With cancellations mounting and new bookings dropping because of panic over Ebola, African safari operators and lodge owners are pressed to find new ways to reignite interest in safaris.
Some have suggested lowering prices, taking Egypt as an example. But lowering prices in challenging times is a slippery slope. It makes it awkward to put prices back up to normal when the crisis is over. And some fear that it seems to imply that they were overcharging in the first place. So tour operators and lodge owners are reluctant to attack the problem with straight cost cutting.
However, there are some other ways to try to sweeten the deal and encourage would-be safari takers to take the plunge.
"I have spent the last couple of weeks in conversations with our vendor partners and lodge owners in Africa and have worked together with many of them to come out with proactive Ebola policies, which vary," said Karin Jones, managing director of Anastasia's Africa. "Some including a full refund if clients were to travel to a country where the World Health Organization declared an outbreak. Others are offering a rebooking policy for future travel. And finally there are hybrids, including having clients purchase insurance, and then having what is not covered by insurance covered by us and the vendors."
Such money-back guarantees put operators on the line for their claim that the chances of an Ebola outbreak in the safari tourism areas are slim. The chances of an Ebola outbreak in any of the safari areas are extremely low.
The chances of their being an Ebola outbreak in one of the cities in one of the countries where the safari concessions are located are less far-fetched, but in terms of risk of a tourist catching Ebola in a safari camp, there is still very little possibility of it, even if a case turned up in somewhere in the country.
But making the guarantee of a refund in case of an outbreak is a good bet, reducing the sense of risk of someone who is hesitant to book ahead in case circumstances change.
However, working out Ebola emergency policies is not as simple as it may seem.
"Our current frustration is that we are receiving daily 'Ebola Cancel Policy Updates' from our African suppliers, said Anne Bellamy, president of Great Safaris. "They are all over the place."
Some are offering refunds in the case that WHO declares an Ebola outbreak in Southern or Eastern Africa. Some are adding the stipulation that they will give refunds only if an outbreak comes with a Level Three Travel Advisory from the U.S. or the U.K. Some are offering the refund only as a credit for future travel. Some suppliers are requiring clients to show proof of travel insurance and any recompense received from claims.
Then there are other suppliers involved besides the tour operators and lodge owners. "There are third party charges (bush planes etc.) that may not come to the party at all," said Bellamy. "So far, only one major lodge operator has said, 'If you are scared, just cancel now and we will refund you in full.'"
That leaves it to the tour operators to come up with their own policies.
"We are telling clients, at this juncture, that if WHO does declare an Ebola outbreak anywhere in Southern or Eastern Africa we will refund clients in full. So if travelers are booked on a Tanzania safari and an Ebola outbreak occurs in Namibia, then clients will be refunded in full."
Even with operators such as Great Safaris that has had few cancellations, new bookings are way down.
"This time of year we should be busy with 2015 business," said Bellamy. "The majority of new inquiries that we are getting (few as they are) are honeymoon requests. I guess that even Ebola can't postpone weddings or the concomitant honeymoon."
Cheli & Peacock, an operator of several safari camps in Kenya and Tanzania, revised its cancellation policy in the unlikely event of any confirmed outbreak of Ebola in any of the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania or Rwanda, or if either the UK government or the US government issues a warning against non-essential travel on the grounds of an Ebola epidemic in any of those countries. If that were to happen, then Cheli & Peacock is committed to refund the full deposit payment to anyone who wishes to cancel their safari.
Some tour operators have waived penalties for cancellations in the case of an Ebola outbreak in countries in East or Southern Africa where they have operations.
Wild Wings Safaris, Wilderness Safaris and Great Plains have amended their cancellation policies to waive cancellation fees is WHO declares an outbreak in countries where they have itineraries.
Some operators are offering clients who have booked the option of postponing their travel without penalty. Some are requiring clients to buy comprehensive insurance in order for the guarantees to take effect, pledging to cover anything the insurance does not cover in the event of an outbreak in their countries.
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