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Updated East Africa Travel Restrictions due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Written by  Julie Graham

Grand Africa Safaris > Blogs > Updated East Africa Travel Restrictions due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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The expert team at Grand Africa Safaris, have compiled this East Africa travel restrictions, To help you navigate the ever-changing guidelines, protocols and safety requirements needed for your client’s East Africa itinerary, we have compiled this one-stop resource with regular updates on travel to Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar.

Please note: It is recommended that you check government and airline websites regularly as travel requirements may change.

Kenya

Flamingos in the water
Flamingos at Lake Ndutu

Health & Safety COVID-19 Protocols on arrival

 

Fully vaccinated travelers:

  • If proof of full vaccination is presented, then travelers are exempt from entry testing and quarantine requirements. Vaccination means having received the prescribed doses of the specific vaccine, latest shot at least 14 days before arrival (not including the day of vaccination). The vaccine must be approved by the World Health Organization.
  • Travelers who are fully vaccinated shall be exempted from the requirement of a PCR test. 

Unvaccinated travelers:

  • All unvaccinated travelers arriving at any port of entry into Kenya must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test result conducted not more than 72 hours before departure regardless of the route of entry.
  • If no proof of PCR test, then there will be a rapid antigen test at a cost of USD30.
 

Only if presenting with flu like symptoms upon arrival, then a COVID-19 travellers must report daily on the “Jitenge” platform for the first 14 days in the country. A rapid antigen test might also be required a cost of $30.

Pre-departure PCR testing may be reconsidered at the discretion of any of the airlines departing from or terminating in Kenya. Passengers traveling out of the country, will be required to abide by the particular travel, health and COVID1-i related requirements of the transit and destination country. 

Airlines flying into Kenya

Kenyan Airways, Emirates, RwandAir, Lufthansa, Qatar, British Airways, Ethiopian Airlines.

Tanzania

Tree climbing lions in Lake Manyara National Park
 

Health & Safety COVID-19 Protocols on arrival 

 

International passengers entering mainland Tanzania from/through the Republic of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) must complete an online Health Surveillance Form.

Passengers travelling within Tanzania may be asked to complete an online Domestic Departure Health Surveillance Form before a domestic departure or on arrival at a domestic destination on a flight originating in Tanzania.

All travelers entering or transiting the mainland through land borders, ports or airports are not required to present a COVID-19 vaccination or RT-PCR certificate. A Rapid Antigen test is not required either.

Thermal and physical screening will be done on arrival.

Departure

  • No departure tests are required, but check with your destination country or transit country for any further requirements. If the destination country requires a RT-PCR certificate, this can be done for 50 USD per person.
 
Airlines flying into Tanzania
 

Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar, KLM Royal Dutch, Emirates, Kenya Air, Precision Air, Swiss, Turkish Airlines

 

 

Zanzibar

Sunset in Zanzibar

Health & Safety COVID-19 Protocols on arrival

 

All travelers entering or transiting the mainland or the island through land borders, ports or airports are not required to present a COVID-19 vaccination or RT-PCR certificate. A Rapid Antigen test is not required either.

While in the country, all international travelers will be expected to adhere to protective safety measures such as hand hygiene, wearing masks and keeping physical distancing as deemed appropriate.

Departure

No departure tests are required, but check with your destination country or transit country for any further requirements. If this is required, the team will arrange for this and the results received between 48 – 72 hours from sample collection. Mobile facility COVID-19 testing at a cost of $150 per person per test.

Airlines flying into Zanzibar

  • Precision Air, Oman Air, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Air, Qatar, Emirates, Kenya Airways, Coastal Aviation, Auric Air.

Get in touch with our team at Grand Africa Safaris for more information.