This will include flights under its code-share arrangements with LAM Mozambique Airlines.

As detailed in fastjet’s 2019 Interim Results announcement and April Trading Update, competition in Mozambique began to intensify at the end of 2018 with the market entry of Ethiopian Airlines as a domestic carrier.  

This increase in aircraft and capacity supply, coupled with two category 5 tropical cyclones at the beginning of 2019 which suppressed passenger demand, led fastjet to scale back frequency on routes and to reduce overall capacity in Mozambique.  As a result, fastjet Mozambique reported significantly reduced revenue of US$1.9m in the first half of 2019 (H1 2018: US$4.2m) out of total revenue for the Group of US$19.7m.

Following continued losses (US$2.4m in the first half of 2019) and the ongoing oversupply of available seats by other carriers, fastjet has decided to suspend all flight operations in Mozambique.

It is expected that costs related to the suspension of flight operations in Mozambique including refunds will amount to around $150k.

However, fastjet remains committed to returning to Mozambique once demand for air travel in the country increases sufficiently compared to capacity supplied.

The suspension of flights in Mozambique does not affect any of the operations of fastjet Zimbabwe, the leading airline brand in Zimbabwe, which continues to operate between Harare, Johannesburg, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. Cash balances as at 30 September amounted to US$2.8 million.

Mark Hurst, fastjet Interim Chief Executive Officer, said: “The detrimental financial impact of ongoing supply and demand challenges means that suspending our Mozambique operations is the right course of action at this time.  However, we remain committed to Mozambique, will be monitoring the market environment very closely and expect to return there as and when the situation improves.”

The agreement will see IHG expand its presence in Sub-Saharan Africa, including key countries such as South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Mauritius, Ethiopia, Zambia and Kenya. The development adds to IHG’s growing pipeline in the Middle East and Africa and cements its position as one of the leading operators in the region.

Valor Hospitality Partners Africa is a subsidiary of Valor Hospitality Partners Global that manages and asset manages projects across America, the UK, Middle East, South Africa and South East Asia. IHG currently operate hotels with Valor Hospitality Partners in America and the UK. 

Graham Wood, Managing Director of Valor Hospitality Partners Africa added: “We are thrilled to further strengthen our partnership with a global hospitality leader such as IHG® and expand our portfolio in Africa with their well-established brands that are loved by travellers across the world. We have consistently benefitted from IHG’s global distribution system in the Americas and the UK, best in class revenue management tools, and their commitment to deliver commercial success in partnership with their owners. With the new brands IHG have added in recent months, this agreement presents us with a unique opportunity to provide a range of high-quality branded accommodation options to suit the evolving needs of guests travelling to Africa.”

IHG® currently operates 26 hotels across four brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn®, and Holiday Inn Express ®, in Africa. 

Time slot 1: 05:30 to 07:30
Time slot 2: 07:30 to 09:30
Time slot 3: 09:30 onwards

“For busy periods such as the school holidays and festive season, we aim to better manage the volumes that we expect, as well as our visitors’ expectations. The three different time slots are aimed at improving the spread of vehicles and, as far as possible prevent unnecessary waiting periods at gates”, said the KNP’s GM: Communications and Marketing, Ike Phaahla.

The Day Visitor Quota for the Park is a management tool to prevent overcrowding the roads and facilities and is applied throughout the year although we mostly reach carrying capacity during long weekends and school holidays resulting in us having to turn visitors away. Visitors will be able to book up to 80% of Day Visitor Quota per gate via SANParks Reservations offices and online at www.sanparks.org.

Pre-booked day visitors will get preference over non-booked day visitors at the gate but must ensure that they arrive within their booked time slots. Arriving outside the booked time slot, will be regarded as non-booked and therefore will not receive preference and could be turned away. These bookings can be changed as well through SANParks Reservations offices if need be.

Phaala also reminded visitors to read the permit which they receive at the gates because all the rules and regulations of the park are clearly stipulated on these documents. “Day visitors may not bring liquor as a result of the alcohol ban in public areas of the Park. Further, visitors must please also refrain from committing other infringements such as littering, speeding and alighting from vehicles in places where this is prohibited in the Park. These and other Park rules are emphasized to ensure visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience, while not impacting other visitors, and hence must be adhered to at all times whilst in the Park. Visitor Management vehicles will also be on patrol; providing information to guests, visibility on the roads and law enforcement in the Park;” he advised.

