News
06 December 2019
The Elephants of Tomorrow
AttaOn December 4th a giant collection of sculptures arrived at Marble Arch! A series of 21 different sized elephants are placed in the square and the traffic islands by the famous arch. The work is known as The Orphans Sculpture, or alternatively, the Elephants of Tomorrow, and its billed as the largest wildlife sculpture of its kind in the world. The Sheldrick Trust, the charity commissioning the work says ‘We invite the good people of London and visitors to the city to meet, and fall in love with, the Elephants of Tomorrow in Marble Arch throughout 2020.’ The sculptures depicts elephants that have been affected by environmental bight or orphaned by poachers.
Read More06 December 2019
Kenya Airways - Codeshare updates KLM/ Air France
AttaKenya Airways in late-November 2019 expanded its codeshare partnership with AIRFRANCE, covering 17 additional routes to/from Paris CDG. Kenya Airways starting this week is expanding its codeshare partnership with KLM, covering additional routes to/from Germany.
Read More06 December 2019
Application for Membership - Blue Zebra Island Lodge
AttaBlue Zebra Island Lodge has applied to join Atta. Their membership will be approved if there are not any objections lodged within the statutory 10 day period. (See objection procedure below).
Read More05 December 2019
Google puts Kenya’s 21 National Parks on the map
AttaThe launch of Google Street View for Kenya’s 21 national parks and one conservancy today is expected to boost Kenya’s tourism sector by encouraging visitor numbers to the parks. Capturing Street View imagery of these national parks and one conservancy was done through a collaboration between Google, the Ministry of Tourism, Kenya Wildlife Services, the County Governments of Narok and Samburu and the management of Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
Read More05 December 2019
Application for Membership - Newmark Hotels
AttaNewmark Hotels has applied to join Atta. Their membership will be approved if there are not any objections lodged within the statutory 10 day period. (See objection procedure below).
Read More04 December 2019
Rwanda signs deal with Paris St Germain to promote tourism
AttaRwanda signed a deal on Wednesday with French soccer club Paris St Germain to promote tourism in the east African nation, its second such agreement since last year. “We invest part of our tourism revenues in strategic collaborations such as the one with Paris St Germain because we understand the positive effect they have on the overall perception of the country globally,” the Rwanda Development Board’s chief executive, Clare Akamanzi, said in a statement after the signing.
Read More03 December 2019
Tanzania Tourism Board & NAS agree to boost tourism sector
AttaThe number of tourists who visit Tanzania is expected to increase following the successful signing of an agreement between the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) and National Aviation Services (NAS), which offer services at airports in Africa and Asia. The agreement was signed recently in Dar es Salaam. The agreement will enable the company, which offers services at different airports to advertise and promote various tourists attractions in the country. The NAS DAR AIRCO board chairman, Prof. Costa Mahalu said that the company will display posters and promote tourists attractions in VIP lounges and CIP lounges, which are served by the company.
Read More03 December 2019
Why an SA wildlife vet had to crawl to collar Congo elephants
AttaDodging dwarf crocodiles and forest buffaloes, wildlife vet Joel Alves was recently in the Congo Republic to dart and collar forest elephants. The smaller cousin of South Africa’s savannah elephants, forest elephants are also threatened by poachers. But Congo Republic’s thick jungle means access isn’t easy for conservationists and those trying to protect these animals, who when fully grown aren’t likely to exceed 2.5 metres in height compared to up to four metres for savannah elephants.
Read More02 December 2019
The wild, empty safari destination you must visit before the crowds arrive
AttaBefore the war, this national park in Mozambique was as celebrated as the Serengeti. It's now been returned to its former glory. In the chill of early morning, a light mist hangs above Lake Urema, the water droplets reflecting the first rays. Across the savannah is the glint of impala, burly waterbuck, square-jawed wildebeest, a handsome solitary nyala in the distance, retreating into a copse of sculptural fever trees. Kicking up the dust, a family of warthog trot past, their tails upright like aerials. I hear the soft boom-boom of ground hornbill, the bisyllabic bark of baboons.
Read More02 December 2019
Application for Membership - Simien Image Tour and Travel
AttaSimien Image Tour and Travel has applied to join Atta. Their membership will be approved if there are not any objections lodged within the statutory 10 day period. (See objection procedure below).
