Dorine Reinstein
"Note that the two registered Ebola cases in Uganda currently are exactly the same number as hantavirus cases in the U.S. and Canada."
That observation comes from James Haigh, the head of sales and marketing for the Lemala, Adrift and Tulia brands, commenting on the World Health Organization's declaration of a public health emergency regarding the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. The outbreak in those two countries this month prompted the U.S. State Department to downgrade its travel advisories to Uganda (Level 4, do not travel) and neighboring Rwanda (Level 3, reconsider travel).
On his first day at the new Entebbe office, Haigh explained that he'd spent the morning meeting new faces and old friends. By the end of the day, he was responding to an Ebola outbreak.
"Semper aliquid novi Africa (Africa always brings something new) summed up in 12 short hours," he said. His assessment of the situation on the ground is clear. "The furor over this is mostly overseas and media-led."
Imelda Nakandi, tour director for Exclusive Uganda Safaris agreed. "I am starting to believe that all international news doesn't report reality," Nakandi said. "We completely understand the concerns caused by the current media reports. International headlines can sound very alarming, especially because many people still remember previous Ebola outbreaks."
On the ground, however, Nakandi said the response has been calm and structured.
"The outbreak remains localized and under control," she said. "Strict screening procedures, contact tracing systems and rapid response teams are already in place. Tourism areas and safari routes continue to operate normally, and there are currently no travel restrictions issued by the Ugandan government."
The Uganda Media Centre pointed out that the confirmed case in Uganda was a traveler from the DRC. The Ministry of Health traced all those who had interacted with him, including health workers, close relatives and friends. "The ministry is confident that there is no cause for alarm," said executive director Alan Kasujja. "The situation has been contained."
Uganda Tourism Board CEO Juliana Kagwa said in a statement: "Tourism activities, national parks, hotels, conference venues and transport services continue to operate normally. Uganda remains safe, open and welcoming for tourism, business and investment. Life continues normally."
The geography problem
Still, advisors in the U.S. said travelers are worried when reading the headlines. Craig Beal, owner of Travel Beyond, says that nearly every client traveling in the next three months has reached out to their Travel Beyond consultant this week. "That's a lot of conversations, mostly by email, but so far, zero cancellations," he said.
Elizabeth Gordon, CEO of U.S.-based Extraordinary Journeys, is fielding questions from clients paying close attention to the news, though she has yet to see cancellations.
"The geography is where I spend the most time with clients," she said. "The DRC and the affected areas of Uganda are thousands of miles from where most of our travelers are going: Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana. These are entirely separate regions. The tendency of U.S. media to report on 'Africa' as a single place does real damage, and part of our job is to hold the map up and say, 'Look at the actual distances.'"
Gordon also highlights Uganda's containment history as a key reassurance tool for nervous clients.
"Uganda has deep experience containing these situations, and they are proactive about looping in the international community, which is exactly what you want," she said. "The current outbreak is in a region far from Entebbe and Bwindi, where most gorilla-trekking itineraries operate."
For Beal, it's the relationships with clients that makes all the difference. He said: "We've built strong relationships from the very start of the planning process as our team all does an initial Zoom with every client, so there's real trust in place before a situation like this ever comes up."
For clients who remain anxious, advisors are redirecting gorilla-trekking itineraries to Rwanda.
"We do not recommend travelers go to DRC when there are safer, proactive and supportive governments like Rwanda, where gorilla-trekking is offered with the best conservation and sustainability practices," said Raza Visram of AfricanMecca Safaris.
Beal said his biggest concern isn't the cancellations but the U.S. re-entry protocols; he suspects it will soon be a big concern of his clients, as well.
"If clients returning from these destinations get flagged for screening or quarantine on arrival back home, that becomes a real problem for the industry," he said.
Where advisors matter most
Nakandi of Exclusive Uganda Safaris emphasized that while operators on the ground are managing the situation carefully, the partnership with the U.S. trade remains critical.
"Please reassure your clients that we are continuously monitoring developments," she said. "We will of course keep you informed immediately should there be any significant updates."
Lemala, Adrift and Tulia's Haigh confirmed that operators are approaching booking changes with both flexibility and sensitivity. "We will deal with requests to alter travel plans on a case-by-case basis, bearing in mind guest nationality, travel advisories and the situation on the ground," he said.
For advisors fielding calls this week, the collective advice from operators and trade experts points to a clear toolkit:
• Pull out the map: Visually demonstrate the vast distances between the localized outbreak in the DRC's Ituri province and the client's actual safari destination.
• Share the data: Zero local transmission in Uganda. Both confirmed cases involved Congolese nationals travelling from the DRC. As Haigh noted, the current Uganda case numbers equal hantavirus cases in the U.S. and Canada.
• Use official statements and track record: Both the Uganda Tourism Board and the Uganda Media Centre have issued clear, attributable statements confirming tourism is operating normally.
• Clarify transmission: Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids, not through the air. Casual contact carries significantly lower risk.
• Pivot to Rwanda: For clients who remain anxious, Rwanda offers world-class gorilla-trekking in a completely unaffected destination.
• Lean on your operators: Ground partners are monitoring the situation daily and committed to working with the U.S. trade on a case-by-case basis.
Keeping East Africa open for tourism this peak season depends on the trade's ability to cut through the noise. For the U.S. travel advisor, that work starts with a map and the facts.