African Air Travel Boom Continues
Kenya Airways, which was voted Africa’s leading airline in 2017 at the World Travel Awards, recently announced plans to begin daily non-stop service between New York’s Kennedy Airport and Nairobi. The airline has secured a landing slot at JFK, and the inaugural flight is scheduled to take place October 28, 2018. With a flight time of around 15 hours, the new service will be convenient for tourists as well as business travelers-previously visitors to Kenya had to connect to air service to Nairobi in a European city or the Middle East. The transatlantic flight is scheduled to depart daily from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi at 10:30 p.m. and arrive at JFK at 6:30 a.m., while the return flight from JFK- New York will depart at 1:30 p.m. and arrive in Nairobi at 10:30 a.m. the following day. Early bird tickets are currently going for $869.31 all taxes included for economy class for a limited time.
When Kenya Airways starts the service, the “Big Three” of African airlines: Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, South African Airways will all offer non-stop service between the East Coast and the African continent.
Ethiopian Airways currently offers flights from: Washington Dulles to Addis Ababa (non-stop), Newark, New Jersey to Lome, Togo, (non-stop) and a direct flight from Los Angeles to Addis that stops in Dublin, Ireland briefly. Addis Ababa is the airline’s hub, and travelers can connect to flights across the African continent. Ethiopian is a member of the Star Alliance, and upgraded its fleet in recent years.
South African Airways currently offers non-stop service between JFK and Johannesburg, as well as flights to Ghana from Washington Dulles. SAA has great connections from Johannesburg to nearby countries such as Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, and Malawi.
Kenya Airway’s decision to start direct service to the United States was no accident. Air traffic to Africa increased six percent in 2016 according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and was expected to grow last year also. As interest in visiting Africa for leisure and business continue to grow, carriers are adding routes and flights in an effort to keep up with demand.
Air traffic within the continent is also increasing. Rwanda’s national carrier Rwanda Air added service last year to Benin and Cote D’Ivoire in West Africa. Air Namibia plans to begin air service from the Namibian capital of Windhoek to Accra and Lagos. Meanwhile, the Zambian government announced it plans to relaunch Zambia Airways in partnership with Ethiopian airlines.
Africa is experiencing an aviation boom, as African carriers are increasing their presence both within and outside the continent. The results include more income and jobs for local populations, and more international awareness of Africa as a tourist and business destination. The good news is that African aviation is expected to continue to grow for the foreseeable future.
The aviation boom is expected to attract more tourists to visit the beautiful continent with the shorter direct flights. If you have been thinking about travelling to Africa, this is the best time.
Visa Requirements: if visiting the East African regions (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania) you can obtain an East Africa Tourist Visa with multiple entries within a 90 day period. If travelling to other countries in Africa check with the embassy for the visa requirements. A valid passport is required.
Vaccinations: Please visit your doctor for further advice.
What to wear? Carry clothes that you can layer up or down depending with the weather.
Best Safaris offers memorable journeys to Africa for hunting safari. Here are the Top tourist attractions to visit while in hunting safari East and the Southern part of Africa.
Kenya: Capital city is Nairobi, the weather ranges from warm to humid depending on the time of year. Thanks to its diverse climate and geography, expansive wildlife reserves as well as national parks such as: Maasai Mara, Samburu & Shabu Game Parks, Lake Nakuru National Park, Lake Elementaita, Amboseli National Park, SweetWaters and Mount Kenya & the Aberdares National Park.
Uganda: The capital city is Kampala. Famous for their Gorilla Trekking, an experience of a lifetime.
Tanzania: Capital City Dar es Salaam is known for its vast wildness areas such as the famous Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater.
Rwanda : Capital City Kigali is a landlocked country known for its green mountainous landscapes. Places to visit for hunting safari are: Parc National Des Volcans (PNV), Nyungwe Forest, Akagera National Park and Lake Kivu.
Zambia : is one of the most beautiful, diverse and unspoiled countries in the continent, and known for the spectacular Victoria Falls known by the local tribe as “the smoke that thunders”.
Zimbabwe: is expected to be a popular tourist attraction this year, and is famous for its tourist attraction of Victoria Falls, also referred to us “the greatest curtain of falling water in the world”.
Bostwana: home to well known Chobe National Park, The Okavango Delta and The Kalahari Desert.
Nambia: is home to diverse wildlife. Places to visit are: Etosha National Park, Legendary Dunes of Sossusvlei , the Kalahari and Nambi Deserts.
South Africa: Capital Cities: Cape Town, Bloemfontein & Pretoria. The country is on the southernmost tip of the continent is known for hunting safari, big game in Kruger National Park & Madikwe Game Reserve Kapama Game Reserve, Cape of Good Hope and Table Mountain.
Best Safaris offers exclusive hunting safari tours in Africa. We have been in business for over 30 years and we know Africa better than anyone. Contact your safari expert at 1-800-757-6625
