We had one extremely rough day on the ocean where the boat launch was nearly cancelled. Bracing ourselves through the chop, inevitably when we rolled back to get underwater it was absolutely glorious on dive site ‘Giants’. With top-to-bottom visibility, what a relief to get off the surface. As we turn to see where we are heading, a carpet of white and black glides over the rocky bottom – a reef manta ray directly below us! We slowly headed to the sea floor and held our position, but as a small dive group of 4, our new manta friend was so relaxed she circled us several times. She once flashed her belly within two meters of our heads! ID shots taken, we continued the dive.

A diver taking ID Shot

A little way along the tall reef wall, we would often find the resident loggerhead turtle in a rocky overhang, but he just wasn’t there. Perhaps he has moved on since it’s been so long that we have been diving on ‘Giants’. Enjoying the schooling trevally overhead and inspecting the little white-banded cleaner shrimp in their holes, bam. We look up and our old huge loggerhead neighbor almost swam right into us! What a relief to see him, and to know he’s still keeping guard of his rocky nook. Just as our computers had begun to tell us it was time to ascend, we always take a look all around – above and below in the depths. Unbelievable.

A first for me after nearly 5 years of diving these waters, a ragged-tooth shark! Sadly, it was sitting at around 35 meters, and we were forced to begin our ascent. It goes to show – you must always be patient and persistent, you never know what a rough ocean might deliver.

To learn more about our All Out Africa Marine Research project, or talk about how you can get involved, please email bookings@alloutafrica.com

As a tourism entrepreneur, I have experienced the depths of the challenges first hand. 2020 was going to be our busiest year ever! On 13th March 2020, we called our entire All Out Africa staff together across 3 countries for an emergency meeting: How to navigate the challenges of COVID-19 as a tourism business? What to expect? Wow, it has been tough! Looking back there is not much we could have done differently.

COVID-19 in Southern Africa and Emotional Wellbeing

With the travel restrictions and lockdowns implemented across the world, everyone has experienced emotional downs and ups. Anxiety, depression and mental health have deteriorated (https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/05/04/mental-health-coronavirus/).

All Out Africa went from a thriving growing travel business to one where income suddenly crashed to zero overnight. I recall sitting with my head in my hands wondering how we would stay afloat. We have had to make some very tough decisions. With no government relief for salaries, our staff team has dwindled. We’ve struggled to cope with the economic and social challenges this has placed on us, our beneficiaries and associated communities. Uncertainty has been the order of the day.

COVID-19 and Tourism Restrictions in Southern Africa

Lockdowns in southern Africa happened quickly. Travel halted and a lot of economic activity came to a grinding halt. The discovery of the 501Y.V2. variant in South Africa has resulted in it being labelled the “South African Variant” although it is present worldwide and it is not certain where it originated. This discovery has led many countries to impose special restrictions on travellers from South Africa.

As infections receded the lockdowns eased in southern Africa and the economy breathed. The second wave of infection spread and travel restrictions were again implemented. The longer it went on the harder it has been for tourism businesses to stay afloat. I remember thinking surely the restrictions would not last longer than a year – little hope! Now I find myself hoping it won’t last longer than 2 years!

COVID-19 and Tourism in 2021

Early 2021 has been a time of introspection, grit and crystal ball gazing. As the All Out Africa family, we are immensely proud of what we have managed to accomplish during this time and how our team has coped through the challenges. We are hugely grateful to our supporters and partners who have enabled us to continue so much of the good work we do. Thank you, without you, it would not have been impossible.

All Out Africa Team

The vaccine rollout has been encouraging although it has been desperate to see Africa last on most distribution lists. It has been heartening to see the growth in local travel and All Out Africa has used the chance to launch some new experiences which add some exciting diversity to our products. We remain hopeful of travel opening up in the second half of 2021 although it is likely to be slow in recovering.

Tourism Recovery in Southern Africa

So how will the recovery be? Likely slow since many tourism businesses from airlines to travel agents to hotels and activity companies have failed. It does seem clear that people are eager to travel and when they can, they will. We’re hopeful that being largely in the youth market and being focused on experiential travel and longer trips All Out Africa will be at the front of the recovery line for tourism in southern Africa. When exactly tourism bounces back for good and how quickly is anyone’s guess at this stage.

