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In This Issue… October-November 2022

Industry News

6 Howard University’s Leadership Program Aspires to Diversify C-suites in the Hospitality Industry 10 Hotelonline Acquires Hotelplus to Accelerate Expansion Across Africa 11 Regenerative Travel is the Next Phase of Responsible Tourism 14 We Don’t Have to Travel Less to Save the Planet 15 Green Motion Expands with New Franchise in Botswana 16 Minor Hotels Africa Gears Up for the Business Travel Revolution 18 Namibians Encouraged to Tap into Unchartered Heritage Tourism 20 Five Traveler Trends Shaping the Future of Accommodations 22 2022: Ethiopian Airlines Wins Multiple Awards 23 Enterprise Expands into South Africa 24 Travelers Call for Tech-Enabled Solutions at International Borders 25 U.S. Customs and Border Protection Launches App to Expedite Travel 26 AfroAtlas and Lufthansa Have a Plan to make African Air Travel Cheaper 29 (Hello Africa) Mozambique Holds 8th Tourism Fair Seeking Sector’s Post-Pandemic Recovery 31 Tanzanian VP Opens 6th Edition of Swahili International Tourism Expo 32 What do Business Travellers Really Value in 2022?

Feature Stories

34 Regenerative Travel is the Next Phase of Responsible Tourism 38 Congolese NGOs Decry Mining in Main Refuge of ‘Africa’s Unicorn’

About the Africa Business Association

The Africa Business Association is an independent international business development organization. We offer access to the latest resources, information, and best practices in advocacy and communications for the African Diaspora and the African entrepreneurs in Africa. We work to help you have access to news and events as starting points for constructive conversations and calls to action. We seek to cut through the froth of the political spin cycle to underlying truths and values. We want to be so focused on progress that together we can provide a credible and constructive generation of Africans that take seriously our previous generations and act upon all their wishes, our hopes and aspirations to make lasting change for all future generations.

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Ricky Katsuya

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Howard University’s Leadership Program Aspires to Diversify C-suites in the Hospitality Industry

By Josh Rodgers

An experiential learning program designed to build pathways, prepare students for future executivelevel positions and improve diversity in the hospitality industry.

Howard University, a prominent Historically Black

College and University (HBCU), prides itself as one of the world’s leading institutions for professionals in business, health, science, engineering, the arts, law and education. For more than 150 years, the university has a history of advocating for social justice

and architecting social change. Howard University’s mission is forthright: “prepare scholars to learn, lead and embody excellence in truth and service.”

With goals and a mission such as those, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation (The Marriott Foundation) knew Howard was the right place to carry on the legacy of its late CEO, Arne Sorenson, after his passing in 2021. Arne was passionate about improving diversity in the hospitality industry — especially in leadership positions.

To put action behind that passion, the foundation presented Howard University with a $20 million endowment to create the Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership

Howard University Campus

in the School of Business. The center’s objective is to provide students with leadership skills and experience to help build a pipeline to diversity in the C-suite levels of the hospitality industry.

C-suites Should Be Representative Of The Country

Howard University and the Marriott Foundation are helping to shine a light on the underrepresentation and challenges faced within the hospitality industry. According to Castell Project’s report on Black Representation in Hospitality Leadership, Black employees currently hold less than 2% of executive leadership positions, though they represent 13.6% of

hospitality industry employment.

“The need for US C-suites to be more diverse is urgent and necessary, and we are in the position to help hold the industry accountable,” said Dr. Anthony D. Wilbon, Dean of the Howard University School of Business.

The institutions set out to find a professional consultant with experience in the industry to advise them on establishing and launching a hospitality leadership program. The goal: to answer questions about current gaps and challenges that can hinder executive-level growth for Black employees.

Why PwC?

PwC proposed an innovative method to execute the project, which brought in the firm’s hospitality subject matter specialists and its collaborative ways of working across business, experience and technology (BXT). The firm was selected based on its humanled approach to helping the team blueprint a purpose-driven pipeline from the ground up.

PwC has a long-standing relationship with Howard University. From its previous pro bono activities to its current internship and entry-level role recruiting, PwC understands that the university stands for excellence, leadership, service and truth and shares its commitment to equity. PwC also felt that in order to be successful, the solution should start with the people who would be most impacted by the center.

Perspective Is Critical When Designing A Program for Change

Working with Howard University and The Marriott Foundation, PwC organized and led a virtual design workshop, hosting over 85 hospitality industry C-suite executives and entrepreneurs who shared their thoughts, experiences and hopes for what the center could become. Additionally, Howard’s president, provost, dean of the business school, faculty, administration and business students joined to listen and provide inspiration for creating a differentiated program.

The workshop opened with honest discussions on how to effect change in executive suite diversity, how to acknowledge and address Black history related to the industry and how to put an active spotlight on racial equity. The dialogue helped create trust within the group, providing an emotionally safe space for candid conversations to help address a critical industry issue and opportunity. The energy and response from

Leadership Program

- from page 7

attendees demonstrated the center’s likelihood to succeed.

“The gathering of some of the industry’s ‘who’s who’ was a response to Arne’s call but also a recognition that Howard University was in a great position to hold the hospitality industry accountable on inclusion and diversity,” said PwC Partner, Lawrence Ballard.

Howard University Is Driving Innovation Around How Students Learn

The workshop’s findings gave the university and foundation a basis to build the leadership program. PwC helped categorize these findings to create the vision, structure, implementation plans and growth goals.

The center won’t serve as a new degreegranting program. Instead, it will be a space to train students outside of a formal major. Each year, the leadership program will identify a cohort of business school students to become immersed in the hospitality industry. These students are expected to participate in extracurricular activities, internships and externships to learn the practices associated with hospitality leadership onsite to supplement classroom learning experiences.

To create an executive-level pipeline, training students solely within hotel management simply isn’t enough. With the input of Howard University, The Marriott Foundation and key industry leaders, PwC helped design the leadership program to focus on three main immersion pillars: 1) investment lending and asset management, 2) data and tech, and 3) entrepreneurship and innovation.

These can allow students to learn about the layers of the industry, including how data and analytics drive hotel occupancy and real estate decisions, or how the global economy is shaping hotel owners’ and operators’ investments and strategic partnerships.

Howard University and The Marriott Foundation desire to provide students a better view of the aspects and inner workings of a multi-billion dollar industry, spanning not just hotels, but food and beverage, travel, tourism, real estate and

enterprises as well. By design, the program aims to, “set students up with the proper skill sets and experiences to pursue elevated career paths in a variety of professions,” said Lawrence Ballard — whether that be in hospitality management, finance or entrepreneurship.

The Center For Hospitality Serves As A Model For Academic Development

The first business school cohort is set to start its leadership program in the fall of 2022. The center has already received positive feedback, student participation requests and offers to help it expand.

Throughout history, there has been a negative connotation associated with Black servitude in the US which extends into the hospitality industry. At the onset of this program’s development, the tension around service and servitude showed. Dr. Wilbon shared that when speaking with Howard University students or hearing about their conversations at home on what they wanted to pursue in life, hospitality wasn’t among the top choices.

Program leaders have made it their mission to inspire students, change their view of what a career in hospitality could be, raise awareness of the many different businesses that fall into the industry and get students excited about future C-suite opportunities.

Using BXT co-creation and collaboration techniques, stakeholders across Howard University, The Marriott Foundation and PwC led the initial blueprint in designing a program built for purpose. It serves as a starting point for conscious change. These future leaders can help bring diversity of thought, perspective and approach to executive discussions across the industry — a proven way to help make businesses more successful.

PwC’s community of solvers untangles some of the world’s most complex problems. See what happens when unique perspectives lead to unexpected ways to thrive.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/ smallbusiness/howard-university-s-leadershipprogram-aspires-to-diversify-c-suites-in-thehospitality-industry/ar-AA1343on

Source: AfroTech Image credit: mcch.net, janellh-images.blogspot. com, wsreports.com, PR Newswire

GBTA is Now Accepting Proposals for Education Sessions at

GBTA Convention 2023!

GBTA is seeking industry professionals to contribute new ideas, solutions, and innovations for current issues and challenges that confront the travel industry. With your unique perspective and insight, we can continue to deliver the best education on the topics most relevant to business travel.

New this year! To streamline the submission and review process, GBTA has removed the draft PPT requirement. This year, we are requiring only a draft content outline and speaker demographics be submitted with the proposal. A template is provided in the submission worksheet and submission portal.

Find Details Here

Hotelonline Acquires Hotelplus to Accelerate Expansion Across Africa

HotelOnline, a Kenya-based revenue management company, has acquired East African hotel software provider HotelPlus.

The full terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the transaction mainly takes the form of shares, according to Håvar Bauck, one of HotelOnline’s two founders. Eric Muliro, who founded HotelPlus in Kenya in 2009, is getting a payout plus $1.9 million in shares in HotelOnline, Bauck says. HotelOnline was valued at $24 million pre-deal.

“HotelPlus has built an impressive commercial organization, with skilled salespeople and a highperformance reseller network covering more than a dozen countries across the continent,” says Bauck. “Integrating these resources [lays the groundwork] for our accelerated expansion in Africa.”

Founded in 2014 by Norwegian entrepreneurs Bauck and Endre Opdal, HotelOnline says it helps more than 6,000 hotels in 27 countries boost occupancy and increase yield.

HotelPlus is a well-known brand name in the hospitality industry and a leading provider of hotel software in East Africa, with a portfolio of 2,200 clients, according to Bauck.

“Through this merger, we are significantly increasing our client base, while capitalizing on the combined strengths of both companies, creating a force to reckon with in the hospitality industry in the East Africa region,” Bauck says.

Opdal, HotelOnline’s founder and CEO, calls the merger a “win-win” for HotelPlus clients who will benefit from “state-of-the-art digital services, such as payment solutions, AI-driven dynamic pricing and obviously revenue management.”

HotelPlus was 100% owned by Muliro until

the merger. He is joining HotelOnline as chief technology officer and bringing with him a team of software developers.

“This deal is a key milestone in the journeys of both companies,” says Muliro. “We are beyond happy to join forces with HotelOnline to create a traveltech market leader in East Africa.”

HotelOnline received an investment in April from South Korea-based Yanolja Cloud, an AI-based global SaaS company. Bauck says the partnership with Yanolja Cloud has enabled HotelOnline to “rapidly gain market share” as a front runner in the African hospitality industry’s digital transformation.

https://www.phocuswire.com/hotelonlineacquires-hotelplus-accelerate-expansion-africa

Image credit: itedgenews.ng

Regenerative Travel is the Next Phase of Responsible Tourism

By Stephanie Vermillion (see companion article on page 35)

An Urgent Need

With overtourism pressures mounting in Moab, Sedona, and Big Sur—just to name a few—more of us are understanding the complex impact of too many visitors on beloved environments.

In June 2020, six responsible-travel groups, including the Center for Responsible Travel and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, joined forces to reshape tourism for the better. The result: the Future of Tourism Coalition, which calls on industry organizations to follow 13 guiding principles.

Some of these guidelines follow a more traditional sustainability model, like reducing emissions. Others align with the regenerative ethos, such as demanding that local communities receive fair income from tourism, and creating experiences that support artists, farmers, guides, and chefs working to preserve and protect their local culture.

When The New York Times first reported on the regenerative travel trend in August 2020, around 20 travel groups had pledged to support these principles. Now, more than 600 organizations have signed on; the coalition is also co-hosting its first in-person summit this fall.

While exciting, this shift toward more equitable and responsible excursions is long overdue. According to Planeterra, a nonprofit that aids community-based initiatives around the world, the tourism industry generates some $8 trillion globally, yet local communities hardly receive a fraction, if any, of it.

The Future of Tourism Coalition principles benefit the community and the jet-setter, says Planeterra president Jamie Sweeting. “When you help empower local people to run their own enterprises, where they’re the ones hosting you in their village or community, you feel like you’re part of something bigger than just ‘I’m here having a great holiday.’”

The concept makes sense, but let’s be clear: we have a long way to go—especially after the economic blow of the pandemic. “Most tourism businesses had to really struggle for a couple of years. They have to be judicious about how they’re spending their money,” says Sweeting. For many travel companies, regenerative experiences aren’t the top priority. “But the consumer has way more power than they’ve ever had in the travel sector. Travel businesses will do what the travelers want, so if you want to make a difference, start asking for this kind of tourism.”

Regenerative Travel for Communities

All too often, travel is consumptive, or in Sweeting’s words, “parasitic.” Visitors often take from communities—be it consuming resources (water use, for example, is a major tourism issue in Hawai’i), snapping photos for social media, or worsening crowds and congestion.

Advocates of responsible tourism have long encouraged globe trotters to hire community guides or stay in locally owned hotels instead of chains. The regenerative travel trend paves the way for even more positive impact.

Planeterra, founded in 2003, aids community enterprises through mentorship, networking, grants, and education. It works with G Adventures to connect travelers directly to businesses that need their support; examples include booking community-owned culinary experiences on trips to southern Africa and touring a women’s weaving co-op in Peru before trekking the Inca Trail.

“It’s all about equity and empowerment, and enabling communities to tell their stories, their history, and share their environment in their way,” says Sweeting, noting that in recent years, this model has led to some substantial local gains: employment opportunities for women, increased education access for youth, and revenue staying

within communities. (Planeterra wants community businesses to generate $1 billion from global tourism by 2030.)

Other regenerative initiatives that have sprouted up include Mountain Homestays, a network that offers accommodations from Kenya to India largely owned and operated by Indigenous female entrepreneurs. One particularly unique spin-off, Astrostays, takes the Indigenousowned accommodation further, with experiences centered on stargazing and culture in the Indian Himalayas. Astrostays launched in summer 2019; it’s already generated enough revenue to install greenhouses and solar-powered water heaters in local villages.

According to Snyman, who’s studied communitybased tourism for decades, this approach can work, but it’s not foolproof. “Tourism is one of the most complex businesses in terms of business management, and yet, you’re expecting this community to now be a partner with the private sector who’s done it for 30 years,” she says, noting true capacity building within the community is critical. “People talk about equity partnerships,

but for me, there’s nothing equitable in them when the power balance is skewed. There are good examples [of community tourism], but there’s still work to be done in the space of equitably engaging communities.”

One community-based tourism model that’s impressed Snyman is Namibia’s Damaraland Camp. It came to fruition when travel outfitter Wilderness Safaris launched a joint venture with the local community in Damaraland, located in the Huab River Valley, in 1996. At the time, unemployment here had reached nearly 100 percent and human-wildlife conflict was raging. This venture led to the creation of the 869,000-square-acre Torra Conservancy, a community-based program in which the local people own and operate Damaraland Camp. Wilderness Safaris and the conservancy share in both the benefits and risks. The initiative has also helped the local people view wildlife as a resource to protect, not poach.

Support Communities, Advance Conservation

Damaraland Camp highlights the full potential of regenerative travel; by supporting local people, travelers also support conservation. Minnesota-

Damaraland Camp, Namibia

H

based nonprofit Indifly shows how the principle can apply to other types of tourism, such as angling.

Indifly helps Indigenous communities around the world create equitable ecotourism initiatives centered on fly fishing and conservation; all projects are 100% community-owned and operated. One of its latest projects, a community-owned eco lodge on Wyoming’s 2.2 million acre Wind River Indian Reservation, will generate critical economic opportunity for the Indigenous Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho communities, where unemployment hovers around 70%.

The idea: build a sustainable economy where Indigenous communities both benefit from flyfishing tourism and manage how visitors enjoy, and respect, these precious resources.

“[The waterways] will stay pristine as long as they’re protected. The minute you start overdoing it, you’re going to hurt them. The tribes, we do have the ability to protect that,” Darren Calhoun, an enrolled Northern Arapaho Tribe member, said in a film about the project by Indifly partner Yeti. In 1992, Calhoun and his father founded the 100 percent Native-owned outfitter Wind River Canyon Whitewater and Fly Fishing.

