Which East African Safari Countries Are Open for Travel Now? Today we bring you the Latest – East African Travel Restrictions Due to COVID-19 article will clearly give answers to your travel concerns.(Updated: 20th/June/2021) East African Travel Restrictions Due to COVID-19.
Many of our current clients, as well as potential travelers interested in going on a safari to East African countries like Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda & Tanzania, have been asking about border closures and travel restrictions. Thanks to our direct line of communication with our trusted on-the-ground partners throughout East Africa, cross-referenced with official government entities, we’ve compiled a one-stop informational resource with real-time updates on travel restrictions due to COVID-19. Here’s the latest on safari travel to Africa…
About Flying to Africa
All airlines are requiring that passengers produce a certificate of a negative COVID-19 test that has been conducted within 72 hours of departure. The same will be required when arriving at any transit airport/country.
Travel Status (Open/closed) Country by Country
(For quick access to relevant information, click on these jump-to-links to get to a destination of your choice).
- Tanzania Travel Restrictions due to COVID-19
- Kenya Travel Restrictions due to COVID-19.
- Rwanda Travel Restrictions due to COVID-19.
- Uganda Travel Restrictions due to COVID-19.
Tanzania Travel Restrictions Due to COVID-19
*Tanzania is approved and recognized user of the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Safety Stamp.*
The government of Tanzania announced on 18 May 2020 that it will lift the ban on international flights arriving and departing from the country. All hotels and other tourist facilities in the country must go through a COVID-19 certification process, and official documents must be placed at the entrances of all facilities. The Tanzanian government has also directed all the country’s tourism entities to appoint and adequately train COVID-19 liaison officers to be the point of contact with its Health Ministry.
Highlights for travel to Kenya during the second Wave of the Deadly Coronavirus:
- International flights resumed on 01st/June/2020.
- Mandatory negative PCR test require for all entrants including those in transit, and an associated Trusted Travel code, which airlines and Kenya’s Port Health authorities will verify at the airport. Travelers are encouraged to check their destination country’s entry requirements.
- Mandatory wearing of masks in public remains in effect, except when dining, or when adhering to social distancing in hotels, gardens or on beaches.
- Effective from 11 June, all flight restrictions between Kenya and the United Kingdom have been granted entry.
Health screening and quarantine protocols:
- If you are travelling with an airline that requires a negative COVID-19 certificate, or if your country of origin requires a negative COVID-19 certificate upon departure, then Tanzania will also request the certificate on arrival. All other travelers do not require a negative COVID-19 certificate, although it is recommended that all travelers have the certificate as a precautionary measure.
- Arriving passengers showing any symptoms or signs of COVID-19 will be required to undergo enhanced health screening and may be tested for COVID-19.
- While in Tanzania, visitors will be expected to adhere to full protective measures against the spread of COVID-19.
Countries allowed to travel to the destination:
- All except those arriving from India.
Airlines flying into the destination:
- Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Emirates.
- Air Tanzania could resume operations to other countries that have re-opened for international travel, or for passengers looking to fly with the airline – to be confirmed.
Kenya East African Travel Restrictions Due to COVID-19
*Kenya is an approved and recognized user of the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Safety Stamp.*
On 6 July 2020, the Kenyan government announced that local air travel will resume operations from 15 July 2020 and that international travel will resume from 1 August 2020. Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife has implemented a reduction in park entry fees from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.
Highlights for travel to Kenya during the second Wave of the Deadly Coronavirus:
- International flights resumed on August 1, 2020. Domestic air travel resumed on July 15, 2020 under Ministry of Health and Transport guidelines.
- Mandatory negative PCR test require for all entrants including those in transit.
- Mandatory wearing of masks in public remains in effect. The government will not provide services to individuals not wearing a mask;
- There are no inland border crossings except for commercial trucks.
Health screening and quarantine protocols on arrival:
- All passengers on international flights must show a negative PCR COVID-19 certificate on arrival, obtained no later than 96 hours prior to departure from their home country. Testing is available at the country’s major hospitals (Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi Hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital) and private laboratories (Lancet laboratories, Meditest diagnostics). The charge for a PCR Covid-19 test in Kenya is approximately $100 (KES 10,000) at private health facilities and $50 (KES 5,000) at government hospitals. Test results are typically available within 24 – 96 hours depending on laboratory and location. Some labs, such as Meditest, have mobile services
- Body temperatures must test below 37.5°C (99.5°F) and visitors must have no persistent cough, no difficulty breathing, and no other flu-like symptoms.
