Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Jill Sperling

EXTENDED VACATION

Kamloops couple happy to be home after lockdown experience in South Africa

Jun 26, 2020 | 3:29 PM

KAMLOOPS — The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the whole world and as the illness has spread, countries have developed protocols for containment.

Travel restrictions have prevented many Canadian tourists from returning home when originally planned.

David and Lois Williams of Kamloops travelled to South Africa in early March, but their trip took an unexpected turn.

“On March 27th, the South African government put into place level 5 of lockdown, so we were stuck,” Lois said.

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The Williams had left Canada on March 4, never anticipating the rapid spread of the virus. While in South Africa they had very little access to Canadian news.

Once the lockdown began, their tour operators welcomed the pair into their own home in the small town of Van der Kloof.

“Staying with Peter and Susan, it’s like going to a friend’s house and you just become part of the family,” David said. “We took part in the cooking… we took part in cleaning the house and working in the garden, just helping out.”

The Williams say the lockdown lasted until the end of April, during which time people were not permitted to leave their properties except to buy groceries or go to a pharmacy.

“I wasn’t very concerned about it at first, because we were in a wonderful situation with people who were really welcoming,” Lois said.

“There’s only 500 people in the town, very small,” David added.

“We met some of the neighbours, we had things to do, we had books to read, so it was fine,” Lois said.

The couple attempted to book a seat on repatriation flights in late May, but the planes were full. On June 2, the Williams were finally able to board a flight back to Canada.

“Once I got in the airplane from South Africa, I felt okay,” David said. “You could just tell that these people were really taking care of any problems that would come up. If anybody had COVID, or even a suspect, they were not going on that airplane.”

Once back in Kamloops, the Williams went into quarantine for two weeks, which ended last Friday (June 19). While their extended stay in South Africa was mostly positive, the pair is relieved to be back home.

“We didn’t want to get stuck there for any longer time,” Lois said. “I mean, our situation was wonderful, but we’d been with (Peter and Susan) now for three months, nearly, but we’re still friends.”

It’s a friendship the pair intends to keep.

“Life is really about family and friends,” David said. “That’s it.”