One reason fly fishing works so well? It’s lucrative. According to a 2021 report from the American Sportfishing Association, the U.S. fishing community alone generates an economic output of nearly $40 billion per year. “Anglers tend

to spend more money than [many] other types of outdoor pursuits, and they’re willing to pay to travel to places that people don’t typically go,” said Matt Shilling, Indifly’s executive director.

“The challenge for us as a community is let’s [build upon this interest], but let’s make sure we’re the beneficiary,” Calhoun said in the Yeti film. “Let’s put our kids to work, let’s create businesses for our community.”

Increasingly, regenerative travel experiences are available for all types of outdoor activities. Scuba certified? Try trash diving or coral restoration. More into terrestrial excursions? Book a Sierra Club trip to help with trail maintenance or native species restoration in some of the country’s most scenic getaways.

Even small actions can have a big impact, especially in our increasingly visited national parks. According to Brittany Conklin of the Grand Canyon Conservancy, spending in GCC-run retail stores or participating in the park’s Field Institute classes directly fund trail updates, wildlife conservation, and habitat restoration.

Lasting Impact

The idea of regenerative travel may seem a bit Pollyanna-ish, or like traveling with rose-colored glasses, but Snyman says it can and does work. The key factor is how positive impact spreads beyond direct tourist activity or spending. When local workers receive fair payment, or community enterprises generate revenue, the community’s whole economic ecosystem can flourish.

“Often governments look specifically at the number of tourists and what they spend [as a sign of success], but one of the biggest benefits of staff getting paid is they can go into their communities and spend money,” says Snyman. “They employ other people to look after their children. They work in startup businesses and spend their money in the villages. That, to me, is regenerative.”

https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/ news-analysis/regenerative-travel-is-the-nextphase-of-responsible-tourism

Image credit: naturalworldsafaris.com, hikingadventures.net, regenerativetravel.com

Hiking Mt. Kasigau, Kenya

We Don’t Have to Travel Less to Save the Planet

By Tori Emerson Barnes

As the world fully emerges from the shadow of COVID-19 and global travel resumes, a defining moment is in hand for the U.S. travel industry to reinvent itself and create a more sustainable future. The less-congested highways and smog-free skies we saw in the early days of the pandemic don’t have to be a moment in time. We can build a greener travel industry that doesn’t force us to choose between reducing travel and meeting sustainability goals.

In 2021, transportation accounted for 31% greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—the largest share of any sector—with auto travel making up most of transportation’s GHG emissions. This underscores the huge challenges the U.S. travel industry faces in promoting decarbonization holistically. A whole-of-industry approach is needed to create solutions and demonstrate how the traveler can continue to explore the United States—and the world—while still being conscious of a potential carbon footprint.

This is precisely why the U.S. Travel Association, the trade association that represents all sectors of the U.S. travel industry, launched its Sustainable Travel Coalition this summer. Comprised of 60 U.S. Travel member organizations and counting, the Sustainable Travel Coalition serves as an advisory body to inform the greater travel industry on sustainability issues, opportunities, and concerns. The coalition brings together stakeholders from related industries as we search for and implement policies and programs that will transform travel, transportation, and technology for decades to come. As a first step, the coalition and other organizations around the industry sent a letter to Congress urging support on key policies to reduce travel’s impact on the environment.

As climate change accelerates, it threatens to

posing a looming risk to the industry’s future and an existential threat to many destinations. In short, travel must continue to adapt to become more sustainable—the industry’s existence depends on it. As travel leaders advance these efforts, the need for new strategies and practices will also be driven by consumer expectations, corporate initiatives, and government policies.

This is a key area in which the Sustainable Travel Coalition can align with the larger business community. More and more businesses are setting aggressive goals to reduce their carbon footprint. Business travel is the largest component of emissions for many companies, so their ability to achieve net zero emissions will include either reducing travel or increasing sustainable travel. Challenges such as expanding electric vehicle infrastructure and the supply and use of sustainable aviation fuel must be solved to allow business travel to evolve.

Business travelers and the travel industry must get in lockstep as we look ahead. Ensuring that people are able to hit the road to conduct business with clients face to face while adhering to corporate requirements for carbon reduction is a necessity. Notable travel brands have taken

serious strides to make their operations more sustainable, which in turn helps business travelers meet similar objectives. Marriott International has initiatives focused on significantly reducing water and carbon intensity and waste by 2025. Delta Air Lines is aiming to replace 10% of its jet fuel ned from fossil fuel with sustainable aviation fuel by the end of 2030.

Consumers, too, care about these issues. A 2021 Ipsos poll found that, over the next two to five years, one in four Americans plans to take fewer leisure trips than prepandemic. Further, demand for travel would increase if Americans had access to more sustainable, seamless, secure, and modern travel options.

The Sustainable Travel Coalition is focusing on several near-term policy priorities and longterm goals to make travel more sustainable for businesses and leisure travelers alike. Many of the coalition’s initial policy objectives—such as tax credits for the production and use of sustainable aviation fuels and federal investments to protect

and restore natural attractions—were recently passed in the Inflation Reduction Act.

To accelerate the coalition’s vision of a more sustainable future, the U.S. Travel Association recently convened global business leaders in travel, transportation, and technology; elected and appointed government officials; and policymakers and policy influencers for its annual Future of Travel Mobility event. Leaders discussed policy priorities, innovations, and emerging trends; technology that can make travel more secure; and how travel sectors and related industries can work together to increase sustainability goals.

There is much critical work ahead. As the climate crisis unfolds, the only option is to commit to a future that’s greener and more sustainable than the modern era has known. Together, we can ensure that we never have to choose between seeing the planet and saving the planet.

https://www.afar.com/magazine/travel-industryunites-for-a-greener-future

Image credit: Freepik

Green Motion Expands with New Franchise in Botswana

From News/Media Release

Green Motion announced on Oct. 17 the opening of a new franchise location in Botswana.

Following the acquisition of their Master Franchise in South Africa, father and son duo Brian and Mark Hartmann have now acquired the new Master Country Franchise in Botswana. This is their second Green Motion business.

The tourism industry in Botswana is largely centred around wildlife and wilderness, which are the country’s principal attractions, amounting to more than $200 million USD in sales and attracting more than 2 million tourists per year.

“It is tremendous when an existing trusted and respected Master Country Franchise takes the decision to continue the growth of their business in partnership with Green Motion, opening a neighbouring country,” said Green Motion CEO Richard Lowden. “I wish Brian, Mark, and their entire family every success with the development of the Green

Motion brand in Botswana.”

This is the third new Master Franchise added for Green Motion in the last 10 days, also recently opening in Singapore and Argentina.

https://www.autorentalnews. com/10183450/green-motionexpands-with-new-franchise-inbotswana

Image credit: rentalcars.com

Minor Hotels Africa Gears Up for the Business Travel Revolution

The name Minor Hotels belies the heft behind this steadily growing international brand. With 530 properties across the world 29 of which are in Africa ― the group is built on the core principles of innovation, partnership, and people development.

Since they were founded in 1967, results are driven by a “customer first” mentality. Although the company is continuing to expand by exploring strategic acquisitions, its greatest accomplishment thus far has been spotting and seizing opportunities to reimagine the brand’s offering during the global lockdown.

With offices in Johannesburg, Minor Hotels Africa has taken on the task of growing the brand in the Southern African market, with the Avani and Anantara brands leading the charge in the renewed approach.

Bleisure Travel: A New Mindset

With travel restrictions worldwide now eased, a keen eye and agile mindset through the challenges of the last few years have kept Minor Hotels ahead of the curve: The ideal place to be as the effects of the pandemic on the way people travel continue emerging.

Business travel is no longer about just business. Travellers want to take full advantage of the opportunity to get out of the office. Experiencing something unique and fully immersing themselves in the local culture but doing so with one eye on sustainability has appeared as a new trend within the space.

“From a corporate travel perspective, these realisations have opened a whole new world of opportunity. Softening the lines between singlefocus business and leisure trips has some distinct advantages,” says Regional Director of Operations & Development, Nico Vivier. “We’ve revitalised the Avani and Anantara properties to offer the right mix of business and leisure to satisfy this new approach to travel.”

Sustainability and Upliftment

Although not new initiatives, Minor Hotel Africa’s various sustainability projects are now fully in the spotlight as reasons to visit their Southern African properties.

Avani Windhoek Hotel & Casino is the first hotel in Namibia to score the maximum “5 flowers” from the Eco Awards for their eco-friendly principles. Whilst Avani Victoria Falls Resort and The Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara’s CSR programme tackles a range of sustainability issues from water, plastic, and carbon footprint reduction to community upliftment projects that support the women-led bee-keeping co-operative in Mukuni village.

Minor Tweaks, Major Realignment

In anticipation of the increased demand for a different breed of business travel product, Minor Hotels Africa used its involuntary downtime during the 2020/21 season to reinvigorate its Southern African properties, including the Avani branded hotels in Livingstone, Gaborone, Windhoek, Pemba and Maseru. Various upgrades were completed, staff underwent intensive training, and a revitalized digital and social media marketing campaign with its partners was undertaken.

With their focus firmly on delivering a product that ticks all the right boxes for the post-pandemic corporate traveller, Minor Hotels Africa has positioned itself as the ideal choice for the full range

of businesspeople looking for more than a stable internet connection. Digital nomads, conference groups, and the MICE sector alike will benefit from the ability to combine business-forward facilities with leisure activities. Bush-and-beach add-ons allow travellers to experience the best the destination has to offer once their business has been concluded.

A Time for New Travel Traditions

Travel, and particularly business travel, has changed in many ways for the better. Bleisure travel offers the professional world the ultimate hybrid option that promises to enrich not just business interaction but deliver deep personal experiences too. Join the revolution and enhance the professional and personal lives of your team

with a stay at one of Minor Hotels properties across Southern Africa. Avani or Anantara, the choice is vast, and on a path of increased growth.

Recent awards and accolades for The Royal Livingston Hotel by Anantara from USA’s prestigious Travel & Leisure magazine as No 3 in their ‘World’s Best Awards’ plus also TripAdvisor’s ‘Travellers’ Choice Award for Hotels’ confirm this further. Let these be your preferred choice of properties within Southern Africa, and your home from home selection

https://www.africa.com/minor-hotels-africa-gearsup-for-the-business-travel-revolution/ Image credit: weareafricatravel.com

Namibians Encouraged to Tap into Unchartered Heritage Tourism

By KaulaNhongo

People

Namibia’s Deputy Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Heather Sibungo on Tuesday encouraged communities to partake in tourism and take advantage of the heritage tourism product development in rural areas.

Speaking at the country’s commemoration of World Tourism Day that’s observed on Sept. 27, Sibungo said Namibia believes the time is now to transform the future of tourism in Namibia and build a sustainable and inclusive sector to the benefit of the majority of Namibians.

This will require concerted efforts and adopting workable business models best suited for the challenges, she said.

“I call upon the private sector to invest more in our conservancies and community-based tourism enterprises, develop and promote cultural and heritage tourism by including these peoplecentered services and products in their travel itineraries and create new innovative products to increase value for money and guest experiences and by so doing enlarge the national product offering of the Destination Namibia,” she said.

According to Sibungo, Namibia has the necessary framework conditions for the tourism sector to continue growing exponentially and through that contribute to local economic development, employment creation, community empowerment, and poverty alleviation.

An artist arranges artworks at a marketplace in Okahandja, Namibia, on Sept. 20, 2022. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)

perform during Namibians encouraged

“Namibia continues to experience from late 2021 to the second quarter of 2022, a growing trend in tourism arrivals. This is a positive outlook and we should continue to make Namibia an attractive destination through value addition by introducing new tourism services and products, especially heritage tourism and gastronomy,” she said.

This year, Namibia launched the Tourism Recovery Plan aimed at rebooting the sector over the next three years, fostering growth, and addressing constraints associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The potential of tourism is enormous, and we have a shared responsibility to make sure it is fully realized,” she said.

Namibia celebrated World Tourism Day under the theme “Promoting heritage/cultural experience to harness sustainable tourism.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/ namibians-encouraged-to-tap-into-uncharteredheritage-tourism/ar-AA12kK5x

the Cultural Festival in Windhoek, Namibia, on Sept. 8, 2022. (Photo by Musa C Kaseke/Xinhua) to tap into unchartered heritage tourism © Provided by Xinhua-Culture&Travel

Five Traveler Trends Shaping the Future of Accommodations

By SiteMinder

Rising inflation will not deter people from traveling, and the popular approach of combining business and leisure travel will push hotels to evolve.

Those are two key findings from open hotel commerce platform SiteMinder’s 2022 Changing Traveller Report, which surveyed more than 8,000 travelers from 10 countries.

Sankar Narayan, managing director and CEO of SiteMinder, says “a new type of traveler” with higher expectations has emerged during the travel industry’s recovery, and “hoteliers need to be ready” to meet their needs.

“In SiteMinder’s 2022 Changing Traveller Report,” Narayan continues, “we can see that – more than ever –travelers now have ambitions to book, travel, work, connect and experience the world with the greatest flexibility and security possible.”

The report identifies five main trends among travelers:

• Inflation is currently having “moderate” to “no” impact on travel decisions for the majority of people surveyed. In fact, 85% of travelers are willing to pay for add-ons during their next stay, particularly

breakfast (50%) and a view (34%). SiteMinder’s report recommends hotels offer targeted add-ons, such as early check-in for families with young children and lastminute room upgrades onsite. Post-stay, hoteliers can send offers to incentivize future visits. “Making it feel personal at every step is key,” the report says.

• Travelers are “winnable.” Three quarters of global travelers and 86% of millennial travelers are open to receiving ads for an accommodation that’s suitable to them. More than half of respondents “often” or “always” welcome personalized offers and deals – even after their stay. Social media “often” or “always” affects the booking decisions of 43% of all travelers.

• With 36% of all travelers planning to work on their next trip, working travelers’ demands will shape the “hotel of the future.” Two-thirds of working travelers prefer automated check-in over manual, compared to half of leisure travelers.

• For 78% of working travelers and 60% of leisure travelers, the “little things” – for example, a property’s scent,

its artwork or the restaurant’s music – “always” or “often” impact whether they would consider returning to a property. Many travelers planning a working vacation will bring their family, so offering educational children’s programs and tours could be a good strategy for hotels, according to SiteMinder.

• Every digital touch point matters for the new “trustcritical” traveler. When booking directly on a property’s website, more than half (57%) of respondents say their top priority is an easy and secure booking and payment process

The greatest percentage of travelers (49%) prefer to pay with a credit card online or electronic bank transfer, followed by in-person (43%). Eighty percent say it’s “important” or “very important” to have the flexibility to easily modify or freely cancel their reservation.

• Travelers are not willing to compromise on human

connection. When citing aspects of their stay that would make them most likely to return, the top three reasons given are: value for money (72%), location (58%) and staff and customer service (43%)

Almost nine in 10 survey respondents say they want staff present on site.

To catch the 37% of travelers planning to book on OTAs, SiteMinder recommends casting a wide net. Promoting a property on five or more OTA channels can boost bookings by up to 40%, according to the report.

With 27% of travelers planning to book directly with the venue, hoteliers can drive more direct bookings by: using metasearch to reach travelers on Google; using market intelligence to track pricing; using promo codes; and plugging into a global distribution system, with 10% of travelers planning to book through a travel agent.

The study also finds that travelers are three times more

likely to consult a search engine than friends when gathering information on hotels. More than half plan to spend “more” or “much more” time searching for the best-priced accommodation than two years ago.

Says Noreen Henry, chief revenue officer at digital marketing solutions company Sojern: “The challenge that exists is: How can you be in all the places where your potential guests are as they search online for their next trip?

