September 2025
What’s new. What’s happening. What to know.
Keeping you in the know…
Here’s a round-up of important travel updates from across Southern and East Africa. From rate changes and new experiences to regulatory shifts and itinerary enhancements, this summary is designed to keep you well informed. We’ve also included a selection of our most relevant itineraries and current offers to help you craft the exceptional journeys your guests are seeking.
Click on the region below to be taken directly to the update that interests you.
South Africa | Botswana | Namibia | Mozambique | Kenya | Tanzania | Zanzibar
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Southern Africa
South Africa
NEW Family Villa at &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge
Tucked beneath the canopy of a weeping boerbean tree and overlooking the seasonal Mapone River, the new Family Villa at &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge is now open and welcoming guests.
Family Villa at a glance:
- Accommodates up to six guests
- Three bedrooms:
- Two spacious adult rooms, each with an ensuite bathroom
- One smaller children’s room with an ensuite bathroom
- Private lounge and dining area
- Exclusive-use swimming pool and shaded lounge deck
- Dedicated butler, expert ranger and tracker team, and private safari vehicle
As the only guest villa at the lodge with uninterrupted views of the riverbed, each bedroom opens onto a private deck and features two al fresco showers (within the adult bathrooms), offering guests the rare privilege of connecting with the wild in complete comfort.
&Beyond Phinda Homestead International Tourism Film Festival Africa Winner
International Tourism Film Festival Africa Winner: Pinnacle Award – Tourism Video 2025 – Tourism Services category
&Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve helicopter transfer
Guests will be met on arrival at King Shaka International Airport (KSIA) and transferred by road (approximately 15 minutes) to the BAC Helicopters helipad in Ballito, where they will board a scenic helicopter flight to &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve. The estimated flight time is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, depending on wind conditions.
This service is designed for two guests travelling with soft luggage not exceeding 20 kg (44 lbs) per person. Any variation to this may require a custom quote, and in some cases, luggage may need to be transported separately by road (at an additional cost).
Once guests arrive at Phinda, the helicopter will return to Hluhluwe, where it will remain for the duration of the stay. The pilot does not require accommodation at the lodge, as they return to base post-drop-off.
Rates are quoted on request and vary depending on:
- Number of passengers
- One-way or return flight
- Duration of stay (for hangarage in Hluhluwe)
- Pick-up/drop-off logistics (from KSIA via road or directly from the hangar)
Rate: Based on two guests flying return Durban–Phinda–Durban, with a 4-night stay at Phinda, the approximate cost is ZAR 45 000 per person return.
If weather conditions prevent flying, the only alternative will be a road transfer or a delay until conditions improve.
Turtle nesting adventure new season rates
At Sodwana Bay, your guests can witness a ritual as old as the tides — an experience few ever forget. Our 2026 season turtle nesting adventure rates are now available.
Updated &Beyond 2026 South Africa activity rate sheet: Download here
&Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge temporarily closed for refurbishment
REMINDER: Closed: 10 September to 17 December 2025 | Reopening: 18 December 2025
Refurbishment at a glance:
- The lodge’s thatched suites and relaxed atmosphere remain, but interiors are being refreshed to enhance comfort, natural beauty and a deeper sense of place
- Each suite will feature a new private sala, designed for quiet in-room dining, reflection and rest
- A Family Suite will be introduced, integrating a dedicated children’s room into one of the existing suites — ideal for families seeking quality time in the bush
- The boma and firepit are being reimagined as a central gathering space, now with views over a newly landscaped waterhole
- The swimming pool remains unchanged — still a favourite spot to cool off and take in the wilderness
Updated &Beyond South Africa 2025 and 2026 accommodation rate sheet changes
SANParks levy increases: The SANParks levy increase for &Beyond Kirkman’s Kamp and Tengile River Lodge applies to all bookings from 01 November 2025 (for travel from 01 November 2026 onward):
- Per adult: ZAR 134
- Per child: ZAR 67
&Beyond Ngala Private Game Reserve 2026 conservation fee update: The conservation fee will increase to ZAR 550 per person per stay. This applies to all new bookings made from 18 September 2025. All confirmed and deposited bookings will be honoured at the original rate.
