The expanded schedule marks a significant boost to the destination’s air connectivity, enhancing travel options and supporting continued growth in visitor arrivals from key international markets.

The additional service will operate as part of the airline’s winter schedule, with the second daily flight arriving at Seychelles International Airport at 4:20 p.m. and departing for Addis Ababa at 5:50 p.m. The route will be served by a Boeing 737 aircraft, configured with 16 Business Class seats and 138 Economy Class seats, adding more than 1,000 seats per week to the market.

Ethiopian Airlines currently operates a daily non-stop service between Addis Ababa and Mahé.

Flights depart Addis Ababa Bole International Airport at 9:30 a.m. local time and land in Seychelles at 2.20 p.m., after a flight of approximately three hours and 50 minutes. The return flight bound for Addis leaves at 5.15p.m. Passengers are able to enjoy the airline’s full range of onboard services, including meals, in-flight entertainment and the ShebaMiles frequent flyer programme.

Welcoming the announcement, Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Vesna Rakic, described the additional service as a significant milestone in strengthening the destination’s international air connectivity.

“Ethiopian Airlines has become an important partner in Seychelles’ efforts to diversify its source markets, and the introduction of more than 1,000 additional seats per week will provide a welcome boost to the destination,” she said.

“The additional capacity, particularly during the festive season, will offer travellers greater flexibility and more options when planning their holidays. It aligns perfectly with our market diversification strategy and our objective of improving accessibility to Seychelles.”

– Ends –

About Tourism Seychelles

Tourism Seychelles is the official destination marketing organisation for the Seychelles Islands. Committed to showcasing the islands’ unique natural beauty, cultural heritage, and luxurious experiences, Tourism Seychelles plays a pivotal role in promoting Seychelles as a premier travel destination worldwide.

The return of these services, beginning this week with Qatar Airways on 16 June and Turkish Airlines on 17 June, significantly enhances global connectivity and visitor access during the traditionally quieter summer months.

Qatar Airways is the first of the three carriers to resume operations to Seychelles this summer, with its return to Seychelles International Airport at Pointe Larue marking the start of an expanded summer schedule. From 16 June 2026, the airline will operate four weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, further strengthening Seychelles’ links through Doha and providing convenient connections to more than 150 destinations worldwide.

Adding to the positive momentum, Turkish Airlines has resumed flights to Seychelles, marking its first summer operation to the destination in three years. Previously, the airline served Seychelles seasonally between late October and March before suspending services during the summer period. The carrier will operate three weekly flights using an Airbus A330-300, connecting Seychelles to Istanbul; one of the world’s largest aviation hubs and a key gateway to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America.

As Turkish Airlines reintroduces its summer programme, the airline has implemented minor schedule adjustments during the initial launch period for commercial reasons. Until the week commencing 6 July, flights will operate twice weekly on Wednesdays and Sundays. Thereafter, the airline will increase operations with an additional weekly flight on Fridays, bringing the total to three flights per week.

The Russian market will also receive a welcome boost with Aeroflot scheduled to resume services on 8 July 2026. The airline will operate two weekly flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays, restoring additional seat capacity from one of Seychelles’ important source markets and providing greater travel options for Russian visitors seeking direct access to the islands. Commenting on the enhanced connectivity, Seychelles Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer, Ms Vesna Rakic, said:

“At a time of intense global competition for travellers, the decision by Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Aeroflot to expand their presence in Seychelles is a strong endorsement of our destination. Improved air connectivity is key to tourism growth, giving travellers more choice while strengthening access from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Russia.”

She further added; “We sincerely thank our airline partners for their continued confidence in Seychelles. Their support is essential to maintaining strong international links and driving the success of our tourism industry. We are also encouraged by ongoing discussions within the aviation sector, with the potential for further positive developments in connectivity. While official confirmations are still pending, the outlook is highly promising. Together with our airline and trade partners, we remain focused on driving demand and supporting the long-term success of air services to Seychelles. “

With increased summer capacity from key international gateways, Seychelles is reinforcing its position as one of the most accessible island destinations in the Indian Ocean. Improved air access remains a critical factor in driving visitor arrivals, and the additional capacity provided by these airlines will support demand from multiple markets while offering greater flexibility and convenience for travellers choosing Seychelles.

