Travel is all about the unexpected. And even more so now as our lives are encapsulated in uncertainty, especially in the realm of leaving our comfort zones into the unchartered waters after Covid-19. Many are asking should we postpone or cancel? And new enquiries are asking should we be making future travel plans even if I can’t travel right now? Below is an overview of our approach during these unique times.
Already booked and travelling soon?
At the moment we are focusing our attention on guests who were due to travel within the next 8 to 10 weeks. If this is the case, we will contact you. Broadly speaking, the options open to you will vary according to the date of your first travel arrangements with us.
If your safari is not in the next two months?
Although the travel restrictions are fairly open-ended at the moment, we know that they will not be forever. The African safari industry is trying to be as flexible as possible, and so if you decide you do not want to travel or cannot travel on the booked dates, then we can explore two options.
(i) Postpone your safari – Every African supplier is offering postponement of your travel plans. Usually within a 12 month period from your original date of travel, but sometimes longer. We aim to keep any additional costs of new arrangements to an absolute minimum. Most of our African partners are being very flexible. But there may be some costs depending on your proposed travel dates. It is also important to know that depending on the new travel dates, there may be extra costs due to seasonality changes or yearly price increases. But this is unlikely.
(ii) Cancellation of your safari – You are entitled to cancel your safari as per our normal terms and conditions. This is likely to result in the loss of non-recoverable costs from your deposit, as in most cases we have paid out these deposits to the African safari companies. However, please discuss your specific circumstances with us.
You may be able to recover non-refundable costs from your Travel Insurance, under certain circumstances.
Flexible terms when booking a new safari
We are receiving a few enquiries for new safaris in 2021 which we welcome (naturally) with open arms. Due to the uncertainty surrounding Covid-19, we are offering adapted Terms and Conditions to be as flexible as possible. Our aim is to offer you peace of mind. Much as we would love to have a one size fits all new policy, our African partners vary so much in terms of how they are dealing with the crisis. Thus in some cases some of our African partners can offer a virtually risk-free option (no deposit needed at this time). But in other cases, our African partners will require a deposit.
Why re-schedule your safari?
(i) You have a meaningful and life-enhancing experience to look forward to when the time is right.
- The last few weeks have been tough going for most people. Even those of us lucky enough to have a safe haven at home are bound to be eager for a change of scene, when the pandemic has ended. Many people tell us that they want to get away for a restorative holiday, just as soon as it is safe to do so. However, we do appreciate there are many other people who may prefer to ease back into normal life more slowly and look forward to their safari at a later date.
(ii) To support those less fortunate people in Africa
- By postponing a safari planned for the time of the pandemic (rather than cancelling outright), you will be making a massive difference to the lives of people in Africa.
- Jobs in tourism support many more people than you meet in person and the ‘trickledown effect’ gets money straight to communities working hard to ‘be the change’ in Africa.
- Many wildlife conservation areas and community conservancies rely entirely on tourism. The absence of people brings the immediate prospect of hardship and job losses. Even when a lodge is privately owned, owned by investors, a family or a wealthy philanthropist, the necessary closures are painful.
- There is a threat to wildlife too. With rangers laid off, and poverty rising, poachers could soon prey on the national parks, game reserves and wildlife conservancies.