VISAS for Southern & East Africa

• As soon as you have confirmed your trip, it is imperative to check visa requirements with foreign embassies/consulates of the countries that you intend to visit, as they may vary according to your nationality.
• Visas obtained at the port of entry (arrival) are payable in USD cash only, and we recommend small denominations of dollars as officials are not in a position to give change.
• US dollars are accepted in most regions; however, notes dated before 2003 are no longer accepted. Please ensure to bring notes in smaller denominations: USD 50, USD 20, USD 10, USD 5; high denomination notes may not be accepted.
• The use of credit cards is not recommended in Zimbabwe.
• It is recommended that travellers obtain their visas prior to arrival, where possible, in the event that the airport is busy.

Country visa specifications are detailed below

There are two visa categories for Botswana:

1. Non-Visa Category: No visa is required.
   No action or fee is needed. The stamp on arrival is for 30 days, and this can be extended. Many countries do not require a visa.
2. Visa Category: Visa is required.
   Click here to check if you need a visa for Botswana »

1. Mandatory Travel Insurance

Kenya’s eTA application process now includes an inbound travel health insurance check. Where the system does not recognise valid cover, applicants are prompted to purchase insurance before completing their eTA application.

Travel Insurance Cost: USD 52 per person (USD 44 Insurance, USD 8 Convenience & Gateway Fees)

Insurance can be purchased during the eTA application or separately through the eCitizen insurance portal. Guests should retain the insurance reference number and proof of valid cover.

As acceptance of travel insurance purchased outside Kenya remains subject to clarification, travellers should follow the current instructions on the official portals.

2. Electronic Travel Authorisation

Travellers who require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) must apply online through the official Kenya eTA portal and receive approval before travelling. This includes infants and children unless an exemption applies.

Exemptions depend on nationality, immigration status and length of stay. Please consult the current exemption list before applying.

Application requirements

• A passport valid for at least six months from arrival in Kenya, with at least one blank page
• A passport-style photo or selfie
• Contact details, including email address and phone number
• Arrival and departure flight details
• Accommodation booking confirmation
• A credit card, debit card or another accepted payment method
• Insurance verification as prompted by the portal

The eTA fee is charged separately from insurance. Confirm the current amount on the portal before payment.

eTA fee: USD 45.5 per person (USD 30 ETA fee, USD 4.5 Gateway fee)

Medical requirements

Additional documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and recent travel history, including a yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from a country where yellow fever is endemic.

Processing and approval

Standard processing usually takes three working days, although some applications may take longer. Apply at least two weeks before travel.

Application confirmation and approval are sent to the email address provided. You can check your application status on the eTA portal using your reference number.

Children travelling with their parents

Where requested during the application, complete and submit the Parent Consent Form rather than a general parental consent letter.

There are three categories of visas for Namibia:

1. Those countries whose citizens do not need a visa.

2. Those countries whose citizens can get a visa on arrival

3. Those countries whose citizens need to apply for a visa prior to arrival. Click here to apply online »

Follow this link to see if you require a visa for travel to Namibia: click here »

Visas are valid up to three months from the date of issue, for stays of up to three months from entry.

Citizens from these countries qualify for visas on arrival by paying the prescribed fees and meeting the entry requirements for Namibia.

Application Requirements:

• a return ticket.
• Medical insurance.
• proof of means of sustenance while in Namibia.
• not wanted by any country for criminal activities.
• A passport valid for at least six months on the date of arrival.

The fee has been set at one thousand six hundred Namibian Dollars (N$ 1 600) per applicant.

There are 2 visa categories for South Africa

1. Non-Visa Category: No visa is required.
   The arrival stamp is for 90 days, and this can be extended. This is the list of visa-exempt countries »
2. Visa Category: A Visa is required.
   If you are not on the exempt list, then you need to apply for a visa before travel. Apply for an e-visa here »

South Africa has introduced an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, which is now live and required for four (4) countries.

• Which countries will need to use the ETA system? Only tourists from countries that currently require visas: starting with China, India, Indonesia and Mexico, then expanding to all visa-requiring countries. (This replaces the need for a VISA)
• Currently, the system is only available at OR Tambo and Cape Town International Airports
• South African ETA – Apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation

Notes

• Visitors’ visas are for international travellers (citizens of other countries) who have permanent residence outside South Africa and who wish to visit the country on a temporary basis for tourism or business purposes for a period of 90 days or less.
• Visas are not issued at South African ports of entry, and airline officials are obliged to insist on visas before allowing passengers to board.
• If you arrive without a visa, immigration officials are obliged to put you onto a flight back to your home country.