The announcement forms part of a global campaign led by Guinness World Records, celebrating Guinness World Records holders that have achieved exceptional international recognition and significance. Jonathan’s inclusion highlights his extraordinary longevity and global appreciation.

Living at Plantation House, the official residence of the Governor of St Helena, Jonathan has become one of St Helena’s most recognisable figures. Known for charming visitors from around the world, he also holds a special place in the hearts of the local community.

Jonathan’s recognition brings welcomed international attention to St Helena. As a living symbol of resilience, he has been a constant in our island’s history seeing the introduction of cars, electricity, TV, mobile and internet connectivity.

Media Invitation: Local and international media are invited to attend a press conference with HE Governor Nigel Phillips and Mrs Emma Phillips to discuss Jonathan’s prestigious Guinness World Records ICON recognition. The press conference will take place tomorrow, Wednesday 17 June 2026, at 09:00 GMT / 10:00 BST via https://representationplus.whereby.com/alison-cryer.

Commenting on this momentous announcement, His Excellency, Governor Nigel Phillips, says “Jonathan’s recognition as a Guinness World Records ICON is warmly welcomed by the people of St Helena. For generations, he has been regarded as a local icon, deeply embedded in the island’s identity and collective memory. This global acknowledgement reflects what the community has long known, that Jonathan is not only remarkable in age, but truly special to St Helena and its people.“

Note

GWR ICON status is a distinguished recognition awarded to record-holders, pioneers and internationally significant figures whose achievements have had a lasting impact. Jonathan’s inclusion places him among a select group of globally recognised ICONs and reflects the exceptional significance of his place in St Helena’s heritage and identity.

#JonathanTheTortoise #GuinnessWorldRecords #ICON

Now in its third edition, the event has evolved from an ambitious sporting initiative into an internationally recognised rendezvous for trail runners, adventure seekers, and nature lovers alike. The 2026 edition attracted participants from 14 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, all drawn to Seychelles’ rare combination of technical trails and breathtaking scenery.

Seychelles’ Minister for Tourism, Amanda Bernstein, welcomed the overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants and highlighted the event’s growing international appeal.

“I am delighted by the feedback we continue to receive from runners. The Seychelles Nature Trail offers a rare combination of technical challenge and exceptional natural beauty. Participants are leaving with unforgettable memories and are already expressing their desire to return next year. It is inspiring to see runners from around the world discovering Seychelles through this unique adventure,” said Minister Bernstein.

Far more than a race, the 22-kilometre course offers an immersive journey through the wild beauty of Seychelles. Runners traverse the dense forests of Morne Seychellois National Park, rugged mountain paths, dramatic granite formations, and spectacular coastal viewpoints before descending into Grand Anse. The route passes through Port Glaud, Cap Ternay, Anse Major, Mare aux Cochons, Cassedent, and Tomassin, delivering over 1,200 metres of elevation gain alongside sweeping views of the Indian Ocean.

International athletes praised both the challenge and uniqueness of the course. French trail-running icon Sylvaine Cussot, who finished second in the women’s category, described the race as one of the most remarkable trail experiences she has encountered. UK participant Charly Pauly also highlighted the exceptional diversity of terrain and scenery.

Pakistan’s Wiqar Ahmad Nasir successfully defended his title for the second consecutive year, crossing the finish line in 2:11:39. South Africa’s Daniël Classen secured second place in 2:13:00, while Jonathan Quatre claimed third place, becoming the first Seychellois athlete to complete the race.

In the women’s category, South Africa’s Emily Djock claimed victory in 2:55:05, followed by Sylvaine Cussot in 3:02:05 and Seychellois athlete Aisha Radwan in 3:14:05.

