Covid-19 Update

For the past 2 years, COVID-19 has caused a great impact and has affected tourism industry worldwide and now many countries are open for travel. We understand that travelers are more careful when managing their travel plans and may have a few more questions before travelling. We are here to support you every step of the way.

As for now, several countries have relaxed their entry restrictions and airlines are also lowering their restrictions.

Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar have now also dropped some restrictions and people are able to travel and we work both hand in hand with The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania (URT) & The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar through Ministries responsible for Health both mainland and Island to enhance prevailing preventing measures against the spread of Covid-19.

How safe is it to Travel to Tanzania?

Tanzania is safe for travel and it was assessed that Tanzania’s wild areas present low risk to possible transmission of COVID-19 due to extremely low human population density, abundant fresh air and a warm, sunny climate. However, tourists would have to pass through higher risk situations such as international and local air travel and transit through cities and other areas of denser population.

Thus, the government of Tanzania has provided different measures so as to ensure safety during your visit to Tanzania as follows;

  1. All travelers including Tanzanians, returning residents and members of the crew/layovers are required to truthfully fill in an online Traveler’s Health Surveillance Form available at https://afyamsafiri.moh.go.tz/

2 (a) Travelers entering United Republic of Tanzania including Tanzanians, returning residents and those in transit through land borders, who are fully vaccinated, will be exempted from both RT PCR and Rapid Antigen Test requirements. Travelers will be required to present a valid vaccination certificate with QR code for verification upon arrival. The only accepted vaccines are those which have been approved by the URT and the World Health Organization.

(b) For travellers who are not fully vaccinated, unvaccinated and those not eligible for vaccination due to their country policy will be required to present a negative COVID-19 RT- PCR or NAATs certificate with QR code obtained within 72 hours before departure. If travelers originate from countries listed at www.moh.go.tz or Points of Entry, will be tested for COVID 19 upon arrival using a Rapid Antigen Test at their own cost of 10 USD (TZS 23,000) for Tanzania Mainland. If found positive, they will be tested with RT- PCR for confirmation, allowed to self-isolate themselves and the results will be sent via email or any other means.

(c) Not fully vaccinated/unvaccinated and have no negative COVID 19 RT- PCR certificate will be dealt as follows;

  • In case of air transport and International marine vessels will be tested for COVID- 19 using RT PCR test at their own cost of 100 USD for Tanzania Mainland. Results will be sent to them while self-isolated.
  • In case of International regional and inland vessels will be tested by Rapid Antigen Test at their own cost of 10 USD while positive will be further confirmed by RT- PCR at a cost of 50 USD for Tanzania Mainland.
  • In case of ground crossing, will be tested by Rapid Antigen Test at their own cost of 10 USD and if found positive will be handled according to Bilateral and Joint Border agreements.

(d) Children aged 5 years and below will be exempted from both RT PCR and Rapid Antigen Tests requirements.

  1. Travelers to URT who are eligible for Rapid Antigen Test as in section 2b above are advised to pay online to avoid unnecessary queue upon arrival through an automatically generated control number obtained after filling the online Traveler’s Health Surveillance Form. For those to Tanzania Mainland pay through https://afyamsafiri.moh.go.tz. The symptomatic positive Rapid Antigen travelers will be isolated for treatment at designated health facilities as per National COVID-19 Treatment Guideline.
  1. Travelers in transit by air transport are exempted from both vaccination and COVID 19 testing requirements unless stated otherwise by the conveyance to be used or countries of their final destinations.
  2. All departing travelers are advised to seek information prior to departure from travel agent regarding COVID-19 requirements of their country of destination or conveyance to be used.

What should I consider when booking my safari?

