Now is the time to persuade travellers to book their southern and East African safari trips for late 2020 to 2021 as there are several benefits to doing so, according to a recent survey.
A survey by Your African Safaris’ (YAS) – a safari-planning website with close to 2 400 safari operators – revealed that with many operators freezing their prices, the tourism trade would be able to offer their customers better deals on safari packages.
“We are keeping our rates on postponed bookings the same for 2021 to encourage travellers to reschedule for next year,” said a spokesperson for the Umlani Bushcamp in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve in South Africa’s lowveld region. Furthermore, the parks will be less crowded as tourist numbers are expected to be down in 2021, even in peak season. “Parks that were straining under overtourism, including the Serengeti, Kruger and Masai Mara, may get a chance to do things differently now to help keep overtourism at bay,” said YAS Co-founder, Jennifer Goetz. Captured in Africa Founder, Drew Abrahamson, pointed out that the wildlife were benefiting from this pause in human activity. “In South Africa, kudu are roaming the streets of Pretoria, families of banded mongoose are running across roads, penguins are strolling down the beach road in Simon’s Town, dolphins are taking advantage of there being no surfers in Durban.” She said the dolphins have always been there but their movements had been limited due to boats in the water.
Phil Jeffery, of Jeffery and McKeith, Zambia, said they too had had some epic sightings, which includedncluding seven new cubs being born in the Musekese Pride and their much loved leopards are putting on a show most evenings much-loved leopards putting on a show most evenings.