What distinguishes the Seychelles Nature Trail is not only the course itself, but the destination experience surrounding it. Unlike many large-scale international races, Seychelles offers participants an intimate connection with nature, culture, and community, where warm Creole hospitality, pristine landscapes, and sustainability remain central to the experience.

The growing popularity of the event also reflects Seychelles’ evolving tourism identity. Long celebrated for its idyllic beaches and luxury resorts, the destination is increasingly gaining recognition for adventure, wellness, and experiential travel. Through the Seychelles Nature Trail, Tourism Seychelles continues to showcase the islands’ exceptional biodiversity and growing potential as a leading nature and sports tourism destination.

As demand for authentic outdoor experiences continues to grow worldwide, the Seychelles Nature Trail is positioning the islands as a rising destination for adventure and wellness tourism, offering participants not just a race, but an unforgettable immersion into nature, culture, and community.

From tropical forest trails to sweeping Indian Ocean vistas, the event continues to showcase Seychelles as a place where adventure meets paradise.

Johannesburg – If you want to know where South African business is being done in 2026, just take a look at Corporate Traveller’s booking data. One of South Africa’s leading travel management companies (TMCs) for small- to medium-sized businesses, their top four international destinations have remained the same for the past three years: Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya and the United Kingdom.

And although there’s been some jostling for position, they’ve consistently dominated the top of the table. Three African neighbours and one long-haul anchor – each with compelling reasons to stay a little longer.

Bleisure still firmly on the agenda

Yes, flights will cost you more this year. Middle East airspace disruption is in partial recovery – Emirates announced on 4 May that it had restored 96% of its global network – but the knock-on effects remain. Rerouted long-haul flights are running between two and five hours longer than pre-crisis on many routes, and the price of jet fuel has more than doubled over the past month.

The cumulative effect is simple. Getting your people to a meeting in Lusaka or London now costs much more – be it in money, hours or traveller fatigue – than it did a few weeks ago. Which is precisely why bleisure is about to look a lot more attractive to South African business travellers, and a lot more sensible to the people approving their trips.

As Herman Heunes, GM of Corporate Traveller, explains, the smart play is to make every flight count for more.

“We’re seeing clients batch their meetings, sequence their itineraries more carefully and build in incentive opportunities, where you combine business and leisure,” says Heunes. “If you’ve already paid for the flight, the carbon and the time away, you may as well get more out of being there.”

That “more” is increasingly bleisure – the practice of tacking a few personal leisure days onto a business trip – and the data shows it has crossed firmly from perk into policy.

The Global Business Travel Association’s Industry Outlook poll, published in October last year, found that 43% of corporate travel programmes now have defined bleisure policies, with 71% of buyers citing improved employee satisfaction. Research from Skift puts the figure even higher: 60% of business travellers took a blended trip in 2024.

There’s a retention story underneath those numbers too. International research consistently shows that employees who travel for work are more likely to stay with their employer, with the figure climbing to over 75% among Gen Z. For SMEs that can’t match multinational salaries, a thoughtful bleisure policy is one of the highest-leverage, lowest-cost levers available, even in the face of cost pressures.

Planning a trip?

Zambia, which has held Corporate Traveller’s number-one spot for three years running, is at its most spectacular right now. Victoria Falls is at near-peak flow following the rains, and the Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa camps are reopening for the dry season. A Lusaka meeting could extend into a Livingstone weekend, and May to June is a shoulder window with rates noticeably softer than the July-to-September peak. For seriously memorable incentives consider a Victoria Falls sunset cruise, a private bush walk or a game drive in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.

Short on time? Lusaka itself rewards a single free day: a guided tour through the Kabwata Cultural Village for handwoven crafts and traditional Nyama Choma, the Lusaka National Museum for a feel for the country’s history, and a short drive out to the Lilayi Elephant Nursery to watch orphaned calves at feeding time.

Tanzania is similarly well-timed. The Great Migration is moving through the central and western Serengeti, with herds heading towards the Grumeti River crossings in June – a less-photographed but equally dramatic counterpart to the Mara crossings later in the year. Travellers in Dar es Salaam or Arusha can extend into a three-night Serengeti add-on, or build in a Zanzibar weekend if the calendar, commitments and budget allow.

