This is a developing story. We will be updating this article regularly as borders open for international travel.Last updated on 6 November 2020.

Botswana

For now, all of Botswana's borders remain closed, except for residents and citizens. There are currently no commercial flights into or out of Botswana.

Our top 3 Botswana lodges:

Kenya

Kenya has lifted all internal travel restrictions and re-opened its airports to welcome international travelers on 1 August 2020. The country’s Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife has implemented a reduction in park entry fees from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.Kenya has been awarded the ‘Safe Travel Stamp’ by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in recognition of the country’s adoption of the required global health and hygiene standardized protocols.From 1 January 2021 all travelers requiring a visa will need to apply for an e-visa in advance. your Safari Expert will help with every step. For more information visit www.evisa.go.ke

Our top 3 Kenya lodges:

Malawi

Malawi's International Airport, Kamuzu is now open for international flights. All arriving passengers are required to self-isolate at the address they declare on arrival for 14 days. All arriving passengers are required to present a negative PCR COVID-19 test - any passenger arriving without one will be denied entry.

Namibia

Namibia's major airport has reopened on September 1 and is now allowing foreign tourists to arrive once again.All arrivals need to bring a negative PCR COVID-19 test no older than 72 hours prior to arrival, and must be tested again after 7 days in Namibia.

Our top 3 Namibia lodges:

Rwanda

Rwanda's airports reopened for scheduled commercial flights on 1 August 2020. Some incredible promotional offers, including discounted gorilla trekking permits, have been made available to foreign visitors until 31 December 2020.All travellers arriving in Rwanda must have a negative PCR COVID-19 certificate. Prior to arrival, all travellers must complete the Passenger Locator Form and upload their COVID-19 test certificate via www.rbc.gov.rw/travel. Upon arrival all international travelers will undertake a mandatory COVID-19 test and wait 24 hours for the result in one of the 17 certified hotels in Kigali – stays will be offered at a reduced rate.

South Africa

South Africa’s borders are open for tourism from 1 October 2020. Travel to and from certain high-risk countries will be limited and an updated list is released by the South African Government every fortnight. Although our friends in higher risk countries will have to wait a little longer to visit South Africa, we are optimistic that soon all visitors will be able to travel again. Only one land border post and three international airports – OR Tambo (Johannesburg), King Shaka (Durban) and Cape Town International Airport – will reopen to international travellers.Travellers will need to present a negative COVID-19 test on arrival, conducted within 72 hours of departure for South Africa. Travellers arriving without a negative COVID-19 test will be required to quarantine at their own cost.

Our top 3 South Africa lodges:

Tanzania

Tanzania unconditionally welcomed tourists from all nations in May, one of the earliest countries to do so. The Airport is open and ready for regional and international visitors. If passengers’ body temperatures test normal, they will be able to enter the country without being quarantined. Airlines might require prior COVID-19 testing or the presentation of a certificate of proof.

Our top 3 Tanzania lodges:

Uganda

Uganda’s international airport, Entebbe reopened to international travellers on 1 October 2020. We can currently confirm that quarantine is no longer required and that a negative PCR COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arrival into Uganda will be necessary for visitors.

Zambia

Zambia’s borders remain open but under tight screening. Travellers will have had to have a negative COVID test within 14 days of arrival, and carry a certificate to prove so. We strongly advise applying for your visa prior to your arrival to Zambia. These are being issued on arrival, but for ease on arrival, we would suggest going through the easy application process at zambiaimmigration.gov.zm.

Our top 3 Zambia lodges:

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is now open to international visitors. The opening of the borders has heralded the return of the world-renowned carriers, Emirates, Kenyan Airways and Ethiopian Airlines who operate direct international services to Harare and Victoria Falls. All travellers will be required to present a PCR COVID-19 clearance certificate issued by a recognised facility within 48 hours of departure for Zimbabwe.

Our top 3 Zimbabwe lodges:

Islands

Mauritius

There are currently no commercial flights from Mauritius. The island is scheduled to open again for international travel from 1 November 2020 – to be confirmed.

Seychelles

Only travellers from countries on the approved list from the Public Health Authority are permitted to enter the Seychelles.All foreign visitors are required to present a certificate of a negative PCR COVID-19 test, conducted within 72 hours of departure – this applies to all travellers, including infants and children
.Visitors must ensure that accommodation bookings are made only at licensed establishments that have been certified by the Seychelles Public Health Authority. Your Safari.com Expert will only book certified establishments available on www.tourism.gov.sc. All booking vouchers reflecting the entire duration of stay in the Seychelles must be presented at Immigration for verification.

Mozambique

Mozambique's borders are open for international travel and flights have been approved from Portugal, Turkey, Qatar, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa. Land borders are also open for self-drive travellers.All arriving travellers are required to provide proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours of departure for Mozambique. All travellers will undergo health screening and temperature testing.All visitors are required to self-quarantine for 10 days, followed by a COVID-19 PCR test at their own cost. Alternatively, travellers may self-quarantine for 14 days.

Zanzibar

Zanzibar is one of the Indian Ocean islands but classified as part of Tanzania. Please see travel restrictions above.