If you’re planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in 2021, 2022, or beyond, you probably have lots of questions about the Coronavirus situation in Tanzania.
The following information is offered to reassure prospective Tranquil Kilimanjaro clients that there is a simple way to take advantage of Tanzania’s outstanding tourism and adventure opportunities while also assuring a stress-free return home.
Covid 19 Protocols & Entry Requirements
The government of Tanzania recommends the test should be taken within 96 hours before arriving in Tanzania, so before coming to Tanzania through any points of entry like the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in between Moshi -Arusha or Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) in Dar es Salaam, you should have your covid-19 negative certificate. Please follow your airline guidelines and the Ministry of Health guidelines and tips before travelling to Tanzania for your safari or Mount Kilimanjaro trip.
Access into Tanzania
Kilimanjaro International Airport, Dar es Salaam International Airports and Zanzibar International Airport are open and so are all land borders and points of entry surrounding the country.
Airlines flying into the country include:
– Ethiopian Airlines
– Qatar Airways
-KLM
– Turkish Airlines
– Kenya Airways
– Emirates
Tanzania Entry Requirements
- All travelers must produce a negative COVID-19 test certificate upon arrival. The test should be based on an RT PCR using a sample collected within 96 hours of departure to Tanzania.
- Guests will be required to take a rapid test on arrival at a cost of USD 10 – guests can pay for this online after filling the health declaration form. Guests arriving via designated points of entry at the borders such as Namanga, Holili etc will not need to take a rapid test on arrival.
- Guests are required to fill out a Traveler’s Health Declaration Form 48 hours before travelling. Upon completion, the website generates a control number which is required in order to pay for the rapid test. Guests can pay for their rapid test by credit card on the site. This is the best option to avoid long queues at the airport.
- Children from 5 years of age and below are NOT required to present PCR negative certificate to enter Tanzania.
- Hand hygiene, wearing face masks and maintaining physical distance is recommended at all times while in public.
More about Covid-19 testing in Tanzania
- Are there travel restrictions for travellers to Tanzania?
- Do I need a negative Covid-19 test certificate?
- Will I have to quarantine when I arrive in Tanzania?
- How safe is it to visit Tanzania amidst this pandemic?
Most of the countries, if not all, require negative covid-19 results to allow their residents or nationals back home.
Our Tranquil Kilimanjaro team will do everything possible to get you into Covid testing as soon as possible.
COVID-19 Testing in Tanzania
Are PCR or antigen tests available in Tanzania for US citizens? Yes
COVID-19 test results have been reported as not providing a positive result and instead requiring a retest. “You will not be awarded a certificate,” the tests state in Swahili, “please repeat the test after 7 days after the first test – “Huwezi kupewa cheti, tafadhali rudia kumpima baada ya siku 7 toka kipimo cha kwanza.” Individuals who receive an inconclusive test result should plan on staying in Tanzania for an indefinite period of time until they acquire a positive test result. They should also presume they have COVID-19 and respond accordingly. The inconclusive result cannot be used to demonstrate COVID-19 recovery or to board a plane departing Tanzania.
If that’s the case, can test results be expected within a single calendar day?
Yes. Rapid antigen tests are available on a walk-in basis at international airports, including Terminal 3 of the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro International Airport, and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar. While PCR test results can take more than one day and can produce inconclusive results, rapid antigen tests are available on a walk-in basis at international airports, including Terminal 3 of the Julius Nyerere International Airport. Travelers who intend to take an airport quick exam should arrive several hours ahead of time and contact the airport for more information. In mainland Tanzania, a quick test costs $10, while Zanzibar charges $25. Travelers taking an airport quick test should register at https://afyamsafiri.moh.go.tz and enter Tanzania as their origin and destination. Airports may compel travelers to test within six hours of their scheduled departure time.
Airports in Tanzania that conduct PCR tests
Below are the airports that provide PCR testing services.
Julius Nyerere International Airport (Dar es Salaam)
https://www.jnia.go.tz/
+255 22 284 2402/3
info@jnia.go.tz
Kilimanjaro International Airport
https://www.kilimanjaroairport.go.tz/
+255 27 255 4252
kadco@go.tz
You can read more about Kilimanjaro International Airport here.
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (Zanzibar)
https://www.zaa.go.tz/index
+255 24 223 3674
info@zaa.go.tz
- The Tanzanian Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly, and Children (MoHCDEC) website allows US citizens to schedule a COVID-19 PCR test: https://pimacovid.moh.go.tz/#/booking. The cost of a COVID-19 test varies, however it is usually between $50 and $200.
- When your results are ready, you will receive a text message with a link to your COVID-19 certificate, according to the MoHCDEC.
- Please see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html for information on limited humanitarian exemptions to the CDC’s mandate that all U.S. bound travelers submit a negative COVID test.
- Humanitarian exceptions to the directive will be provided on a very limited basis, and will only be considered if the nation of origin lacks the necessary COVID-19 testing capacity. Email drsacs@state.gov with information in support of an exemption.
During COVID-19, the CDC offers additional advice for international travel.
Where to get PCR tests in Tanzania
We are merely serving as a facilitator to help tourists who have booked a safari with us get their COVID-19 exam. We are not liable or responsible for any faults, delays, or problems experienced during the testing process, or for the performance or non-performance of the testing facilities, as all testing is done by third parties with no link or affiliation with us. Please adhere to the ministry of health and airline guidelines.
Please notice that the given information has been well researched. However, we cannot guarantee accuracy, because information and details change on a regular basis. Always verify travel restrictions before booking and traveling, both in your home country and in the destination you are visiting.