Updated &Beyond 2025 and 2026 South Africa accommodation rate sheets: Download here
Updated &Beyond South Africa 2025 and 2026 activity rates
- NEW ACTIVITY: Beyond the senses at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve
- RATE INCREASE (2026 ONLY): Rhino conservation experience at &Beyond Ngala Private Game Reserve
Updated &Beyond 2025 and 2026 South Africa activity rate sheets: Download here
Updated &Beyond Cape Town 2025 groundhanding rate sheet
Our 2025 Cape Town groundhandling sheets have been updated to include property closure dates.
2026 Fly Me at a Fixed Price partner property update in Cape Town
Guests can enjoy this offer when staying at one of our selected Cape Town partner properties, which include:
- Cape Grace, A Fairmont Managed Hotel
- Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel
- Spier Hotel (located in the Winelands)
Updated &Beyond 2026 Fly Me at a Fixed Price rate sheet: Download here
MORE Collection updates
Reopening soon: Fish Eagle Residence and Lion Sands Ivory Lodge will reopen on 22 September 2025. These thoughtfully reimagined spaces have been designed to inspire even deeper connections to their extraordinary surroundings — delivering elevated luxury and exclusivity in the Sabi Sand.
Brand evolution: MORE Family Collection is now MORE Collection. This evolution is more than a new look — it’s a bold, clear expression of who they are today and how they aim to grow alongside their trade partners.
Fly Me at a Fixed Price
OFFER: Save up to USD 6,649 per person
Spend three nights in the heart of the city or surrounded by the quiet elegance of wine country. Then swap bustling streets for starlit skies and the call of the wild with a four-night (or longer) safari. Your journey includes accommodation, flights and transfers — all for one fixed price.
Botswana
&Beyond Savute Under Canvas to permanently closed
CLOSURE NOTICE: &Beyond Savute Under Canvas will permanently close at the end of September 2025
All affected bookings will be re-accommodated at a carefully selected collection of alternative Botswana lodges and camps. Our team is available to assist with these arrangements, ensuring a seamless transition and helping you match each guest with an experience just as unforgettable.
Change brings opportunity: something remarkable is coming to Botswana. Watch this space for more.
Best of Botswana. For Less.
OFFER: Save up to 46%
From 01 September 2025 to 10 January 2026, your guests can experience Botswana’s wildest wonders at a reduced rate. From the remote beauty of the Okavango Delta to the riverfront wilderness of Chobe National Park, an untamed safari adventure awaits.
This limited-time offer is valid at all &BEYOND Botswana lodges and camps, and includes the Botswana Fly Me offers. This offer is applicable to new bookings only, made from 15 August 2025.
Namibia
&Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge flight and balloon 2026 rates
Lodge flights: 2026 lodge flight rates have been added to the rate sheet.
Balloon flights: Rates effective from 01 July 2026 are now available.
Updated &Beyond 2026 Namibia groundhandling rate sheet: Download here
Mozambique
Scuba diving at &Beyond Benguerra Island
From 11 January 2026, scuba diving will no longer be included in the standard accommodation offering and is now available at an additional cost.
- All existing confirmed bookings will be honoured as originally quoted.
- For new bookings with travel dates on or after 11 January 2026, scuba diving will be available at an additional cost.
Updated &Beyond 2026 Mozambique accommodation rate sheet: Download here
Helicopter transfers now included on accommodation rate sheets
Helicopter flight rates to and from &Beyond Benguerra Island are now featured in the updated 2025 and 2026 lodge accommodation rate sheets.
Updated &Beyond 2025 and 2026 Mozambique accommodation rate sheets: Download here
Fly Me to Benguerra
OFFER: Save up to 24%
Stay four nights at&BEYOND Benguerra Island and save up to USD 1,725. That’s a 24% saving per person.
