Here is a direct quote by email this morning from friends on their first trip to Africa, and after a 14-day Photo Safari all over Namibia-

"We are in quarantine in Windhoek. No test going in, but everyone tested when leaving no matter what the destination. New rule. 10 days unless we can get a Dr. to state we are not contagious.....after 5 to 10 days. YUK. At least we are at the Hilton."

She doesn't say if this is for COVID, or the new outbreak of Monkey Pox?? I have responded to them and asked, and I have also asked Richard Lendrum at African Hunting Gazette/ Afton House. He has NOT heard a peep about this??!! I am assuming it is related to COVID as she is talking testing going in??

I will update if/when I hear something. This will cause turmoil in the hunting community in short order and chaos in airline reservations in short order... and hotels stuffed too!!

Sounds like they tested positive for COVID for the return to the USA since you are required to test one day before your return. Not sure about the "no matter the destination" part. I assume you would not have to test if the country you are flying to does not require it. I am wondering who told them that it's required no matter what, and then who administered the tests...

I have asked for further clarification about what happened??
I know both were Vax'd going in...it doesn't say that this is a broad-brush Quarantine... but apparently new is "Everyone being tested when leaving, no matter the destination."
One might "assume" one of the two tested positive and no symptoms??!!.... but you know about ASS U ME??

I have not heard from my friends today?? Nothing better to do than email?? It's now 9:30 in the morning, local.

I looked at the US EMBASSY website for Namibia. Looks to me like they are running up against our own US regs requiring a clean COVID test on all departing passengers bound for the US on the first flight departure...

This is interesting information for all travelers to Namibia, on the US EMBASSY website-

https://na.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/

Seems there could be a big risk in getting snagged heading home... we all know the tests are NOT 100% accurate, and there are alot of FALSE POSITIVES!!

OH BOY!!

Take a fistful of quick tests with you. If you are showing positive don't go to the authorities until you show clear. Had some friends quarantined in Panama- not pleasant.

quote:

Originally posted by bobby7321:
Sounds like they tested positive for COVID for the return to the USA since you are required to test one day before your return. Not sure about the "no matter the destination" part. I assume you would not have to test if the country you are flying to does not require it. I am wondering who told them that it's required no matter what, and then who administered the tests...

You are right.

The US requires testing, many countries in don’t.

This is the reason I haven't been back to Africa since 2018. I decided to skip 2019 with plans to go back in 2020. Then Covid hit. These crazy COVID restrictions have me sitting at home instead of hunting in Africa.

Namibia is a country in Africa and not all African countries are like Namibia.

I'm done traveling outside the U.S. until we stop the bullshit testing before return restriction. I've done two trips and was miserable waiting for a negative result to come home. Don't need the stress. And the airline industry is begging the current administration to end the requirement but they won't budge. That test is really the last man standing of the covid restrictions now that the courts ended the mask mandate and the states are tired of playing.

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:
Namibia is a country in Africa and not all African countries are like Namibia.

Problem is America.

You are required to have a test before boarding, vaccinated or not.

I heard from my friends late last night. One of the couple returning from Namibia tested positive for the first flight enroute back to US. Result, QUARANTINE until both test negative. They DON'T have symptoms!!

Saeed is right, it is the US rules that all travelers bound for US must test negative before boarding first flight from NAMIBIA!!

This is very odd because one of the couple is a retired airline employee so they travel standby... they have no confirmed route or flights to the States!! I guess they should have only declared their next stop out of Namibia??

They are stuck until they both test negative in Namibia...unless....??

A very sticky situation!!

I don’t know why the US does not follow our example, which has been in effect for the past two years!

You test as you arrive back home, for all citizens of the UAE!

Takes a few minutes at the airport, and you head home.

They let you know the results within a few hours.

If you test positive you are required to quarantine at home.

Makes sense.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I don’t know why the US does not follow our example, which has been in effect for the past two years!

You test as you arrive back home, for all citizens of the UAE!

Takes a few minutes at the airport, and you head home.

They let you know the results within a few hours.

