Hooray! It's time to pack your bags again after a long while and tour Africa. A trip to the best African safari countries will give you some distance from the many negative news headlines you have been glued to at home.
After years of working from home and impending lockdowns, the world is now travel-ready and you can book an African safari tour and travel safely to a country of your choice. I know you have many questions concerning your safety. Worry not. By the time you are done reading this article, you will have all the confidence to explore Africa freely.
Even as the world slowly opens up, you still need to clearly understand more about how COVID19 spreads so that you can take great care of yourself when travelling. Carry your hygiene pack containing hand sanitisers, wet wipes, and masks. Remember that you are protecting yourself and your loved ones when taking the proper measures.
Continue reading for more tips on how to travel during a pandemic.
10 Travel Tips For Travelling To Africa During a Pandemic
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Always have tons of masks in your bag. Safety begins with you, and wearing your mask always is a way to be safe. Change the masks often and avoid touching them now and then.
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Wash your hands regularly. Dirty hands spread germs quickly. All tour providers have wash stations where you can regularly wash your hands with soap.
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Change and clean your clothes after you reach your destination. Use a disinfectant and iron the clothes after they dry up. By doing this, you minimize the chances of transferring the virus to your hotel room. Give your room a quick clean before you settle in. Disinfect the door locks and your luggage too.
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Confirm that your safari providers fumigate your room before your arrival. They must disinfect the room thoroughly.
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Disinfect your hands often when using public transportation. A hand sanitiser is essential, and you need to have it all the time.
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Don't sit or stand very close to people. Crowded places are where the virus can spread fast. You don’t know who carries the virus so maintain a distance of 1 meter away from people.
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Check local guidelines and transmission rates. Do not visit areas with high infection rates; you are at risk of contracting the virus.
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Request your room service providers to let you clean and organize the room to avoid unnecessary exposure between you and the service provider
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Use gloves or plastic bags when using the remote, light switches, and the telephone. These are the most-touched surfaces, so you must be cautious when operating them.
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Don't travel if you feel sick. It is risky and can cause more harm to you.
Entry Requirements
All African countries are very keen on making sure all tourists follow the required procedures to keep them safe and avoid the spread of the virus. To travel smoothly, get fully vaccinated. It’s mandatory to have your vaccination certificate at all the airports. It takes around 1- 3 months to get your two jabs. You have to make arrangements before your African safari to avoid inconveniences.
To travel to Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, or Rwanda, you must have a negative PCR test. The test is only valid after 72hours. You can not board any airline without your results. Some airports offer PRC tests, but it’s advisable and safe not to rely on them to avoid wasting time and missing your flights.
You’ll also need a traveller surveillance form that carries information about your trip and whether you are experiencing any Covid-19 symptoms. It helps in following up in case you need to quarantine. All the paperwork must be uploaded on your phone, avoiding all paper documents.
A rapid test will be conducted, and your temperature should not exceed 37.5 degrees. You will have a PCR test and other quick health checks done at the airport on arrival. If your results are positive, you isolate yourself for ten days at a place of your choice. Carry some extra cash because all the tests and medical check-ups are charged.
If you test positive when travelling, and the situation is manageable, cancel everything and isolate yourself. It’s very important to purchase travel insurance during these uncertain times. Different people react differently to covid-19, and you might need greater medical attention. It can be challenging to fall sick in a foreign country without insurance. To be on the safe side, purchase one early enough.
At The Lodges
The hotel experience has changed in a big way since the pandemic. You will have less or no physical contact with the staff at the check-in desk. Every surface is disinfected regularly, and you might not be able to interact much with other occupants like you were used to before.
Every person is in their mask all the time. Pens, magazines, and throw pillows are likely not to be in your room like you are used to; remember to pack some. The staff is well trained to keep social distance and cleaning service. They will organize to move you to a cleanroom, or you can opt to clean for yourself. Avoid hotel room gyms and public halls.
Some countries such as Kenya, recently lifted the wearing of masks after Covid-19 cases went down. Don't be surprised when you see people walking without masks. You can still wear your mask for your safety, especially in crowded public places. The employees will keep your temperature in check, and they are ready for emergency contact if things get out of control.
Now You’re Travel Ready
After cancelling many trips and having a lot of fear of going to public places, things are getting better daily. Some things might have changed a lot, but the best thing is that people are booking flights and travelling again.
Africa is safe and ready to receive guests in large numbers. As long as you do not have any pre-existing chronic medical issues, then a pandemic is not an excuse for not taking your dream African safari holiday!
Talk to us via the contact form below and one of our experienced staff will help you plan the perfect African safari to a country or countries of your choice!