South Africa to Reopen Borders October 1st
President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa announced today that the country’s borders will reopen to business and tourism travel on October 1st, 2020. Just last week the cabinet had extended the national state of disaster until October 15, but after consultations with a variety of stake holders (including provincial and local governments, plus traditional leaders) and drawing on the advice of scientists, President Ramaphosa announced South Africa will enter Level 1 protocols beginning September 20. This paves the way for a gradual and cautious easing of restrictions on international travel.
Three international airports will open: O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport in Cape Town, and King Shaka International Airport in Durban. One land-based port will also be opened. Travelers will be restricted from countries with high infection rates. A list of countries from which South Africa will allow travelers will be released in coming days.
All travelers will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours of departure for South Africa. Those arriving without a test result will be required to quarantine at their own expense. The number of days was not specified but will likely be 10 to 14 days as most other countries require. All travelers will be screened for symptoms of COVID-19. Those with symptoms will be quarantined until a negative test result is produced.
Also, all visitors will be required to register and download the COVID Alert South Africa App from the app store. The app is part of South Africa’s contract tracing efforts and is designed to alert any user of having been in close contact with any other user who has tested positive for Corona virus in the past 14 days.
South African missions will soon open to start issuing visas, and all long-term visas that were canceled at the beginning of the state of emergency will be reinstated. Hunters with scheduled safaris to South Africa or who need to transit South Africa on their way elsewhere on the Dark Continent should soon contact their safari operator, hunting travel agent and closest South African mission and discuss their upcoming trips. As soon as a list of accepted countries for travel is released, Safari Club International will share it with members.
For more information contact SCI’s Hunter Information Service at safariclub.org/contact.