If you test positive you are required to quarantine at home.

Makes sense.

We had visitors from the US earlier this month, and the travel agent informed us of this requirement for the US.

We have labs here that do home visits, so they came over and tested everyone at our home.

Results were back by the afternoon, and our FR took their flight home the next morning.

Its stupid - but what else should we expect from that idiot Biden...

If you fly to Canda, you need a test to return. If you drive you do not..

I guess that means you do a self-test before doing the actual test to come home - if it is positive you rent a car???

F'ing stupid.. I just hope we survive this damn administration........

Are there multiple places to test in Windhoek? Depending if you had symptoms or you thought it was a false positive, I'd keep testing until I got a negative test.

ddj

Had no trouble organizing a PCR test in Windhoek the day before departure last August. Got results in 6 hours.

Regards, Tim

This isn't new, it's been in effect since the Covid restrictions banning all travel were lifted. U.S. travelers need a negative test 24 hours before boarding the plane back to the U.S. whether vaccinated or not. It is a risk you have to be willing to take to hunt/travel internationally and it can be stressful. I have been tested in Botswana, Tanzania, Turkey, Pakistan and Ethiopia since June of last year. The airline and travel industries have been pleading with the current administration to ease this, especially for vaccinated and boosted passengers but so far, no luck...

As mentioned elsewhere in this thread, I have been able to get easy access to testing in all of the countries I have hunted, some easier than others. Thank you Fulvio

quote:

Originally posted by 470EDDY:
I heard from my friends late last night. One of the couple returning from Namibia tested positive for the first flight enroute back to US. Result, QUARANTINE until both test negative. They DON'T have symptoms!!

Saeed is right, it is the US rules that all travelers bound for US must test negative before boarding first flight from NAMIBIA!!

This is very odd because one of the couple is a retired airline employee so they travel standby... they have no confirmed route or flights to the States!! I guess they should have only declared their next stop out of Namibia??

They are stuck until they both test negative in Namibia...unless....??

A very sticky situation!!

I doesn't matter what you "declare". If you are getting on a plane that is flying into the US, you will need a negative test within 24 hours of your flight.

If they were flying via Europe they may not have needed a negative test to board the plane for Europe. However whenever they boarded a plane landing in the US, they would need a negative test or a letter from a licensed medical care provider or a public health official stating they have recovered from Covid within the last 90 days.

For my flights this year, the airlines have accepted rapid antigen tests. The hotels will often book a lab to come to the hotel to administer the test. It only takes 15 minutes to get the results.

My friends have returned home in Hawaii safely, very worn out from this experience. First time to Africa.
I have been out on the Montana prairies shooting Prairie Dogs.
Headed for the Jack O'Connor Heritage Center fundraiser tomorrow.
I will get a full report and post it later today or tomorrow.
I agree with the last comment on requirements, however, they fly standby as retired airline employee, so no tickets or destinations!! When they left Namibia, they would have known their next stop, nothing further...they arrived in Kona on the Big Island, then inter-island to Honolulu. Hawaii is still a Red COVID State, too!!

Looks like return flight testing for US Passengers will be dropped effective Sunday.

quote:

Originally posted by Safari2:
Looks like return flight testing for US Passengers will be dropped effective Sunday.

Indeed! Thank God. Just in time for our safari this summer!

They said however, that they will review the situation in 90 days, and if the pandemic comes back again, they could restart the negative test requirements again…

quote:

Originally posted by Safari2:
Looks like return flight testing for US Passengers will be dropped effective Sunday.

I am still taking a couple of do it yourself Abbott tests with me in a month or so when I take off.

You never know.

I finally had the opportunity to talk directly with my friends from Hawaii who were quarantined in Namibia.

They were held up on "a new rule imposed by Namibia" requiring a negative test on All Passengers leaving on flights from Namibia!!"

This had NOTHING to do with the US CDC regulation put in place on May 12 requiring a negative test for all passengers from Namibia, on the first flight enroute to the US!!

