With health and safety guidelines in place, Africa is open and ready to welcome you back. Plus, with most safari lodges situated in remote areas, they’re about as safe as you can possibly get. Below we’ve outlined each country’s entry requirements and our travel experts are here to help you every step of the way.

COVID-19 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS PER COUNTRY IN AFRICA

USA Entry Requirements (updated 3/7)

  • All travelers, regardless of vaccination status, must produce negative PCR or ANTIGEN test within 1 day of departure to the U.S.
  • Always check airline rules, as some airlines require PCR test
  • Check the CDC website before traveling

Updated 2/16

  • Proof of full COVID vaccination (including booster if applicable) if over the age of 12 and no test to enter
  • Or a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival.
    • If over the age of 5 and not fully vaccinated (booster if applicable), then travelers must be vaccinated at the border.

Updated 1/27

  • Fully vaccinated travelers will be permitted to enter Egypt without proof of a negative COVID-19 test. The certificate must have a QR code
  • Unvaccinated travelers over the age of 12 must have proof of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test or rapid test conducted 72 hours prior to arrival
  • Electronic copies of results not accepted
  • The test must be based on a nasal or oral swab and the result must either have a stamp from the issuing laboratory or a QR code
  • Proof of insurance required and fill out Public Health Card on arrival

Updated 8/9

  • Negative PCR test within 120 hours starting from the time sample is given.
  • Must complete a health form on arrival
  • There is a mandatory 7-day self-isolation upon arrival for US travelers
  • All those traveling to or transiting through Ethiopia over the age of 12 must present a negative PCR COVID test that was administered within 120 hours (5 days) prior to arrival. With your negative test results, you will need to obtain a Trusted Travel Code from trustedtravel.panabios.org prior to arrival. Travelers will receive an SMS and/or email from PanaBIOS ([email protected]) with instructions on how to generate a Travel Code. If you have any issues, take a screenshot to show you attempted to comply.

Updated 12/21

  • Proof of COVID vaccination and negative PCR test within 72hrs prior to departure
  • Vaccination requirement applies to all travelers age 18 and older
  • Each traveler must complete the International Travelers Health Surveillance Form within 5 days prior to arrival
  • Travelers arriving from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe will be subjected to rapid antigen test on arrival (free of charge) and results received within 15 minutes of collection. The PCR test taken prior to arrival must have been administered in South Africa only.

Updated 11/17

  • A negative RT-PCR is required within 72 hrs prior to arrival.
  • PCR test on arrival (at airport, 25 euros) + quarantine at accommodation 24-48 hrs until results received
  • Currently flights only operating out of Paris and La Reunion; “the borders with mainland Africa are closed”

Updated 1/31

  • A negative RT-PCR is required within 72 hours prior to arrival
  • A negative RT-PCR is required within 72 hours prior to departure
  • Full COVID vaccination is stated to be required, but not implemented yet.

Updated 9/25

  • US travelers are required to show a COVID-19 vaccination certificate done at least 2 weeks before arrival, and/or a negative result from a PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival
  • All passengers must complete a passenger health form: http://www.onda.ma/form.php

Updated 1/27

  • A negative PCR test is required within 72 hrs of arrival
  • Exit requirements dependent upon airline/next destination

Updated 12/15

  • A negative PCR test is required within 72 hours of arrival
    • Proof of medical insurance and trip interruption also required upon arrival
  • This questionnaire must be completed before arrival
  • Random COVID testing on arrival

Updated 2/4

  • All travelers must present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to first departure (from the country of origin)
  • Travelers must complete this Passenger Locator form within 72 hours of departure. A negative test is needed to complete the form. On completion of the form, travelers will be provided with a Unique Health Code (UHC) which must be presented on arrival.
  • A PCR test is required on arrival $60 (12-24hr turnaround)
    • Fully vaccinated (and children under 18) are not expected to quarantine and may proceed with itinerary, but should isolate at destination until test result
    • Unvaccinated travelers must remain in a designated hotel room until test result (~12 hours)
  • PCR test is required within 72 hrs of entry to each park and within 72 hours of each chimp/gorilla trek to protect the health of the primates.
  • Volcanoes National Park Indemnity form due one week prior to trek dates listed (do not list signature date)
  • Travelers departing Rwanda must test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of departure. For short stays, the test taken upon arrival will suffice for departure.

Updated 12/2

  • A negative PCR test is required within 72 hours of arrival
  • Following receipt of a negative test, all travelers must submit an application for approval through seychelles.govtas.com 
  • Booking vouchers are needed for proof of the duration of stay
  • Visitors from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe will not be permitted to enter Seychelles from Saturday, November 27 until further notice under new travel measures announced by the local health authorities due to a new variant of COVID-19.
  • All visitors must have valid travel health insurance to cover potential COVID-19 related costs (isolation, quarantine, and treatment).

