We have selected five of our favourite properties which we believe are some of South Africa’s most exceptional lodges. Their special, highly discounted, SA resident rates have been extended into 2021, giving South Africans more opportunity to experience some of the most magical and romantic places in the country.

We’ve read and heard many snarky comments during this time about “South African visitors finally being good enough to stay at these properties” and these lodges bringing their pricing down to “more realistic rates” – however such remarks are based on a lack of insight. These incredible properties are unbelievably costly to run, most have a limited number of rooms to maintain an exclusive and personal experience, have high staff to guest ratios, employ skilled sought-after staff to ensure an exceptional safari/nature experience and extraordinary dining, are situated in remote locations making deliveries of goods a challenge and contribute immensely to conservation and community upliftment efforts in their regions. So these super low rates being offered during this time of the pandemic in many cases only barely contribute to overheads and are being offered in order to help keep their staff employed. It’s unlikely once the situation settles and tourism returns to some form of “normality” that we will see these prices again in the market.

So now is really the time to take advantage and make the most of this opportunity to experience such highly acclaimed lodges, and understand what makes South Africa such a popular destination with our international visitors from around the world.
We’ve chosen these top five lodges for their unique locations and wildlife experiences, exquisite suites, romantic features and contribution to conservation.

Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge

Location and unique Experience
Recognised by National Geographic as one of the Unique Lodges of the World, Sabi Sabi’s Earth Lodge is sculpted into a slope of the earth, almost invisible in the landscape, the lodge uses texture, light and space to present a lodge like no other. Taking its cue from the surrounding environment, it has been described as the most environmentally sensitive lodge in Africa. The lodge is located in the renowned Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve – known as one of the best wildlife reserves in Africa and arguably the best in South Africa. Sabi Sands is particularly noted for its sightings of one of the most elusive of the Big Five – the leopard, as it has the highest concentration of these animals in all of South Africa. It is the one place in which you can almost guarantee your clients a leopard sighting.

The Suites
Home to 13 ultra-luxurious suites including the Amber Presidential Suite, the lodge breaks with traditional bush lodge style to create a masterpiece of artistry and innovation. Each of the suites at this luxury lodge features individually designed furniture, private plunge pool, en-suite glass fronted bathroom and indoor and outdoor shower. The natural wooden sculptures by renowned South African artist Geoffrey Armstrong add a powerful magic.

Lepogo Lodges Noka Camp

Location and Unique Experience
Sitting on top of a spectacular 100 ft rock face with the swirling Palala River below, Noka Camp encourages complete tranquility with uncompromised luxury. Noka Camp is nestled in the heart of the malaria free Lapalala Game Reserve and offers an exquisite base from which to explore the 50,000 hectares of pure wilderness. Vast, remote and serene, the Lapalala Wilderness awakens the senses with its deep valleys and spectacular cliffs echoing to the sound of tumbling streams. From crystal clear rock pools to wide open plains, this is an area rich in an abundant array of wildlife and largely untouched by man. Activities include game drives, bush walks, water safaris, river swimming, visits to an iron age site and bushmen rock art, astronomy, fishing, as well as community and conservation experiences. Lepogo Lodges as a non for-profit venture. It is one of the few lodges globally giving 100% of any financial gains back into the reserve for the benefit of wildlife, local community and future generations. Cheetah reintroduction and preservation is a priority for the owners and foremost in their personal conservation goals. The name Lepogo is derived from the Sotho for Cheetah.

The Villas
The villas all have incredibly features: At night your sky bed experience provides for one of the most romantic settings you can imagine as you choose to either sleep outside under the stars or inside your stunning villa in unparalleled luxury. Enjoy the breath-taking views and spectacular sunsets from the luxury of a sunken bath. The bathrooms are designed to incorporate the great outdoors and truly allow you to soak up the natural environment. Each room has its own heated plunge pool built into the platform on top of the cliff, there aren’t many pools that will offer such a view. This takes the infinity pool concept to a new level. Each room has its own beautifully positioned outdoor sitting area, allowing you to enjoy the endless views at your leisure.

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve

Location and Unique Experience
Grootbos, a luxury eco reserve close to the southern tip of Africa, tucked between mountain, forest and sea, is a world leader in sustainable tourism and has been awarded the highest international accolades possible, making us one of only a handful of lodges to do so. Carefully curated experiences offer guests the chance to grow, learn and discover. Whether it's spotting whales and their calves in the ocean, learning how bees pollinate flowers or meeting passionate people changing the world, you'll have your eyes opened - as well as your heart. Experiences at Grootbos are inspired by the pristine surroundings and have conservation and community at its core. Guests can enjoy botanical 4x4 tours, walks and hikes, horse riding, quad biking, fat bike trails, shark cage diving, whales watching, marine safaris, a river cruise, a coastal safari, bird watching… and more.
The freshest air, the cleanest water and the clearest views: a stay at Grootbos is a glimpse into a truly organic life. Much of the food served is grown on the reserve and you can taste this in every mouthful.