They were notified by their local travel agent in Namibia at 4:30PM the day before their departure for Johannesburg, and if they got flights on standby, on to Dubai.... NOT US bound!!

The travel agent arranged for a clinic test near the Hilton in Windhoek. They tested positive and were instructed to Quarantine in the Hotel for 10 days. More testing.

2 days later they tested again, and tested Negative, they gave the test results to Gary, but failed to give them to his wife... they were refused flights again.

2 days later a local Doc came in and tested both of them and they tested Negative, and he provided "official papers" good for 24 hours for flights.

They got out on the 7th day!!... flew to JNB, overnighted, and on to Dubai. She continued to Los Angeles, and then finally to Kona on a paid seat to end the misery!!

Gary continued on from Dubai to Tajikistan... ran into all kinds of business barriers there with Chinese and Russian infiltration... and is just now returning to Hawaii today....

This appears to them/me to have been a local Namibian decision that was put in place to generate alot of "testing revenue" at $130/test... the Doc commented he had done 67 tests the day they were tested, but common was 80-130 tests for him and providing releases!!...

What a Goat Screw and expensive delay to many, many innocent travelers...!!

I guess we have to be aware of this potential and be ready to deal with what is thrown our way and how to deal with it??...no matter where you travel?? Not fun times!!

It ain't over yet... I just came back from East Montana prairie dog shooting, our guide "had a cold" after attending his 60th High School Reunion..."not COVID"!!... my partner and I both tested POSITIVE on Sunday/Monday... and our wives, who we exposed with our "cold like symptoms"... testing positive today!! We are all taking anti virals, either MOLNUPIRAVIR, or PLAXOVID as directed by our Primary Care Docs.

If I were traveling, I would absolutely take a prescription from my Primary Care Doc to take if I got symptoms and tested positive while traveling. Carry test kits, simple to use.

This knocked the symptoms overnight and I am getting back to normal rapidly. These prevent your immune system overload and allows recovery vs being weakened and getting a secondary infection and pneumonia, which is the killer...

GOOD LUCK... END of STORY!!

My friends had a wonderful trip to Namibia and are now Africa aficionados... they will go back.... but better prepared!!

The key is getting a "test" if you know what I mean.

Stupid rules, so give them what they want and move on.

The WOES of traveling these days with COVID still lurking and various Countries still hung up with BUREAUOCRACY!!

I am going on a simple fishing trip in the Queen Charlottes, in British Columbia. I have to register, less than 72 hours before entry, into Arrive Can system and receive a clearance email to present to Customs upon entry. This is a REAL P I T A!!

Canada is still pressing this on entry and possible required testing... at your expense, and they still are Quarantining people if they are tested POSITIVE while in Canada!! REALLY??!!

Here is an experience of a Canadian booking agent on his recent trip to Spain-

No, non-vaxed personnel cannot get into Canada, as yet. Here is a little story for you from my recent hunt to Spain and after experiencing that trip, I can certainly sympathize with hunter’s reluctance to travel:



"I was in Spain hunting in March and was told by government folks here, that I had all my shots for the COVID-19 and needed nothing else. I arrived at the Vancouver International Airport and they would not accept my vaccination card? Took me 3 hours for someone to get it on my cell!!! I checked to ensure that now I had everything I needed and was assured that I had. I landed in Munich, Germany and they told me I needed a form from the Spanish Government completed or I would not be allowed into that country, so another couple of wasted hours and finally I had it also on my cell. Hunt went well and when I showed up at the Madrid International Airport, I was informed that I needed a different completed document in order to get back into Canada and this one took about four hours to get on my cell. Then I found out that the airline had not booked my flight from Munich. Germany back to Vancouver - all in all quite the trip, so I do sympathize with hunters traveling. My round-trip fare was around $1300 Canadian dollars and when I had to purchase a ticket from Munich to Vancouver it cost me $2200 Canadian dollars and I am still fighting with the airline to get my money refunded."

Seems to me that if a Country knowingly delays travelers with their onerous and unnecessary testing, they should be RESPONSIBLE for the travelers onward travel costs??!!

