South Africa Outperforms 2010 Global Tourism Market

South Africa recorded a remarkable 15% increase in tourist arrivals to the country in 2010 – outperforming the global average by 8%. And while the Fifa World Cup in June and July played a role in the increase, tourist arrivals were buoyant all year round.

Last year saw just over eight million (8 073 552) tourist arrivals compared to slightly over seven million (7 011 865) in 2009, comparing well with international standards.

Figures from the UN World Tourism Organisation showed that global tourism arrivals were estimated to have grown by 6.7% in 2010. This meant that South Africa outperformed the global market by 8%.

For the full story, on SouthAfrica.info click here.

Is Google Able to Increase Airfares?

Online travel companies say Google's proposed $700 million acquisition of flight information company ITA Software.company acquisition will drive up airfares.

Members of the FairSearch.org coalition are urging the US Justice Department to block the Google-ITA deal - just as it did in November 2008 with the Google-Yahoo! advertising agreement.

They are claiming that Google's purchase of ITA would give the Internet search giant too much control over the online travel sector and lead to higher prices and fewer choices for consumers.

"You're taking the dominant flight search engine company, which is ITA, and you're combining it with the dominant online search company, which is Google," Thomas Barnett told AFP.

For the full article on iafrica, click here.

Lake of Fire

Do not panic, there is not another ash cloud emergency over Europe. In June 2010, a team of scientists and intrepid explorers stepped onto the shore of the lava lake boiling in the depths of Nyiragongo Crater, in the heart of the Great Lakes region of Africa.

Members of the team had been dazzled since childhood by the images of the 1960 documentary "The Devil's Blast" by Haroun Tazieff, who was the first to reveal to the public the glowing red breakers crashing at the bottom of Nyiragongo crater. Photographer Olivier Grunewald was within a meter of the lake itself, giving us a unique glimpse of it's molten matter. Paula Nelson

The view from the volcano’s rim, 11,380 feet above the ground. At 1,300 feet deep, the lava lake has created one of the wonders of the African continent.

The permanent lava lake of the Nyiragongo is the biggest in the world, an estimated 282 million cubic feet of lava. In 1977 and 2002, the lava lake breached the crater, destroying a large part of the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

At night, the base camp is illuminated by the light of the lava lake.

Franck Pothé approaches the lava. For such a close encounter, the wind must be at his back, pushing the heat away. Pothé is constantly informed of the swirling winds via radio contact with other members.

Marc Caillet is the first member of the team to reach the lake’s rim.

For more images click here.

Cape Town Bicycle Map Launched

The first ever Cape Town Bicycle Map, which details safer urban cycling routes, bicycle parking, painted and segregated bicycle lanes and other urban cycling information, has been released.

This first edition covers the central city, the West Coast to Milnerton route, the southern suburbs and south peninsula. The soon-to-be-released Winelands Map will include the Durbanville area as well as the Winelands.

The print map is complemented by the blog, ‘rideyourcity.wordpress.com’, which gives updated route information as well as details of bicycle-friendly venues, bicycle parking, new policy issues and infrastructure.

Individual copies of the A1 full-colour maps cost R40 each; orders of 10 copies or more cost R30 each. Maps are also available, free, from the Cape Town bicycle map advertisers, whose details can be found at http://www.capetownbicyclemap.co.za/.

Mauritius School Holiday Family Special

Take advantage of this Mauritius Family Holiday special for the March/April school holidays. Choose from the luxury resorts of La Plantation Resort & Spa, Ambre Resort & Spa or Indian Resort & Spa.

One child stays & eats free in a standard room. Two kids stay & eat free in family room, only paying for flights and transfer.

For more information and bookings email info@findingafrica.com or contact us on + 27 (0)21 685 6460.

Terms and conditions apply.

Moon phases for Cape Town 2011

Due to much interest from the Lion’s Head Full Moon Hike post yesterday, above are the moon phases for Cape Town in 2011. You can also view the information here. Don’t forget to bring torches for the way down. Enjoy the hike and see you at the top!

