South African Airways' Featured News

Dear Valued SAA Customer:

At this festive time of the year, we take the time to count our blessings and express our gratitude. Thank you all for your support throughout 2019. We wish you a joyous holiday season and much success and prosperity in the New Year!

In Southern Africa, the summer season peaks in December and not only is it the best time to travel there but it’s also a great way to ring in the New Year and celebrate the holidays in style. The picturesque scenic views, gorgeous beaches and delicious food will leave you feeling refreshed for the new year to come.

We hope you enjoy this month's SAA E-News and as always, we want to thank you, our valued customer, for your continued support. We are grateful for your business and look forward to working with you in the year to come.

Warm regards, South African Airways North America

South African Airways' Featured News

Take Flight From New York - JFK on Our New Airbus A350

In early 2020, South African Airways will introduce the most technology-advanced aircraft available for ultra- long-haul flying with the new Airbus A350-900 on nonstop flights between New York John F. Kennedy International Airport and Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport.

Designed for maximum comfort, the A350-900 will enhance the customer’s in-flight experience with improved technology, entertainment features and customized cabin layout. Each seat will be equipped with a USB port and access to PC power ports, an on-demand entertainment system with high definition 10” screens to enjoy movies, television shows, interactive games or audio programming.

All customers on board will benefit from the aircraft’s larger windows, improved LED lighting, and optimized cabin pressure and temperature controls which allow you to feel relaxed and refreshed upon arrival. Additionally, the A350-900 reduces fuel burn by approximately 20% when compared to the current aircraft operating on the route, thereby significantly reducing carbon emissions.

SAA Named “Best Airline in Africa” and the “Best Business Class to Africa” by Business Traveler Magazine

South African Airways was honored to be named “Best Airline in Africa” and “Best Business Class to Africa” in the annual Best in Business Travel Awards survey by readers of Business Traveler Magazine. The Best in Business Travel Awards distinguishes the achievements of the most deserving organizations in the business travel industry and the readers of Business Traveler Magazine have selected South African Airways among a variety of top travel products and services. The publication has named SAA as the “Best Airline in Africa” for the last 11 years and for 10 consecutive years as “Best Business Class to Africa.”

“South African Airways has long been recognized by business travelers as one of the world’s leading airlines, offering exceptional air travel service across Africa,” said Dan Booth, editorial director of Business Traveler. “The Best in Business Travel Awards are the result of an independent survey, and thus truly reflect voice of the business travel community. To have received these honors consistently for so many years certainly signifies a high level of commitment and excellence. We offer our heartfelt congratulations to the SAA team for this outstanding achievement.” For further information on South African Airways product and services, please visit http://www.flysaa.com or for reservations call 1-(800) 722-9675.

Advanced Seat Selection

Gone are the days of worrying about getting the ‘dreaded’ middle seat. Let us help you take the guesswork out of your trip so you can secure a seat of your preference. Our Advanced Seat Reservations System lets you select a seat of your choosing when you book or check-in online. Rest assured that whether you have your eye on the coveted extra-legroom space or a window in the front row, for a small fee, that seat can be yours.

All it takes is 3 easy steps:

1. Login to Manage My Booking 2. Select the Seats links from "Before my flight" 3. From the seat map, select a seat for each passenger, accept the Terms and Conditions and pay the associated fee.

Please note that having purchased a seat still requires a check-in for a flight 24 hours prior to departure.

Sandton, Johannesburg’s Hippest Neighborhood Source: Forbes

Located just north of downtown Johannesburg, Sandton stands apart as a quaint and idyllic neighborhood–a serene respite from the hustle-bustle of its surrounding city. Here you’ll find some of the area’s best bars, its most acclaimed chefs, and its most luxurious lodges. As such, it remains one of the most appealing destinations for visitors in search of South African charm while touring Jozi. Arrive in spring– between September and December–and you’ll be treated to the vibrant violet bloom of jacaranda, rising in dense rows above the wide boulevards below. Ultimately it doesn’t really matter when you visit: wonder awaits–particularly if you incorporate the following stops into your itinerary. AtholPlace Hotel and Villa, Sandton, Johannesburg Sandton holds flavors to fit every palate and preference. At Pigalle, elegantly rendered seafoods are a specialty. The prawn dishes here rely on recipes that have stayed true over three decades, including a sensational Mozambique curry preparation that infuses coriander and coconut with the crisped crustacean.

For something decidedly more playful, head to Saigon Suzy–a Vietnamese fusion concept that features customizable orders of bao, bun cha, and broken rice. The cocktails are colorful, if not skewing sweet. And there’s a backroom dedicated to karaoke. In Nelson Mandela Square, adjacent to the Convention Centre, The Big Mouth is another fun affair incorporating Eastern influence. Here you can enjoy everything from sushi to ceviche; tacos to tempura. And it’s all surprisingly well-composed and never too precious.

Witness the Wonder of Victoria Falls

As you know, the Victoria Falls is one of Mother Nature’s greatest works of art, and it is ever changing, with its water levels fluctuating dramatically throughout the year. The levels of the world’s largest waterfall, which straddles Zimbabwe and Zambia, are dependent on the amount of rain that falls in the catchment area above it.

