With the South African borders opening to international travel, Ellerman House and Tswalu Kalahari are preparing to reopen on November 1st. The country recently started allowing travel to and from a list of countries after having closed its borders to foreign travelers in late March in response to the coronavirus pandemic. While the US is not yet on the list, the countries that are permitted can be viewed here.
Cape Town’s Ellerman House will be welcoming guests back starting November 1, 2020. During their 6-month period of closure, the hotel used the time to launch Music for Meals, a philanthropic initiative, and reinvent some spaces around the hotel. Adjustments include an extension to the gym and fitness center and the installation of privacy screens around the pool deck and lounge area.
Ellerman House is taking every precaution to ensure the safety of their guests. The hotel has introduced strict sanitation measures following the advice and guidelines set forth by the World Health Organization and local South African health officials. As a leader in the South African hospitality sector, Ellerman House has developed comprehensive Covid-19 preventative protocols to safeguard the wellbeing of their valued guests, onsite team and suppliers. A private, boutique hotel with only 13 bedrooms, Ellerman House is an excellent property for a safe and comfortable travel experience. Additionally, the two villas provide plenty of space and even more privacy, both complete with their own pool and sweeping views over the Atlantic Ocean, best suited for families and groups.
Ellerman House has joined forces with partners to launch and host possibly Africa’s biggest virtual charity concert, theMusic For Meals Concert, a groundbreaking community initiative combating COVID-19 related hunger in Cape Town. Funds raised by the concert will go towards short-term crisis relief from the devastation caused by COVID-19 together with long-term food security initiatives. Music for Meals Concert will 1PM EST on Friday, October 30 onMILITIA BROADCAST. The lineup is impressive with world-renowned acts including Dave Matthews of the Dave Matthews Band, Tom Morello, and local artists including Springbok Nude Girls, Prime Circle, Karen Zoid, Watershed and The Parlotones, all performing live.Also welcoming guests back on November 1st is South Africa’s largest privately owned reserve, Tswalu Kalahari. Guests of Tswalu can enjoy a variety of private experiences, including a stay at the Tarkuni Homestead. Once the Oppenheimer family home, Tarkuni offers a natural, home from home bush camp feel with understated elegance and a sense of relaxation and tranquility. Tswalu also offers accommodation at the Motse, a secluded “village” of nine dwellings, each complete with an open viewing deck and open fireplace. For those who wish to sleep under the night sky in total seclusion, Tswalu’s Malori is the ideal option for stargazers.
Tswalu’s safari game drives have always been private experiences, where guests are welcome to get off of their private vehicle to join their guide and tracker by crouching in the red Kalahari sand to examine a set of tracks to lead them to the animals. The immersive, guided excursions, whether in the vehicle or on foot, slowly reveal the fascinating diversity of Tswalu’s vast reserve and can include sightings of aardvark, pangolin, brown hyena, aardwolf and bat-eared fox.
Tswalu conveniently offers on-site COVID testing by way of a PCR test at its well-equipped health care center. The test needs to be requested 10 days prior, and results will be received within 72 hours. A negative test result is usually a requirement for a forwarding destination or to board a return flight. Should someone’s result come back positive, Tswalu has two designated quarantine rooms and will follow government health protocols. In addition to onsite testing, Tswalu’s COVID protocols include checking guest and staff’s temperatures, enforcement of social distancing, use of face masks, extra sanitization and more. Additional information can be found here.
