Travel Alert - Coronavirus

Coronavirus Travel Update for Africa

Option to Postpone your Safari up to December 2022*

Originally Posted: March 13, 2020
Last Updated: July 31, 2020 @ 2:30pm

With the ongoing changes in travel due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) and the rapidness at which things are changing around us, we are continually adapting to serve the needs of our customers. Some countries in Africa have restricted foreign visitors, or now require additional screening/testing and quarantine periods. Additionally, airlines have reduced their number of departures.

Lion World Travel is monitoring news and guidelines coming from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and governmental departments in North America and Africa to ensure the safety of all of our guests.

Know that Lion World Travel is in constant contact with our suppliers throughout Africa. For concerned travelers, we are happy to say that for the majority of bookings, you now have the option to postpone travel to as late as December 9, 2022*. There are some exceptions, so please call us at 1 800 387 2706 to confirm what travel options you have if you want to change, postpone, or transfer your impacted trip with Lion World Travel.  

Future Travel Credits: Should you be uncertain about new travel dates or other changes to your booked vacation, we will gladly issue a travel credit for any future travel with Lion World Travel. Credit for issued airline tickets as well as all booked accommodations would remain with the same suppliers. Our Africa Specialists will be able to give you information specific to your booking. In some cases credits can be moved to other TTC brands.

If restrictions are still in place when the time comes for your safari, we can work with you to adapt your plans or destinations as needed. If you prefer to travel elsewhere than Africa for the time being, Lion World Travel is part of The Travel Corporation family of brands, providing travel and tour options around the world.

We are adding more departures on our Exclusive Vacation Packages for 2021 already, for travelers to choose their new departure date. For the vast majority of our 2021 re-bookings, we are able to get travelers on the exact same safari, without a price increase. 

In addition to the information on this page, we encourage you to read "Your Well-being, Our Top Priority", which outlines some of the health, safety and well-being initiatives we have in place to safeguard all of our Lion World Travel guests. We want everyone who books with us to enjoy their dream trip to Africa! If you have any questions at all, and wish to postpone your safari, our Africa Specialists are here to answer your call.

See below for some important details before you consider re-booking your African safari.

* Important Notes:

• If you choose to postpone travel to 2021: almost all Exclusive Vacation Packages can be re-booked on the same safari, during the same season, with no penalties or extra costs.
• If you choose to postpone travel to 2022: please be aware that the itinerary and inclusions may change, and 2022 re-bookings might be subject to price increases. We will contact you with dates and prices for 2022 safaris as soon as they are available.
• Provided that you talk to us at least 30 days before your originally booked departure, most of our Exclusive Vacation Packages can be re-scheduled to a future date of the same safari and season (for any departure up to December 9, 2022, based on availability.)
• Requests to postpone a safari received less than 30 days to departure may be subject to change fees
• If deciding to re-schedule your safari, you have up to 60 days from the date you notified us of your intention to postpone your travel, to advise us what your new preferred date of travel is, or to advise us you will re-book to travel in 2022.
• For postponing custom and private safari bookings, please contact us to review your options
• Postponed trips may incur change or cancellation fees from airlines, and some of our accommodation suppliers in Africa
• Standard cancellation penalties still apply to all bookings. You can view our booking terms and conditions here.
• Future Travel Credits: Airfare portions of travel credits are valid until December 31, 2021; while land travel portions of travel credits are valid until December 31, 2022. 
• If the newly chosen date is priced higher than the originally booked departure, travelers are responsible to pay the difference.
• This offer is valid until further notice, and this policy may change at any time

Country-Specific Restrictions and Travel Alerts in Africa:

• Botswana:
  The country is closed except to returning Nationals and permanent residents. No new visas are being issued and previously issued visas are being cancelled. Botswana has declared a state of emergency until September 2020.
• Egypt:
  Egypt borders have opened. Visitors must have a valid healthy insurance policy (will need to provide documents as proof) and complete public health card questionnaire upon arrival.
• Jordan:
  Flights are suspended until at least July 24th.
• Kenya:
  International Air Travel will resume on 1st 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. List of countries identified and announced yesterday from which travelers will be exempt from quarantine include: • Canada • South Korea • Namibia • Uganda • China • Rwanda • Morocco • Japan • Zimbabwe • Ethiopia • Switzerland • The United States of America (except for California, Florida and Texas - no travel from these States permitted into Kenya yet) • United Kingdom • France • Netherlands • Qatar • United Arab Emirates • Italy
• Mauritius:
  The country is on lockdown and access to Mauritius for all passengers will be denied until further notice.
• Mozambique:
  Borders have opened. Any visitors from countries with active COVID cases must complete a 14-day self-quarantine upon arrival.
• Namibia:
  No fights allowed until September 30, 2020, at the earliest. No visas are being issued upon arrival. A ban on visitors from affected countries has been implemented.
• Rwanda:
  Visitors will need to show proof of a Covid 19 PCR negative test taken within 72 hours of their arrival - including those in transit. A second PCR test will be conducted upon arrival with results delivered in 8 hours - during this time visitors will remain in designated hotels at their own cost. Airport is set to open for international flights on August 1st.
• Seychelles:
  Airport is set to open for August 1, 2020. All visitors will need to show proof of a Negative COVID 19 test prior to boarding any flight to the Seychelles. Visitors boarding a plane from medium risk countries are expected to conduct a PCR test within 72 hours of arrival, while passengers boarding from low risk countries are required to submit to an antigen test within 72 hours of arrival.
• South Africa:
  South Africa is in lockdown, tourism facilities are closed. South African Airways has suspending all international, and some regional Africa flights.
• Tanzania and Zanzibar:
  There is no entry ban for foreign nationals. Visitors must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test, performed within 72 hours prior to departure to Tanzania. A completed “Health Form” must be presented upon arrival, temperature screenings are in place, and anyone showing symptoms must cover their own expenses for quarantine. If returning to the US self-quarantine for 14 days at your final destination is mandatory.
• Uganda:
  Uganda is in a nationwide lockdown. All passenger flights in and out of the country have been suspended. All land borders are closed.
• Zambia:
  Travelers must show proof of a negative test result for COVID-19 taken in the 14 days prior to arriving. Upon entry you may be tested via nasal swab for COVID-19, and must self-isolate for 14 days after arriving.
• Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls:
  Zimbabwe’s borders are closed to non-residents. Anyone arriving in the country is subject to a 21-day quarantine at a government facility, even if you have proof of a recent negative result COVID test.