As we prepare for a new travel landscape after COVID-19 travel restrictions are lifted, our first priority is to the safety and well-being of our guests. We will continue to update this page to address common concerns and we welcome you to reach out to us directly with any questions pertaining to your trip.

TREND’S WE’VE NOTICED

Our key partners in Africa have been proactive in their approach to COVID-19 with improved health and safety guidelines designed to keep you safe when you do make it back out on safari. We’ll be able to share a specific list of safety precautions for the airlines you’ll be flying and the properties you’ll be visiting once we begin working on an itinerary for you. In the meantime, here are a few trends we’ve noticed:

  • Safety protocols are created with careful consideration and consolidation of the recommendations from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control, Would Tourism Organization, the International Air Transport Association, and health professionals with safari knowledge.
  • In some countries, in order for a property to legally open, they must pass a rigorous process and site inspection by the Ministry of Health. Properties are reevaluated by the Ministry of Health every three months.
  • Staff are required to have their temperatures taken and recorded every morning in line with government guidelines. Guests’ temperatures are also checked upon arrival and again daily.
  • All vehicles are sanitized before and after each use and drivers are required to wear appropriate protective gear.
  • Where possible, properties are providing a private vehicle. In many cases, if a private vehicle is unavailable, the vehicle capacity is limited to provide sufficient distance between groups/couples. If a group traveling together is more than four passengers, guests can share the vehicle up to a standard six.
  • All community-based activities are canceled for the foreseeable future to reduce unnecessary risk to guests, staff, and the local community.
  • Staff are using gloves to handle luggage and wipe down handles with alcohol wipes before carefully placing luggage in guests’ rooms.
  • Bottles of hand sanitizes are available in all public areas for guest use, all guest rooms, on each member of staff, and on all game activities and safari vehicles.
  • At this time, communal dining is discontinued. All dining is now offered within your travel group and set apart from one another, staggered at different times and locations to limit exposure to other travelers. Meals will be served individually plated or as a table sharing platter with bottles of water and wine left on your table for self-serving.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS PER COUNTRY

We will continue to update this section as countries reopen their borders to U.S. citizens and developments occur.

  • International flights resumed as of 1 August 2020;
  • All arriving passengers on international flights whose body temperature is NOT above 37.5°C (99.5°F); do not have a persistent cough, difficulty in breathing, or other flu-like symptoms; have negative PCR based COVID-19 test carried out within 96 hours before travel and are from countries considered low to medium risk COVID-19 transmission areas shall be exempt from quarantine;
  • Travelers from countries on this list will be exempt from quarantine. Please note that this list now includes travelers from the entire United States of America, Mexico, and Tanzania; 
  • The nationwide curfew remains in place between 2100 and 0400, for a period of 30 days from 26 August 2020;
  • A selection of restaurants have reopened, with social distancing measures in place, and are permitted to operate until 8 pm, however, they are not permitted to serve alcoholic beverages;
  • A selection of hotels have reopened, with the sale of alcoholic beverages permitted in all food and beverage facilities of the hotels;
  • Travel by road, rail, and air has resumed throughout the country;
  • A selection of restaurants have reopened, with social distancing measures in place, and are permitted to operate until 8 pm for a period of 30 days from 26 August 2020;
  • Face masks are to be worn by all people at all times in public places;
  • Vehicles must carry only 50% of their passenger capacity;
  • Temperature checks will continue to be conducted in public places; and
  • Social distancing of 1.5 m apart is required at all times.

  • All tourists must have a negative PCR result not older than 72 hours before boarding their flight to Namibia.
  • Tourists must complete an epidemiological questionnaire to be submitted together with a full travel itinerary to health staff on the ground at the airport. The forms can be obtained at www.namibiatourism.com.na.
  • Tourists must have travel insurance that covers medical expenses and unexpected hotel stays in case of isolation.
  • Upon arrival tourists may proceed to the pre-booked destination and engage in the planned daily tourist activities at the establishment for the number of days the tourist is staying there.
  • If a tourist intends to spend less than five days at the pre-booked establishment, the tourist may proceed to the next destination. However, on day five (5), the tourist must be available for swabbing at the closest medical facility.

