The Latest African Safari News: Useful Africa Travel Updates (Your February 2024 Quick Look)

What's news from Africa? This month we have some exciting African safari news and travel updates for you.

Find new flights, places, events, visa requirements, and local developments with our quick round-up of Africa travel news. We're here to keep you posted so you can experience the best African safari on the best budget possible.

The latest safari news includes:

• Malawi makes travel easier with visa exemptions and more flights.
• SAA announces direct flights between South Africa and South America while FlyDubai makes accessing the Indian Ocean coast a lot simpler.
• In East Africa, UNESCO adds a heritage site, African Budget Safari opens up to Burundi, and updates an old favourite; Ngorongoro.
• In southern Africa there is an exciting new eco-lodge in Chobe, a new hope for white rhinos, South Africa adds another RAMSAR site, and we look at some African events and festivals coming up in the next few months.

Malawi Makes Visa-Free Travel Easier

Travel to Malawi just got easier! Malawi recently announced that 79 countries can now enter the country visa-free in a bid to eliminate travel headaches for visitors. This move capitalizes on Malawi's growing appeal as a complete tourist destination with stunning landscapes, beaches, friendly people, and wildlife offerings.

With visa barriers removed, travel to Malawi is now easier and cheaper, paving the way for a tourism boom to the "Warm Heart of Africa."

New Flights to Malawi from Johannesburg

In other news, regional airline, Airlink, has introduced 3 weekly flights from Johannesburg to each of Malawi’s main centres, Lilongwe and Blantyre.

The capital city, Lilongwe, in central Malawi is the gateway to its famous lake. Lake Malawi is one of Africa’s largest Rift Valley lakes and is home to more fish species than any other lake on Earth, making it a unique beach, snorkelling and dive destination. Blantyre, Malawi's second-largest city, boasts colonial architecture and proximity to Malawi’s southern Game Reserves and lofty tea estates in green rolling hills.

• Check out African Budget Safaris' exciting Malawi Safari Tours. 

New Direct Flight from Cape Town to Kruger

There is exciting news for safari enthusiasts in Cape Town. FlySafair, one of South Africa's biggest domestic carriers, launches a new flight route connecting the Mother City to the renowned Kruger National Park.

This new flight route is a direct result of surging tourism numbers, with international visits to Cape Town witnessing a remarkable 76% increase in the first half of 2023. The new flight, departing every Tuesday and Saturday at 09h00 from Cape Town, lands at Kruger Park around 11h30, with the return journey taking off from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport at 12h05, arriving back in Cape Town at approximately 14h50.

FlySafair's initiative not only enhances the travel experience for locals but also establishes a seamless connection between two of South Africa's most sought-after destinations Cape Town and Kruger National Park.

The new Cape Town to Kruger Route is set to take off from April 2, providing a convenient and accessible link between Cape Town and Kruger National Park.

• African Budget Safari Tours to Cape Town
• African Budget Safari Tours to Kruger National Park

Fly Direct from Southern Africa to South America

South African Airways (SAA) has reintroduced flights connecting Johannesburg and São Paulo in Brazil. The reinstatement of this route renews a crucial connection between South Africa and South America. The airline has resumed 2 weekly flights on the Johannesburg-São Paulo route, utilizing Airbus A330-300 for its service.

Direct flights to the Kenya coast

International travellers have more options for jetting directly to Kenya’s sun-kissed coastline. In January, Dubai-based low-cost airline, Flydubai, introduced 4 weekly flights from Dubai to Mombasa, Kenya, making it the first Emirati airline to operate direct flights from Dubai and the UAE to Mombasa’s Moi International Airport.

Visitors can enjoy easy access to and from the Kenya coastline’s pristine beaches and year-round warm weather that is ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports like windsurfing, snorkelling, and diving. Explore vibrant coral reefs teeming with colourful fish and witness majestic humpback whales during migration season. This is a perfect stopover to unwind before or after a Kenya Safari.

• Read African Budget Safaris, Kenya Safari Guide. 

New protection status for Rwanda rainforest gem, Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe National Park, one of Africa’s oldest rainforests located in Rwanda, has recently achieved UNESCO World Heritage status. This 1,019 square kilometre (400 square miles) park protects the largest block of montane forest in Central Africa, including intact forests, peat bogs, moors, thickets and grasslands.