East Africa
&Beyond East Africa 2026 groundhandling and activity rates now available
&Beyond 2026 Kenya and Tanzania groundhandling and activity rate sheets: Download here
Kenya
New scenic helicopter flights at &Beyond Suyian Lodge
Explore Northern Kenya’s extraordinary landscapes from the sky with a range of new scenic flight routings.
&Beyond 2025 and 2026 Kenya activity rate sheets: Download here
South Island | Overnight
Flight time: ~6 hours; overnight on Lake Turkana
What to expect: Breakfast and drink stops; flamingos; epic desert landscapes; swimming; lakeshore lunch; optional Nile perch fishing
Suguta | Full day
Flight time: ~4 hours
What to expect: Breakfast stops; flamingos; Nabiyotum Crater walk; swimming; lakeshore lunch; optional fishing; (on request) Turkana dance
Suguta | Half-day
Flight time: ~2.5 hours
What to expect: Breakfast stops; flamingos; land by the Suguta River; swim in clear lava pools; back by lunch
Shaba | Half-day
Flight time: ~2.5 hours
What to expect: Wildlife and scenery; breakfast stops; kopje landing by the river; cliff-edge flying; spring swims; back by lunch
Mt Kenya | Scenic
Flight time: ~2 hours (depending on pickup location)
What to expect: Circle the peaks; land high on the mountain; breakfast at Lake Alice; optional fishing; back by lunch
Reteti | Scenic
Flight time: ~2 hours (depending on pickup location)
What to expect: Mountaintop landing; 09h00 or 15h00 elephant feed; breakfast/cold drinks and snacks; meet keepers; conservation insights
Poi | Scenic
Flight time: varies by pickup location; morning or late-afternoon
What to expect: Route via the Mathews, Milgis and Ndotos; summit landing on Poi; tea/coffee/breakfast or cold drinks
Bogoria | Scenic
Flight time: ~2.5 hours (depending on pickup)
What to expect: Rift-edge drop to Lake Bogoria; flamingo fly-bys; short lakeshore walk; reptiles and birds; springs swim; tea/coffee and snacks
Ololokwe | Scenic
Flight time: ~2 hours (depending on pickup)
What to expect: Low-level along the Ewaso; summit landing on Ololokwe; breakfast or cold drinks with panoramic views
Breakfast | Scenic
Flight time: ~1.5 hours
What to expect: Riverbank or sandbar landing; optional swim (conditions dependent); sunrise breakfast; cold drinks
Sundowner | Scenic
Flight time: ~1.5 hours; timed to sunset
What to expect: Scenic flight down the Ewaso; kopje landing; cold drinks and snacks as the sky changes
Mt Kenya golf and lunch
Flight time: ~1.5 hours
What to expect: Scenic hop to Mt Kenya Safari Club; golf on picture-perfect fairways; leisurely lunch with mountain views
Local village visit at &Beyond Suyian Lodge updated to a local community visit
Formerly a village visit, this experience at &Beyond Suyian Lodge now begins at the Conservancy Headquarters, followed by time in a neighbouring community. Depending on availability, it may include a Samburu manyatta or a local dukka – a meaningful connection to the people and cultures who call this region home.
&Beyond 2025 Kenya activity rate sheet: Download here
&Beyond Suyian Lodge child policy updates
Walking with camels: Children 16 years and older
Horseback riding safari: Children 16 years and older; children 10 – 15 years to ride with parents
&Beyond 2025 Kenya activity rate sheet: Download here
Explore &Beyond Suyian Lodge
New fly-through video
To celebrate the opening of our new &Beyond Suyian Lodge, we’ve created a series of fly-through videos to give you a sense of the spaces, surroundings and signature experiences that make this lodge so special.
Step into the wild. Without leaving home.
Join &BEYOND guide Kris “Harri” Harrison on a virtual safari journey through some of our most iconic wildlife destinations. Along the way, she shares remarkable stories of the creatures who call these places home, and the wild rhythms that connect them all.
