Industry Interview: Brooke Berlin
“My love affair with Africa started before my earliest memories,” says Brooke Berlin, owner of Karoo Consulting, a boutique consultancy that manages B2B operations for some of Africa’s top villas, safari lodges, and DMCs.
When COVID-19 halted nearly all leisure travel to Africa in March, Brooke knew she needed to take it upon herself to show travelers how to safely return to the continent. She recently sat down with Local Foreigner to talk about all things Africa in 2020, including new safety measures, unexpected joys, and why now might be the best time to plan a safari.
You traveled to 4 African countries in 2020. What sparked your desire to travel to Africa during a pandemic?
The beginning of this year made me feel very helpless in terms of how I could best work on behalf of, and help both sides of, the industry — the properties I work with in Africa and the travel companies like The Local Foreigner who book them — and one day I realized the best thing I could do to start getting travel back on track was to travel myself and show people step by step, airport by airport, property by property, how to do it safely and securely while having the absolute best time of your life! At the end of the day, my passion is Africa and supporting the amazing work that people are doing there…and also, I simply couldn’t do another Zoom meeting.
Did you have any hesitations before your first trip?
In 2020 I traveled to four African countries: Kenya in August, Zambia in September, Uganda in October, and South Africa in December. On a professional level, my work is specifically tailored to Africa, and on a personal level my husband is from South Africa, so I usually spend between two and three months each year on the continent. Plus, I have been traveling around Africa for the past 15 years and feel very safe there, in any capacity.
Having traveled in Africa during the Ebola crisis, I strongly believed that African countries would have their health systems dialed in quickly and efficiently because of what they’ve had to deal with in the past (which they’ve done quite successfully!).
Tell us about your experience on the ground, from a COVID safety perspective.
Being in Africa reinforced to me that they are taking COVID very seriously to protect their own citizens and visitors alike. Social distancing floor markers are ubiquitous from shuttles and airports to stores and visitor centers. There are foot-controlled hand-washing stations and automatic hand sanitizer dispensers set up everywhere. My temperature was taken daily if not several times a day.
At the safari camps and lodges, all staff —from guides and hosts to the culinary and housekeeping teams — are wearing masks. There are no more buffets or big communal dining tables but more intimate private dining setups served family-style or plated. Activities are limited to fewer people if not entirely private, however, we still sat around the camp fire with other guests enjoying a G&T and telling tales, just at a distance.
How was traveling in Africa this year different than in past years?
To quote my husband: “The lodge experience was 98% of what it usually is and the safari experience was 200% of what it usually is.” What he means by that is, yes, at the lodge, you have to go through a few more procedures and protocols like I mentioned above, but really, very little of the guest experience is different. However, the safari experience — WOW — it was so much better because there were so few people, so we got to take advantage of opportunities that might never happen again. For instance, at Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge in Uganda, we paid for our two gorilla trekking permits (they usually sell up to eight per group) and had a totally private trek.
At Cottar’s in Kenya, I was the only visitor at a very special Maasai ceremony; I would say ‘and I didn’t see any other safari vehicles when out on game drives’, but that’s pretty standard since they are on private conservancy land and you usually don’t see any other vehicles even in the busiest of years.
In Zambia, we did game drives from The Bushcamp Company Mfuwe Lodge and Time + Tide Chinzombo in South Luangwa National Park and from Ila Lodge by Green Safaris in Kafue National Park, and usually you would have other guests out with you, but at all three we had a private vehicle without having to pay extra for it. While there is so much space in Africa, I think people are sometimes surprised by how many jam-packed vehicles they can see when out on game drives in the most popular places during peak seasons, and this year it felt like I had Africa all to myself! I can imagine that it will feel similar at the beginning of 2021 - which is why I’m going back to Kenya in February!
“This year, it felt like I had Africa all to myself!”
Did you encounter any pleasant surprises while traveling in Africa this year?
The biggest surprise for me was the realization of just how much stress I had been carrying this year, especially because I thought I was generally dealing with lockdown and loss as well as could be expected.
For the better part of 2020, I heard a lot of “Africa needs tourism; Africa needs you”, and while yes, many of the most impactful conservations and community non-profit initiatives do rely on tourism spend and donor contributions, it was during my time in Africa this year that I had the realization that in actuality, YOU need AFRICA, I need AFRICA, we all do!
In a year of so much stress, hardship, and isolation, Africa will uplift your spirit and soul. It is a peaceful place to discover the world out there, and for still, silent introspection. It was during my trips that I rediscovered the balance and freedom I’ve enjoyed in years past. I plan on going back to Africa as soon as possible simply to take a deep breath again.
Do you have any advice would-be safari bookers?
Look for properties that will offer you the most privacy possible (private vehicles, dining, activities, accommodations that can host your family and friends under one roof), stay longer in fewer places, and ensure the camp or lodge is tied to true conservation and community initiatives on the ground. Here are a few examples:
Sausage Tree Camp, Zambia & Tswalu Kalahari, South Africa
Both of these properties guarantee a private vehicle and guide in their standard rate, so your safari is guaranteed to be private and at your own pace, always.
Ol Jogi, Kenya only takes one booking at a time so whether you are 4, 14, or 24 people there will never be other guests.
Cottar’s Safaris, Kenya created an epic Stay Longer package and their non-profit Cottar’s Wildlife Conservation Trust has worked tirelessly to continue supporting their conservation and community initiatives throughout the pandemic.
Why is now the best time to book an African safari?
Now is definitely the best time to be in Africa, even more so as we go into winter in North America! Safaris are already set up for social distancing and regenerative travel. Plus, for anyone who is a conscientious spender and wants to ensure their vacation fund is going to both their own personal enjoyment and supporting the successful future of conservation and community initiatives, you can’t choose a better continent.
While I love traveling to other parts of the world, I just don’t feel like being inside cafes, museums, or churches at the moment. In Africa, you’re not sheltering; you’re outside all the time: fresh air, sunshine, and stars; rejuvenating yourself with just being outside — without apprehension.
There are so few people in Africa NOW — when the 2021 peak season hits, places will be busier with all of the postponements from 2020, which is also why people are already booking into 2022, so definitely, BOOK and GO NOW if you can!
