Ebola! The dreaded word has struck fear in the hearts of many, as the Ebola virus has hogged the headlines for the past few months, after claiming almost 7000 lives and affecting more than 20,000 people. The Ebola is being regarded as the plague of the middle ages and a suitable cure has not been found yet. As a result, the African tourism industry has taken a bad hit. This is uncalled for though.

But, the saving grace is that Africa is a huge continent and Ebola is concentrated only to West Africa.

There is absolutely no reason why trips to East and South Africa, which are thousands of miles away from the epicenter of the disease, should be avoided. Moreover, Ebola is not airborne; the virus travels through contact with body fluids. So, one can safely travel to the following places in East and South Africa, for these places have not reported Ebola victims, and hopefully will never report in future.

Botswana

The high point of Botswana is that it is a fantastic safari destination. With the tigers, elephants, bisons, deer and a host of other wildlife roaming the sands of the fierce Kalahari Desert, a wildlife enthusiast would have a fill of his desires. Of course there are also the Bushmen to observe and to learn about. Botswana is also decorated with the Linyanti River, Okavango Delta and Chobe National park. Another point of attraction is the Makgadikgadi Pans in Central Kalahari, which hosts a one-of-a-kind ecosystem that is worth visiting. Here is a wide range of plant and animal life living in a web of interdependence. Botswana is safe to travel to and it has taken sufficient precautions to lock its borders to Ebola.

Precautions: Normal safety vaccinations and other country-specific all time precautions.

Seychelles

Image Source: Flickr @Voyages_Lambert

Also known as paradise islands, Seychelles are perched in the middle of Indian Ocean far from the mainland Africa. It’s an archipelago of 115 islands, which are like gems studded in the tranquil sea. Colorfully distinct corals are an attraction, which bring scuba divers and marine enthusiasts to the islands every year. Orange and purple hues of sunset lure travelers to set sail and gape at the beautiful skies. Seychelles has continued to hold guard against Ebola by implementing travel restrictions for people from African mainland, thus eliminating the risk.

Precautions: Exercise general security precautions and consume food safely.

Kenya

Image Source: Flickr @Ray_Morris

Kenya in East Africa has a landscape that is like a dream to an ace photographer. It also has great parks for safari like the Masai Mara, teeming with wildebeest, zebra, antelope, migrating in great herds in search of food. Close on their heels are the beasts of prey, the hunters stalking the hunted. It is a fantastic sight! If you want to see the migration, you would have to find out where the migration takes place. There are official sites giving such information.

Precautions: Travelers are recommended to meet their health practitioners before visiting these places and take the necessary vaccines.

Mozambique

Image Source: Flickr @Sergio_Agostinelli

A former Portuguese colony, Mozambique is definitely one of the most beautiful countries in the continent with pristine beaches, blue waters and coral reefs. The coastline sports luxury resorts and some offshore islands offer lodges with exquisite surroundings and water sports, though at a high price. The land is essentially a low-lying coastal plain covered with palm trees and caressed by warm waters of the Indian Ocean. It is a great place to holiday in the sun. Mozambique is far away from the epicenter of the Ebola epidemic and is safe to travel to.

Precautions: Get vaccinated before traveling to Mozambique and stick to healthy habits, and clean food and water once there.

Namibia

Welwitschia Mirabilis

Namibia is a land of diversity that is evident in its population, wildlife and flora. The country is inhabited by the elusive Bushmen, nomadic Himba, colorful Herero and, of course, the well-styled city dwellers. Plant life here ranges from the tall acacias to the aged Welwitschia Mirabilis, to tiny plants and lichen. A tourist to Namibia would be exposed to a variety of cultural expressions and cuisines. There is lot to see and experience in Namibia, including ghost towns that were once thriving mining areas, now reclaimed by the approaching desert. That apart, Namibia has inland waterways that offer opportunities for canoeing and river rafting for the adventurous.

Precautions: It is wise to travel to Namibia with a dose of malaria vaccine and lots of mosquito repellant.

Mauritius

Mauritius, off the coast of Africa, in the lap of the Indian Ocean, is totally safe in terms of exposure to the Ebola epidemic, since it is secluded from the mainland. Situated near the Tropic of Capricorn, Mauritius has a warm, equitable climate and attracts tourists with its white beaches, blue waters teeming with fish and luxurious resorts. Beyond the beaches are attractive markets, blossoming gardens and rippling sugarcane fields. Mossy hills rise in the backdrop. A beautiful, romantic and safe place, Mauritius must not be struck off the bucket list because of Ebola.

Precautions: There are no such travel advisories for Mauritius, apart from the regular ones pertaining to security precautions.

Lesotho

Lesotho or the ‘kingdom of the sky’, as it is popularly known, is at the highest point of the African subcontinent. The beauty and uniqueness of this place lies in the landscape, which is open and rolling, ready to be discovered. The place is tranquil and the hospitality extended by the local people, Basotho, is warm and touching. Pony-trekking is popular in Lesotho and the gentle, sure-footed creatures will take you for a trek across the mountains. Spring, summer, autumn, winter, any time is good for visiting this country – spring offers peach blossoms, while summer is a time for trout fishing and swimming; autumn would welcome you with festivities and dancing and winter offers stark mountains and super sunsets! Lesotho does not have any Ebola scare and is safe to visit.

Precautions: As a tourist in Lesotho, keep yourself protected with vaccines and apply lotions to keep ticks away. Eat and drink healthy and you will be just fine in Lesotho.

So, we see that Africa has a lot to offer other than Ebola, and the continent is too vast to come under a blanket attack from a viral spread. In fact, some European countries are closer to the Ebola epicenter in Africa than the eastern and southern countries that are thousands of miles away. Tourists need not feel worried about visiting the places mentioned above. Of course, one has to take precautions in life. All you need to do is visit the official websites of these places, check the travel advisories and if satisfied, book yourself on the flight! Bon Voyage!

Anjali Nayyar

Anjali loves to read, philosophize, travel and spend time with her family. With a Masters in Sociology, Anjali ended up as a writer instead of a sociologist. She believes that writing is a channel through which one can express one's innermost self and express one's uniqueness, the gift of life, for all to savor.

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