IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION
This document contains the most important information regarding your upcoming trip. To ensure that your travel to the Region is seamless, please pay close attention to all of these requirements. We do also require that the Pre-Trip Form for each adult and minor on the trip has been completed and sent to us 60 days prior to your arrival. Detailed information, resources and other points which may be of interest are included in the 'Guest Information Booklet' which has been sent to you to read at your leisure. If you have any questions about any of the information that has been provided in this document, please do not hesitate to contact either of us or your Safari Consultant.
Joe & Gillian Charleson Directors
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NOTE: Visas online are valid for a period of 3 months so please do not apply more than 90 days before your safari end date as your visa will expire before you arrive/leave the country and you will need to purchase a new visa. Issuing of visas is at the discretion of the relevant Immigration Department and EASV is not responsible for any failure for guests being issued this document. Currently visas are also obtainable upon arrival although this could be discontinued at any time and having the visa in advance may reduce the time that it takes to clear Immigration. If you choose to purchase your visa upon arrival, there is no application to fill out; you will simply need to fill out a form upon arrival at the airport and present it with your passport, appropriate cash amount and your landing card, which will be distributed on the plane before arrival. Your photograph and/or fingerprints may be taken by the immigrations official on arrival. KENYAN VISITOR'S PASS The Kenyan tourist visa also entitles travelers to free re-entry into Kenya for up to three months as long as you are not travelling outside of Tanzania and Uganda. If you are planning to re-enter Kenya (after departing one of these countries) at some point during your travels, you must ask for the “Visitor’s Pass” (in addition to your regular visa) at the time of clearing Immigration at the airport. This is stamped free of charge on your passport and will enable re-entry into Kenya without additional paper work. KENYAN TRANSIT VISA Those travelers who are flying into Kenya en route to other destinations, or on your way home, and staying for one to three days, you may purchase a Kenyan Transit Visa (instead of a single-entry visa) upon arrival. This visa costs USD20 (subject to change at any time), and again, must be paid in cash. If you are simply switching to a different flight and not leaving the airport transit area, a visa is not required. EAST AFRICAN TOURIST VISA The East African Tourist Visa allows travel between Kenya, Rwanda and/or Uganda (applicable for travel to two out of the three countries or all three) and takes the place of a separate visa for each country. The East African Tourist Visa allows you multiple entries to Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda for up to 90 days. The fee for this visa is $100 USD and it must be purchased from the country that you will be entering first. It can be purchased on arrival if you are visiting Kenya or Uganda first, but must be purchased in advance if you are visiting Rwanda first. Please contact the tourism offices listed in this booklet for more information. PLEASE NOTE: Visa fees have been fluctuating over the past few years and could increase at any time.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
IMPORTANT: It is imperative that you check with your local authorities regarding documents required for entry into East Africa, as entry requirements for your specific nationality may be different from those previously listed. East Africa Safari Ventures cannot be held responsible for any consequences that occur if travelers fail to abide by this notice. PASSPORT A valid passport is required when traveling to any country within East Africa All passports must be valid for at least six months AFTER your expected return date to your home country. All passports must have at least two consecutive blank pages for each country you plan to visit (not including endorsement pages). Pages must lie side by side when the passport is open (i.e. a left and a right hand page). We recommend that you also have two extra consecutive blank pages in case regulations change or your itinerary is rerouted for any reason. Please renew your passport before your departure if any of the above applies and contact your nearest passport agency if you require further information. East Africa Safari Ventures cannot be held responsible for any trip delays or additional costs incurred by travelers who fail to abide by these requirements. TOURIST VISA Visas are required US and UK citizens for entry into Kenya. Please visit the following website to confirm visa requirements for your specific Nationality and destinations: Kenya: http://evisa.go.ke/eligibility.html SINGLE-ENTRY VISA The cost for a single-entry visa is USD50. We recommend obtaining an electronic visa (eVisa) in advance. Please fill out an online eVisa application via the eCitizen website, www.evisa.go.ke Approval after application and payment (visa cost plus a processing fee) takes an estimated seven to ten days. Travelers must download and present a hard copy of the eVisa upon arrival in Kenya. Please provide the following contact information: Name: East Africa Safari Ventures Agent: Gillian Charleson Address: P.O. Box 1629 Karen, 00502 Nairobi, Kenya Mobile: 254-729-483777
