World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards opens entries for 2026 programme
(Posted 12th August 2026) The World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards has opened entries for its 2026 programme. Individuals and organisations across the globe that are accelerating change and making a significant contribution to sustainable travel and tourism are invited to enter. The 2026 programme has been designed to be more accessible, more rigorous and […]
Kruger elephant deaths: The question SANParks still hasn’t answered
(Posted 12th August 2026) Courtesy of African Elephant News Adama Cruise, Daily Maverick (South Africa), August 5, 2026 The debate surrounding 951 elephant deaths in the Kruger National Park has largely become a discussion about conservation science. It should instead be a discussion about public accountability, the ethical limits of state authority over […]
Conservationist urges FirstBank to adopt rescued baby elephant in Edo
(Posted 12th August 2026) Courtesy of African Elephant News Enviro News Nigeria (Nigeria), August 10, 2026 A wildlife veterinarian and conservationist, Dr. Mark Ofua, has called on FirstBank of Nigeria to adopt a baby elephant Agbaibor, rescued within the boundaries of Okomu national park, Edo State, citing the bank’s long-standing association with the […]
Encroachment, climate change threaten Samburu’s iconic wildlife
(Posted 12th August 2026) Courtesy of African Elephant News George Kebaso, The Standard (Kenya), August 10, 2026 For decades, sightings of elands, lesser kudus and African wild dogs made Samburu National Reserve one of Kenya’s premier wildlife destinations. Alongside elephants, Grevy’s zebras and other iconic species, these animals helped define the reserve’s unique […]
AeroTrail Africa | Infrastructure & Finance Trail — Week 31, 2026
(Posted 12th August 2026) Courtesy of Mr. Alex Koech and AeroTrail Limited Africa’s aviation infrastructure landscape continues to evolve, with governments, airlines and private-sector investors advancing projects aimed at expanding capacity, improving connectivity and developing new gateways. Our Week 31 Infrastructure & Finance Trail highlights major investments, strategic repositioning and emerging […]
Amboseli elephant deaths expose Kenya’s pesticide crisis, conservationists warn
(Posted 12th August 2026) Courtesy of African Elephant News George Odiwuor, Daily Nation (Kenya), August 10, 2026 A Kenyan conservation organisation has called for an independent investigation and urgent regulatory reform after 15 elephants died recently at Amboseli National Park from ingesting cyanide-laced pesticides sprayed on nearby tomato farms. The Kenya Wildlife Service […]
TravelComments.com – Lilongwe to Johannesburg Flights: Malawi Airlines adds new direct service
(Posted 12th August 2026) Travellers looking for Lilongwe to Johannesburg flights will have another option from 24 August 2026, when Malawi Airlines introduces an additional direct service between Malawi and South Africa…. READ MORE
Meet the Leaders Advancing the ATFM Conversation
(Posted 12th August 2026) Meet the Leaders Advancing the ATFM Conversation! As air traffic flow management moves toward becoming an operational necessity by November 2030, ICAO Air Navigation World (ANW) 2026 – Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) will bring together international aviation leaders, regulators, and industry experts at ICAO Headquarters in Montréal from 5–9 October 2026. Through […]
TravelComments.com – Etosha National Park in September 2026: Wildlife, weather & travel tips
(Posted 12th August 2026) September is one of the best months to visit Etosha National Park. The dry season is reaching its peak, vegetation is sparse and wildlife remains concentrated around the park’s permanent waterholes. The main difference from August is the heat: days become noticeably warmer, while early mornings and evenings are […]
China Ready® Workshop to Return to WTM Africa 2027
(Posted 12th August 2026) China Ready® Workshop to Return to WTM Africa 2027 The China Ready® Workshop will return to WTM Africa 2027, offering African tourism stakeholders the opportunity to gain the practical knowledge and market intelligence needed to tap into one of the world’s largest outbound travel markets. Presented by Marcus Lee, […]
IHG publishes Half Year results for the six months to 30th of June 2026
(Posted 12th August 2026) Strong performance with operating profit from reportable segments1 +10% and Adjusted EPS1 +13%; record development activity, with openings and signings both up +8% on an organic basis; on track to return $1.2bn+ to shareholders; compelling long-term growth drivers 6 months ended 30 June 2026 2025 % change Underlying1 % change […]
TravelComments.com – Addo Elephant National Park hiking trails closed after heavy rain
(Posted 11th August 2026) Travellers planning to explore the Addo Elephant National Park hiking trails should be aware that the hiking trails in the park’s Zuurberg section are closed until further notice following heavy rainfall in the area…. READ MORE
What happens to elephants that stray from Kruger Park? South African policy needs a rewrite
(Posted 11th August 2026) Courtesy of African Elephant Neww The Conversation (Australia), August 6, 2026 When an elephant wandered out of South Africa’s Kruger National Park into the nearby village of Matsulu on 10 February 2024, hundreds of people gathered around and chased it. Wildlife officials tried to return the elephant to the […]
Nigeria’s remaining 400 elephants face fight for survival — Conservationists
(Posted 11th August 2026) Courtesy of African Elephant News Punch (Nigeria), August 9, 2026 Nigeria has only about 400 elephants left in the wild, with conservationists warning that habitat loss, illegal ivory trade and human-wildlife conflict are threatening the survival of the species. The conservationists disclosed this at a media engagement organised by […]
Kenyan farmers dispute cyanide poisoning claim in deaths of 15 elephants
(Posted 11th August 2026) Courtesy of African Elephant News TRT World (Turkey), August 7, 2026 The carcass of one elephant lies on a dusty road, while another has been almost completely eaten by scavengers, leaving just the skull. They are among 15 elephants that are said to have died of suspected cyanide poisoning […]
