Our Lion Roars values of CARE WHY, CAN DO and CONSISTENCY are at the heart of our business. These values guide us now as we face the uncertainties and shared challenges ahead. We'd like to advise you that we are still open for business during the lockdown period. Our team is working remotely and are on hand to assist through all of our usual channels. Feel free to reach out to us at any stage on reservations@lionroars.com or to give us a ring on +27 (0) 21 424 1530. We're available Monday to Saturday 8am-7pm; and on Sunday from 8am to 12pm.
Please note that as we reopen our lodges in line with governmental policies, some of our usual offerings may not be available. Spa treatments, 3 course dinners, etc. may only come back into operation further down the line. Please contact our reservations team to find out exactly what may or may not be on offer at the specific lodge you are staying at.
We would like to reassure you of the measures we are putting in place now to ensure our guests are kept as safe as possible at all of our lodges. We are being guided by the leading health authorities and local and international travel bodies in all the preventative steps we are taking. Some of the steps we're following can be found on the infographic below, but for more detailed information on the measures we have already put in place please contact our reservations team.
Specific safari measures at Bukela Game Lodge and Hlosi Game Lodge can be found on their websites:
This is newsletter (or fireside stories, as we like to call them) number 6, sent out to all Lion Roars staff during lockdown. Fireside stories 1-5 can be accessed on their links below:
Hi Pride
A cold, wet July approaches and the “paint by numbers” game continues. “Advanced level 3” has been declared, but gives little respite and has not been particularly well thought out. Without interprovincial travel, lack of clarity on leisure accommodation and alcohol restrictions, the hospitality industry remains very constrained. While, perhaps well intentioned, this sub-level of lockdown brings little real relief to our sector of the economy.
A time of crisis demonstrates how important it is to have knowledgable, qualified people in positions of leadership. Appointing people without in-depth knowledge for political purposes is a short sighted move. Sadly, our Tourism Minister appears ill-equipped for the task at hand and has not shown the leadership nor an understanding of the industry mechanics needed in these difficult times. Oh, Mr Hanekom, we miss you so much.
The month has brought some unexpected discoveries. The Pretoria High Court ruled the lockdown unconstitutional, but it doesn’t matter because government didn’t like the ruling so, out of respect, we’re all going to ignore it. Interestingly, decisions don’t have to be appropriate to remain rational, another court tells us. At the beginning of lockdown it was proudly hailed that all decisions were being made by the NCCC. A “command council” with an apparently decisive, military and authoritarian approach. This is perhaps good for fast tracking decisions and making decrees, but very problematic in observing democracy and safeguarding our wonderful constitution. We now are told that the NCCC is only an advisory panel and makes polite suggestions to Cabinet. This is more than a little unbelievable, but at least it shows that leadership has taken notice of the dangers of overreaching on civil liberties, albeit somewhat belatedly.
Having said that, politicians are being politicians across the globe, applying their highly-trained bureaucratic minds, honed from many years of committee meetings, to micromanage the virus, revelling in their newly found purpose and power. Perhaps it would be more effective to let businessmen make decisions for the economy, medical experts manage the virus and normal people manage their own health risks, precautions and behaviours, while giving clear guidelines and transparent information?
We can still be proud that in South Africa the voice of dissent and disagreement is alive and well and freely expressed (even if apparently ignored.) We tend to be very binary creatures - right or wrong, good or evil. But this is a grey world, especially clouded in the fog of a global virus. Let’s keep the debate robust, but ultimately remember the proverbial” play the ball not the man”. I don’t mean political correctness. Im not a fan of that. I mean put the issues out there, with a little humour and a lot of humility, but let’s not slip into the divisive. We are one nation and we stand against this challenge together.
It has also been a month of deep sadness. Of sleepless nights, dwelling on gut wrenching, difficult choices. Our Management team’s objective from the start, has been to keep the ship afloat. I believe we will succeed in this. To do this, though, we have had to make the very difficult decision to permanently close regional offices, and some operations to further cut costs and this will result in some permanent retrenchments. We are stuck. With the failure of TERS to deliver on time, if at all; the achingly slow reopening of the economy and thus no meaningful revenue and a slow recovery ahead of us, we have no choice in these actions. If we don’t take them, the whole ship will sink, everybody will go down and all jobs will be lost. I am deeply sad about the impact on the Pride members this affects. We’ve done every last thing possible to avoid it but at this point there’s no other option for us.
It has been some consolation to have been able to provide several hundred food vouchers and acquire a hundred food parcels at a great price from the Solidarity Fund through the Lion Roars Foundation. It is not enough, but at least we have been able to take action and make a small difference.
Small victories will be of great importance in the months ahead. Never will guests be so welcome to take refuge under our various thatched, canvas or tin, very well sanitized roofs. It will only be a trickle at first, but this is how all mighty rivers begin.
The recovery has begun, but it’s still a long road back. Let’s find our inner strength to battle through with courage, determination, humour and kindness.
All the best,
Kevin
Lion Roars Hotels & Lodges has been registered as an essential service. We're offering isolation packages with the strictest hygiene standards to keep your loved one safe should they need it. Find out more about our isolation packages in Port Elizabeth, on the Amakhala Game Reserve, in Plettenberg Bay, Franschhoek and in Cape Town. These packages are customisable to suit your needs - contact us to find out more.
To all our guests, suppliers, staff and friends who have been personally or professionally affected by COVID-19 you are all in our thoughts during this difficult time.
If you have any queries regarding any of the above, please feel free to contact us at any time.
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