A day to spare? Catch a boat from Dar’s famous Slipway to Bongoyo or Mbudya Island for white sand and snorkelling or stay on the mainland for the colourful chaos of Kariakoo Market, grilled octopus and live music on Coco Beach, and an evening of Swahili seafood somewhere on the waterfront.

Kenya is in a similar rhythm. The long rains are tapering, and the Maasai Mara is in its build-up to the river crossings that begin in earnest in July. The Great Migration remains a bucket-list trip for many – and incentive or reward like no other.

A gap in your itinerary?

Nairobi rewards the time generously. A half-day safari in Nairobi National Park puts lions and rhino within sight of the city skyline, while the Giraffe Centre and Karen Blixen Museum make for an easy afternoon in the leafy Karen suburb. For those with a free weekend, a 4×4 transfer down the Rift Valley delivers cycling and boating at Hell’s Gate and Lake Naivasha – or, with a single short flight from Wilson, the Maasai Mara itself.

And then there’s the United Kingdom, which offers what is arguably the most obvious bleisure or incentive opportunity: Wimbledon, running 29 June to 12 July. For travellers with London meetings in late June or early July, it’s the easiest extension on the calendar. The public ballot has closed, but hospitality routes and Debenture options remain available, and the queue system still allows same-day ground passes for those happy to queue (and soak up the atmosphere). Beyond the tennis, London in the summer is hard to beat: think long days, Thames cruises, pub lunches, Kew Gardens, shopping and more.

With flight costs and traveller fatigue both climbing, a smart bleisure or incentive add-on is one of the easiest ways to stretch the value of a trip your team is already taking: a thank-you that doubles as a productivity boost, and a chance for your people to see Africa and London in a light no boardroom ever offers. It pays, though, to do it properly. Heunes says a good TMC will help you design itineraries that work, negotiate the right rates and, importantly, build in the duty-of-care considerations required. “The trip is already happening,” says Heunes. “Chat to your TMC about making it an unforgettable one, even in the current climate.”

South African travellers can book the entire journey – from Johannesburg or Cape Town through to Maun – as a single through-ticket on one Proflight Zambia reservation. Johannesburg travellers fly daily into Lusaka, overnight, and continue to Maun the following morning. Cape Town travellers fly directly into Livingstone, spend time at Victoria Falls, and depart to Maun on a subsequent service, making the journey itself as much a part of the experience as the destinations.

Until now, combining Victoria Falls with the Okavango Delta in a single itinerary required routing back through Johannesburg, adding cost, time, and unnecessary complexity to what is a natural geographic pairing. The new service eliminates that entirely.

Captain Josias Walubita, Chief Pilot and Director of Flight Operations at Proflight Zambia, says the route addresses one of the most persistent frustrations for Southern African safari travellers.

“South African travellers have always understood that Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta belong in the same itinerary – the geography makes it obvious. What has held them back is the aviation infrastructure to make it practical. With this route, we are opening up a safari corridor that makes one of the world’s great multi-destination wildlife journeys genuinely accessible for the first time.”

The new corridor makes possible what is arguably Southern Africa’s most compelling safari itinerary: Zambia’s South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi, and Kafue National Parks combined with Victoria Falls, then onward to the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, and the Makgadikgadi Pans.

Peak season accommodation across both destinations books out quickly. Tickets are available now through Proflight Zambia’s sales offices, via travel agents, or online at flyzambia.com.

The event, titled “Unlocking Regional Connectivity: Rethinking How Southern Africa Moves Its Visitors,” will take place on 13 May 2026 at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli ICC Complex in Durban, South Africa. Supported by the Department of Tourism, Republic of South Africa, and co-funded by the German Government and the European Union (EU), the dialogue is implemented by the SADC Secretariat through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

Southern Africa’s tourism potential is vast and compelling, offering diverse experiences across its 16 Member States. Yet fragmented travel, limited air routes, varying visa requirements, and border inefficiencies have slowed progress. The SADC Tourism Programme 2020–2030 identifies connectivity as the foundation for growth, and this event is designed to move beyond reporting progress into dynamic, solution-driven dialogue. By uniting policymakers and private sector leaders, the session will focus on practical strategies to position Southern Africa as a seamless, multi-country destination that is easy to explore and attractive to global travellers.