The Suites
Meander through an ancient Milkwood forest, soak up the beauty of the fynbos or admire dramatic mountain and sea views as you wind your way towards your private suite. All of the accommodation at Grootbos has been designed to complement the pristine natural setting, while never compromising on style or luxury. Private, peaceful and luxurious, Garden Lodge suites are ideal for enjoying time with loved ones, soaking up the silence or simply connecting with nature. Curl up in the sun-filled lounge with a book, enjoy a cup of tea on your own wooden deck or simply appreciate the gorgeous views from every room in your exquisitely furnished suite. Forest Lodges suites are secluded, tranquil and opulent, perfect for romance, contemplation and connecting deeply with both nature and yourself. Taste the fresh air, listen to the sound of the ocean and breathe in the smell of the unique fynbos that surrounds you.

Samara Game Reserve

Location and Unique Experience
Spanning 67,000 acres of malaria-free wilderness in the Great Karoo, award-winning Samara offers a Big Five safari with a difference just 2.5 hours by car from Port Elizabeth. The landscape itself is unique – an unexpected and diverse semi-arid paradise of mountains and grasslands, where thousands of wild animals, from cheetah to elephant to springbok, roam once more. A total of 26 guests at any one time are invited to join this conservation journey, a guest-to-land ratio almost unparalleled in Africa. Easily accessible from the Garden Route, Samara is also just 40 minutes from the historical town of Graaff-Reinet, rich in culture and heritage. A spectacular destination for discerning travellers seeking a holiday with purpose and genuine hospitality, Samara offers a safari for the soul. A timeless landscape of space, stars and silence, a magical region known as the heart and soul of South Africa. A vast semi-desert stretching across four provinces, the Karoo is South Africa’s answer to the Australian Outback. Characterised by extensive open plains bordered by dolerite-capped mountains, the immense, heart-lifting spaces of the Karoo have a unique, humbling kind of magic. There is no better place to clear your lungs, reconnect with your senses, and feel the stresses of daily life begin to slip away.

The Suites
Each Manor House suite comprises a bedroom and bathroom with shower and free-standing bath. A private patio with outdoor seating looks out over a mountain landscape – the perfect location for lazy afternoons catching up on reading. Karoo Retreats suites are ideal for couples, each spacious suite contains a four-poster bed, fireplace, air-conditioning and luxury en-suite bathroom. Private covered patios with outdoor seating look out over a waterhole, providing the ideal location for morning coffee or a nightcap under the stars. These suites have outdoor showers fashioned out of natural Karoo stone, offering an authentic al fresco experience with views over the mountain landscape.
The most romantic feature of the lodge is Samara’s star bed on the Milk River, which will provide you with a wilderness experience to take your breath away. Arrive at sunset for a picnic dinner and drinks. Watch as the local wildlife descend to the water to quench their thirst. Take in the spectacular views over the mountainous landscape, free of light and noise pollution. As the night sky develops, marvel at the Milky Way, pointing out different constellations with the aid of our star books, before drifting off to sleep wrapped in a thick mohair blanket. Awaken to the big skies and birdsong of the Karoo as another beautiful day dawns.

Lush Private Game Reserve

Location and Unique Experience
Lush is located on the Black Rhino Reserve – a private concession within the Big Five greater Pilanesberg National Park. The park has a unique setting, encircled by the hills of a volcanic ring-dyke complex, and as a guest of Lush, you are assured a private – and unique – safari experience, with the rare opportunity to see the black rhino. The lodge has traversing access to the whole of Pilanesberg, including the Black Rhino Game Reserve and the park’s limited-access Wilderness Area – established for the protection and breeding of this critically endangered animal, threatened by poaching. Enjoy twice daily game drives with scenic stops along the way for refreshments, guided morning bush walks to bring you closer to nature and optional hot air balloon safaris – the ultimate romantic safari experience.

The Suites
With only five suites, either mountain- or bush-facing, you are assured of an intimate experience. Suites are designed with privacy and every comfort in mind, each include: an emperor-sized bed, pause area (incl. Smeg minibar and Nespresso coffee machine), in-room freestanding bath with a view, open-air shower and private splash pool on the deck.

We are excited to share with you some recent updates to the Southern Africa region’s entry requirements that will enable your clients to travel stress free through our beautiful destinations.

South Africa has opened its borders to all but 22 countries (significantly reduced from the initial 57 countries listed) Please click HERE to view the official revised list of high-risk countries currently not able to travel to South Africa for leisure. This list is revised every two weeks. If the passport of a traveller from a high-risk country indicates that they have spent 10 days or more in a low-risk country before departure, they will be considered to be arriving from a low-risk country and subject to the low-risk entry requirements.

Health screening and COVID-19 protocols

• Arriving passengers must present a valid certificate of a negative COVID-19 PCR test, obtained not more than 72 hours (3 days) from the time of departure for South Africa. The test must be conducted by a certified medical practitioner and the certificate must have the name and signature of the practitioner who conducted the test.

 • Arriving passengers will be screened for any COVID-19 symptoms and/or for contact with people who have been infected with the virus.

 • Arriving passengers will be asked to download the COVID Alert South Africa mobile app – more information here.

• All foreign national visitors must have travel insurance that covers the cost of any testing or quarantine.

Mandatory quarantine

Not required unless:

• Arriving passengers fail to present a valid and negative COVID-19 PCR test. This will require quarantine at own cost.