  1. If you have already booked your safari and not able to travel on the dates booked, the best option is to postpone your trip rather than cancelling your trip since you will lose your deposit. We will keep your deposit as a credit note until when you are ready to travel within 12 months from your initial travel dates.
  1. If you are on the planning process keep in mind that since 17th March 2022, the government of Tanzania officially updated the travel advisory No. 9 of 24th December 2021 to version No. 10, whereby if you are unable to travel due to Covid-19 and you have booked your safari with us later than 31st March and cancel your safari you will lose your deposit but you are able to rebook within a year with the same deposit which has been used to secure your bookings at the accommodation and other costs for operation. Apart from that, normal cancellation fee will apply as per below table;

        CANCELLATION POLICY

60 days and more, loss of the deposit (non-refundable)
60 to 45 days, 30% of the total cost
45 to 30 days, 60% of the total cost
30 to 15 days, 90% of the total cost
Less than 15 days, 100% of the total cost

ZANZIBAR ENTRY

Since March 2022, Zanzibar has presented new measurements affecting all travellers. Please read carefully the following conditions and procedures issued by the local authority and always check with your airline company for current updates

  1. All travelers including Tanzanians, returning residents and members of the crew/layovers are required to truthfully fill in an online Traveler’s Health Surveillance Form available at https://healthtravelznz.mohz.go.tz for Zanzibar within 24hrs before arrival to URT through Zanzibar.

2 (a) From March 2022 fully vaccinated travellers are exempted from RT-PCR and Antigen rapid test requirements. Travellers must present a valid vaccination certificate with QR code upon arrival. The only accepted vaccines are those which have been approved by the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar as listed at www.mohz.go.tz

(b)Not fully vaccinated/unvaccinated travellers are required to present a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test certificate with QR code is required for all travellers using a sample collected within 72 hours before arrival to Tanzania. All travelers arriving from countries listed via www.mohz.go.tz shall be subjected to rapid test at Point of Entry at a cost of USD 25 (TZS 58,500). Travellers arriving from United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be tested for Exponential Deep Examination (EDE). If found positive they will be tested with RT-PCR for confirmation, allowed self-isolating themselves and the results will be sent via email or any other means.

(c) Not fully vaccinated/unvaccinated and have no negative COVID 19 RT- PCR certificate will be dealt as follows;

  • In case of air transport and International marine vessels will be tested for COVID- 19 using RT PCR test at their own cost of 100 USD for Zanzibar. Results will be sent to them while self-isolated.
  • In case of inland vessels will be tested by Rapid Antigen Test at their own cost of 25 USD followed by RT- PCR for confirmation for positive cases at a cost of 80 USD.

(d) Children aged 5 years and below will be exempted from both RT PCR and Rapid Antigen Tests requirements.

  1. Travelers to Zanzibar who are eligible for Rapid Antigen Test as in section 2b above are advised to pay online to avoid unnecessary queue upon arrival through an automatically generated control number obtained through https://zanzibarcovidtesting.co.tz
  2. The symptomatic positive Rapid Antigen travelers will be isolated for treatment at designated health facilities as per National COVID-19 Treatment Guideline.
  3. For all arriving travelers using Fly Dubai, Etihad and Emirates, a standard fee of USD 35 per traveler shall be charged in order to get cleared of Covid-19 using the non-invasive Exponential Deep Examination (EDE) scanners at the Amani Abeid Karume International Airport (AAKIA), Zanzibar. This fee will be payable online prior to arrival via https://zanzibarcovidtesting.co.tz or equally can be paid upon arrival with the POS device or bank teller at the arrival booth. These travelers will be exempted from the Rapid Antigen Test.
  4. For all arriving travelers as in section 2 above who test NEGATIVE via the EDE scanner no further health screening will be required while POSITIVE travelers will undergo a rapid PCR test at an additional USD 110 at AAKIA.
  5. For all arriving travelers using Fly Dubai, Etihad and Emirates who wish to take a conventional PCR test conducted 24-48hrs prior to departure a fee of USD 80 will be payable online via the Zanzibar Covid-19 testing system.
  6. All departing travelers are advised to seek information prior to departure from travel agent regarding COVID-19 requirements of their country of destination or conveyance to be used.

For more information please contact us via this email info@africanbigcatssafaris.com

Emanuel Kavishe

Founder/Director