Travelling to Kenya is possible, and Oltepesi Tented Safari Camp is open. Below you can find more information about the preparations you need before travelling.
So as you know, travel requirements are constantly changing. Check them regularly before your departure to make sure you can travel. Remember also to check the country’s requirements of your outbound, return, and connecting flight, as they may differ per country. Exemptions from travel requirements may apply to you.
KENYA AND COVID-19
In Kenya, the virus has had less impact than most other countries as the government acted immediately after the first case was identified and took adequate measures early on to avert the spread by restricting international arrivals, early testing of anyone with a temperature or flu symptoms and promoting hygiene, hand-washing and social distancing. After adopting its global health and hygiene protocols, Kenya has been awarded the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) “Safe Travel Stamp”. International flights resumed on August 1, 2020. Airports, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), comply with global Covid-19 health and safety standards. You can watch a short video on JKIA at https://vimeo.com/436360257. Domestic flights in Kenya restarted on July 15, 2020.
Due to the effective containment of the virus, Kenya has been fortunate to have experienced a relatively low fatality compared to most other countries in the world. According to United Nations Geoscheme, the Covid-19 fatalities rate in Kenya is 101 deaths per one million people, and it ranked below 179 other countries globally with much higher rates (typically, it is 20 times higher than Kenya in most countries of America and Europe). Kenya’s successful vaccination programme prioritised the hospitality sector, front-line workers, and those above 58 years of age or with any underlying conditions.
REQUIREMENT FOR YOUR TRAVEL TO KENYA
These are the primary requirements for travelling to Kenya:
- All travellers must be fully vaccinated unless meeting the exemption criteria.
- Fully vaccinated travellers are exempt from PCR testing.
- Unvaccinated travellers 12yrs+ must take a valid PCR test conducted within 72hrs before departure.
- All travellers must obtain their visa in advance, online via: www.evisa.go.ke.
- Bring prints of all documents.
- Bring face masks.
Just so you know, the requirements may be subject to change on short notice, ref to the disclaimer below.
REQUIREMENT FOR YOUR TRAVEL FROM KENYA
It would be best for you to check what your airline requires before your outgoing travel from Kenya.
If you need a Covid-19 test:
If you need a Covid-19 test for your travel from Kenya, it should be in accordance with the trusted Traveler (TT) Initiative and the PanaBios system. You can obtain such a test at The Pumba Collection Team in Maasai Mara. They are a government-approved facility by the Ministry of Health, part of the Mediheal Group of Hospitals and registered with PanaBIOS. They can do the test at Oltepesi Tented Safari Camp or their location at Mara Rianta, a one-hour drive from the camp. The test results will be ready 24 to 36 hours after collecting samples. After that, the results and the TT codes will be emailed directly to the clients.
You pay in USD cash directly according to the current price. They also accept all credit cards and debit cards. The price options are:
- PCR test at Oltepesi Tented Safari Camp costs USD 140 per client (recommended).
- If there’s only one person for the call-out at Oltepesi Tented Safari Camp, the cost is USD 180.
- PCR test at the collection centre at Mara Rianta costs USD 110 per client.
This way, you do not need to shorten your time in Maasai Mara if you need a PCR test. Just let the guide/camp staff know when you arrive, and they will help you book an appointment. For more details, visit https://www.thepumbacollection.com/covid-test-in-the-mara.
OLTEPESI TENTED SAFARI CAMP AND COVID-19
With the easing of the restrictions initially placed on Kenya’s tourism sector, we at Oltepesi Tented Safari Camp immediately did all preparations according to the COVID-19 Hygiene and Sanitation Protocol in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Kenya Ministry of Health requirements. As a result, on July 13, 2020, Oltepesi Tented Safari Camp was certified according to the COVID-19 Hygiene and Sanitation Protocol by the Public Health Officer in Narok West. Since September 2020, we have welcomed visitors to our safari camp for accommodation, game drives and wildlife photography in the beautiful Maasai Mara.
DISCLAIMER
Regarding the travel information above: Travellers are advised to be familiarised with any travel restrictions that can vary from country to country and may change on short notice. We recommend that you thoroughly check with your airline, embassy, African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA), or any other reliable information sources for updates and detailed information about your flights and need for preparations for your travel.
MORE INFORMATION
Please email us at mail@oltepesi.com if you have any questions or would like to receive detailed information about Oltepesi Tented Safari Camp.
