Things have been a little up in the air...
With so much up in the air recently around Covid and travel... we wanted to put your minds at ease. Here is a quick update around all things Covid and Natural Selection.
We have made sure that our COVID T&Cs remain as flexible as possible. Our staff and camp safety protocols are in place and that our agents and guests know exactly what to expect when travelling to and from our camps in Botswana, Namibia & South Africa.
THE EASING OF OMICRON VARIANT RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
The last round of Southern Africa travel restrictions has made for a bumpy ride for all of us in the tourism and travel industry.
We are all pleased to see that some of the hastily imposed travel restrictions have been lifted.
As you start to reschedule planned trips and make new bookings you can be confident that Natural Selection will continue to be as flexible as possible and do all we can to minimise booking hesitancy over this period.
OUR FLEXIBLE T&Cs WILL MINIMISE ANY BOOKING HESITANCY
At Natural Selection, spontaneity and flexibility has always come naturally to us. It is part of our DNA and company ethos. Our free-spirited approach has allowed us to pioneer unique safari experiences across southern Africa’s least explored spaces.
This spirit and understanding the complexities of the travel channel has helped us navigate through the ever-changing waters of COVID-19 and travel restrictions. We have found solutions and new ways of doing business to allow us to keep our COVID T&Cs as flexible as possible.
To ensure peace of mind and to minimise any booking hesitancy over this period, all new bookings can be cancelled up until the day of arrival for any COVID related reasons as noted in our COVID T&Cs and at no extra cost.
NATURAL SELECTION CAMP STAFF VACCINATION STATUS
We are pleased to advise that all our staff in camps have voluntarily vaccinated and effective in-camp COVID-19 safety protocols are now a part of daily life.
Together with other business members of the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana and the Botswana Ministry of Health and Wellness we have ensured that over the past 4 months residents living in remote areas of Northern Botswana (Okavango, Ngamiland and Chobe Districts) and whose lives are touched by tourism have been vaccinated for COVID-19.
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.
WE WILL HOST YOU FREE OF CHARGE, SHOULD YOU TEST POSITIVE IN BOTSWANA
Guests staying three nights or more at any of our Botswana properties, will be happy to know that in the unlikely event of them testing positive for COVID, we will put them up at Royal Tree Lodge in Maun, free of charge for the duration of their quarantine. Which means, total peace-of-mind when making their booking.
TO VIEW OUR LATEST COVID T&C'S CLICK HERE
For all enquiries & to find out more contact
[email protected]
+ 27 21 001 1574
www.naturalselection.travel