NEWSFLASH –SEPTEMBER 2014

Sun City stops Elephant Back Safa- ris

Tourvest Accommodation and Activities (TAA) will end its ele- phant-back safaris and elephant in- teraction activities at Sun City Re- sort from the end of August in order to rehabilitate the elephants.TAA chief executive, Gary Elmes, said that, after 12 years of educating and enriching the lives of countless visi- tors to Sun City, it was time to enter the next planned phase in the ele- phants’ lives, which was to release them back into the wild.

Mastercard launches multi – currency cash passport

The new prepaid chip and pin-protected travel card, is now available from 54 American Express Foreign Ex- change bureaus countrywide. The card can be preloaded with up to four currencies at once – US dollars, pounds sterling, Australian dollars and euros – the MasterCard Multi- currency Cash Passport lets travel- ers pay for goods and services at millions of merchant locations and withdraw cash from ATMs all over the world where MasterCard prod- ucts are accepted. Additional secu- rity benefits include emergency cash disbursements and the card is re- placed free if lost or stolen. Assis- tance is available 24/7, globally and can be accessed toll-free in 50 coun- tries. The card’s embedded chip technology offers increased protec- tion against counterfeiting and fraud. Preloading specific currency amounts onto the Cash Passport prior to travelling reduces currency conversion charges.

In each destination country, the Cash Passport matches the transac- tion currency with the appropriate currency loaded on to the card so that no further foreign exchange conversions happen. Furthermore, to ensure that purchases are not de- clined due to an insufficient balance, the Cash Passport will also convert the transaction amount into another available currency loaded on the card when required. The Cash Pass- port links cardholders to their ac- counts online, so they can check their balance, move money between currencies, review their transaction history and update personal details at any time. The card is now availa- ble at 85 ABSA branches and Amer- ican Express Foreign Exchange out- lets around the country.

Allow for extra time when check- ing in for flights to U.S

Following the tightening of security measures by American authorities at US air- ports, airlines are advising custom- ers to allow for extra time when checking in for flights to the United States. Passengers are advised to ensure their electronic devices are on and charged, or risk being de- nied boarding. Air France has ad- vised passengers departing from Charles de Gaulle to keep their bat- tery chargers in their cabin luggage as electronic equipment can be charged in boarding lounges before flights. AF is also advising passen- gers to check-in online via the airfrance.com website to avoid de- lays. Emirates and Delta have re- leased similar statements.

Fastjet adds extra flights and new route

The airline is increasing the number of flights on its Dar es Sa- laam-Mwanza and Dar es Salaam- Lusaka routes. The airline has add- ed four flights a week on the Dar es Salaam-Mwanza route, operating on Sundays, Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays, bringing the total num- ber of return flights each week to 25. Flights are scheduled to commence on August 1.From August 17, fastjet will operate an additional return flight on Sundays between Dar es Salaam and Lusaka, bringing the number of flights linking Tanzania and Zambia to four a week.

New Airport for Mozambique North Coast

Completion of an in- ternational airport at Nacala in Mozambique’s Nampula Province is expected in November. The new airport will make access to sites such as Ilha de Mozambique, the Gorongosa National Park and the Quirimbas Islands more convenient.

Avis adds new vehicle to fleet

Avis has announced that the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class is now available in the Avis Rent a Car and Avis Point 2 Point fleet. The vehicle has been placed under the Group H category in the Avis Rent a Car fleet, which is exclusive to the Mercedes- Benz vehicle ranges.

Emirates offers Chauffeur Drive

Business and First Class travelers can enjoy complimentary Chauffeur drive services from their Emirates flights in over 70 cities.

“The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be.”
– Oprah Winfrey –