31 Aug 2020

The impact of COVID-19 has resulted in many tourism businesses closed, employees retrenched while some are still uncertain about their career life.

However, Belmond Safari Company has stood up to the challenges of COVID-19 and ensured that it retained all the 161staff members.

Despite the hardships brought about by COVID-19 on the tourism industry, the company stood the test of time and employees receive their monthly salaries without fail.

Belmond is a safari company providing luxury in diverse and unique locations. In Botswana, the company operates three camps in the Okavango Delta namely; Eagle Island Camp, Savuti Elephant Camp and Khwai River Lodge, which are all located in prime game viewing destinations.

In an interview, the company’s community liaison manager, Ms Alice Motlogelwa explained that despite the devastating impact brought by the pandemic, the company retained all its staff members.

She said their employees continued to work on monthly rotational basis to manage the camps and maintain their standards while waiting for the pandemic situation to stabilise.

“We thank God that Belmond had to take a tough decision to maintain and support all its employees during the tough times while other companies retrenched their staff because of lack of business,” she added.

Although the company is not generating income because of restriction in movement, Ms Motlogelwa stated that management realised that retrenching staff would bring them more sorrow, hence the retention.

She acknowledged that many sectors of the economy were affected by the pandemic and many a company were struggling to survive.

Ms Motlogelwa revealed that beginning of today, their camps would be operational. As part of the opening preparations, she said in-service training of staff was ongoing to re-skill employees for the new normal.

She also appreciated that during the trying times, they managed to uphold to the culture of giving back to the community as part of their corporate social responsibility.

The company, she said, continued to donate to schools and gave food hampers to some disadvantaged members of the society in the delta and Maun.

Ms Motlogelwa also highlighted that the company had been taking care of six people leaving with disabilities since 2011, adding that they provided them with groceries on a monthly basis.

The company also extended a helping hand to the communities of Xaxaba and Khwai by ensuring that they had access to potable water.

Xaxaba is a settlement situated at the heart of the delta and potable water is a challenge.

However, Ms Motlogelwa explained that they provided potable water through bowsing from their camp site, Eagle Island Camp, which is situated within the area.

The camp, she said, also offered medical assistance to residents, especially those in deteriorating conditions such as wild animal attacks.

“We offer remedial assistance by accommodating patients and administering first aid while waiting for the arrival of a flight to take them to Maun”.

During the extreme social distancing time, she said they assisted residents with boat transportation to cross the river to Maun to access other services and run domestic errands because movement of flights were suspended.

Ms Motlogelwa pointed out that Eagle camp had become a source of hope for Xaxaba residents as they reported any emergency in the village to the camp while on the other hand, the camp employees also empowered locals by marketing their crafts such as baskets.

During bush walks, she said they ensured that their guests interacted with the community to support and appreciate their lifestyle.

Belmond, she said, had also adopted Botswelelo Primary School in Maun, adding that they also supported other charity organisations such as Bana Ba Letsatsi and Women Against Rape. ENDS