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:

  • Adherence to the World Health Organization’s recommended safety guidelines
  • Improved disinfecting procedures for flights as well as providing masks to guests which are required onboard
  • Temperature checks
  • Staff using gloves to handle luggage and to wipe down luggage handles with alcohol wipes
  • Camps stocking masks and hand sanitizer to have available for guests
  • Family-style meals and snacks being replaced with individualized plated options to avoid cross-contamination

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.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS PER COUNTRY

We will continue to update this section as countries reopen and developments occur.

  • International flights officially resumed on May, 18 2020;
  • All travelers entering The United Republic of Tanzania will be required to present, upon arrival a valid negative COVID-19 certificate from an approved laboratory, tested within 72 hours before travel;
  • There are no self-quarantine requirements for travelers arriving into the country who are not showing any COVID-19 symptoms;
  • All arriving passengers will undergo screening and must complete a Health Declaration form to be submitted upon entry;
  • 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.

  • International flights have resumed as of August 1, 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 the following countries will be exempt from quarantine: Canada, China, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Qatar, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America (except for California, Florida and Texas), Rwanda, South Korea, Switzerland, and Zimbabwe;
  • The nationwide curfew remains in place between 2100 and 0400, for a period of 30 days from 27 July 2020;
  • Travel by road, rail, and air has resumed throughout the country;
  • A selection of restaurants have reopened, with social distancing measures in place. Restaurants are permitted to operate until 7 pm for a period of 30 days from 27 July 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.

  • International flights have resumed as of 1 August 2020;
  • All travelers arriving in Rwanda must be tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of departure (meaning that you get tested and get results no more than 3 days before your first flight), complete the passenger locator form, and upload the COVID-19 test certificate, please see the passenger locator form link 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 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.
  • 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.