• Travellers display any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in contact with an infected person. A mandatory COVID-19 test will be required at their own cost. If this test result is positive, travellers will be subjected to a 10-day quarantine at a designated site, at their own cost.

Great news: Namibia has opened its borders to all countries and travellers! For international travellers looking to visit South Africa but unable to travel directly because they are coming from a ‘high risk’ country then Namibia is a perfect stop over. Why not offer your clients wishing to visit South Africa a 10 day add on to Namibia so they can meet the South African entry requirements, and enjoy an incredible 10 day visit to Namibia!

Health screening and COVID-19 protocols 

• All passengers arriving on international flights must present a negative PCR COVID-19 test result, conducted within 72 hours of boarding the flight to Namibia. 

• All travellers will undergo health screening and temperature testing, and must submit their full itinerary on arrival. 

• Re-testing after 5 days in the country is NO LONGER required. 

Mandatory quarantine

 • Not required, unless a traveller's PCR test is older than 72 hours (but less than seven days) – supervised quarantine of seven days is then required.

Zimbabwe is open to international travel, via its International Airports only at present, land borders remain closed.

Health screening and COVID-19 protocols

• All travellers will be required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate, obtained from a recognised facility within 48 hours of departure for Zimbabwe.

 • All travellers will undergo health screening and temperature testing.

 • Social distancing, hand sanitisation and the wearing of masks are mandatory.

 Mandatory quarantine

 • Not required unless travellers show symptoms of the virus or don't have a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate on arrival – they are then required to stay at a designated isolation facility for 7 days, then self- isolate for another 7 days. A fee of $60 will be levied on travellers tested at ports of entry. Isolation is at travellers’ own cost.

Zambia is open to foreign nationals and issuing visitor visas upon entry into the country. Depending on your nationality, travellers can arrive without a visa, obtain a visa on arrival, or apply for an e-visa before travelling to Zambia – visit the Zambia Department of Immigration website for more info.

 Health screening and COVID-19 protocols

 • All arriving passengers must have a certificate of a negative COVID-19 test that has been conducted within 14 days of arriving in Zambia.

 • Visitors will be expected to adhere to COVID-19 regulations like physical distancing, wearing face masks, and personal hygiene. They will also need to monitor themselves daily for 14 days post arrival for symptoms of the virus and report any occurrence to the nearest health facility.

Mandatory quarantine

 • All international visitors are screened on arrival. If you show any signs of COVID-19, you will have to quarantine for 14 days.

The latest encouraging news comes from Botswana who announced this past Friday that their borders will open from 01 November to private charter flights, we are still waiting for further details regarding more specific travel restrictions and regulations.

Mozambique still has a 10-day mandatory quarantine period in place; however their borders are open to international visitors. 

 Health screening and COVID-19 protocols

 • All arriving travellers are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result, conducted in their country of origin within 72 hours of departure for Mozambique.

 •  All travellers will undergo health screening and temperature testing.

 Mandatory quarantine

 • All visitors, regardless of citizenship or prior travel, are required to self-quarantine for 10 days, followed by a COVID-19 PCR test at their own cost. Alternatively, travellers may self-quarantine for 14 days without completing an additional COVID-19 test.

Visitors to all of these countries will need to adhere to Covid-19 regulations such as physical distancing, wearing face masks in public places, regular hand washing and sanitising and can also expect to undertake temperature testing, health screening and to complete health questionnaires – on arrival, when checking into accommodation, visiting shops, restaurants and tourist attractions, etc. This will be the new normal for travel for the foreseeable future which travellers will learn to adapt and adjust to.

Kindly note that the above information is correct at time of publication, however these regulations are very much subject to change.

Greetings from South Africa to our travel partners! As the world is slowly starting to open up again, and South Africa is eagerly anticipating the day when we can open our doors to visitors again, we thought it was important to send you an update from our side. Please read our latest article which details the current situation in South Africa with regards to travel within the country, international tourism re-opening and the measures that are being taken to ensure the health and safety of future visitors to the country. We’ve also shared how we at Southern Africa 360 believe travel will change once our borders open and what can be considered new and different for international visitors to South Africa. In addition we have selected a few of our new sample packages for you to review, please see below.

What is the current situation in South Africa with regards to travel within the country and international tourism re-opening?

It is still unclear as to when South Africa will re-open its borders to international travel as the country’s Risk-Adjusted Strategy is based on levels of lockdown, not dates. South Africa is currently in Lockdown Level 3, with Level 5 being the highest and strictest level and Level 1 being the least restrictive.

