Dear Dale
I hope you’re doing well. Despite the uncertainty of this week, we feel compelled to share some news out of Africa that I know many of you have been waiting for. Just yesterday I was part of a productive conversation with the Botswana Ambassador to the United States, and I have renewed faith in the current administration’s commitment to conservation and eco-tourism. Today’s announcement (hot off the presses!) is that Botswana is reopening as of next week!
I continue to be pleased with the trajectory of things in Africa as, little by little, countries reopen and tourism resumes. Since the time I returned from Tanzania myself in mid-August, we’ve had 33 travelers head to Africa, we have a few folks there right now, and we expect a few dozen more to travel before the end of this year.
The feedback from those who have traveled recently is very promising, and frankly it just feels great to have folks out in the wilderness again! You can read some of that feedback below (
click here to jump to it), and much of it has also been shared on our social media.
*Further below is a summary of the status of many of the countries in which we operate (click here to jump to it) and then information regarding conservation initiatives by some of our close partners in Africa (click here to jump to it).
A Bit of Bragging to Kick Things Off…
Because of my recent trip to Tanzania, Travel + Leisure® interviewed me (and others!) for an article about the current state of international travel. It was a privilege to be part of that discussion and to put in my plug for Africa! You can read the full article
here.
Furthermore, Travel + Leisure® recently announced their A-List advisors for 2020, and we’ve made the list for the 7th year in a row! (
link)
TRAVELER FEEDBACK
We asked some of our recent travelers to explain why they decided to travel to Africa at a time like this and to summarize their experience. Here’s what they had to say...
George & Susan (visited Tanzania):
“We wanted to experience Africa like it was fifty years ago … and that’s what we received, in five-star luxury! Amazing sightings with only a couple vehicles; many times we were the only vehicle. The lodges went above and beyond, especially with all the new protocols in place. The wildlife was incredible of course and the whole experience was amazing.”
Dave & Elaine (visited Kenya):
“When we heard from Chris in mid-August that Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda were open and that there was nobody there, we were very interested as we were both very tired of just sitting around the house dreaming of travel! After having to rush home from Botswana in mid-March, I was excited to get back for this my tenth trip to Africa. In the space of about a week at the end of August, Chris put together a trip for us to go to six camps starting in late September. And Chris was entirely right about nobody being in Africa! At some of our camps we were the only guests, and none were anywhere near full. As a result of the low tourist numbers, we were totally alone on most game drives, and so there was generally no competition for the best viewing spots. There are too many wildlife highlights to list. We had such a good time that we were sorry to have to leave.”
Ann (visited Egypt and Tanzania):
“It has been a long-time dream of mine to visit Africa, and, not being particularly skittish, I decided now would be a particularly great time to travel. The people I have met in Africa were all so friendly and it was my pleasure to get to know them. I was both extremely pleased and extremely saddened that there were so few other tourists—thrilled for myself and the fact that everything is so much more peaceful and exclusive, yet saddened for Africa’s wonderful people whose livelihoods are being decimated by something beyond their control. It was such an unforgettable experience, and I woke up each day excited about new experiences!”
John & Kathy (visited Tanzania):
“Once we heard from Chris how doable it was (after he returned from Tanzania), we were quick to put plans in place to get back to Africa! First of all, staff at all the camps were so welcoming and glad to see us—the fact that we traveled meant so much to the local people! Second, we had the parks almost all to ourselves much of the time. It was amazing to spend an hour or more with a pride of lions (including young cubs!) without anyone else around. Finally, the camps went out of their way to demonstrate precautions which helped us feel safe relative to COVID-19. Hand sanitizer and hand-washing stations were available everywhere. We love Africa and were so happy to be back!”
Werner (visited Tanzania):
“I wanted to thank you guys for arranging our two back-to-back group trips to Tanzania a couple of weeks ago. My confidence was immediately boosted by Chris's report of how doable travel was right now. I have been visiting the Ngorongoro Crater since I was a young man, and I have never seen it like this. We were literally the only tourists in the Ngorongoro Crater—a once in a lifetime experience! Our time in the Serengeti was unbelievable as well, and we managed to find the rare black serval we were hoping for. The camps welcomed us like royalty, and their excitement to finally have some guests after seven months of lockdown was heart-warming.”
Lisa & Blake (visited Kenya):
“We decided to take a trip to Kenya last month and I’m so thankful we did! Piper & Heath helped us build the perfect safari itinerary, and they were there every step of the way to make sure we were prepared, felt safe, and enjoyed every moment. It may seem scary or unrealistic to leave the country right now, but we quickly realized there was nothing to fear with the right itinerary. From the moment we arrived at the airport, it was clear that every safety precaution was taken seriously and there would be no exceptions to the high standards put in place. Once in Kenya, the staff at each camp were beyond grateful we were there, and the service levels were as high as ever. Because there weren’t many other guests in camp (sadly!), we were able to take advantage of almost every aspect privately. Our meals were served at a private table and our game drive vehicles had just us and the guide!”