Visitors can report any rules and regulations infringement which they witness to the Emergency Call Centre numbers 013 735 4064/013 735 0197/076 801 9679. It is however important that the following information is provided:

Vehicle type and colour
Vehicle registration
Date and Time of Incident
SATSA sticker showing vehicle number (for Open Safari Vehicles)
Details of Incident
Photographic evidence
Location of Incident
“We also advise guests to exercise caution when driving around areas undergoing construction such as Skukuza Camp so as to avoid unnecessary accidents”, concluded Phaahla.

Visitors should also take note of the following important information:

Day Visitor pre-bookings are subject to a non-refundable booking fee of R43 per adult and R22 per child.
Day Visitors who have pre-booked will still be required to pay Conservation Fees or use a valid Wild Card to enter the Park. The Conservation Fee for SA residents as well as Zimbabwe and Mocambique nationals (passport required to prove this) is R93 per adult and R47 per child (between ages 2 – 11). For nationals of Eswatini (previously Swaziland) and other SADC countries, the conservation fees are R186 per adult and R93 per child. For all other guests, the standard conservation fees of R372 for adults and R186 for children applies
Guests planning to use Wild Cards are requested to ensure membership is valid before arrival and this can best be done online at www.sanparks.org/wild
The number and profile of persons (adults and children) on the reservation and actual persons arriving should correspond.
All guests (drivers and passengers) will be required to identify themselves upon admission (by producing a South African driver’s license, identity document or passport); please ensure you are in possession of one of these documents and have them ready.
Due to existing contractual arrangements with Open Safari Vehicles (OSVs), they have paid for the annual operating permit and are authorised to enter external gates 15 minutes before opening time to ensure fair distribution/flow of traffic.
Gate Quotas will be strictly applied and guests without pre-bookings could be denied entry.

Guests are encouraged to continuously provide feedback on their experience to customer.care@sanparks.org

Tewolde Gebremariam said Ethiopian Mozambique Airlines will connect eight domestic destinations in Mozambique: Maputo, Nampula, Tete, Pemba, Beira, Nacala, Quelimane and Chimoio.

“The start of the activity, which is under a partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, will promote air connections in Mozambique, thereby increasing the share of African airlines in the mainland market,” said Gebremariam during the inaugural flight that departed from Nacala to Maputo.

In September 2017, Ethiopian Airlines and Malawi Airlines were the two foreign companies selected to explore domestic air routes under a public tender launched by the Civil Aviation Institute of Mozambique (IACM) in April.

The union commission of Mozambican airline, Linhas Aereas de Mocambique (LAM) announced last week that it intends to prevent the Ethiopian Airlines from operating domestic flights in Mozambique through a subsidiary.

“The workers of LAM ask those who have the right to restore legality and take measures to safeguard national interests,” said the statement, quoted by Mozambican daily newspaper O País.

The much-anticipated opening follows four years of construction undertaken by the China Road and Bridge Corporation. The bridge from Maputo to Catembe in southern Mozambique is now officially the longest suspension bridge in Africa, surpassing the record previously held by Matadi Bridge in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Maputo-Catembe Bridge is guaranteed to cut travel time between Maputo in Mozambique and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

KwaZulu-Natal’s Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs confirmed that this development, which involved South African engineers, would stimulate trade and tourism between the two countries, saying:

“The road will see the travel time between Maputo to Kosi Bay, KwaZulu-Natal’s East coast border post, drastically reduced, from 6 hours to 90 minutes.

This is a huge achievement. It will boost trade and tourism between South Africa and Mozambique.”

The Maputo-Catembe Bridge was inaugurated by the President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, on 10 November. The three-kilometre-long suspension bridge, which extends 680 metres over Maputo Bay, has been lauded as a Southern Africa’s latest and greatest engineering feat.

In a statement issued by Netcare Travel Clinics Dr Peter Vincent of Netcare Travel Clinics and Medicross Tokai said: “Unfortunately, we haven’t seen the last of malaria in South Africa, which by all indications is making something of a come back, and over the last year there have been a number of cases reported from areas where it was previously thought to have been eliminated, such as the Waterberg District in the north-east of Limpopo province.”

