South Luangwa is well known for its walking safaris which is a very different experience to game drives. It brings you in touch with the land, wilderness and eco-system of the bush.
It is genuinely breath-taking to stride out into the bush with your guide and scout where you are on the same footing as wild animals. Here you will experience the sense of time and space as the animals.
Herewith the Health & Safety Protocols for Lion Camp, Zambia, developed and customized to be property specific according to guidelines from the Zambian Department of Health, Zambia Tourism,
Luangwa Safari Association as well Mantis.
Although we have not been operational to date, we have been on site at the lodge with our team and have therefore proceeded to have our systems tested and staff trained to be ready to welcome our guests. This will be an ongoing process, catering for the changing requirements and evolving as guidance are received from the Ministry of Health and the President of Zambia.
LION CAMP has always maintained a detailed approach to very high standards of hygiene and cleanliness, which includes the wellbeing of both our guests and staff. Adding workable COVID-19 protocols to our current standards will be managed by our onsite General Manager to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our visiting guests as well as on site staff.
The Ministry of Health, Zambia has requested a point of contact for each accommodation supplier. Lion Camp point of contact is VICKY NEL General Manager – vicky@lioncamp.com OR DOTTIE MULENGA Reservations info@lioncamp.com. Our contact number (whatsapp only) +260 96 515 6181
ALL the normal protocols arriving at any of the Zambian airports will be maintained. Guests will on arrival at the Mfuwe airport processed through standard airport Health & Safety checks and temperature measurements.Guests are allocated a specific guide to handle all activities and transportation requirements throughout their stay at Lion Camp. The guide will collect his guests from the airport, for their transfer to Lion Camp. The guide will be responsible for the wellbeing of his guests and will ensure that the transfer vehicle is clean and sanitized for the transfer.
Guest luggage will be handled by the allocated guide upon their arrival at Mfuwe Airport. Guest luggage will be sanitized before loading it into the transfer vehicle.
Guests will be handed a welcome pack containing their personal water bottle, waterless hand sanitizer and washable masks, before they enter their transfer vehicle.
Lion Camp offers a closed vehicle transfer from the airport to Mfuwe village. Upon their arrival in Mfuwe village, the guests will disembark at the “Tribes” gift shop and embark the open safari vehicle (already prepared, cleaned and sanitized) for the game drive transfer to Lion Camp. Tribes is a member of the Luangwa Safari Association and subscribes to the Luangwa Valley recommended COVID-19 related protocols. It is safe for guests to use the toilet facilities here before they depart for their 2-hour transfer to the lodge.
A waterpoint with sanitizing hand soap is located at the lodge entrance, another in the lodge’s main area. Guests will also be handed a sterilized hand towel by a staff member and receive it back once the guest has completed using it. (Guest’s choice to receive it or not)
Temperature checking will be completed and any guests showing any COVID-19 related symptoms will immediately be isolated to their suite and symptoms reported to our medical practitioner in Mfuwe. A specific housekeeper is allocated to each suite. This staff member (with gloves specifically donned for the task) will remove guest’s luggage from the transfer vehicle and deliver the luggage to the entrance of the specific guest’s suite.
Guests will be welcomed by a Senior staff member and escorted to a seating area in our main lodge area. Guests will be offered a welcome drink and be briefed on routine, activities they can participate in, mealtimes and general COVID-19 protocols to be observed around the lodge and while on safari at Lion Camp. After the welcome and introduction, the guests will be escorted to their individual suite. Escorting staff members WILL NOT enter the suite which has been deep cleaned and sanitized for the check in. The check in form, indemnity form and suite keys will be in the suites. Lion Camp offers a very safe environment and guests do not need to lock their suites if they prefer not handling keys.
Staff to maintain their 1m social distancing at all times and will refrain from welcoming guests with a handshake.
The allocated housekeeper will ensure that the suite is effectively cleaned and sanitized before guests check in. The GM will do a full check of the suite to ensure all cleaning and sanitizing protocols have been adhered to. NO other person to enter the suite after this check is completed. Arriving guests will be the first persons to enter the suite after the deep-cleaning process has been completed.
Daily servicing of the suites will be completed according to our cleaning and sanitizing standards. The option will be offered to the guests if they prefer their suite not to be serviced daily.
Turndown services have been suspended as part of the Lion Camp COVID-19 protocols.
Lion Camp, being an open-air lodge, offers many private seating areas around the main lodge, affording privacy and constant social distancing from others. The required distancing of furniture is maintained. The main lodge areas will be cleaned and sanitized according to protocols by FOH staff on duty. The area will be monitored and sanitized every time an area has been vacated.
Pool lounger seating will adhere to the Covid-19 1m social distancing as required.
Guests wishing to make use of the hide must check with the FOH staff on duty that nobody else is in the hide before entering. FOH staff will clean and sanitize this area every time guests leave the area.
The coffee station and bar area will be continuously cleaned and maintained by the barman on duty. The public toilets will be serviced after every visit.
Our limited gym facilities can be used with prior arrangement to ensure that all equipment is first cleaned and sanitized before use.
Lion Camp does not offer a specific dining room. Tables are setup throughout the main lodge common areas and will always adhere to the social distancing requirements. No communal dining is offered unless for a group traveling together.
All dining furniture will be cleaned and sanitized during setup.
NO buffet meals – breakfast, lunch & dinner will be plated and served by a waiter allocated to specific guest tables.
During the remainder of the 2020 season Lion Camp will not be offering bush breakfast and/or lunches. Boma dinners will only be offered on request or for larger groups traveling together. This measure will be reviewed according to new specifications anticipated for the 2021 season.
All stock received in camp will be cleaned and disinfected before storage. Storage rooms and fridges/cold rooms will be cleaned and disinfected weekly before new stock arrives. Only allocated staff and chefs will be allowed in the kitchen during a shift. ONLY waiters serving guests to be in the service area.
ALL dishes washed as per normal standards and then rinsed in extra hot water for sanitizing purposes. Game drive tea boxes and snack boxes will be cleaned and sanitized before each activity. Game drive snacks will be packed individually per couple/group.
All activities will be conducted by the allocated guide and his supporting spotter/scout. The guide will ensure that his vehicle is fully cleaned and sanitized, this includes the seats, seat pockets, arm rests, support bars, handrails and game drive equipment.
No more than 2 couples (4 guests) will be allowed per vehicle, except for groups traveling together. This will ensure the required safety distancing.
Temperature monitoring will be completed BEFORE every activity departure.
Guests to ensure that they always have their masks and waterless hand sanitizers in hand.
Guests will be required to have their own binoculars and other game drive equipment as the guides will not be permitted to share any of their equipment.
Stops and beverage breaks will be executed with care to ensure distancing. Guides will have their own masks and hand sanitizer to use before handling drinks and snacks.
Several hand washing stations will be placed around the camp in strategic positions for the staff to wash hands every time they pass these hand sanitizing stations.
Social distancing to be adhered to at all times. The staff canteen is set up to ensure safe social distancing. Staff accommodation does not accommodate more than 2 persons per room.
Temperature testing will be done before every shift commences for every staff member on duty.
Staff will not be collected to commence with duties after their off days if they or any person in their family shows any signs of COVID-19 related symptoms. Temperature checks will be completed before they can move back into the compound/accommodation area.
Any staff member showing any COVID-19 symptoms will immediately be removed from site and sent home.
Despite these uncertain times, Lion Camp Management & Staff will continue to offer our esteemed guests amazing safari experiences and ensure that we stay alert and resilient in our quest for a healthy and safe environment where our guests will feel cared for at all times.
Vicky Nel
GENERAL MANAGER
vicky@lioncamp.com