May 2021 Travel Updates: Kenya, Tanzania & Rwanda

As the safari industry fast approaches its high season on the African continent, the ORYX team continues to work hard and in a dedicated fashion with guests and service providers on our upcoming private and scheduled photographic tours.

The East African countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda are some of our most-loved and desired destinations for tours ranging from relaxed honeymoon and families safaris through to hardcore wildlife photographers partaking in both private and scheduled departures. With COVID restrictions being revised and updated regularly, ORYX Photo Tours presents to you an easy to read list of travel updates for Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda as of the first week of May 2021.

Whilst we will endeavour to keep this page as up-to-date as possible, please do contact the ORYX office for the most relevant information pertaining to your upcoming travels.

For Private Photo Tour enquiries, please email [email protected]

For Scheduled Photo Tour enquiries, please email [email protected]

KENYA TRAVEL UPDATE

1 May 2021

The Government of Kenya made several key changes to Kenya’s measures against the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The cessation of movement for five counties of Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu and Nakuru has been lifted;

• The nationwide curfew has been revised to commence at 22h00 until 04h00 countrywide effective from 1 May 2021. During this time, everyone must stay at home or indoors. The Government of Kenya has advised that passengers departing the airport after the 22h00 curfew must retain their boarding pass as proof of their arrival time which will allow for movement to their accommodation. Similarly, evidence of air passengers arriving after 10pm will enable access for drivers coming to collect passengers from the airports during curfew hours;

The following applies to all passengers arriving on international flights into Kenya:

• They should not have a body temperature above 37.5° c (99.5°f); should not have a persistent cough, difficulty in breathing or other flu-like symptoms and should have had a negative COVID-19 test carried out within 96 hours that can be verified digitally using the Trusted Travel Initiative. Persons travelling to Kenya from countries not using the Trusted Travel Initiative must use a tool made available through the Global Haven partnership for COVID-19 test result verification before travel and if from approved states they shall be exempt from quarantine;
  

• The list of approved states can be accessed here. Please do look at the list as it is regularly updated;

• All passengers must submit a mandatory COVID-19 Travellers Health Surveillance Form prior to disembarking, even if transiting. A QR code will be provided upon submission of the form, which must be presented to Port Health Officials in order to be allowed to proceed to Immigration;

• Effective 1 January 2021, Kenyan entry visas will be exclusively issued electronically, with passengers required to obtain their e-visas before departure. Those travelling can apply for single entry and transit visas on the e-visas website;

• The Kenyan Authorities have announced that all persons visiting public places such as supermarkets, open air markets, public transport and other public areas should at all times wear a face mask to reduce the chances of transmission of the virus;

• The Government of Kenya has directed that face masks must be worn in public places, except when dining, or when adhering to social distancing in hotels, gardens or on beaches;

• All bars across the country can operate until 19h00;

• Restaurants and eateries countrywide to continue with operations in accordance with guidelines issued by the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Health;

• The authorities are conducting random temperature checks in public spaces. If you show signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and are able to self-isolate, you can expect to be directed to do so. If you cannot self-isolate, you can expect to be taken into a State health facility by the Kenyan Authorities;

• In light of the eased COVID-19 related travel restrictions and resumption of international travel, the Kenya Directorate of Immigration Services announced lifting of an earlier amnesty on stay in the country effective from 14^th September 2020. Visitors must leave the country before expiry of their visas OR apply for the required Permits or Passes to regularize their stay in the country, if not Section 53(1) J of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act (2011) will take effect;

• Passengers departing Kenya whose airline or destination country requires a negative PCR based COVID-19 test are required to utilise the Trusted Travel website (or Global Haven 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 [email protected] with instructions on how to generate a Travel Code to be approved by airlines and immigration authorities on departure.

TANZANIA TRAVEL UPDATE

As of May 3, 2021

The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania has continued to implement measures towards controlling COVID-19 Pandemic.

