With the launch of fastjet’s Friday flights on its route between Harare
and Victoria Falls, the airline is offering special fares starting from
R570 one way, inclusive of all relevant government taxes. Fastjet
advises passengers to book 21 days in advance of their intended
departure date to save by taking advantage of its lowest priced fares.
Tech set to revolutionise African travel
WHILE some
view Africa’s
infrastructure
challenges as a major
hurdle, others believe
these historical limitations
put the continent in
a unique position to
leapfrog over obsolete
forms of technology. This
is particularly true of the
travel industry, where a
number of innovations have
revolutionised the retail
sector.
Jannine Adams, senior
marketing manager
of Amadeus Southern
Africa, says as consumer
expectations grow, retail
travel companies have
had to innovate to include
more choice, frictionless
purchasing, inspirational
shopping and personalised
services.
Christy Tawii, research
analyst at Euromonitor
International, Africa, has
seen increasing penetration
of mobile and online.
She said online travel
continued to record doubledigit
growth. “The rising
penetration of mobile
devices is pushing players
to develop mobile apps
as well as develop mobile
responsive website to
capitalise on this trend.”
Indeed, mobile is showing
particularly rapid growth in
Africa, where it is becoming
the booking device of
choice.
“Mobile devices are
already shaping the market
today and their role as
a major disruptor in the
industry will continue to
grow,” says Jannine.
“Their portability
is modifying the way
customers interact with
the industry and are
driving demand for 24-hour
services during travel.”
The next major trends
for Africa, says Amadeus,
are big data and artificial
intelligence. “Today’s
processing power allows
for real-time analysis of
consumer preferences and
responses to consumer
requests. Virtual assistants
are already being integrated
into mobile devices and
messaging apps, directly
interacting with online
conservations between
friends and business
colleagues,” says Jannine.
“The growing sophistication
of assistants and virtual
reality will change
consumer behaviour and
shift greater power to those
players who control the
technology.
Aviation tech focuses on convenience and profitability
Nico Bezuidenhout,
ceo of fastjet, says in
Africa’s aviation industry,
technological innovation
is driven by two primary
factors. “Convenience
for customers along with
ease of doing business
with an airline; and,
on the other hand, the
commercial impetus
for a carrier.” He says
mobile access is key
and a growing proportion
of airlines are either
developing and releasing
apps, or alternatively,
optimising websites
in terms of deviceresponsive
accessibility.
Along with this, Nico says
distribution and product
innovation is key and
technology is allowing for
the increased efficiency
of these processes, as
well as production cost
optimisation across all
aspects of the supply
chain.
Sabre reveals ‘pain points’
A STUDY by Sabre has
revealed that air travel is still
inaccessible to the majority
of Africa’s citizens, but that
most pain points are within an
airline’s control to address.
Of the 7 000 people
surveyed in South Africa,
Kenya, Nigeria and Egypt, just
24%, or 1 600 people, had
travelled by air in the last two
years. Of all the countries,
South Africa showed the
lowest number at 13%.
The biggest pain points
preventing air travel happened
in the booking process – 34%
said the flights they wanted
often weren’t available, while
33% said fares tended to
change before they had a
chance to book; 22% said
the booking websites were
too confusing and 20% said
the websites tended to crash
before they could book.
In terms of the travel
experience, 27% felt checkin
processes took too long,
while 22% said they found the
process confusing, 21% said
it took too long to proceed
through the airport while 20%
said there wasn’t enough
entertainment on board the
aircraft.
Interestingly, ancillary
services were identified as
a big opportunity for both
airlines and agents. The study
found that African travellers
were currently spending an
average of $90 (R1 200) on
ancillary services, but that
potential spend was in the
region of $104 (R1 389).
Looking just at the results
from South Africa, average
spend was currently $87
(R1 162) on ancillaries, but
potential spend was $101
(R1 349). The kind of extras
they were most interested in
included inflight WiFi, on-board
food and beverages, inflight
entertainment and travel
insurance.
Top emerging leisure destinations
1 Morocco
Jo Goyen, global purpose
specialist of G Adventures,
says: “Morocco is affordable,
and blends the traditional
and the modern and, in
doing so, strikes the perfect
balance between the intensely
exotic and comfortingly
familiar.” She says in cities
like Fez, Marrakech and
Casablanca, travellers can
see the spice markets and
explore the old medina, while
the Atlas Mountains and
beach resorts are great for
photographers. “The mad
circus of Marrakech’s Djemaa
el-Fna square, packed with
incense, salesmen and snake
charmers, is bizarre and
entertaining!” Jo says agents
should be sure to check with
the Moroccan Consulate for
the latest entry requirements,
as these can change regularly
and without warning.
