A delegation of nine tourism companies from India is currently in Zimbabwe on a pre-expo familiarization tour of the Eastern Highlands. The group is participating ahead of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo to experience the region’s offerings firsthand.
Their itinerary includes key natural attractions such as World’s View, Nyamuziwa Falls, and Mount Nyangani within Nyanga National Park, where they have also encountered wildlife including wildebeest. The tour also features site inspections at premier accommodation establishments like Troutbeck Resort, Montclair Hotel, and Mountain Lakes Lodge.
The familiarization tour is designed to provide international buyers with direct experience of the region’s tourism products, enabling them to better package and promote Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands to the Indian travel market.
Zimbabwe’s Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) is entering the South African hospitality market through the acquisition of a commercial property in Cape Town for approximately $5.6 million (nearly R100 million). The company plans to convert the seven-story building on Buitengracht Street into a branded hotel under a leading international operator.
The acquisition aligns with RTG’s strategy to pursue growth opportunities beyond Zimbabwe. The company is in advanced discussions with a global hotel brand to manage the property, aiming to drive skills transfer, operational efficiency, and elevate the RTG brand internationally. The property’s prime location near key attractions like the V&A Waterfront and the Cape Town International Convention Centre positions it to attract both business and leisure travelers.
RTG has secured a $6 million loan facility from a Zimbabwean financial institution at a fixed interest rate of 12.5% to finance the acquisition and redevelopment. This expansion is expected to diversify RTG’s revenue streams and establish its footprint in one of Africa’s most competitive tourism markets.
Zimbabwe’s Tourism Minister, Barbara Rwodzi, has met with a high-level delegation led by Sheikh Mansour Bin Jabor Bin Jassim Al Thani of the Qatar royal family in Victoria Falls. The discussions centered on attracting strategic foreign investment into key tourism infrastructure.
Primary investment targets identified during the meeting include new hotels, restaurants, and a convention center to extend visitor stays, with a specific focus on the Masuwe land designated for accommodation, medical, sport, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) tourism. Additional opportunities in Kariba, the Eastern Highlands, Harare, and Masvingo were also presented, with Victoria Falls municipality confirming two ready-to-develop hotel sites.
Sheikh Mansour expressed strong interest in the proposals, emphasizing mutual goals in sustainable development, tourism growth, and technology sharing. The talks are expected to lead to the signing of Memoranda of Agreement in the identified sectors, marking a significant step in forging global partnerships for Zimbabwe’s tourism infrastructure development.
Travel experts from the global site Kayak have named Zimbabwe the number one country to visit in 2025, highlighting its dramatic landscapes and surging traveler interest. The ranking is based on Kayak’s Travel Check-in report, which factors in search data, wellness opportunities, and accessibility.
Zimbabwe’s top ranking is driven by a significant spike in flight searches. Data shows an over 80% increase in searches for the city of Bulawayo and a 56% increase for the capital, Harare, for summer 2025 compared to the previous year. The article spotlights the country’s iconic attractions, including the thunderous Victoria Falls, the ancient stone ruins of Great Zimbabwe, and the tranquil, mist-laced Eastern Highlands.
The recognition positions Zimbabwe ahead of other global destinations such as Lithuania, Sri Lanka, and South Korea on the 2025 list, underscoring its rising prominence as a premier travel destination.
Construction has resumed on the final 88 kilometres of Zimbabwe’s Harare-Beitbridge Highway, marking the last stage of the major 580-kilometre road upgrade.
Multiple contractors, including Masimba Holdings, Exodus and Company, Fossil Contracting, and Bitumen World, are actively working to complete the flagship project between August and December 2025.
The highway forms a critical trade and transport corridor linking Zimbabwe to the rest of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
The upgraded route is expected to improve travel times, ease congestion, and strengthen regional economic integration by facilitating more efficient cross-border movement.
Following a recent site inspection, local officials expressed confidence in the pace of progress, highlighting near-completion of key segments such as the Mucheke Bridge.
Once finalised, the highway is set to enhance both freight and tourism connectivity between Harare and the Beitbridge border post—Zimbabwe’s main link to South Africa.
The newly released ‘2025 State of the African Industry Report: Ignite Africa!’ reveals billion-dollar blind spots holding back African tourism – and provides an actionable roadmap for reversing stagnation as global arrivals rebound unevenly across the continent.
“The response since the report was released at WTM Africa has been overwhelming,” said Megan De Jager, Portfolio Director at Africa Travel Week. “This isn’t just another trend wrap-up. We’re asking uncomfortable but necessary questions: Who are we building tourism for? Are we innovating fast enough? And most importantly – are we telling our own story or someone else’s?”
