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Which Safari Countries Are Open for Travel & What Are the Entry Requirements?
– Updated 28 August 2023 –
Thanks to our direct line of communication with our trusted on-the-ground partners throughout Africa, cross-referenced with official government entities, we’ve compiled a one-stop informational resource with real-time updates on COVID-19 travel protocols.
Here’s the latest on safari travel to Africa…
Additional COVID-19 Information:
Flying to/from Africa
Some international commercial airlines may require passengers to produce a certificate of a negative COVID-19 PCR test that has been conducted within 72 hours of departure. The same may be required when arriving at any transit airport or back in your home country. We recommend contacting your airline to confirm this.
Travelling to Africa After Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine
With travel restrictions and COVID-19 protocols easing by the minute, more and more African destinations no longer require fully vaccinated visitors to undergo PCR testing prior to departure or on arrival. Find out which other routine vaccinations are needed for Africa here.
Hear from our clients who’ve been on safari between 2020 and 2022 as they share their experiences of the COVID-secure precautions.
African Countries Open for Travel
Botswana
UK Air Bridge Approved Since 12 December 2020
Open for international travel via:
- Airports
- Land borders
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols (pre-departure & on arrival)
- No PCR testing required for unvaccinated travellers.
- No protocols on arrival.
Mandatory quarantine
- Not required.
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols on departure
- Dependent on your airline, transit point or final destination.
Do you have questions about a Botswana safari?
Congo
Open for international travel via:
- Airports
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols (pre-departure & on arrival)
- There are no COVID-19 vaccination or testing requirements to enter the Congo
- Travellers who are participating in gorilla trekking are required to undergo a PCR test prior to departing from Brazzaville to Mboko, as well as an additional rapid test prior to your first trek.
Mandatory quarantine
- No
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols on departure
- Departure testing is dependent on your airline, transit airport or destination. If required, testing can be done at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Brazzaville at a cost of USD 55.
Do you have questions about a Congo safari?
Kenya
Approved & Recognised User of the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Safety Stamp
Open for international travel via:
- Airports
- Land borders
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols (pre-departure & on arrival)
- Travellers arriving in Kenya via any point of entry are not required to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a pre-departure COVID-19 test result.
- Only travellers arriving with flu-like symptoms will be expected to complete a passenger locator form and take a COVID-19 Antigen test upon arrival (at own cost). Travellers who test positive will be required to take further tests, and those with severe symptoms will be required to isolate as per the prevailing isolation requirements.
Mandatory quarantine
- Not required.
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols on departure
- Travellers leaving the country are required to abide by the particular COVID-19 related requirements of their destination country.
- Pre-departure testing may be considered at the discretion of any of the airlines departing from or terminating in Kenya.
Curious to know what it was like on a Kenya safari during COVID-19?
We’ve been fortunate to have had a few of our clients and staff go on safari between 2020 and 2022, and they’ve been kind enough to share first-hand accounts of their Kenya safari experiences.
Do you have questions about a Kenya safari?
Madagascar
Open for international travel via:
- Airports
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols (pre-departure & on arrival)
- All COVID-19 protocols have been lifted for all travellers, irrespective of vaccination status.
Mandatory quarantine
- Not required.
Do you have questions about a trip to Madagascar?
Malawi
Open for international travel via:
- Airports
- Land borders (visas cannot be obtained on arrival)
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols (pre-departure & on arrival)
- None
Mandatory quarantine
- Not required.
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols on departure
- Dependent on your airline, destination or transit country regulations.
Do you have questions about a Malawi safari?
Mauritius
Approved & Recognised User of the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Safety Stamp
Open for international travel via:
- Airports
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport is a member of the Airport Health Accreditation Programme by Airports Council International (ACI).
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols (pre-departure & on arrival)
- Complete the All-in-One Travel Form before departure.
- Visitors are not required to be vaccinated, test for COVID-19 before departure or on arrival, or self-isolate. Entry requirements are the same, regardless of your vaccination status.
Mandatory quarantine
- No required.
Do you have questions about a trip to Mauritius?
Mozambique
Open for international travel via:
- Airports
- Land borders
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols (pre-departure & on arrival)
- None
Mandatory quarantine
- Not required.
Do you have questions about a trip to Mozambique?
Considering a Safari but Cautious of Travelling?
See our updated COVID-19 T&Cs and our advice on safety:
Namibia
UK Air Bridge Approved Since 12 December 2020
Open for international travel via:
- Airports
- Land borders, except MataMata.
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols (pre-departure & on arrival)
- Vaccination certificates or negative PCR tests are not required.
Mandatory quarantine
- Not required.
Do you have questions about a Namibia safari?
Rwanda
Approved & Recognised User of the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Safety Stamp
Open for international travel via:
- Airports
- Land borders
Kigali International Airport is a member of the Airport Health Accreditation Programme by Airports Council International (ACI).
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols (pre-departure & on arrival)
- Travellers are not required to present proof of being fully vaccinated to enter Rwanda, but visitors are encouraged to be fully vaccinated.
- Pre-travel and arrival testing are not required for any traveller, irrespective of vaccination status.