Nyungwe contains habitats for several species found nowhere else on earth, including the rare Eastern Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii), Golden Monkey (Cercopithecus mitis ssp. kandti) and the critically endangered Hills Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hillorum).

This new Heritage status is a triumph for conservation in an area that has battled significant threats from poaching, illegal mining, unsustainable harvesting, and agricultural encroachment. African Parks have been actively working in collaboration with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), to restore and protect wildlife, engage with local communities, and improve tourism facilities to ensure the park's sustainability.

• Read our blog post about the incredible work done by African Parks. 

Nyungwe is yet another jewel in the crown of the beautiful ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’, as Rwanda is aptly known. It is truly a country with a wealth of stunning natural attractions where you can visit the mountain gorillas of Volcanos National Park, ride in the rainforest canopy, hike up dormant volcanoes and boat on beautiful lakes.

• View African Budget Safaris affordable Rwanda Safari Tours.

New Camp Alert: Ghoha Hills Savuti – a Chobe National Park Safari Ecolodge

Several of African Budget Safaris tours to the wildlife-rich Savuti area of Botswana’s Chobe National Park now have a new home. Ghoha Hills Savuti commands panoramic views from the granite Ghoha Hills in remote Savuti.

From the eleven luxurious tented suites guests can relax on private decks to enjoy unparalleled 180-degree views across the savannah and natural waterhole that lies at the base of the hill, attracting wildlife all year round. The main area of the lodge features an open dining area and various small lounges overlooking the waterhole. There is also a refreshing pool, gym, and spa. Ghoha Hills is an eco-lodge, that uses solar power for minimum impact on the environment.

To the southeast of the lodge, you will find legendary Savuti Marsh, a relic of an inland lake which is fed by the seasonal waters of the Savuti channel. With the dry and wet seasons come changes in the scenery and the great annual migration of zebras with lurking predators not far behind. Savuti is also known for its active lion population.

• Okavango Delta & Savuti Walking Safari in Botswana
• Budget Okavango Delta & Savuti Safari in Botswana
• Kalahari Bushman, Okavango Delta, & Savuti Safari 
• Kalahari Desert, Okavango Delta & Savuti Lodge Safari

New Destination Alert: Burundi – Heart of Africa

Burundi, a tiny heart-shaped country at the centre of the Great Africa Rift Valley, gained the nickname "Switzerland of Africa" for its verdant rolling hills, fertile valleys, and dramatic escarpments. Lose yourself in the emerald expanse of tea plantations and rainforests teeming with diverse flora and fauna. Bujumbura city lies on the Western border of the country and is also Burundi’s main port on vast Lake Tanganyika - the longest freshwater lake in the world, second largest by volume.

Beautiful Kibira National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, teems with an abundance of wildlife and over 200 bird species, including the sought-after Rwenzori blue turaco and the vibrant Narina trogon. Here you can go guided chimpanzee trekking and keep your eyes peeled for playful black and white colobus monkeys and the elusive golden monkey. Burundi also boasts a vibrant drumming culture that has been declared a UNESCO Intangible Heritage. The ritual Dance of the Royal Drum is a fascinating Burundian drumming tradition that combines synchronized drumming with dancing and traditional songs.

For a taste of Burundi, check out our new 20-Day Rwanda, Burundi & Uganda Safari.

New African Safari Guides on ABS – Ngorongoro Crater

If you haven’t yet visited Ngorongoro Crater - one of the highlights of Tanzania’s popular Northern Safari Circuit - you are missing out! Ngorongoro Crater is a remarkable natural feature and UNESCO World Heritage Site – a 25-kilometre (15 miles) wide geological crater formed 3 million years ago when a massive Rift Valley volcano erupted and collapsed. What remains is a 610 meters (2,000 feet) deep crater covering an area of 260 square kilometres (100 square miles). The crater floor forms a natural amphitheatre that is home to an incredible variety and density of wildlife.

Check out our newly updated Ngorongoro Crater location guide to learn more about this truly unique African safari destination.

New Hope for Africa’s White Rhinos

There is some good news for the world’s remaining population of African White Rhinos, decimated by years of relentless poaching across the continent. In September 2023 relief came for the largest collection of rhinos in the world, which made global news as they faced an uncertain future. The farm where they had been successfully protected was put up for auction (with a starting price of US$10 million) but failed to attract bids.