Under the current Lockdown Level 3 the following travel related activities are allowed:

• Business Travel between cities and provinces, permits for this travel need to be carried.
• Essential Travel is also allowed and includes moving to a new place of residence, caring for an immediate family member, attending a funeral, students returning to school and to obtain medical treatment.
• Domestic scheduled flights are currently operating between the golden triangle airports – Johannesburg OR Tambo, Cape Town and Durban. Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth and Upington Airports are also open with limited flights and East London and George Airports will be re-opening towards the end of July. Flights are strictly for business travel only and permits are required when booking and checking in for a flight.  
• Car rental and long-distance public transport is allowed for inter-provincial travel for those who are approved to travel.
• Accommodation is open for business travellers. Many of the large hotel groups have been open for business travel in the major cities since 01 June, under strict health and safety protocols, for example the Radisson Hotels and many of the Tsogo Sun Hotels. There are also a number of smaller accommodation establishments, for example B&Bs and guest houses that have opened up, particularly in the smaller towns and cities such as Hermanus, George and Knysna.
• Restaurants are allowed to open for pick-up or delivery and have also recently been allowed to have sit-down customers, with strict protocols in place, including screening, sanitising, social distancing, wearing of masks when not eating and limited numbers according to the size of the venue.
• Conferences and meetings with less than 50 people are allowed for business purposes, but events must also adhere to strict health protocols and social distancing measures.
• Casinos are allowed to open provided that the number of persons allowed in the casino does not exceed 50 percent of the available floor space, with patrons maintaining a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other. There must be strict adherence to all health protocols and social distancing measures.
• Most South African National Parks that cater for self-drive excursions are open, under strict regulations. Self-drive game drives for example in Kruger National Park are only allowed for people from the same household and the number of people per vehicle should not exceed 70% capacity. There are strict gate quotas in place, approximately 1/3^rd of what they were, therefore pre-booking is essential.

The risk-adjustment strategy for the phased re-opening of tourism has been co-ordinated by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), with input and collaboration with all industry role players, including accommodation and transport associations and SATSA. We are currently in the Preparation Phase, to be followed by a Phase 1 trial phase where safe source markets with similar risk profiles and stages of pandemic are allowed to travel to South Africa. These travellers would be vetted (this could include for example completion of questionnaires and health checks prior to travel), all stringent safety protocols would be in place and the focus would be on low-contact product and low-risk areas, traditionally with low density.

In Phase 2, South Africa would further open key markets, expand the experiences on offer, until in Phase 3 air access is opened fully and the destination can restart its longer-term growth strategy. At the same time, South Africa will have to focus on continuing to create an enabling environment for tourism, which looks at more visa waivers, a robust eVisa system and air liberalisation.

What measures are being taken by the South Africa tourism industry to ensure the health and safety of future visitors to the country? 

The South African tourism industry has put in place stringent health-focussed protocols to guide and assist stakeholders within the travel and tourism value-chain including staff, travellers and guests. These are aligned with the latest World Health Organization, National Institute of Communicable Disease and Department of Health guidelines and have been approved by the Department of Tourism. Please click here to read more about these.

Some examples of these measures, in summary of what your clients can expect, include:

• Compulsory wearing of face masks – for anyone out in public and for all staff at all facilities at all times
• Wearing of additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for staff in high contact areas
• Frequent sanitising of high-touch areas
• Frequent sanitising of vehicles and lower carrying capacities
• Screening, temperature checks and hand sanitising when entering buildings and public vehicles
• Hand sanitisers available at strategic touch points and soap available in public bathrooms for hand washing
• Minimal handling and exchanging of cash/cards/travel documentation
• Extensive training to all staff (be this at the airport, at accommodation establishments, transport providers, etc.)
• Procedures to follow should someone have a high temperature or Covid-19 symptoms
• Social distancing signage and Covid-19 monitors to ensure that guidelines are enforced
• Increased check-in times at airports
• Limited/reduced numbers at attractions to allow for social distancing
• Markers to manage queueing
• No buffets at hotels and restaurants – plated/a la carte meals only 

What measures will Southern Africa 360 have in place to ensure the health and safety of clients travelling with us?

OUR POST COVID REASSURANCE:

• Meet and Greet at Airports within SA which includes extensive information and briefings on the COVID-19 protocols for the country.
• A Covid-Kit will be given on arrival, including a complimentary 3-layer cloth mask and minimum 80% alcohol 50ml hand sanitizer for each guest
• Screening at hotels and tourist attractions to assist clients
• Daily Temperature checks might be done by hotels and at certain attractions
• Daily sanitising of all vehicles
• Seating capacity in all private vehicles reduced by 30-50% (maximum of 2 pax in a sedan, 4 pax in an 8-seater and 8 pax in a 14-seater vehicle for example)
• Digital vouchers and itineraries sent to guests’ mobile via WhatsApp or email on arrival. 

How do we at Southern Africa 360 see travel will change once our borders open?

We believe that people will have a longing and new appreciation for nature and the outdoors – space and clean air, opportunities to be active and take part in new, fun and exciting activities. Staying in less crowded places will be important. Itineraries need to be less prescriptive and rather more flexible with a variety of options to each day, with new and different ways of doing the previous standard day tours. People will want to spend this travel time with their loved ones – some of who they were cooped up with on lock-down and others they were unable to see for a long time because of lock-down. Core values have shifted from “the biggest and the best” to things that matter and are more important, such as family time and personal health.  

