Greetings!
Last week I took a virtual trip to Tanzania to visit the
Red Sweater Project, which despite COVID, has continued to bring education safely to children in rural
Tanzania. Consider a visit to its school in a future itinerary—you can participate in a service project, play soccer with the kids, and take a village home tour!
This week I attended a virtual trade show where I met with lodges, ground operators, non-profits, airlines, and marketing representatives in the African travel industry. Most destinations are open again to visitors, but the way people go on safari has changed. Travelers seek to minimize risk by creating a “travel bubble.” The goal is to maintain social distancing by journeying with a small group of close friends or family and enjoying a lengthy stay at a single, secluded wildlife area, rather than hopping from place to place.
I’ve also talked to travelers who are planning to go on ambitious, multi-country safaris once the pandemic has waned.
East Africa is a favorite destination for such tours, thanks to incredible biodiversity between and within countries. You can see the great wildebeest migration in
Kenya and Tanzania, visit mountain gorillas in
Rwanda, and explore the Nile in
Uganda. Then fly to Seychelles, an island paradise where you can explore coral reefs and pristine forests that give new meaning to the word “beautiful.” For two years running, Seychelles has been designated as the
Indian Ocean’s Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination by the World Travel Awards for its success in leveraging hospitality to protect its unique ecosystems.
While travel is quieter than usual in Africa right now, conservation efforts are in full swing. One organization doing great work during COVID is the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The trust runs a number of wildlife programs, but is perhaps best known for fostering orphaned elephants and returning them to the wild.
Check out my recent blog post about Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to learn what it’s like to visit the trust’s elephant nursery in Nairobi. I’ve also included information on how you can support its important work from home.
Want to plan a visit to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the Red Sweater Project, or safari destinations throughout East and Southern Africa?
Get in touch! Ujuzi creates intimate and responsible connections with nature and people and is currently planning safaris for late 2021 and into 2022.
Asante Sana!