AeroTrail Africa | Busiest Airports in Africa by Airline Seats
(Posted 11th August 2026) Courtesy of AeroTrail Limited and Mr. Alex Koech Cairo International Airport (CAI) maintained its position as Africa’s busiest airport by scheduled airline seat capacity in July 2026, with an estimated 3.34 million seats tracked by AeroTrail. Addis Ababa Bole (ADD/HAAB) ranked second with approximately 2.29 million seats, […]
TravelComments.com – Okavango Delta in September: Weather, wildlife & safari guide
(Posted 11th August 2026) September is another excellent month to visit Botswana’s Okavango Delta. The annual floodwaters from Angola are still present across much of the Delta, although water levels are beginning to recede in some areas. At the same time, the dry season is intensifying, vegetation is thinning and wildlife is becoming increasingly concentrated […]
More than 2,600 African students graduate from Boeing and FASESA space programme
(Posted 11th August 2026) More than 2,600 students from Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa have graduated from the 2026 Pathways to Space programme, delivered by Boeing and the Future African Space Explorers STEM Academy (FASESA). The five-month programme reached: 1,313 students in South Africa 832 students in Ethiopia 431 students in Nigeria […]
TravelComments.com – West Coast National Park Wildflower Season 2026: Postberg is now open
(Posted 11th August 2026) The 2026 wildflower season is now underway at West Coast National Park, one of South Africa’s most spectacular destinations for seeing the annual spring flower display. The park’s famous Postberg section opened on 01 August 2026 and will remain accessible to visitors until 30 September 2026…. READ MORE
Radisson Hotel Group Launches Global Long-Stay Solution
(Posted 11th August 2026) The new proposition positions Radisson Hotel Group at the forefront of one of the hospitality industry’s fastest-growing segments, offering a dedicated B2B solution for long-stay bookings through corporate and partner channels, with a focus on simplified booking, structured pricing, and consistent guest experience The Radisson Hotel Grouptoday […]
Airport Modernization and ORAT
(Posted 10th August 2026) Do you want to optimize Airport Operational Readiness whilst undergoing modernization? Do you want to ensure your ORAT Plan Succeed and your airport terminal opens successfully? Do you want your ORAT Project to be Reliable and Operationally Ready? Do you want to find out how you can better design, engineer, invest and monitor your […]
Second Joint ICAO/ACI/IATA Symposium on Accessibility in International Civil Aviation
(Posted 10th August 2026) The future of air transport must be accessible, inclusive, and seamless for all travelers. Join aviation leaders, policymakers, airport and airline representatives, accessibility experts, technology innovators, and civil society organizations at the Second Joint ICAO/ACI/IATA Symposium on Accessibility in International Civil Aviation, taking place 14th to 15th of October 2026 at ICAO Headquarters […]
Any elephant debate needs science, not emotion alone
(Posted 10th August 2026) Courtesy of African Elephant Ndws Mariana Balt, SA People (South Africa), August 7, 2026 The elephant debate around management often begins with emotion. Images of elephants being culled or darted evoke strong reactions, yet conservationists argue that decisions affecting Africa’s largest land mammal should rest on evidence rather than […]
Thermal drones deployed in Kenya’s Amboseli Park to tackle human-elephant conflict
(Posted 10th August 2026) courtesy of African Elephant News Aimable Twahirwa, Mongabay (U.S.), August 7, 2026 Dominic Mutua, a smallholder farmer from Inkoisuk village some 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Amboseli National Park, has often clashed with two elephants that enter his farm and destroy crops. “We had to stay up guarding most […]
Probe into Amboseli jumbo deaths at advanced stage, KWS says
(Posted 10th August 2026)] Courtesy of African elephant News Emmanuel Wanjala, The Star (Kenya), August 7, 2026 Investigations to determine what killed 16 elephants in the Amboseli-Kimana ecosystem have reached an advanced stage even as preliminary findings point to cyanide poisoning as the most probable cause. In an update, the Kenya Wildlife […]
China Southern set for flights from Guangzhou to Addis Ababa
(Posted 10th August 2026) A new gateway from China to Africa is taking off! China Southern Airlines will launch a new route between Guangzhou and Addis Ababa from 12 October 2026. Flights will operate twice weekly • Mondays • Fridays Explore landmarks such as the Holy Trinity Cathedral and the National […]
ACI Africa 33rd Annual General Assembly – Speaker list confirmed
(Posted 09th August 2026) The ACI Africa 33rd Annual General Assembly, Regional Conference & Exhibition is scheduled for September 19–25, 2026, in Abuja, Nigeria. Hosted under the theme “Next-Gen Airports Driving Performance and Resilience,” the event gathers global aviation leaders, regulators, and industry experts. [1] Event Overview ACI Africa has announced that […]
Welcome to the 53d edition of the TravelComments.com weekly newsletter!
(Posted 09th August 2026) This week’s digest focuses on major developments across Southern Africa’s travel and tourism sector, including new flight connections, safari updates, seasonal travel advice and practical information to help you plan your next adventure. READ MORE
Karoo National Park visitors advised of game capture operations in August 2026
(Posted 09th August 2026) Travellers visiting Karoo National Park between 11 and approximately 25 August 2026 should be aware that South African National Parks’ (SANParks) Game Capture team will be carrying out wildlife capture operations within the park during this period. READ MORE
Aviation Africa Summit – and the list of participants keeps growing
(Posted 09th August 2026) The list keeps growing… and we’re now at 80+ confirmed airlines and operators! The aviation industry’s biggest gathering in Africa is continuing to attract an incredible line-up of airlines, operators and aviation organisations from across the continent and beyond. From national carriers and regional airlines to cargo, charter […]
