'New normal' traveling in Kenya: the requirements
… Aaaaaand most of the world is back again. Back in lockdown I mean. Not Kenya though, we have remained open and travel is still allowed. We have always been here, on Lolldaiga Hills. The camp had a surge of visitors after Nairobi’s lockdown ended and we have been so busy with guests. We have even had a couple of international bookings too, which was so fun and wonderful to be welcoming people from across the world again. Even my (Moon) parents had plans to come and celebrate Romilly’s 1st birthday with us at the camp (their first visit!) this weekend but it is not to be, with England back in lockdown after a surge of cases.
However, we are excited for a very busy December. The rain will have stopped, the sun will be shining and the grass will still be long and green (unlike March when it will have dried out a lot). We are ready for guests and will be following our strict Covid-19 rules (as discussed in this previous blog post here) and a ‘new normal’ will be here. It is funny introducing the staff with most of their face covered - even more so when I know what a big smile there is hidden under there!
Information on how traveling into Kenya can occur can be found below and will be useful for any upcoming, international guests.
The current requirements for entering Kenya (taken from the Kenyan Airport Authority website) and updated when any changes are made are as follows:
1. All arriving passengers on international flights whose 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; have a negative PCR based COVID19 test carried out within 96 hours before travel and are from countries considered low to medium risk COVID19 transmission areas shall be exempt from quarantine. Download the latest list of countries exempted from Kenya’s travel quarantine. A review of countries from which travelers will not be required to be quarantined upon arrival will be undertaken by Ministry of Health on a day to day basis.
2. Please note that it is now a mandatory requirement for all passengers arriving in Kenya to fill in The COVID-19 Travellers Health Surveillance Form. The forms must be filled online by clicking here. Passengers will be required to display the received QR codes to port health officials for them to be allowed to proceed to arrival immigration.
3. For those passengers traveling out of the country, they will be required to abide by the particular travel, health and COVID-19 related requirements of the destination country;
4. Passengers arriving on flights after the curfew, with a valid Air Ticket and Boarding Pass shall be allowed to proceed to their hotels and/or residences. Passengers departing on flights after the curfew, with a valid Air Ticket and Boarding Pass shall be allowed to proceed to their departure airport;
Kenyan Visa on Arrival
Kenyan Immigration advises all passengers requiring a Visa to enter Kenya, will need to apply online. Visa application on arrival into Kenya will also be done on-line. Cash payments for Visas on arrival will NOT be allowed. Visa Cards will however be accepted.