Covid-19 - November 2020 and the State of Play

AS we enter November and mark a world that has been in effective lockdown since March this year, we can start to look ahead and hope that there is some glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel that is Covid-19. Here at Nature's Light we are cautiously optimistic that 6 months from now things will be slowly returning, if not to absolute 'normal', back to some sense of normality. Whether it is from a vaccine, better treatment or just plain hard-headedness by citizens, it is likely that travel and workshops will be happening by mid year 2021.

Deciding whether to travel or not is difficult on a number of counts. From a personal point of view, are you likely to be infected and fall sick in another country. This impacts on medical insurance and whether you are even able to get cover to travel at this time. From a broader point of view, even if you are what is deemed 'asymptomatic', are you further spreading the virus.

With the above in mind, we do feel that by the time our workshops start again (all international workshops were postponed through to 2021) it is likely that both vaccine's and effective treatment will be available (our first cross-border workshop is only in April 2021).

Namibia

Namibia is now accepting international guests both arriving in Windhoek and over road borders. All arrivals must present a valid PCR test done no earlier than 72 hours prior to departure. Our planned recce trip to Namibia for April 2021 has been put back unfortunately. The November Composing The Dunes is likely to run though, particularly as this is a year away. Bookings are possible without a deposit for the time being. As soon as it becomes safer to confirm, actual deposits will be required.

Madagascar

The borders of Madagascar are now open, but the only international flights that can go in are via Nosy Be, NOT Antananarivo. Travelers but present a valid PCR Test no older than 72 hours.

Our workshop is in May 2021, and currently has only one space left on it. there is a high likelihood that this workshop will take place as May is still 7 months away. If you are keen to join, a deposit is only required once the restrictions are further eased.

Iceland

From August 19, all passengers arriving in Iceland must choose a 14-day quarantine OR a double COVID-testing procedure along with quarantine for 5-6 days. 

The first COVID test is at the border on arrival and the second by the primary healthcare service 5-6 days later. In between the 2 tests, arrivals must go into quarantine. Certian countries are still not allowed entry into Iceland at the moment.

Our workshop is in May 2021. There is a good chance that the above travel restrictions and quarantines will no longer be in place. We are taking provisional bookings for next year, with an actual deposit only required once the restrictions fall away.

Norway

Currently If you want to travel to Norway, note that you may have to stay in quarantine for 10 days after arrival. Exemptions are given upon arrival in Norway from areas in the Nordic countries and other EU/EEA/Schengen countries with sufficiently low transmission. Norway is not yet open for travellers from countries outside of the EU/EEA/Schengen area.

Our workshop is in April 2021 (there is one space open still). Like our other destinations, there is a reasonable chance that this will have changed by next year March. We currently have one Nature's Light instructor living in Europe, so the workshop would continue if guests and instructor are from the EU, and travel has eased to a certain extent.

South Africa

Like Namibia, international photographers are allowed to travel to South Africa with a PCR test in hand showing that they are not infected with Covid-19.

As we are a South African based workshop operator all our South African workshops are currently running (there is a Drakensberg Masterclass happening in mid November and more workshops will be added soon). South Africa is fortunate to have declining Covid cases and a much lower death rate than many other parts of the world. The lockdown has been eased for the most part and there are only a few restrictions left in place. We are mindful of transmission and continue to practice safe social distancing where it is possible.

Ultimately, the world will get through this. Normality will return (we have proven time and again that humanity doesn't really learn all that well from previous pandemics), and travel will once again become a normal thing to do. Stay in touch with us. Let us know where you want to go. Drop us a mail if you are keen to join a workshop and want to put down a provisional booking. We have to plan workshops a year in advance, despite the pandemic and need to know about interest in our destinations and workshops months as opposed to days ahead.