Tanzania
&Beyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge International Tourism Film Festival Africa Winner
International Tourism Film Festival Africa Winner: Silver Award – Tourism Video 2025 – Tourism Services category
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge will remain closed until 31 May 2027
Please note that &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge will remain closed until 31 May 2027 due to the ongoing rebuild and refurbishment. We will continue to share updates as progress unfolds.
Hot air balloon safaris
- RATE UPDATES: Rate increase and child policy update for ballooning from &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas when in the Kogatende area
- NO LONGER AVAILABLE: Balloon safaris from &Beyond Klein’s Camp or Ngorongoro Crater partner properties due to logistical challenges
Updated &Beyond 2025 Tanzania activity sheet: Download here
&Beyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge air conditioning
All guest suites now feature air conditioning at &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge.
Tanzanian airlines set to resume Europe flights after EU ban lifted
Tanzanian airlines are preparing to relaunch flights to Europe after the European Union lifted a safety-related ban. Air Tanzania will lead the return, following the EU’s June 2025 decision to place all Tanzanian-certified carriers on its Air Safety List — not due to aircraft faults, but over regulatory oversight concerns. Since then, Tanzanian authorities have collaborated closely with EU counterparts to strengthen compliance and align aviation standards, leading to the ban’s removal.
Arusha Airport (ARK) has now been declared an international airport.
This means travellers can now use Arusha as both an entry and exit point for international travel. This development strengthens Arusha’s position as a premier hub for both tourism and business.
New Tanzanian passenger facilitation fee
Effective: 01 November 2025:
- USD 45 (ZAR 794) per one-way international flight
- USD 90 (ZAR 1 588) per return international trip
- Infants under two years old are exempt
Agents with ticketed bookings will receive updated pricing and invoices. Unticketed bookings will be adjusted automatically. Please notify guests travelling from 01 November 2025 onward.
Mandatory travel insurance for Tanzania visitors
The Tanzanian government will introduce mandatory travel insurance for all foreign nationals entering Mainland Tanzania.
- USD 44 per traveller (payable in Tanzanian shillings)
- Includes: emergency medical care, luggage loss, rescue and repatriation
- Rollout date: To be confirmed (2026)
- Payment method: Initially cash-on-arrival; online portal to follow
Park entry requirements: Passport details now mandatory
TANAPA and NCAA now require full passport details at time of park entry ticket purchase:
- Full name
- Passport number
- Nationality
- Age
- Gender
Please collect and submit this information well in advance of travel to avoid entry delays.
Has East Africa’s Great Migration become too popular?
A must-listen for anyone wanting to go beyond the spectacle of the crossings and understand what it truly means to travel well in this extraordinary region.
In this episode of View From Afar, Afar’s senior deputy editor Jennifer Flowers speaks with &Beyond CEO and Chairman, Joss Kent, and Angama co-founder, Nicky Fitzgerald, about the growing crisis facing East Africa’s Great Migration.
Prompted by a viral video shared by safari guide Nick Kleer in July 2025, showing more than 150 vehicles crowding a single wildebeest crossing in the Serengeti, the conversation explores the impact of overtourism, the importance of responsible travel practices, and the role of trusted partners in protecting both wildlife and local livelihoods.
Zanzibar
Explore &BEYOND Mnemba Island
New showcase video
Discover the magic of our barefoot island paradise in a brand-new showcase video, capturing the natural beauty, tranquillity and rare charm of &Beyond Mnemba Island.
Zanzibar Marine Conservation Fee increases
New daily rates (as of 01 September 2025):
- Non-EAC adults: USD 10 (was USD 3)
- Children (5–15 years): USD 5
Mnemba Island Marine Special Area
&Beyond’s current entrance fees remain unchanged:
- Non-EAC adult: USD 25
- Non-EAC child: USD 10
- EAC adults: USD 10
- Children under 5: Free
Witness incredible sightings seen by our guides and guests
Partner Resources
Tools for you to use
Here you will find all the resources you need to be an &BEYOND expert. Specially curated for your convenience, visit our Partner Resources page – your comprehensive toolkit of resources – to help you promote and, where appropriate, encourage you to convert new business.