Self-drive has always been popular in South Africa as the destination offers a high-quality road network that is safe and easy to drive. We believe self-drive will now become even more important and there will be less emphasis placed on guided and especially group tours. The most popular route for visitors to the country to do on a self-drive basis is the Garden Route, however Cape Town itself is also great to discover on a self-drive basis – exploring the Cape Peninsula route and the surrounding Cape Winelands, Cape Whale Coast and even the lesser known Cape West Coast in the comfort of a self-drive vehicle at a flexible pace. Another region of South Africa that is not commonly seen as a self-drive destination for Indian travellers is the Kruger and Panorama Route areas – this region is an easy 4-5-hour drive from Johannesburg and offers a wide variety of spectacular natural scenery, wildlife and adventure activities. Game drives in Kruger National Park are possible and safe to do on a self-drive basis, higher clearance vehicles are preferable but not essential as many of the roads are tarred. We have a wide range of self-drive touring ideas on our website for you to browse – self-drive trips.

Glamping (glamorous camping) offers a fantastic way for families to experience indoor luxury and the great outdoors, exploring remote locations and enjoying the best of nature together without having to rough it and forego creature comforts. Glamping offers a fantastic camping alternative without the hassle of having to pack and carry all your camping equipment, transporting a caravan or worrying about bugs and shared ablutions – transforming camping into a luxury experience. Glamping locations offer anything from safari-style tents, platform tents, riverside chalets, cabins in the woods and more – perfect for any season. The level of luxury varies with glamping however comfort tends to be considered highly, along with private locations - seemingly made for social distancing. South Africa is home to some outstanding and very popular glamping spots throughout the country. One of the better-known glamping projects is AfriCamps – which offer fully equipped self-catering glamping tents across South Africa – from the Cape Winelands to Greater Kruger, there are currently 11 different locations, situated on beautiful working farms, estates and reserves. Have a look at some of our glamping sample itineraries by clicking here.

A factor that is very close to our heart and the ethos of our company is responsible travel. In all we do we try to keep the three pillars of sustainable travel in mind – what are we doing to help protect the natural environment, how are we ensuring that local communities are benefitting from tourism and that cultures are being shared in an authentic and experiential way and not eroded or exploited.

Something simple that we as a company do is support as much as possible accommodation and activities in South Africa that are Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) accredited. FTT is a non-profit organisation which supports sustainable tourism development through the award of a certificate to companies that commit themselves to the Fair Trade criteria of fair wages, fair working conditions, just profit sharing and respect for human rights, culture and the environment. This assures visitors that the people whose land, natural resources, labour, knowledge and culture are used to support the tourism activities they are enjoying are actually benefiting fairly from them. Have a look at some of our Fair Trade Holidays here.

We also believe that South Africa’s neighbour Namibia will make an ideal post-covid-19 travel destination – with its very small population density and vast open spaces, unique landscapes and excellent wildlife experiences, the country is also an excellent self-drive destination – have a look at some of our Tips & Tricks for self-driving in Namibia.

Many will want to visit destinations that are set in peaceful natural settings and are crowd free, Botswana is another destination that lends itself to this in more ways than one can imagine! Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful countries in Africa, Botswana has a landscape like no other. It is home to the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta – vast open spaces with very few others around. That coupled with its majestic wildlife, natural wonders and warm locals makes it a special place to visit.

Greetings from South Africa to our travel partners in India! As the world is slowly starting to open up again, and South Africa is eagerly anticipating the day when we can open our doors to visitors again, we thought it was important to send you an update from our side. Please read our latest article which details the current situation in South Africa with regards to travel within the country, international tourism re-opening and the measures that are being taken to ensure the health and safety of future visitors to the country. We’ve also shared how we at Southern Africa 360 believe travel will change once our borders open and what can be considered new and different for Indian visitors to South Africa. In addition we have selected a few of our new sample packages for you to review, please see below.

What is the current situation in South Africa with regards to travel within the country and international tourism re-opening?

It is still unclear as to when South Africa will re-open its borders to international travel as the country’s Risk-Adjusted Strategy is based on levels of lockdown, not dates. South Africa is currently in Lockdown Level 3, with Level 5 being the highest and strictest level and Level 1 being the least restrictive.

Under the current Lockdown Level 3 the following travel related activities are allowed:

• Business Travel between cities and provinces, permits for this travel need to be carried.
• Essential Travel is also allowed and includes moving to a new place of residence, caring for an immediate family member, attending a funeral, students returning to school and to obtain medical treatment.
• Domestic scheduled flights are currently operating between the golden triangle airports – Johannesburg OR Tambo, Cape Town and Durban. Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth and Upington Airports are also open with limited flights and East London and George Airports will be re-opening towards the end of July. Flights are strictly for business travel only and permits are required when booking and checking in for a flight.  
• Car rental and long-distance public transport is allowed for inter-provincial travel for those who are approved to travel.
• Accommodation is open for business travellers. Many of the large hotel groups have been open for business travel in the major cities since 01 June, under strict health and safety protocols, for example the Radisson Hotels and many of the Tsogo Sun Hotels. There are also a number of smaller accommodation establishments, for example B&Bs and guest houses that have opened up, particularly in the smaller towns and cities such as Hermanus, George and Knysna.
• Restaurants are allowed to open for pick-up or delivery and have also recently been allowed to have sit-down customers, with strict protocols in place, including screening, sanitising, social distancing, wearing of masks when not eating and limited numbers according to the size of the venue.
• Conferences and meetings with less than 50 people are allowed for business purposes, but events must also adhere to strict health protocols and social distancing measures.
• Casinos are allowed to open provided that the number of persons allowed in the casino does not exceed 50 percent of the available floor space, with patrons maintaining a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other. There must be strict adherence to all health protocols and social distancing measures.
• Most South African National Parks that cater for self-drive excursions are open, under strict regulations. Self-drive game drives for example in Kruger National Park are only allowed for people from the same household and the number of people per vehicle should not exceed 70% capacity. There are strict gate quotas in place, approximately 1/3^rd of what they were, therefore pre-booking is essential.