TRAVEL STATUS BY COUNTRY
Below are updates for many of the countries in which we operate, regarding their status for tourism and requirements pertaining to Covid-19. We’re happy to discuss these with you in greater detail, however a few disclaimers are in order. First, these regulations are changing monthly (if not weekly!), and so surely some of the below information will be out-of-date in the near future. Another application of this fact is that the regulations below are sure to be different (read: less rigorous) if you are traveling next year, so do not be overly concerned about these regulations if your travel is more than a few months away! Finally, while each country has its own regulations, it is also important that you check with your international airline, as some airlines are enforcing their own testing requirements and they will also be able to inform you about testing requirements for any layovers.
Botswana – We’re putting Botswana first in this list because they just announced they are reopening in a few days! While it will likely take a few weeks to get clarification of the entry requirements, so far the country has said that tourists must travel with the negative results of a Covid test (RT-PCR) conducted within 72 hours of departure (boarding your flights to Botswana, presumably from home).
Tanzania – Tanzania was the first country to re-open to tourism. They are issuing tourist visas like normal, and they do not require a negative Covid test for entry.
Kenya – Kenya is open for tourism and is issuing tourist visas like normal. Tourists must travel with the negative results of a Covid test (RT-PCR) conducted within 96 hours of arrival in the country. (The government’s verbiage is ambiguous, but it is currently being enforced as 96 hours prior to arrival). Travelers are also required to complete an on line Health Surveillance form for contact tracing purposes.
Rwanda – Rwanda is open for tourism and is issuing tourist visas like normal. Tourists must travel with the negative results of a Covid test (RT-PCR) conducted within 120 hours of departure (boarding your flights to Rwanda, presumably from home). Prior to arrival, tourists must also complete and upload a health questionnaire and passenger locator form. Upon arrival in Rwanda, guests will proceed to their hotel and will be given another Covid test. Guests must quarantine at the hotel until the results of that test are received, which will be no more than 24 hours. Finally, tourists must have a Covid test within 120 hours of their departure from the country—for many travelers, the test that is performed upon arrival will suffice for departure (if they spend less than 120 hours in the country).
Zambia – Zambia is open for tourism and is issuing tourist visas like normal. Tourists must travel with the negative results of a Covid test (RT-PCR) conducted within 14 days of arrival in the country.
Namibia – Namibia is open for tourism and is issuing tourist visas like normal. Tourists must travel with the negative results of a Covid test (RT-PCR) conducted within 72 hours of arrival in the country. (The timeframe of these testing requirements make travel to Namibia somewhat impractical for now, but, as with all countries, we expect them to announce more feasible regulations in the near future.)
Egypt – Egypt is open for tourism and is issuing tourist visas like normal. Tourists must travel with the negative results of a Covid test (RT-PCR) conducted within 72 hours of departure (boarding your flights to Egypt, presumably from home).
Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe is open for tourism and is issuing tourist visas like normal. Tourists must travel with the negative results of a Covid test (RT-PCR) conducted within 48 hours of departure (boarding your flights to Zimbabwe, presumably from home). (The timeframe of these testing requirements make travel to Zimbabwe somewhat impractical for now, but, as with all countries, we expect them to announce more feasible regulations in the near future.)
Uganda – Uganda is open for tourism and is issuing tourist visas like normal. Tourists must travel with the negative results of a Covid test (RT-PCR) conducted within 72 hours of arrival in the country. Furthermore, tourists must also have a Covid test within 72 hours of their departure from the country. (The timeframe of these testing requirements make travel to Uganda somewhat impractical for now, but, as with all countries, we expect them to announce more feasible regulations in the near future.)
South Africa, Mozambique, Seychelles, Ethiopia – Tourism to each of these countries is not yet possible, either because they are not issuing visas to US passport holders or because they require quarantine upon arrival. (But, as with all countries, we expect these countries to open and/or announce feasible regulations for tourists in the near future!)
(A FEW) PARTNER INITIATIVES
In the midst of such devastation, it has been incredible to watch the sacrifice and resilience of so many. While borders have been closed and lodges mostly silent, many of our close partners in Africa have found ways to continue supporting their staff. Below are just a few examples...
Wilderness Safaris – While Covid-19 has put travel on hold, Wilderness Safaris’ enduring determination to change lives remains unequivocally true, and they have positively impacted over 30,000 lives since April.
Click here for an extensive description of their efforts and
here to donate.
Great Plains – The world is turned upside down, but for the Great Plains Foundation the conservation continues, not only supporting its ongoing conservation initiatives but transitioning much of its staff from commercial tourism activities into ranger and monitoring duties.
Click here to learn more and to donate.
Singita – The devastating impact of Covid-19 has been far-reaching and beyond the health implications of the pandemic; lockdowns to curb its spread have hit vulnerable communities especially hard. Singita’s Lowveld Trust has a long history of supporting local communities in South Africa and is extending its support to provide emergency food relief during the lockdown period.
Click here to learn more and to donate.
Natural Selection – Never has on the ground conservation and community outreach work been more important. One of its many initiatives, Natural Selection’s Covid-19 Village Support has distributed thousands of food parcels to neighboring communities in Botswana and Namibia (with each parcel having a month’s worth of food for a family of four!).
Click here to learn more and to donate.
Governors' – Since its inception nearly fifty years ago, Governors' has worked with the local people to provide community support and conservation programs that have delivered real results. When the pandemic struck and people became more vulnerable as tourism collapsed, Governors' doubled down on their efforts.
Click here to learn more.