“The rainy summer season in the northern parts of South Africa is associated with an increase in the numbers of malaria-carrying Anopheles mosquito and a considerably enhanced risk of contracting the illness within the endemic areas of southern Africa. The risk is highest between September through to the following May, which is considered to be ‘malaria season’ in South Africa,” added Dr Vincent.

Dr Vincent warned that malaria infection can result in serious, complications, particularly if it is not identified and treated at an early stage. He said that Netcare Travel Clinics is consequently advising travellers to do their homework before visiting areas where malaria may be present. This is particularly important as the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) recently proposed expanding the malaria risk areas within South Africa.

“Make sure you know where these areas are and understand what kinds of precautions may be necessary ahead of your trip. Malaria poses a risk in the northern parts of Limpopo province, eastern Mpumalanga and northern KwaZulu-Natal as well as in parts of neighbouring countries such as Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

The Group has signed an agreement with developer Matreal Property Services to operate Mövenpick Hotel Maputo, a 150-room modern upscale property conveniently located next to Maputo International Airport and just 5km from the centre of the capital city.

Set to open in 2021, the upcoming property will capitalise on Mozambique’s ongoing growth and development, with projects underway that could see the country emerge as one of the world’s top natural gas exporters in the near future.

“Following our strategic vision for Africa to reinforce our foothold in the East and Southern part of the continent, the time is right to enter Mozambique, a strategically-important market where AccorHotels has identified opportunities to meet the demand for upscale accommodation combined with the Mövenpick brand which resonates deeply with our guests,” said Mark Willis, Chief Executive Officer, AccorHotels Middle East & Africa.

“With its strong ties to the region’s economic hub, South Africa, its growing importance as a regional commercial centre, plus its future tourism potential given its rich culture and unspoiled Indian Ocean coastline, Mozambique is a major key city for development and one that will drive future expansion opportunities.”

The 150-room property will cater to the growing number of corporate and government-related travellers visiting the Mozambique capital to conduct business, as well as local companies looking to stage meetings and events with a number of meeting and conference facilities in addition to attractive dining options.

“Maputo is a business hub in its own right, and as the city grows, attracting more companies and visitors, it requires world-class accommodation, business and dining facilities that meet their needs and expectations,” said Mr. Thomas Matlala, Director at Matreal Property Services.

“We are confident AccorHotels can deliver these standards, putting our new property – and Maputo – on the map in this dynamic region of Africa.”

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts currently operates 25 properties across Africa, with an active development pipeline. The brand was acquired by AccorHotels in September 2018, and as a result, it has enabled The Group to become the largest operator in Africa with a network of over 150 hotels in operation, representing close to 27,000 rooms across 23 countries.

The complex consists of five buildings, including a supermarket, the four-star Meliá Maputo Sky Hotel with 172 rooms, 84 apartments, 156 shops, a gymnasium, offices, and a car park with space for 1,800 vehicles. The complex belongs to the JAT Group, whose earlier buildings already dominate much of the modern part of the downtown area.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Nyusi said the complex is an initiative which will add value to the tourism sector, increase the offer of tourism services and diversify the accommodation offered.

“This is an example of how the Mozambican private sector is backing the government’s project of selecting tourism as one of the pillars for development, to make Mozambique a preferred tourist destination at world level”, he declared.

For his part, the chairperson of the JAT Group, Joao Brito, noted that the area of 130,000 square metres on which the complex has been built was once a swamp. The inauguration ceremony marked the 20th anniversary of the start of the JAT Group’s operations in Maputo.

He stressed that the Group, which employs hundreds of people, also undertakes “social responsibility actions, notably in health, education, and support for needed children and for the elderly”.

The certificate is a document which guarantees to all countries that the airport is operating within internationally recognized standards to receive flights from any part of the world.

Transport and Communications Minister, Carlos Mesquita told a ceremony in Maputo on Tuesday that there are clear signs that aviation in Mozambique is growing otherwise these giant air companies would not be flying to the southern African nation.

“We have a long list of international companies who want to use our airport”, he said at a granting ceremony on Tuesday

Maputo International Airport had been receiving flights from such international companies as Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines and TAP-Air Portugal even without the certificate but paid larger insurance costs.