• Citizens of all countries are allowed to get a visa upon arrival in Rwanda without prior application.
• Citizens of member countries of the African Union, the Commonwealth, and La Francophonie can get free visas upon arrival in Rwanda for a visit of 30 days.
• Citizens of all countries that are not visa-exempt have the option to apply online or at the Rwanda Diplomatic Missions of their country of residence before departure. Those applying online have the option to pay online or upon arrival.

Visa types & fees:

• USD 50 for a single-entry visa
• USD 70 for a multiple-entry visa

Mozambique has two entry mechanisms:

• eVisas are issued by the Mozambican government that authorizes the holder to enter the country for specific purposes such as tourism, business, sports, or investment.
• Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for certain visa-exempt travelers before traveling to Mozambique.

Supporting documents:

• Proof of accommodation
• A passport photo
• A copy of your passport
• Proof of financial means
• Return flight ticket

Fees: 

• ETA cost: USD48 per person. Apply at least 48 hours before departure.
• Standard Visa cost: USD 190 per person, and processing takes about 6 to 9 working days.

The following 29 countries are exempt from short-stay visa requirements but must still register online and obtain an ETA before arrival:

Belgium, Canada, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States.

It is highly recommended that all travellers get an e-visa in advance through the immigration platform: Tanzania eVisa

Applying for an e-Visa in Tanzania:

• The Visa applications will be processed within ten days; therefore, applicants are strongly advised to observe the stipulated time frame while making their applications.
• After making payments, applicants are required to wait for approval of their Visa before they start their journey. Approval notification will be sent to their email. Or they can access the Visa Grant Notification by checking the Status of their Visa online.

Application Requirements:

• A photo of your passport biometric page – JPEG
• A photo of yourself – smaller than 300KB, JPEG
• Your round-trip flight ticket – either PDF or JPEG
• Contact info for your first destination – Your Timeless Africa Safaris travel manager will provide this info.
• Your mother’s and father’s names and nationalities.
• Make note of the security question you choose, as it will be required to check your visa status later.
• Where it asks for ‘host details’, write ‘Self’, as this will save you having to complete the rest of that section.
• A valid Visa or MasterCard for online payment.

Further notes:

• US citizens must choose multiple-entry visas (single-entry visas are not available to Americans), and the cost is USD 100 rather than USD 50.
• When selecting the ‘Reason for travel’, select ‘Holiday & Leisure’ to continue the process.
• When selecting your host for the trip, please select ‘Self’.
• To complete the process, you will be asked to upload your return tickets.
• Yes, all visitors to Tanzania must have their own visa to enter the country unless their nationality is visa-exempt. This includes children (under the age of 18) who have their own passports.
• Tip: if you experience Firefox internet browser issues, we suggest using Google Chrome as an alternative.
• Once you have applied, log in to the system and check the status of your application any time between 10 and 14 days after applying. With a bit of luck, it’ll be approved and ready!
• Print out the confirmation document: though you might have it on your phone/device, the paper version will be required on arrival, so have this ready.

Please note that visas are also available on arrival; however, we always recommend applying online prior to arrival to avoid delays. If you need to apply for a visa on arrival, we recommend the following:

• Ensure you have time to spare – at least 2 hrs (bear this in mind if you have a connecting flight)
• The correct amount of US dollars to pay in cash
• A pen to complete the forms – if provided by the airline, complete the form before you land and head straight for the visa booth

Which policy you apply for depends on where you first arrive:

Costs:

• USD 44 per adult
• USD 22 for children aged 3-17 years
• Free for infants aged 0-2 years
• Groups of 10 or more receive a 10% discount on adult premiums.

How to apply

We recommend arranging the policy before travel and keeping your certificate accessible on arrival. For the NIC application, have each traveller’s passport details, personal information, travel dates and purpose of visit ready. The policy includes cover for medical emergencies, evacuation, repatriation and lost luggage.

This mandatory inbound policy is in addition to your personal travel insurance. Please keep comprehensive travel cover for your entire journey.

Notes:

• Validity: Up to 92 days, including multiple entries
• Cover: Emergency medical treatment, medical evacuation, repatriation and lost luggage
• Guests traveling to Tanzania are required to purchase the insurance online prior to arrival in the country.
• The Inbound Insurance Travel policy is mandatory for travel to both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar and one policy covers both destinations.
• If guests have already purchased Zanzibar insurance before 25 September 2026, Tanzania insurance will need to be purchased in addition.

Application Requirements: for each visitor to be included on the insurance policy.

• Name and personal details.
• Passport information.
• Photograph of the biodata page of your passport (PDF, JPEG, jpg, png) – no larger than 5MB.
• Arrival and departure dates.

