The health and wellbeing of those who travel to Africa with us is paramount. We would never allow the safety or security of our clients to be knowingly placed at risk.

Regarding the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, John Stevens Guided Safaris Africa is keeping a close eye on developments and hopes to update our clients when necessary with as informed and up-to-date information as possible.

The effects of the virus are devastating and tragic. And our hearts go out to the victims and their families, not to mention the medical personnel who are so bravely risking their lives to help others.

As the situation evolves, however, it is becoming clear that it’s important to address the increasing collateral damage that the disease has caused throughout Africa; irresponsible reporting and lack of detail in the media would have many believe that the entire continent is battling the virus.

And it just isn’t true.

The Ebola epidemic is currently only prevalent in one very specific part of this vast continent and in just three countries – Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Madrid, London and Paris are closer to West Africa than countries in East and Southern Africa. And the governments of these countries are ensuring the safety of their citizens and visitors by suspending flights to and from West Africa and enforcing strict customs controls that restrict entry to travellers that have visited affected West African countries.

“Most travel to Africa carries no more threat of contracting Ebola than domestic travel in the USA or travel within Europe.”
David Ryan - Founder and CEO of Rhino Africa Safaris

The major hub airports on the continent, such as Johannesburg, Livingstone, Victoria Falls, Maun and Lilongwe, have also stepped up measures to screen travellers and identify potential victims. Zambia for example, insists all travellers from these countries apply for a visa prior to arrival. Applicants have to prove, with a medical certificate, that they are not infected.

Despite these measures and facts, the effects of nervous travellers cancelling trips or just not considering an African holiday at all are being felt, particularly in the tourism industry.

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organisation say it’s very unlikely that travellers, even going to West Africa, could contract the disease, since “they would have to come in direct contact with an infected and symptomatic person’s blood, organs or other bodily secretions.”

As a long time safari operator in Southern and East Africa and with our guests' safety in mind, John Stevens Guided Safaris Africa will continue to monitor the situation with reference to the World Health Organisation, the CDC and the various health departments in our destinations.

Our cancellation policy, along with many other operators, has been adapted to accommodate the situation. If you wish to see it, please let us know.

It would be such a shame to cancel or not even consider what may be the ultimate trip of a lifetime due to a lack of knowledge or clarity of the situation. And we’d very much like to share our Africa with you – it’s just wonderful!

We’d also like to assure you that if we receive any further information that impacts on your plans to travel, we would contact you immediately. And should you have any questions, we will be happy to discuss them with you.