Banyan takes majority stake in Newmark's 26 African properties
Banyan Group is acquiring a majority stake in Newmark Hotels & Reserves, with the remaining equity to follow over time. Newmark's 26 properties span South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Mauritius and Nigeria, and will be folded into Banyan's booking platforms and loyalty programme.
For advisors, the question is terms. Watch for changes to commission structures and net-rate agreements, and for how much direct-booking competition a loyalty programme brings. Newmark says it keeps its existing direct channels and that management stays in place, so nothing should change overnight. Ask your Newmark contacts now whether current rates and agreements are honoured through the transition, and get any commitments in writing before you contract 2027 inventory.
BA adds Gatwick–Kilimanjaro–Zanzibar and lifts Cape Town to 10 weekly
British Airways will fly a seasonal Gatwick–Kilimanjaro service, continuing to Zanzibar, from 29 May to 31 October 2027. It operates three times weekly, outbound Monday, Thursday and Saturday. That gives UK clients a new direct option for northern Tanzania safari-and-beach itineraries.
Separately, Heathrow–Cape Town rises from seven to 10 weekly flights later in 2027. Advisors building UK-market air-inclusive packages for 2027 can plan around both, and the added capacity may soften fares.
One practical point: the Kilimanjaro arrival is at 20h20, so clients will need an overnight before any safari transfer. Build that night into itineraries and pricing rather than discovering it at booking.
Club Med opens R2bn Beach & Safari resort on KZN's Dolphin Coast
Club Med has opened a R2bn resort on the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphin Coast, its first in South Africa and in Southern Africa. It pairs the coast with bush experiences in northern KwaZulu-Natal, adding all-inclusive inventory that could either compete with or complement beach-and-bush itineraries.
The tourism minister also reported 6.5m international arrivals from January to July 2026, up 12.4% year on year. That points to strong demand and probably tighter peak-season availability.
Before you pitch it, check Club Med's trade and commission terms, and find out how the safari component is delivered and who operates it.
Northern Mozambique advisories: Niassa attack has not yet hurt bookings
An insurgent attack on 3 September burned a hunting lodge near Niassa Special Reserve, abducted up to 20 workers and led to the evacuation of three US citizens. The US, UK, Canada and Australia list parts of northern Mozambique as higher-risk.
Operators including Mozambique Islands and Dana Tours report no cancellations, and say the risk is localised to Cabo Delgado, parts of Niassa and Nampula. Advisors booking Quirimbas, Pemba, Nampula or Maputo should be able to explain that geography to clients plainly.
Check supplier insurance and evacuation terms now. A single further incident could shift sentiment quickly, and it is easier to have those conversations before travel than after a new advisory.
Reported shooting of two collared Botswana research elephants
An op-ed reports that two satellite-collared research elephants were shot by trophy hunters in Botswana on 3–4 September, with DWNP officials reportedly present. Botswana said in 2019 that such killings were "not permitted under any circumstances".
The details rest on the author's "information from Botswana", so treat them as reported, not confirmed. Still, advisors selling Botswana to conservation-minded clients may face questions, and a sharper response from international NGOs or source-market governments is possible.
Watch for any DWNP action or licence revocations, and for changes to hunting-area policy near photographic concessions. Have a measured, factual answer ready for clients who raise it.