“You can no longer rely on one or even two digital channels and expect to establish and build a relationship with your guest,” Henry continues. “It’s crucial to have a presence everywhere that travelers are searching. A multichannel marketing approach ensures that your hotel stays top of mind throughout the search and planning process, so you can win the direct booking.”

But Henry calls that “only half the battle.”

“There are so many ways

to engage with your guests between the booking and checkin, and even during their stay, that will improve the customer experience. You can also build loyalty by re-engaging past guests.”

More than 70% of global travelers would “likely” or “definitely” pre-visit their property in the metaverse before check-in 87% would appreciate it if their accommodation provider enabled them to learn more about the local culture and history

Headquartered in Sydney, SiteMinder has offices in Bangkok, Berlin, Dallas, Galway, London and Manila.

SiteMinder surveyed 8,182 travelers in August 2022 in Australia, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Spain, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

https://www.phocuswire.com/ SiteMinder-survey-identifiesfive-key-trends-in-travelbooking

2022: Ethiopian Airlines Wins Multiple Awards

By Adeyiga Abisoye

The largest Aviation Group in Africa, Ethiopian Airlines was declared the winner of four awards at the SKYTRAX 2022 World Airline Awards, at a ceremony held in London.

Ethiopian took the awards for Best Airline in Africa 2022 for 5th consecutive years, Best Business Class Airline in Africa 2022 for 4th consecutive years, Best Economy Class Airline in Africa 2022 for 4th consecutive years, and Best Business Class Onboard Catering in Africa.

Moving an incredible 11 ranks up, Ethiopian has also been placed 26th in the World’s Top 100 Airlines for 2022 as voted by airline customers around the world.

In his reaction, the Ethiopian group CEO, Mr Mesfin Tasew said, “We are truly honoured by the multiple prestigious awards that Ethiopian won today. It gives me great pleasure to witness such a rewarding event to the hard work Ethiopian Airlines employees and management team put in order to provide our valued passengers with the best quality service.

“I would like to assure our customers and everyone who cast their votes in favour of Ethiopian that we will continue to provide a worldclass service tailored with African flavoured Ethiopian hospitality. We managed to provide our service, unbeaten by the Covid19 pandemic, the greatest challenge for the aviation industry and we will keep pace, enhancing our level of service to an even better level along the way.”

Introduced in 1999 to provide a customer satisfaction study that was truly global, the World Airline Awards are independent and impartial. Travellers across the world vote in the largest airline passenger satisfaction survey to decide the award winners. The awards are referred to by media around the world as “the Oscars of the aviation industry”.

https://www.africanleadershipmagazine.co.uk/2022-ethiopianairlines-win-multiple-awards

Enterprise Expands into South Africa

From News/Media Release

Woodford Group, a family-owned company, began in 1991 with a mission of providing dependable and affordable car rental to everyday South Africans. The company will serve the Enterprise Holdings brands at key locations across the country.

Enterprise Holdings, announced in a statement the addition of new franchise locations featuring car rental options from Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, and Alamo Rent A Car through the Woodford Group in South Africa. This marks the first time Enterprise Holdings brands will be available in South Africa.

The Woodford Group offers logistic solutions, an online vehicle auction platform, and Woodford Car Hire, an independent car rental company in South Africa.

“At Enterprise, we aim to partner with local providers that have a strong reputation for customer service excellence,” said Enterprise Holdings assistant vice president of Global Franchising — EMEA, Jon Flansburg in the statement. “Our new partner in South Africa has always put an emphasis on bringing a personal touch to its service, and its investment in technology and wide selection of vehicles will ensure the best possible experience for our customers.”

Woodford Group will serve the Enterprise Holdings brands at key locations in South Africa

including Cape Town International Airport, OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, King Shaka International Airport in Durban, and four inner-city branches across the country.

“The Woodford Group has been considered a trailblazer in the local car rental business, so we’re proud to align ourselves with a global pioneer like Enterprise, who we know share common goals and values that will take us into a new era,” added Group CEO, Mohamed Owais Suleman.

Enterprise expanded to Africa for the first time in 2019 with operations in Egypt and announced plans for expansion into Morocco earlier this year.

https://www.autorentalnews.com/10183180/ enterprise-expands-into-south-africa Image credit: epairerdrivennews.com

Photo: Enterprise Holdings

Travelers Call for TechEnabled Solutions at International Borders

Three-quarters of travelers expect international border processes to look dramatically different by the end of this decade, according to a global study by strategy and consulting firm Accenture.

The report, Borders 2030: From vision to reality, is based on the company’s research and analysis of travelers, traders, border specialists and futurists.

The report identifies three emerging trends around tech adoption at borders:

• Focusing on travelers’ need for “clarity, consistency, simplicity and predictability”

• Using facial-recognition technology and digital wallets to reveal a traveler’s identity

• Joining the metaverse, which involves participating in a virtual world. Travelers could preview destinations, learn about local cultures and augment actual trips using “extended reality” technology, Accenture’s

study says. Virtual tourism could push border offices into the metaverse and create a new “channel of interaction for businessto-consumer, business-to-business and business-togovernment trade,” the report states.

“We expect such changes to unfold quite rapidly between now and 2030,” says Prasanna Ellanti, who leads Accenture’s border services work. “Travelers and traders show very strong support for deploying new and emerging technology advances, and we see growing demands and pressures on agencies ushering in a period of true reinvention of how they deliver border services.”

About one-third (30%) of travelers surveyed say they are planning to travel more internationally than they did before the pandemic. This spike in travel could pose a challenge at borders, with 54% of travelers calling for shorter wait times at security checkpoints.

Traveler expectations have implications for the travel industry: More than half (57%) of international travelers say they choose their travel or layover destination based on whether they anticipate having a “seamless and easy” experience with border security. More than one-quarter (28%)

say they have changed travel or layover destinations because they anticipated a difficult border experience, the study finds.

“We need to leverage technology to create [a] more frictionless experience for travelers and the movement of goods,” Ellanti says. “This includes focusing on customer expectations, enhancing data capabilities and embracing emerging technologies such as the metaverse.”

However, as critical as digital technology is to enhancing border experiences, 60% of travelers say they want some form of human interaction at the border in the future.

Strides have been made in travel and tourism recently to streamline boarder crossing and arrivals processes. With the installation of Travizory’s biometric corridor in spring 2022, the Seychelles arrival experience was completely transformed into a digital, contactless and paperless one.

The World Travel and Tourism Council in May asked governments to introduce a “digital travel portal” to allow for safer travel that reduces delays at airports.

In February 2021, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection unveiled the CBP One Mobile App, which guides travelers to appropriate services, such as reporting their arrival, completing documents or making appointments.

https://www.phocuswire.com/reportreveals-three-tech-trends-borders

Image credit: Shutterstock

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Launches

App to Expedite Travel

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has built a mobile app to serve as a single point of entry for travelers and stakeholders to access CBP mobile apps and services.

By asking users questions, the app, called the CBP One Mobile App, guides travelers to appropriate services, such as reporting their arrival, completing documents or making appointments, based on their specific needs.

The app also allows travelers to streamline their travel into the United States by providing information before or upon arrival or departure.

For CBP stakeholders, the CBP One Mobile App increases transparency by offering access to service requests, live status

updates and a direct chat function.

“CBP has designed a onestop portal of its mobile applications and services that will offer travelers a secure and convenient option to provide information related to their arrival to or departure from the United States,” says Diane J. Sabatino, deputy executive assistant commissioner of field operations, CBP.

“CBP has performed a comprehensive review of its services to determine how we can successfully leverage emerging technology to add an extra layer of security and efficiency while supporting the travel recovery efforts.“

Rollout has begun for app features including allowing travelers to apply for an I-94,

view an existing I-94 or their previous travel history for the past five years and check land border wait times from their mobile devices.

Additional features planned for future releases include pleasure boat reporting, the ability to apply for and update a cruising license, view the status of a Trusted Traveler Program application and schedule CBP services for commercial vessel arrivals and non-perishable cargo exams.

The CBP One Mobile App is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play

https://www.phocuswire. com/us-customs-and-borderprotection-launches-app-toexpedite-travel

Image credit: migrationusa.org

AfroAtlas and Lufthansa Have a Plan to make African Air Travel Cheaper

By Faustine Ngila

Startup travel aggregator AfroAtlas says a new partnership with Lufthansa Group has given it direct access to an AI-powered platform that could reduce the cost of access to air transport services in eastern Africa.

AfroAtlas CEO Ahmed Ugas says the German company’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) platform will consolidate online portals and help tame

many of the challenges passengers, travel agencies, and airlines experience in booking and changing travel.

The collaboration also means AfroAtlas now has a broad base of users from Lufthansa Group’s passenger airlines— Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings.

Ugas told Quartz that by the end of this month, local airlines will have free access to the

platform as well. “We are giving both local and international carriers equal footing in air travel experience,” he said.

Airlines on the NDC platform will be able to access information such as routes with high passenger traffic and comparative rates charged, while tour agencies and travelers also will get data on the cheapest airlines for different routes.

The startup hopes the

Deploying AI and sharing APIs is reducing travel costs in eastern Africa.

convenience and time saving nature of the new platform will attract eastern Africa carriers such as Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Uganda Airlines, RwandAir, and Air Tanzania.

The timing may be right, as most of Africa’s airlines struggle to recover from the disruptions of the covid-19 pandemic.

Could technology plus Afcfta mean an airline industry recovery for Africa?

Passenger volumes in subSaharan Africa fell from 66.2 million in 2019 to 24.7 million in 2020, according to the World Bank’s latest data.

However, most African airlines were facing business turbulence and recording losses before the pandemic claimed $9 billion from their business.

The use of technology to improve customer experience, cut costs, track aircraft parts, and secure baggage, could help turn around their fortunes as the

Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) begins taking root, allowing African airlines to fly more freely across borders. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicts that passenger volumes in the region will recover by the end of 2022 to hit 116 million travelers and rise to 186 million by 2025 (pdf).

AfroAtlas is pledging to make all that transport more efficient for passengers and the travel industry more broadly. Says Ugas, “We have consolidated all airline services—flight ticket purchases, overseas hotel booking, airport transfers, tour service booking, travel insurance, holiday packages, and visa facilitations—into one. This will save them time and money.”

How NDC cuts costs

Melford Ndungu, account manager at the Lufthansa Group, said travelers using the NDC platform will find travel cheaper when they want to

change seats, destination, or date of travel.

“Through this platform, you will save $21 in distribution charges. If you are traveling from Nairobi to London, for instance, you will save $45 in fare. If you want to change seats, you will save $7 per seat in costs. Then you have add-ons such as wifi vouchers, and lounge vouchers,” he said.

The Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) and Tour Operators Society of Kenya (TOSK) believes the partnership could help local travel and tour operators who have been relying on legacy systems understand their priorities and attract more clients. “The world can come and experience Africa’s rich culture though an efficient platform,” KATA CEO Agnes Mucuha said at an Oct. 12 press event in Nairobi, where the platform was unveiled.

https://qz.com/somalia-fightswith-shabaab-over-control-ofthe-media-1849665750

Image credit: afroatlas.com

(Hello Africa) Mozambique

Holds 8th Tourism Fair Seeking Sector’s Post-Pandemic Recovery

Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi on Thursday launched the country’s 8th International Tourism Fair (FIKANI 2022) in Maputo, the nation’s capital, after a hiatus of two years due to COVID-19, in hopes of showcasing the potential and boosting the recovery of the country’s tourism sector.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, the president said the sector, once severely affected by the pandemic, has been showing signs of recovery following the economic acceleration measures recently taken by the government.

“Mozambique today regards itself as a leading player in the region’s tourist industry, offering reliable and quality services throughout the industry chain, with emphasis on the five main tourist destinations, namely Maputo, Vilanculos, Gorongosa, Quirimbas and Niassa,” he said.

Nyusi encouraged the national and international private sector to make use of the tax incentives for new investments in tourism, to invest more in the training and capacity building of tourism agents, and improve the quality of services.

The government announced in August a package of new policies on entry visas and periods of stay for foreigners intended to improve the country’s business environment and attract more visitors and investments.

“With these measures to open up and simplify the bureaucratic procedures, by 2024, international arrivals to our country can reach up to 10 million,” he said.

According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, FIKANI 2022 is expected to bring together more than 140 national and international exhibitors, attracting nearly 5,000 visitors. FIKANI 2022 is a joint initiative among the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the National Institute of Tourism, and the private sector, organized by the Hotel and Tourism Union.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/ news/hello-africa-mozambiqueholds-8th-tourism-fair-seekingsector-s-post-pandemic-recovery/ ar-AA12XibL

Image credit: 360mozambique.com

Tanzanian Vice President Philip Mpango on Saturday officially opened the 6th edition of the Swahili International Tourism Expo and pledged the government’s continued improvement of the country’s infrastructure of tourism services.

In addition, Mpango said the government has since 2020 been working to align infrastructures and providing incentives to attract investment in tourism.

“We are also vigorously promoting other unpopular touristic attractions especially in the southern corridor of our country, including Mikumi, Ruaha, Julius Nyerere and Udzungwa National Parks which we believe also have a great potential

Tanzanian Vice President Philip Mpango speaks during the opening ceremony of the 6th edition of the Swahili International Tourism Expo in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Oct. 22, 2022. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/ Xinhua)

to boost this sector to new heights,” he said in Dar es Salaam, the commercial capital of Tanzania.

He said achievements recorded in the preCOVID-19 pandemic period and the recent recovery are a clear testimony of joint efforts made by the government and the private sector to boost the development of the tourism sector.

“The government recognizes the importance of private sector as the driver and engine of the tourism sector and over the years, we have been taking a number of legal and fiscal reforms to support growth of the sector,” said Mpango, adding there is a plethora of tourism investment opportunities including the construction of hotels, lodges, holiday homes, developing amusement

Opens 6th Edition of Swahili International Tourism Expo

parks, sea and lake cruising as well as expanding tour operators and agencies.

Pindi Chana, the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, said the Swahili International Tourism Expo was established in 2014 to promote Tanzania’s tourist attractions and investment opportunities. It is a part of the implementation of a tourism marketing strategy to attract tourists to visit destination Tanzania and increase tourism contribution to the country’s economy.

The expo, which started Friday and will end Sunday, is held after a hiatus of two years because of COVID-19. This year’s expo feature business exhibitions, investment forums and

seminars, speed-networking sessions, cultural performances, and familiarization trips to unique tourist attractions across Tanzania. It is being attended by more than 200 domestic and overseas exhibitors, over 100 international buyers from within and outside Africa, and more than 5,000 trade visitors.

Chana said the expo has attracted stakeholders in the tourism industry from countries including China, Indonesia, India, the United Kingdom, Oman, Mozambique, Malawi, Algeria and Zimbabwe.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/tanzanian-vpopens-6th-edition-of-swahili-international-tourism-expo/ ar-AA13hbIu

Maasai people sing a song during the opening ceremony of the 6th edition of the Swahili International Tourism Expo in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Oct. 22, 2022.. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua)

What do Business Trav Really Value in 2022?

By a supplied media statement

Business travellers are at risk for mental health problems due to lack of sleep and poor diet, according to a global travel risk management company. International SOS reports that 30% of business travellers admit to suffering from these problems, and data shows the more flights and nights they are away from home, the more likely they are to quit their job within two years.

So a company’s top priority should be to understand what its travelling employees value

and what contributes to their wellbeing. Pennypinching might appear to save the company money in the short term, but in the long run, this kind of thinking can lead to long-term problems, including burnout and high staff turnover.

“As airfares continue to rise and fuel prices remain uncontrollable, companies must find ways to balance pricing efficiencies with a productive and rewarding travel experience for their employees. With service levels also at historic lows, it’s more important than ever to carefully consider how best

vellers

to invest in corporate travel to deliver the value business travellers want,” says Bonnie Smith, FCM General Manager.