The two-hour programme will open with a structured update on the SADC Tourism Programme, highlighting progress on the Univisa assessment, regional air access studies, Transfrontier Conservation Area development, and border efficiency initiatives. A government panel of Directors General and senior officials will then explore visa policy, air services agreements, and border management frameworks. This will be followed by a private sector panel where industry leaders will challenge assumptions and propose commercially viable solutions. Confirmed panellists include Mr Aaron Munetsi, CEO of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa; Ms Dimakatso Malwela of Women of Value Southern Africa (WOVSA); Ms Jillian Blackbeard of Africa’s Eden; Mr Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) and Chair of the Southern Africa Tourism Alliance. Audience members will be able to participate in real time through a digital platform. Both panels will be moderated by Ms Natalia Rosa of the Southern Africa Tourism Alliance.

Ms Angele Makombo N’tumba, Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration at the SADC Secretariat, emphasised: “Regional connectivity is the foundation on which the entire SADC Tourism Programme rests. This side event provides an important platform for government and private sector to engage directly on the realities of moving visitors across our region, and to identify where we can accelerate progress together.”

Ms Natalia Rosa of the Southern Africa Tourism Alliance added: “The private sector experiences the consequences of connectivity gaps every day, in lost bookings, itineraries that cannot be built, and visitors who choose other regions because Southern Africa is too complicated to navigate. This event is our opportunity to bring that commercial reality into direct conversation with policymakers. We are not here to report on progress. We are here to challenge each other on pace.”

The event is open to private sector CEOs and senior executives, national tourism association leaders, SADC Secretariat officials, Tourism Working Group members, airline and aviation stakeholders, civil aviation authorities, border management and immigration officials, development finance and investment representatives, development partners and tourism media.

For more information contact:
Ms Barbara Lopi, Head of Communication and Public Relations, SADC Secretariat – Email: blopi@sadc.int and cc: prinfo@sadc.int  or Ms Marygoreth Mushi, Programme Officer for Policy and Market Development – Email: mmushi@sadc.int  and cc: prinfo@sadc.int or Ms Natalia Rosa, Project Lead, Southern Africa Tourism Alliance – Tel: (+27) 83 449 4334, Email: natalia.rosa@thenbf.co.za

Issued by the SADC Secretariat, 7 May 2026

I sat on a panel at WTM Africa this week titled “Skills 2030: The Tourism Jobs That Don’t Exist Yet But Should.” It is a provocative title and it sparked a conversation I want to be honest about, because I don’t think we say it loudly enough in this industry. We are not ready.

South Africa’s tourism sector contributes nine percent to GDP. Two million jobs directly and indirectly. Eleven million arrivals in 2025. Seventy five percent of those from the African continent itself. By any measure this is a sector of enormous consequence to this country. Yet when I look at how we are preparing our people for the next four years I find myself genuinely concerned.

Three weeks ago I was at ITB in Berlin. I stayed at a full service, deluxe, 220 bedroom Courtyard by Marriott in the heart of the city. I asked how many permanent staff they employed. Eleven. Eleven permanent people running that entire property. They outsource maintenance. They outsource aspects of housekeeping. They have had absolutely no choice but to completely reimagine what a hotel operation looks like because Europe is in the grip of an acute staffing shortage that forces their hand every single day.

Now come back to South Africa. We have a steady labour supply. Relatively low minimum wages. A hospitality industry that frankly remains pretty poor paying in proportion to other sectors. Because of all of that we have not been forced to adapt the way our European counterparts have been forced to adapt. We have been comfortable. That comfort is building a skills crisis beneath the surface that is going to catch a lot of us off guard.