Key Findings Driving Industry Conversation
Since its release, several critical insights have sparked particularly strong industry response:
Market Misalignment: While Africa continues focusing on slow-recovering Western markets, high-growth opportunities in Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America remain largely untapped. Middle Eastern travellers spend up to US$15,000 per trip, yet most African destinations lack tailored offerings for these valuable segments.
According to Michelle Gounden, Director: Insights, Skift Advisory “Too many African destinations are fighting for the same shrinking pie (primarily Western long-haul travellers) when the real opportunity lies in diversification. Skift’s data shows that outbound travel from the Middle East and India is growing at double the global average, yet tailored experiences for these markets remain limited. It’s time for a bold pivot in both marketing strategy and product design.”
The “Africa Premium” Explained: The report demystifies why African safaris cost 35-50% more than comparable global experiences like Galápagos expeditions. Rather than excessive profits, structural challenges including infrastructure deficits (flights costing 45% more than in Europe/Asia), currency volatility (30-50% depreciation), and operating risks force tourism businesses to maintain higher margins simply to remain viable.
Overlooked Billion-Dollar Markets: Neurodivergent travellers represent a US$60 billion global market, with 93% of parents with autistic children saying they would travel more if appropriate options were available. Despite Africa’s natural advantages for low-stimulation experiences, the continent lags behind global destinations in serving this segment.
Infrastructure Reality Check: While 97.8% of travel executives believe AI will transform tourism within five years, the report documents how basic infrastructure failures—including fuel shortages at major airports and the withdrawal of 326 flight procedures—threaten to undermine digital ambitions.
The report has sparked frank conversations among industry leaders about what needs fixing, and what’s possible, with bold strategy shifts.
“We’re still sitting at only 81% of our pre-pandemic arrivals while Kenya is already at 134%. Put simply: we’re underperforming our potential,” says David Frost, CEO of SATSA. “We need smarter aviation policies and targeted marketing efforts if we want real recovery, not just incremental gains.”
Tourism professionals who missed the WTM Africa launch can now download the full report here.
Catch the Beat at WTM Africa 2026!
Early Bird registrations are now open! Don’t miss this opportunity to secure your space at Africa’s leading B2B travel and tourism event at a discounted rate. Get in touch with our team to register your interest and be part of next year’s show, taking place from 13–15 April 2026 at the CTICC in Cape Town.
Marriott International will open the first Autograph Collection safari camp in Tanzania’s Serengeti.
Mapito Safari Camp, Serengeti, Autograph Collection, expected to open in the third quarter of 2025, is set near the Fort Ikoma Gate of Serengeti National Park.
Positioned between Central Serengeti and the western migration corridor, the camp lies directly along the Great Migration route.
The camp will offer 16 tented suites, including a two-bedroom villa. Each suite will feature an outdoor deck, fire pit and retractable roof for open-air stargazing.
Plans for the camp include a spa, fitness centre, swimming pool and multiple dining options such as The Boma – a communal restaurant inspired by traditional bonfire gatherings.
Design inspiration will be drawn from the surrounding landscape and local Ikoma culture, and the camp will aim to incorporate sustainable practices that support conservation and minimise environmental impact.
Guests can anticipate a range of immersive experiences including daytime game drives, night safaris, walking safaris, hot air balloon flights, bush dining and engagement with the local Ikoma tribe.
Muddy Teak, a new private-use safari camp, opened on May 1 in a secluded concession in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park. Designed for small groups, the camp is set in a woodland area with trails leading to a waterhole. It features a main area connecting the lounge, dining space, pool, firepit, bar, and viewing deck.
Operating seasonally from May to November, Muddy Teak offers a premium base for wildlife safaris during Hwange’s dry season. It forms part of a luxury circuit with sister camps in Hwange, Mana Pools, and the Okavango, ideal for bespoke multi-destination itinerary
In an unprecedented industry milestone, ILTM Africa 2025—the continent’s premier invitation-only luxury travel event—has announced it’s fully booked, months before the April gathering in Cape Town. This sell-out status isn’t just good news for event organisers; it signals Africa’s dramatic emergence as a luxury travel destination that can no longer be ignored by global investors and travel professionals.
Behind this surge is an astonishing 211% growth in luxury travel sales compared to 2019 levels, according to recent Virtuoso research. Africa isn’t just participating in this luxury travel renaissance—it’s leading it.
Megan De Jager, Portfolio Director – Travel, Tourism at RX Africa.