Arusha: PCR Testing is done at Selian Hospital and Mount Meru Hospital. Cost: USD 90 per person. Open daily 08:00 to 15:00.
Rapid test that is required by KLM is done at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Cost: USD 25 per person. Guests must arrive 6 hours before their flight to do the test. We suggest booking a day room at Airport Planet Lodge for the guests to use whilst waiting for their test results.
Moshi: PCR Testing is done at KMCM Hospital. Cost: USD 90 per person. Open daily 08:00 to 15:00.
Karatu: PCR Testing is done at Family Clinic. Cost: USD 90 per person. Open daily 08:00 to 15:00.
Dar es Salaam: PCR Testing is conducted at Aga Khan Hospital and IST Clinic. Cost: USD 100 per person to be paid at the center via credit card. Hospital facilitation fee: 50 USD per person. Transport fee: will be advised at time of booking. Cash or Card accepted. Open daily 08:00 to 15:00.
A PCR rapid test that is required by KLM is done at Dar es Salaam International Airport. Cost: USD 25 per person. Guests must arrive 6 hours before their flight to do the test. Due to the high traffic levels in Dar es Salaam guests will have to wait at the airport until their flight departsure.
Zanzibar: PCR and RAT Testing is done at Migombani COVID-19 Centre. Cost: A PCR test costs USD 80 while RAT test costs USD 25 per person to be paid online via credit card at the time of booking the test. Transport fee: will be advised at time of booking. Open daily 08:00 to 15:00.
The rapid test required by KLM is conducted at the Migombani COVID-19 Centre. Cost: USD 25 per person. Guests must arrive 6 hours before their flight to do the test. We suggest booking a day room in Stone Town for the guests to use whilst waiting for their test results.
Coronavirus Pandemic: Can I Still Climb Kilimanjaro? (Covid 19 Update)
In this page, you’ll find the most up-to-date information about Tanzania’s Covid-19 situation and how it affects tourists planning to climb Kilimanjaro or go on safari.
NOTE: I have supplied this information to the best of my knowledge, but the situation in Tanzania and around the world is always changing, so please check with your tour operator and read advice from your national public health authority before travelling.
Where to get a PCR test in Arusha
You will have to get your PCR tests at Mount Meru Referral Hospital in Arusha
What does it cost?
- USD 100 per person for residents, non-residents, and citizens (payable in local currency – 230,000 TZS via M-Pesa or deposited in cash at NMB or CRDB banks).
- Free of charge for mountain guides and safari guides operating in Tanzania, lawfully.
How long does it take to get the result?
72 hours. You can even get your results as fast as within 24 hours, but since the certificate is an important addition to travel documentation for some countries, we strongly recommend allowing 72 hours.
Within what times can I get tested?
Any time between 8:00 AM and 15:30 PM, 7 days of the week.
What proof will I be given?
Once the laboratory has received your results, they will be printed and presented to you by our Tranquil Kilimanjaro crew or emailed to you.
Why does it take so long to get a result?
After tourists are tested, the document is sent by car to a laboratory in Dar es Salaam, which is 620 kilometers away from Arusha and takes no less than 10 hours.
Important to remember
Please do not plan any activities after receiving your test results, as most airlines and immigration officials require that the results of your test be collected within the last 72 hours, and a further day’s delay may result in you arriving at your home border after more than 72 hours have passed.
How do I book an appointment?
You need to book through the officlial Ministry of Health’s online booking website: https://pimacovid.moh.go.tz/#/booking. Make sure you only include a local Tanzanian phone number and an email address that you can access. You will not receive your control number or test results unless you do so.
How do I pay?
When you make a reservation, the system will produce a 12-digit control number for you and send it to you through SMS and email. You must pay the government charge of USD 100 (TZS 230,000) via M-Pesa or at NMB or CRDB banks using this control number.
Follow these steps if paying with Vodacom M-Pesa.
Transfer funds > Make a payment > Send payment to the government. Then paste the control number and the sum of 230,000 into the box. Then hit Continue and input your M-Pesa PIN code to confirm. The cost of paying with Vodacom Mpesa is TZS 4,000 per TZS 230,000. Keep a digital copy of your receipts in case you’re asked to show them before boarding.
Keep in mind, however, that contributions to the Ministry of Health can sometimes get lost in the system and cannot be returned. You’ll be compelled to pay twice, and no one in any Tanzanian government post will ever accept responsibility for this loss, despite the fact that their department will be paid twice. It is consequently suggested that monies be physically deposited at NMB or CRDB.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can the coronavirus be spread through food?
Food, food packaging, or even food handlers have not been recognized as a risk factor for CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 transmission.
Can the coronavirus disease spread through water?
According to the CDC, there is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 may be transferred through drinking water or usage of pools or hot tubs.
Which are the most common symptoms of coronavirus disease?
Dry cough, fatigue, and fever are the most prevalent COVID-19 symptoms. More severe forms of the disease, such as pneumonia, may develop in certain patients.
Are masks effective against coronavirus disease?
In the wake of this new evidence, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public places where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas where community-based transmission is common.
Is headache a symptom of coronavirus disease?
From mild illness to pneumonia, the virus can cause a variety of symptoms. Fever, cough, sore throat, and headaches are all symptoms of the condition.
What happens if I get coronavirus disease?
On average, 5-6 days after infection, people with COVID-19 exhibit signs and symptoms, including moderate respiratory symptoms and fever (mean incubation period 5-6 days, range 1-14 days). The majority of persons who are infected with the COVID-19 virus get a mild illness and recover.
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