  • International flights have resumed as of 1 August 2020;
  • The only accepted test for passengers entering Rwanda is a SARS-CoV 2 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Other tests, such as Rapid Diagnostics Test (RDTs), are not accepted.
  • All travelers arriving in to, and departing from Rwanda must be tested negative for COVID-19 within 120 hours of departure (meaning that you get tested and get results no more than 5 days before your first flight).
  • Arriving travelers are required to complete the passenger locator form, and upload the COVID-19 test certificate, please see the passenger locator form link on www.rbc.gov.rw;
  • Departing travellers are encouraged to book and pay for their tests at least 2 days prior to departure through the online platform available on  www.rbc.gov.rw;
  • All travelers arriving in Rwanda will be screened upon entry and be given a second test to confirm the negative results of the first test done prior to arrival, and the test is to the cost of the guest, at USD 50 per person per test;
  • All arriving travelers are required to complete 24 hours in a designated transit hotel while awaiting the results of the second test, the designated hotels are available at a discounted rate and we recommend accommodation in the following hotels:
    • Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, Kigali
    • Kigali Marriott Hotel
    • Kigali Serena Hotel
    • Park Inn by Radisson
  • Following 24 hours, guests’ results will be received via SMS or email. In the event of a negative test, guests will be invited to check out and proceed on their Rwanda safari. In the event of a positive test, guests will be transported to a medical facility for medical attention, at their own cost.
  • All travelers must be tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours prior to visiting any of Rwanda’s National Parks.
  • A nationwide curfew is in place between 2100 and 0500; and
  • Face masks are to be worn by all people at all times in public places.

  • International flights officially resumed on 18 May 2020;
  • All travelers entering The United Republic of Tanzania will undergo temperature screening upon arrival and must complete a Health Declaration form to be submitted upon entry;
  • There are no self-quarantine requirements for travelers arriving into the country who are not showing any COVID-19 symptoms;
  • Negative COVID-19 test results and certificates are not required for any travelers;
  • All arriving passengers are to wear masks for travel and dispose of them when exiting the airport;
  • Sanitizers are placed throughout airports and all airport staff are to be monitored for symptoms of COVID-19;
  • Hotels, lodges, and restaurants have reopened, with social distancing measures and increased health and safety measures in place;
  • Face masks are to be worn by all people at all times in public places; and
  • Social distancing of 1.5 m apart is required at all times.

  • All international visitors are screened on arrival.
  • All arriving passengers must have a certificate of a negative COVID-19 test that has been conducted within 14 days of arriving in Zambia.
  • Quality Assurance testing for SARS-CoV-2 using the nucleic acid-based testing platform may be conducted on randomly selected passengers presenting these negative results.
  • Passengers with a body temperature equal to or above 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) and with any of the following symptoms: cough, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing, sore throat, and headache will be quarantined in specific institutions designated by the Ministry of Health until their results are ready.
  • Visitors will be expected to adhere to COVID-19 regulations like physical distancing, wearing face masks, and personal hygiene. They will also need to monitor themselves daily for 10 days for symptoms of the virus and report any occurrence to the nearest health facility.

SAFER ON SAFARI

OPEN-AIR BENEFIT
The allure of safari is being in a far-away place in an exclusive setting, which makes it the perfect location for a socially distanced getaway. In addition, most safari properties have open-air walkways with rooms that are spaced well apart and allow for natural airflow.

EXCLUSIVE-USE PROPERTIES
If you’d like to completely avoid crossing paths with anyone outside your own travel party, we recommend focusing on exclusive-use accommodations. This will eliminate any common areas that could be shared with other guests. You can view a complete directory of Africa’s Private Safari Lodges & Villas here.

PRIVATE EXPERIENCES
There are a number of ways to enhance the exclusivity of your experience on safari, such as upgrading to a private game drive, organizing a private charter, or booking a private tour.

WHAT IF PLANS CHANGE?

If you find yourself a few months out from your intended departure date and you are still not comfortable with the thought of traveling due to COVID-19, we will go above and beyond to help you postpone your trip. This is where the power of relationships comes into play. We will negotiate with our partners on your behalf to score the best possible outcome for you.

Should you choose to cancel your trip, our normal payment terms will apply:

 
Cancellation Penalties Per Person
90+ days prior to travelDeposit Paid (25% of land costs + 100% of internal
airfare + 100% of insurance)
61-89 days prior to travel50%
0-60 days prior to travel100%

YOUR IMPACT

In Africa, an average of seven people are dependent on one salaried family member to sustain them. Imagine the ripple effect of the loss of employment due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions. The lack of activity within camps and their surrounding wildlife reserves also makes it easier for poachers to move through normally protected areas without being noticed. This has resulted in a spike in poaching incidents within Africa in recent months. While this is certainly sobering news, it is not irreversible.

One of the greatest ways you can have an impact on Africa’s wildlife and its people is simply by traveling and being aware of where your money goes and what it supports. If you are interested in contributing directly to staff members or to anti-poaching initiatives, we invite you to make a donation to our nonprofit, Alluring Impact.

We are forever grateful for the generosity of our guests and we look forward to welcoming you back to Africa soon.