Mandatory quarantine
- Not required.
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols on departure
- Dependent on your final destination, airline or transit point.
Do you have questions about a Rwanda safari?
São Tomé & Príncipe
Open for international travel via:
- Airports
- Sea borders
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols (pre-departure & on arrival)
- None
Mandatory quarantine
- Not required.
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols on departure
- The requirement for a PCR or Antigen test is determined by the country you are travelling to.
Do you have questions about a trip to São Tomé and Príncipe?
Seychelles
As of 1 December 2022, all COVID-19 protocols and travel restrictions have been lifted.
Open for international travel via:
- Airports
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols (pre-departure & on arrival)
- No COVID-related travel restrictions.
- All travellers must complete a Travel Authorisation & Disembarkation Form prior to travel.
Mandatory quarantine
- Not required.
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols on departure
- PCR testing is not required to depart the Seychelles. However, if your airline or final destination require it, PCR testing facilities are available on the islands of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.
Do you have questions about a trip to the Seychelles?
South Africa
Cape Town is an Approved & Recognised User of the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Safety Stamp
Open for international travel via:
- Airports
- Land borders (partially)
OR Tambo, King Shaka and Cape Town airports are members of the Airport Health Accreditation Programme by Airports Council International (ACI).
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols (pre-departure & on arrival)
- None
Mandatory quarantine
- Not required.
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols on departure
- Dependent on your airline, destination or transit point.
Interested to find out more about a South Africa safari during Coronavirus?
Our ethos is ‘we know because we go’, and travelling during COVID-19 was no exception. Some of our staff and clients who have travelled to the home of the Big 5 between 2020 and 2022 have been kind enough to share their first-hand experience of a South Africa safari during Coronavirus.
Hear what other international travellers had to say about their trips to Cape Town during COVID-19:
Do you have questions about a South Africa safari?
Tanzania
Approved & Recognised User of the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Safety Stamp
Open for international travel via:
- Airports
- Land borders
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols (pre-departure & on arrival)
- All travellers are recommended to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
- COVID-19 vaccination certificates are not required.
- Thermal and physical screening are undertaken.
Mandatory quarantine
- Not required.
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols on departure
- Dependent on your airline, transit points or final destination.
Zanzibar: health screening & COVID-19 protocols (pre-departure & on direct arrival)
- All travellers are recommended to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Travellers entering Zanzibar via sea ports or airports are not required to present a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a PCR test certificate, or perform a Rapid Antigen test on arrival, unless stated otherwise by conveyance to be used or final destination. However, Port Health Officers may perform Rapid Antigen tests at any time for randomly selected travellers entering Zanzibar.
- All arriving visitors must undergo temperature assessments
Curious about a Tanzania safari during COVID-19?
We were fortunate enough to have some clients experience a Tanzania safari during this period, and they’ve shared their accounts of what it was like going on a Tanzania safari during COVID-19.
Do you have questions about a Tanzania safari?
Uganda
Open for international travel via:
- Airports
- Land borders
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols (pre-departure & on arrival)
- All unvaccinated travellers older than 5 years are required to present a negative result for a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to departure.
- Fully vaccinated travellers do not require a PCR test prior to travelling.
- All visitors are required to complete the online health declaration form within 24 hours of travelling to Uganda.
- Undergo temperature checks and health screening on arrival.
Mandatory quarantine
- Not required.
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols on departure
- All unvaccinated travellers must have a COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel (72 hours begin on the day the sample is collected for testing). Children younger than 3 years are exempt if travelling with parents who have tested negative. You MUST indicate ‘Travel’ as the purpose of the test.
- All visitors are required to complete the online health declaration form within 24 hours of leaving Uganda.
Curious about gorilla trekking but cautious of travelling?
If you’re wondering what it was like during COVID-19, you can find out more about gorilla trekking in Uganda during Coronavirus from our travellers’ first-hand accounts.
Do you have questions about a Uganda safari?
Zambia
Open for international travel via:
- Airports
- Land borders
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols (pre-departure & on arrival)
- Travellers arriving in Zambia are not required to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination, recovery, or pre-departure COVID-19 test result.
Mandatory quarantine
- Not required.
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols on departure
- Dependent on your airline, destination or transit point.
Do you have questions about a Zambia safari?
Zimbabwe
Open for international travel via:
- Airports
- Land borders
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols (pre-departure & on arrival)
- None
Mandatory quarantine
- Not required.
Health screening & COVID-19 protocols on departure
- Dependent on your airline, transit points or final destination.
Do you have questions about a Zimbabwe safari?
Ready to Start Planning Your Trip of a Lifetime?
Since 1998 we have successfully navigated various crises and global disruptions, and are committed to creating once-in-a-lifetime trips while supporting conservation, communities and sustainability in Africa, now more than ever. COVID-19 had a devastating impact (hopefully temporary) on tourism and the local communities that rely on it for financial support. By going on safari, you have the opportunity to play a vital role in the recovery of safari travel.
So, if you feel ready and comfortable, Africa is ready for you! Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts to help tailor-make a trip that’s right for you:
