Any applicable visas and/or relevant documentation are ultimately the traveler’s responsibility, as Piper & Heath cannot meet the entry requirements or procure visas on anyone’s behalf. This is especially true for those on non-US passports or for minors, as these often have additional requirements. That being said, we want to assist you in every way that we can! Please carefully review the information below and let us know any questions. Around a month prior to your trip, we will initiate a further discussion about entry requirements, and we recommend waiting until then to pursue any visas.
Below is information regarding each country’s current requirements for entry, but please note that there are occasional reports of these things being enforced inconsistently at the borders. We encourage you to be familiar with the entry requirements for each country that you will be visiting, so that, should you be told something different upon arrival, you can discuss with the immigration official what are the true regulations for entry.
*Please be sure that your passport is valid for at least six months past the end date of your travels and has at least two consecutive blank visa pages for each country you will be visiting (endorsement pages do not count). You should plan to pay any on-arrival visa costs in USD cash.
Travelers on US passports do not require a visa for South Africa but will receive a free entry stamp upon arrival.
(This information was last updated 3/21/2025.)
Travelers on US passports do not require a visa for Botswana but will receive a free entry stamp upon arrival.
Special Requirements for Minors: Botswana imposes these additional regulations for minors (children under 18 years of age).
- When a child is traveling with both biological parents, the parents must produce a birth certificate that identifies both parents for the child. (It is our recommendation that you travel with an original birth certificate.)
- When a child is traveling with just one biological parent, the parent must produce a birth certificate for the child as well as an affidavit from the non-traveling parent permitting travel plus a copy of that parent’s identity documents (e.g. passport); alternatively, you must provide a court order granting full parental rights to the traveling parent or a death certificate for the non-traveling parent.
- When a child is traveling without either biological parent, the person traveling with the child must produce a birth certificate for the child as well as an affidavit from both biological parents permitting travel, copies of identity documents (e.g. passports) for the parents, and contact details for the parents.
(This information was last updated 3/21/2025.)
As of April 2025, most nationalities, including travelers on US passports, require a visa in order to enter Namibia, and this can be obtained upon arrival in Namibia; the current cost is NAD 1,600 (about $90) per person. Alternatively, you may apply for your visa ahead of travel using Namibia’s e-visa website (https://eservices.mhaiss.gov.na/visaonarrival).
Special Requirements for Minors: Namibia imposes these additional regulations for minors (children under 18 years of age).
- When a child is traveling with both biological parents, the parents must produce a birth certificate that identifies both parents for the child. (It is our recommendation that you travel with an original birth certificate.)
- When a child is traveling with just one biological parent, the parent must produce a birth certificate for the child as well as an affidavit from the non-traveling parent permitting travel plus a copy of that parent’s identity documents (e.g. passport); alternatively, you must provide a court order granting full parental rights to the traveling parent or a death certificate for the non-traveling parent.
- When a child is traveling without either biological parent, the person traveling with the child must produce a birth certificate for the child as well as an affidavit from both biological parents permitting travel, copies of identity documents (e.g. passports) for the parents, and contact details for the parents.
(This information was last updated 3/21/2025.)
Most nationalities, including travelers on US passports, require a visa in order to enter Zambia, and this can be obtained upon arrival in Zambia; as of November 2022, the visa is provided free of charge.
(This information was last updated 3/21/2025.)
Most nationalities, including travelers on US passports, require a visa in order to enter Zimbabwe, and this can be obtained upon arrival in Zimbabwe; the current cost is $30 per person.
(This information was last updated 3/21/2025.)
Most nationalities, including travelers on US passports, must utilize Kenya’s online system (https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en) to obtain a “travel authorization” prior to arrival; the current cost is $34 per person. Applications are normally approved within three working days. You should apply for the travel authorization not more than three months from your expected arrival date. You should take a printed copy of the approval document on the trip.
(A single travel authorization will suffice for multiple entries into Kenya if you are only visiting other East African countries in between (e.g. Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda). If your itinerary includes multiple entries into Kenya and you are visiting countries in Southern Africa in between, then you need to complete a separate travel authorization for each entry into Kenya.)
*Yellow Fever Vaccination – While Kenya does not require proof of yellow fever vaccination for its own sake, because it is considered to have some risk for yellow fever, any African country you enter after Kenya can technically demand to see proof of yellow fever vaccination. Furthermore, we continue to receive sporadic reports of yellow fever vaccination being requested when entering from one East African country into the other. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that anyone with any combination of Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda in their itinerary (in any order) travel with proof of vaccination for yellow fever.
(This information was last updated 3/21/2025.)
Most nationalities, including travelers on US passports, require a visa in order to enter Tanzania, and this can be obtained upon arrival in Tanzania; the current cost is $100 per person. Alternatively, you may apply for your visa ahead of travel using Tanzania’s e-visa website (https://visa.immigration.go.tz/). *It is difficult to predict whether having your visa ahead of travel will mean shorter lines in the airport upon arrival in Tanzania. Note that the e-visa is technically only accepted at JRO, DAR, and ZNZ airports—travelers arriving via other ports of entry (e.g. Mwanza or Migori/Tarime) should plan to get their visa upon arrival in Tanzania. Those who apply for their visa ahead of time using this system should then travel with a printed copy of the e-visa approval.
*Zanzibar Insurance Corporation – As of October 2024, travelers must acquire insurance through the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation prior to arrival in Zanzibar. (This is in addition to any other travel insurance that travelers may already have.) You must apply for the insurance using this new website: https://visitzanzibar.go.tz/. The current cost is $44 per adult and $22 per child (ages 3-17; children ages 0-2 are free).
