International Traveller Updates

Please find information below pertaining to the Covid-19 protocols and regulations concerning our international guests for both Kenya and Rwanda.

Whilst we make every effort to ensure our information is accurate, please ensure that you check the latest travel requirements on the Kenya and/or Rwanda government websites and also contact your Foreign Office prior to departure for the latest up-to-date advice.

 

UPDATE ON KENYA

  • NEW All travellers arriving into Kenya MUST have an approved e-visa. Visas are no longer available on arrival. You can purchase your visa on http://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html
  • NEW Please read about the latest Kenya Government Covid-19 protocols HERE.

Governors’ guests arriving into Kenya:

  • All passengers arriving into Kenya must have a negative COVID-19 RT PCR taken within 96 hours before travel. If on arrival, their body temperature is NOT above 37.5° C (99.5°F); do NOT have a persistent cough, difficulty in breathing or other flu-like symptoms; and are from countries considered low to medium risk COVID-19 transmission areas shall be exempt from quarantine.
  • All passengers arriving into Kenya must have their Covid-19 RT PCR tests certified by the TT (Travel Trusted) system prior to arrival. Please see Kenya’s Ministry Of Health manual on how to do this; follow the steps outlined in Part Two of this document to verify your results prior to arrival into Kenya.
  • Please note that as some users of the Trusted Travel Initiative website have faced challenges when seeking to certify PCR COVID-19 test results, therefore the Trusted Travel code requirement is being enforced flexibly while the new system beds in. In instances where travellers have been unable to verify their test online through the Trusted Travel Initiative website, Kenyan Port of Health Authorities will conduct manual verification using a hard copy of a negative PCR test result that has been stamped by the test centre as well as a hard copy of the official receipt for the payment of the PCR test.
  • Any passengers arriving from countries who are not part of the Trusted Travel system must also certify their tests prior to arrival into Kenya; follow the steps outlined in Part Two of this document to verify your results prior to arrival into Kenya.
  • Kenya has outlined a list of Nationals who are not required to quarantine on entry to Kenya (although you must still produce a negative Covid-19 RT PCR test certified by the TT system), due to their country’s COVID status. Please click HERE for the list.
  • All travellers arriving into Kenya need to complete a Health Surveillance Form and obtain the associated QR code before arrival in Kenya, to show at immigration.
  • Passengers arriving on flights outside of the curfew hours (which are currently 10pm to 4am), with a valid Air Ticket and Boarding Pass shall be allowed to proceed to their hotels and/or residences. Please send us a copy of your ticket so that our drivers are able to collect you from the airport out of curfew hours.

Governors’ guests departing Kenya:

  • If your destination country requires a COVID-19 PCR to depart Kenya, we’ll be pleased to work with you to obtain a test with an authorised laboratory which will present you with a test certificate that is Trusted Travel (TT) verified. You will be required to present this to authorities on check-in at the international airport.
  • Guests departing Kenya will need to check the COVID-19 test and travel requirements of their destination country and any transit points, and discuss these with your consultant on booking.
  • Governors’ is very pleased to offer PCR Covid-19 testing in our Masai Mara properties and we’re pleased to facilitate testing in Nairobi. You can find out more about this service HERE.
  • KLM passengers: There are new regulations for passengers flying out of Nairobi, to or via the Netherlands. Passengers must arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport 4 hours prior to departure and have an additional Covid-19 test done at the airport. Please click HERE for more information on this.

Governors’ guests in transit: 

  • Transit passengers must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test, done no more than 96 hrs before their departure to Kenya.
  • After receiving a negative test result, and prior to arrival in Kenya, travellers must go online and upload their negative test certificate onto the Trusted Travel website to receive a QR code. Find out how to do this HERE.
  • All travellers arriving into Kenya need to complete a Health Surveillance Form and obtain the associated QR code before arrival in Kenya, to show at immigration.
  • If the traveller is leaving the airport or passing through immigration to collect luggage to check in on a different airline, a transit visa will also be necessary. Visas can no longer be purchased on arrival and must be arranged via the e-visa platform: http://evisa.go.ke/transit-visa.html

Onwards Travel: For itineraries requiring a second test whilst in Kenya for onwards travel to Tanzania, Zanzibar, Rwanda or Uganda, it is possible to have the PCR test whilst in Kenya. Please contact your DMC (Destination Management Company) or accommodation supplier to make the necessary arrangements to fit the timings of the itinerary.

Travel Requirements for Kenya in-country:

  • Physical distancing must be observed where possible.
  • The wearing of masks is mandatory.
  • Temperature screening before entering buildings is mandatory.
  • All hospitality staff in Kenya, including those working in national parks plus drivers and guides, will be tested for COVID-19 every two weeks. Only staff that have tested negative are allowed to work in these spheres. At our Kenya properties, the staff will be tested every two weeks and once they have tested negative will be stationed in the lodge area, with no travelling to surrounding areas in the country during these two weeks.

