Travel Documents

Visa information

Each nationality has different visa requirements and it is your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid visa for your destination(s). We will assist in any questions or queries that you may have and will also provide any documentation you may require to show proof of travel.

Some visas can be obtained on arrival and you need to ensure that you have US$ cash to pay for these (post 2009 edition notes). Other visas may only be obtained at an embassy or consulate prior to travel.

Some notable examples are South Africa, Malawi and Namibia. Visas for these countries must be obtained prior to travel if a visa is required.

Please contact your agent or a visa specialist and please bear in mind that visa rules and regulations do change with little or no notice.

Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months when leaving the country (most countries) and you need a couple of empty pages in your passport.

The IATA website might be of help to you too.

 

 

Visa for Botswana

This country is visa free for most nationalities. No visas are issued at the borders. Amongst the nationalities that need to obtain the visa from the nearest embassy are most Asian nationals ( except Japanese, Singaporean  and South Korean), Colombian, Bolivian, some Central American and Eastern European nationals as well as most African nationals. If you do not need a visa then you will just get a stamp. 

Visa for Kenya

East Africa visa:

This visa covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda and costs U$100.
You will need to get this visa if you are doing a trip that starts in Kenya and covers these 3 countries, this goes for most nationalities. It is valid for 90 days and allows multiple entries. DO NOTE the visa officially becomes invalid if you leave these three countries. The exception tends to be for the Simba Sounds tour where usually Kenya officials do allow a re-entry into Kenya  from Tanzania if you are just entering to fly out from Nairobi after the tour.  This visa needs to be applied and paid for online before travelling through:https://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html

If you are coming from Uganda or Rwanda on your tour, you should have already obtained the East African visa from Uganda or Rwanda Immigration respectively, and can enter Kenya with this visa.

Kenya visa

Most nationalities don’t need a visa for Kenya anymore but you need to apply for the Electronic Travel Authorization, this needs to be applied and paid for online before travelling though the following link: https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en  Costs US$34 pp
This document is valid for 3 months and does allow one re-entry if you have not left East Africa. This visa is best for those just travelling in Kenya and/or Tanzania. And not visiting Uganda or Rwanda. 
Citizens from Hong Kong travelling in East Africa need just a Kenya visa as Uganda and Rwanda are visa free.
South Africans and most other African nationals as well as Singaporean nationals are visa free.

Kenyan transit visa

If you are staying in Kenya for less than 3 days and are leaving through a different border than you entered through (eg of you fly into Nairobi and then travel to Tanzania on tour within three days, or travel from Tanzania straight to the airport) then you can obtain this visa which is U$25.
This visa also needs to be applied and paid for online through this link: https://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html
The East Africa visa/Kenya visa is a full page visa.

Visa for Namibia

This country is visa free for Western European, Canadian, American, Australian, New Zealander, Brazilian, Japanese, Singaporean, Hong Kong, Russian and SADAC nationals. Nationalities who need to obtain a visa beforehand through the embassy are most South American, Central American, Asian, Middle East ( including Israel) and African nationals.
NOTE: A visa can only be obtained through the embassy that serves your country of official residence. It is not possible to obtain this visa at another embassy for example if you are travelling.
If you do not need a visa then you will just get a stamp.

Visa for South Africa

This country is visa free for most nationalities with a few exceptions. New Zealanders in particular are required to obtain a visa beforehand through the embassy in their country of official residence. NOTE: If you are a New Zealander living in the UK it currently appears, the visa can only be applied for within 3 months of arrival and you must have a valid residence permit for the UK to be able to obtain the South African visa.
Other nationalities who need to pre apply for the visa are: Colombians, some Central American, most Eastern European and Asian as well as most African nationals.
If you do not need a visa then you will just get a stamp.

Visa for Uganda

East Africa visa: 

This visa again covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda and costs U$100. It is valid for 90 days and allows multiple entries, but note that once you leave these 3 countries the visa becomes invalid,  also if you travel to Tanzania. Before arrival into Uganda you need to pre apply and pay for this visa online through this link:  https://visas.immigration.go.ug/#/.  You are required to upload a copy of the following:

  • passport copy
  • passport size recent picture
  • yellow fever certificate copy
  • copy of the itinerary ( you can get this from our website)
  • copy of your flight ticket

Word files are not accepted and the files should be no bigger than 250 KB

For the following questions this is the information you need:

  • Contact in Uganda: Red Chili Hideaway Tel: 00256 312 202903
  • Purpose of visit: tourism
  • Date of arrival:  date you arrive in Uganda ( when you come from Kigali/Rwanda this will be the start date of the tour, for other trips check with us)
  • Point of entry: Entebbe ( when you come from Rwanda it is Cyanika)
  • Duration of stay: 1 month

If you are coming directly from Kenya (or Rwanda) on your tour, you should have already obtained the East African visa from Kenyan immigration (or Rwanda Immigration if you are not from a Commonwealth/Francophone country and need a visa for Rwanda), and can enter Uganda with this visa. 