“We’ve witnessed unprecedented demand for exhibition space this year,” explains Megan De Jager, Portfolio Director at Africa Travel Week. The event’s distinctive approach focuses on creating meaningful connections through curated experiences like chauffeur-driven vintage motorbike arrivals, artful garden picnics, and exclusive Jeep safaris along Chapman’s Peak Drive.
Perhaps most telling is the seamless integration of conservation, art, and luxury at this year’s event. The “Art for Conservation” fundraising initiative—supporting endangered African wild dogs through the Endangered Wildlife Trust—exemplifies how Africa’s luxury sector is defining a new paradigm where opulence and ethical responsibility coexist.
Cape Town’s Executive Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis celebrates the city’s role as “the undisputed luxury travel capital of the continent,” while industry leaders view the early sell-out as confirmation of Africa’s growing influence in global high-end travel.
The question now facing industry professionals: As Africa redefines what luxury means in the 2025 travel landscape, can your business afford to miss this remarkable market evolution?
Fastjet Zimbabwe, the award-winning African airline, is excited to announce the launch of a new scheduled flight service connecting Harare, Zimbabwe, and Lusaka, Zambia. The route, commencing on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, will operate three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, enhancing connectivity between these two vibrant capital cities.
The service will be operated using Fastjet’s 50-seater Embraer ERJ145 aircraft, offering a seamless and comfortable travel experience with generous legroom and a convenient schedule tailored for both business and leisure travellers.
Enhancing Business and Leisure Travel Between Zimbabwe and Zambia
The new Harare-Lusaka route is a significant development for trade, investment, and tourism in both countries. As economic hubs in the Southern African region, Harare and Lusaka serve as key centers for commerce, finance, and industry. With improved air access, business professionals will benefit from more efficient travel options, facilitating stronger bilateral trade relations and economic growth.
Moreover, introducing an early morning departure – a first on this route – allows business travellers to maximise productivity by enabling same-day return trips. Fastjet’s schedule aligns with corporate needs, providing a hassle-free experience for executives and entrepreneurs who require flexible and time-sensitive travel options.
For the leisure sector, this route unlocks greater tourism potential, making it easier for travellers to explore Zimbabwe’s iconic destinations such as Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park, as well as Zambia’s renowned wildlife reserves and adventure experiences on the Zambezi River. The improved connectivity supports regional tourism growth and encourages cross-border exploration for holidaymakers.
Fastjet Leadership on the New Route
Nunurai Ndawana, Fastjet Zimbabwe spokesperson, emphasized the broader impact of the new connection: “Zimbabwe and Zambia share deep-rooted economic and social ties. By introducing this route, we reaffirm our commitment to facilitating regional mobility, driving economic collaboration, and making travel more accessible and efficient for our customers.”
Fastjet Zimbabwe Business CEO and Country Head, Donahue Cortes, highlighted the strategic importance of the flight schedule: “No other airline offers an early morning departure on this route, giving our passengers the advantage of a full business day in their city of arrival. This expansion complements our growing portfolio of business-friendly flight schedules, including early morning flights to Bulawayo and Johannesburg.”
Flight Schedule: Harare (HRE) – Lusaka (LUN)
Effective April 9, 2025
Flight
Route
Days
Departure
Arrival
FN8707
HRE – LUN
Mon, Wed, Fri
06:00 AM
06:55 AM
FN8708
LUN – HRE
Mon, Wed, Fri
07:25 AM
08:20 AM
Passengers booking this route will enjoy Fastjet’s signature service, including generous free baggage allowances and flexible booking options. Tickets for the Harare-Lusaka flights are available on www.fastjet.com.
ABOUT FASTJET
Fastjet Zimbabwe is a multi-award-winning African airline that began flight operations in 2015. Today, fastjet Zimbabwe connects three major cities in Zimbabwe by flying between Harare & Victoria Falls, as well as between Harare & Bulawayo. In addition, the airline offers international flights from Harare, Bulawayo & Victoria Falls to Johannesburg in South Africa and from Victoria Falls to Mbombela (Kruger) Nelspruit Mpumalanga in South Africa. Its awards include World Travel Awards in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 2020, 2021 and 2022, Skytrax World Airline Awards in 2017 and 2019, and in the top ten finalists for 2021, 2022 and 2023. Since commencing operations, fastjet has flown over 4 million passengers and has established itself as a reliable African airline brand, with a range of value-added products and services. In 2024 fastjet Zimbabwe successfully achieved the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registration. This registration acknowledges fastjet’s conformance and adherence to the highest operational and safety standards in the aviation industry. As part of the airline’s commitment to offering choice, flexibility and value, customers benefit from generous free baggage allowances, flexible change options, multiple payment channels, airport lounge access on select routes, free inflight services and ancillary services such as car hire.