2 Botswana
Botswana’s wild tablelands,
verdant grasslands, arid salt
pans and mighty Kalahari
Desert make it prime safari
country, says Jo. “With
numerous parks and reserves,
a Botswana safari is a natural
choice for wildlife enthusiasts,”
she says.
“G Adventures offers travellers
the opportunity to experience
a wildlife safari, setting them
up with a camera, window
seat and instruction to take
incredible safari photos
for R1 807.” Jo says the
activity is suitable for both
beginners and experienced
photographers and is available
on G Adventures National
Geographic Journeys.
3 Tanzania migration
The Serengeti National Park
is popular because of its
impressive wildlife and unique
migration patterns. Jo says the
migration is on the bucket list
for many travellers. “The best
time to see the migration in
the Northern Serengeti is in
August and September.”
4 Namibia
“From vast desert landscapes
to the wild Skeleton Coast and
the game-rich Etosha National
Park, no feature falls short of
spectacular,” says Jo. “The
Namib is the world’s oldest
desert, stretching for hundreds
of kilometres in every
direction. It is the only desert
in Africa inhabited by elephant,
rhino, giraffe, and lion. Etosha
National Park is dominated by
an immense salt pan edged
by waterholes, guaranteeing
rewarding game viewing.”
5 Zimbabwe
Nico Bezuidenhout of fastjet,
says while Victoria Falls
has always been a major
leisure travel attraction,
the improvement in the
accessibility of the destination
is having a positive impact
on travel to the area. “A new
domestic terminal in Victoria
Falls has recently been
launched, and fastjet – which
previously operated three
weekly flights from Harare
on Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Sundays – added a Friday
flight on April 7 to provide
passengers with a convenient
‘weekend-away’ service.” Nico
adds that beyond Victoria
Falls, city breaks in Harare and
houseboating on Lake Kariba
are also affordable options for
South Africans.
6 Zanzibar
Aadil Esack, product and
marketing manager of XL Travel
Head Office, says Zanzibar is
one of Africa’s top destinations
for leisure travel. “We started
to see phenomenal growth a
few years back, but Zanzibar
has managed to sustain
this and has proved to be
a genuine alternative to the
‘usual’ Indian Ocean island
options.
Cruises International sails Sa waters
CRUISES International says
several luxury cruise lines
will be sailing in and out of
South African waters at the
end of this year and into
2018.
Crystal Cruises’ 13-day
Around the Cape of Good
Hope voyage from Mauritius
to Cape Town departs on
December 9 with deluxe
stateroom fares starting
from R55 425pps.
Crystal Cruises’ 16-day
South African round trip
from Cape Town departs
December 22 with deluxe
stateroom fares starting
from R76 430pps.
Oceania Cruises’ 21-day
Indian Ocean Jubilee from
Cape Town to Singapore
departs on December 21
with fares for an inside
cabin from R142 195pps.
Seabourn’s 36-night Africa
and the Indian Ocean
Exploration from Cape Town
to Singapore departs on
February 11 with ocean
suite fares starting from
R277 490pps.
Book it!
With the launch of fastjet’s Friday flights on its route between Harare
and Victoria Falls, the airline is offering special fares starting from
R570 one way, inclusive of all relevant government taxes. Fastjet
advises passengers to book 21 days in advance of their intended
departure date to save by taking advantage of its lowest priced fares.
New hotel developments
Sarovar Hotels and Resorts,
an Indian hotel chain, has
opened the 144-room
Lazizi Premiere Hotel in
Nairobi. The hotel is on
Airport South Road near
Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport. Facilities include
three conference rooms,
a swimming pool, spa and
gym. The property also has
a coffee shop, a bar and
café.
Marriott International
has opened the Four
Points by Sheraton Nairobi
Hurlingham, marking its
entry into Kenya. The hotel
is in an upmarket area
close to Nairobi city centre.
It features 96 rooms and
food and beverage options
include an all-day-dining
restaurant and a rooftop
restaurant with city views.
Other facilities include a
fitness centre, a rooftop
pool and 790sqm of
flexible meeting space. The
hotel features the brand’s
trademark elements such
as the signature Four Points
bed, free bottled water in
all rooms and free WiFi
throughout the property.
Mombasa Beach Hotel is
undergoing renovations at
a cost of Sh200m (R26m).
The hotel is owned by the
Kenyan government and is
under the management of
Kenya Safari Lodges and
Hotels. Work will include
the modernising of the 151
rooms and public areas,
including the bar on the
seafront. Eight conference
rooms will also be renovated
and equipped with modern
meeting facilities and new
furniture.
A new Park Inn by Radisson
has opened in Nairobi’s
Westlands, close to the
CBD and with convenient
access into and out of the
city. It is also close to the
local headquarters of the
UN and several international
businesses. The hotel
features 140 rooms and
the food and beverage
offering includes the LiveInn
Restaurant and Bar, as
well as The Attic Rooftop
Bar. There are five meetings
rooms and an event terrace,
as well as a gym and WiFi
throughout the hotel.
Keeping travellers safe in Kenya
FOLLOWING Kenyan
President, Uhuru
Kenyatta’s warning against
violence and chaotic
incidents in the country
ahead of the country’s
general election on August
8, the safety of travellers
to the region has caused
concern among travellers.
In recent months, leading
up to the president’s
statement, a few minor
politically related violent
incidents have occurred
with no fatalities reported.
Consequently, International
SOS and Control Risks
has provided insight into
the risks on the ground as
well as some advice for
travellers.
Kenya has been rated
by International SOS
and Control Risks as a
medium-risk country for
travel, with urban areas
such as Nairobi and
Mombasa as well as
low-income areas and
regions bordering Ethiopia,
Somalia and South Sudan
rated high risk.
As Nairobi and Mombasa
are business hubs for
corporate travellers, it is
essential that proper risk
management procedures
are in place, says Henning
Snyman, International
SOS and Control Risks
co-ordinating security
operations manager.
“To ensure the safety of
travellers, travel and safety
managers should select
accommodation in more
secure areas, have proper
security and escalation
procedures in place, have
up-to-date security plans
and ensure that personnel
travelling to Kenya are
briefed,” says Henning.
“Communication during
the trip, and making sure
that travellers are aware of
the situation on the ground
are extremely important,”
he adds.
“For instance, travellers
should avoid protests,
political party gatherings
and government buildings
in the run-up to and during
the elections.”
Travel may not be
high risk currently, but
violence could break out
or escalate. “If this does
happen, corporates should
postpone all non-essential
travel to Kenya until after
the elections or once the
threat is eliminated.
“Ultimately, though, I do
not believe business and
leisure travellers will be
affected by the unrest as
Kenya’s economy is highly
reliant on tourism.” He
added that in the previous
two elections (2007 and
2013), business travellers
were not directly targeted
during the violent outburst
that occurred.
Take note!
There has been some confusion caused by a post on TAAG-Angola
Airlines’ website regarding yellow fever vaccinations. The airline has
confirmed that passengers from South Africa do not require a yellow
fever vaccination certificate if they are transiting in Luanda for less
than 12 hours. Passengers will, however, require the certificate if they
are travelling to or from an infected area, or if they are staying in
Luanda for more than 12 hours. Rupert Greyling, the airline’s station
manager at Cape Town International Airport said: “South Africans
flying to countries where there is yellow fever, such as Brazil, will need
a vaccination certificate, but those travelling to non-infected countries
do not – unless they are in transit in Luanda for more than 12 hours,
in which case the certificate is required.
Making Botswana affordable for South Africans
MANY people assume
Botswana is a high-cost
destination but there are
plenty of ways to enjoy it
on a budget, says Harriet
Floyd, sales and marketing
executive of Sense Of Africa
Botswana.
Mobile safaris and selfdrive
itineraries are some
options that help keep
the costs down. “Mobile
safaris are very popular,
either on a very affordable
‘participation’ basis, where
clients are required to
assist with camp duties,
or on a ‘served’ basis,
where a full back-up team
prepare the camp.” Harriet
adds that there is no better
way to experience the
wilderness of Botswana
than by camping in
unfenced sites.
Storm Napier, Southern
Africa sales manager of
Footsteps in Africa, also
recommends mobile
safaris. “This is a great way
to experience Botswana ‘on
the ground’ with glamping
the order of the day and
even en-suite bathrooms.
