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Tortilis Camps Coronavirus FAQs



COVID-19 ('coronavirus') in Tanzania
  • 1. How do I find out more information about COVID-19, or coronavirus?
We would advise anyone wishing to find out more about the COVID-19 'coronavirus' to look at the information provided by the World Health Organisation ('WHO')
  • 2. How many cases of COVID-19 are there in Tanzania?
The most recently published figures showed that there had been 509 confirmed cases and 21 deaths in Tanzania.
  • 3. Can I visit Tanzania during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Tanzania's President John Magufuli declared on May 17, 2020, that the country was open for tourism. As a result, there are no longer travel restrictions imposed on visitors arriving from other countries. No compulsory quarantines are in place for foreign visitors, but the Government and the tourist industry are taking full precautions to keep visitors, as well as staff engaged in tourism, as safe as possible against the COVID-19 virus.
  • 4. How do I get to Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp?
You can travel by road from Arusha to Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp is 205km and it takes about 4 hours. The road is in great condition all the way to our Tortilis Camp.

There is no airstrip in the Ngorongoro Highlands. The nearest option is to fly to the Lake Manyara airstrip, which is 2hours driver away from our Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp.
Arriving at the Tortilis Camps
  • 1. What measures will you take when handling luggage at the Tortilis Camps?
When you arrive at one of our Tortilis Camps, your luggage will be sanitized. Any staff handling guests' luggage will sanitize their hands before and after doing so.
  • 2. What will our welcome be like at the Tortilis Camps?
Arriving at a Tortilis Camp is a very special experience and this will not change during the COVID-19 pandemic period. You will be warmly welcomed by the camp staff, who will however remain at least 1.5 metres away from you. On arrival, you will be able to sanitize your hands. If you arrive without a mask, you will be given one. You will be able to take a cold drink and refreshing towel (to maintain social distancing, camp staff will no longer hand these out to guests.)
  • 3. Will I have my temperature taken when I arrive at the camp?
Temperatures of all guests will be taken on arrival at the camp, at the start of their stay. Temperatures of guests will then be taken each day after breakfast, for the duration of the guest's stay, by the designated camp staff member. On every occasion, a non-contact thermometer will be used and the temperature will be recorded. Any temperature of 37.5 C or above will be acted upon. Further details of how we will handle this situation can be found in our Standard Operating Procedures, section number 15.2.
Public Areas at Tortilis Camps
  • 1. How will you maintain physical distancing and properly manage the number of guests at the bar, lounge and other communal spaces?
Our camp staff will all undergo training on our new Standard Operating Procedures, developed to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 period, ensuring that physical distancing measures are maintained and that no public area within the camp becomes crowded. (Our camps are spacious, but only accommodate a maximum of 30 guests at any one time, so it is relatively easy to manage this.)
  • 2. What changes will be made to the camp's cleaning schedules for guests' tents?
To reduce the risk of contamination, the frequency of tent cleaning and changing of linen will actually be reduced whenever guests are staying more than one night at the camp. Any turndown service previously offered will be discontinued. Any non-essential items such as extra blankets, throws, cushions, rugs and ornaments will be removed from the tents to reduce contact surface areas. Other items such as magazines, books etc will also be removed. Although the frequency of tent-cleaning will reduce during guest stays, the intensity of the cleaning schedule will increase to meet the COVID-19 situation. Staff training will take place to ensure that staff are fully aware of the new, higher standards. Disposable gloves and aprons will be used by cleaning staff and these items will be properly sanitized between rooms.
  • 3. What sort of disinfectants will you use?
We will use only approved disinfectants which meet the requirements of the World Health Organisation.
  • 4. What will you do with non-essential items in the tents, for example items such as magazines and 'soft' furnishings?
Any non-essential items such as extra blankets, throws, cushions, rugs and ornaments will be removed from the tents to reduce contact surface areas. Other items such as magazines, books etc will also be removed. All tents will be provided with hand sanitizers, which will be replaced with new ones before the arrival of the next set of guests.
  • 5. Who will co-ordinate all your new COVID-19 procedures at the camps?
Tortilis Camps has appointed a designated COVID-19 Liaison Officer for each of the camps from which the company operates. This officer has overall responsibility for implementing the protective and preventative measures at the camp where he is based.
