Elephants grazing with a view of the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro in the background at Kimana Sanctuary in Kimana, Kenya, in a 2021 photo. SINGAPORE – Travel companies have seen higher demand for Africa tours from Singaporeans in the past year. Numbers have not waned despite the new, deadlier strain of the mpox virus – which originated in the East African Democratic Republic of Congo in September 2023 – being declared a public health concern by the World Health Organisation in August.
Mr Jeremiah Wong, assistant director of marketing communications at tour agency Chan Brothers Travel, says mpox has not significantly impacted its bookings for Africa tours. He notes an over fivefold growth in South Africa tour bookings to date, compared with 2023. “While a few travellers have inquired about safety concerns related to mpox and inquiries have also moderated as the Victoria Falls high-water season and the great migration peak season in 2024 come to an end, we have not had any cancellations,” he adds.
One of the highlights of Africa travel is the great migration season, in which millions of wildebeest move across the plains of Kenya and Tanzania in search of fresh pastures and water. The peak viewing season is from July to September. Tours to these countries in East Africa by Chan Brothers Travel have had a 15 per cent growth in July to September in 2024, compared with the same period in 2023.
The company also said that Victoria Falls – located on the border of Zambia .