What South Africa’s New Level 4 COVID Restrictions Mean for Traveling Hunters
On Sunday, June 27th South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a return to more restrictive COVID-19 measures due to increased infection rates in that country. An adjusted Alert Level 4 lockdown is in force from June 28, 2021 through July 11, 2021. Among the restrictions is a lockdown of Gauteng Province, where Johannesburg and OR Tambo International Airport are located. Travel in and out of the region for leisure purposes is prohibited. However, thanks to certain allowances, international hunting clients will not be affected.
Due to increasing COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, particularly from the new Delta strain from India, the South African Cabinet implemented several increased restrictions throughout the country to stem new infections and relieve the growing strain on South Africa’s hospital system. Those restrictions include a renewed prohibition against gatherings, a ban on liquor sales, increased curfews, and restrictions on interprovincial travel.
Gauteng Province is identified as one of the provinces with the fastest growing infection rates, leading to a restriction on travel in and out of the province. This does not include work, business, or commercial travel, nor transit through airports or the transport of goods. Also, agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing and related services are permitted.
All persons are confined to their place of residence from 8 pm to 4 am, unless they have arrived on a flight or are traveling to or from an airport which necessitates travelling during restricted hours of movement. Travelers must be in possession of a valid boarding pass as proof of flight or copy of the airline ticket. They should also have their itinerary and passport available.
Interprovincial travel to and from Gauteng is also permitted for persons doing so in the course of carrying out work responsibilities or performing any service permitted under Adjusted Alert Level 4. Safari operators will need a copy of their clients’ itineraries when traveling through Gauteng to pick up clients.
Requirements for travelers entering South Africa remain the same: present a negative COVID-19 test result issued no more than 72 hours from date of departure; download the COVID Alert SA application on their smartphone; and undergo a health screening upon arrival (temperature test and questionnaire).
SCI members with questions about travel to South Africa may contact SCI’s Hunter Information Service at www.safariclub.org/contact.