Air Access: During the month of August, the following airlines will commence scheduled commercial flights to and from Nairobi: Qatar, KLM, Kenya Airways, Lufthansa and Ethiopian Airlines.

Please also see our TRAVEL PLANNING page which offers further advice on preparation for your trip to Kenya and Rwanda.

 

UPDATE ON RWANDA:

NEW: From 8th – 22nd February 2021, Rwanda will have a reduced level of lockdown, with restricted movements and curfew from 7pm – 4am. These measures will not affect tourism in any way.

New: Rwanda has introduced new measures to continue to manage the pandemic, including a mandatory 7-day quarantine for arrivals. This is NOT a requirement for tourists, who will continue to best tested on arrival and quarantine for 24hrs hours only while waiting for results. Please note the change in time from 120hrs to 72hrs for taking a PCR test prior to the departure of your first flight to Rwanda. Click HERE to see the latest info for passengers arriving or departing from Rwanda.

Pre-arrival:

  • Rwanda has been added to the UK Travel Corridor list. With direct flights  from London to Kigali with RwandAir (not daily), it is now possible to travel freely between the UK and Rwanda. There is a fuel stop in Brussels, but as travellers remain on the plane, there will be no need to quarantine on return to the UK, should Brussels not have an air bridge at time of travel.
  • All travellers to Rwanda will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test (Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction from an ISO-certified laboratory), taken within 72 hours of departure for Rwanda. The results of this test must be submitted to the Rwanda Development Board before departing the country of origin and needs to be shown on arrival in the country.
  • All travellers arriving into Rwanda require to fill in a Passenger Locator Form pre arrival.
  • Prior to departure, the passenger locator form (PLF) must be completed and the COVID-19 test certificate uploaded per this link https://rbc.gov.rw/travel/
  • This page will issue a reference number that will be given to health authorities on
    arrival. All traveller information will be available on the PFL including the hotel they will be staying at on arrival.
  • Please click here for FAQs on the reopening of Rwanda.

Arrival into Rwanda:

  • A second mandatory RT-PCR test will be conducted upon arrival in Kigali to confirm the negative results of the test taken prior to arrival. Note that this will require a minimum of one overnight (24 hours) in Kigali while awaiting results.
  • If travellers are unable to get the first test prior to departure from their country of origin, they will be required to take two tests in Rwanda, allowing for a 48 hour period between tests. The cost of these is US$ 50 per person per test.
  • Sanitary protocols are followed at the airport, and travellers will be accompanied through baggage collection all the way to the vehicle for their transfer to the hotel.
  • COVID-19 tests will conducted at the hotel by the health authorities, where a dedicated COVID-19 desk will be occupied 24/7. An additional medical service fee of US$ 10 will be charged at the hotel to conduct the test.
  • For further information on payment methods, click HERE.
  • All hotels in Kigali will have a quarantine area. There are a total of 17 certified hotels, including hotels that are Wilderness-approved partner establishments. On check-in at the hotel, travellers will be allocated rooms on a quarantined floor. While travellers wait for the result of the test, they will have to stay in their rooms, including for meals.
  • A test on departure is compulsory and will cost US$ 50. We are investigating the possibility of having tests done as close to the lodges as possible, to avoid having to wait in Kigali.
  • The results for all the tests will be communicated by SMS or email using the original reference number.
  • Costs for accommodation, meals, transfers and tests in Kigali will be for travellers’ accounts.
  • There is no quarantine period if both tests are negative.
  • Should the traveller test positive, they will be taken to a medical facility for specialised care at their own cost. All travellers are required to carry comprehensive travel insurance accordingly.

Travel Requirements for Rwanda in-country:

  • Physical distancing must be observed where possible.
  • The wearing of masks is mandatory.
  • Temperature screening before entering buildings is mandatory.
  • All hospitality staff in Rwanda, including those working in national parks plus drivers and guides, will be tested for COVID-19 every two weeks. Only staff that have tested negative are allowed to work in these spheres. At Bisate, the staff will be tested every two weeks and once they have tested negative will be stationed in the lodge area, with no travelling to surrounding areas in the country during these two weeks.

Air Access: During the month of August, the following airlines will commence scheduled commercial flights to and from Kigali: RwandAir, Ethiopian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Qatar, KLM and Kenya Airways.

Gorilla trekking:

  • Wearing a mask while gorilla trekking is mandatory.
  • The maximum number of people on a gorilla trek has been reduced to 6 (used to be 8). It is also possible to book a sole-use trek for US$ 15 000.
  • Whilst at Volcanoes National Park HQ, visitors will be briefed on the safety and health measures that are to be followed in order to ensure the wellbeing of oneself and the Endangered mountain gorillas.
  • Temperatures will also be tested prior to the trek to ensure all visitors are in the recommended temperature range advised by the ministry of health.
  • To date, if visitors are turned back by park authorities for ‘medical’ reasons, their permits will be refunded.

For information on our Covid-safety procedures at each of our properties in both Kenya and Rwanda, please click HERE.