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Weekly Travel News Recap, 5 April: SAA here to stay, new Kruger National Park gate, and more

Catch up on all the latest travel news with Drive South Africa.

Each week, our team scours the web for the most interesting, trending, and unusual travel news, conservation news, and motoring news stories. Here are this week’s biggest scoops.

Travel News

A South African Airways plane on a runway for the travel news recap.

A South African Airways aircraft

  • Interim CEO says “SAA really is here to stay”Interim CEO of SAA, Professor John Lamola, says the national airline has doubled its routes since September 2021 and will be taking delivery of four Airbus aircraft in the coming weeks. He adds that the “new economic profile of SAA has unlocked funding opportunities” that were not available three years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conservation News

A pair of rhinos in Kruger National Park

A rhinoceros mother with her calf in Kruger National Park

 

 

 

  • Scientists discover largest African frog species in over 100 yearsA North-West University team has discovered a new species of African bullfrog in northeastern Namibia, southern Angola, southwestern Zambia and northwestern Botswana. Pyxicephalus beytelli is bright yellow-green and has relatively large, recurved teeth that it uses to hunt “mice, small birds, snakes, insects and even other frogs”.

 

 

 

 

  • Marine biologists say great white shark conservation “now a matter of urgency” in South AfricaSeveral concerned biologists including Dr Enrico Gennari, director of the Oceans Research Institute, say that despite a recent study suggesting South Africa’s white shark population has not decreased, the number of shark sightings in the Western Cape has declined to fewer than 10 per year. They acknowledge that while “orcas have likely influenced white shark numbers and behaviours”, we need to double down on conservation efforts.

Automotive News

The new Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon in a warehouse.

The all-new Mercedes-Benz G-Class

  • The Kia EV9 is the 2024 World Car of the YearThe 2024 World Car Awards were announced at the New York International Auto Show on 27 March. Other winners include the BMW 5 Series / i5 (World Luxury Car of the Year), the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N (World Performance Car of the Year), the Volvo EX30 (World Urban Car of the Year), and the Toyota Prius (World Car Design of the Year).

 

 

 

 

  • WATCH: Nissan teases new Navara bakkie in latest YouTube videoThe Japanese manufacturer released its “Nissan Business Plan” promotional video on YouTube, giving us a first glimpse at the next-generation Navara. The bakkie will feature new powertrain options, including electric and plug-in hybrid options.

Missed out on this week’s Drive South Africa blogs? Catch up on them here.

6-Sleeper 4×4 Rental: Meet the Africa on Wheels Toyota Land Cruiser HJ 76 🚙

5 Incredible Luxury Lodges to Explore with Car Rental in Namibia 🏜️

The Best Namibia Camping Experiences in 2024 🏕️

Namibia Quick Guide: How to Plan a Self-Drive Honeymoon ❤️

A woman stands on top of her 4x4 in Namibia.

Travel News Image Credits: Unsplash, Mercedes-Benz, iStock

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