ALL BUT GONE
Nighttime’s temperatures rise rapidly within the month and by month’s end. The averages reach 59F with daytime temperatures soaring well into the 80’sF.
· The Sun shines, the skies are clear and it is really dry
· The elephant and buffalo concentrations are still great
· The predators are busy as the season takes it’s toll on the prey species – a time of plenty for the lions
· The colours explode as the carmine bee return from their winter grounds and other migrant birds begin to arrive
· The water levels have slowly started to drop as the waters from Angola have completed their trek
· The fish begin to get active again
· Some trees start to get 

OCTOBER – IT’S REALLY HOT, BUT NEVER WILL YOU EXPERIENCE GAME VIEWING LIKE THIS
Daytime temperatures rise regularly above 104F and nights are warm with averages in the high 60F 
· Morning game viewing activities begin very early and night drives depart later to avoid the heat of the day 
· There is no place for the animals to hide, everything is bare and the grasses are either eaten or trampled
· Night drives are the best 
· The pervading dust makes all scenes dramatic
· Predator chases erupt into clouds of dust as the eternal game of eaten plays out daily in the wide open plains
· There are fishing frenzies with the annual catfish run in the rivers
· The Godikwe heronry is in full activity with thousands of birds breeding and nesting 

NOVEMBER – A WONDERFUL TIME FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS AS THERE IS EXCELLENT COLOUR, ACTION AND VISIBILITY 
· Temperature remain high both day and night 
· Game viewing continues to improve until the day of the first rains, normally around mid-November
· The animals all seek an end to the dryness and dust. Once the rain comes, they are relieved and disperse to eat on the new vegetation and drink from the seasonal pans that have formed
· The birthing season begins with Tsessebe, followed by Impala and Lenchwe
· The predators seek out the vulnerable young and kill many times a day to get their fill – plenty of action · Trees burst into life and short green grass begins to appear
· Excellent visibility

DECEMBER – THE PANS REMAIN FULL AND THE COLOURS SHINE IN BRILLIANT GREEN
The rains become more regular with thunderstorms every few days.
· The impala complete their lambing
· The Wildebeest start and complete their calving within a few weeks
· Protein rich grasses feed the mothers of the antelope while the lambs and calves grow at astounding speed
· While winter the grazers enjoy the green, tender mouthfuls, the predators are ever watching and stalking but their winter camouflage lets them down and they have to work harder for their catch
· The bush becomes denser providing more hiding places for the predators to stalk their prey from 
· All the migrant birds have returned.

Please take note of changes to payment methods for Visas at Zambian  Airports. The Zambian Ministry of Finance and National Planning has announced  that, for ease of payments for visas, these payments may now be done via  bankcards at the following Zambian  airports:-
 * Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka
 * Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in LVI
 * Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola
 

The following bank cards will be accepted:-
*  VISA
*  MasterCard
*  Maestro and 
*  American Express
 
The system is operational, but Airport Authorities have advised that, should there be any network issues
that affect the systems, passengers will be permitted to go to the nearest ATM and draw the required cash in local currency.

About World Design Capital 2014
 
Cape Town’s bid  to be World Design Capital 2014 forms part of a broader vision to transform Cape  Town, through design, into a sustainable, productive African city, bridging  historic divides and building social and economic inclusion.

 Cape Town was designated World Design Capital 2014 at the International  Design Alliance (IDA) Congress in October 2011 in Taipei. This prestigious designation is bestowed biennially by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID). World Design Capitals recognise the value of design thinking, and are dedicated to using design as tool for social, cultural and economic development. Previous winners have been Helsinki, Seoul and Turin, and Cape Town won the 2014 bid against fierce competition from rival shortlisted cities, Bilbao and Dublin.

 Winning the bid means that Cape Town gets to play host to a number of World Design Capital Signature Events during 2014, including an International Design House Exhibition, International Design Policy Conference and an International Design Gala, to name a few. This is good news for Cape Town, not just in terms of a boost in visitor numbers, but also because there will be loads of opportunities for our creative communities to get involved as exhibitors, speakers, delegates, partners and suppliers. Not to mention a myriad of inspiring events for all citizens to experience.

 Importantly, World Design Capital means that local initiatives will get the  benefit of the global spotlight during 2014. Think more media, more exposure and many great networking possibilities.

Air Mauritius will introduce a new flight schedule for Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban from 27 June 2014.
 