Zambia has three categories of visas:

1. Category A – citizens of select countries do not need a visa to enter Zambia. Click here to view the list. »
2. Category B – citizens of these countries can obtain a visa on arrival at the airport or border post upon payment of the visa fee. Click here to view the list »
   We do not recommend pre-applying online for Category B. 
3. Category C – citizens of these countries must obtain a visa before travelling to Zambia.
   Click here to view the Category C list »

Kavango Zambezi Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA) Uni-Visa

The KAZA Uni-Visa allows travel between Zambia and Zimbabwe with multiple entries during its 30-day validity.
It also covers day trips to Botswana via the Kazungula Borders, but it is not valid for overnight stays in Botswana (a new visa would be required in that case).

• Validity: 30 days, multiple entries between Zambia and Zimbabwe
• Fee: USD 50
• Eligibility: Available only to specific nationalities; please check before applying.
• Note regarding Application: If applying online via the Zambia e-visa portal, your first port of entry must be Zambian

Visa Types and Costs

• Single Entry USD 50,  valid for 60 days
• Double Entry USD 80, valid for 90 days

Tip: Cash is advised for visa payments, although credit card facilities are available at Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (Livingstone).

Zambia’s Digital Health Pass for Arrivals

All international travellers entering Zambia must complete an online health check via the Zambia POE Sentinel portal. This applies to all Zambian ports of entry.

For guests that include Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone, the Victoria Falls Bridge border and Kazungula.

Guests are simply required to fill in a short questionnaire on their phone before travel, instead of on paper at the border. It asks where their journey began, where they are heading next, and where they have travelled in the past 21 days.

Once the form is submitted, the portal issues a personal QR health pass. Guests should save it as a screenshot or PDF on a mobile device. On arrival, a Port Health Officer scans the code at the checkpoint and guests continue through.

Guests can also complete the form at the health desk on arrival, although we recommend doing it beforehand.

Zimbabwe has three categories of visas:

1. Category A – citizens of select countries do not need a visa to enter Zimbabwe. Click here to view the list »
2. Category B – citizens of these countries can obtain a visa on arrival at any airport or border post for a fee. Click here to view the list »
3. Category C – citizens of these countries must obtain a visa before travelling to Zimbabwe. Click here to view the list »

Kavango Zambezi Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA) Uni-Visa

• Validity: 30 days, multiple entries between Zimbabwe and Zambia.
• You can cross between the two countries as often as you like within this period.
• It also covers day trips to Botswana via the Kazungula Borders, but not overnight stays (a new visa is then required).
• Fee: USD 50 (cash recommended) Eligible countries only.
• If applying online via the Zimbabwe e-visa website, your first port of entry must be Zimbabwe.
• Only single-entry or Kasa Visas are being issued to U.S. nationals.
• The Kaza Visa allows guests to travel multiple times across borders between Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana (as long as they do not overnight in Botswana).
• If they overnight in Botswana and re-enter Zimbabwe (or Zambia), the Kaza Visa is no longer valid, and a new visa must be obtained.

1. Guests travelling to Zimbabwe and Botswana with overnight stays will need to purchase a single-entry visa upon arrival in Zimbabwe and another single-entry visa upon re-entering from Botswana into Zimbabwe.
2. Guests travelling to Zimbabwe and Zambia must obtain a KAZA visa.
3. Guests travelling to Zimbabwe with a day trip to Botswana will also require a KAZA visa upon arrival in Zimbabwe.

Visa Types and Costs:

• Single Entry:  USD 30
• Double Entry:  USD 45, valid up to 90 days
• British & Irish Single:  USD 55
• British & Irish Double:  USD 70
• Canadian Single:  USD 75

Timeless Tips

• Cash is recommended for visa payments.
• Multiple-entry visas cannot be obtained at the port of entry.

All travellers must now complete an online immigration form before arrival.

• Required for all nationalities
• Must be filled in before arriving at the border or airport (eg. Victoria Falls Airport)
• Completing it in advance prevents delays on arrival
• Use your first hotel in Zimbabwe as the “Address and Host”
• Note: the electronic travel authorisation is valid for 90 days from the date of issue, not from the date of entry

All travellers are required to apply for their Ugandan visa online before arrival through the official website here.

Visa Types and Costs:

• Single Entry: USD 50
• Tourist Visa (East Africa Tourist Visa):  USD 100

Application Requirements

You will need the following to complete your online visa application:

• A valid passport (with at least six months’ validity)
• A return or onward ticket
  
• An international health certificate; travellers may be required to present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate upon entry.

Important Notes

• A visa approval must be obtained before travel, as visas are not issued upon arrival.

• Processing times may vary; applicants are advised to apply several days before their intended departure.

• Always carry a printed copy of your visa approval for presentation at immigration upon arrival.