Visas, health, money and what to expect on the road in East Africa.
Visas
Most visitors need a visa for Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda and Rwanda issue e-visas online, and Kenya uses an electronic travel authorisation.
The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya on one application and suits trips that cross those borders.
Your passport should be valid for at least six months after you arrive, with two blank pages. We send the right links and an invitation letter if you need one.
Health and vaccinations
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to enter Uganda and is checked at the airport. Carry the original.
Malaria is present in most areas. Speak to a travel clinic about tablets well before you leave.
Bring any prescription medicine in its original packaging, with enough for the whole trip.
Travel insurance
Comprehensive travel insurance is a condition of booking. It should cover medical treatment, evacuation and cancellation, and any activities you plan, such as trekking or rafting.
Money
US dollars are widely accepted for tourism. Bring notes printed from 2013 onwards, in good condition, as older or torn notes are often refused.
Cards work in larger hotels and in cities. ATMs are easy to find in towns but rare near the parks.
Tipping guides, drivers, porters and lodge staff is customary. We include a suggested guide in your travel pack.
Phones and internet
Mobile coverage is good in towns and patchy in the parks. A local SIM card is cheap and easy to buy at the airport with your passport.
Most lodges have Wi-Fi, though it can be slow in remote areas.
On the road
Ask before photographing people. Dress modestly in towns and villages, and cover shoulders and knees in Zanzibar’s Stone Town.
Plastic carrier bags are banned in Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania, and can be confiscated on arrival.
In the parks, stay in the vehicle unless your guide says otherwise, and keep your voice down near animals.
Rules change. We send current advice with every booking.