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East Africa Travel update

East Africa Travel update

Date 2021/01/20 12:28:57 by Various

East Africa update as of 11 January 2021. 

2020 has highlighted more than ever the impact Mother Nature has on our health, our wellbeing and our ability to cope with all the twists and turns that have come our way. We have seen that a simple walk outside can provide much-needed wellbeing and perspective, that by interacting with animals we have the ability to rewire our brains and that nature really can heal and restore body, mind and soul. There is no better place to practice social distancing than in the African bush. If ever there was a time to book a safari, it is now.

Please kindly note that the information provided below are as of current regulations (updated on 11 January 2021) and subject to change without prior notice.  We urge all travellers to check updates on international travel regularly. 

Please take note of the following requirements throughout East Africa, with a special emphasis on the amended requirements for Kenya. We have received confirmation as below:

1. Only travellers departing Kenya, whose airline or destination country requires a PCR based COVID-19 negative test will be required to use the Trusted Travel website to obtain a Trusted Travel code prior to departure. Full instructions of the process can be found here.
2. No inbound travellers to Kenya are required to use the Trusted Travel website.

We utilise the services of approved testing facilities and we are able to facilitate in-hotel COVID-19 testing throughout Nairobi at a cost of USD 120 per person per test; these results are received 24 hours after the collection of the sample. In addition, we are able to facilitate testing in select safari destinations. These are subject to availability and accessibility, with the test results received 48 hours after the collection of the sample. Please note that the costs of COVID-19 testing outside of Nairobi vary, please contact your safari consultant for further details.  

 

 

KENYA

  • All arriving passengers on international flights whose body temperature is NOT above 37.5°C (99.5°F), do not have a persistent cough, difficulty in breathing or other flu-like symptoms, have negative PCR based COVID-19 test carried out within 96 hours before travel and are from countries considered low to medium risk COVID-19 transmission areas shall be exempt from quarantine;
  • As of 11 January 2021, departing passengers whose airline or destination country require a negative PCR based COVID-19 test are required to utilise the Trusted Travel website trustedtravel.panabios.org (or Global Haven www.globalhaven.org if the test certificate is from a jurisdiction where Trusted Travel is not available), following testing, travellers will receive an SMS and/or email from PanaBIOS admin@panabios.org with instructions on how to generate a Travel Code from http://trustedtravel.panabios.org/ to be approved by airlines and immigration authorities on departure, for further instructions please see this video tutorial (traveller instructions begin at 06:13) or view the Ministry of Health Travel Guide;
  • All passengers travelling to Kenya are required to obtain their visas online via www.evisa.go.ke;
  • Travellers from countries on this list will be exempt from quarantine;
  • The nationwide curfew remains in place between 2200 and 0400, until 12th March 2021;
  • Bars and restaurants throughout the country are permitted to operate until 9pm;
  • Face masks are to be worn by all people at all times in public places;
  • Temperature checks will continue to be conducted in public places; and 
  • Social distancing of 1.5 m apart is required at all times.

Departing from Kenya:

  • Travellers will only need a negative COVID-19 test if their onward destination or airline require it.
  • If a negative COVID-19 test is required, it must be approved by Trusted Travel with the QR code once the negative test certificate has been uploaded. All the testing facilities we use in Kenya are a part of this scheme so the approval will be instantaneous.

Passengers in transit:

  • Transit passengers must have a negative PCR COVID-19 test, done no more than 96 hrs before their departure to Kenya.
  • After receiving a negative test result, and prior to arrival in Kenya, travellers must go online and upload their negative test certificate onto the Trusted Travel or Global Haven website to receive a QR code (the process is identical to Kenya arrivals above).
  • Before travel, pre-fill the arrivals information form here. Again, this produces a different QR code which they must print and show on arrival in Kenya.
  • If the traveller is leaving the airport or passing through immigration to collect luggage to check in on a different airline a transit visa will also be necessary. Visas can no longer be purchased on arrival and must be arranged via the e-visa platform: http://evisa.go.ke/transit-visa.html.

 

 

TANZANIA

  • All travellers entering The United Republic of Tanzania will undergo temperature screening upon arrival and must complete a Health Declaration form to be submitted upon entry;
  • There are no self-quarantine requirements for travellers arriving into the country who are not showing any COVID-19 symptoms; 
  • Requirements for travellers departing Tanzania will be in line with the requirements issued by the travellers’ respective airline or destination country. COVID-19 PCR testing is currently available as follows: 
    • Dar Es Salaam, USD 100 per person per test, test results available between 24 and 48 hours of sample collection,
    • Arusha, USD 100 per person per test, test results available between 48 and 72 hours of sample collection, or
    • Zanzibar, USD 120 per person, test results available between 48 and 96 hours of sample collection;
  • Please note that the current government advice is for travellers to undergo COVID-19 testing a minimum of 5 days prior to departure (depending on the specific airline and destination country requirements) to ensure adequate time is allowed for test results to be received;
  • Face masks are to be worn by all people at all times in public places; and
  • Social distancing of 1.5 m apart is required at all times.

 

 

UGANDA 

  • All arriving passengers on international flights whose body temperature is NOT above 37.5°C (99.5°F), do not have a persistent cough, difficulty in breathing or other flu-like symptoms and have negative PCR based COVID-19 test carried out within 120 hours before boarding the aircraft shall be exempt from quarantine;
  • Infants aged three years and under are exempt from COVID-19 negative test requirements, as long as they are accompanied by parents with COVID-19 negative certificates;
  • All departing passengers are required to present a negative PCR based COVID-19 test carried out no longer than 120 hours before departure from Uganda (the 120 hours begins from the moment of sample collection);
  • The nationwide curfew remains in place between 2100 and 0600;
  • Face masks are to be worn by all people above the age of 6 years old at all times in public places; and
  • Social distancing of 1.5 m apart is required at all times.

 

 

RWANDA 

  • All travellers arriving in to, and departing from Rwanda must be tested negative for COVID-19 within 120 hours of departure (meaning that you get tested and get results no more than 5 days before your first flight);
  • The only accepted test for passengers entering Rwanda is a SARS-CoV 2 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), (other tests, such as Rapid Diagnostics Test (RDTs), are not accepted);
  • Arriving travellers are required to complete the passenger locator form, and upload the COVID-19 test certificate, please see the passenger locator form link on www.rbc.gov.rw; 
  • Departing travellers are encouraged to book and pay for their tests at least 2 days prior to departure through the online platform available on www.rbc.gov.rw; 
  • All travellers arriving in Rwanda will be screened upon entry and be given a second test to confirm the negative results of the first test done prior to arrival, the test is to the cost of the guest, at USD 60 per person per test;
  • All arriving travellers are required to complete 24 hours in a designated transit hotel while awaiting the results of the second test, the designated hotels are available at a discounted rate and we recommend accommodation in the following hotels:
    • Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, Kigali,
    • Kigali Marriott Hotel,
    • Kigali Serena Hotel, or
    • Park Inn by Radisson;
  • Following 24 hours, guests’ results will be received via SMS or email. In the event of a negative test, guests will be invited to check out and proceed on their Rwanda safari. In the event of a positive test, guests will be transported to a medical facility for medical attention, at their own cost;
  • All travellers must be tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours prior to visiting any of Rwanda's National Parks;
  • A nationwide curfew is in place between 2000 and 0400; and 
  • Face masks are to be worn by all people at all times in public places. 

 

 

It is strongly advisable that all guests travelling, will be expected to adhere to full protective measures against the spread of COVID-19 and continuously monitor travel regulations and updates.  Your safety and well-being are our main priority.