OTHER IMMUNIZATIONS In addition, immunizations may be recommended against diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis, meningitis, polio and typhoid depending on your destination. Please consult your physician and the Centers for Disease Control. If you are traveling to other African countries either before or after your East Africa Safari Ventures safari, you will want to research the requirements of those countries as well. MEDICATIONS As it may not be possible to obtain your specific medication during your safari, plan to bring extra of any prescribed or preferred medications you take on a regular basis. Keep all prescriptions in their original, labeled containers and bring a copy of the written prescription if you have it. All vehicles and camps have their own medical kits containing first-aid material, so you only need to bring the basics, and/or special individual medicines. MALARIA The use of malaria prophylaxis is highly recommended for travel in East Africa. Malaria is widespread, and its control has become increasingly complex. Both normal and chloroquine resistant strains of malaria are prevalent within Africa. Malaria is transmitted by female anopheles mosquitoes, which are active in the evening and throughout the night, particularly when one is sleeping, sitting around campfires in the evening, or walking at dawn or dusk. Expert opinion differs regarding the best approach to malaria prophylaxis. Malarone, the first new malaria treatment discovered and developed by the pharmaceutical industry in over 40 years, offers an alternative to Larium, which can cause negative side effects. Please consult your personal physician, or a specialized travel physician, for his or her recommendation on malaria prevention medications. The best insurance against contracting malaria is to protect yourself from being bitten by mosquitoes. Following are some recommendations: Use African-strength mosquito repellents liberally—both African insect killer and African mosquito repellent are available at all of the camps (those containing DEET are usually most effective, although this substance can be hazardous to your health).
HEALTH MATTERS
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There are a few basic health matters that require special care and attention. Because we are travel professionals, not health practitioners, we can only provide recommended guidelines for your health and well-being during this safari. Please consult with your physician for additional or specific information and have them contact our office if they have any concerns. COVID-19 TRAVEL REGULATIONS When travelling to Tanzania, all travelers who are fully vaccinated shall be exempt from the requirement of a PCR test. You must show a valid vaccination card upon arrival. Please refer to the specific country details in the 'Guest Information Booklet' provided for further information. YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION Anyone visiting Kenya and arriving from an endemic country and staying for 12 hours or more, will be required to carry proof of a Yellow Fever vaccination. For a complete list of Yellow Fever endemic countries, please visit: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2010/chapter-2/yellow-fever.aspx. Please note, vaccinations should be received more than 10 days prior to travel. The World Health Organization announced in Oct-16 that Yellow Fever certificates will be valid for life and no longer expire. Therefore, if you were previously vaccinated, then re-vaccination won’t be required however you must have your certificate endorsed at your local clinic if it is older than 10 years. Where applicable, you will need to bring this certificate with you to present upon arrival. Although a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is a requirement in those cases noted above, there is a chance that you may not be asked to present it as border officials have a tendency to spot check rather than stop every individual entering the country. If you are checked and do not have your certificate, you may be denied entry so we require that you be in possession of one. You may also need to pass under a scanner that measures your body temperature. Travelers who cannot have the vaccination for medical reasons (age, allergy, pregnancy, undergoing cancer treatment, etc.) may typically provide a certificate of medical exemption (must be signed and dated by a physician on their letterhead). Consult with your travel physician for the most up-to-date information. If you are traveling to other African countries either before or after your safari, you will want to research the requirements of those countries as well. Please note that Kenya is considered a Yellow Fever endemic country and you may need to show proof of vaccination in order to enter these countries.
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Please complete and submit these forms 60 days prior to your arrival. Each traveller over 16yrs will need to complete the form. The form does also require that a copy of your passport is sent to us - it can be emailed separately. Your passport details will assist us in finalising all information for your travel and ensure that we have a copy on file in order to assist you in the case of emergency. NOTE: If there are any discrepancies between the information you provide on the Trip Form and the information on your passport, you could be denied boarding flights, entrances to wildlife parks, etc. If you have already returned your Trip Form and need to update the information you provided, please contact our office.
