Thought you would enjoy the perspective from a friend who just returned from a trip to Africa out in the bush.

COVID 9/29- INDIANA population 6.7 million. 3,399 new cases, 33 deaths, 15,658 dead.
Zambia- population 19 million. 44 new cases, 0 deaths, 3,648 dead.
New cases might be undercounted. We saw lots of tests avail at airports…but you pay for them. Are deaths undercounted? Maybe. But again staff was surprised I knew people with Covid and a few who have died. But with this said every country we visited was level 4–do not travel high risk when we left. Botswana and S Africa still are. Zambia and Zimbabwe are level 2 moderate risk now—get fully vaccinated before travel.
Our temperature was taken more times in 2 weeks than in 2 years throughout Africa. Mask requirement indoors and outdoors. Social distancing is big. Hand sanitation is obnoxious. You mostly have no choice but to have this stuff put on you non-stop. Entering airport, entering security, boarding plane, exiting plane, spray in plane with all aboard, sprayed going through one sirport, camps too…too much sanitation. Welcome back to camp -sanitize. Pré-mesl sanitize..into museum sanitize. Get cart for luggage sanitize. PCA test required at every border crossing. Oh! And sanitize temp check. Always.
COVID seems to be more of an issue in big population centers. Were people compliant there? Definitely not in one area of S Africa. Should have paid more attention going through large village area in Zambia. We also saw a large # of people in line trying to get into a S Africa hospital. I have no words for this. Suspect Covid was largely responsible.
Camp #1 - do any of you even know anyone who has had Covid? Answer: 1 teacher in a village about an hour away. She recovered. In 2 years! Meanwhile I am notified of new cases of family, friends with this virus while away.
Oh…Botswana to reduce social gatherings banned alcohol use, sales, closed bars etc. Lifted on day 3 of our trip. It was in effect for about 4 months. They don’t have hospitals and staff to deal with people sick. True throughout Africa. So they approached it this way or have had restrictions on movement in the country etc.
Those we encountered in tourist areas/camps were vaccinated. Exception-camp 1. Seldom did staff approach us in a camp without a mask. At one camp we had to wear the stupid mask outdoors until at our table for a meal. Didn’t matter if no one else was around. We were covered if someone did approach. And staff did.
Masks Our option on safari. Masks sometimes on, mostly off. Sometimes I wore them as a filter for pollen and dust. Especially early am and evenings. Otherwise I cough and flip everyone out due to allergies. Not good. Don’t need to get quarantined for this. And I get a sore throat and scare myself.
Overall…given the fact we were mostly with vaccinated people, sleeping with outside air, eating in outside air and on safari driving/walking in outside air, I think risk was lower than here. More caution was exercised in Africa. Just my thoughts…for this style trip. No way were we going into villages/population centers.
Maybe we should put on masks and social distance? Maybe?