- If there is a reported case of COVID-19 on a flight or if the above symptoms are detected, all passengers within two rows of the passenger with the symptoms will be quarantined for testing. If the test results are negative, they will be allowed to leave the facility.
- It is mandatory for all passengers arriving in Kenya to complete the Travelers Health Surveillance Form by the Ministry of Health. The form is found here and must be completed online prior to disembarkation. Passengers will receive a QR code after completing the form and will be required to display it to a Port Health Official to proceed through immigration.
- Strict infection prevention and control measures have to be followed: social distancing, good hand hygiene, and the wearing of masks remain mandatory.
Countries allowed to travel to the destination:
- All except those arriving from India.
- These countries are exempt from mandatory 14-day quarantine.
Airlines flying into the destination:
- Kenyan Airways will resume international flights from 1 August 2020. The airline’s COVID-19 certificate validity for all inbound flights to Kenya is 96 hours. For outbound flights from Kenya, a COVID-19 certificate is not required unless your country of transit or destination requires one.
- All passengers aboard any Emirates flight require a negative COVID-19 certificate, obtained no later than 96 hours prior to flight departure.
Rwanda
*Rwanda is an Approved and recognized user of the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Safety Stamp.*
Tourism activities across the country resumed from 17th/ June/ 2020 and Rwanda’s airports reopened for scheduled commercial flights as of 01 August 2020.
Highlights for travel to Rwanda during the second Wave of the Deadly Coronavirus:
- Kigali international Airport remains open for travel as of o1 /August/ 2020.
- Effective June 15, 2021, all passengers arriving from or have traveled to India and Uganda in last 7 days are required to complete 7 days in mandatory quarantine upon arrival at the designated hotels (Ubumwe Grande Hotel, Landmark Suites, Corina K. Guest house, Hilltop Hotel and Colours Club SPA & Garden Resort) at their own cost.
Health screening and quarantine protocols:
- All travelers arriving in Rwanda must have a negative COVID-19 certificate. The only accepted test is a SARS-CoV 2 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), performed within 120 hours of departure for Rwanda. Other tests such as Rapid Diagnostics Tests (RDT) are not accepted.
- Prior to arrival, all travelers must complete the Passenger Locator Form and upload their COVID-19 test certificate via www.rbc.gov.rw/travel.
- All travelers arriving in Rwanda will be screened upon entry and take a second RT-PCR test to confirm the negative results of the test done prior to arrival. You will be required to wait about 24 hours for these test results in a designated transit hotel. The Government of Rwanda has negotiated special rates at designated transit hotels for the 24-hour waiting period.
- All travelers departing from Rwanda must test negative for COVID-19, with the RT-PCR test performed within 120 hours before departure. The Rwanda Development Board has advised that as long as travelers depart within 120 hours of their RT-PCR test on arrival, they do not require another test.
- Preventive measures must be followed while travelling in Rwanda: physical distancing where possible; the wearing of masks is mandatory; and temperature screenings before entering certain buildings are mandatory.
Countries allowed to travel to the destination:
- All tourists will be allowed to visit Rwanda’s attractions and destinations after testing negative for COVID-19 in two (02) consecutive tests.
- All passengers arriving from India are required to complete seven (07) days in mandatory quarantine upon arrival at a designated hotel at their own cost.
- Entry at land borders remains restricted.
Airlines flying into the destination:
- Charter flights (individual and groups) from 17 June 2020.
- Commercial airlines from 1 August 2020.
- RwandAir, starting between Dubai and selective African routes, from 1 August 2020.
Uganda
Entebbe International Airport remains open for tourism. However, travelers arriving in Uganda from India (Category 1) have been banned from entering Uganda as of 01st/May/2021. Category 2 countries which include the USA, UK, UAE, Turkey, South Africa, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Kenya, and Tanzania have been advised to delay any non-essential travel to Uganda. However, should one from Category 2 & 3 decide to travel to Uganda, they will be subjected to COVID-19 test at their own cost as soon as they arrive at the country’s border posts including Entebbe International Airport.
Highlights for travel to Uganda during the second Wave of the Deadly Coronavirus:
- Entebbe International Airport remains open as of 01st/October/2020.
- Travelers from India will not be granted entry into Uganda as of 01st/May/2021.
- Mandatory negative COVID-19 test is required ( See: PCR testing in Uganda & all FAQs).
Related: Uganda Travel Advice & COVID-19 information (Updated; 20th/June/2021)
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