  • 6. Will there be hand-sanitizer available at the camps?
Tortilis Camps will provide appropriate, approved hand-sanitizer for guests at all its camps. Individual sanitizer bottles will be provided to every guest and must be used after they have handled any surface or handled cash, luggage, food and drink.
  • 7. Will Tortilis Camps provide guests with disinfecting wipes?
These will be available for guest in their tents and in the communal areas.
Dining Experience at the Tortilis Camps
  • 1. Will tents be left unoccupied for a period of time between guest stays?
Our strict hygiene procedures are sufficient, we believe, such that there is no requirement to leave tents empty between guest visits. Nevertheless, whenever occupancy levels allow it, tent allocations will be organized to leave tents empty for more than one day if possible.
  • 2. Will there be any changes to 'room service' (i.e food being delivered to guests' individual tents)?
Where service to the guests in their own tent is required, any tray or food container will be left outside the tent door and the guest will be informed of the food's arrival. The server will stand back two meters until the guest exits his/her tent to retrieve the food. Guests will be provided with a waste bag and asked to dispose of all waste in the bag and leave it outside the tent when finished. Of course, all utensils and crockery are thoroughly cleaned after each use
  • 3. Will there be any changes to the dining options at the Tortilis camps?
We brief all guests as to our menu on arrival at the camp. In the dining area, our tables are separated from each other, table service is in operation for food and drinks and there will be no guest self-service of any items in the dining-room. Any previously self-service drinks/coffee machines will be manned by camp staff. Menus will be sanitized before and after use.
  • 4. How will you deal with physical distancing and potential overcapacity in your camp dining-rooms?
Our camp dining-rooms are spacious and as each camp has a maximum capacity of 30 persons, they never become overcrowded.
Physical distancing measures play a vital part in helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Tortilis Camps strives to keep a distance of 1.5 meters between persons in all camp public areas. Camp staff will be particularly vigilant in communal camp spaces such as the dining area, where guests may gather together, to ensure that a build-up of people in an enclosed space does not threaten the requirements of physical distancing measures. It may be necessary on occasion to temporarily restrict access of some guests to these areas to achieve this.
  • 5. Will it be possible to take our meals in our tents?
Yes, is you would prefer not to eat in the dining-room, then service in your own tent is possible.
  • 6. Will you be implementing any changes to your food preparation and food handling procedures?
Tortilis Camps have always maintained the highest standards of hygiene in their kitchens and dining-rooms. Nevertheless, our new Standard Operating Procedures include measures to increase cleaning/sanitizing frequencies and reduce staffing levels to maintain physical distancing.
Laundry at Tortilis Camps
  • 1. Will I be able to have my laundry done at Tortilis Camps?
If you are staying more than one night at one of our camps, we will be able to do your laundry for you.
  • 2. Has Tortilis Camps revised its laundry procedures at its camps during the COVID-19 pandemic period?
Yes, all staff who work in the laundry will undergo special training relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have also introduced measures to keep clean and dirty laundry strictly segregated.
  • 3. Will staff use PPE when working in the laundry?
Yes, all laundry staff will wear masks, gloves and boiler suits.
Staff Safety during Coronavirus
  • 1. Do the Tortilis Camps staff receive extra training relating to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Yes, all our camp staff are trained in implementing our Standard Operating Procedures, which we have specially developed in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 2. What PPE is available to staff?
All camp staff will wear masks at all times; additional PPE (gloves and boilersuits) are available for those working in our laundry, and those involved in taking delivery of goods will also wear additional PPE.
  • 3. Who will check the temperatures of staff members?
A designated person at each camp will check staff temperatures.
  • 4. What will happen if a staff member's temperature is over 37.5 C?
If a staff member records a temperature of 37.5 C, then they will be not be allowed to start work. Depending on the severity of the symptoms they are showing, they will either be isolated or sent for a medical consultation. Testing for COVID-19 will take place where necessary.
  • 5. What are the procedures if staff are displaying COVID-19 symptoms?
As detailed in our Standard Operating Procedures, Tortilis Camps will take immediate action which could involve isolation of the staff member, or referral to a medical consultant. No staff member will be allowed to restart work until the symptoms have gone and the required period of quarantine has elapsed.
