By Peter Silvester March News Brief

It has been a year since we rushed to get guests and crews home, ahead of a world that was locking down and the uncertainty that enveloped us all. As is often the case, looking back reminds one of the progress that has been made and puts into perspective the challenges that still lie ahead.

The last few months have seen several safaris safely completed, the first green shoots of recovery are at last tangible. It was refreshing to find how the work done over the previous months to provide a safe bubble to operate in translated into that sense of freedom that is the hallmark of any great safari.

With the benefit of vaccines starting to show results, there is reason to be confident. Those who are able to travel this season will indeed be able to enjoy their time in the bush. We will continue to adhere to the protocols we developed in pre-vaccine times.  Once practiced they are relatively easy to follow and a source of comfort to everyone.  Those coming on safari can also be secure in the knowledge that each safari brings with it a positive impact on the communities and wilderness areas we visit. The welcome back is a very genuine one.

For the most part, Partners have continued to focus on projects close to home and doing what they can to keep crews engaged. Both Michaels, Simon, Shane, Malcolm, Calvin, Chris, Adam, Alex, Indi and myself have all had the pleasure of spending some time in the field over the last couple of months. A few weeks in the bush is indeed the perfect tonic for any Covid blues and a great reminder of what brought us all together in pursuit of great safaris.

On the logistics front the team’s main focus is the final details for those preparing to travel. There are of course a few more steps to international travel, though it is certainly getting easier in terms of tests, airports and the flights themselves. The day to day safari arrangements have changed very little.  I particularly enjoyed reading the Interview with Janet Adhiambo, she is such a key person behind all that work. A more important reminder of what it actually takes to produce those great safaris.

On the Covid front, in the last few weeks a new variant has appeared in Kenya and with it infection rates have recently risen. Though still low in absolute terms (less than 200 cases a day). It feels rather similar to what transpired in South Africa earlier in the year where numbers are now back under control, as they are in Botswana. Vaccine programs have now started in South Africa and Kenya and are well underway in Rwanda. There have also been reports of good results from the use of Ivermectin as treatment, and several studies are now rolling out on this very cheap, readily available anti-parasite treatment. Tim in Tanzania was an early adopter of this.

Tanzania has been the surprise since our last news brief. After many months with very little evidence of Covid, reports from the ground showed that infections suddenly started to rise. It is too early to know whether the percentage mortality rates will also rise, and the absence of any official numbers make anything other than anecdotal comparisons difficult. From firsthand accounts, it does seem as if new infections have begun to subside.

The dangers of ignoring the threat were brought sharply into focus with the death of President Magufuli who, amongst other things, was a very vocal coronavirus skeptic. In line with the constitution, the Vice President, becomes Tanzania’s first woman head of state. Samia Sululu Hassan, from Zanzibar has a very full agenda ahead of her.

The international press has to date been relatively silent on the course of the disease in Africa, and whilst we are expecting this to change, we also hope that for once the reporting will be more fact based than it has in the past, though the complex subject of “vaccine apartheid” has already got some attention.

Switching gears, there have been some good results on the foundation and conservation front. Emma, who is helping coordinate the various ongoing initiatives, continues to work through past records and follow up with those that have contributed so much to the foundation’s success over the years. It’s the small things that all add up to meaningful change.

An example is the recent update on the honey initiative. The harvest from community hives which were carefully planned, sponsored and sited last year, just topped 500 lbs. There is a lot of potential from this pilot project. The extraordinary burst of flavors is so unique to the multi-blossom honey from the sacred forest. Honey lovers, it’s time to pay attention.

The need for alternative income streams was emphasized by Uhuru and Calvin’s recent rescue of three pangolins, the first having been sold for $20,000 before they could get there. A remarkable price for such a rare and obscure little animal. Some of you may remember that scaly pangolins were one of the early suspects for the origin of Covid-19. If a fraction of the funds allocated to vaccines and economic stimulus were spent combating the illegal wildlife trade, perhaps the next pandemic might be averted. It also highlights the importance of tourism to conservation.

We all hope that this finds you safe and well and we look forward to seeing some of you on safari soon.

Since I started with an African proverb, I will end with one that seems rather appropriate, this one from the Kanuri people, Nigeria: “Tama sugo diniabe.” Hope is the pillar of the world.