return home covid testing in Namibia
 

I have a long planned safari vacation in Namibia scheduled for May 5-21 postponed from last September. I was getting concerned about getting a covid test 72 hours before boarding my ET flight to return home to the US. I got this news from my travel agent today:Regarding the rapid antigen test, this is possible. On the 3rd of February, Rennies Travel let us know that they offer this. Below are the details:

The requirements for an appointment are the same as for the PCR test:

1. Full name of passenger travelling
2. Mobile number – preferable Namibian
3. Passport number
4. Email address

The fee per test is N$800.00.

Please book your appointment by sending an email to: [email protected]

The Antigen test is a nasal swab and is done by the onsite nurse, George, and are screened by Pathcare.

The Antigen Tests will be done as follows:

Testing: 08h00 – 09h00 for EW/LH flights departing at 10h00 the next day. The results will be out the same day in the evening

Testing: 14h00 – 15h00 for ET flight departing the next day at 14h30. The results will be out the next morning.

Someone in Namibia is responding to the dilemma returning travelers would have to get tested in time, which will enable tourism to continue and they will make some money. If another company adds the rapid testing the price should come down due to competition. My vacation is saved. Nice.

If it is an antigen test, I don't see why the results should not be available in 15 minutes or so.

Johan

We are getting the same kind of service and price for a PCR test from our lodge in a Kruger Park area next June.

My guess is the delay in results is the service provider gathers samples from several locations and they are processed by a central lab a few hours later. There are PCR test that deliver results in < 2 hours and most of the companies peddling these say results in 24 hours.

I don't think the travel agency is screening the test in their office. Looks like they do the swabs and send out for analysis and results to Pathcare. If I could go direct to Pathcare to be tested I would probably get results on the spot, within the 15 minutes. Pathcare only does testing in the mornings and they do not do fast antigen testing from what I see on their web site. Again, this could change over the next few months before my trip in May.

Probably due to collection of a batch followed by testing.

Keep in mind that while an antigen test may be acceptable for your final destination, if for whatever reason you misconnect and have to stay overnight in Ethiopia they require a PCR test (NOT an antigen test) to enable you to enter the country. Those without PCRs will be placed in quarantine until their next flight if >8 hours later.

If I were to misconnect in ADD it would be ET's fault. I am ticketed on ET 834 WDH-ADD connecting to ET 574 ADD-ORD. I have 20 minutes in ADD to change flights. This is a legal connection. If we miss the flight to Chicago we would have to wait 24 hours in ADD for the next one but I am assuming ET would pay for our quarantine hotel room since they would have caused us to miss the flight back to the US.

I think you should get some kind of FlyerTalk Oscar for accepting/attempting/doing a 20 min transfer at ADD!

It's not my choice, this is how the ticket was booked by UA. I can also see my ticket on ET web site, it is a bookable connection. I have another thread going about why the WDH-ADD flight takes an hour longer than ADD-WDH. I will probably not be the only person going on to the Chicago flight so unless ET wants to be paying to put people up at a hotel overnight they may hold the Chicago flight or they may adjust the time of the Windhoek flight.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/othe...april-1-a.html

Oh Susie, I can’t wait until your trip and the drama ends. In the spirit of continuing your off topic post the minimum online I-I connection time in ADD to U.S. is 1:30. I’ll again give you the reference here and other forums and travel websites if need be: https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/aa...onnecting-time

Oh, it appears the ADD-ORD is no longer operating.

i am seeing flight history on ET574 (ADD-DUB-ORD) indicating it is still operating. And it seems to be scheduled for the future.

Well, ET 574 will be operating on May 21.

And as to the minimum connection time, here I am ticketed by UA on ET 834 to ET 574 with a 20 minute connection at ADD. How do explain why ET would ticket this connection?