What do business travellers value in 2022?

In a post-pandemic world, travel habits are changing. Business travellers are increasingly blending business with pleasure and spending weekends at their destination to get the most out of their trip. They are also extending their trips to maximise business value, justify the cost and time away from work, and reduce their environmental footprint.

To help them balance travel productivity with a less stressful experience, travel policies must be customised to provide what they value mostefficiency, convenience, choice and flexibility.

Efficiency - they want to save time

Business travellers often have concrete goals in mind when they travel and want to accomplish their goals as efficiently as possible. They expect firstclass service from well-trained and efficient staff and personalised service and experiences. By ensuring that all their needs are met - sometimes even before they have the chance to ask for itthese business people can make the most of their time.

Convenience - they want to be productive on the go

Business travellers value convenience, whether in the form of nearby restaurants and entertainment options, a business centre or accessible transportation. They also typically want to stay close to their destination, such as a client’s

office or an event venue. To ensure that all of these things are available and that travellers know how to access them, the support and guidance of a corporate travel programme representative can make all the difference.

Reliable Wi-Fi, power outlets and places to connect easily are also very important to business travellers. A workspace, personal amenities like dry cleaning and room service, and access to wellness amenities like healthy meals and fitness equipment make for a less stressful and more productive travel experience.

Choice and flexibility - they want to be in control

It’s becoming increasingly clear that business travellers value flexibility and freedom of choice. They want to travel and stay with the suppliers they feel most comfortable with. With so many employees becoming accustomed to much more flexible remote work policies, it’s logical that this would also extend to travel policies. Companies can empower employees who frequently travel to manage their travel arrangements by giving them access to travel management tools.

Striking the balance between price and value

“A business doesn’t have to deviate from its existing travel policy or incur additional costs to provide its business travellers with the enjoyable, personalised and efficient travel experience they need and deserve. The perks and high-value experiences that make them happier and more productive on the road are often built into the offerings of a quality travel management company and product,” Smith says.

She continues, “Managing business travel doesn’t have to be expensive or cumbersome. When looking for a corporate travel partner, invest in a TMC with global strength that offers more choices and extras with better rates and savings. They can help you find a balance that makes both the procurement manager and the traveller happy.”

https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/ what-do-business-travellers-really-valuein-2022-2022-10-28

Image credit: sojournsafaris.co.ke, africajumpstart.com

Regenerative Travel is the Next Phase of Responsible Tourism

By Stephanie Vermillion (see companion article on page 11)

From far-flung expeditions to deep fireside chats, travel has the power to change us. When done well, it can also positively change the places we visit—a fact I learned during a recent safari in southern Tanzania.

As a wildlife enthusiast, I often plan my trips around local fauna. Sure, I follow responsible wildlife tourism guidelines, but cruising around in a safari Jeep doesn’t necessarily help the animals, or ecosystems, I’ve come to admire. Getting my hands dirty installing camera traps to assist researchers studying wildlife in an uncharted and once highly hunted stretch of southern Tanzania? That’s a bit more like it.

And this, it turns out, is part of a growing trend of the 2020s: regenerative travel. The idea is to go beyond sustainability, which focuses on minimizing negative impact, and instead have a net positive impact on the place you’re visiting.

During my trip to southern Tanzania’s new Usangu Expedition Camp by safari company Asilia, this meant installing and monitoring camera traps and snapping then uploading animal photos to citizen-science database iNaturalist to help researchers benchmark and monitor local wildlife populations; guests can also assist with collaring programs to track the movements of big cats. These experiences felt even more enriching than a traditional Jeep safari, and they contributed to Usangu’s goal: helping conservationists from partner organizations, such as the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, better protect this under-studied ecosystem.

Usangu is one of a growing number of experiences allowing globe-trotters to leave a positive footprint. Given community and environmental strains from the last decade of uncapped (and largely uncontrolled) tourism growth, plus a jet-setting resurgence after the pandemic, this shift couldn’t come at a better time.

“Tourism took a bad [hit] during Covid from a

reputation point of view; regenerative travel is a way to rebuild the brand of tourism,” says African Leadership University’s School of Wildlife Conservation research director Sue Snyman, noting this is particularly important for engaging local residents. Years of negative tourism impacts have left some communities wondering why they’d want tourism to begin with. “If communities see travelers having a genuine positive impact, they’ll understand [what tourism can do].”

What to Expect During the Year

Usangu is open from June to November, when it’s hot and dry. During this time, the Usangu wetlands recede, and the surrounding grasslands dry out into wide open spaces ideal for walking. The rains that fall from November until April transform the landscape, making it green and lush but also creating logistical problems as the road networks become water-logged and the rising floodplains limit land-based activities.

Telemetry Tracking

Join the researcher on a half-day tracking of collared animals using radio telemetry to track and locate them. Start the day by reviewing the latest locations of the animals of the days before and join the researcher in a vehicle to learn how radiocollaring and telemetry works, and how to locate the collared animals. Collared species differ over time depending

on advancing research but usually focus on key species in the area such as lion, wild dog (yet to be collared), roan, and sable antelope.

Predator Identification

If your camera trap has caught any inquisitive predators, or if you have captured any good images on your camera during your stay, you can upload these images to the Predator ID Hub at the station to compare against the existing database. Researchers will work with you to analyse identifying features and determine if this is a new specimen or an existing. This tracking of information helps to plot territories and allows you to actively contribute to the ongoing research.

Douglas Bell Eco Research Station

The Douglas Bell Eco Research Station is the central hub for all research and conservation efforts taking place in the Usangu Wetland. Situated alongside Usangu Expedition Camp,

it provides guests with the opportunity to engage with researchers and develop a deeper understanding of the important work being performed in the region. The experiences on offer will vary slightly depending on which researchers are on the ground at any given time. However, a research coordinator is always present ensuring quality research immersion for visiting guests at all times.

Camera Traps

The placement of camera traps in close proximity to frequently used game trails provide useful information about wildlife numbers and the movements of game. On arrival, you will receive a camera trap to place near camp for the duration of your stay. On your last afternoon in camp, retrieve the images to see what your camera has captured.

Trails Camp

This is one of the most exciting activities Asilia has to offer and is perfect for those who want an intimate safari experience. Set out on a walking safari in the afternoon and spend a night fly camping in a remote part of the conservancy. We’ll cook dinner over a campfire under the stars and the sounds of the bush will lull you to sleep. We return to the main camp the next morning.

Regenerative Tourism

A Typical Day on Safari at Usangu Expedition Camp

Usangu Expedition Camp offers a wide variety of activities, allowing for your days to be tailored around your preferred interests. Each group in camp has a private vehicle and guide, allowing for complete flexibility within daily structure. Early mornings are typically best for game drives and walking safaris while the temperatures are slightly cooler, and wildlife is more active. Mid-afternoons are the perfect time to relax under the trees with a book or, or the more active, visit the Douglas Bell Eco Research Station for a first-hand explanation about the conservation work and research being conducted in the wetlands. Afternoons offer the opportunity for boating safaris or spending time in the field with a researcher.

Participate in research activities such as the positioning of camera traps, image analysis for predator identification and tracking collared lions using telemetry.

Breakfast is often a picnic to allow for an early start from camp, but lunch can either be enjoyed in camp under the cool shade, or a picnic can be provided for those who wish to stay out longer. Whether you are in the main camp or a star cube in the Trails Camp, dinner is prepared on the open fire in a communal setting.

Game Drives

The best times to depart on a game drive are early morning and late afternoon to avoid the midday heat when animals are less active. With your private vehicle and guide, you have the flexibility to explore any (accessible) area of the Usangu wetlands. Usangu has five biozones and offers many different habitat types that are waiting to be explored. Our up-cycled Land Rovers have been re-built from the ground up and are powered by green alcohol fuel (ethanol). This five-seater, safari vehicle offers unobstructed views — built for comfort, bush driving and remarkable off-road capability.

Walking Safaris

Walking safaris give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in nature, away from the noise of the land cruiser and closer to the ground to observe the smaller and less obvious parts of the African wilderness. This is a completely different

way to experience the bush, encouraging your senses to engage as you spot tiny but fascinating creatures you’d never see from the vehicle.

Night Drives

See a different side of Usangu with a night drive. It’s a special opportunity to spot shy, nocturnal animals and the those that prey on them. With the

Trails Camp

aid of your knowledgeable guide, keep your eyes out for leopard, genet, serval, honey badger, civet and African wildcats on the hunt; as well as bush babies, mongoose, bat-eared fox, nightjars and owls going about their business. Don’t forget to take a moment to a gaze up at the breath-taking night sky.

Night Drives

Boating Safaris

The wetland area and the intricate waterways that swell and contract throughout the season create a variety of conditions for boating. Our swamp boat is designed for these marsh-like conditions, offering the opportunity to explore the wetland narrow waterways year-round. Elephant are regularly seen along the shallows, and the birdlife is fantastic.

Accommodation & Amenities

Usangu Expedition Camp has been carefully positioned as close to the high-water mark as possible, whilst still maximising the shade offered by the surrounding miombo woodlands. With just 4 guest tents, the camp offers an exclusive experience into this largely unexplored wetland. Simple in its design, the focus sits firmly on the exploratory nature of the experience with meals cooked on the open fire and enjoyed under the African stars.

Asilia: Open: June to 30 November; Closed: December to May; Families: children aged 12 and older.

https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/ news-analysis/regenerative-travel-is-the-nextphase-of-responsible-tourism Image credit: atta.travel

Congolese NGOs Decry Mining in Main Refuge of ‘Africa’s

Unicorn’

By Erikas Mwisi Kambale

Illegal gold-mining is destroying tracts of pristine rainforest in Congo’s Okapi Wildlife Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site meant to be a haven for the endangered mammal nicknamed Africa’s unicorn, environmental organisations warned on Tuesday.

Industrial activities are supposed to be banned in the 13,000 square kilometers of the reserve in northeast Democratic Republic of Congo. Aerial photo evidence shows mining has persisted, the civil society groups said at a joint news conference to mark the International Day of the Okapi

The Council for Environmental Defense through Legality and Traceability (CODELT) said the ongoing destruction was at odds with the authorities’ bid to promote Congo as a major player in the global fight to curb climate change thanks to its majority share of the Congo basin rainforest - the second-largest in the world.

CODELT and regional environmental group ACEDH shared photos they said were proof that miners were gouging out swathes of jungle along the Ituri river, which loops through the southern part of the reserve that is also home to endangered forest elephants and chimpanzees

An okapi stands in the Ituri forest in the Congo.

File Photo

“It’s incomprehensible to see this in a country where the (the government) ... presents the country internationally as a ‘solution country’,” said CODELT’s Principal Technical Advisor Augustin Mpoyi.

The environment ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The NGOs blamed a Chinese company called Kimia Mining, which has previously been accused of flouting a ban on riverdredging in Ituri province and other mining regulations, according to a 2016 report by a UN Group of Experts.

There was no available contact information to reach Kimia Mining for comment.

The authorities have vowed to clean up their management and protection of Congo’s forests, where illegal activities have long flourished due to corruption and the logistical challenge of enforcing weak regulations in remote and often conflict-hit areas.

Human disturbances link to conflicts, mining and hunting are among the main threats to okapi, of which fewer than 50,000 are estimated to remain in the wild, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Also known as zebra giraffes due to their zebra striped hindquarters and longish necks, okapis were placed on the IUCN’s Red List of species at risk of extinction in 2015.

Congo is currently at loggerheads with conservationists and scientists over its plan to open other parts of its rainforest and peatlands to oil and gas drilling.

https://www.reuters.com/world/ africa/congolese-ngos-decrymining-main-refuge-africasunicorn-2022-10-18/

Image credit: gracegorillas.org, congogorillasafaristours.com, Africa Geographic, Pinterest, okapiconservation.org

Stunning Images from African Wildlife Foundation’s Photography Award are Inspiring Conservation

By Kayla Smith, CNN

An image of a pensive mountain gorilla with blazing orange eyes claimed the top prize in the 2022 Benjamin Mkapa African Wildlife Photography Awards.

Taken by US-based photographer Michelle Kranz, the photograph was commended for capturing the ape’s emotion, during a ceremony at the Nairobi National Museum in the Kenyan capital.

The annual award, launched by the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) in 2021, is named after the late President of Tanzania, who devoted much of his time to conservation education in Africa and was a board member of the AWF. It aims to not only showcase photographers’ work, but to raise awareness of African wildlife worldwide.

“We hope to take Africa to

the world, and take African heritage to the rest of Africa,” said Kaddu Sebunya, CEO of AWF.

He added he was greatly impressed at how much the contest has grown since its first iteration, with nearly 10,000 entries from around 60 countries. These were whittled down by a judging panel to winners in 12 categories, including “Art in Nature” and “Conflict and Coexistence,” as well as the “Grand Prize.”

“An education program”

The AWF’s overarching mission is to ensure that wildlife and wildlands thrive in modern Africa, through various conservation and community programs. But there are some challenges that the organization has identified in achieving this goal. For Sebunya, the main obstacle is the “limited leadership and ownership of Africans in the conservation sector.”

The African Wildlife Foundation is using photography to inspire the next generation of conservationists

For many Africans, nature is not just something to be looked at and admired, he said: “When people here see elephants, they see their crops being destroyed and people being killed.” One benefit of the photography awards is to show animals and nature to Africans in a different, positive light. Last year, the photo gallery went on tour around several countries in Africa, and the AWF reported positive receptions among local people. “It’s more than a photo, it’s an education program,” Sebunya said.

He was also pleased to see many more Africans participating in this year’s contest, although would like more involvement from the continent’s younger generation. To this end, the AWF is working to improve young people’s access to game

parks and camera equipment, so that more have the means to enter the contest in the future.

But the benefits of the Benjamin Mkapa African Wildlife Photography Awards are twofold -- it not only showcases African wildlife to the people who live there, but to the global population as well. According to Sebunya, the competition helps to spark international discussions on conservation, promoting tourism and donations.

The next generation

One image, that won the “Creative Digital” category this year, features an orphaned baby white-bellied pangolin curled up on its rearer’s open palms. South-African based photographer, Prelena Soma Owen, said that her goal with the photo was to shine a light on the endangered species.

Growing up in apartheid, Soma Owen had not been permitted to visit game parks as a child. Now she wants to show people, especially

children, stark images of African wildlife. “Many children in Africa do not have the funds or the opportunities to go to game parks and see animals up close, and that’s why photography is so important,” she said, adding that the younger generation will be vital in terms of conservation as around 40% of the continent is aged 15 years or younger.

Soma Owen has done volunteer work, teaching children how to photograph wildlife, and said she has seen first-hand the impact it can have. “In under two months of classes, children of about eleven years old have changed the way they think about conservation,” and are bringing this knowledge back to their communities, she said.

She believes that photography is a more useful tool than statistics for these communities, as it gives them something

tangible that they can fully understand.

Changing the narrative Kenyan photographer Anthony Ochieng Onyango won the “Conservation Heroes” category with a tender image of an elephant’s trunk caressing a ranger’s head. He also believes that photography can have a positive effect on conservation by broadening the way people think about wildlife.

“Most of the images of rangers in Africa are always with rangers holding guns. I want to show the personal connection rangers have to wildlife”, he said. “To me, rangers are my sisters, brothers, fathers and mothers, and deserve much respect for their support of wildlife.”

The AWF aims to add new categories next year, focusing on the impact of climate change on nature.

https://edition.cnn.com/ style/article/african-wildlifefoundation-photographyawards-2022-spc-intl/ Image credits: Iimage of a pensive mountain gorilla with blazing orange eyes by US-based photographer Michelle Kranz 

A flamboyance of flamingos photographed in Lake Solai, Kenya by Paul Mckenzie/ Mkapa Awards 

An orphaned three-monthold white-bellied pangolin is photographed during its morning feed at an animal shelter in Lagos, Nigeria by Prelena Soma Owen/Mkapa Awards 

In a photo, a ranger cares for an orphaned elephant at the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in Kenya. Credit: Anthony Onyango/Mkapa Awards

Call for Proposals Now Open

Global Business Travel Association Convention 2023

We’re seeking professionals like you to contribute new ideas, solutions, and innovations to GBTA Convention 2023!