• All arriving travellers entering the United Republic of Tanzania are required to present a negative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test carried out within 72 hours before arrival;

• All arriving travellers entering the United Republic of Tanzania will be subjected to enhanced screening for COVID-19 infection including a Rapid Test, the cost of which is USD 25 per person per test;

• All travellers entering the United Republic of Tanzania are required to complete a Traveller Surveillance Form within 24 hours before arrival in Tanzania. Travellers will receive a confirmation code, including a Unique Health Code, to be presented during primary screening upon arrival in Tanzania;

• Travellers arriving in Tanzania following a transit period of longer than 72 hours, will be subjected to a Rapid Test upon arrival at a cost of USD 25 per person per test;

• Due to the current situation of COVID-19 in India, all flights to and from India are banned until further notice;

• All travellers arriving from India, or those who have travelled through India in the last 14 days regardless of the route taken, shall be subjected to a Rapid Test upon arrival in Tanzania at a cost of USD 25 per person per test, followed by stringent contact tracing and 14 days mandatory quarantine at their own cost. The mandatory quarantine location can be selected by the traveller, from the list provided at https://moh.go.tz/en/ ; 

• Travellers arriving in Tanzania from all other countries are not required to quarantine;

• 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;

• Upon arrival, all travellers will be provided with health information cards with toll-free numbers and advised to self-monitor themselves for symptoms and signs. In the case that the traveller develops COVID-19, they will be tested and treated at designated health facilities at their own cost;

• 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, with payments made directly by travellers;
  • Dar es Salaam, USD 100 per person per test, test results available between 24 and 48 hours of sample collection;
  • Serengeti Seronera (availability depending on the guest’s location and logistics), USD 150 per person per test, test results available between 48 and 72 hours of sample collection;
  • Karatu, USD 100 per person per test and USD 15 per person per test (payable directly in cash), test results available between 48 and 72 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 per test, test results available between 48 and 72 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 1.5m apart is required at all times.

RWANDA TRAVEL UPDATE

Updated on the 24 March 2021

As part of Government measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the following is mandatory upon entry into Rwanda as of 16th March 2021:

• All travellers arriving in Rwanda must have a negative COVID-19 certificate. The only accepted test is a SARS-CoV 2 Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) performed within 72 hours prior to departure (meaning travellers must be tested and get results within 3 days of their first flight);

• Other tests, such as Rapid Diagnostics Tests (RDTs), are not accepted;

• A COVID-19 Test is not mandatory for accompanied children under 5 years;

• All travellers arriving in Rwanda must complete the passenger locator form and upload the COVID-19 test certificate before heading to the airport. Please see passenger locator form and list of designated transit hotels here;

• All travellers arriving or transiting for up to 24 hours through Rwanda will be screened upon entry and take a second RT-PCR test on arrival. Sample collection will be conducted at the airport upon arrival and waiting for the results will be at designated transit hotels. Ground handlers will book the necessary transfers and accommodation;

• Travelers will be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival at the airport. This is subject to the payment of USD 60 USD (USD 50 for COVID-19 test and USD 10 for specific logistics at the airport). For travellers who opt for a cash payment at arrival, the balance will be given in local currency (FRW). Travelers who do not use the payment methods provided on the passenger locator form may be required to pay again at arrival and claim for refund for any previous payment made;

• All travellers transiting/connecting who are not leaving the airport and those who will leave the airport to go to the designated transit hotels for less than 24 hours will be screened upon entry and are not required to take a second test. This is not applicable for transiting travellers by land borders, in that case, travellers will be tested using RT-PCR Test and wait for the results at the designated transit hotels before proceeding;

• All travellers are required to wait 24 hours for the results of their COVID-19 test taken upon arrival in a designated transit hotel. All COVID-19 prevention measures announced by the Ministry of Health must be respected during waiting the period.Please note that this is mandatory for all incoming travellers, including those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine;

• The wearing of masks in public places, physical distancing and sanitising are still mandatory;

• Movements are prohibited between 21h00 and 04h00, businesses must close at 20h00 (including restaurants);

• Restaurants and cafes remain open with a 30% occupancy limit;

• Movement between Kigali and other provinces and districts of the country is allowed.

Travel with ORYX to East Africa