We’re emerging from our winter (luckily, mostly sunny!) and heading into spring and summer.
Naturally, our summer period is very popular with tourists looking to escape winter in the Northern Hemisphere, but it is also a peak travel season for visitors from other parts of the globe, and we look forward to a bumper season.
The G20 Leadership Summit will take place in Johannesburg during the second half of November, which could cause a few bottlenecks. Fortunately, Johannesburg is not a prime tourist destination, so the impact on tourist movements should be minimal.
Earlier this year, we highlighted the introduction of the TTOS (Trusted Tour Operator Scheme). This initiative allows us to facilitate the tourist visa process for Indian passport holders. The scheme has now been operational for nearly six months and is working well. It is efficient, and we’ve been able to process visas for our Indian clients within five days or less from the application date. The visa process for Indian passport holders has long been a frustrating challenge, so we are thankful and excited that our immigration authority has finally implemented a suitable, effective, and efficient solution.
While challenges remain for some of our other source markets, we are hopeful that this pilot project signals the development of smoother, more efficient processes for these markets in the future.
We pride ourselves on the product knowledge of our team, and they have been travelling extensively across the region for site inspections in recent months. Several team members visited hotel properties in the Hazyview area outside Kruger National Park, Jill explored the Garden Route, Lindi enjoyed an immersive Botswana experience, and Pieter reviewed the refreshed Palace of the Lost City. Many of the team also visited lodges around the Pilanesberg National Park and in the Hoedspruit area of the Greater Kruger. We continue to explore and assess properties to ensure we deliver the best experiences for your clients.
Meeting our partners face-to-face around the world has always been, and remains, a priority. In September, I will be in Europe meeting partners in Italy, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, while Pieter will be in India in October. Our partners in other European source markets can also expect a visit from me in November. We are working on an exciting project to bring our premium luxury product suppliers to our partners in Southeast Asia and India in early 2026 — we will share more details once everything is in place.
Although 2025 hasn’t brought a flurry of new products, we would like to highlight a few notable additions:
- Royal Malewane has added an additional camp to its portfolio — Masiya’s Camp, a tented camp envisioned by Liz Biden, bursting with colour under canvas.
- Idube Lodge in the Sabi Sands has undergone a complete rebuild and refurbishment, restoring the property to its high standard. The safari suites are now updated and modern while retaining the comfort and homely charm the lodge is known for.
- In Cape Town, Canopy by Hilton has opened just off Kloof Street, an area renowned for its food scene and nightlife. Eclectic and vibrant, the hotel also features a restaurant by South African celebrity chef Bertus Basson.
- The Sabi Sabi Collection, known for its safari lodges, will expand into the city scene with the opening of The Claremont Boutique Hotel this September in Cape Town’s upmarket Claremont suburb.
- In the Stellenbosch Winelands, Spier Hotel has reopened after an extensive reimagining and refurbishment, now also offering villa options.
In the Victoria Falls area, there have also been exciting developments:
- On the Zimbabwean side, Stanley & Livingstone has rebranded under the Anantara chain.
- The new Waterfalls Lodge, located in the centre of Victoria Falls, is a welcome addition to the mid-range segment.
- Shongwe has added a sister property next door to Shongwe Oasis — Samanzi, a boutique option in the premium value segment.
- Across the border in Zambia, The David Livingstone has completed an extensive refurbishment.
All of these properties are now included in our product library on the website. We’ve also refreshed some of our existing listings with updated images, as we know many partners find the library a valuable tool when selecting product options.
Best wishes for the remainder of 2025 — we trust it will be a fruitful and successful period.
Yours in Tourism,
Johan