Departure: WDH WINDHOEK WDH, NAMIBIA
2:30PM https://services.tripcase.com//stati...ail/spacer.gif Arrival: ADD ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
10:20PM
TERMINAL 2 Cabin: Business Meal: Lunch Aircraft: BOEING 787-8 JET Duration: 6hour(s) and 50minute(s) Distance (in Miles): 2591
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES Flight Number ET 834
CONFIRMED Friday, 21 May
Departure: ADD ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
10:40PM
TERMINAL 2 https://services.tripcase.com//stati...ail/spacer.gif Arrival: DUB DUBLIN, IRELAND
5:00AM +1 day
TERMINAL 1 Cabin: Business Meal: Dinner, Snack Aircraft: BOEING 787-8 JET Duration: 8hour(s) and 20minute(s) Distance (in Miles): 3952
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES Flight Number ET 574
CONFIRMED Friday, 21 May -
Saturday, 22 May
Departure: DUB DUBLIN, IRELAND
6:00AM
TERMINAL 1 https://services.tripcase.com//stati...ail/spacer.gif Arrival: ORD CHICAGO OHARE, IL
7:55AM Cabin: Business Meal: Breakfast, Lunch Aircraft: BOEING 787-8 JET Duration: 7hour(s) and 55minute(s) Distance (in Miles): 3674

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES Flight Number ET 574
CONFIRMED Saturday, 22 May
https://services.tripcase.com//stati...ail/spacer.gif Please verify flight times prior to departure https://services.tripcase.com//stati...ail/spacer.gif

https://services.tripcase.com//stati...l/icon-air.jpg

https://services.tripcase.com//stati...ail/spacer.gif https://services.tripcase.com//stati...ail/spacer.gif

No it isn't. There is a specific exception filed for a 0:20 MCT for certain flight ranges.

They tend to pad their schedules on both ends. It shouldn't be an issue unless one flight is majorly delayed.

I love your optimism!

Do you think they will not be operating at that time? Has there been an announcement that ET will suspend flying the ADD-ORD route?

Any flight, especially a long haul, more than a few weeks out is merely a placeholder. There is so little in the way of flying at the moment that many routes just don’t make any sense at all, cargo or not. I have no inside knowledge (hint, no one does) but I would not be surprised at all if this flight/route/frequency is changed by May. The bigger picture is that I certainly would not want to be far from home with air travel infrastructure so massively impacted.

I just book them if I can get a full refund (along with any hotels at the other end) and have a decent travel insurance provider. If things get overly complicated and get cancelled, I just don;t worry about it.

Personally, I have observed that ET and QR are the most reliable carriers to/from southern Africa. And these seem to be the carriers that everyone goes to when BA, KL, etc stop taking passengers.

Hello OP, we also have a long planned trip to both SA and Namibia in early May. Our travel agent tells us that PCR's are to be expected in BOTH countries through May. This complication would cause us to need to fly to Windhoek or Swakapmund three days prior to our departure and get a test done, which is approx $800 USD per person for flight and test. Other countries will fly a nurse out to your camp to do the testing, which is expensive but not AS expensive as flying each pax to testing. Namibia considers the covid test swabs as "biohazard" and will not fly them, so they must be done on spot and then the 3 day wait.

Very curious what other information you might find - a rapid test was going to be our answer, as we can obtain rapid tests in the USA and carry them with us, to be done with virtual supervision and uploaded to an app for the re-entry to US. But we would be transiting through JNB, which requires a PCR to transit (per our agent). Anyone with more info please pitch in!

(and yes, we are aware of the SA variant and will likely ditch the SA part of the trip)

Getting a PCR test here in the US before entering Namibia is not going to be a problem. If it was 3 days before that was problematic but namibia changed the time frame last month.

The antigen test to return to the US can be either PCR or the rapid test. My TA is making arrangements to help their clients get tested on time for return flights: from the web site of Namibia Tours & Safaris

In-country Testing

For guests required to provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test on departure from Namibia by the airline or on arrival into the country they will be travelling to:

• Guests will be assisted by NTS to make the necessary arrangements and appointments in order to do so
• Itineraries will be planned accordingly to ensure adequate time is available for testing and to receive results prior to departure
• NTS will follow up, in as far as possible, on test results to ensure the client receives their results in advance of departure
• Pathcare is working in close conjunction with the tourism industry to offer testing services on pre-appointment.

We as NTS will endeavour to assist all our guests with regards to the above, however it is still the responsibility of each guest to ensure that you comply with the requirements of the airline you will be travelling with as well as to note the requirements stipulated by your country of residence for your return.
I already know where I can get the test in Windhoek to return home to the US on ET 834.

As to my optimism, my flights are award tickets so if they get dropped at the last minute and I can get my miles back and reschedule for a later date. The only issue would be with the payment for the safari which I will be making one month before the trip is scheduled. If I would have to cancel that due to ET cancelling flights, my payments should roll ahead to another date.

I don't know of any travel insurance that covers reimbursement for a safari that is cancelled by the client because an airline cancelled flights.