Climbers told to clean up Everest
MOUNTAINEERS and other expedition staff going to climb Everest have been told they will each have to bring 8kg of rubbish back from the mountain. According to Travelmole, the Nepalese government, worried about the high levels of rubbish on and around the mountain, has tightened an existing rule that climbers must return with all their rubbish or face forfeiting a $4 000 deposit by stipulating an amount that each person must bring back.
The new rules will come into effect in April. The 8kg figure excludes oxygen cylinders and human waste.
World’s highest zip wire opens
TRAVELLERS with a taste for speed may enjoy the new zipline that has opened in the in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France. The zipline connects the Val Thorens resort with Orelle, transporting riders at speeds of up to 100km/h between the two ski areas, The Telegraph reports.
The one-minute and 45-second ride on La Tyrolienne costs à60. At 3 200m above sea level, this is billed as the world’s highest zipline. For more, visit la-tyrolienne.com.
Branson takes flak over captive whales
VIRGIN group founder Sir Richard Branson has been criticised by the global charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation for selling trips to see whales and dolphins held captive in theme parks, where they do tricks for tourists.
According to The Telegraph, the charity made a video showing Sir Richard’s head superimposed onto a naked body, with subtitles with comments such as, “Selling package trips to SeaWorld sucks/ do you really need the cruelty bucks?”
The campaign may be working: Virgin Holidays told The Telegraph it was going to investigate the issue of captive cetaceans, as the group expected its industry partners to meet required welfare standards.
Why hotels should charge for wifi
THERE is an ongoing debate in travel circles about whether hotels should offer free wifi or charge for it.
David Whitley, the man behind the popular travel blog grumpytraveller.com, argues that hotels should charge for wifi — but only at reasonable rates.
“A significant proportion of the population doesn’t feel the need to go online while staying in a hotel room,” he says. “Why should they fund the permanently wired?”
Whitely says hotels are justified in charging reasonable fees for wifi. “Reasonable” is the key word there. We all know how much it costs to install broadband, so when we see hotels charging $25 to $30 a day to get online, it’s obvious we’re being treated with utter contempt … $5 a day probably represents a small mark-up, but a reasonable price to pay. Much more than that, and it’s blatant rip-off territory.”
Wounded Kruger rhino put down
A RHINO shot and dehorned by poachers in the Kruger National Park last week was put down by SANParks rangers on Tuesday.
The wounded rhino was spotted by park visitors last Friday, prompting a thorough search by rangers. The animal was found alive but in bad condition, with a bullet lodged in its brain and its horn hacked off. As there was little chance it would recover from its injuries, the rhino was put down.
SANParks said it would carry on the bitter fight against poaching. “To us, one rhino killed is one too many,” an official said.
SAA mulls Durban-Cape Town flights
SAA could reintroduce flights between Durban and Cape Town, a route it suspended three years ago as it was unprofitable. According to Travel Buyer, the airline is reconsidering and could start flights between the two cities again, but on a reduced schedule rather than daily.
SAA’s low-cost subsidiary Mango operated the Durban-Cape Town route and its codeshare agreement with SAA meant the national carrier’s passengers flew with Mango.
Mango told Travel Buyer it had managed to successfully develop the route but that there was “always room in the market for a new entrant, or reprise in this instance”.