Our hotel schools, learnerships and many accredited institutions are doing what they have done for the last twenty years. Producing a steady supply of waiters, receptionists and barmen. I am not dismissing those roles. For 2030 we need something different though. We need people who are hybrid, technical and human simultaneously. People with soft skills, genuine commercial understanding and leadership capability. As an industry we are guilty. Guilty of not adopting, not training and not investing nearly enough in the futures of the young people coming through our ranks.

So what does 2030 actually look like in terms of the roles we need to prepare for in hospitality?

I don’t believe every hotel needs a permanent AI specialist sitting on their payroll. What I do believe is that AI consultancies are going to do very well indeed contracting with hotels, independents and BnBs, coming in and conducting proper AI audits. Taking honest stock of where a business actually is versus where it thinks it is. Most of us would be quite frightened by what that audit reveals.

The second role I think is coming whether we are ready for it or not is the sustainability manager at hotel level, or at least on a nodal level. The EU compliance requirements are already knocking on the door of any operator who wants the big European tour operators sending business their way. Dedicated sustainability roles embedded in our properties are coming. People working across community engagement, water and electricity management, feeding back into the grid, bridging the gap between the business and the environment it operates in. That is a real job and a critically important job. Right now we are training nobody for it.

Here is the thing I feel most strongly about though. We have created a generation of office jockey General Managers. Our GMs are drowning in data that needs to be engineered, analysed, compiled and sent upward through layers of corporate reporting. It is keeping brilliant, passionate, hospitality-born people trapped behind desks when they should be out on the floor.

“Management by Walking Around”, which should be the most fundamental instinct of any hotelier, has been slowly strangled by administrative burden that technology should already be handling for us. By 2030 there will be no excuse. The data engineering, the reporting, the analysis is by and large automated. When that happens our General Managers get to go back to doing what they came into this industry to do.

That is what 2030 looks like to me. Not robots replacing people. A General Manager back in the lobby where they belong.

Guy Stehlik is the Founder and CEO of BON Hotels and spoke on the panel “Skills 2030: The Tourism Jobs That Don’t Exist Yet But Should” at the WTM Africa 2026 Future Stage in Cape Town.

Table of Contents

Third annual Media Awards celebrate excellence in African travel journalism across five categories.

Cape Town: Africa Travel Week (ATW) has announced the winners of its 2026 Media Awards, honouring the journalists, photographers and content creators bringing Africa’s travel and tourism stories to global audiences.

Now in its third year, the ATW Media Awards received a record number of entries – over 170 across five categories: Sustainability Feature Award, Visual Tourism Award, Tourism News Award, Destination Feature Award and the Young Talent Award. All were evaluated by a world-class judging panel comprising wildlife photographer and Canon ambassador Ellie Rothnie, Kojo Bentum-Williams of VoyagesAfriq, Barry Nield of CNN Travel, Divia Thani of Condé Nast Traveller and Tom Hall of Lonely Planet.

“These awards exist to shine a light on the storytellers who shape how the world sees Africa,”says Olivia Gradidge, Marketing Manager (WTM Africa & ILTM Africa) at RX Africa, the host and architect of Africa Travel Week. “The quality of entries this year reflects the depth of talent working in African travel media, and we congratulate every finalist and winner.”

2026 ATW Media Awards Winners

Sustainability Feature Award

Gold: Bella Falk, BBC Wildlife Magazine – Dog Stars: On the Trail of African Wild DogsSilver: Savanna Strauss, Rewilding Southern Africa – Rewilding Giants

Bronze: Tafadzwa Mwanengureni, Minority Africa – They Escaped Their Husbands. Then They Took on Poachers.

