Can I Travel Tanzania During the Coronavirus Pandemic?
On May 17, 2020, Tanzania’s President John Magufuli announced that there would be no more restrictions against travelers coming to the country. He called for the airlines to resume flights into Tanzania immediately.
Previously, the government subjected foreigners to a mandatory 14 day quarantine, effectively eliminating tourism for the East African destination for mountain climbing and safaris. This measure has now been lifted.
The high season for tourists normally begins in July and lasts until October. However, it is estimated that the country will experience a 76% drop in visitors this year due to the novel coronavirus. Employment in the tourism industry is expected to fall from 623,000 jobs to 146,000 jobs.
New Standard Operating Procedures
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism released National Standard Operating Procedures for the management of the COVID-19 threat. The comprehensive seven-page document detailed the rules put in place to continue operations while at the same time protecting visitors.
Some of the items included in the procedures include:
- thermal screening for arriving passengers
- all contact surfaces are cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis
- staff members must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when attending to guests and servicing guest areas
- handwashing and sanitizing facilities must be provided to guests and staff
- staff members should maintain a distance from one another and from guests
Our staff on Tanzania Safari are required to take extra precautions when packing, transporting, and preparing food and equipment for climbers and travelers. PPE will be worn by staff when interacting with guests. The number of staff who interact with guests and the frequency of those interactions will also be limited accordingly.
As long as our clients feel comfortable to travel here, we are prepared to serve them. We believe that the new standard operating procedures will be effective in minimizing the risk of infections on the mountain and during the safari.
For clients who would like to follow social distancing with other climbers or travelers, we offer single tents on the mountain and single rooms on safari or in town. Meals can also be eaten in the sleeping tent versus the community mess tent if desired.
Please contact us for More Information
Coronavirus in Tanzania
The coronavirus, or COVID-19, was officially declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020, by the World Health Organization (WHO). The outbreak was declared a global health emergency in January 2020.
As of May 18, 2020, more than 318,000 people globally have died from the coronavirus, with over 4,800,000 infections confirmed. Every country in Africa has reported cases of coronavirus totaling more than 84,000 cases and 2,764 deaths.
The first confirmed case of coronavirus appeared in Tanzania on March 16, 2020. Since then, the number of cases has grown not unlike the rest of the world has experienced.
The outbreak prompted air travel restrictions on the continent. Many African countries stopped flights to and from countries considered to be high risk. By March 25, many airlines had stopped flying to Tanzania.
As of May 18, 2020, Tanzania has had 509 cases of coronavirus and 21 COVID-19 related deaths.
