Are you ready for the Namibia holiday of a lifetime?
South Africa’s desert neighbour has further relaxed its travel restrictions, as the country opens up for the busy December tourist season. The Namibian President recently announced that those who are planning an exciting Namibia tour now need only present a negative COVID test no more than 72 hours old when entering the country.
The dusty nation has been without tourists for most of the year, as countries around the world including Namibia, limited international travel in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. This lockdown has been nothing less than devastating for local tourism establishments the world over, as the usual bustle of excited travellers were barred from their 2020 adventures.
But now the country is opening up for travellers, and with the relaxed requirements for entering the nation, now is a really good time to start planning your Namibia tour.
How to stay safe while travelling?
While the relaxed measures have been quite loudly welcomed by the tourism industry and the many tour companies that offer Namibia tours, if you are ready to go on a tour in the country, it can still be a good idea to have a few travel tips to keep you safe and healthy throughout your time here.
1. Work through an agent/tour company
Planning a trip to a new country can be daunting at the best of times, so it can help to work with a travel agent or a tour company who can answer all of your questions and address your concerns. They will be able to tell you everything you need to know in terms of what kind of health documentation you will need, whether or not you will have to quarantine once you arrive, and which visas are needed.
These agencies will also be able to inform you about COVID testing, and the period during which the testing will be relevant.
2. Make peace with travel insurance
Perhaps in the past you could have given insurance a skip, in the post-COVID era (or at least while it is still around), you should take out insurance just in case you fall ill while on holiday.
3. Pack right
Packing for a Namibia holiday is already quite something as it requires things like loads of sunblock and light clothing, but now you also need to pack your disposable masks and hand sanitizer.
4. Keep test results on hand
Look, it’s a bother and not something you’d normally do, but to minimise your downtime and help you move swiftly through airports and other such establishments, if you have a printed copy of your test results on hand, you can simply show it to whoever wants it and then get back on with having fun and enjoying your holiday.
5. Go along with the protocol
No matter where you go, you will likely come across some sort of COVID related protocol that you will need to follow if you wish to travel. By now, you are already more than familiar with the procedures, so stick to the current rules, and you should be fine!