A safari trip is a great idea, as it can allow you to enjoy scenic views of exotic flora and fauna, vivid greenery, and stunning landscapes. In East Africa, visitors can enjoy excellent wildlife viewing, cultural tours, and a taste of the extraordinary local cuisine. If you are planning a safari trip during COVID 19, here are 5 things that you should keep in mind in order to enjoy a safe and fun-filled vacation.
- To Travel or Not to Travel
It is important to determine if the trip is worth it, given the current conditions. You must visit your doctor and see if your health makes you fit for travel. If you have a weak immune system, you should not travel unless necessary, in order to reduce the risk of getting sick. It is also important to get tested, and avoid travel unless you get a negative coronavirus test report. The decision regarding travel also accounts for the destination you are visiting. It is safer not to visit a very crowded area, or a region where few restrictions and guidelines have been imposed to reduce the risk of coronavirus. It is also important to consider if increased travel to an area can cause danger to the locals, or if it can boost their local economy.
- Things To Do To Stay Safe
There are some precautions that travellers must take in order to ensure their safety. These include wearing masks, and gloves at all times, carrying and using hand sanitizer, cleaning surfaces you touch with a wet wipe, and staying away from crowded spaces. Social distancing is essential for minimizing risk, so tourists must always maintain a safe distance at least 6 feet from other people. You can also quarantine upon arrival to ensure safety.
- Things Not To Do
It is important for travellers not to touch their faces, or to touch contaminated surfaces, especially in any public place. You should avoid going to crowded places, or visiting safari locations that face too many visitors. For places such as the Serengeti, you can find lodges and retreats that follow good disinfection protocols, and do not have too many guests. You should avoid unnecessary contact with other people, especially indigenous populations.
- Airport Protocols
Different airports have different protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to tackle the pandemic. At entry and exit points, tourists are scanned and their temperature is checked and recorded. Checking may be slower as agents take extra care and change gloves for each passenger. Even though this means queues at immigration may be longer, it is essential to maintain a safe distance of 2 metres. Many airports allow travellers to use electronic boarding passes and tickets. If these are not allowed, readers are available to scan the documents, ensuring a safe and contactless check-in process.
- Choosing Where To Go
It is also important to make a travel plan and determine where to go. How crowded is the safari park? Will your visit endanger local indigenous communities? Are coronavirus related precautions and restrictions being imposed in the region? Most locations in East Africa are safe, and necessary precautions are taken to protect guests from the risk of getting COVID. Many public places have made it compulsory to wear masks, and enforce social distancing. You can easily find accommodation where the maximum number of guests is limited in order to ensure the safety of the visitors.
With these things in mind, we hope you can enjoy a safe safari trip!