BOTSWANA’S Mack Air has announced that, with effect from 1 May, it will begin operating daily scheduled flights between Kasane and Victoria Falls linking the two prime tourist destinations.
NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
This comes a year after airlines that transported tourists throughout the globe were cut in an effort to slow down the spread of Covid-19.
“Victoria Falls is well known as a hub for tourist activity,” Michael Weyl, the managing director of Mack Air, said.
“Our new scheduled flight route brings neighbours closer together and offers people a seamless trip, Weyl added.
“Now, they can take in Victoria Falls, visit a number of Zimbabwe’s destinations, and see Botswana all in one action-packed vacation.”
According to the airline’s schedule, the daily flights will depart Kasane at 11am, arriving in Victoria Falls at 11:20am, and then depart Victoria Falls at noon, arriving in Kasane 20 minutes later.
Weyl said flights will be conducted aboard Mack Air’s state-of-the-art air-conditioned Cessna Grand Caravan, and will include a scenic flight over the confluence of the rivers that make up the borders of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Airlines either already flying into Victoria Falls or about to resume flights include Fastjet, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, British Airways, Airlink and Air Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, more than 65% of the eligible population in Victoria Falls has been vaccinated against Covid-19 in less than a week, as Zimbabwe’s top tourist attraction strives for a more prosperouspost-Covid world.
More than 17 000 of Victoria Falls’ 26 000 adults aged between 18 and 80 had received the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine by 29 March, after the national vaccination programme against Covid-19 was rolled out in the holiday destination on 22 March.
Africa Albida Tourism (AAT) chief executive officer Ross Kennedy said tourism is a resilient industry that continually needs to adapt to ever-changing markets and trends, and the Covid-19-related travel cancellations have been the single greatest challenge that Victoria Falls has faced.
“Victoria Falls and the wider community in the destination, along with the ministry of Health and Child Care and government, have faced the pandemic, coming together incredibly well and it may well be the very first city in the world to have the majority of its residents vaccinated,” Kennedy said.
“As one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a gateway to the iconic KAZA (Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area) tourism region, this is a major campaign, and all authorities and private sector must be applauded for the success of the initiative thus far,” he said.
“The powerful positive message that this sends to both the travel trade and potential tourists cannot be underestimated, and we are very proud to be part of this destination team.”
The hospitality group AAT runs the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, and other property including Victoria Falls Safari Club, Victoria Falls Safari Suites and Lokuthula Lodges.
