As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, 36 African countries closed their borders to international travel. Another 8 countries suspended flights from countries with high Covid-19 transmission. Now these countries are slowly re-opening their borders and allowing international flights to resume in a bid to rejuvenate their economies.
Be mindful that many countries still have mandatory mask and social distance requirements, as well as prohibitions on mass gatherings and/or public transportation which may limit some tourism options. Also, be sure to check with country embassies for detailed information regarding entry, testing and quarantine requirements, as information is subject to quickly change.
* Current as of November 11, 2020. Below is a list of current and future planned border re-openings. Check back often as we will update the list as information becomes available.
Current Border Openings
Seychelles – June 1: air borders open for tourists from select countries, charter flights only, commercial flights commencing Aug. 1, negative Covid test from 48 hours or less from time of arrival
Tanzania – June 1: normal border rules apply, no mandatory 14-day isolation or quarantine period
Equatorial Guinea – June 15: phased reopening of air borders, land and sea borders remain closed until further notice, negative Covid test from 48 hours or less from time of arrival, social distancing rules in place
Zambia – June 25: negative Covid PCR test within 14 days of departure required, retesting on arrival if passenger has symptoms or temperature above 38C/100F, mandatory masks and social distancing required
Tunisia – June 27: air, land and sea borders open to select travelers based on country risk assessment, mandatory masks, hygiene and social distancing policies in place.
Egypt – July 1: foreign tourists may only visit the South Sinai, Red Sea, and Matrouh provinces and select resorts. Proof of valid health insurance is required.
Gabon – July 1: air borders open, land and sea borders closed, limited international flights allowed, mandatory face masks and social distancing policies in place, curfew from 8 pm – 5 am.
Liberia – July 1: air borders open, negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival, temperature scan, health check, and retesting may occur upon arrival, mandatory 14-day quarantine for anyone positive on arrival
Morocco – July 14: air borders open for Moroccan national and legal residents only, both a PCR virus test taken within 48 hours or less from time of arrival AND an antibody test are required, mandatory face masks and social distancing policies will remain in place
Senegal – July 15: air borders open, land and sea borders will remain closed until further notice, reciprocal ban on tourists from EU and other countries who have banned Senegalese travelers, negative Covid PCR test within last 7 days required or test on arrival, health declaration form must be completed on arrival, mandatory masks and social distancing rules in place.
Sierra Leone – July 22: air borders open, tourists must have negative Covid PCR test from 72 hours or less from time of departure and be tested again on arrival, must prepay for Covid testing online before arrival, mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine will be required – at traveler’s expense – if traveler tests positive on arrival, mandatory masks and social distancing rules in place, curfew 11 pm to 5 am, departing passengers also must have negative Covid test from 72 hours or less from time of departure or travel will not be allowed
Chad – August 1: air borders open for international flights, must have negative Covid PCR test dated 72 hours or less from arrival, passports confiscated upon arrival and 7 day self quarantine at passenger expense, retest required on 7th day and passports returned after final negative test result
Ethiopia – August 1: air borders open, land borders closed. Negative PCR test within 5 days of arrival and upon arrival, must self-quarantine for 14 days. Passengers arriving without a negative PCR test must quarantine at government designated hotels for 7 days at their own expense and be retested at end of quarantine period
Kenya – August 1: air borders open for international tourists, negative Covid test from 72 hours or less from time of arrival, temperature check, and health questionnaire, 11:00 pm to 4:00 am curfew.
Rwanda – August 1: air borders open, tourists must have negative Covid test from 72 hours or less from time of arrival and be tested again before visiting any tourist attraction or embarking on any tour/trek, negative test results must be emailed to lab@rbc.gov.rw before departure and a copy provided on arrival
Togo – August 1: air borders open, land borders closed, negative PCR test within 72 hours of scheduled departure, additional test upon arrival and travelers must quarantine in their hotel until negative results return, online immigration form required, must also download a contact tracing app.
Benin – August 10: air borders open for limited commercial flights, essential travel only at land borders, passports confiscated upon arrival, three Covid tests required at cost of 100,000 CFA, 3 day hotel quarantine at passenger expense, passports returned after day 15 upon final negative test result.
Democratic Republic of the Congo – August 15: air borders open, negative PCR test within 72 hours of scheduled departure, temperature screening at airport, possibility of retesting and quarantine, face masks and social distancing required
Mozambique – August 20: air borders open, both a PCR test taken within 72 hours departure AND a second PCR test after 10-day mandatory quarantine are required, 2nd test can be avoided with a 14-day quarantine, NO Airport or border are being issued, so only those with valid existing visas or residence permits will be permitted to enter, mandatory face masks and social distancing policies will remain in place
Namibia – September 1: tourists from carefully selected low-risk markets, negative Covid-19 PCR test taken 72 hours or less before arrival, quarantine for 7 days at own expense and retesting on 7th day required.
Ghana – September 1: air borders open, negative PCR test within 72 hours of scheduled departure AND mandatory retest upon arrival at cost of $150 USD, temperature screening at airport, face masks and social distancing required
Nigeria – September 5: air borders open, negative Covid PCR test required within 96 hours of scheduled departure (from certain countries tests only accepted from specified laboratories), mandatory quarantine for 7 days and retesting required on 7th day after arrival at passenger’s expense, online health questionnaire and test payment must be completed with copy on arrival, temperature screens, masks, social distancing and other safety protocols in place.
Cote d’Ivoire – September 24: air borders open, land borders closed, negative PCR test within 7 days of arrival and within 7 days of departure for passenger from certain countries, mandatory online health declaration form and fee with printed copy on arrival: https://deplacement-aerien.gouv.ci/#procedure, temperature/symptom screening upon arrival, masks, social distancing and other safety protocols in place.
South Africa – October 1: air borders open for tourists from low risk countries only, negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival, mandatory travel insurance required, temperature/symptom screening upon arrival, travelers from high risk countries are banned for tourist travel: https://www.gov.za/speeches/minister-aaron-motsoaledi-re-opening-borders-and-ports-entry-international-travellers, if a traveler has spent 10 days or more in a low risk country before departure, he/she is deemed to be arriving from a low risk country
Uganda – October 1: air borders open for all tourists, negative PCR test within 72 hours of scheduled departure and 120 hours prior to departure from Uganda, temperature/symptom screening and fingerprinting upon arrival, mandatory masks and social distancing required, nationwide curfew from 9:00 pm to 6:00 am daily.
Zimbabwe – October 1: air borders open to tourists, negative PCR test within 48 hours of scheduled departure, temperature/symptom screening upon arrival
Cape Verde – October 12: air borders open to tourists, negative PCR test within 72 hours of scheduled departure, online health surveillance form and online Airport Security Tax form must be completed prior to travel, temperature/symptom screening upon arrival
Gambia – Air borders are open for international tourists on October 31. Land and sea borders are open effective October 16, 2020, negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival, temperature/symptom screening upon arrival, mandatory 14-day quarantine for travelers with rapid tests or those whose tests don’t fall within the required timeframe
Botswana – November 9: phased reopening thru December 1, 2020. International airports in Gabarone and Maun open on Nov. 9 and at Francistown on Dec. 1, certain land borders open on Dec. 1, negative PCR test within 72 hours of scheduled departure, temperature/symptom screening upon arrival, must self monitor and maintain contact with local health authority for 14 days
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