Dear Friends in Travel,


We find ourselves in unusual and extraordinary times.


Many airlines have had to ground their planes and airports are dealing with the battle of “musical chairs” never, have so many aircraft at any one time been on the ground, and needing space in a hangar.  Before coronavirus, at any one time, the majority of planes were up in the air.


Travel has essentially ground to a halt.  Many countries, and South Africa is the latest to join a growing list of these, have closed their borders.  So far, 35 countries have imposed a total lockdown in an effort to stem the spread and infection rate of this insanely aggressive and dangerous Covid 19 virus.  Lives and businesses have been disrupted as governments scramble to release emergency funds to avoid a total economic meltdown.


At the moment, the number of infected people on a global scale is a moving target.  It stood at just over 300 000 on Sunday.  Deaths are constantly and consistently increasing, especially in Italy and Spain.


On 23 March 2020, South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa  addressed the nation  and advised that from 26 March at midnight, to 16 April 2020  South Africa will go into lockdown.   To date 402 people are infected in South Africa.  The salient points in the speech were:


From midnight on Thursday 26th March until midnight Thursday the 16th of April:

• All South Africans will have to stay at home
• Individuals will not be allowed to leave their homes except under strictly controlled circumstances, such as to seek medical care, buy food, medicine and other supplies or collect a social grant
• All shops and businesses will be closed except for pharmacies, laboratories, banks, essential financial payment services, supermarkets, petrol stations and health care providers
• A number of additional measures will be implemented with immediate effect to strengthen prevention measures
• Some of these measures are that South African citizens and residents arriving from high-risk countries will automatically be placed under quarantine for 14 days
• Non-South Africans arriving on flights from high-risk countries we prohibited a week ago will be turned back
• International flights to Lanseria airport will temporarily be suspended
• International travellers who arrived in South Africa after 9th March 2020 from high-risk countries will be confined to their hotels until they have completed a 14-day period of quarantine

Read the full speech here. 


Friends, let us remember to be kind to one another.  This is a common enemy, but it can be defeated. Wherever you are in the world, I wish you health.  We will still be here.  Reach out to us for information, ideas, or just a chat.  In our isolation pods, at least we will have access to technology 😁 


Stay well. Stay safe. Stay healthy. Above all, BE KIND.

​When I was a child, I devoured all sorts of information, useless and useful, fascinating and annoying for everyone around me.  I constantly referred to the book 'The Students’ Companion'… way before google and smartphones.  In line with our safari theme, allow me to share some funny, interesting, weird and downright apt collective nouns for animals and birds:
 
We created this list to make you forget about Covid-19 for a few moments and hopefully smile! Feel free to comment and share …..