A team from the IACM had been working at the airport for three years.

During this time the runway and the apron had been completely rehabilitated.

Mesquita added that it is important to stimulate the aviation sector and make it more competitive, “bearing in mind the tourism potential and diversity the country possesses”.

He wanted to ensure that Mozambique is on the list of main destinations “at regional and continental level”.

The IACM now intends to certify Beira and Nampula airports,

APA-Maputo (Mozambique)

In April this year, the Mozambican Ministry of Land, Environment and Rural Development, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), launched a new biodiversity project in an effort to strengthen the conservation of endangered species.

The project is set to run until 2024 and will finance the expansion of Mozambique’s conservation areas, and contribute to a better use of the country’s biodiversity.

However, this is only one of many conservation efforts currently taking place in Mozambique, says Natalie Tenzer-Silva, Director at Dana Tours.

“One of the government’s priority areas is the preservation of natural resources and of the environment, in order to ensure the balanced and sustainable development of the national territory,” says Tenzer-Silva.

Here are some more conservation projects taking place in Mozambique:

Pairing coffee and conservation

At Mozambique’s Mount Gorongosa, farmers are being encouraged to grow coffee in the shade of hardwood trees, both to improve their own lot and to restore the forest.

Scientists settled on coffee as an alternative tool in a broader restoration plan for the mountain because the 90 hardwood trees planted for every hectare (2.5 acres) of coffee provide shade that the crop needs to thrive. A sustainable mosaic of cultivation and natural forest is envisioned, and farmers are encouraged to cultivate bananas, pineapples and other crops amid coffee plantations, providing fertilizer for the coffee from falling foliage.

Quentin Haarhoff, a veteran farmer of coffee around Africa, acts for a non-profit group founded by American philanthropist Greg Carr who is collaborating with Mozambique’s government to rehabilitate Gorongosa National Park, says that essentially, growing the crops is restoring the natural hydrology of the soil here. It’s turning into a sponge

Gorongosa has a rich ecosystem whose animals are recovering after war and poaching. To aid in the recovery process, the thinking goes, that the poor communities around the park’s edges must become stakeholders in their natural heritage rather than remain spectators to the occasional tourist influx.

Designed to help hundreds of families on and around Mount Gorongosa, the coffee project is supported by Carr’s foundation, the Norwegian government and the Global Environment Facility, a group of 183 countries, international institutions and other entities. The annual budget is expected to expand to between $1m and $2m.

Diamonds and elephants

Anglo-American diamond mining giant De Beers has begun transporting 200 elephants across 1 500km from its Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve (VLNR) in South Africa to Mozambique.

The operation, one of the largest elephant translocations ever recorded in South Africa, is part of a major conservation initiative to protect the welfare of wildlife in South Africa and help restore Mozambique’s elephant population, the group stated on its website.

For the first phase of the project, as many as 60 elephants will be transported in July and August from the VLNR to Zinave National Park in central Mozambique.

The remaining elephants will be moved to conservation areas that hold sufficient elephant carrying capacity within Mozambique from next year.

De Beers Group is partnering with Peace Parks Foundation, a leading not-for-profit organisation focused on the preservation of large functional cross-border ecosystems, to carry out the initiative.

Through formal agreements with Mozambique’s National Administration for Conservation Areas, Peace Parks Foundation co-manages Zinave National Park, which is an integral component of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area.

Peace Parks Foundation will assist De Beers Group with the translocation, ensuring the elephants’ social groups aren’t disturbed and that they flourish in their new habitat through ongoing monitoring of their wellbeing and enhanced protection efforts.

Flying African Wild dogs

In April this year, a pack of African wild dogs took to the skies above Southern Africa on a remarkable journey that will hopefully provide one of the continent’s most endangered carnivore species with another chance for survival.

Fourteen of these wild dogs were offered new living and breeding space within the 400‚000 hectare Gorongosa National Park‚ north-west of Beira.

Now three months on, they have acclimated to their new setting and forged a strong bond, with Beira, the alpha female currently expecting a litter.

In addition, over the past few years‚ more intensive conservation efforts have led to a significant recovery of antelope and other prey species in Gorongosa. A recent aerial census suggests there are now more than 78‚000 herbivores in the park‚ including more than 500 elephants.