According to the Zambezi River Authority the water levels at the Victoria Falls were especially low during the dry months of this year because the Zambezi Basin - particularly the Kariba catchment - received below normal rainfall during the 2018/2019 rainy season. But the tide turned in mid-November, according to the Zambezi River Authority, which records water levels daily, and flows at Victoria Falls are once again on the rise. Latest data shows the flow at the Victoria Falls was 227 cubic meters per second on December 2, compared to 207m3/s on November 26, and 189m3/s on November 19. At its peak, after the rains in May, the flow over one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World often reaches more than 4,500m3/s, which is around 20 times higher than the lowest annual flow.

During the drier months there will always be more water in the Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwean side than on the Zambian side, simply because the Falls are slightly lower on the Zimbabwean side. At this time of the year some parts of the Falls do dry up. When water is at its scarcest, the Victoria Falls is still splendid, and activities, such as white-water rafting and game viewing - when wildlife gathers at permanent water sources - are at their best.

With the ebb and flow of Nature, the Victoria Falls will soon be transformed once again into a 1.7km wide sheet of falling water. Like any magnificent work of art, the Victoria Falls may be admired at different times of the day, and from different angles, and in high or low water, still allowing the viewer to marvel in wonder. The year-round destination makes it an ideal getaway the whole family can enjoy!

Cooking Corner

Tswana African Magwinya (Deep Fried Doughnuts) Recipe by: Freda Muyambo from The Spruce Eats

To any Tswana-speaking person, this food needs no introduction. To the rest of the world, this is what puts a smile on the faces of millions of people in Botswana and South Africa. It is a type of food that reminds people of home and brings on a sense of childhood nostalgia.

Ingredients:

• 500 grams flour (or cake flour without raising agent) • 4 tablespoons/30 grams of sugar • 2 teaspoons instant yeast • Optional: 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil • 500 milliliters warm water

Directions:

1. In a clean bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together. 2. Add the warm water and vegetable oil and begin to mix into a soft dough. 3. Once the dough has been mixed very well, cover with a tea towel and set aside to rise for an hour. (You will note that no kneading is required for this dough in comparison to the vetkoek, this dough is much moister and softer.) 4. After an hour, the dough will have doubled in size. Proceed to mix it again, this helps to achieve softer dough. After mixing allow to rest for a further 10 minutes. 5. In the meantime, heat up enough vegetable oil in a pot for deep frying. 6. Scoop out some batter with a large spoon and drop it into the hot oil. Ensure the oil is being heated under a medium flame to prevent the magwinya from browning too quickly without fully cooking on the inside. (Use a second spoon to push the dough into the hot oil if it helps.) Fry the magwinya until golden brown, ensure that you turn them over to ensure even browning. 7. Once ready, scoop the magwinya out of the pot and place onto absorbent kitchen paper for draining away the excess oil. 8. Serve the magwinya as they are or with a cup of tea.

Featured Events in South Africa

Stellenbosch Wine Festival: February 2020

Sip, swirl and savour the best of Stellenbosch wines! The Stellenbosch Wine Festival is a unique event where the order of the day will be relaxing in the sun while sampling some of the best wines South Africa has to offer. This lifestyle festival is the country’s oldest wine festival. It showcases hundreds of Stellenbosch wines, from award-winning producers to small boutique wineries.

Cape Town Cycle Tour: The World’s Largest Timed Cycle Race: March 2020

The Cape Town Cycle Tour is a nine-day, annual cycle race hosted in Cape Town, South Africa, held on the second Sunday of March. The 68 mile race draws 35,000 cyclists from around the world to take part in the world’s largest ultra-marathon event. The event starts in the City Centre and makes its way down the Blue Route leading into Simonstown then turning at Smitswinkel and heading back along the coastline before the steady climb up Chapmans Peak and finally the short, steep hill of Suikerbossie.

South African Airways' Special Promotion

South African Airways, 1200 S. Pine Island Road, Suite 650 Plantation, FL 33324

South African Airways Reservations South African Airways Group Sales Tel: 1-800-722-9675 Tel: 1-800-722-4768 Fax: 1-945-769-5079 Fax: 1-954-769-5079 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Hours: 8:30AM - 6:00PM, Mo-Fr ET Hours: 9:00AM - 5:00PM, Mo-Fr ET 8:00AM - 4:00PM, Sa-Su ET

South African Airways Vacations South African Airways - North America

Tel: 1-855-359-7228 (1-855-FLY-SAAV) 1200 S Pine Island Road, Suite 650

Hours: 24 Hours a day / 7 day a week Plantation, FL 33324 www.flysaavacations.com Tel: 1-954-769-5000

Stunning South Africa Special Offer: *Price is per person based on double occupancy and economy class flights. Valid as of

December 01, 2019, for departures from New York John F Kennedy or Washington Dulles valid for travel between April 01 - May

31, 2020. With the same itinerary available at higher prices during other travel periods. Other departure points and domestic flights

within the U.S. can be booked. Price for other departure cities and/or travel dates may vary. Subject to availability and currency

exchange rate fluctuations. Prices are valid for new bookings only, are not retroactive and may change without notice. Package

includes all government and airline-imposed taxes and fees. Baggage and optional service fees, cancellation charges and other

restrictions may apply.