Guest Safety in Tanzania during Coronavirus
  • 1. How many cases of COVID-19 are there in Tanzania?
The most recently published figures showed that there had been 509 confirmed cases and 21 deaths in Tanzania.
  • 2. What will happen if I get COVID-19 in Tanzania?
There has been a very low incidence of COVID-19 in Tanzania compared to many other countries. But if the worst should happen, Tortilis Camps has set out in its Standard Operating Procedures the steps to be taken to take care of you should you contract the virus. Tortilis camp staff are trained in how to deal with such an eventuality. Our plan of action is detailed in our Standard Operating Procedures
  • 3. Does Tanzania have any facilities for isolation?
Tanzanian medical centres in Arusha and Dar Es Salaam have isolation units, but in the event that there is not one available, any guest showing symptoms of COVID-19 will be isolated in a single-occupancy tent designated for the purpose.
  • 4. Does my insurance cover me for COVID -19 if I am travelling for a safari in Tanzania?
All visitors to Tanzania must check their insurance cover before booking a trip to Tanzania. The cover offered by insurance companies varies and is being constantly updated, so we are unable to give comprehensive advice to those intending to book.
  • 5. What information must be provided before arriving in Tanzania?
Any flight which arrives in Tanzania from abroad must be Advance Passenger Information System (APIS)-compliant, as this allows the Tanzanian Airport Authorities to identify the arrival of any possible high-risk passengers or crew members. Check with your chosen airline as to what information you need to provide. Any non-APIS compliant flights or airlines should be notified that their passengers and crews will either be subjected to pre-screening, or even be denied entry to Tanzania. Any person arriving who shows signs or symptoms of COVID-19 will be directed to a medical team for consultation.

All guests will be required by Tortilis Camps to complete a compulsory Medical Declaration Form. A form must be completed for each individual guest and this will be sent to each guest by our Health and Safety Department, one month prior to the guest's arrival in Tanzania.
  • 6. Are masks and sanitizers available in Tanzania?
Guests are advised to bring their own masks and a bottle of hand-sanitizer with them to Tanzania. Tortilis Camps will carry a stock of masks, to provide to guests if they do not have their own. Each guest will be given one mask. Sanitizer will be available in all camps and vehicles operated by the company and guests will be encouraged to make frequent and regular use of it.
  • 7. Are there medical facilities in Tanzania in case of emergency?
Although Tanzanian medical facilities might not match those in Europe or the United States, for example, there are hospitals and health centres in the major towns throughout the country. Details of the available medical facilities will be displayed on notices in all camps and vehicles operated by Tortilis Camps.
  • 8. Is it safe travelling to Tanzania during Covid-19? And what is Tortilis Camps doing to keep its guests safe?
Tortilis Camps are a responsible tour operator and take very seriously the measures required to keep guests and staff safe. Our Standard Operating Procedures set out all the requirements to provide a safe environment from the time of your arrival to your departure.
  • 9. Are Tortilis Camps employees trained to adhere to COVID-19 preventive and control measures?
All Tortilis Camps staff are trained on COVID-19 and the preventative and protective measures required to keep guests and themselves safe.
  • 10. Will the temperature of your staff members be tested regularly?
Any staff member who is starting or finishing a shift will be given a temperature check with a non-contact thermometer. We have procedures to deal with any situation where a guest or staff member displays COVID-19 symptoms. This will involve testing for the virus, and immediate isolation and treatment where necessary.
  • 11. Do Tortilis Camps have Standard Operating Procedures for COVID-19?
Tortilis Camps has developed and implemented its own Standard Operating Procedures, in accordance with the requirements of the Tanzanian Government, for the COVID-19 pandemic period.
  • 12. What are the procedures if a guest is displaying COVID-19 symptoms?
Procedures are set out in Tortilis Camps' Standard Operating Procedures to deal quickly and effectively with any guest or staff member displaying symptoms of COVID-19. These involve testing, isolation and consultation with medical professionals where necessary. We have appointed a COVID-19 Liaison Officer to coordinate all required actions and our staff are all trained in the procedures to maximise the prevention of the virus and the protection against it spreading.