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TRIP FORMS
LUGGAGE: INFORMATION & RESTRICTIONS Although international airlines have varying and often generous luggage weight allowances, if you are travelling on a local scheduled or private charter flight, the airlines have enforced luggage weight restrictions as these are light aircraft and any overweight conditions create a safety hazard. If you are travelling some sectors of your trip by road, the vehicles also have limited space. Should your baggage exceed the specified limits or requirements, it is subject to behind left behind and forwarded to the ending point at your expense. LUGGAGE & WEIGHT Allowance: On all local services the luggage allowance is 15kgs (33 pounds) in soft sided bags, not a suitcase, and includes your checked and ‘carry-on’ luggage. All ‘carry-on’ luggage includes camera equipment and should be able to sit on your lap or under the seat in a light aircraft Check-in baggage: We recommend a bag that is 32 inches long x 15 inches wide x 15 inches high and may have handles and/or wheels (with one hard side – often the bottom where the wheels are attached), but rigid luggage or bags with hard internal frames may not be accommodated. Remember that wheels, etc do however add to overall weight of your bag. You may want to pack an additional flat bag that can be carried in your luggage should you intend to purchase souvenirs – this can be used for your onward international travel. Carry-on luggage: This includes camera equipment and should be able to sit on your lap or under the seat in a light aircraft. We recommend a collapsible carry-on or day pack that can also be used on wildlife drives. Please note that while the restrictions listed above are requirements stated by the airline, there is no guarantee that your luggage will be measured or weighed at every airstrip on your safari outside of the main centres. There is a possibility that you may see other travellers with hard sided suitcases and/or more weight than the restriction listed above. Enforcement of all restrictions depends on weather conditions, length of flight and total load on board. Storing luggage: If you have onward travel and need to carry additional luggage, please discuss this with your Safari Consultant who will advise, based on your schedule what arrangements can be made to store your luggage at our offices for collection after your safari. Excess: The carriage of excess baggage is at the sole discretion of the airline after taking into consideration of the aircraft being used and the number of passengers booked. When excess baggage is carried it will be charged at the prevailing freight charges and is payable at check-in and is carried strictly on a space availability basis.
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INSURANCE VERIFICATION You should bring copies of policy numbers and emergency contact information for your mandatory medical insurance, as well as any additional travel insurance you purchased. NOTE: We include an AMREF Flying Doctors membership for every guest going on safari in Kenya and/or Tanzania. AMREF Flying Doctors provides air evacuation services to Nairobi in medical emergencies across East Africa. This membership does not provide coverage for medical treatment or airlift to your home country, and carrying your own emergency evacuation and medical coverage is still a requirement above and beyond your AMREF Flying Doctors membership. You will receive your AMREF Flying Doctors membership number and contact information upon arrival in East Africa. Please refer to the Guest Information Booklet for further Health Matters to consider prior to your safari and remember to seek medical advise from your personal Physician.
LUGGAGE & INTERNAL FLIGHTS
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NOTE: Where clients are aware prior to travel that they will have excess baggage, additional freight seats can be requested and are charged according to each airlines requirement on each sector. Your Adventure Specialist will be able to provide you with a quotation for this service. This must be pre-booked and is subject to availability and approval by the airline. PERSONAL WEIGHT INFORMATION Seats on most of the light aircraft operated by local airlines are of a restricted 'utility' size and larger passengers well above an average weight (100kg/220 pounds) will find them uncomfortable. In such circumstances, it is recommended that for both safety and comfort reasons an extra seat is booked and will be charged at the child rate per passenger to which it applies In the event of a person's personal weight being above the average weight guideline, we request that you provide the weight details so that this can be taken into consideration. The airline does reserve the right to otherwise prevent the passenger from boarding without the additional seat booked. Please refer to the 'Guest Information Booklet' for further Luggage and Travel information to consider prior to your safari. Please see full Booking Terms & Conditions on our website.
Safari Service East Africa Limited operating as 'East Africa Safari Ventures' safari@eastafricasafariventures.com | Direct line: +254 (0) 722 315 159 East Africa Safari Ventures | P.O Box 1629, 00502, Kenya www.eastafricasafariventures.com
TERMS & CONDITIONS