Coronavirus Update

We extend our sympathy and co-operation to everyone affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the drastic measures governments are implementing to prevent its spread.

Whilst many of you are sitting at home, why not go on a “virtual” holiday with us. We have many sample itineraries as well as tours and safaris that have already been booked for you to look through. Browse our website – there is lots of information for you.

South Africa and Namibia are both under various stages of lockdown with measures steadily being relaxed. In South Africa all domestic interprovincial travel is now allowed for business and leisure purposes and international travel movement is now also open as from 1 October, subject to further regulations and conditions which includes strict restrictions of movement from countries deemed high risk.

As of 1 September, Namibia officially opened to international travellers under the targeted tourism initiative and while initially, strict requirements were set to allow travel, this has since been amended making travel possible and more favourable for tourists to visit. These are the current requirements:

• Tourists should submit, in writing, their intention to enter Namibia to the relevant Namibian diplomatic representative in the intended country of departure, 14 days before entering Namibia.
• All travellers must have a negative Covid-19 test result not older than 72 hours from country of departure and on this basis will be permitted to proceed to their final destination in Namibia.
  (This requirement does not apply to children under the age of 5 years)
  (All travelers who arrive in Namibia with a negative Covid-19 test result that is older than 72 hours, will be placed in quarantine and tested for Covid-19 on the same day (at own cost). Once a negative test result is received, travelers will be released from quarantine. If positive, isolation is at own cost according to isolation protocols in place.
• Tourists will have to complete a primary surveillance form and a health questionnaire to be submitted with their full travel itinerary on arrival at the airport.
• Tourists must have private travel insurance to cover medical care or an unexpected hotel stay.
• Only NTB (Namibia Tourism Board) registered accommodation will be considered given they have also been health certified accordingly and comply with safety guidelines and protocols.
• Returning Namibian citizens or Permit Holders may enter the country with or without a COVID-19 PCR test result. In the event of a positive test result or no result on arrival, they will be tested immediately on arrival while in quarantine. On receipt of a negative test result they will be released from quarantine. Anyone arriving with a positive test result will be isolated on arrival at a designated isolation facility or in home isolation subject to mandatory assessment and approval by an authorised medical officer.

While the above pertains to entry into Namibia, it is also of utmost importance to ensure that you comply with the requirements of the airline you will be travelling with as well as to note the requirements stipulated by your country of residence for your return.

If you have any questions with regards to the above, please contact your consultant for more information and further assistance. We are excited that things continue to progress and we are hopeful that as the initiative gets underway, the procedures will become even easier as we head into the last quarter of the year. We are ready to welcome you to discover Namibia with all necessary protocols and procedures in place for you to ‘travel safe’.

Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana are now also open for international travel with restrictions easing to make travel possible again.

Despite having to postpone upcoming trips, we are happy to report that over 60% of our clients have deferred their trips to 2021 with a further 30% choosing to postpone their trips without yet confirming their new travel dates.

WHO Report - Global (1 June)

With this pandemic comes many changes and we have had to revise our cancellation / postponement policy as follows:

If a tour/safari is postponed to run in the following 12 months of postponement, we will endeavor, where possible, not to increase your quote but this does depend on assistance from our suppliers

The majority of suppliers (lodges/hotels/car hire) have indicated that if a tour is postponed with set dates within the next 12 months that they will also honour the present rates and quote given

If the tour is postponed more than 12 months in advance, there is a possibility of a small extra cost due to seasonal or annual rates

If a tour is postponed from now, up to 5 years from now, your deposit will be held in trust and credited to your next booking

Any tour that is cancelled completely without it being postponed, the non-refundable 20% deposit will be forfeited and cannot be refunded

Any tour cancelled, and fully paid, the refund will depend on supplier cancellation policies but we will endeavor to refund as much as possible

Each cancellation is treated separately, and we negotiate with suppliers to ease their cancellation policies

Please use this time to plan and when all this is behind us, we can assist with your next holiday to this beautiful part of Africa. Your assistance and understanding is appreciated.