The risk-adjustment strategy for the phased re-opening of tourism has been co-ordinated by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), with input and collaboration with all industry role players, including accommodation and transport associations and SATSA. We are currently in the Preparation Phase, to be followed by a Phase 1 trial phase where safe source markets with similar risk profiles and stages of pandemic are allowed to travel to South Africa. These travellers would be vetted (this could include for example completion of questionnaires and health checks prior to travel), all stringent safety protocols would be in place and the focus would be on low-contact product and low-risk areas, traditionally with low density.

In Phase 2, South Africa would further open key markets, expand the experiences on offer, until in Phase 3 air access is opened fully and the destination can restart its longer-term growth strategy. At the same time, South Africa will have to focus on continuing to create an enabling environment for tourism, which looks at more visa waivers, a robust eVisa system and air liberalisation. This is exceptionally good news for the Indian travel market to South Africa where visas have historically been a barrier to travel.

What measures are being taken by the South Africa tourism industry to ensure the health and safety of future visitors to the country?

The South African tourism industry has put in place stringent health-focussed protocols to guide and assist stakeholders within the travel and tourism value-chain including staff, travellers and guests. These are aligned with the latest World Health Organization, National Institute of Communicable Disease and Department of Health guidelines and have been approved by the Department of Tourism. Please click here to read more about these.

Some examples of these measures, in summary of what your clients can expect, include:

• Compulsory wearing of face masks – for anyone out in public and for all staff at all facilities at all times
• Wearing of additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for staff in high contact areas
• Frequent sanitising of high-touch areas
• Frequent sanitising of vehicles and lower carrying capacities
• Screening, temperature checks and hand sanitising when entering buildings and public vehicles
• Hand sanitisers available at strategic touch points and soap available in public bathrooms for hand washing
• Minimal handling and exchanging of cash/cards/travel documentation
• Extensive training to all staff (be this at the airport, at accommodation establishments, transport providers, etc.)
• Procedures to follow should someone have a high temperature or Covid-19 symptoms
• Social distancing signage and Covid-19 monitors to ensure that guidelines are enforced
• Increased check-in times at airports
• Limited/reduced numbers at attractions to allow for social distancing
• Markers to manage queueing
• No buffets at hotels and restaurants – plated/a la carte meals only 

What measures will Southern Africa 360 have in place to ensure the health and safety of clients travelling with us?

OUR POST COVID REASSURANCE:

• Meet and Greet at Airports within SA which includes extensive information and briefings on the COVID-19 protocols for the country.
• A Covid-Kit will be given on arrival, including a complimentary 3-layer cloth mask and minimum 80% alcohol 50ml hand sanitizer for each guest
• Screening at hotels and tourist attractions to assist clients
• Daily Temperature checks might be done by hotels and at certain attractions
• Daily sanitising of all vehicles
• Seating capacity in all private vehicles reduced by 30-50% (maximum of 2 pax in a sedan, 4 pax in an 8-seater and 8 pax in a 14-seater vehicle for example)
• Digital vouchers and itineraries sent to guests’ mobile via WhatsApp or email on arrival.

How do we at Southern Africa 360 see travel will change once our borders open?

From our thorough research into post-covid-19 travel, we have found that people will have a longing and new appreciation for nature and the outdoors – space and clean air, opportunities to be active and take part in new, fun and exciting activities. Staying in less crowded places will be important. People will want to spend this travel time with their loved ones – some of who they were cooped up with on lock-down and others they were unable to see for a long time because of lock-down. Core values have shifted from “the biggest and the best” to things that matter and are more important, such as family time and personal health.    

Self-drive has always been popular in South Africa as the destination offers a high-quality road network that is safe and easy to drive. We believe self-drive will now become even more important and there will be less emphasis placed on guided and especially group tours. The most popular route for visitors to the country to do on a self-drive basis is the Garden Route, which covers the area between Mossel Bay and Tsitsikamma and includes the popular towns of Oudtshoorn, George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. It is possible to do a circular route starting and ending in Cape Town, alternatively many self-drive trips start in Cape Town and end in George or Port Elizabeth, both of which have airports with good flight connections to other South African cities. The scenic Route 62 between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn was recently named “World’s Best Road Trip Destination” and is also the World’s Longest Wine Route. Have a look at our popular 10-Day Cape Town, Winelands, Hermanus, Garden Route & Safari which sells well in the Indian market. 

