Zambia: Simalaha Conservancy news and Chundukwa Lodge special offers

MULI BWANJI FROM ZAMBIA! 

We have a wonderful New Year Offer for clients looking for a retreat on the River to welcome in the New Year, as well as a once-off self-catering offer for those wishing to really 'Go Wild' at our beautiful camp in the Simalaha Conservancy.

As we welcome in the Rainy Season and bid 2021 farewell, we would like to thank you, our agents, DMC's and partners in travel, for your wonderful support in an ever-changing and challenging year.

“Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning how to dance in the rain.” We look forward to welcoming you in 2022! 

Doug & Gail

Some good news for Zambia!

The following information has been updated as of 21st December 2021

Update on Zambia Travel Guidelines  

° All travellers arriving in Zambia must provide a negative PCR test taken no more than 72hrs before departure as before.

° Removal of all requirements to test on arrival.

° Removal of the list of "High Risk" countries and the need to quarantine on arrival.

FESTIVE SEASON OFFERS

New Year at Chundukwa Lodge

Offer valid from 20 Dec 2021 – 20 Jan 2022

Stay with us in a luxury River Chalet on a Full-Board Basis including a sunset cruise & New Year's Eve Feast & Festivities!

2-3 Night Stay only $220.00 per person sharing*

Long-Stay Discounted Rate will apply.

- New Years Eve - 

Join us for a magical New Year with family & friends as we share our traditional gourmet cuisine with spit-roasted lamb, delicious champagne and plenty of R&R.

T&C's Apply! Min Stay 2 Nights.

Single Supplement Applies.

Kindly note our River Chalets are not suitable for children U10 years due to safety.

Chundu Cottage - Self-Catering Offer

Offer valid from 20 Dec 2021 – 20 Jan 2022

3 nights or more only US$ 300.00* for the cottage per night, including a complimentary sunset cruise per person per stay!

Refundable Deposit Required: US$ 200 or Kwacha equivalent for breakages to be paid in cash on arrival. Maximum 6 clients may be accommodated.

Ready to go wild this Christmas?

Simalaha Horse Safaris – Christmas & New Year Offer

Stay at our beautiful camp in the Simalaha Conservancy on a self-catering basis.

Wild - Sustainable – Unforgettable!

- Choose your Stay -

Only US$ 90.00 per person per night including Conservancy Fees, linen, towels, housekeeping services & our in-house cook at your disposal! 

Valid now until 27 Dec 2021

Or US$ 70.00 per person per night including Conservancy Fees - excluding linen, towels & staff. A team will be available to assist with lighting the boilers & basic cleaning. 

Valid now until 5 Jan 2022

T&C's Apply! Min Stay 3 Nights. 

Min 4, Max 8 Guests.

Self-Drive to the Simalaha Conservancy.

No horse-riding is included in this offer.

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Bushtracks Africa: 7-Day Family Odyssey

Bushtracks Africa

Travel Updates: 7-Day Family Odyssey to Livingstone and the South Luangwa, Zambia

The UK now recognises more vaccines as Red List bought to zero

The UK's existing list of authorised vaccines for inward travel will be expanded to include Sinovac, Sinopharm Beijing, and Covaxin. Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have also now had their vaccination certificates recognized by the UK.

More vaccinated travellers will be able to fly with fewer restrictions as a result of this. A review of the quality, safety, and efficacy data led to this recognition.

UK Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps declared that no countries or territories were currently on the list. "We will keep the red list in place as a precautionary measure to protect public health, and we are prepared to add countries and territories if needed as the UK’s first line of defense if the situation changes." He also said ​​it was a "great boost for travel and all those people employed in the travel sector".

The governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland stated they would follow suit in recognising these vaccines.

All under-18s arriving in England from a non-red list country or territory will be treated as fully vaccinated at the border, regardless of their vaccination status, according to the UK government.

They will not be subjected to self-isolation upon arrival, and will only be required to take a lateral flow test after that, with a free confirmation PCR test if the results are positive.

Natural Selection: Government travel policies summary

Natural Selection

A QUICK SUMMARY OF BOTSWANA, NAMIBIA & SOUTH AFRICA'S GOVERNMENT POLICIES AROUND TRAVEL

For inbound travellers the following COVID-19 travel regulations are in place as of 14 December 2021.

Botswana is open for travel. All in-coming travellers (including ones that have been vaccinated) are required to produce a negative COVID-19 test that was obtained not more than 72 hours before the time of departure in the country of origin to Botswana.

At the arrival port of entry all travellers will undergo a cost-free Rapid COVID-19 test to gain entry. No official statement on the implementation of a vaccination certificate requirement for entry has been made yet.

Namibia is open for travel. All in-coming travellers (including ones that have been vaccinated) are required to produce a negative COVID-19 test that was obtained not more than 72 hours before the time of departure in the country of origin to Namibia. Namibia has also implemented the Trusted Travel System, where guests will need to have their test results checked and approved online by the Trusted Travel System prior to arrival.

South Africa is open for travel. All travellers (including ones that have been vaccinated) are required to produce a negative COVID-19 test that was done not more than 72 hours before the time of departure in the country of origin to South Africa.

