The COVID-19 pandemic has sent economies reeling with several businesses taking blows. Tourism and Aviation industries were worst hit due to safety concerns and consistent lockdowns. However, one thing to take away from the pandemic is that we need to learn to live in this new world to ensure that there is no economic meltdown. While several vaccine trials have already started by now, a new future emerges where new rules and norms have been standardized. A hopeful future is what we, at Trip Quest Safaris, look forward to with the slow, but a safe revival of tourism.
With the spread of the virus almost contained in Tanzania, on 1st June 2020, The United Republic of Tanzania announced the reopening of its border to tourists with specific standard operating procedures (SOP) provided by the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) and MoHCDEC (Ministry of Health Community Development, Gender, Elderly, and Children). Air travel has also resumed with several international flights operating at Dar Es Salaam and Kilimanjaro Airports.
Your well being & health is Trip Quest Safaris priority. We strictly adhere to SOPs to keep our clients & our staff safe. We have introduced new norms with regard to how your travel + lodging will be handled from arrival until departure.
Trip Quest's Standard Operating Procedure for Safari:
Upon arrival at the Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar airports, all passengers shall be subjected to procedural screening for COVID-19 symptoms, which include (but not limited to) high body temperature, cold/cough, etc. by public health officials.
Any vessel boarding passenger showing respiratory or related symptoms of COVID-19 may be tested by MoHCDEC officials (Ministry of Health Community Development, Gender, Elderly, and Children) upon arrival.
Passengers must hand over a health certificate which they must fill out upon arrival at the airport, during the flight or upon departure.
In the arrival and departure halls, social distancing and wearing a mask is mandatory.
Added measures such as temperature checks, symptom assessments may be done at various entry points in the country such as national parks' gates, public sites, or border crossings, and clients can be refused entry should they have a fever or flu-like symptoms.
The Trip Quest Safaris team has appointed a Covid-19 liaison officer who will be the point of contact with the Ministry of Health Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDEC). The client's health will be regularly monitored & updated.
Our guides have been trained by the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) on first aid and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The guide will be provided with face masks, hand sanitizer, fresh gloves throughout the safari, and maintain a safe distance from clients, as well as other practices to reduce contamination. Handwashing stations will be available at various points for use and will be an added safety measure to the use of hand sanitizers in the vehicle.
Guides will be tested before welcoming the guests, and the temperature will be displayed at all times.
All vehicles are equipped with a contactless thermometer (thermal gun), and our guides are trained in their usage to read and interpret results.
All vehicles are equipped with PPE basics such as sanitizers, extra face masks, hand-gloves, tissues, etc..
Contact surfaces such as the handles for vehicles, armrests, headrests, tables, chairs, etc. will be wiped regularly with a chemical/alcohol solution before and in between usage.
Guides will thoroughly clean and sanitize their safari vehicles at the end of the day, especially before switching guests/trips.
Packed food will be handled by staff with PPE's with regular temperature checks and washed hands.
Signage and literature will be available in Swahili and English for our support teams/clients to follow best practices and contain emergency contact numbers available at any time.
Guides will minimize stopovers, especially at curio shops and eateries, to reduce contact with people.
Standard Operating Procedures in Accommodations:
Screening for guests/staff for the temperature at hotel facilities will be done at entry.
All accommodations will frequently clean and disinfect surfaces in the workplace, such as workstations, countertops, light switches, and doorknobs.
Dinning and breakfast facilities will limit the number of guests to adhere to social distancing norms.
All accommodation facilities will avoid buffet-style meal services and opting for À la carte or English service.
These above guidelines are to be followed to ensure a safe safari, and the official video description from the Tanzania Tourist Board is below; please do check it out.
Click Here to see what packages are available. If you have any doubts or want to say hello, just drop us an email on tanzania@thetripquest.com
Video Courtesy - Tanzania Tourist Board
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