All Out Africa Coping and Evolving

What’s keeping us going you ask? Well, our projects have become even more important and necessary as the socio-economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic has grown. Our social projects in Eswatini have tackled hunger, poverty, education and life-skill development.

All Out Africa doing food parcel deliveries

Our Savannah Conservation project has produced a wealth of important field progress. This is despite the research camp being flooded out as the Mbuluzi River burst it’s banks during Cyclone Eloise.

The Savannah Research Centre camp being flooded

Our Marine Conservation project has gone through some exciting changes in office, accommodation & dive partners that we feel will help raise it to the next level.

Tilak Lodge new volunteer accommodation

We’ve had to get creative with our experiences and tailor some to the local market. We’ve added some great new hiking and day tour experiences to our Eswatini tours. We’ve been limited by restrictions on our South Africa and Mozambique tours, but have been making some good preparations for future trips.

All in all, we are optimistic about the future and grateful for what we have, despite the current challenges.

Written by Kim Roques, Founder and Director of All Out Africa.

Enough about one’s Christmas month upbringing and let me share what a wonderful morning I had with our NCP children, spreading around all our 8 Neighbourhood Care Points. As an All Out Africa staff member, my colleagues and I managed to create an amazing Christmas spirit atmosphere with a for these less privilege children that we Love and Support.

With the traditional Christmas spirit “roaming in the air”, we felt that the prefect venue to hold this year’s children Christmas party would be a place called “Mantenga Cultural Village”, which has great Swazi traditional values and cultural experience. The cultural village is located in a peri-urban area in Ezulwini, an area centered between our NCPs’, so logistically it was the perfect venue. 

What an awesome decision our team made in securing this venue because all our NCP children and majority of the NCP teachers ventured into a cultural exploration that they had not experienced before. Seeing those faces when we entered these grounds, made one’s emotional nerve feel a kind of “pain of happiness”, if that makes sense, which obviously made me smile throughout the morning. 

The incorporation of a cultural village, where Swazi history, culture and traditional dance is brought alive for visitors was just awesome to see and watch. We all had a great time and most importantly the children make it even more especial for us as an All Out Africa, community outreach project team.

Written by Tjengisa Dlamini, Social Projects Coordinator 

Charmaine is one of these students. She contacted us this year looking to collaborate on a research proposal that targets volunteer tourism, and how it is assisting conservation efforts. This is a perfect fit for us!

She is joining our projects in Mozambique in August where she will spend time with our marine conservation volunteers. She has also now opened up the opportunity to be a part of her research to our entire network of volunteers!

If you would like to assist AOA in its mission to support research, and researcher students, and also aid Charmaine in the perusal of her PhD project, we invite you to participate in an online survey that would allow her to understand your experience with All Out Africa as a volunteer. This survey will help us promote our projects and encourage more volunteers to have “Adventures that change lives.”

The survey will take approximately 5 mins.

If you  have volunteered in our Marine Conservation Project, please use this survey: https://forms.gle/Gdwigj7mN4rwq6ay6

If you  have volunteered in any of our other volunteer Projects (in any destination), please use this survey: https://forms.gle/PEDHHrV1NgUk4JvA7

If you have any questions, feel free to email AOA at marketing@alloutafrica.com or the researcher at charmaine.danielle.cilliers@gmail.com

Thank you for helping us make a difference!

If you have a research project you would like to collaborate on with All Out Africa, please email bookings@alloutafrica.com for more info on how to get started!

The main project the World Challenge kids were involved in was helping in the building of the lifeguard tower. The positive feedback from the kids about their experience was that the Tower is going to be a great asset to the lifeguards and the community, and they were all very happy to be a part of building it.

Overall the experience was positive, and the kids felt as if they learned a lot about themselves, their capabilities and about the Tofo community. They enjoyed the interaction with the local kids and seeing the final product of the fence for the tower.  Above all, they had a good time filled with laughter and smiles, and they even had some advice to help improve the Tofo community.

A big thanks to World Challenge from NhaTofo Salva Vidas (Tofo’s Lifeguard Association).

Written by Jordyn Du Bois, All Out Africa Marine Research Centre Build Coordinator for Mozambique World Challenge Build 2019.