Uganda visa:

This visa also needs to be pre applied for before arrival into Uganda and is U$50 for almost all nationalities. You can apply and pay for this visa online through the following link:  https://visas.immigration.go.ug/#/ For the details see the section under the East Africa visa. This visa is valid for 3 months and usually does allow one re-entry if you have not left East Africa. This visa is best for those only visiting Uganda and then Rwanda or for those on a tour that travels from Rwanda to Uganda and back who do not require a visa for Rwanda ( Commnwealth and Francophone nationalities). The same details as above can be used for applying. Irish, Singaporean and Hong Kong nationals are visa free. 

The East Africa visa/Uganda visa is a full page visa.

Visa for Rwanda

East Africa visa: 

This visa covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda and costs U$100. It is valid for 90 days and allows multiple entries. If you are starting your tour in Rwanda then you can either get this visa on arrival or apply for this visa online through this link: https://irembo.gov.rw/rolportal/en/web/dgie/newhome

Travelling on tour from Kenya and/or Uganda you should have already obtained this visa from Kenyan or Ugandan Immigration respectively and can enter with this visa.

Rwanda visa:

This visa allows one entry and is U$50. It is a 30 day visa and can be obtained at the borders by all nationalities Citizens from the Commonwealth such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, UK, Belgium, France, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland and South Africa are visa free. The East Africa visa is a full page visa. The Rwanda visa is a small stamp.

Visa for Seychelles

Most nationalities can enter the Seychelles free of charge. However, everyone traveling to the Seychelles, should apply via this website https://seychelles.govtas.com/ before traveling.

Visa for Tanzania

This visa can be obtained by almost all nationalities at all borders and international airports. The cost is U$50 for most nationalities. Americans and Irish are U$100. This visa will allow one re entry if you stay within East Africa and within 30 days of when the visa was issued, so for example if you climb Kilimanjaro and then travel to Nairobi to do a trip that commences in Kenya and later travels to Tanzania you can then usually re enter on the same visa. Hong Kong, Singaporean, South African and most other African nationals are visa free. If you prefer to apply online, you can do this directly via https://visa.immigration.go.tz/
The Tanzania visa is a full page visa. 

Important Update: Zanzibar Mandatory Inbound Travel Insurance from 01 October 2024

Starting, 01 October 2024, Zanzibar requires all visitors to the island to obtain the ‘Mandatory Inbound Travel Insurance’ from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC) for the duration of their stay (up to 92 days). The mandatory insurance costs USD 44 per person and must be purchased in advance and in addition to any existing travel insurance you may possess. Failure to comply with this mandatory requirement may result in you being denied entry to Zanzibar. 
For more information or to purchase the ‘Mandatory Inbound Travel Insurance’ please visit: https://visitzanzibar.go.tz 

Visa for Malawi

For Malawi an applicstion needs to be made for an e-visa before arrival at the border. The application can be done through this link: https://www.evisa.gov.mw/ The visa is U$50.
Hong Kong, Singaporean, South African and most other African nationals are visa free. 
The Malawi visa is a full page visa.

Visa for Zambia

Zambia visa:

This visa can be obtained by almost all nationalities at all borders and international airports. The cost is U$50. A double entry visa is U$80

Univisa:

This visa covers both Zambia and Zimbabwe and can be obtained at Lusaka and Livingstone airports as well as the Kazangula and Victoria Falls land borders. The cost is U$50. Nationalities that cannot obtain a visa for Zimbabwe at the border are also not eligible for this visa and need to get both visas separate.
If you are on a tour coming from Malawi you will not be able to obtain this visa.
For tours starting in Lusaka and visiting Zimbabwe you can obtain the visa at the airport.
Hong Kong, Singaporean, Irish, South African and most other African nationals are visa free.
The Zambia visa is a full page visa.

Visa for Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe visa:

This visa can be obtained by certain nationalities at the borders and international airports. The cost is U$30 for most nationalities, U$55 for British and U$75 for Canadians. Certain nationalities need to pre apply for this visa online through this link: https://www.evisa.gov.zw/To check which of the above applies to your nationality you can check out the list here: https://www.evisa.gov.zw/#/VisaRegime

Univisa:

This visa covers both Zambia and Zimbabwe and can be obtained at Harare and Victoria Falls airports as well as the Kazangula and Victoria Falls land borders. The cost is U$50. 
Nationalities that cannot obtain a visa for Zimbabwe at the border are also not eligible for this visa and need to get both visas separate. 
If you are on a tour from Johannesburg or Victoria Falls travelling north then you can get this visa.
Also if you are starting a tour in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe but arriving by plane flying into Livingstone this visa will give you a saving as well.
Hong Kong, Maltese, Singaporean, South African and most other African nationals are visa free.
The Zimbabwe visa/Univisa is a full page visa

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Travel Information

We consider it our duty to let you well prepared board the airplane to start your journey to Africa. Many of our tours come with a Tour Dossier with additional information for your trip. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Below are some guidelines to get you started with your preparations. 

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