All travelers (regardless of nationality) must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended departure date out of Africa (i.e. 6 months beyond the date you return home). Passports for all nationalities must have a minimum of 2 consecutive blank visa pages per country visited (endorsement/amendment pages do not count).
Visa Requirements for UK and USA Passport Holders
We’ve outlined the visa requirements for UK & USA passport holders traveling to Africa. Other nationalities should check the current entry requirements.
Please note that all other nationalities should check the current entry requirements.
01.
Botswana
No visa required.
*Travelers with children under 18 – If you are traveling into or transiting via Botswana with children under 18 years, you will be asked to show the child’s ORIGINAL unabridged (full) birth certificate in English, as well as the child’s passport. Please ensure you travel with these documents as you will be denied without them. Ask us if you are unsure what to take and there are extra requirements if traveling with only one parent.
02.
Congo
Visa required and must be obtained in advance. You may consider using a visa service company. Current cost £75 (UK passport) or US$200 (USA passport) for a single entry. For further information visit https://www.ambacongo-us.org/embassy-services/consular/visa
03.
Kenya
All travelers to Kenya are required to have an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), and this must be applied for in advance using the official website: https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en. The ETA will cost travelers US$32.50 per person, and travelers of all ages will need their own ETA. The ETA can be completed 3 months prior to your arrival in Kenya but should be completed no later than 3 days before your trip. The process of the ETA will require a photograph of yourself, a photograph of your passport, your flight itinerary, along with information about yourself and your trip. We recommend applying 4-6 weeks prior to travel. We also provide an additional service whereby we can apply for this ETA on your behalf. If you would like details of this service, please let us know.
04.
Malawi
Visa required and it is recommended this is obtained in advance. Current cost £65 (UK passport) or US$100 (USA passport) for a single entry. For further information visit www.malawihighcommission.co.uk or http://www.malawiembassy-dc.org
05.
Mauritius
No visa required.
06.
Mozambique
Visa required and we recommend this is obtained in advance. You may consider using a visa service company. Current cost £40 (UK passport) or US$160 (USA passport) for a single entry. For further information visit www.mozambiquehighcommission.org.uk or https://usa.embamoc.gov.mz/index.php/visa/
07.
Namibia
No visa required.
*Namibia with children under 18 – If you are traveling into or transiting via Namibia with children under 18 years, you will be asked to show the child’s ORIGINAL unabridged (full) birth certificate in English, as well as the child’s passport. Please ensure you travel with these documents as you will be denied without them. Ask us if you are unsure what to take and there are extra requirements if traveling with only one parent.
08.
Rwanda
Visa required and can be obtained on arrival. Currently US$30 pp. Only passport and USD cash needed on arrival.
09.
Seychelles
All travelers to Seychelles are required to have an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) and this must be applied for in advance using the official website: https://seychelles.govtas.com/en
The ETA will cost EUR10.90 per person, and travelers of all ages will need their own ETA. The ETA can be completed 3 months before your arrival in the Seychelles but should be completed no later than 10 days before your trip. The process of the ETA will require a photograph of yourself, a photograph of your passport, your flight itinerary, and information about yourself and your trip. You can apply from 4 weeks before travel.
10.
South Africa
No visa required.
*South Africa with children under 18 – If you are traveling into or transiting via South Africa with children under 18 years, you will be asked to show the child’s ORIGINAL unabridged (full) birth certificate in English, as well as the child’s passport. Please ensure you travel with these documents as you will be denied without them. Ask us if you are unsure what to take and there are extra requirements if traveling with only one parent.
11.
Tanzania
Visa required and this can be obtained in advance or on arrival. The current visa cost is US$50 pp (UK passport) or US$100 pp (USA passport), payable in US dollars (cost subject to change). If your first point of entry in Tanzania is into Kilimanjaro Airport, Dar es Salaam Airport or Zanzibar Airport, we recommend you obtain your visa in advance (prior to travel) as there can be long delays at these two airports for anyone obtaining visas on arrival. Please see separate document on Tanzania visas which will have been sent to you by email from Yellow Zebra (ask for another copy if you have not seen this).
12.
Uganda
A visa is required and must be obtained prior to departure – current cost US$50pp. Please ensure you use the official website: https://visas.immigration.go.ug We are aware that there are many third-party websites out there, but please use the official site for your visa.
13.
Zambia
No visa required. However, if visiting Livingstone and the Victoria Falls region, there is the option to purchase a UniVisa for US$50 per person, allowing multiple entry into both Zimbabwe and Zambia. We would recommend this for the flexibility to visit both sides of the border. The UniVisa is subject to availability – check with authorities on arrival.
14.
Zimbabwe
Visa required and can be obtained on arrival. Currently US$30 pp (USA) / US$55 pp (British). Only passport and USD cash needed on arrival. There is the option to purchase a UniVisa for US$50 pp, allowing entry into both Zimbabwe and Zambia (to view both sides of the falls). The UniVisa is subject to availability – check with authorities on arrival.
15.
East Africa Visa
This covers entry to Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda (providing you do not break this with another country in between). Visit https://irembo.gov.rw/rolportal/web/dgie/east-africa-tourist-visa You must apply for this from the first country you will be visiting (ie: If you first fly into Nairobi and clear immigration there before going to Uganda, you will need to apply for the visa from Kenya).
Entry/Transit rules if traveling with children
Where only one parent is accompanying or no parents are present, parental or legal consent for the child to travel is also required (e.g. an affidavit that is no more than 3 months old on the date of travel from the other parent, a court order or, if applicable, a death certificate), plus a certified photocopy of the passport of the parent not traveling. Please see the Government of Botswana’s website for the most up-to-date information for Botswana: http://www.gov.bw and/or the South Africa Home Affairs Department website for the most up-to-date information for South Africa: http://www.dha.gov.za/
Please note that Yellow Zebra Safaris cannot be held responsible for the visa, entry and vaccination requirements of any of the destinations where we operate trips; these requirements are ultimately the responsibility of our clients. The information we give you here is merely a guide, and applies to US and UK citizens only. All clients, including US and UK citizens, must contact the relevant authorities to confirm the most up-to-date information.
For more information for US citizens, please visit the US State Department website.
For more information for UK citizens, please visit the UK FCDO website.
Speak to an Expert
Let one of our Yellow Zebra specialists design
your tailor‑made African adventure