So as long as you want to climb Kilimanjaro and COVID rules and restrictions are something you are happy to comply with, then it’s possible. Depending, of course, on the rules in your home country and whether overseas travel to Tanzania is possible for you.

COVID tests to enter Tanzania no longer necessary for those who are fully vaccinated!

It’s the news we’ve all been expecting – and waiting for! At last the Tanzanian government has amended their rules and, from today, there is no longer any mandatory testing for those who are already fully vaccinated.

Just to be clear – if you aren’t vaccinated, then the existing testing rules still apply.

Do remember that while this is good news for many people, you do still need to obey any restrictions imposed by your home country (or the country you’re heading to next after Tanzania). So do your research, and don’t assume that you are free from any COVID restrictions just because you’re fully vaccinated.

13 December 2021

Important news for US Citizens

The US government has introduced fresh restrictions in response to the emergence of the Omicron variant. In brief, US citizens, regardless of their vaccination status, must both have a test and a negative test result within 24 hours of travelling by air to the US.

The only alternative to this is if you have recently had COVID, and have documentation to prove that you have recovered, then you may be able to travel to the US.

You can read the official wording of this new policy here:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html

As the official test centre in Arusha (and many other Tanzanian cities) are currently promising to turn around the test only within 48-72 hours, this means that climbers will have to take their test with a private doctor/healthcare specialist in order to comply with US rules. This will be more expensive than the regular test centre fee. They may also not work as long hours as the test centre – so your itinerary in Tanzania may have to be altered so that you can visit the doctor when his practice is open.

STEPS YOU NEED TO TAKE IN ORDER TO DEPART TANZANIA

To fly out of Tanzania you need a negative PCR test, taken no more than 72 hours prior to your flight out. There are test centres in Arusha, Karatu (on the way to Ngorongoro Crater) and even in the middle of the Serengeti. The price for this test is US$50. (This was reduced from $100 on August 25th 2021; though note that the charge to have the test at Seronera in the Serengeti was always US$130; we assume this has been reduced too though are awaiting clarification on this point.) You need to book and pay for the test online beforehand. Your tour operator will help you sort this out and, if they are as good as us (!), will take you to the test centre. They should also sit with you while you take the test, and take you back to your hotel afterwards too.

So far the while testing process has, in our experience, been pretty smooth. Indeed, all of our climbers have received their test results within 48 hours of taking the test, and so have been able to fly home. But you do need to remember, at least if you’re booking your trip for this year, to build in a few days after your trek and before flying home to give yourself time to take the test, and get the result.

Fully vaccinated travelers

What if I am fully vaccinated? Do I still need to take these tests? Please see the 1 November bulletin, above. The answer depends on who you’re flying with. It also depends the country you’re flying from (and back to).

If you’re fully vaccinated it won’t make any difference to the hurdles you have to overcome to enter Tanzania. But if you’re with an airline such as KLM, they will allow you to fly home without a negative PCR test as long as you are fully vaccinated.

Of course the rules on re-entering your home country at the end of your trip are still relevant. So you may, of course, still have difficulties getting back home. Because negative COVID tests and periods of quarantine are often necessary.

But we will, of course, keep you posted if there are any developments on that front too.