With your unique perspective and insight, we can continue to deliver the best education on the topics most relevant to business travel.

Learn more about GBTA’s Call for Proposal application today.

Submission Portal Closes on January 13, 2023!

The Ngala Treehouse Experience

Experience the romance of Africa under a blanket of stars in the luxurious Ngala Treehouse, a remote, yet safe retreat in the middle of the reserve, far from Wi-Fi and artificial light. The treehouse features two sleep levels including a covered and weatherproof space with a king-size bed, hot running shower and flushing toilets. An elevated sleep-out platform allows you to slumber al fresco under a retractable screen. Enjoy sundowner drinks and snacks on the upper deck, a picnic and midnight treats. Completely off the grid, this treehouse promises luxury and comfort while offering the most exclusive wilderness experience.

PRISTINE

LOCATION

Set within the Ngala Private Game Reserve, 5 km from &BEYOND Ngala Tented Camp: the reserve shares unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park, home to the Big Five and more species of large mammals than any other African game reserve. Ngala (meaning lion) lives up to its namesake, with the reserve supporting several large prides.

A WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE

Surrounded by home comforts, a stocked bar and a selection of midnight and breakfast snacks, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in a lodge. However, your night at Ngala Treehouse is essentially an overnight wilderness experience that complements your stay either at &BEYOND Ngala Tented Camp or Ngala Safari Lodge.

PRIVATE CONCESSION

Ngala Private Game Reserve has exclusive traversing rights on 14 700 hectares (36,000 acres) of private wilderness land. As a guest of &BEYOND Ngala Tented Camp or Ngala Safari Lodge, you will enjoy the exclusivity of game drives within this concession area, the flexibility of

day and night drives and the option of interpretive bush walks.

Please note that the Ngala Treehouse Experience is only available when booking one or more nights at either &BEYOND Ngala Safari Lodge or &BEYOND Ngala Tented Camp, in the event that guests need to return to their room

due to bad weather. Therefore, the rate of the Treehouse, per night, will be added to the rate of the room.

https://www.andbeyond.com/experiences/africa/ south-africa/kruger-national-park/ngala-privategame-reserve/ngala-treehouse/

Caterpillar Ice-cream in Cape Town: the Cafe Showcasing African Flavours

By Sarah Johnson

Caterpillars, dried fish and clay are not what you would expect to find in ice-cream, but one Cape Town cafe with a mission to celebrate African foods and culture has used all three as ingredients in its frozen desserts.

“Handcrafted, authentic African ice-cream,” reads a sign at the entrance to Tapi Tapi. Inside, the counter is filled with ice-creams in various shades of beige and brown. They look underwhelming, but the blackboard listing the flavours suggests differently.

Tshego Kale, a 22-year-old student and parttime worker in the cafe, explains the menu. “First up is prekese and kei-apple jam. Prekese is a spice from west Africa, sometimes used in soups,” she says. “Kei apple is a sour fruit, but the icecream is sweet with a bitterness coming through.” Rooibos, fermented pineapple and lime is next: “It’s sweet, not as dense; good for hot days.”

There are three ice-creams containing chin chin – a fried snack from west Africa. One is paired with African bird’s eye chilli, and has “a kick that comes towards the end”. Another one features clay as the second ingredient: “It has an earthy flavour, very mellow and smooth with a biscuity texture.”

Egusi, a combination of seeds used in west African cuisine, is mixed with pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg in another ice-cream. “People from overseas have said this one tastes like Christmas,” says Kale.

Tapi Tapi and its African ice-cream is the brainchild of Tapiwa Guzha, who first came to Cape Town as a student from Zimbabwe. In the two years since it opened, he has created about 900 flavours.

Each tub he makes is unique and never repeated. His aim is to use ice-cream as a vehicle for educating and inspiring people about African

Some people come with this idea that black people should this kind of thing.’ Tapiwa Guzha

S l ith thi id th t bl k l h ld

flavours. When making a new flavour, Guzha thinks of an ingredient and what he wants to achieve by using it.

He explains: “What point am I trying to make by creating that flavour? Am I trying to showcase something new that people don’t know about? Am I trying to teach people about a cooking technique that turns out certain dishes or flavours? Or am I looking at a cultural icon?”

The idea for Tapi Tapi came in 2018, when Guzha was doing post-doctoral research in plant biotechnology but wanted a change. “I was looking for ways of communicating about science without having to rely on the scientific process – journal publishing, conferences and keeping knowledge in academic spaces,” he says.

Guzha had been making ice-cream for 10 years with dry ice that was delivered to his research labs, after seeing how it was done on a cookery show. One day, it dawned on him that he had never made a specifically African ice-cream. “I realised there was something faulty in the system.

in his parlour, Tapi Tapi, Cape Town. Photograph: Sarah Johnson/Guardian

n’t be able to do in Observatory,

The moment you taste a flavour that connects you to home, your culture, your land – it’s a different experience.”

He gave himself a year and a half to save up enough money, quit his job and start his own business. Tapi Tapi opened its doors in February 2020.

Reaction to Tapi Tapi and Guzha’s idea of showcasing African ingredients has been varied. “Sometimes people come out of spite. [They’ll say]: ‘I gave it a try and this is a fad,’ or it’s: ‘Why can’t you make normal ice-cream?’

“Some people come with this idea that black people shouldn’t be able to do this kind of thing,” he adds.

He has also had overwhelmingly positive reactions from others, seeing people phone home and become quite emotional. “There’s something about going through your whole life without realising you were being ignored and someone showing you you’ve been ignored – it’s quite a painful moment.”

Most of his customers are white people because that is where the money is in Cape Town, he says, but adds that he opened Tapi Tapi predominantly for black people.

Guzha chose the suburb of Observatory, often described as alternative and bohemian, for its transport links – and its diversity. Tapi Tapi is wedged between a second-hand bookshop and a food store on the main strip of Observatory.

Now he has branched out into other food and drinks. On the menu are toasties with bread made from sorghum, an ancient African grain, and pasta with a sauce of peanut butter, kapenta fish and the leaves from black-eyed peas.

He is not interested in expanding but is keen for others to take up this kind of work. “Other people need to do this – that’s expansion. We need more representation.”

https://www.theguardian.com/globaldevelopment/2022/sep/28/tapi-tapi-ice-creamcape-town-parlour-west-african-desserts

▲Tapi Tapi ice-cream, with some of the flavours on offer. Photograph: Sarah Johnson/Guardian

►Tapi Tapi ice-cream in Cape Town’s Observatory district. Photograph: Courtesy Tapi Tapi

Business Travel is Back and so are the Cybercriminals: 3 ways to Avoid Becoming a Target

By Pacxa

As travelers return to the skies for both business and leisure, they also face heightened cybersecurity risks as highvalue targets. Business travelers are especially enticing prey for cybercriminals — they often handle sensitive information and travel without the support of company firewalls and other physical security measures.

Proactive preparation and vigilance are key to avoiding travel-related cybersecurity vulnerabilities. During your holiday travels, for fun and work, remember these best practices for protecting your data and minimizing risk.

Opt for private Wi-Fi

Public and other unsecured networks, such as airport or hotel Wi-Fi, present a huge opportunity for criminals to conveniently access internetconnected devices. During travel, stay away from sensitive online activities such as shopping, banking or accessing the company intranet.

For phones, stick to built-in internet connectivity; for other devices such as laptops and tablets, consider a mobile hotspot. It’s also helpful to disable Wi-Fi auto-connect, a feature that automatically connects the device to available networks, even potentially unsecured ones.

Use caution on public

devices

Steer clear of computers at hotel business

centers and other public areas as they’re often weakened by outdated operating systems and dormant viruses waiting to activate. If you must access a printer, use a thumb drive or other external storage device to minimize exposure.

Be wary of public charging stations. Cybercriminals can modify access points to install malware and download data through compromised USBs and other cords.

Physically conceal and secure devices

Be mindful of how you carry and store your devices. Phones and devices that are visible in a bag or pocket may attract unwanted attention and make you a target. Opt for gear that fully closes and be vigilant when setting down devices. Never turn your back, even on an idly charging device.

During airplane stretches and bathroom breaks, make sure your phone, tablet and laptop are on your person or well secured. Make it a daunting challenge for someone to quickly access your devices. If a criminal can’t get to it quickly and easily, they’ll move on.

Cybersecurity travel checklist

Before you go

• Back up important data.

• Ensure operating systems and anti-virus software are up to date.

• Protect accounts with strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.

While traveling

• Think before you click: Use caution when clicking on links, files, and emails.

• Avoid using public networks, devices and cords.

• Keep devices physically secure.

• Do not share your travels online until you’ve safely returned home.

To learn more, visit www.pacxa.com.

https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/inno/stories/ partner-content/2022/09/26/business-travelback-cybercriminals.html

Image credit: travelcare.ug

Winemaking was a profession most South African parents could never have envisioned for their children. But black South Africans are today managing to break through multiple barriers into the renowned industry, transforming a landscape that is historically white.

Paul Siguqa, 41, bought Klein Goederust farm (Afrikaans for “a little good rest”) after saving up for 15 years.

His mother had, for 37 years, worked at a farm in South Africa’s Cape winelands under the white minority apartheid regime.

“If you grow up on a farm as children of farm labourers – black farm labourers – you are raised to be the next crop of labour for that farmer,” said Siguqa.

He finally purchased the “rundown” farm in

2019, renovated it and opened last year.

“If we want to see change in an industry, we need to be the change,” he said, after inspecting his flowering grape crop at the farm in Franschhoek, a region dotted with centuries-old vineyards.

As a result, an industry push is underway to try to accelerate the pace of change.

“Nobody’s getting nowhere slowly,” said Wendy Petersen, manager at SA Wine Industry Transformation Unit, which organises grants and internships for startups.

Often, the resources are not enough and have to be spread thinly among the candidates.

To help them grow, the organisation has launched the Wine Arc tasting room in South Africa’s wineproducing hub, Stellenbosch, to promote budding producers.

Among the brands featured there is Carmen

Paul Siguqa, owner of Klein Goederust wine estate in Franschhoek, holds a glass of wine as he poses for a portrait at the entrance of his winery on October 14, 2022 in Franschhoek. (Photo by GIANLUIGI GUERCIA / AFP)

k People Breaking into Wine Industry, Pressure is on to Succeed

WIne Producer and winery owner Carmen Stevens poses for her portrait at her Winery on September 20, 2022 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. – Black south Africans are starting to smash the barriers in the country’s renowned industry, transforming the landscape that was historically white.

(Photo by GIANLUIGI GUERCIA / AFP)

Stevens Wines, which became South Africa’s first fully black-owned winery when it launched in 2011 and released its first vintage in 2014.

‘Land, biggest barrier’

“The difficult part of winemaking is selling this product, getting [it] to somebody’s table and somebody coming back and saying ‘I want more’,” Stevens said.

The 51 year old is an unlikely winemaker, having grown up in the Cape Flats, an area marred by poverty and gangsters.

Her mother, a factory worker, would buy her Mills & Boon fiction novels, many set in vineyards and involving wine.

South Africa was still under the apartheid regime when Stevens made her first attempt to study winemaking in 1991. After being repeatedly

refused, she was accepted at a college in 1993.

Her perseverance has paid off. This year she took home three gold medals at a South African wine and spirits award event for her sauvignon blanc and newly released rose, named after her mother Julie.

But like many black-owned brands, she procures her grapes from farmers, not yet having her own land to cultivate.

Land access is “the biggest barrier for black people participating in the wine industry”, Siguqa says.

“That’s very political”, because historically most black people – about 80% of the population –don’t have access to land.

Black people “are competing, with old

More Tourist Destinations to Add to Your Plan

intergenerational, white rands”, as well as with foreign buyers who are purchasing prime land with US dollars, pounds and euros, said Siguqa.

The first vineyards were established in the 1600s by French Huguenots.

Since then, land has passed down through generations and when sales do occur, it has often been to neighbours, leaving little opportunity for newcomers to enter the market, said Maryna Calow, of the Wines of South Africa industry group.

But for those non-white operators who have broken the barriers into the industry, it’s been a bitter-sweet journey so far, having taken so long to achieve and, once in, the pressure to not fail.

“We’ve been free for 28 years and one would have wanted to see a lot more black people participating in the industry,” said Siguqa, wine bottles lined up on a table next to him.

Originally established in 1905, his farm scooped an award in Cape Town for offering an authentic South African experience.

Out of the hundreds of winemakers in the country, only just over 80 brands are black-owned, according to Petersen.

https://www.citizen.co.za/lifestyle/food-and-drink/ black-winemaking-wine-industry-south-africa/

Image credit: https://franschhoek.org. za/restaurant/klein-goederust, https:// carmenstevenswines.co.za

Klein Goederust wine estate Images

Stevents Wines logo and wines

In Nairobi, these Electric Motorcycles are Filling a Transportation Gap—and Slashing Emissions

By Adele Peters

If you need a ride in Nairobi, you might hail a “boda boda,” or a motorcycle taxi, rather than get in a car. The streets are filled with boda bodas— most of which run on gas, making them a major source of air pollution. But a handful of startups are racing to replace them with electric versions instead. Roam, a startup based in both Sweden and Kenya, just finished a pilot test in Nairobi with 200 of its electric motorcycles, and is now ramping up to make tens of thousands for sale next year. “We’ve seen an opportunity for Kenya to be the test market for the rest of the continent,” says Albin Wilson, chief strategy and marketing officer at Roam. “What we think is that basically this part of the world will be leapfrogging local internal combustion engine production.”

Most African consumers don’t own cars now; their first vehicle purchase may be electric, and they may never own one that runs on fossil fuels. A similar pattern played out in other sectors— African countries never built out an extensive network of landlines, as consumers skipped directly to mobile phones, and most Africans skipped credit cards in favor of mobile money.

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Roam, a finalist for the Earthshot Prize, started as a research project at a Swedish university, but the team focused on Africa because it realized that greenhouse gas emissions there are on track to quickly grow. Right now, the continent is only responsible for a tiny fraction of global emissions, between 3%–4%. But as more people move to cities like Nairobi and can afford to buy more, individual carbon footprints are growing. By 2060, when the continent’s population is projected to grow from 1.3 billion to 3 billion, Africa’s emissions could be as high as those in

Roam Air

the U.S. today. Switching to clean transportation now is key.

The new motorcycle, called the Roam Air, was designed from scratch by a local team for local needs, including the fact that drivers need to be able to carry cargo or passengers and deal with rough roads. “What we’ve seen with the Chinese products is that they’re breaking after even a couple of months of being used here,” Wilson says.

go around 112 miles on a charge. In rural areas without reliable electricity, the batteries can also double as energy storage for charging phones or other devices.

M-Kopa, a Nairobi-based fintech platform with two million low-income customers in Africa, will provide financing to help customers buy the $1,500 bikes. Customers can immediately start saving on operational costs; a few months ago, when fuel prices were especially high, Wilson says boda boda drivers doubled their income by being able to charge a battery instead of buying gas. The electric motorcycles also had an advantage in a recent fuel shortage. With a gas bike, “if there’s a fuel shortage, you’re not getting to work,” he says. “You’re not making your income for that day.” (Although blackouts do happen, they’re not common in Kenya’s large cities, Wilson says, and the two-battery system can help cover temporary outages.)

