We are excited to share with you some recent updates to the Southern Africa region’s entry requirements that will enable your clients to travel stress free through our beautiful destinations.

South Africa has opened its borders to all but 22 countries (significantly reduced from the initial 57 countries listed) Please click HERE to view the official revised list of high-risk countries currently not able to travel to South Africa for leisure. This list is revised every two weeks. If the passport of a traveller from a high-risk country indicates that they have spent 10 days or more in a low-risk country before departure, they will be considered to be arriving from a low-risk country and subject to the low-risk entry requirements.

Health screening and COVID-19 protocols

• Arriving passengers must present a valid certificate of a negative COVID-19 PCR test, obtained not more than 72 hours (3 days) from the time of departure for South Africa. The test must be conducted by a certified medical practitioner and the certificate must have the name and signature of the practitioner who conducted the test.

 • Arriving passengers will be screened for any COVID-19 symptoms and/or for contact with people who have been infected with the virus.

 • Arriving passengers will be asked to download the COVID Alert South Africa mobile app – more information here.

• All foreign national visitors must have travel insurance that covers the cost of any testing or quarantine.

Mandatory quarantine

Not required unless:

• Arriving passengers fail to present a valid and negative COVID-19 PCR test. This will require quarantine at own cost.

• Travellers display any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in contact with an infected person. A mandatory COVID-19 test will be required at their own cost. If this test result is positive, travellers will be subjected to a 10-day quarantine at a designated site, at their own cost.

Great news: Namibia has opened its borders to all countries and travellers! For international travellers looking to visit South Africa but unable to travel directly because they are coming from a ‘high risk’ country then Namibia is a perfect stop over. Why not offer your clients wishing to visit South Africa a 10 day add on to Namibia so they can meet the South African entry requirements, and enjoy an incredible 10 day visit to Namibia!

Health screening and COVID-19 protocols 

• All passengers arriving on international flights must present a negative PCR COVID-19 test result, conducted within 72 hours of boarding the flight to Namibia. 

• All travellers will undergo health screening and temperature testing, and must submit their full itinerary on arrival. 

• Re-testing after 5 days in the country is NO LONGER required. 

Mandatory quarantine

 • Not required, unless a traveller's PCR test is older than 72 hours (but less than seven days) – supervised quarantine of seven days is then required.

Zimbabwe is open to international travel, via its International Airports only at present, land borders remain closed.

Health screening and COVID-19 protocols

• All travellers will be required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate, obtained from a recognised facility within 48 hours of departure for Zimbabwe.

 • All travellers will undergo health screening and temperature testing.

 • Social distancing, hand sanitisation and the wearing of masks are mandatory.

 Mandatory quarantine

 • Not required unless travellers show symptoms of the virus or don't have a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate on arrival – they are then required to stay at a designated isolation facility for 7 days, then self- isolate for another 7 days. A fee of $60 will be levied on travellers tested at ports of entry. Isolation is at travellers’ own cost.

Zambia is open to foreign nationals and issuing visitor visas upon entry into the country. Depending on your nationality, travellers can arrive without a visa, obtain a visa on arrival, or apply for an e-visa before travelling to Zambia – visit the Zambia Department of Immigration website for more info.

 Health screening and COVID-19 protocols

 • All arriving passengers must have a certificate of a negative COVID-19 test that has been conducted within 14 days of arriving in Zambia.

 • Visitors will be expected to adhere to COVID-19 regulations like physical distancing, wearing face masks, and personal hygiene. They will also need to monitor themselves daily for 14 days post arrival for symptoms of the virus and report any occurrence to the nearest health facility.

Mandatory quarantine

 • All international visitors are screened on arrival. If you show any signs of COVID-19, you will have to quarantine for 14 days.

The latest encouraging news comes from Botswana who announced this past Friday that their borders will open from 01 November to private charter flights, we are still waiting for further details regarding more specific travel restrictions and regulations.

Mozambique still has a 10-day mandatory quarantine period in place; however their borders are open to international visitors. 

 Health screening and COVID-19 protocols

 • All arriving travellers are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result, conducted in their country of origin within 72 hours of departure for Mozambique.

 •  All travellers will undergo health screening and temperature testing.

 Mandatory quarantine

 • All visitors, regardless of citizenship or prior travel, are required to self-quarantine for 10 days, followed by a COVID-19 PCR test at their own cost. Alternatively, travellers may self-quarantine for 14 days without completing an additional COVID-19 test.

Visitors to all of these countries will need to adhere to Covid-19 regulations such as physical distancing, wearing face masks in public places, regular hand washing and sanitising and can also expect to undertake temperature testing, health screening and to complete health questionnaires – on arrival, when checking into accommodation, visiting shops, restaurants and tourist attractions, etc. This will be the new normal for travel for the foreseeable future which travellers will learn to adapt and adjust to.

Kindly note that the above information is correct at time of publication, however these regulations are very much subject to change.