It’s exciting to stand on the threshold of a new year that promises new travel experiences, and the January/February 2026 issue of Sawubona has so much to offer.
There is no better time than now to plan that long-awaited island escape, and with SAA’s newly launched Cape Town-Mauritius route, paradise is just a flight away. Since its successful debut on 9 December 2025, this route has opened a world of opportunity for both leisure and business travellers. January and February offer the perfect window to explore Mauritius at its most tranquil after the festive rush, when the island’s natural beauty and cultural richness can be savoured at your own pace.
And if you need even more inspiration for your 2026 travel plans, here are a few suggestions we cover in this issue…
Explore heritage in Botswana, Brazil, Australia, South Africa, Namibia, Ghana & Zambia
These days, cultural tourism is the heartbeat of global travel. And in these countries, culture is proudly lived, shared, and celebrated in the form of indigenous heritage, living traditions, art, cuisine, festivals, and community-based travel. We share why you should visit.
Go pearl hunting on a pearl farm in Dubai
Before the discovery of oil in the UAE, the ancient pearling tradition was once the region’s primary source of wealth. We visit a pearl farm celebrated for its exquisite pearl farming techniques and a stunning marine ecological environment.
Finally see the Big Five (in a UNESCO biosphere)
You won’t wait long to see the Big Five at Qwabi Private Game Reserve in the Waterberg region. New technology helps keep the rhinos safe from poaching, and the reserve is teeming with wildlife and breathtaking natural beauty.
Visit Jazz Festival central
Music lovers will be descending upon Cape Town in March with both the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and the iconic Montreux Jazz Festival set to take place in Cape Town and Franschoek respectively
SAA’s five awards
In addition, read more about SAA’s five prestigious awards won recently, reaffirming its leadership in strategic communications by the Public Relations Institute of Southern
Africa’s (PRISA) 2025 PRISMS Awards. These accolades celebrate excellence in public relations under the theme, The Human Factor – Africa’s G20 Moment, which marks a shift from celebration to purpose and progress at the centre of every discussion.
The world’s top restaurants
Not to be missed, is our round up of top restaurants at some of SAA’s destinations across the globe. Will you be eating at one of the world’s best 100 restaurants in 2026?
And last but not least, read up on how to travel safely with lithium batteries before your next flight – find out about IATA’s seven simple rules for carrying mobile phones, laptops, power banks, and other lithium-powered devices.
Read these stories and many more in the January/February 2026 issue of Sawubona magazine.
