LATEST UPDATE: Sunday 5th April 2020
The Kenya government announced on 15th March that all persons arriving on flights from all countries where there are cases of Coronavirus were required to self-quarantine for 14 days. Those who develop any symptoms such as a cough and fever should report this to their nearest health clinic so that they can be tested for Covid-19 and if positive they will be treated in special hospital isolation units until they have recovered. On 25th March the Kenya government suspended all incoming international passenger flights for a two week period.
This ban was extended on 5th April for a further period of 31 days. The ban does not apply to flights which may come in to evacuate foreign nationals or to cargo flights with no passengers.
COVID-19 Kenya Government Statement, Sunday 15th March 2020:
- The Government is suspending travel for all persons coming into Kenya from any country with reported Coronavirus cases.
- Only Kenyan Citizens, and any foreigners with valid residence permits will be allowed to come in provided they proceed on self quarantine or to a government designated quarantine facility. This will take effect within the next 48 hours to cater for any passengers who may be en route. This directive will remain in effect for the next 30 days or as varied by the National Emergency Response Committee.
- All persons who have come into Kenya in the last 14 days must self-quarantine. If any person exhibits symptoms such as cough, or fever, they should present themselves to the nearest health facility for testing.
Gamewatchers Safaris: Flexible booking terms for customers planning to travel once the Kenya government allows visitors to come back on safari and beach holidays.
With the continued spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) to many countries in the world, including in North America and Europe, we understand the anxieties that many prospective travellers may have at this time and are fully sympathetic to those concerns. We are monitoring the situation closely and follow the advice of the World Health Organisation, international governments and the Kenyan authorities.
As a result of the government announcement to suspend travel into Kenya from infected countries for a further 30 days, we are temporarily revising our booking terms and conditions as follows for anyone booked to travel within the next 30 days or to travel between 1 to 6 months from now:
• For people travelling in the next 30 days, for those in infected countries who are no longer able to travel to Kenya, we can postpone the booking and carry forward any prepayment to be used as a credit towards a new date of travel at a later time within the next 12 months once the restriction has been lifted to allow travel from the customer’s country.
• For those booked to travel in 1 to 6 months’ time (31 to 180 days) for anyone anxious or uncertain about travelling, we will agree to postponement with no amendment fee. For those postponing, we will allow payments made so far to be carried forward to later dates within 12 months of the originally booked date, subject to availability and added cost if there are seasonal differences in cost if travel is in a different season from the date originally booked.
The Kenyan government had already introduced a number of measures to prevent or limit the spread of the virus into Kenya including suspending flights from some countries, screening of arriving passengers at the airport and testing persons with a temperature or symptoms of a cold or flu. The latest move by the government is to suspend visits into Kenya by any persons from countries which are infected by Covid-19 for the next 30 days. In addition, the Kenya government has acted quickly to set up special well-equipped isolated treatment centres in Nairobi and elsewhere, following WHO recommended procedures, to look after anyone who might in future be suspected of having contracted the virus.
As a result of travel restrictions placed on both outward and inward travel at present by the governments of many countries throughout the world as a result of the Pandemic, we have introduced flexible booking terms so that once you have booked you can amend your travel dates to be postponed until later with no penalty so long as the pandemic continues and if the situation warrants this because of disruptions to travel.
For those making travel plans for this year we are committed to being flexible regarding amendments / postponement where necessary, and we will continue to update customers as the situation changes. For the latest details or to discuss your booking please get in touch with the Gamewatchers Safaris consultant who arranged your trip or contact one of our helpful team:
