In response to calls for the SA government to step up its vaccination game – as the European Union is ready to accept vaccinated travellers – director of Alpha Destinations, Angela Matthews, had this to say:

“It is such a no-brainer. Of course, fully vaccinated people should be allowed to travel without restrictions, in particular without tests. But I fear that, especially in Africa, as governments have realised how much money can be made from testing, they might be very reluctant to give this up.

Rwanda, which not so long ago talked about wanting to be one of the first countries in Africa to allow unrestricted access for vaccinated people, is now one of the strictest, with not only a negative PCR test required before you enter, another one as you arrive, and mandatory 24-hour quarantine on arrival, they also require further negative tests every 72 hours if you do several primate treks.

We have a German couple (both fully vaccinated) traveling to Tanzania and Rwanda next month, 14 days in total. They will need six tests! Take this at an average cost of roughly USD 60 (120 in the Serengeti) per person/test, and obviously all the hassle of getting to the testing site, it is one big pain in the neck for the guests, and lovely revenue for the countries.

This is what we need to fight!”