With no set departures,
it offers flexibility for the
clients and a completely
private experience with only
a minimum of two guests
and a good price point.”
This option allows guests
to take in highlights
including Nxai Pan, the
Makgadikgadi Pans and
Chobe National Park.
Self-drive safaris
For those without their
own 4x4s or camping
equipment, Chris
Anagnostellis, director
of An African Anthology,
recommends that guests
hire a kitted-out 4x4 from
an operator like Bushlore,
allowing them to self-drive
much of the destination.
Harriet also recommends
self-drive as an affordable
option, giving guests
flexibility. “Self-driving
allows you to travel at your
own pace, witnessing the
change in landscape as you
drive between locations.”
Budget-friendly stays
Botswana is not without
affordable accommodation
options. Adjacent to Chobe
National Park, aha Chobe
Marina Lodge offers views
across the Chobe River,
which runs through the
park. Activities on offer for
guests include game drives
and boat cruises.
Nearby, Chris says Kasane
offers plenty of affordable
options and is roughly 15
minutes from Chobe. He
adds that the town has
plenty of accommodation
options, ranging from
backpacker to five-star,
surrounding the park.
Likewise, he says the
town of Maun offers
many guesthouses and
backpackers. He suggests
Maun as an accessible
base from where day trips
by boat or vehicle into
Moremi Khwai area can
be booked. “For affordable
lodging in Botswana, we
recommend the likes of
Hyena Pan Tented Camp –
offering an authentic safari
experience in the heart of
the Khwai Concession,”
says Harriet. In Chobe,
she recommends Bakwena
Lodge, a small, personal
lodge situated on the Chobe
riverfront.
In the Delta, Harriet
recommends Moremi
Crossing, while Janine
Potgieter, senior
contracting executive
of Tourvest Destination
Management, recommends
Nxamaseri. “Nxamaseri is
in the Shakawe area and
is a well-established lodge.
It has been there for years
and is quite affordable.
Minor plans 50 hotels in Africa
MINOR Hotels sees
further growth potential in
Africa, with a target of 50
hotels on the continent in
the next five years, says
Sir Richard Hawkins,
regional director Hotel
Operations Africa of Minor
Hotels.
The multibillion-rand
plan will treble the
group’s current footprint
with high-end hotels
planned for Cape Town
and Johannesburg; Lagos
and Abuja in Nigeria;
and Ndola in Zambia.
The group’s tactic is to
negotiate management
deals with hotels of 150
bedrooms or so, with
the possibility of taking
equity at a later point.
No fixed budget has been
allocated, but with each
management deal likely
to cost about R225m, the
potential investment is
in excess of R11bn.
Minor Hotels is keen
to establish a presence
in South Africa through
business hotels in
Johannesburg, business
and leisure hotels in Cape
Town, and leisure hotels
in the Western Cape.
Three of the group’s
brands are currently
present on the continent
– Anantara, AVANI and
Elewana Collection. The
boutique PER AQUUM
brand will make its
first appearance in the
region in 2017, when the
luxury hotel Essque Zalu
Zanzibar on the northeast
coast is rebranded.
In North Africa, two
new Anantara resorts
are under development
– Anantara Al Houara
Tangier Resort in Morocco
and the Anantara Tozeur
Resort in Tunisia.
Book it!
Thompsons Holidays is offering a three-night stay at White Pearl
Resorts in Mozambique from R30 019pps. The rate includes return
flights from Johannesburg to Maputo (taxes incl.), return helicopter
transfers from Maputo to White Pearl Resorts in Zitundo, three nights’
accommodation with breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, as well as soft
drinks and bottled water. The offer is valid until December 15.
Did you know?
Air Shakawe is offering scenic flights in Gaborone, Botswana, in its
five-seat Cessna 206. Flights vary from 15 minutes to a maximum of
three hours. George Teessen, gm of Air Shakawe, says: “We have a
beautiful air charter operation in Maun and we would like to establish
the same kind of operation in Gaborone.”
Book it!
Kulula holidays is offering a Livingstone package from R5 250pps.
The rate includes two nights’ accommodation at the Protea Hotel
by Marriott Livingstone with breakfast daily, return flights from
Johannesburg to Livingstone (taxes incl.) and return airport-hotel
transfers. The offer is valid until August 31.