Cape Town itself is also great to discover on a self-drive basis – exploring the Cape Peninsula route and the surrounding Cape Winelands, Cape Whale Coast and even the lesser known Cape West Coast in the comfort of a self-drive vehicle at a flexible pace. Another region of South Africa that is not commonly seen as a self-drive destination for Indian travellers is the Kruger and Panorama Route areas – this region is an easy 4-5-hour drive from Johannesburg and offers a wide variety of spectacular natural scenery, wildlife and adventure activities. Game drives in Kruger National Park are possible and safe to do on a self-drive basis, higher clearance vehicles are preferable but not essential as many of the roads are tarred. We have a wide range of self-drive touring ideas on our website for you to browse – self-drive trips.

A factor that is very close to our heart and the ethos of our company is responsible travel. In all we do we try to keep the three pillars of sustainable travel in mind – what are we doing to help protect the natural environment, how are we ensuring that local communities are benefitting from tourism and that cultures are being shared in an authentic and experiential way and not eroded or exploited.

Something simple that we as a company do is support as much as possible accommodation and activities in South Africa that are Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) accredited. FTT is a non-profit organisation which supports sustainable tourism development through the award of a certificate to companies that commit themselves to the Fair Trade criteria of fair wages, fair working conditions, just profit sharing and respect for human rights, culture and the environment. This assures visitors that the people whose land, natural resources, labour, knowledge and culture are used to support the tourism activities they are enjoying are actually benefiting fairly from them. We have thus also designed a 10-day Fair Trade Highlights of the Cape package specifically for the Indian market which is 100% FTT. Please also see some of the other Responsible Travel sample packages on our website.

We do also believe that there will still be travellers from India to South Africa who prefer to travel on a private guided basis, and in this situation we will ensure that strict health and safety protocols will be adhered to by our tourist guides and that we firmly keep to regulations regarding number of pax in vehicles, regular sanitising, etc. For this we have an awesome 10-day Highlights of South Africa private-guided holiday. 

What is new and different for Indian travellers in South Africa?  

Our Indian visitors tend to have a fairly set routing in South Africa, with Cape Town, the Garden Route, a safari and often Sun City being the most popular destinations. However there are many other regions of the country which we believe would be well suited to this market. Kwa Zulu Natal has a lot to offer in the province – excellent game viewing in the Hluhluwe ImFolozi Park and St Lucia Wetlands, an Indian Ocean coastline with warm waters and golden sandy beaches, spectacular scenery and hiking in the Drakensberg Mountains and a familiar Indian culture/heritage with plenty of Indian food available.  Have a look at the variety of day trip options from Durban.

The Eastern Cape region makes a great extension to a Cape Town and Garden Route tour, with lots of adventure activities on offer in the friendly seaside city of Port Elizabeth as well as some excellent game viewing in Addo Elephant National Park and its surrounding private game reserves.

The Northern Cape can be considered one of South Africa’s hidden gems, with some unique landscape and landforms, wide open spaces, the mighty orange river, a very different wildlife experience in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and many adventure activities options. Please have a look at one of our favourite itineraries for this province: 7-day Northern Cape Explorer.

As a company we constantly keep track of new and unique activities and excursions that are on offer around the country and also try to experience these for ourselves first, making it easier to sell to our partners! Two such activities which were released shortly before the lockdowns were the World’s Longest Over-Ocean Zipline (1.1km) in Mossel Bay and a new hot air balloon adventure, also in Mossel Bay. We have also used this quieter time to conduct extensive research in each region to make sure we are familiar with and have contracted rates for every kind of activity and excursion possible, so we can offer your clients as wide a variety of options of things to do as possible and to make sure they do not miss out on something special or unique to an area. 

By now everyone has pretty much had enough of being on “lock-down” – through its different stages and varying rules and restrictions in each country. Here in South Africa we started out with five weeks of heavy lock-down, stricter than most countries experienced – unless we were an essential worker we had to remain in our homes and could only venture out if we needed to buy groceries or get medical supplies or attention. We were not even allowed outdoors to exercise or walk our dogs and the sale of liquor and tobacco products were banned. We then moved down a lock-down level and for a month were allowed to exercise only between 6 and 9 in the mornings, liquor and alcohol remained banned and we had a strict curfew, but some aspects of the economy were opened up again under certain conditions. We now find ourselves in “Level 3” where we have no time restrictions to outdoor exercise, no curfews, alcohol sales have resumed (still no tobacco sales however) and most businesses are able to operate again. But still no travel – borders remain closed and movements between provinces are limited to business travel and travel to attend funerals only.

Most of us have tried to simplify our lives, help those around us in far worse off circumstances and marvelled at how the natural environment has flourished with less human interference. The number of home work-out online sessions and videos that regularly pop up on social media are a clear indication that people have tried to use the time to improve or maintain their fitness; we saw marathons run in gardens and even on balconies! On the other hand many are complaining about their new “covid-bellies” and expressing nerves about fitting into jeans after spending so long in comfy clothing!! This is likely a consequence of all the experimental cooking and baking that has also been a regular feature in most locked down homes! We’re all pretty much “zoomed out” – it’s how we’ve kept in contact with friends and family, hosting games, quiz and even cheese and wine tasting evenings! Zoom is also how most of us have kept up with our teams, planning, strategising and upskilling ourselves and our partners with destination and product training sessions.

Through all of this we have also reminisced on our past travels with new appreciation and have dreamed of travelling one day again, hopefully in the not too distant future.

What do we believe travel will look like post COVID-19?