*Yellow Fever Vaccination – When you are entering from Kenya, Tanzania technically requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for entry. Furthermore, while Tanzania does not otherwise require proof of yellow fever vaccination for its own sake, we continue to receive sporadic reports of yellow fever vaccination being requested when entering from one East African country into the other. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that anyone with any combination of Tanzania, Kenya, and Rwanda in their itinerary (in any order) travel with proof of vaccination for yellow fever.
(This information was last updated 3/21/2025.)
Most nationalities, including travelers on US passports, require a visa in order to enter Rwanda, and this can be obtained upon arrival in Rwanda; the current cost is $50 per person. Alternatively, you may apply for your visa ahead of travel using Rwanda’s e-visa website (https://irembo.gov.rw/user/citizen/service/dgie/request_a_visa).
*Yellow Fever Vaccination – While Rwanda does not require proof of yellow fever vaccination for its own sake, we continue to receive sporadic reports of yellow fever vaccination being requested when entering from one East African country into the other. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that anyone with any combination of Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania in their itinerary (in any order) travel with proof of vaccination for yellow fever.
(This information was last updated 3/21/2025.)
Most nationalities, including travelers on US passports, require a visa in order to enter Uganda. Uganda currently requires that this visa be applied for and approved prior to arrival in the country, and application should be made via Uganda’s e-visa website (https://visas.immigration.go.ug/). The current cost is $50 per person. As part of the application process, various documentation must be uploaded into the system. Visa approval is received via email normally within 48 hours. A printed copy of the approval document should be taken on the trip.
*It is important that travelers do not apply for their visa too far in advance of their trip, as the visa becomes effective as of the approval date and is then valid for 90 days. It is our recommendation that guests wait to apply until within two months of their trip, and then during the application process applicants should select the longest effective window possible.
*Yellow Fever Vaccination – Uganda requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for entry; furthermore, any African country you enter after Uganda can technically demand to see proof of yellow fever vaccination.
(This information was last updated 3/21/2025.)
Travelers on US passports do not require a visa for Seychelles but will receive an entry stamp upon arrival.
Travel Authorization Form – Travelers must complete the Travel Authorization form (https://seychelles.govtas.com/) prior to arrival in Seychelles. As part of the process, you will upload various documentation including a photo of your passport, a photo of yourself, your hotel reservation (or itinerary file), your flight itinerary, and proof of yellow fever vaccination (if required). Application must be made no more than 30 days prior to arrival, and we recommend applying at least 5 days prior to arrival. Standard processing of the application normally takes about 24 hours and costs 10 Euro; there is the option of “premium” processing (less than 6 hours) for 30 Euro and “urgent” processing (less than 1 hour) for 70 Euro.
*Yellow Fever Vaccination – Like all African countries, Seychelles technically requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for entry if you are arriving from a yellow fever endemic country. (This is called out here because Kenya is considered to have risk for yellow fever, and many travelers visit Seychelles after having been in Kenya, in which case yellow fever vaccination is required for entry into Seychelles.)
(This information was last updated 3/21/2025.)
Travelers on US passports do not require a visa for Mozambique, but an administrative fee of about $12 (MZN 650) will be paid upon arrival. Mozambique also technically requires that travelers carry a letter of invitation from their accommodation, though this is rarely requested; an invitation letter will be provided to you as part of your final documents.
Special Requirements for Minors: There have been sporadic reports of additional documentation being requested for minors (children under 18 years of age). It is our strong recommendation that the following regulations be followed.
- When a child is traveling with both biological parents, the parents must produce a birth certificate that identifies both parents for the child. (It is our recommendation that you travel with an original birth certificate.)
- When a child is traveling with just one biological parent, the parent must produce a birth certificate for the child as well as an affidavit from the non-traveling parent permitting travel plus a copy of that parent’s identity documents (e.g. passport); alternatively, you must provide a court order granting full parental rights to the traveling parent or a death certificate for the non-traveling parent.
- When a child is traveling without either biological parent, the person traveling with the child must produce a birth certificate for the child as well as an affidavit from both biological parents permitting travel, copies of identity documents (e.g. passports) for the parents, and contact details for the parents.
(This information was last updated 3/21/2025.)
For travelers on US passports, a stay of less than 14 days in Madagascar does not require a visa but an administrative fee of about $11 will be paid upon arrival. For stays of more than 14 days (but less than 30 days), a visa is required, and this can be obtained upon arrival in Madagascar; the current cost is $37 per person. Alternatively, you may apply for your visa ahead of travel using Madagascar’s e-visa website (https://evisamada.gov.mg/en/).
(This information was last updated 3/21/2025.)
Most nationalities, including travelers on US passports, require a visa in order to enter Ethiopia. Ethiopia currently requires that this visa be applied for and approved prior to arrival in the country, and application should be made via Ethiopia’s e-visa website (https://www.evisa.gov.et/visa) to obtain their visa prior to arrival in the country. The current cost is $82 per person. As part of the application process, various documentation must be uploaded into the system. Visa approval is received via email normally within three working days. A printed copy of the approval document should be taken on the trip. You should apply for the travel authorization not more than three months from your expected arrival date.
(This information was last updated 3/21/2025.)
Travelers on US passports do not require a visa for Malawi but will receive a free entry stamp upon arrival.
(This information was last updated 3/21/2025.)