GETTING A PCR TEST IN EACH COUNTRY BEFORE DEPARTING HOME 

All the major centres of Botswana, Namibia and South Africa now offer very efficient PCR testing facilities for travellers requiring a test before flying home. Given the turnaround times of a PCR test this usually means having to overnight in a major centre before flying out.

We are pleased to be able to offer an in-camp PCR testing service for guests staying in any of our Botswana camps or at Kwessi Dunes in Namibia. The in-camp testing service costs $310 per person in Botswana and NAD 5,950 per person at Kwessi Dunes for a minimum of 2 people in a group. The cost per person decreases for larger groups requiring in-camp testing as a significant portion of the cost is to cover a charter flight or transfer for a nurse. Allow a 24-hour turnaround time to receive results with the PCR certificates waiting for guests on arrival at Maun or Windhoek airports.

Please contact us for more information around pricing and testing facilities.

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Botswana has made it easier for tourists to enter the country | Ботсвана облегчает въезд

Botswana has made it easier for tourists to enter the country.

Botswana is fully open to international tourism. To enter the country travellers must produce a negative PCR test result that is conducted within 72 hours of their departure for Botswana. On arrival, they are also required to do a rapid antigen test at the point of entry. These are available at Maun airport free of charge. The rapid test results are generally ready within 20 minutes.

Once they receive a negative test result travellers can enter and enjoy their holiday free of worry. The second test is an additional precaution the government has put in place to ensure the safety of all and stop the spread of the pandemic.

So why not consider a getaway to the unforgettable Makgadikgadi Pans? You won't have a problem social distancing there! Contact us for more information: info@traveltonamibia.com

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Chameleon Safaris: An update from Namibia - Namibia’s entry requirements | Хамелеон Сафари Намибия

An update from Namibia - Chameleon Safaris

Hard to believe that it’s approaching 18 months since the start of the pandemic and we are proud to report that we are still here and eager to show our guests around Namibia.

While we know all the uncertainty around travel makes one want to gouge out their eyes, we hope you are all managing to hold on and stay sane during these challenging times!

For those of you with requests for Namibia, here’s some info we think you might come in handy!

Namibia’s entry requirements?

1. Negative PCR test not older than 7 days 

Note: Airlines may require a 72 hr test - we recommend you check with their airline directly as to what they require.

2. Completed Covid-19 Surveillance Form

3. Completed Health Questionnaire For Tourism Revival Initiative Travelers Form

4. Proof of Travel/Medical Insurance that covers for unforeseen expenses (extended stay) in the event of testing positive to COVID-19 in Namibia.

COVID testing prior to departure?

While these requirements continue to change, PCR and antigen testing is available in Namibia at a cost of between N$400 - N$1200 depending on the test required and facility available. All guests currently require PCR testing for onward travel from Namibia (enforced by airlines).

PCR results are available in as little as 6 hours or up to 24 hours depending on client requirements.

Chameleon Safaris COVID protocols?

We are proud to report that Chameleon aims to provide our clients the safest possible experience in Namibia.

This includes:

*Our vehicles being sanitised before every departure and the guides regularly sanitising high traffic areas including door handles and hand rails

*Checking temperatures of guests and guides regularly

*Maintaining social distancing in vehicle by limiting capacity to 75% on tours

*Reminding guests of national protocols such as hand sanitising and mask wearing

Chameleon Safaris team has also taken further steps to ensure everyone's safety by getting vaccinated and we are pretty excited about that!

Our Safaris

These strange times have shown us the need to continue to adapt.

Last year we developed our Volunteer & Safari combos, specifically to accommodate the 7 day stay-put regulation implemented by the Namibian government for incoming travellers.

Thankfully this regulation has since been disregarded, however our Volunteer & Safari combos are proving popular so they will definitely continue.

While we have updated these itineraries so clients can now travel with us first, and volunteer later, these combinations are flexible so you can just let us know what our clients dates are and we can give you all the options!

Should you have any clients wishing to travel to Namibia, or you need an escape, then get in touch as we would LOVE to show you our backyard!

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Botswana: Message from Okavango Expeditions: COVID test center in Maun

Dumela & Greetings from Maun,

We are delighted to inform you that Maun Airport will soon be able to offer a COVID test center in collaboration with the company Pharma Group.

We remind you that a visitor must provide a less than 72 hours negative PCR test when entering the territory of Botswana.

It is also necessary to carry out a test when leaving Botswana in order to present a negative test during transits in the various international airports.

There will be testing centers based at Maun Airport, Kasane & Gaborone Airports so that visitors do not have to be transferred to / from a testing center.

The test results will be ready within 2-4 hours.

It's best if visitors can arrive in Maun early on the final day of their stay, take the test and wait for the results to be able to proceed with departure, we recommend allowing 5-6 hours at the airport in case it gets crowded.

Alternatively for clients who do not want to go through the wait in Maun for test results, Pharma Group can arrange to send a nurse to the bush camp (additional costs).

Reservations for these tests can be made online www.pharma.co.bw and are BWP980 per person.

Customers will be able to book and pay online or pay by credit card or cash at the test desk.

The tests will be offered daily between 7:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

We are looking forward to welcoming guests back to Botswana.

Cheers Clint & Pieter-ann and the Okavango Expeditions team

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