Dear Safari Partners
As our airports open and airplanes take to the sky, we would like to share a few spots of regional travel news. Our Product Manager, Kathleen Leonard, has developed ‘The Cheli & Peacock Safaris Supplier Deposit Guide 2020/21’. The document allows for better financial planning with regard to the paying of deposits in the future, should you like a copy of this document, please contact Kath at Kathleen.Leonard@chelipeacock.
COVID-19 EAST AFRICA TRAVEL FAQS
In order to plan safaris for your travelers in the future, please take note of the following:
TANZANIA
- International flights officially resumed on 18 May 2020;
- All travelers entering The United Republic of Tanzania will be required to present, upon arrival a valid negative COVID-19 certificate from an approved laboratory, tested within 72 hours before travel;
- There are no self-quarantine requirements for travelers arriving into the country who are not showing any COVID-19 symptoms;
- All arriving passengers will undergo screening and must complete a Health Declaration form to be submitted upon entry;
- All arriving passengers are to wear masks for travel and dispose of them when exiting the airport;
- Sanitizers are placed throughout airports and all airport staff are to be monitored for symptoms of COVID-19;
- Hotels, lodges, and restaurants have reopened, with social distancing measures and increased health and safety measures in place;
- Face masks are to be worn by all people at all times in public places; and
- Social distancing of 1.5 m apart is required at all times.
KENYA
- International flights have resumed as of 1 August 2020;
- All arriving passengers on international flights whose body temperature is NOT above 37.5°C (99.5°F); do not have a persistent cough, difficulty in breathing or other flu-like symptoms; have negative PCR based COVID-19 test carried out within 96 hours before travel and are from countries considered low to medium risk COVID-19 transmission areas shall be exempt from quarantine.
- Travelers from the following countries will be exempt from quarantine: Canada, China, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Qatar, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America (except for California, Florida and Texas), Rwanda, South Korea, Switzerland and Zimbabwe;
- The nationwide curfew remains in place between 2100 and 0400, for a period of 30 days from 27 July 2020;
- Travel by road, rail, and air has resumed throughout the country;
- A selection of restaurants have reopened, with social distancing measures in place. Restaurants are permitted to operate until 7pm for a period of 30 days from 27 July 2020 ;
- Face masks are to be worn by all people at all times in public places;
- Vehicles must carry only 50% of their passenger capacity;
- Temperature checks will continue to be conducted in public places; and
- Social distancing of 1.5 m apart is required at all times.
UGANDA
- International flights were banned on 22 March 2020, a reopening date has yet to be announced;
- Local private and public vehicle movement continues to be suspended;
- The nationwide curfew continues between 1900 and 0630;
- Hotels, restaurants, and shops reopened from the 4 June 2020, with social distancing measures in place; and
- Face masks are to be worn by all people over the age of 6 years at all times in public places.
RWANDA
- International flights have resumed as of 1 August 2020;
- All travellers arriving in Rwanda must be tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of departure (meaning that you get tested and get results no more than 3 days before your first flight), complete the passenger locator form, and upload the COVID-19 test certificate, please see the passenger locator form link on www.rbc.gov.rw;
- All travellers arriving in Rwanda will be screened upon entry and be given a second test to confirm the negative results of the first test done prior to arrival, and the test is to the cost of the guest, at USD 50 per person per test;
- All travellers are required to complete 24 hours in a designated transit hotel while awaiting the results of the second test, the designated hotels are available at a discounted rate and we recommend accommodation in the following hotels:
- Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, Kigali
- Kigali Marriott Hotel
- Kigali Serena Hotel
- Park Inn by Radisson
- Following 24 hours, guests’ results will be received via SMS or email. In the event of a negative test, guests will be invited to check out and proceed on their Rwanda safari. In the event of a positive test, guests will be transported to a medical facility for medical attention, at their own cost.
- A nationwide curfew is in place between 2100 and 0500; and
- Face masks are to be worn by all people at all times in public places.
The following tables list the collections, properties and airlines that have resumed operations. For more information please contact your designated Safari Planner.
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Tanzanian Individual Properties that are now open
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Tanzanian Domestic Airlines that are up and running
Auric Air (all routes except Kigali and Entebbe)
Air Excel
Coastal Aviation
Grumeti Air
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Kenyan Individual Properties that are now open
Alfajiri Villas
Almanara Boutique Hotel & Luxury Villas
Angama Mara
Arijiju
Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp
Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport
Eka Hotel
El Karama Eco-Lodge
Enasoit
Four Points by Sheraton, Nairobi Airport
House of Waine
Karen Blixen Camp
Karen Gables
Karisia Walking Safaris
Kinondo Kwetu
Mara Bushtops
Mahali Mzuri
Medina Palms
Ol Tukai Lodge
Satao Elerai
Sirikoi Lodge
Tamarind Tree Nairobi
The Emakoko
The Majlis Lamu
Kenyan Domestic Airlines that are up and running
AirKenya Express Ltd
Governors’ Aviation Ltd
Mombasa Air Safari Ltd
Safarilink Aviation Ltd
Lichota-Migori Airstrip
The Lichota-Migori Airstrip, which allows travellers to fly from the Masai Mara to the Serengeti, has been closed until 31 December 2021 for scheduled maintenance. The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) have allocated USD 2.2M, and are planning to expand and rehabilitate the strip to accommodate the landing of larger aircraft. In the interim, our airline partners intend to route all flights that were scheduled to fly from the Masai Mara to the Serengeti via Nairobi Wilson and Kilimanjaro airports. For the most part, tickets paid for before the 16 July 2020 will be honored. However, quoted bookings may be subject to a price change. We are working to revise all of our quotations in order to measure the differences.
Cheli & Peacock Safaris COVID-19 Protocols
Our protocols remain the same, with a small change to seating arrangements in vehicles, airplanes and dining rooms. For your reference please find the latest document attached.
CARE AND PROTECTION
In order to start to put all of our protocols into action, our Operations Manager, Nelly Waweru has been appointed as our COVID-19 Health & Safety Officer in Kenya. Nelly, along with one of our drivers and one of our airport representatives, completed the Salama Fikira ‘Infection Prevention and Control Qualifications’ accredited by Highfield International. Nelly will now be responsible for making sure that we are compliant and that all staff members are trained accordingly. All guest-facing staff (operation staff members, drivers and airport representatives) will now undergo the same stringent training regimen, guided by the three members of staff who completed the course. In addition, Nelly completed the Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) ‘COVID-19 Sensitisation Programme’ conducted by the Red Cross, and Cheli & Peacock Safaris is now certified.
Our sales team are working on new itineraries and enquiries on a daily basis. Should you have any questions or require any further information, please do contact your designated Safari Planner.
The Cheli & Peacock Safaris Team