The farm’s rhino breeding program was begun by businessman, John Hume, with 200 rhinos in 1992. It was such a success that by 2023 the population had increased to 2,000 rhinos, about 15% of what is left of the world’s white rhinos. Tragically, the running costs of the 8,000-hectare farm proved too much even for the former billionaire who exhausted his wealth on the project. Fortunately, African Parks stepped in to purchase the farm and will translocate the rhinos to a range of protected areas they manage across Africa. This rewilding project will rank among one of the largest ever undertaken.

• Read about this fascinating rhino conservation story.

World Wetlands: South Africa Gains its 30th Ramsar Site

De Berg Nature Reserve in South Africa’s Mpumalanga Province has recently been granted Ramsar status (a wetland site designated to be of international importance). South Africa is now the proud owner of 30 Ramsar sites under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an international environmental treaty signed in 1971 under the auspices of UNESCO.

De Berg Nature Reserve is close to the beautiful town of Dullstroom, which lies at the halfway mark of the route between Johannesburg and the Kruger National Park. De Berg peak, at 2,332 meters (7,650 feet) above sea level, is the highest point in the province and this high-altitude wetland complex holds the headwaters of the Dwars River in the Olifants River Basin which eventually forms the lifeblood of the Kruger National Park as it drains towards the Indian Ocean. The mountains are dotted with waterfalls and the area is popular for its trout fishing.

For more about visiting some of Africa's most amazing wetland areas, you can read this blog post, The Best African Wetlands, Lakes, and Estuaries.

Upcoming African Events

Joburg Film Festival – 27 February to 3 March 2024 (Johannesburg, South Africa)

Africa’s Premiere Film Festival is underway in Sandton, Johannesburg. This carefully curated festival showcases cinematic gems from over 30 countries - African and International - from thought-provoking documentaries to gripping narratives celebrating the power of storytelling and the diversity of human experience.

Highlights of the 2024 Johannesburg Film Festival include:

• Mami Wata: a visually stunning award-winning black and white fantasy thriller co-produced between Nigeria, France and the United Kingdom
• Under the Hanging Tree: this Namibian film was a 2024 Oscars entry and tells the story of a troubled police officer as she battles to keep her small town from being ripped apart. Set in the stark desert landscape of the Kalahari Desert.
• Life Through His Lens: Sam Nzima: a tribute to the life of the renowned photojournalist Sam Nzima.
• Umkhonto Wesizwe – Mandela’s Secret Army: a documentary film that chronicles the lives of former uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) members who gave up their lives and any future to risk death for the dream of a free South Africa.

World Wildlife Day – 3 March 2024

World Wildlife Day is a global event to raise awareness about the diverse wild animals and plants on our planet and the urgency of their conservation. This year's theme, "Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation," highlights the potential of technology in protecting wildlife and fostering sustainable human-wildlife coexistence. Many countries curate special events and activities on this day.

Flame of Remembrance Lighting – 7 April 2024 (Kigali, Rwanda)

As Rwanda commemorates the 30th anniversary of the devastating Tutsi genocide, a solemn ceremony will be held at the Kigali Genocide Memorial on 7 April this year. The observance will see the lighting of a flame that will continue to burn throughout the year to symbolize the lives lost in that genocide.

The Kigali Genocide Memorial Museum in Kigali is a powerful place of remembrance and learning dedicated to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. It shows just how far the country has come in the past 30 years. It offers a moving experience for visitors and locals alike, promoting reconciliation and peace-building. Development of sustainable livelihoods, trauma healing and peace education of the kind pioneered at the Kigali Genocide Memorial is a beacon of hope in these troubled times.

Two Oceans Marathon – 13th April 2024 (Cape Town, South Africa)

April sees one of the world’s most scenic marathons take place in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa. The Two Oceans Marathon attracts over 12,000 runners, putting them through their paces past some of Cape Town's most iconic landmarks. This scenic and challenging 56-kilometre (35-mile) ultramarathon or 21-kilometre (13-mile) half marathon takes runners along stunning coastal roads and is known for its incredible supporter spirit and festive atmosphere. This event is a popular fixture on the South African running calendar with its blend of athletic challenge and breathtaking surroundings.

Planning an African Safari

Talk to one of our experienced African safari experts today, and see how we can help you to make the safari trip of a lifetime come true.