The company also designed an electric bus tailored for the local market, and recently launched a year-long pilot to test it on some of the busiest routes in Nairobi. Both buses and motorcycle taxis are especially important to electrify since they run all day, every day, Wilson says, and the fossil-fueled versions add both to local smog and climate pollution. Around 90% of the electricity produced in Kenya is already clean (nearly half comes from geothermal energy), so there’s little impact from charging.

Several other startups are also developing electric motorcycles for the African market, including Ampersand, a company that launched in Rwanda and later expanded to Kenya. A handful of other startups are based in Nairobi, including Kiri, Ecobodaa, and Stima

The rugged new design is more like a tool than a Harley; drivers want something utilitarian. It comes with two batteries, so one can be plugged in and charged at home while the other is being used. It can

Roam plans to expand throughout Africa and to other parts of the developing world. “I think we have a head start in addressing these markets that are really growing very, very quickly, and that traditional vehicle makers have overlooked,” Wilson says.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90805998/innairobi-these-electric-motorcycles-are-filling-atransportation-gap-and-slashing-emissions Image credit: Roam, stimaboda.com, seedstars. com

Stima

“Far from being a self-indulgent fixation on the past, the examination of ancient Egypt is our wisest option if we intend to plan and create our cultural future. The heritage of Greek and Roman antiquity has had a decisive impact on Western culture. Just as profoundly, the heritage of ancient Egypt will help shape the African culture we aspire to rethink and remake.” —Cheikh Anta Diop

KEMET STUDY TOUR OVERVIEW

When: August 1-15, 2023

Where: New York to Cairo

Cost: $4,799 (From New York)

Hosts: Dr. Greg Carr & Dr. Mario Beatty Highlight: 50 sites over two weeks

Deposit & payment: A deposit of $500.00 per person is required at the time of booking. Final payment must be made no later than June 1, 2023. Payments received after the deadline date will be subject to $50.00 administrative fee.

DESCRIPTION

The Kemet Study Tour seeks to bring us together from all walks of life to learn about and understand many of the truths embedded in the wisdom of our African ancestors in the Nile Valley and to self-consciously utilize what we know and have learned in order to live meaningful lives and to improve the life of our communities.

Over the course of two weeks, we will visit over 50 sites, including major pyramid complexes, temple complexes, tombs, museums, a major mosque, and a Coptic Church. One of the greatest highlights of our tour occurs at the end where we visit a Nubian village on Elephantine Island and we

commune with the community and provide them with a collective voluntary donation of money and school supplies.

A significant part of the intellectual preparation for the tour has already begun on the Knubia platform through the teaching of the Medu Netcher language course by Mario Beatty. These language lessons are archived to view at your leisure and they will tremendously assist you in going to the Nile Valley as a deeply informed visitor. In addition to the language course, we will also provide participants with further detailed readings to support the study of various sites.

After the beginning of the new year in January 2023, we will provide periodic general orientation sessions for participants in order to provide more detailed experiences and advice on traveling to Egypt and to field any questions that may have not been answered or addressed by Consolidated Tours Organization, Inc., the travel agent managing the details of the tour.

It is our hope that this study tour will be a historic convening that both inspires and nourishes all of us from the “deep well” of the best of our African worldview and humanity.

ple of RamessesMeryamun at Abu Simbel annees-depelerinage.com

nx and Pyramids deluxetoursegypt.

All the Way Up!

14 Black Women Climb to Top of Highest Freestanding M in the World, Mount Kilimanjaro

By Atiya Jordan

Asisterhood of 14 Black women was in the mood to elevate, and they climbed to the top of the tallest mountain in Africa.

Earlier this month, the Sistahs to the Summit group had lunch and danced to Beyoncé‘s Cuff It at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, towering over 19,000 feet high. The ascent makes them one of the largest groups ever to climb the highest freestanding mountain in the world.

They left together with numb toes, lifelong

connections, and the desire to keep exploring. Recently, the New York City and New Jersey-based women sat down with CBS Mornings co-hosts Gayle King, Nate Burleson, and Tony Dokoupil to share their challenging yet triumphant journey.

A 50th birthday wish

The eight-day journey up and down the so-called “Roof of Africa” began with one woman, Erica Liles. She wanted to bring in her 50th birthday with a historical feat, so she emailed her friends

with an ambitious proposition. Out of 18 people who responded, 14 women decided to take the journey.

“I HAD A STRATEGY WHERE I DID NOT WANT TO PUT ANY PRESSURE ON ANYONE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT CLIMBING KILIMANJARO IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART,” LILES SAID.

These plans, however, were five years in the making. Liles tagged in her good friend, Malaak Compton-Rock, to bring the vision to life.

“We have the same travel sensibilities,” Compton-Rock said. “We’re talking about Antarctica next. We wanna see the world. We want to discover places and take ourselves out of our comfort zone.”

“WHEN I GOT HER EMAIL, IT WAS LIKE INSTANTANEOUS.”

Training

In preparation, these women enlisted strategies to help them train, including walks at Martha’s Vineyard.

“For me, I couldn’t travel to Martha’s Vineyard, so I broke my boots in in Brooklyn [sic],” J’Nelle Agee said. “[I did by] going to Trader Joe’s and Target. So we all had to find our ways to train… whether it was on the treadmill, doing small hikes in New Jersey, or going in Harlem.”

The journey

“The reward is not better than the effort,” Compton-Rock said.

The group also journeyed with 72 porters who helped carry their day packs, but along the way, two women had to turn back due to altitude sickness.

Check out the full interview here.

https://www.blackenterprise.com/all-the-wayup-14-black-women-of-sistahs-to-the-summitclimbed-mount-kilimanjaro/

Image credit: feminine.com.ng, peakplanet.com

Can Mt. Kenya’s Porters Get the Same Professional Respect as Mt. Everest’s?

By Kang-Chun Cheng

Only at twilight, after their clients have been fed and are taking in the expansive Afro-alpine views, do the porters finally begin cooking for themselves. And not the pasta, salads, and curries that they’ve been preparing for their clients – but Kenyan dishes. A pair of young men huddled over a sufuria (pot) stir ugali (maize meal porridge) over a charcoal fire. There’s also wet-fry beef and sauteed greens – hearty foods, perfect fuel for long days.

Here at Likii North Camp, nearly 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) high, the thin, oxygen-poor air can sometimes cause altitude sickness in the uninitiated. But to porters who come from nearby villages, these high slopes are a second home.

On Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest mountain after Kilimanjaro, porters make expeditions not only possible, but downright comfortable. They set up and take down tents, haul clients’ gear, and cook three full meals each day – all accomplished before their guests even step foot into camp.

These porters are highly competent, both physically and in their knowledge of capricious

mountain environments. Elsewhere – the most highprofile case being sherpas on Mount Everest – the sometimes-invisible work done by local guides is finally earning rightful recognition. Yet the porters upholding East Africa’s largely informal mountaineering industry remain woefully underpaid, observers say, and face a long journey toward proper recognition.

And the growing popularity of mountaineering in Kenya may bring fresh challenges. Rather than fostering a healthy local economy, new moves to raise the sector to match global standards risk shutting out local guides who are knowledgeable and experienced, but can’t afford expensive certifications.

Culture of recognition

David Miano has provided support to hundreds of trips in his two decades working as a freelance porter. Eight years ago, he became a certified guide after training with James Kagambi, the first Kenyan national to summit Everest.

“There have been many changes over the years,” says Mr. Miano, who comes from the small town of Naromoru, a

base for those ascending Mount Kenya.

Some have been for the better. Porters’ daily rates have gone up from around 50 cents when he started to roughly $8.40 today. But tipping, a vital salary component for porters, is still not compulsory. Still, Mr. Miano prefers that there’s no set day rate. “It feels more like a conversation between the porters and the client,” he says.

Conditions on the mountains also dictate client interest, trickier now that the weather has become more erratic due to increasing extreme weather events. When business is slow, Mr. Miano takes odd jobs like fixing fences for the state tourism board’s Kenya Wildlife Service.

Renson Muchuku, head of

Porters at the summit of Point Lenana, the the highest peak that can be reached by tr

e third-highest peak of Mount Kenya and ekking. Kang-Chun Cheng outdoor education at Savage Wilderness, East Africa’s largest guiding company, says his company has established a tipping ceremony at the end of every expedition, where the clients congregate with the porters to thank them properly.

Despite these nudges in the right direction, a culture of recognizing the crucial role of porters hasn’t taken root. It’s not uncommon for people to say, “Oh, I didn’t catch our porters’ names,” says Alex Zachrel, one of the few American mzungu (non-African) guides on Mount Kenya. “Like, what do you mean? You were with them for four days.”

As night sets in

A sharp chill sets in the moment the sun dips behind the jagged peaks surrounding the

▲Jack, the head cook, and a porter cook ugali – a cornmeal stew – for their evening meal, finding a moment to relax after a long day of work. Mount Kenya’s porters offer three full service meals a day – even at 13,000 feet. Kang-Chun Cheng

Porters carry everything from stools and kettles to backpacks and canvas carriers of waste for disposal up and down Mount Kenya. KangChun Cheng

camp. Temperatures here drop as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) at nighttime. Students from the Nairobi-based German School bundled up past their chins waddle about, sipping hot chocolate and snacking on popcorn.

The following morning, tents are frozen over. The delicate helichrysum flowers studding the terrain seem unperturbed, twinkling in the gentle morning light. The porters are already hustling back and forth, laying out sausages, eggy toast, and fruit.

Excitement buzzes among the

students; small dramas over lost gloves and homesickness are quickly placated by the necessity to forge onward.

Mt. Kenya’s Porters from page 61

As views of Batian emerge – at 5,199 meters (17,057 feet), the highest peak – Mr. Zachrel points toward the spires, where swirling clouds occasionally release a flurry of snow. “Peter should be up there with some clients now,” he says, “unless the weather forced him to bail.”

Peter Naituli, son of a Kenyan father and Norwegian mother, grew up in remote Nakuru County in central Kenya. He believes the flexibility of Kenya’s nascent industry is its biggest strength.

“The informal nature of the outdoors industry here allows locals to benefit from working on the mountain,” he says. “There’s a lot more freedom since it’s not as regulated as Western countries.”

But it’s a bit of a Catch-22. With more training and resulting certifications, porters and guides could

charge their clients more. But to benefit locals, these courses would have to be affordable and accessible. For now, few can afford a few hundred dollars for an outdoors certification course when the typical salary in Kenya is under $600 a month.

Not everyone agrees that informality is an advantage. Mountains, after all, intrinsically have the power to kill. “You can prepare as much as possible, think of everything, and even then, there’s an element of risk that’s beyond your control,” Mr. Naituli says.

A few years ago, a guide trying to free a stuck rope died. His clients were stranded on a ledge overnight, before eventually making their way down. And in 2015, a 14-year-old called Warren Asiyo died from acute mountain sickness while on a church trip.

by por exped trekkin

dents’ packs, weighing up to 80 pounds, await pickup ters at Likii North Camp on the second morning of the ition. Clients carry only a small daypack themselves while ng. Kang-Chun Cheng

channeled her grief into increasing transparency within Kenya’s outdoor industry. She established The Warren Foundation, which partners with Kenya Wildlife Service to bolster guide and training certification to prevent such future tragedies. “Our organization has noted a decrease in accidents since 2017. It helps to be making some noise.”

Lilian Wamathai, an instructor at Savage Wilderness, is optimistic about the industry’s future as Kenyans are beginning to embrace and appreciate outdoor activities more, investing more money and time in the sector. The grassroots Porter and Guide Association is partnering with Kenya Wildlife Service to gazette regulations. For instance, they’ve determined that porters’ packing weights should not exceed 35 kg (77 pounds).

Ms. Wamathai believes professionalizing a previously informal industry will cushion and protect local employees’ interests in particular.

At Shipton’s Camp

At Shipton’s Camp, altitude 4,260 meters (13,976 feet), a stopover before Point Lenana (Mount Kenya’s third-highest peak), the students

gather for a summit eve briefing: 3 a.m. wake-up, summit attempt to catch the sunrise, and then hiking back down – over 18.5 miles of walking in total.

One classmate in particular had been woozy ever since the group reached higher elevation –he’s been sitting listlessly as his friends chatter around him, barely picking at his food.

Mr. Zachrel and his team monitor the students with experienced eyes.

At 11 p.m., they opt to evacuate the student. The required number of guides with medical training and a few porters begin the long hike down in the dark. Helicopters can’t fly into Shipton at night; waiting until dawn could be fatal.

Meanwhile, the student’s classmates begin walking the other way. They trudge up the steep ridge of Lenana, the vault of stars overhead fading fast with the imminent dawn. By the time they return to camp, their classmate is back to safety, and the porters have laid out another hot, delicious breakfast for them.

https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2022/1020/ Can-Mt.-Kenya-s-porters-get-the-same-professionalrespect-as-Mt.-Everest-s

Image credit: elevatedestinations.com This reporting was supported by the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists.

Mount Kenya

Frommer’s Best Places to Go in 2023

(Africa Focus)

By Frommer’s Staff

Read the full descriptions of suggested destinations at the link shown at the end of the story.

West Africa by Expedition Ship

The well-trod routes of modern tourism have connected so much of the inhabited globe, but one region has been left behind: West Africa. Despite the area’s critical role in the development of Western societies’ wealth and

populations, Western visitors have proved reluctant to forge self-guided paths to places like Senegal, Ghana, Ivory Coast, the Gambia, and the Cape Verde Islands (pictured above). Geting there has been cumbersome and touring options thin on the ground. But the current boom in expedition cruising, accompanied by a sharp rise in the number of specialty ships, has created a new channel for introducing

travelers to lively and diverse cultures that stretch along the coastline.

Now it’s much easier to bear witness to some of the spots where human trafficking changed the courses of our shared destinies all those years ago. Hurtigruten’s adventure ship Spitsbergen began by tentatively adding West Africa departures to its roster, and the voyages were such a success that more are

Cape Verde Islands

coming. Among the additional adventure vessels offering odysseys into West Africa in 2023 and ‘24: Seabourn Venture and Azamara Journey. If you

ever dreamed of visiting the shores of the Mother Continent, the way there has never been more mainstream.

Jason Cochran

https://www.frommers.com/ slideshows/848547-frommer-sbest-places-to-go-in-2023

WORLD HERITAGE SITES

Salonga National Park

At the heart of the central basin of the River Congo, Salonga National Park is the largest protected area of dense rainforest on the African continent (when considering the two disjointed sectors of the Park). Very isolated and only accessible by water transport, this vast Park (3,600,000 ha) contains the important evolution of both species and communities in a forest area still relatively intact. Playing also the fundamental role for the climate regulation and the sequestration of carbon, it constitutes the habitat of numerous threatened species such as the pygmy chimpanzee (or bonobo), the bush elephant and the Congo peacock.

Criterion (vii): Salonga National Park represents one of the very rare existing biotopes absolutely intact in central Africa. Moreover, it comprises vast marshland areas and practically inaccessible gallery forests, which have never been explored and may still be considered as practically virgin.

Criterion (ix): The plant and animal life in Salonga National Park constitute an example of biological evolution and the adaptation of life forms in a complex equatorial rainforest environment. The large size of the Park ensures the continued possibility for evolution of both species and biotic communities within the relatively undisturbed forest.

Integrity

Salonga National Park, created in 1970, with an area of 3,334,600 ha, is divided into two sectors (North and South) by a corridor outside the Park of about forty km wide. The Park is one of the most extensive in the world and its area is sufficiently important to offer viable habitats to its fauna and flora. The fact that the Park is divided into two distinct sectors suggests that biological corridors must be

foreseen in the unlisted portion between the two sectors, to create an ecological liaison between these two zones.

Roughly one third of the southern sector of the Park is occupied by groups of pygmies and a part of this occupied land is claimed by the local population. The boundaries of the property are intact due to the existence of major rivers that form recognized, precise and natural boundaries and this despite the presence of some villages inside the Park.