Visual Tourism Award

Gold: Wiktoria West, Rewilding Southern Africa – Eastern Chimpanzee

Silver: Bella Falk, Passports & Pixels – Ugandan Group of Dancers

Bronze: Aaron Fishbein – The Basotho Herdsman

Tourism News Award

Gold: Jane Gatwiri, NTV Kenya – Twigas on Transit

Silver: Morgan Barnard, Social Safari Africa – Marriott International was preparing to open its new Ritz-Carlton Safari Camp in Kenya’s Maasai Mara

Bronze: Dale Hes, Tourism Update – AI’s Gatekeeper Role: A Threat to African Tourism

Destination Feature Award

Gold: Sam Kemp, National Geographic Traveller UK – Sierra Leone: After the Storm

Joint Silver: Charlotte Wigram-Evans, National Geographic Traveller – Uganda:We are One

Joint Silver: Lorna Parkes, National Geographic Traveller UK – Kenya: Natural OrderBronze: Victor Ayeni, Punch Newspapers – Nigeria: Sango’s Festival Where Ancient Rites Ignite Fire, Thunder

Young Talent Award

Gold: Shereefdeen Ahmad, The Liberalist – How Schengen Visa Denials Are Shutting Africans Out of the Global Stage

Silver: Savanna Strauss, Rewilding Southern Africa – Is Silence Going Extinct?

Bronze: William Muthama, K24 Digital – List of KWS Parks and Reserves You Can Visit for Free on Saturday

“In a media environment flooded with AI-generated content and deepfakes, what we saw in these entries was a reminder of why real journalism still matters,” says Dorine Reinstein from Big Ambitions, ATW’s PR partner. “”The 2026 winners represent the very best of that community: writers, photographers and journalists producing pieces that were grounded, well-researched and honestly told.”

The 2026 ATW Media Awards were presented at the end of Day 1 of WTM Africa during Africa Travel Week.

For media enquiries, contact Sonnette Fourie on +27 81 072 2869 or sonnette@bigambitions.co.za

“In an industry where seasonal and informal employment remain the norm, this commitment reflects my long-held conviction that tourism businesses have a responsibility to provide employees with dignity and a sustainable livelihood,” commented Baba.

Ilios Safaris, registered by Baba in 2018 and retained under his sole ownership, launching on 1 May 2026 as an affordable private touring and transfer specialist, serving FIT travellers and small groups across five key South African destinations:

• Cape Town
• Johannesburg
• Kruger National Park
• Durban
• Port Elizabeth

The company launches with a staff complement of 35 and a fleet of SUVs and minivans. Additionally, Baba has established trade partnerships with Destination Management Companies servicing tour operators across the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and India.

Baba wishes to be unambiguous about the standing of this entity. Ilios Safaris Pty Ltd is a separate legal entity, registered by and continuously owned by Mohamed Baba since 2018. It has no operational, financial, or structural connection to any other business operating under a similar name within the sector.

A Deliberately Structured Three-Brand Group

The launch of Ilios Safaris completes a carefully considered portfolio of three distinct tourism brands, each serving a different tier of the inbound travel market:

• Travel Black: A five-star luxury chauffeured touring and transfer specialist. SATSA-accredited and operational from January 2026.
• AURUM Africa: A four-star premium, employee-owned touring company operational since July 2025, founded on the principle that the people who deliver unforgettable travel experiences should also share in the rewards of those experiences.
• Ilios Safaris: A three-star affordable private touring and transfer specialist, operational from 1 May 2026, built for the adventurous FIT traveller and small group seeking genuine, professionally delivered experiences at an accessible price point.

A Resource for the Industry

Alongside this announcement, Baba releases a free, downloadable publication for the South African tourism industry. It is a founder’s survival manual disguised as a business memoir, which draws on hard-won experience to offer practical guidance on deal structuring, asset protection, governance, and the importance of preparing for crisis before it arrives. It is offered free of charge to any industry peer who may benefit from it.

“I have learned difficult lessons over the course of my career. If sharing those lessons honestly can protect even one founder from going through what I went through, then offering this freely is the least I can do for this industry,” Baba concluded.

The publication will be available shortly. Industry peers wishing to be notified upon release are invited to contact Mohamed Baba directly at mohamed.baba@aurumafrica.co.za

For more information about Ilios Safaris contact clinton@iliossafaris.com