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Before you go on your African Safari

Travelling With Children

Botswana

New regulations came into effect from October 1st 2016 for children travelling to Botswana. Children under 18 years of age will now be required to produce an unabridged birth certificate. For more information contact the Director of Immigration and Citizenship at +267 3611301 / +267 71327608

Namibia

New regulations came into effect from April 2019 for children travelling to Namibia. Children under 18 years of age will now be required to produce an unabridged birth certificate. For more information contact the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration at +264 61 2922169

South Africa

In November 2019 the requirements for children travelling to South Africa to have an unabridged birth certificate were scrapped. This is no longer a requirement for children travelling to South Africa - the only requirement is a valid passport. Please click here to read more information on the amendments.

Visas & Tourism Levies

Passports - Very Important!

  • Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the end of your trip
  • You will need at least one blank page for each country visited
  • In case you lose your passport or have it stolen, it is a very good idea to bring a photocopy of the first 4 pages of your passport, which you then keep separate from the original.
  • You must check with each consulate of each country you will visit, prior to your departure, to confirm what the visa requirements are. Make sure you check this, way in advance of your departure to allow time to get the necessary visas.

Botswana

All tourists entering Botswana must pay a $30 USD tourism levy as of 1 June 2017. Citizens of countries belonging to the Southern African Development Community are exempt from this charge. This levy is payable at airports and border posts - basically, anywhere you might enter Botswana. Payment can be made by cash (USD) or card. 

Kenya

New regulations came into effect on 1st September 2015 and all visitors to Kenya, requiring a visa, can now apply for their visas online, prior to travel, rather than applying on arrival. The eCitizen, is an easy-to-use and efficient e-visa service, where all nationals requiring a visa can log onto the online portal and apply for their Kenya entry visa.

Kenya has also joined 40 countries in banning plastic bags, so as to reduce the impact on the environment. Please ensure you do not carry any luggage in plastic bags upon arrival in Kenya. Details and exceptions can be found in this document.

Malawi 

New visa regulations for Malawi came into effect on 1st October 2015. Please contact your nearest Malawian Embassy/Consulate regarding the fees and requirements.

South Africa

All visitors entering South Africa require a minimum of 3 blank visa (not endorsement) pages in their passport of which 2 pages must be lying face to face. Only Machine Readable Travel Documents (MRTDs) will be accepted to enter South Africa. Please note that extended passports won’t be accepted any longer.

For travellers flying via OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg luggage is restricted to regular-shaped bags. Irregular shaped bags and bags with long straps are not accepted at the check-in counters. If your bags do not meet these baggage requirements you will be given the option of having your baggage wrapped (with one flat side) at an airport approved baggage wrapping station.

South Africa – No Visas Required for New Zealanders

New Zealand passport holders no longer need to apply for a tourist visa to visit South Africa for holidays, conferences and business meetings. 

Uganda

All visitors who require an entry visa and do not yet have one can apply via an embassy or through the online application system prior to arrival. You will be required to upload documentation and make online payment as part of the visa application process.  Online applications must be made through the visa immigration website.

If you’re visiting Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya a good option to consider is the East Africa Visa.  This can be obtained via the online application system for the cost of $100. The East African tourist visa is valid for multiple entries within the three countries, and it's valid for 90 days per entry

All travellers to the Republic of Uganda MUST have a valid Yellow Fever Immunization card.

Single-use plastic banned in Tanzania

The Government of Tanzania has sent out an official notice that as from 1st June 2019, all plastic carrier bag, regardless of their thickness, will be prohibited from being imported, exported, manufactured, sold, stored, supplied and used in Mainland Tanzania.

Visitors to Tanzania are advised to avoid carrying plastic carrier bags or packing plastic carrier bags or items in plastic carrier bags in the suitcase or hand luggage before embarking on a visit to Tanzania.  A special desk will be designated at all entry points for the surrender of plastic bags that visitors may be bringing into Tanzania. Please note that in the Act it is mentioned that any plastic confiscated will be recycled in an environmental manner at the expense of the offender.

Plastic carrier items known as “Ziploc bags” that are specifically used to carry toiletries will be permitted as they are expected to remain in the permanent possession of visitors and are not expected to be disposed in the country.  

The Government of Tanzania does not intend for visitors to Tanzania to find their stay unpleasant due to the enforcement of the ban.  However, the government expects that, in appreciation of the imperative to protect the environment and keep Tanzania clean and beautiful, all visitors will accept minor inconveniences resulting from the plastic ban.

A number of other African countries have banned single-use plastic (or are in the process of banning it), including Kenya, Uganda, Namibia and Malawi. It is advisable to avoid using single-use plastic products as a rule.

Medical Requirements - Malaria & Yellow Fever

Travellers visiting East Africa & some parts of Southern Africa require a yellow fever inoculation and are strongly advised to take malaria prophylactics.

It is important to note that some countries, including South Africa and Botswana, require proof of a yellow fever vaccination from people who have travelled from or have transitted through yellow fever-endemic countries within the past 6 months.

Please speak to your doctor at least 1 month prior to travel.

The following medical guides have more information:

Passport Guidelines 

Passports need to have a minimum of 6 months validity from your return date.

Passport and tourist visa requirements are your own responsibility; please check that you have the necessary visas for the countries you will be visiting on tour.


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