Our future business opportunities are uncertain, but we can say for sure that it will not be “business as usual” post Covid-19 and we need to look and plan towards the “next/new normal”. There has never previously been a time when global tourism has come to a complete standstill as it has during Covid-19, but it has given us an opportunity to rethink about travel and reset our business priorities.

Safety and health assurances will be top of mind for the foreseeable feature and all suppliers in the tourism industry, be it accommodation, restaurants, transport or activity providers, are putting plans in place and implementing Covid-19 protocols to reassure visitors. Just as travel changed remarkably post-911, post-covid-19 travel is going to come with its own new inconveniences that travellers will have to get used to – longer check-in and waiting times for one. We can only hope that these effects could lessen if or when a vaccine is developed.

We believe that people will have a longing and new appreciation for nature and the outdoors – space and clean air, opportunities to be active and take part in new, fun and exciting activities. Itineraries need to be less prescriptive and rather more flexible with a variety of options to each day, with new and different ways of doing the previous standard day tours. People will want to spend this travel time with their loved ones – some of who they were cooped up with on lock-down and others they were unable to see for a while because of lock-down.    

How have we started to prepare for this?

Our passion and knowledge of our country South Africa and the Southern Africa region is boundless, we want to tell about and share everything with everyone! We want people to see and experience those lesser known regions which have amazing things on offer – for example the natural wonders of Northern Cape and the vibrant cultures of Limpopo. Realistically we know however that most of the trips we plan for our clients are first time visitors and this means they want to see the highlights of the country that are known – this usually includes, for all our varied markets in which we work, Cape Town, the Garden Route and often a safari included.

So we have developed a range of different 14-day Cape and Garden Route options to appeal to our different markets. We find with our Danish clients there is a preference for accommodation that is central and within safe walking distance of attractions and dining options, our German and Dutch clients on the other hand often prefer smaller owner run guest houses which offer a personal touch and they also place higher emphasis on responsible travel. Our UK clients enjoy smaller boutique establishments and our Indian clients favour the larger more main stream hotels and rooms that offer triple sharing are almost a must. Most of our European clients enjoy the freedom and flexibility of a self-drive tour, whereas our Indian clients prefer a hassle-free private guided tour with a driver-guide to look after them and are very adventurous travellers who often like to include a sky dive, shark cage dive and bungee jump for example in their itineraries.

We think that a glamping trip will be an ideal post-Covid-19 holiday, so we have also put together a 14-day Cape and Garden Route glamping trip. Glamping offers a fantastic camping alternative without the hassle of having to pack and carry camping equipment, transport a caravan or worrying about bugs and shared ablutions – transforming camping into a luxury experience.

Another factor that is very close to our heart and the ethos of our company is responsible travel. In all we do we try to keep the three pillars of sustainable travel in mind – what are we doing to help protect the natural environment, how are we ensuring that local communities are benefitting from tourism and that cultures are being shared in an authentic and experiential way and not eroded or exploited.

Something simple that we as a company do is support as much as possible accommodation and activities in South Africa that are Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) accredited. FTT is a non-profit organisation which supports sustainable tourism development through the award of a certificate to companies that commit themselves to the Fair Trade criteria of fair wages, fair working conditions, just profit sharing and respect for human rights, culture and the environment. This assures visitors that the people whose land, natural resources, labour, knowledge and culture are used to support the tourism activities they are enjoying are actually benefiting fairly from them. We have thus also designed a 14-day Fair Trade Highlights of the Cape package which is 100% FTT.

In executing our packages we have always tried to support other small tourism businesses, who have taken a massive knock during Covid-19 and will be needing our support more than ever when travel opens again.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s National Freedom Day message on 27 April included these hard-hitting words: “Some people have been able to endure the coronavirus lockdown in a comfortable home with a fully stocked fridge, with private medical care and online learning for their children. For millions of others, this has been a month of misery, of breadwinners not working, of families struggling to survive and of children going to bed and waking up hungry.” So we all have to ask ourselves what MORE can we possibly do and how can we assist those who have been poorly affected to get back on their feet as quickly as possible, at the same time trying to get back on our own feet!

South Africa’s tourism industry has hit back at recent predictions that international tourism will not restart before 2021, claiming that the country’s actual date of reopening is likely to be much sooner. After a briefing from South Africa’s Department of Tourism on May 27, it was reported that international tourism wouldn’t be possible until February 2021. These statements caused widespread panic within South Africa’s travel industry, which relies heavily on international visitors.

However, according to the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) – an umbrella organisation representing South Africa’s voice of business in the travel and tourism sector, the release of these predictions were premature. South Africa’s ‘Risk-Adjusted’ reopening strategy is based on levels of infections, not exact dates, so the timeline spoken of in parliament is a worst-case scenario and ‘purely speculative’, the body emphasised. The full article was published by The Telegraph news website.

The Tourism Business Council of SA (TBCSA) says they hope that the recovery plan strategy presented to Parliament this week will allow for an accelerated phased opening of the industry. TBCSA chief executive Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, says that they are following the risk adjusted strategy based on levels of lockdown, not dates. With the Peak summer tourism season fast approaching from an inbound perspective, the focus is the importance of tourism to South Africa in the fourth quarter and the value of the forward book.

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