Read More29 November 2019
Lift-off for first African vulture safe zones
AttaThe first of at least five new “vulture safe zones” in Southern Africa are about to take off as private landowners and other partners join the battle to save Africa’s imperilled carrion clean-up birds. Africa’s vulture populations have declined by an average of 62 percent over the last three decades – with seven species crashing by 80 percent – mirroring the dramatic collapse of several Asian species. These were among findings of recent research presented by leading animal scientist Brent Coverdale at the Conservation Symposium, one of South Africa’s biggest annual gatherings of conservationists, environmental scientists and wildlife experts.
Read More29 November 2019
Air Seychelles commences first non-stop flight from Tel Aviv to Mahe
AttaAir Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles has welcomed its first non-stop flight from Tel Aviv, linking Israel to the Seychelles. Flight HM021 which landed at the Seychelles International Airport at 8.15am was greeted by a traditional water canon salute, in the presence of key dignitaries, government representatives, travel trade members as well as media partners.
Read More28 November 2019
New Atta Members this month - November 2019
AttaShamwari Private Game Reserve - Accommodation Suppliers - South Africa African Ascents - African Based Travel Specialist - Kenya Outbound in Africa - UK Based Travel Specialist - United Kingdom Dolphin Tours & Safaris - African Based Travel Specialist - Tanzania Bellingham Safaris - African Based Travel Specialist - South Africa The Liz McGrath Collection - Accommodation Suppliers - South Africa Re-joined Boundless Southern Africa - Tourism Organisation - South Africa Leeu Collection - Accommodation Suppliers - South Africa
Read More28 November 2019
Air India’s entry to boost tourism between Kenya and India
AttaIndia’s national airline has relaunched commercial operations with a flight to the Nairobi. Air lndia’s flight from Mumbai to Nairobi landed on Wednesday with 100 passengers on board marking the return of the airline to Kenya after 10 years. The return of the airline presents a big opportunity for the two countries which have shared trade and economic ties for many years. The airline will offer four direct flights a week; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with plans to offer additional flights in the pipeline.
Read More27 November 2019
New research: Travel spend in Africa could increase by 27% in 2020
AttaResearch conducted by the Sabre Corporation has revealed that spend among African travellers could increase by 27% over the next year if they were able to move more freely within the continent, and if travel pain-points were addressed. More than 5,000 people across Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa were asked whether they had travelled by plane in the past 24 months, to which 26% said they had - a 2% increase on Sabre's similar 2016 study.
Read More27 November 2019
Application for Membership - Nigel Archer Safaris
AttaNigel Archer Safaris has applied to join Atta. Their membership will be approved if there are not any objections lodged within the statutory 10 day period. (See objection procedure below).
Read More26 November 2019
Scientists Created Fake Rhino Horn. But Should We Use It?
AttaIn Africa, 892 rhinos were poached for their horns in 2018, down from a high of 1,349 killed in 2015. The decline in deaths is encouraging, but conservationists agree that poaching still poses a dire threat to Africa’s rhino population, which hovers around 24,500 animals. Now, in the hopes of driving down the value of rhino horn and reducing poaching even more, scientists have created a convincing artificial rhino horn made from horsehair. Experts are divided over whether flooding the Asian market with convincing artificial rhino horn would help or hurt rhinos’ survival.
Read More26 November 2019
Application for Membership - Woni Safaris
AttaWoni Safaris has applied to join Atta. Their membership will be approved if there are not any objections lodged within the statutory 10 day period. (See objection procedure below).
Read More25 November 2019
Abu Dhabi races to save wild antelope in Chad
AttaThe wild addax antelope is perhaps the loneliest mammal on the planet. These majestic, snow-white antelope once roamed across North Africa but poaching and industrialisation pushed the wild population to extinction. By 2016, there were just three left in the wild and these were only discovered after a 700km ground search and an 3,200km aerial survey led by the International Union for Conservation of Nature - an international conservation organisation based in Switzerland. But the species is about to get a second chance.
Read More25 November 2019
Application for Membership - Sensation Travel GmbH Tourlane
AttaSensation Travel GmbH Tourlane has applied to join Atta. Their membership will be approved if there are not any objections lodged within the statutory 10 day period. (See objection procedure below).
Read More