travellers

With Skywise taking to the air in March, South Africans now have four low-cost carriers to choose from - and already the new entrant appears to have had an impact on end-user fares.

South African Airways has been recognised as the Best Airline in Africa at the Premier Traveler Magazine awards, adding to the accolades received by the national carrier this year, which include the Skytrax World Airline Award for the 12th consecutive year.

International travellers have for the umpteenth time picked Cape Town as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, ranking the Mother City 24th out of 1 830 cities from around the globe for being a fun place to visit.

South Africa punches well above its weight in international luxury travel, according to year's prestigious Conde Nast Traveler Reader's Choice Awards. The country garnered the top spot in the best 100 hotels and resorts, and Cape Town was voted fourth out of the world's 25 must-see cities.

South Africa has imposed a travel ban on foreign nationals travelling from Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, and advised South Africans to avoid travelling to these countries, in order to prevent the spread of Ebola to the country.

A Canadian-French-South African consortium has started building a R25-billion rapid rail link between Johannesburg, Pretoria and OR Tambo International Airport. The Gautrain will take commuters from one city to the other in under 40 minutes, and air passengers - with their luggage already checked in - from Sandton to the airport in 15 minutes.

The recently launched South African Minerals Pavilion at Johannesburg International Airport will showcase the country's vast array of mineral resources as well as the jewellery designs of local producers.

Tourists in search of a welcoming, anxiety-free holiday in SA can link up with Travel Buddy, a network of volunteers who look out for travellers, welcoming and advising them and, most of all, making sure they are safe.