Travel Bug

Over one million holidaymakers have visited South Africa for the FIFA World Cup officials have confirmed, with a late surge expected as the tournament enters its final week.

According to immigration records compiled by the South Africa department of home affairs, the total number of arrivals during June totalled 1.3 million.

This is up from the 1.01 million visitors recorded for the same period of 2009.

African visitors have been among the most numerous arrivals – with nationals from Lesotho, Zimbabwe. Mozambique, Swaziland and Botswana – leading the way.

Europe has also been strongly represented, with tourists from the UK, Germany and the Netherlands all turning out in force. Read the rest of this entry »

Africa’s top destinations and leading travel operators are preparing to battle it out on Wednesday July 7th as the World Travel Awards comes to South Africa.

Taking place at the Sandton Conventon Centre, Johannesburg, the World Travel Awards Africa and Indian Ocean Ceremony offers participants a chance to win one of the most sought-after prizes in the travel and tourism industry.

The awards - described by the Wall Street Journal as the ‘Oscars’ of the global travel and tourism industry - have helped improve quality, value and customer service over the past 17 years.

Nominations include some of the most respected and successful travel names and resorts in the business - including South African Airways, Plettenberg Bay, Camps Bay Retreat, African Pride Hotels, Pen Travel South Africa, Marrakech Tourism, African Safari Club, Singita Game Reserves, Sonesta Nile Cruises, Kruger Park, Sharm El Sheikh and Victoria Falls.

The evening, attended by the region’s major company CEO’s, tourist board chiefs, association leaders and Government Ministers is set to be a spectacular affair.

Celebrities include Miss World contestants and well known entertainers such as smash hit African hip-hop dance group, The Clinch Crew, soon to appear in Las Vegas at a show produced by American Idol judge Randy Jackson. Read the rest of this entry »

Johannesburg’s delightful Misty Hills Hotel showed off its glamourous credentials by playing host to a VIP reception of 32 Miss World finalists.

The beauty queens, who in South Africa for the World Cup to cheer on their respective teams, took a couple of days out of their hectic schedule to unwind in the hotel’s spectacular surroundings.

Just 25 kilometres away from the City of Gold, the Misty Hills Country Hotel Johannesburg is positioned within easy reach of Johannesburg International Airport whilst also enjoying an idyllic rural setting in the heart of the beautiful Kromdraai Valley – a UNESCO World Heritage site known as The Cradle of Humankind.

The hotel prides itself on its unique blend of traditional South African stone architecture and warm hospitality, coupled with luxury facilities.

It boasts 215 accommodations, with each room ornately decorated with brightly coloured African fabrics, artworks and handmade furniture.

The beauty queens also dined at the adjacent Carnivore Restaurant, which is world-renowned for its exquisite, charcoal-grilled delicacies that are roasted on converted Masai tribal spears in a large circular open fire. Read the rest of this entry »

Nelson Mandela will miss the opening of the 2010 FIFA World Cup follow the death of his great-granddaughter in a car crash.

In a brief statement the Nelson Mandela Foundation confirmed Madiba, as he is known to his clan, was in morning following the tragic death Zenani Mandela yesterday.

“It would therefore be inappropriate for him to personally attend the 2010 FIFA World Cup opening celebrations,” explained the statement.

“We are sure that South Africans and people all over the world will stand in solidarity with Mr Mandela and his family in the aftermath of this tragedy.”

The 13-year-old died when a car taking her home from a Soweto concert on the eve of the World Cup overturned on the M1.

The driver was subsequently arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. Read the rest of this entry »