Tanzania Safari and Covid19

There is no doubt that the world has changed as a result of Covid-19.  Its impact has been far-reaching and it is difficult to find anyone who has not been affected in some way.  For Tanzania, the hardest hit area has been tourism.  At Kikore Safaris, we continue to take every possible measure to help support our clients, our staff and their families.

The Government of Tanzania has continued to implement measures towards controlling Covid-19.  Many people in the world are being vaccinated but at the same time, there are new variants of the virus still emerging.

Over the last 18 months, we have stayed in close contact with our existing clients and our accommodation partners.  Our aim is to be as flexible as possible so that safaris can go ahead at a time that is fitting for you.

Clients that have already booked safaris

What happens if I am unable to travel because of Covid-19?

• The best option at the moment is for you to postpone your trip. Clients can postpone their travel plans without any penalties providing travel is within 24 months of the Safari start date. You will need to inform us of this in writing, via email. Any deposit made may be used for the amended /postponed booking.  The final cost of the amended booking may reflect any changes in rates e.g. accommodation, park permits etc. that are applicable on the new dates. If you are unable to re-book within 24 months, or have any further questions about current or future bookings, please do get in touch with one of our Tour Consultants who will be happy to help you info@kikoresafaris

If I have to cancel my booking, can I get my deposit back?

• Unfortunately, we are not able to refund your deposit, as stated at the time of booking.  The deposit is used to secure accommodation and goes towards on-going operational costs.  The majority of accommodations are not able to accept cancellations, only postponements. We sincerely hope that you don’t cancel, but fully understand that postponement may not be an option.  If this is the case and you have insurance, your losses may well be covered. We are happy to provide any information needed by the insurance company.  We are able to keep your deposit as a credit note for future bookings, as detailed above.

How many cases of Covid-19 are there in Tanzania?

• Like many other countries in the world, it is difficult to know the exact numbers of Covid-19 in Tanzania. Testing is not widely available for Tanzanians and the Government has been inconsistent in its reporting.

What measures will be in place to ensure our safety if we come to Tanzania? 

The most recent Travel Advisory from the Tanzanian Government was released on 13^th September 2021 and any new information is reflected here:

• All travellers are required to truthfully fill in an online travellers’ surveillance form available at http://afyamsafiri.moh.go.tz for mainland Tanzania and http://healthtravelznz.mohz.go.tz for Zanzibar within 24 hours before arrival in the United Republic of Tanzania
• All travellers, whether foreigners or returning residents will be required to present a negative Covid-19 certificate upon arrival.  The test should be based on RT-PCR testing (Real Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) or Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs) using a sample collected within 96 hours before ARRIVAL to Tanzania.  The test should be done at a nationally approved laboratory.
• All travellers arriving from countries experiencing variants of concern /variants of interest, highest number of COVID-19 cases based on WHO epidemiological updates or those who have travelled through those countries in the last 14 days regardless of route taken shall be subjected to Rapid Tests at Points of Entry at their own cost (Mainland Tanzania U$D 10  / Zanzibar U$D 25).  The updated list of countries can be found at moh.go.tz or your Point of Entry into Tanzania
• Travellers to Mainland Tanzania are advised to pay for their COVID-19 rapid test online to avoid unnecessary delay upon arrival. This can be achieved through an automatically generated control number obtained after filling the online Traveller’s Health Surveillance Form and for Zanzibar at https://zanzibarcovidtesting.co.tz
• Children aged 5 years and below, travellers in transit and Aircraft crew are exempted from both RT-PCR certificate and COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test.
• Travelers with positive COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test should self-isolate at their residencies for 14 days or more until they test negative using RT-PCR test and will be subjected to strict surveillance procedures.
• Travellers who have been in transit from other countries for longer than 96 hours will be required to be re-tested by RT-PCR rapid test upon arrival in Tanzania
• All international travellers should adhere to Infection Prevention and Control measures such as hand hygiene, wearing masks and physical distancing

The Tanzanian Government has Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) which is a guide on how to serve and receive visitors from the time they arrive at the airport and during their entire stay in Tanzania.

• Airport staff will be tested for Covid-19 so that only those that are virus-free will provide services.  All attendants will have to wear face masks at all times; they will have to wear gloves and use hand sanitizers regularly.  They must ensure they observe the social distance of not less than one metre from all members of staff and guests
• All other staff members involved in tourism activities will be regularly monitored to ensure they are not infected with Covid-19.
• All visitor transport vehicles (airport transfer vehicles and safari vehicles), accommodations and other facilities used by visitors must be cleaned and sanitized before and after service in an acceptable manner.

As with many places in the world, adherence to these guidelines is inconsistent. However, Kikore Safaris will do everything possible to ensure the well-being of all our guests and staff throughout your visit here.

When is the earliest I can re-book my safari?

• You can come on safari any time.  Arriving passengers will not have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Tanzania.
• For many of our clients, you will be rescheduling a safari that had already been booked. We offered to do this free of charge; using the deposit towards your new booking.  It is important to note that whilst every effort will be made to replicate your itinerary and accommodations, it is possible that some places may not have availability on your chosen travel dates, or may not have re-opened after the pandemic.  If this is the case, we will book you accommodation of a similar standard and location.  We will, of course, consult with you every step of the way if there need to be any changes

Do I need a Covid Negative Certificate to enter Tanzania? 

• Yes (please see information above)

Will I need a Covid Negative Certificate when leaving Tanzania?

• This is normally required. Please check to see if the airline you are travelling with, or the country you are returning to, requires it. We strongly advise contacting the relevant authorities before you travel. It is possible to get a Covid-19 test in Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Karatu & Serengeti.  It takes approximately 24-48 hours to get your result and costs are approximately U$D 50-100 per person, depending on where you get tested.  If your home country or airline requires you to have a Covid-19 test, please tell your Tour Consultant and s/he will advise you on the best way to plan this into your itinerary.

We sincerely hope that these new requirements do not affect your decision to come to Tanzania.  Our main objective is to continue to keep all our clients and local community members safe. Thank you for your understanding.

Warmest wishes to you and your family and we look forward to welcoming you to Tanzania soon.