Protection and management requirements

Salonga National Park has six administrative sectors: Monkoto, Mondjoku, Washikengo, Yoketelu, Anga and Mundja that do not yet have any consequential infrastructure.

The management authority is the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN). The Park requires a management plan, even although a Coordination Committee for the site (COCOSI) exists and at least once a year reunites the partners supporting the site, the site chief and his collaborators.

At the time of inscription, it was noted that

Salonga National Park suffered from pressures such as poaching and the removal of vegetation by the local populations. A management structure, sufficient qualified staff and a management plan are lacking. The future of the Park cannot be assured without a strengthening of both the management structure and available financial means.

Among the management problems requiring long-term attention are poaching using traditional methods, and more recently by the military with modern war weapons; pressure and human occupation by the Yaelima in the southern part and by the Kitawalistes in the northern area (with accompanying impacts, such as fire, deforestation for the sowing of food crops, logging for heating purposes, honey gathering and the building of pirogues); dispute of the Park boundaries by populations in certain areas; commercial traffic in bush meat; forestry exploitation by individuals in the southern part; and pollution of the Park waters with toxic products used for illicit fishing.

The integration of local communities established in the unlisted corridor between the two sectors of the Park is an important condition and must be implemented by means of participatory management of the natural resources.

Surveillance is assured by the guards by means of regular patrols and it is necessary to guarantee that the numbers are increased over the longterm to effectively monitor and manage the very vast areas of difficult access.

The partnership with international bodies and the seeking of sufficient funds for the effective conservation of the property must also be reinforced, ideally including the creation of a Trust Fund.

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/280

Image credits: https://vrbo.com, kwafrikatravel. com, salonga.org

Algeria

Tamanrasset Camel Trekking

Sahara Dune Skiing

The Turquoise Coast

CAPITAL: Algiers www.algerie-tourisme.dz

Angola

Fort Sao Miguel Slave Depot

Calandula Waterfalls

Palmeirinhas Beach

CAPITAL: Luanda www.angola.org

Benin

Lake Village of Ganvie

Nakoue Lagoon Pendjari National Park

CAPITAL: Porto-Novo www.benintourisme.com

Botswana

Okavango Delta Central Kalahari Game Reserve Transfrontier Park (Kgalafadi National Park)

CAPITAL: Gaborone www.botswanatourism.co.bw

Burkina Faso

International Arts and Crafts Fair, Oct-Nov

Ranch de Nazinga game reserve

Mare aux Hippopotames

CAPITAL: Ouagadougou www.ontb.bf

Burundi

Chutes de la Kagera Waterfall

Lake Tanganyika

Craftwares Village at Giheta

CAPITAL: Bujumbura www.burunditourisme.com

Cameroon

Mandera Mountains (hiking, climbing)

Bouba Ndjidah National Park

Arena

Festival National des Arts et de la Culture (FENAC) in December CAPITAL: Yaoundé www.cameroun-infotourisme.com

Cape Verde

Baia das Gatas Festival

Scuba Diving and Snorkelling at Boa Vista

UNESCO world heritage old fort site at Cidade Velha

CAPITAL: Praia Ministry of Tourism, Praia, Santiago: +238 615 697

Central African Republic

Bangui

Galawa Beach on Grande Comore

Blanca Equatorial Guinea worlds-exotic-beaches.c

CAPITAL: N’Djamena Office du Tourisme, Tel: 01 45 53 36 75

The Comoros

Climb Mount Karthala (active volcano) Nzwani Island Hot Sulphur Springs at Lac Salé

CAPITAL: Moroni Comoros National Tourist Board Office, Tel: 269 73 3044

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Frère Gillet Botanic Gardens world-famous rare orchids (Kisantu) Ruwenzori Range Virunga National Park

CAPITAL: Kinshasa Ministère des Affaires Foncières, Environment et Tourisme, Tel: (+243) 8802093.

Côte D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, Yamoussoukro

Mount Tonkoui (mountain climb) Comoë National Park CAPITAL: Yamoussoukro www.tourisme.gouv.ci

Djibouti

Gulf of Tadjoura (snorkling/diving) Lake Abbé Lake Assal (windsurf on wheels)

CAPITAL: Djibouti www.office-tourisme.dj

Egypt (Kemet)

Nile River Cruise, Aswan

Temple of Ranses II, Abu Simbel

CAPITAL: Cairo www.tourism.misrnet.gov.eg

Equatorial Guinea

Arena Blanca

Pico Malabo Volcano (mountain climbing)

Cascades of Moca CAPITAL: Malabo www.embarege-londres.org

Eritrea

Dahlak Archipelago Tour of Eritrea (bicycle race)

Akordat

CAPITAL: Asmara eritreantourism@tse.com.er

Eswatini

Mkhaya Game Reserve

Phophomyane Nature Reserve

Usutu River (white-water rafting) CAPITAL: Mbabane www.thekingdomofeswatini.com

Ethiopia

Rock Hewn Churches of Lalibela (New Jerusalem) Home of the Queen of Sheba, Axum African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa

TOTAL Great Ethiopian Race

CAPITAL: Addis Ababa www.tourismethiopia.org

Gabon

Cathedral of St Michael in Libreville

Lopé-Okanda Reserve National Park (gorilla)

M’Bigou (gold mines/crafts) CAPITAL: Libreville www.legabon.org

The Gambia

Exhibition of the slave trade at Albreda and Jufureh

Makasutu Culture Forest

CAPITAL: Banjul www.visitthegambia.gm

Ghana

Kakum Nature Reserve (tree-top walkway and stay in a tree house) CAPITAL: Accra www.touringghana.com

Guinea

Kindia (cloth market)

Kinkon Falls

Îles de Los

CAPITAL: Conakry www.ontguinee.com

Guinea-Bissau

Bijagos Archipelago

Cantanhez Natural Park

Museum of African Artefacts CAPITAL: Bissau www.guineabissautourism.com

Kenya

Mount Kenya National Park

Tsavo West National Park

Watamu-Malindi Marine Park

CAPITAL: Nairobi www.magicalkenya.com

Lesotho

Bushmen Rock Paintings

Cantanhez Natural Park, Guinea-Bissau kumakonda.com

Ski Lesotho Highlands (www.afriski.co.za)

Sehlabathebe National Park

CAPITAL: Maseru www.ltdc.org.ls

Liberia

Sapo National Park Kendeja National Cultural Center Firestone Rubber Plantation

CAPITAL: Monrovia www.micat.gov.lr

Libya

Akakus Mountains (prehistoric rock art) Ubari Lakes (dune surfing) Leptis Magna (tribute to African Roman Emperor Septimus Severus)

CAPITAL: Tripoli www.libyan-tourism.org

Madagascar

Fianarantsoa (Capital of Wine) Montagne d’Arbre National Park Queen’s Palace

CAPITAL: Antananarivo www.madagascar-tourisme.com

Malawi

Lake Malawi Marine Park Nyika National Park Liwonde National Park

CAPITAL: Lilongwe www.malawitourism.com

Mali

Festival in the Desert Timbuctou

La Boucle de Baoule National Park

CAPITAL: Bamako www.le-mali.com/omatho/index.htm

Mauritania

Parc National du Banc d’Arguin Chinguetti, a holy city of Islam Oualata

CAPITAL: Nouakchott www.tourisme.mr

Mauritius Black River Gorges National Park Ile aux Aigrettes Nature Reserve Rodrigues Island

CAPITAL: Port Louis www.mauritius.net

Morocco

Todra and Dades Gorges Talassemtane National Park Essaouira

CAPITAL: Rabat www.visitmorocco.com

Mozambique Maputo Elephant Park Gorongosa National Park Bazaruto Archipelago

CAPITAL: Maputo www.futur.org.mz/index-en.html

Namibia

Mahongo Game Reserve Etosha National Park Skeleton Coast

CAPITAL: Windhoek www.namibiatourism.com.na

Niger Agadez ‘W’ National Park Igouloulef

CAPITAL: Algiers www.niger-tourisme.com

Nigeria Cross River National Park Emir’s Palace, Kano Benin City

CAPITAL: Lagos www.tourism.gov.ng

Republic of the Congo

Loufoulakari Falls Loango (main embarkation port for slaves) Congo Rapids

CAPITAL: Brazzaville

Direction Generale du Tourisme et des Loisirs, Tel: 830 953

Reunion

Piton des Neiges Plaine d’Affouches Le Voile de la Mariée (The Bride’s Veil)

CAPITAL: Saint-Denis

ot.saint-pierre@wanadoo.fr

Rwanda Cards From Africa, Kigali Parc National des Volcans Gorilla Trek Nyungwe Forest Canopy Walk

CAPITAL: Kigali www.rwandatourism.com/

São Tomé & Principe

Bom Bom Island Deep Sea Fishing Humpback Whale Watching Agua Izé Plantation

CAPITAL: São Tomé www.saotome.st

Senegal

African Renaissance Monument Retba (Pink) Lake Maison des Enclaves (House of Slaves), Goree Island

CAPITAL: Dakar sentouroffice@aol.com

Seychelles

Marlin Fishing in Denis St Anne Marine National Park Aldabra

CAPITAL: Victoria www.seychelles.travel Sierra Leone Outamba-Kilimi National Park Freetown Peninsula Bunce Island, Slave Trading Station

CAPITAL: Freetown www.welcometosierraleone.org

Somalia Hargeisa National Park Neolithic Paintings Las Geel Indian Ocean Coastal Beaches

CAPITAL: Mogadishu www.somali-gov.info/Tourism/index.html

Somaliland

Hargeisa National Park Neolithic Paintings Las Geel

Indian Ocean Coastal Beaches

CAPITAL: Hargiesa www.somalilandgov.com (Ministry of Tourism &

Culture 252-225-7917)

South Africa

Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory & Dialogue, Johannesburg Great White Shark Festival, Cape Town/ Gansbaai The Elephant Coast, Zulu Kingdom

CAPITAL: Johannesburg www.whitesharkfestival.org www.nelsonmandela.org www.zulu.org.za www.southafrica.net

South Sudan

Boma National Park

Nimule National Park

Nile River

CAPITAL: Juba www.goss.org

Sudan Port Sudan, The Red Sea

Gemmeiza Tourist Village

Pyramids of Meroe

CAPITAL: Khartoum www.sudan-tourism.gov.sd/english/index.php

Tanzania Bagamoyo Slave Trail

Katavi Plains National Park

Ngorongoro Crater

Stone Town, Zanzibar

Bom Bom

CAPITAL: Dodoma http://tanzaniatouristboard.com/

Togo

Koutammakou (World Heritage Site) Whale Watching, Gulf of Benin Fosse aux Lions (Lions’ Den) National Park

CAPITAL: Lomé www.togo-tourisme.com

Tunisia

Desert Trekking from Douz Matmata (Star Wars film site) Sidi Bou Saïd

CAPITAL: Tunis www.tourismtunisia.com

Uganda

Mountains of the Moon (Mount Rwenzori National Park) Bwindi National Park (view gorilla) Source of the Nile,Owen Falls Dam, Jinja

CAPITAL: Kampala http://visituganda.com/ index.php

Western Sahara

City of El-Aaiún Dakhla (surfing)

CAPITAL: El-Aaiún dajla47@hotmail.com

Zambia

Walking Safari, South Luangwa National Park Musi oa Tunya (Victoria Falls), Livingstone Zambezi White Water Rafting

CAPITAL: Lusaka www.zambiatourism.com

Zimbabwe Great Zimbabwe Lake Kariba Chizarira National Park

CAPITAL: Harare www.zimbabwetourism.co.zw

Sources: www.worldtravelguide.net/africa www.internationaltouristboards.com www.worldtourismdirectory.com/directory/africa/ index.html

Mkhaya Game Reserve Ewastini biggameparks.org

m Island Resort Sao Tome & Principe pinterest.com

Ski Africa

Overview: Skiing in Africa

There are currently 10 indoor and outdoor ski resorts set in the nations of Kingdom of Morocco, Republic of Egypt, Republic of Algeria, Kingdom of Lesotho, Republic of Namibia, and the Republic of South Africa. There are 4 unconfirmed ski resorts. The following facts provide an overview of the ski regions of Africa:

Elevation of the Ski Resorts 70 m - 3268 m

Elevation Difference max. 658 m in one ski resort

Slopes 21 km (max. 10 km in one ski resort)

Ski Lifts 23 (max. 7 in one ski resort)

Ski Passes

€ 14.40 to € 30.74

Oukaimeden

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ oukaimeden

The ski resort Oukaïmeden is located in the Marrakesh-TensiftEl Haouz Region (Morocco). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 10 km of slopes available. 7 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 2,610 and 3,268 m.

Chréa

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ chrea/

The ski resort Chréa is located in the Province of Blida (Algeria) For skiing and snowboarding, there are 0.5 km of slopes available. 3 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,460 and 1,550 m.

Afriski Mountain Resort

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ afriski-mountain-resort

The ski resort Afriski Mountain Resort is located in the ButhaButhe District (Lesotho). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 1.8 km of slopes available. 2 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 3,030 and 3,222 m.

AfriSki, the only skiing resort in the Kingdom of Lesotho, is located 3222 m above sea-level in the

Maluti Mountains. It offers a main Ski slope, a beginners slope and operates during the winter months.

Tiffindell

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ tiffindell

The ski resort Tiffindell is located in the Province of Eastern Cape (South Africa). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 2.4 km of slopes available. 5 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 2,700 and 2,930 m.

Tiffindell is the highest resort in South Africa. It is nestling snugly on the slope of Ben McDhui (3001m), the highest pass in South Africa and the highest peak in the Cape. Within 15 acres of terrain, there are pistes suitable for all abilities. In an average season, Tiffindell is open for skiing and snowboarding in June, July and August. It has slope-side accommodation available for 150 guests and many more day visitors

Tiffendell ski resort Eastern Cape sapromo.com

in the surrounding valleys. There is a restaurant, coffee lounge, 2 bars, ski clothing shop and ski school. Non aspiring skiers join in to enjoy a unique experience, making snowmen, throwing snow balls or tobogganing, making it the perfect family holiday for young and old.

Matroosberg

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ matroosberg/

The ski resort Matroosberg is located in the Province of Western Cape (South Africa). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 2 km of slopes available. 2 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,794 and 2,132 m.

Michlifen

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ michlifen

The ski resort Michlifen is located in the Meknès-Tafilalet Region (Morocco). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 1 km of

slopes available. 1 lift transports the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,880 and 2,060 m.

Ski Egypt

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ ski-egypt/

The indoor ski resort Ski Egypt is located in the Mall of Egypt, 6th October City, Cairo (Egypt). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 0.6 km of slopes available. 1 lift transports the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 150 and 180 m.

With over 7,000 tons of snow, Ski Egypt is launching the first ski resort in Africa with the world’s largest indoor snow park, offering everything from skiing, slope snowboarding, sledging and a Polar Express Train to a jolly kids area and a professional Ski School, all in a one stop, breathtaking experience for family and friends.

Jbel Hebri

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ jbel-hebri

The ski resort Jbel Hebri is located in the Meknès-Tafilalet Region (Morocco). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 1 km of slopes available. 1 lift transports the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,950 and 2,090 m.

Azrou

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ azrou

The ski resort Azrou is located in the Ifrane Province of the FèsMeknès region (Morocco). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 1 km of slopes available. 1 lift transports the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,800 and 2,000 m.

Ski Namibia

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ ski-namibia

Options for Dune Skiing in the Namib Desert, Namibia (high dunes, breathtaking landscapes, long dune belt) are manifold. Not only the fast ski runs on the dunes bring the kick, but also the landscape and nature aspect are simply one-of-a-kind amidst the world’s oldest desert. For information and arrangements: www.ski-namibia.com, henrik@ ski-namibia.com, P.O. Box 8140, Swakopmund, Namibia.