Updated 3/2

  • A negative PCR test is required within 72 hours of arrival
    • Bring along multiple printed copies of results.
  • Travelers entering or transiting with a COVID-19 recovery certificate from a certified physician and a positive COVID PCR test must request a letter of exemption by emailing [email protected] prior to travel.
  • South Africa Arrival Health Screen form will be provided on the plane prior to arrival.
  • Travelers are required to fill out the Departing South Africa Form before exiting. This will be provided upon departure.
  • You will not be able to enter Dubai if you have been in South Africa within 14 days of departure to Dubai. This includes transiting in other countries within 14 days before traveling to Dubai.

Updated 11/30

  • A negative PCR test must be taken within 96 hours prior to departure to Tanzania
  • All travelers will be subjected to enhanced screening including a rapid test on arrival at a cost of US$10 per person to mainland Tanzania or US$25 per person to Zanzibar. Recommend cash payment versus payment through the links below.
  • Traveller Surveillance Form must be filled out online by ALL travelers within 24hrs of arrival. Travelers will receive a confirmation code, including a Unique Health Code, to be presented during primary screening upon arrival.

    • For Zanzibar arrivals, use this form (if not working, use the link above for mainland arrival)
  • A negative test result within 14 days is required to enter Mahale National Park in order to protect the primates

Updated 2/11

  • A negative COVID‑19 PCR test certificate is required no more than 72 hours before departure.
  • You will not be able to enter Dubai if you have been in South Africa within 14 days of departure to Dubai. This includes transiting in other countries within 14 days before traveling to Dubai.
  • You may need to take another COVID‑19 PCR test on arrival. If you take a test at the airport, you must remain in your hotel or residence until you receive the test result.
  • Click here for the most updated protocols.

Updated 2/16

  • A negative PCR test is required within 72 hours prior to departure – only printed copies are acceptable.
  • All travelers are required to complete this health form before arriving in Uganda. Select Tourism as the reason for travel.
  • A negative PCR test is required within 72 hours of departure.

Updated 12/2

  • A negative PCR test is required 72 hours prior to departure
  • A health questionnaire must be completed upon arrival

Updated 1/28

  • Proof of vaccination for COVID (in order to avoid quarantine) and negative PCR test within 48 hours prior to departure
  • Travelers must complete the Health Questionnaire on arrival
  • When in transit to or from airports, or on a day trip, between Zimbabwe and Botswana or Zambia: Travelers are exempt from the vaccination proof as long as they enter and exit from Zimbabwe on the same day. If overnighting, the traveler must provide BOTH a vaccination certificate (fully vaccinated) and a negative RT-PCR test conducted within 48 hours to enter Zimbabwe. Those under 18 years old do not require the vaccination certificate but must produce a negative RT-PCR test.
  • A negative test required within 72 hours of departure

SOCIAL DISTANCING IS THE NATURE OF SAFARI

OPEN-AIR BENEFIT
The allure of safari is being in a far-away place in an exclusive setting, which makes it the perfect location for a socially distanced getaway. In addition, most safari properties have open-air walkways with rooms that are spaced well apart and allow for natural airflow.

EXCLUSIVE-USE PROPERTIES
If you’d like to completely avoid crossing paths with anyone outside your own travel party, we recommend focusing on exclusive-use accommodations. This will eliminate any common areas that could be shared with other guests. You can view a complete directory of Africa’s Private Safari Lodges & Villas here.

PRIVATE EXPERIENCES
There are a number of ways to enhance the exclusivity of your experience on safari, such as upgrading to a private game drive, organizing a private charter, or booking a private tour.

WHAT IF SAFARI PLANS CHANGE?

If you find yourself a few months out from your intended departure date and you are still not comfortable with the thought of traveling due to COVID-19, we will go above and beyond to help you postpone your trip. This is where the power of relationships comes into play. We will negotiate with our partners on your behalf to score the best possible outcome for you.

Should you choose to cancel your trip, our normal payment terms will apply:

 
Cancellation Penalties Per Person
90+ days prior to travel Deposit Paid (30% of land costs + 100% of internal
airfare + 100% of insurance)
0-89 days prior to travel 100%

YOUR IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES & CONSERVATION IN AFRICA

In Africa, an average of seven people are dependent on one salaried family member to sustain them. Imagine the ripple effect of the loss of employment due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions. The lack of activity within camps and their surrounding wildlife reserves also makes it easier for poachers to move through normally protected areas without being noticed. This has resulted in a spike in poaching incidents within Africa in recent months. While this is certainly sobering news, it is not irreversible.

One of the greatest ways you can have an impact on Africa’s wildlife and its people is simply by traveling and being aware of where your money goes and what it supports. If you are interested in contributing directly to staff members or to anti-poaching initiatives, we invite you to make a donation to our nonprofit, Alluring Impact.

We are forever grateful for the generosity of our guests and we look forward to welcoming you back to Africa soon.