I hope this NONSENSE ends soon!!

Been traveling through Europe, no one asked for anything.

I think this a Canadian requirement.

I would also advise avoiding transiting through Canada if possible. Had nothing but problems on a recent trip to Italy and Spain transiting through Montreal and Toronto.

quote:

Originally posted by 470EDDY:
The WOES of traveling these days with COVID still lurking and various Countries still hung up with BUREAUOCRACY!!

I am going on a simple fishing trip in the Queen Charlottes, in British Columbia. I have to register, less than 72 hours before entry, into Arrive Can system and receive a clearance email to present to Customs upon entry. This is a REAL P I T A!!

Canada is still pressing this on entry and possible required testing... at your expense, and they still are Quarantining people if they are tested POSITIVE while in Canada!! REALLY??!!

Here is an experience of a Canadian booking agent on his recent trip to Spain-

No, non-vaxed personnel cannot get into Canada, as yet. Here is a little story for you from my recent hunt to Spain and after experiencing that trip, I can certainly sympathize with hunter’s reluctance to travel:



"I was in Spain hunting in March and was told by government folks here, that I had all my shots for the COVID-19 and needed nothing else. I arrived at the Vancouver International Airport and they would not accept my vaccination card? Took me 3 hours for someone to get it on my cell!!! I checked to ensure that now I had everything I needed and was assured that I had. I landed in Munich, Germany and they told me I needed a form from the Spanish Government completed or I would not be allowed into that country, so another couple of wasted hours and finally I had it also on my cell. Hunt went well and when I showed up at the Madrid International Airport, I was informed that I needed a different completed document in order to get back into Canada and this one took about four hours to get on my cell. Then I found out that the airline had not booked my flight from Munich. Germany back to Vancouver - all in all quite the trip, so I do sympathize with hunters traveling. My round-trip fare was around $1300 Canadian dollars and when I had to purchase a ticket from Munich to Vancouver it cost me $2200 Canadian dollars and I am still fighting with the airline to get my money refunded."

Seems to me that if a Country knowingly delays travelers with their onerous and unnecessary testing, they should be RESPONSIBLE for the travelers onward travel costs??!!

I hope this NONSENSE ends soon!!

I flew to Italy in April; United clearly explained well ahead of time that European countries required arriving passengers to complete a Covid tracing form.

Sounds like your friend didn't pay attention to what was a pretty well known requirement.

seems canada is proving to the world where we are heading ...

Been to Canada twice.

The airports just plane suck!

We are used to travel in Europe - not the UK - were things just work.

A Canadian friend recommended we get a VIP meet and greet at the airport, or we might not like it.

Dead right he was.

We arrived at Toronto.

We had to stay in the plane for over 20 minutes, because the immigration hall was full!!

After getting off the plane, we were met by the VIP gentleman, who took us to the side the immigration hall.

It was absolutely packed!

Ours had no one except us.

The young lady at immigration welcome us, stamped our passports, and were of in less than two minutes!

Well worth paying for.

This ARRIVE CAN registration of inoculations APP is a real P. I. T. A.... you must set up an account, then input all of your passport and personal data, then scan and upload your vaccination cards, ONLY 72 hours before entry to Canada... which is difficult if you are arriving from International flights with big time changes!!...along with travel distances!!
What a BOONDOOGLE... Bureaucratic CRAP... and they can force you into testing that is NOT on the airport and testing on the way out too...
On top of our outfitter changing the terms of all-inclusive and we had to pay for or own air... and book it two weeks before the fishing trip... then we find out about this Arrive CAN APP... we almost canceled... if we weren't old... and this year would be another year without King Salmon fishing...it could be a double-digit percentage of trips we have left??
UUUURRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!
You have all seen the Socialist Prime Minister on the news... Go Figure!!

Why doesn’t Canada do like other countries have done?

Co-ordinate with other countries Covid app?

With our own country app, we could travel all over Europe.

Solved all the problems.

No one requires it now, but last year this worked for me.

Oh, may Commie Trudeau does not care about his citizens!

Just went though. No check of any kind .