Unconfirmed Ski Resorts

Cape Town, South Africa (In development, possibly) www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ snowfun-cape-town-planned

Kingdom of Morocco (mountain climbing resorts that may include skiing opportunities)

www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ djebel-bou-iblane www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ hoher-atlas www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/ rif-gebirge

www.skiresort.info/ski-resorts/ africa



Leisure Lodge Beach & Golf Resort, Mombasa

Muthaiga Golf Club, Nairobi

Nyali Golf & Country Club, Mombasa www.nyaligolf.co.ke

Railway Golf Club, Nairobi Royal Nairobi Golf Club, Nairobi The Golf Park at the Jockey Club of Kenya, Nairobi

Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club, Nairobi www.windsorgolfresort.com

Mauritius

Ile aux Cherfs, Trou d’Eau Douce

Le Paradis Hotel & Golf Club, Le Morne Peninsula www.paradis-hotel.com

Legend Golf Course, Poste de Flacq www.bellemareplagehotel.com

Links Golf Course, Poste de Flacq www.princemaurice.com

One&Only Le Saint Géran Golf Course, Poste de Flacq http://lesaintgeran.oneandonlyresorts.com

Shandrani Golf Club, Blue Bay www.shandrani-hotel.com

Troux aux Biches Golf Club, Troux aux Biches www.trouauxbiches-hotel.com

Morocco



Anfa Royal Golf Club, Casablanca



Cabo Negro Royal Golf Club, Tetouan Royal Golf of Dar es Salam, Rabat www.royalgolfdaressalam.com/english/index.cfm Club Med les Dunes, Agadir El Jadida Royal Golf Club, El Jadida 

Fes Royal Golf Club, Fes Marrakech Royal Golf Club, Marrakech Meknes Royal Golf Club, Meknes Mohammedia Royal Golf Club, Mohammedia Settat University Royal Golf Club, Settat Tangier Royal Golf Club, Tangier

Nambia

Keetmanshoop Golf Course, Keetmanshoop Okahandja Golf Club, Okahandja www.okahandja.net/sport/default.html Orandjemund Golf Club, Oranjemund Rossmund Golf Course, Swakopmund Tsumeb Golf Club, Tsumeb Walvis Bay Golf Course, Walvis Bay Windhoek Country Club Resort, Windhoek www.windhoek.co.za

Nigeria

IBB Golf Course, Abuja IITA Golf Club, Ibadan Ikeja Golf Club, Lagos

Tangire Royal Golf Club, Tangiers

www.ikejagolfclub.org

Reunion

Golf du Bassin Blue, St Gilles les Hauts

Golf Club de Bourbon, Etang Sale les Bains www.golf-bourbon.com/spip/spip.php?lang=en

Club du Colorado, La Montagne

Senegal

Golf de Saly, Mbour www.golfsaly.com/intro/presentation_fr.htm

Golf International du Technopôle, Dakar

Le Méridien President Resort & Golf Club, Dakar www.starwoodhotels.com/ lemeridien/property/overview/index. html?propertyID=1821&EM=VTY_MD_1821_ DAKAR_OVERVIEW

Sierra Leone

Freetown Golf Club, Freetown

South Africa

Akasia Golf Clue, Pretoria www.akasiacountryclub.co.za

Atlantic Beach Golf Club, Cape Town www.atlanticbeachgolfclub.co.za/capetown/ index.asp

Bellville Golf Club, Cape Town www.bellvillegolf.co.za

Benoni Country Club, Johannesburg www.benonicountryclub.co.za/pro/Default.aspx

Blair Atholl, Fourways www.blairatholl.co.za

Blue Valley Golf & Country Estate, Olifantsfontein www.bluevalley.co.za

Bryanston Country Club, Bryanston www.bryanstoncc.co.za

Centurion Country Club, Centurion www.centurioncountryclub.co.za

Champagne Sports Resort, Winterton www.champagnesportsresort.com

Clovelly Country Club, Cape Town www.clovelly.za.net



Crown Mines Golf Club, Johannesburg www.g-i.co.za/clubs/?c=274

Darling Golf Club, Darling www.darlingtourism.co.za/sportdetail. htm#golfclub

De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate, Stellenbosch www.golfdezalze.com



Devonvale Golf & Wine Estate, Stellenbosch www.devonvale.co.za



Durban Country Club, Durban www.dcclub.co.za

Durbanville Golf Club, Durbanville www.durbanvillegolfclub.co.za

East London Golf Course, East London www.elgc.co.za

Emfuleni Golf Estate, Vanderbijlpark www.emfulenigolfestate.com



Fancourt Hotel & Country Club Estate, George www.fancourt.co.za



Gary Player Country Club Golf Course, Sun City

Golf Africa page 77

Tiger Woods

Golf/Pages/Golf.aspx

George Golf Club, George www.georgegolfclub.co.za

Germiston Golf Club, Germiston www.germistongolf.com

Glendower Golf Course, Johannesburg www.glendower.co.za

Hermanus Golf Club, Hermanus www.hgc.co.za

Houghton Golf Club, Houghton www.houghton.co.za

Humewood Golf Club, Port Elizabeth www.humewoodgolf.co.za

The Country Club Johannesburg, Rivonia www.ccj.co.za

Killarney Country Club, Johannesburg www.killarneycountryclub.co.za

Kingswood Golf Estate, George www.kingswood.co.za

Kleinmond Golf Club, Kleinmond www.kleinmondgolfclub.co.za

Kloof Country Club, Kloof www.kloofcountryclub.co.za

Knysna Golf Club, Knysna www.knysnagolfclub.com

Koro Creek Bushveld Golf Estate, Nylstroom www.korocreek.com

Langebaan County Estate Golf & Leisure, Langebaan

www.langebaanestate.co.za

Leopard Creek Country Club, Malelane www.leopardcreek.co.za

Lost City, Sun City www.suninternational.com/Destinations/Resorts/ Golf/Pages/Golf.aspx

Malmesbury Golf Club, Malmesbury www.malmesburygolfclub.co.za

Metropolitan Golf Course, Cape Town www.metropolitangolfclub.co.za

Milnerton Golf Club, Cape Town www.milnertongolfclub.co.za

Modderfontein Golf Club, Modderfontein www.mgclub.co.za

Monks Cowl Coutry Club & Lodge, Winterton www.monkscowl.co.za

Mossel Bay Golf Club, Mossel Bay www.mosselbaygolfclub.co.za

Mowbray Golf Club, Cape Town www.mowbraygolfclub.co.za

Paarl Golf Course, Paarl www.paarlgolfclub.co.za

Pearl Valley Signature Golf Estate and Spa, Cape Winelands www.pearlvalley.co.za

Pecanwood Golf & Country Club, Hartbeesportt www.pecanwoodgolf.co.za

Plettenberg Bay Country Club, Plettenberg Bay www.plettgolf.co.za

Hassan Kadio, National Amatur Team Coach, Tanzania

Pretoria Country Club, Pretoria www.ptacc.co.za

Randpark Golf Club, Randburg www.randpark.co.za

Reading Country Club, Alberton www.readingcc.co.za

River Club Golf & Conference Center, Cape Town http://riverclub.co.za

Riviera on Vaal Country Club, Vereenigning www.rovcountryclub.co.za

Royal Cape Golf Club, Cape Town www.royalcapegolf.co.za

Royal Durban Golf Club, Durban www.royaldurban.co.za

San Lameer Country Club, Margate www.sanlameer.co.za

Scottburgh Golf Club, Scottburgh www.scottburghgolf.co.za

Selbourne Golf Estate, Pennington www.selborne.com

Silver Lakes Golf & Country Club, Pretoria www.silverlakes.co.za

Somerset West Golf Club, Somerset West www.somersetwestgolfclub.co.za

St Francis Bay Golf Club, St Francis Bay www.stfrancisgolf.co.za

St Francis Links, St Francis Bay www.stfrancislinks.com

Steenberg Golf Club, Cape Town www.steenberggolfclub.co.za/Framework/index. asp

Stellenbosch Golf Club, Stellenbosch www.steenberggolfclub.co.za/Framework/index. asp

Umdoni Golf Course, Pennington www.umdonipark.com

RoyalSwaziSpaValley/FacilitiesActivities/Pages/ Golf.aspx

The Gambia

Fajara Club, Fajara www.smiles.gm/fajara.htm

Tunisia

Djerba Golf Club, Midoun www.djerbagolf.com

El Kantaoui Golf Course, Port El Kantaoui www.portelkantaoui.com.tn/golf

Umhlali Country Club, Umhlali www.umhlalicountryclub.co.za



Westlake Golf Club, Cape Town www.westlakegolfclub.co.za

Wingate Park Country Club, Pretoria www.wingateparkcountryclub.co.za Swaziland

Royal Swazi Spa Country Club www.suninternational.com/Destinations/Resorts/

Flamingo Golf Course, Monastir www.golfflamingo.com/english/flamingo.htm

Golf Citrus, Hammamet www.golfcitrus.com

Palm Links Golf Course, Monastir www.golf-palmlinks.com/english/presentation. htm

Tabarka Golf Course, Tabarka www.tabarkagolf.com/en/index.htm

Yasmine Golf Course, Mannamet www.golfyasmine.com/en/index.php

African Cuisine! Republic of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has had many different influences on its culinary scene. From neighbouring African countries, the variety of tribes and the settlers from Europe. Each wave of new inhabitants has left its mark on Zimbabwe’s cuisine.

The main staple of Zimbabwean cuisine is maize/ corn and is used in a variety of dishes. Food in Zimbabwe has remained traditionally African for the most part, however British colonization certainly left its mark. Common British spices, breads, sugar and tea have become part of the daily life in Zimbabwe.

Derere/Okra

https://www.chefspencil.com/recipe/traditionalzimbabwean-okra/

The name itself is some kind of onomatopoeia in the Shona language. Derere is a special meal made from okra that is highly recommended in medical circles. Both rich in protein and acting as an appetizer, it is a great meal for those who are not feeling well.

It can come in leafy form or cut up into tiny rings from the okra pod. When cooked, okra will be very appealing to the eye and richly delicious to the palate.

Ingredients:

• 300g okra, chopped

• 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

• 1/2 cup fresh tomatoes, chopped

• 1 medium spring onion, chopped

• 3/4 cup Water

• 1/2 tsp Salt

• 1 small finger chilli

• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Directions:

• In a medium-sized saucepan, bring the water to a boil and add the soda – it should foam up as you add it to the water.

• Add the chopped okra and whisk or beat with a wooden spoon for 3 mins.

• Add the spring onions, tomatoes, chilies, pepper, and salt and continue whisking.

• Cook for a further 3-5 mins whisking constantly.

• Put aside to cool down and serve with sadza.

• If you do not like spicy food, leave out the finger chilies as they are very hot.

• Serve with sadza and a garnish if you choose.

Sadza/Pap/Hard Corn-Meal

https://www.chefspencil.com/recipe/sadza/ This is the richly scrumptious product of Zimbabwe’s staple crop, maize.

First, corn is ground into a powdery cornmeal. Then sadza is made from boiling water and mixing it with a paste of cornmeal, letting it simmer for a while before finally adding more of the meal to make it thicker. The end result is a hot steaming mountain that can be accompanied with beef or chicken stew and a side of any leafy vegetable. It

can also be combined with mopane worms. The result is utter satisfaction when washed down with a glass of ice cold water. A variation of sadza can be made with millet or rapoko meal. The final result is a dark brownish pap, or porridge, which can be moulded and eaten with tripe, roasted pork, or with any of the stews popular in Zimbabwe such as beef or chicken.

Ingredients:

• 4 liters Water

• 5 cups white maize meal

Directions:

• Boil 1 gallon (4 liters) of water.

• Put five cups of white maize meal in a sauce pan and add cold water to soak the meal.

• After the white maize meal is completely soaked, add a little more water and stir the mixture with a thick stick (or a big wooden spoon).

• Cook on a medium heat and stir. Add the boiling water slowly and keep stirring constantly. Make sure the mixture doesn’t stick to the pan.

• While heating, the maize meal will become smooth, like a smooth porridge.

• Bring to the boil, stirring constantly, and boil for 5 minutes, adding more maize meal flour.

better is when the rice comes directly from the field without much processing and still has all of its natural flavors. Rice with peanut butter is accompanied by a beef or chicken stew, a salad, or just as at tea time. It must be made compact but moist and well seasoned.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup long grain rice

• Salt

• 1 tbsp peanut butter

Directions:

• Cook the rice following the instructions on the packet, omitting the oil.

• Add 1/2 cup of water and the peanut butter and let it cook some more. You want your rice to be slightly overcooked.

• Cover and let the peanut butter cook for about 10 minutes.

• Using a flat wooden spoon or mugoti, stir in the peanut butter until the rice is well bonded together.

• Reduce the heat to low and cover for 10 minutes or until ready to serve.

• Serve with any stew or sauce of your liking or by itself. This rice is especially good the next morning, cold with a cup of tea.

Nhopi/Pumpkin Soup

https://www.chefspencil.com/recipe/nhopi-pumpkin-soup/ Usually made by grandparents for their grandchildren on school holidays in the rural areas, nhopi has always been associated with warmth and affection. It’s a very simple recipe by boiling peeled pumpkin until tender then adding a bit of milk and some peanut butter for that nutty taste. It gives the word “traditional” a whole new meaning in Zimbabwe.

Ingredients:

• 1 Small pumpkin

• 750 ml Water

• 1/4 cup maize meal

• 2 tablespoons peanut butter

• 3 -4 teaspoons Sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon Salt

Directions:

Mupunga Une Dovi

(Peanut Butter Rice)

https://www.chefspencil.com/recipe/mupunga-une-dovipeanut-butter-rice/ Rice mixed with peanut butter is an age-old treat among most ethnic groups in Zimbabwe. Even

• Cut the pumpkin in half and remove the seeds and strands of fiber.

• Peel and chop the flesh, put into a saucepan, and add the water.

• Bring to the boil and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the pumpkin is tender. It should mash easily using a fork.

• Turn the heat off and puree the pumpkin.

• Traditionally we use a utensil called a musika, which is essentially a whisk but used in a slightly differently to a modern whisk. Of course, you do not have to use a musika as a handheld blender will do the job much quicker. I use mine purely for the fond memories I have of my childhood.

• In a separate bowl, mix the maize meal with a little cold water to form a paste.

• Stir this into the puréed pumpkin, which should have the consistency of a very thin soup. Add the peanut butter, salt, and sugar

• Bring the nhopi back to the boil and simmer for about 10 minutes.

• If at this point it is too thick, add a little more water; if too thin, add a little more maize meal.

• Serve hot.

Zimbabwean Chicken and Vegetable Soup

https://www.allrecipes.com/ recipe/219483/zimbabwean-chickenand-vegetable-soup/ This hearty and delicious soup combines a wonderful variety of vegetables with peanut butter and a few red pepper flakes for unexpected flavors and just the right amount of kick.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 onion, diced

• 4 cups vegetable stock, divided

• ½ cup peanut butter

• 2 cups canned diced tomatoes, with juices

• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or more to taste

• 1 cup finely chopped cabbage

• 1 cup chopped sweet potato

• 1 cup peeled and chopped carrot

• 1 cup peeled and chopped turnip

• 1 cup chopped okra

• 1 cup chopped cooked chicken, or to taste

Directions:

• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot; cook and stir the onion in the hot oil until translucent, about 5 minutes. Whisk 1/2 cup of vegetable stock and the peanut butter into the onions until the mixture is smooth. Beat in remaining vegetable stock, diced tomatoes with their liquid, and crushed red pepper flakes; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low, and cook at a simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

• Stir in the cabbage, sweet potato, carrot, and turnip; simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 30 more minutes. Stir in the okra and chicken and simmer until the okra is tender, about 30 additional minutes.

Image credit: icgeb.org

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