The new schedule for Johannesburg offers travellers more time in Mauritius,  competing with SAA’s favourable schedule.
 
Flights will depart OR Tambo International Airport at 09h40 on Saturdays and Sundays, arriving in Mauritius at 15h40 Return flights depart Mauritius at 17h00 on Fridays and Saturdays, arriving in Johannesburg at 19h35.
 
From June, Air Mauritius' Cape Town flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at modulated times. Durban flights will operate on Mondays and Fridays at the same times as they currently do.
 
Carla da Silva, Air Mauritius regional manager for Southern Africa and Latin America, said provided all
flights across South Africa were supported, irrespective of the new schedule, the airline would be able to continue discussions around the prospects of a daily schedule from Cape Town and Durban. Air Mauritius already flies daily from Johannesburg.

South Africa, Cape Town; ONE&ONLY CAPE TOWN guests can   obtain a peek of some of the city’s  emerging talent at the latest  Lalela Project summer exhibition “A Year in Design Innovation and the Arts”.

With one of its newest projects recently recognised by the New York Times as a must visit while in Cape Town, Lalela Project provides year-round,  community-based arts education workshops to youth in the Western Cape who are  affected by extreme poverty, so as to spark creative thinking and awaken the  entrepreneurial spirit.  During the vulnerable after school and holiday periods, Lalela Project uses the power of the arts to help youth navigate a  clear path that is often cluttered with the hazards of extreme poverty,  including gang violence, HIV / AIDS, and physical and substance abuse. 
  
Through its Ideas, Art and Music (I AM) curriculum and its critical messaging component, Lalela Project engages and empowers youth in creative thinking and solutions, igniting imagination and teaching youth how to map and manifest their dreams and goals. Lalela Project believes that innovative and creative young people will contribute to social and economic development, launching a possibility of a different future for themselves and their communities.

As its patron, One&Only Cape Town has a close working relationship with  Lalela Project. A permanent exhibition space, devoted to various exhibitions and  work by Lalela Project, is situated on the Mezzanine Level above the hotel  lobby. Open for viewing at any time by the public and hotel guests, the gallery  features an ever-changing array of work and installations by Lalela Project  students.

The latest exhibition to feature in the space is A Year in Design, Innovation  and the Arts. Launched in December, the exhibition features a wide spectrum of  art and experiences created by Lalela Project students ages 5 to 19, from the Art of Jazz, which involved a collaboration with the Cape Town International  Jazz Festival, to the Art of the Colours of My Flag, where the children explore South Africa's diversity by drawing from the colours of the national flag, and to the Art of Part of Me, which entailed students creating self-portraits inspired by the wisdom of Nelson Mandela. The unique pieces from the Art of Part of Me were also exhibited in the gallery on Mandela Day as part of a larger  tribute to Nelson Mandela, creating a mindful connection to Madiba which asks the important question ‘How will we personally help carry on his work?'

On viewing the exhibition there is no denying the talent that Lalela Project  has helped harness for many children. “It’s impossible not to be moved by the sheer emotion of some of the works as well as the artistic talent and brave ‘heart’ work our children display through their art," says Oliver Nurock, of  Lalela Project.

 Thanks to its role as World Design Capital 2014, there is no doubt that the eyes of the world are on Cape Town. It goes without saying then that its artists and creative innovators are amongst the city’s most important ambassadors, and thanks to programmes like Lalela Project, the diversity of the city is being  shown to beautiful effect by its future leaders and adult citizens.

Source: Travel People

For more information on the One&Only or the Lalela Project please contact us: reservations@aiafricatravel.co.za

Kenya Airways has advised that travellers should allow an additional hour for check-in at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
 
This is as a result of increased security measures implemented by the Kenya
Airports Authority. An additional perimeter check had been added to the airport security. 
Kenya Airways has not confirmed why security measures at the
  airport have been increased.


 

Dulini  Private Game Reserve - situated in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve - Mpumalanga recently achieved a 5 star lodge grading by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa. Dulini has been independent of &Beyond as a standalone, Sabi Sands luxury lodge since February 2013 and thus needed to be graded since becoming independent of the  &Beyond brand. It was with much excitement that owners Iain and Sue Garrett announced that they had achieved the top grading status, of 5 stars in the all-inclusive luxury lodge category from TGCSA.  Given the stellar nature of quintessential luxury that Dulini provides it came as no surprise. Congratulations Dulini!