South African airline, FlySafair, is charting a new course in its flight plan. From April 2, it will introduce a direct connection between Cape Town and the Kruger National Park, one of the major attractions in the country.
The flight, an estimated two-and-a-half-hour journey to the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, is a move to facilitate easier travel for tourists. However, reaching the park’s gates will require additional travel time, with the Malelane gate being an hour’s drive, and the Numbi gate, notorious for its challenging and hazardous route, is 47 minutes away.
In other news, the HMS Queen Elizabeth, a mighty Royal Navy aircraft carrier, has hit a snag. A technical failure involving a propeller shaft resulted in the cancellation of its scheduled participation in the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War, dealing a blow to the carrier’s operational capabilities.
Controversy in Egypt
Meanwhile, in Egypt, a plan to refurbish the Pyramid of Menkaure has sparked controversy. The proposal involves resurfacing the pyramid with its original granite blocks, a move critics have compared to ‘straightening the Tower of Pisa’. Archaeologists fear that such a restoration could transform the historic Giza plateau into a theme park-like setting, stripping it of its authenticity.
Under the scrutiny of critics, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities has assembled a scientific committee to review the proposed joint project for the architectural restoration work of the Pyramid of Menkaure.
The committee, comprising senior experts in Egyptian archaeology and engineering, including Dr. Zahi Hawass, will submit a scientific report for approval before undertaking any restoration work. The project aims to move fallen granite blocks back to their original location on the pyramid, a move that has drawn both anticipation and concern for the future of this ancient wonder.