View from Lion's Head on a Full Moon Hike

Lion's Head is a mountain located in Cape Town, between Table Mountain and Signal Hill. Known for spectacular views over the city, an hour-long walk to the top is particularly popular during full moon.

Click here for a spectacular 360 degree view of a moonlit sky on top of Lion’s Head, don’t forget to drag your mouse up and down and side to side.

50% off Luxury Five Star Mauritius Holiday

The Four Seasons Mauritius is offering an incredible special of R 15 215 per person for a 7 night luxury resort holiday, including airfare. For further information, email info@findingafrica.com.

Rehabilitated penguins take to the seas

Almost 90 penguin chicks have been released after being rescued and rehabilitated at the Eastern Cape Penguin Rehabilitation Centre in Cape St Francis.

The Eastern Cape Penguin Rehabilitation Project is an organisation dedicated to help oiled, sick and dehydrated or injured African penguins. It rescues and rehabilitates vulnerable and injured penguins and other marine animals and educates people about the effects that factors such as pollution have on the environment.

“The subsequent release of almost 90 chicks two weeks ago was surely an incredible feat. Most of the chicks were rescued off the island making it their first encounter with the ocean after being taught to swim at the Penguin Centre’s swimming pool,” said the organisation in a statement.

The project relies solely on contributions from benefactors who effectively “sponsor” each animal’s rehabilitation. One of the patrons of this caring organisation is the Cape St Francis Resort, parents to two of the penguins who were recently released. These two chicks had a special place in the hearts of the staff at the Cape St Francis Resort and were dubbed Elvis and Priscilla. For more information about the Eastern Cape Penguin Rehabilitation Project, visit http://www.penguin-rescue.org.za/

SAA fly’s direct to New York

South African Airways (SAA) is revamping its schedule with new direct services to New York and more seats on routes into Africa.

"Effective 01 May 2011, we will offer our customers the convenience of flying non-stop between Johannesburg and New York. Our non-stop flights to New York will allow a full day in Johannesburg with an early morning arrival in New York.

"Further, the reduced travel time result in fast and efficient connections to several key US destinations such as Boston, Chicago, Florida, California, as well as Canada and the Caribbean," says Theunis Potgieter, SAA’s General Manager: Commercial.

The non-stop flight from Johannesburg to New York (SA203) will depart OR Tambo International Airport daily at 20h35 arriving John F. Kennedy International Airport at 6h40, whilst the non-stop flights from New York (SA204) will depart daily at 11h15 arriving in OR Tambo International Airport at 8h40.

Due to increased demand for services in Africa, SAA will also introduce the wide-body Airbus 340 on flights to Kenya and Namibia. From the end of March, the airline will also introduce wide-body services between Johannesburg and Windhoek on 7 of its 20 weekly services.

Full the full article on iafrica.com, click here.

Seriously Beautiful Cape Town

This clip offers a different perspective of Cape Towns unique beauty, using short time lapse photography. Table Mountain and its swirling clouds take center stage in a day in the life of Cape Town’s City Bowl.

The sounds track is rather dramatic, but its still works well in setting the scene. We look forward to the full length feature later this year.

The prelude film was put together by Silver Bullet production.

Cape Winelands Hotel tops TripAdvisor

The Steenberg Hotel in Cape Town’s Constantia Valley was named the Best Luxury Hotel in Africa by http://www.tripadvisor.com/, in its 2011 Travelers’ Choice awards.

Praised for its ‘excellent service and perfect mixture of old world charm and modern amenities’, Steenberg topped the list as voted by real travellers from across the globe, many of whom have stayed at the hotel, and experienced its service and amenities.

South African hotels also proudly claimed 2nd and 3rd place in the same category, with Four Rosmead in Cape Town and Hunter’s Country House in Harkerville taking the honours respectively.

This is the ninth year that the “Travelers’ Choice Awards” has been conducted, with catagories such as best bargain hotels to best luxury hotels.