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Just went though. No check of any kind .

About time!

Well, we'll see how Canada goes this week??@!
I have done my ARRIVE CAN computer check in and have my printed Scan Code for the arrival kiosk.
The warnings are we are still subject to involuntary random testing and quarantine!Quarantine!!
I bought my fishing license on-line and was chosen for involuntary reporting on my catch record every day by email...with reminders promised!! My lucky day... we'll see how random testing goes??!!

Good friend cruising up in Norway at a $$1000 a day has tested positive and is Quarantined in a separate cabin for minimum of 5 days, meals brought to the door!! His wife is in their booked cabin and testing negative!!

CheerZ,

quote:

I have done my ARRIVE CAN computer check in and have my printed Scan Code for the arrival kiosk.
The warnings are we are still subject to involuntary random testing and quarantine!Quarantine!!
I bought my fishing license on-line and was chosen for involuntary reporting on my catch record every day by email...with reminders promised!! My lucky day... we'll see how random testing goes??!!

We had a bear hunt in BC in June, did the ARRIVE CAN stuff and had no issues entering Canada, weren't chosen for random test. Immigration lady said lucky test-ees were chosen by computer when passport is scanned (sort of like getting swabbed at security here in the US, I guess). Returning was a different matter...had to have new PCR test, plus all of the previously required forms/QR codes, etc.. Check in personnel weren't really up to speed on what all was needed so it took a while to check in. Hope you have a nice fishing trip.

Thanks Karl!!

They call August, HOGUST mid- Queen Charlottes.
New camp for us, looking forward to it. Met Chad at SCI and booked.
Hopefully we are 2 months later and all of the formalities will be over??!!
At Seattle I flew through check in and TSA PRE CHECK was first in line... jacket and shoes ON!!
Regular security looked like a freeway jam up... more than an hour.

Getting a TSA PRE CHECK or NEXUS and get it into your profile, or fly first or business is imperative today!!

CheerZ

Well, the COVID Arrive Can turned out to be a NOTHING BURGER!! We flew into Vancouver, hiked over a mile to Customs, used NEXUS to check in, not a word from an agent... and another mile to departures gate!!... Don't EVER try to make a connection in Vancouver without 2-3 hours if clearing into Customs!!... and be in shape, or get a scooter!!
Coming back, checking in at Sandspit, with fish boxes... they weigh in bag and fish. The agent, a First Nations HAAIDA, shaking his head NO, asked if I had a cough, fever, or been around anyone with COVID Syptoms, I said No.That was IT.... but some did have to show their QC code from Arrive Can but were NOT scanned??!!
The only thing I can figure is the Arrive Can is linked to your Passport so it is generally a transparent activity!!.....
then you pack it ALL to Security and put luggage, fish and hand carried luggage on the belt, taking out any fluids in hand-carry, then you go thru the metal detector... take your hand carry... luggage goes out to aircraft.
We sat in the waiting room and watched the screening agents randomly use the bomb/nitro swabs being wanded in various bags and hand carry and put in the machine??!! Really, at a remote airport in a First Nation predominant fishing and tourist area in little Dash 8s??

Fishing was spotty, no HOGS, and a punishing one hour ride out to coast each way in a hammering tin boat both directions taking time out of daylight fishing... I will send a full report to anyone who would like to see it... PM me... there are far better places to fish and be successful in the Queen Charlottes!!... this was an experiment... and the old legends of great fishing in the cut between islands is HISTORY!!

EVERYONE HAS TO WEAR MASKS AS SOON AS YOU BOARD A CANADIAN AIRCRAFT, EVEN IN US, AND KEEP IT ON THRUOUGHT FLIGHT, THRU CUSTOMS AND OUTBOUND UNTIL YOU ARE OUT OF THE AIRPORT!! A REAL BUMMER!!

MY WIFE JUST VIEWED THE JOHN'S HOPKINS US MAPS TODAY ALL BLUE!! HOORAY!!

I can think of a lot worse places I'd rather get stuck than anyplace I've hunted in Africa.