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.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO GO ON SAFARI NOW?

Read our interview with our guests, who were among the first U.S. citizens to visit East Africa in August 2020 after its borders reopened to international tourists. Our guests share insights about their experience traveling to Africa in a pandemic, from international flights to what it’s like on the ground.

COVID-19 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS PER COUNTRY IN AFRICA

USA Entry Requirements (updated 1/27)

  • A negative PCR OR ANTIGEN test within 3 days of flight to USA.
  • If previously tested positive within 3 months of travel & cleared to end isolation, one can provide previous positive results + letter from a doctor stating cleared to travel. Results+Letter referred to as “documentation of recovery” (applies even when vaccinated).
  • Always check airline rules (KLM requires both PCR and antigen)

Updated 1/27

  • A negative PCR test is required within 72 hours of arrival
  • Electronic copies of results not accepted
  • A negative PCR test is required within 72 hrs of departure

Updated 1/28

  • A negative PCR test is required within 72 hours of arrival (electronic copies of results not accepted).
  • Proof of insurance and a complete Public Health Card also required on arrival.
  • A negative PCR test is required within 72 hours of departure (negative PCR test within 96 hours prior to arrival for travelers from Japan, China, Thailand, North America, South America, Canada, London Heathrow, Paris, and Frankfort).

Updated 1/27

  • A 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
  • Travelers transiting for 8 hours or less can remain in the departure lounge. For transits over 8 hours, you will be taken to a designated transit hotel.

Updated 1/27

Updated 1/27

  • Nosy Be is open however further travel by US citizens is not yet allowed.

Updated 1/27

  • A negative PCR test is required within 10 days of arrival
  • Health form to be completed upon arrival
  • Exit requirements dependent upon airline/next destination

Updated 2/15

  • Travelers entering Morocco by air must present negative test results from a PCR test carried out less than 72 hours before boarding.
    • Children under the age of 11 are exempt from this requirement.
  • All passengers must complete this passenger health form, then print and sign the form

Updated 1/27

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

Updated 2/3

  • A negative PCR test is required within 7 days of arrival
    • Proof of medical insurance also required upon arrival
  • This questionnaire must be completed before arrival
  • Exit requirements dependent upon airline/next destination

Updated 2/5

  • A negative PCR test is required within 72 hours of arrival (boarding first flight from the country of origin).
  • Another test is required upon arrival $60 (12-24hr turnaround)
    • There is a mandatory hotel quarantine for 24 hrs until the negative test received
  • Travelers must complete this Passenger Locator form within 120 hrs of departure. Negative test needed to complete the form.
  • A negative test is required within 72 hrs of each park entry and a test 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)
  • Another test is required 72 hrs of departing (unless stay was within 72 hrs)
  • For short stays, the test taken upon arrival will suffice for departure

Updated 2/18

  • US citizens can enter if vaccinated (both doses + 2 weeks after the last dose) PLUS a negative PCR test within 72hrs of arrival
  • All travelers must submit an application for approval through seychelles.govtas.com
  • Exit requirements dependent upon airline/next destination
  • For stays 10 or more days, US citizens must stay all 10 nights in a certified establishment. PCR test will be conducted on the sixth day. If the test result is negative, they will still be required to stay for 10 days, after which they will be free to continue with their planned holiday. The sixth-day test will not be required for visitors staying for 5 days or less in the country.

Updated 1/27

  • A negative PCR test is required within 72 hours of arrival
    • The test must be conducted by a certified DR/LAB and the results must have the name and signature of dr/lab that conducted the test.
    • Bring along multiple printed copies of results.
  • All travelers are required to download the COVID Alert SA application on their mobile phones.
  • Must complete the following for arrival
  • A negative PCR test is required within 72 hours of 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.
  • Travelers are required to fill out the Departing South Africa Form before exiting

Updated 3/2

  • Negative test results and certificates are not required for any travelers, but you must adhere to airline requirements
  • Arrival Declaration Form (filling out in advance is optional – provided on plane)
  • Health Surveillance Form (filling out in advance is optional – provided on plane)
  • A negative test result within 14 days is required to enter Mahale National Park in order to protect the primates
  • Exit requirements are dependent upon the airline/next destination
  • Not officially confirmed but best to err on the side of caution when entering Tanzania from Kenya as there are reports circulating that travelers have been asked for negative test results within 72hrs of entering Tanzania from Kenya.

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 1/27

  • A negative PCR test is required within 120 hours of arrival
  • Another negative PCR test is required within 120 hours of departure

Updated 3/16

  • A negative PCR test is required within 72 hours of arrival
  • A Health Questionnaire must be completed upon arrival
  • A Ministry of Health certification will be given to you by your tour operator/booking agent

Updated 1/27

  • A negative PCR test is required within 48 hrs of arrival
  • Travelers must complete the Health Questionnaire on arrival
  • A negative test required within 72 hours of departure

COVID-19 TREND’S WE’VE NOTICED ON SAFARI

Our key partners in Africa have been proactive in their approach to COVID-19 with improved health and safety guidelines designed to keep you safe when you do make it back out on safari. We’ll be able to share a specific list of safety precautions for the airlines you’ll be flying and the properties you’ll be visiting once we begin working on an itinerary for you. In the meantime, here are a few trends we’ve noticed:

  • Safety protocols are created with careful consideration and consolidation of the recommendations from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control, Would Tourism Organization, the International Air Transport Association, and health professionals with safari knowledge.
  • In some countries, in order for a property to legally open, they must pass a rigorous process and site inspection by the Ministry of Health. Properties are reevaluated by the Ministry of Health every three months.
  • Staff are required to have their temperatures taken and recorded every morning in line with government guidelines. Guests’ temperatures are also checked upon arrival and again daily.
  • All vehicles are sanitized before and after each use and drivers are required to wear appropriate protective gear.
  • Where possible, properties are providing a private vehicle. In many cases, if a private vehicle is unavailable, the vehicle capacity is limited to provide sufficient distance between groups/couples. If a group traveling together is more than four passengers, guests can share the vehicle up to a standard six.
  • All community-based activities are canceled for the foreseeable future to reduce unnecessary risk to guests, staff, and the local community.
  • Staff are using gloves to handle luggage and wipe down handles with alcohol wipes before carefully placing luggage in guests’ rooms.
  • Bottles of hand sanitizes are available in all public areas for guest use, all guest rooms, on each member of staff, and on all game activities and safari vehicles.
  • At this time, communal dining is discontinued. All dining is now offered within your travel group and set apart from one another, staggered at different times and locations to limit exposure to other travelers. Meals will be served individually plated or as a table sharing platter with bottles of water and wine left on your table for self-serving.

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 travelDeposit Paid (25% of land costs + 100% of internal
airfare + 100% of insurance)
61-89 days prior to travel50%
0-60 days prior to travel100%

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.