Kashlee Kucheran- 2Shares
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Many African nations are starting to reopen airports, remove curfews, and slowly resume international tourism.
Most countries in Africa have been very strict on containing the spread of the virus, with most of them going into complete lockdowns earlier this year. That means nobody in and nobody out. Now that case numbers are relatively low across the continent, some nations have already reopened, with others making plans on how to reopen responsibly.
Below we have a list of every country in Africa, and what their current reopening status is: Not open for tourism, reopening soon, and now open. For the nations that have already reopened, we also include which countries are permitted to visit, plus any entry requirements.
Make sure to bookmark this page as we will keep it updated with the most recent news. If you have questions, comment at the bottom and we will do our best to answer you.
Africa Reopening for Tourism Complete Country List
Algeria
Not Open For Tourism
Domestic travel is still being limited, repatriation flights for foreigners stuck inside Algeria just started July 28, no news on when international tourism will resume.
Angola
Not Open For Tourism
Angola’s borders remain closed. Entry to Angola is prohibited except for Angolan nationals.
Benin
Not Open For Tourism
Entry Visas are restricted and not currently being issued. Travel is restricted to essential at this time.
Botswana
Not Open For Tourism
Entry to Botswana is open only to Botswana nationals and foreign nationals with valid residency visas. There are currently no commercial flights in to or out of Botswana
Burkina Faso
Reopening Soon
Burkina Faso has made a statement about commercial flights resuming on August 1. Land and sea borders remain closed until further notice. It is unclear at this time if Visa issuing will also resume on August 1.
Burundi
Not Open For Tourism
Burundi plans to reopen land borders for essential travel on August 1. Commercial flights have not yet resumed, with the exception of a few repatriation flights.
Cameroon
Reopening Soon
Cameroon has resumed a few commercial flights, though mostly for essential travel only. Land and sea borders are not yet open. They’ve started testing requirements to land in Cameroon airports for essential travelers, including a negative PCR test no older than 3 days.
Cape Verde
Reopening Soon
Cape Verde has reopened sea borders for essential travel by passenger ferries. International flights have not yet resumed but are planned to restart in early August.
Central African Republic
Not Open For Tourism
CAR has just started to resume 1 commercial flight per airline a week, mostly restricted to repatriation flights and essential travel. A mandatory 21 day quarantine is in effect for any arriving essential travelers.
Chad
Reopening Soon
Chad will resume commercial flights starting on August 1. All international travellers will be required to surrender their passport, quarantine at home for 7 days and take a COVID-19 test on the 7th day. Passports will be returned upon presentation of the COVID-19 negative test receipt.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Reopening Soon
The DRC plans to start reopening land borders and airports on August 15. After reopening, visitors into the DRC will require negative PCR tests, temperature checks, and the possibility of testing and/or quarantines upon arrival.
Congo
Not Open For Tourism
Commercial flights are still extremely limited to mostly repatriation flights. Borders remain closed until further notice.
Djibouti
Reopening Soon
On July 17, Djibouti reopened the airport and restarted limited commercial flights. We are unsure if these flights are restricted to repatriation and/or essential travel only at this point, or if general tourism is now permitted.
All passengers entering Djibouti will receive a covid test upon arrival and will have to remain at the airport until results come through (approx 4 hours), at the cost of the passenger.
Egypt
Now Open
Egypt started reopening borders for tourism to seaside resorts as of July 1.
Travelers will have to:
- Have a valid visa
- Wear a mask on the flight and in the airport
- Fill out a health declaration card
- Show proof of travel health insurance
- Agree to have their temperature taken on arrival
At this point travelers are expected to remain in high-tourist areas and are not permitted to travel independently inwards throughout the country.
Read all the details in our Egypt Reopening For Tourism guide.
Equatorial Guinea
Reopening Soon
Equatorial Guinea is currently in their domestic reopening phase, with domestic flights resuming as of June 15. Commercial flights are extremely limited at this point and are mostly used for repatriation and essential travel. All arriving passengers must present a negative PCR test taken no longer than 48 hours before arrival.
Eritrea
Not Open For Tourism
Airports in Eritrea remain closed and entry visas have been suspended until further notice
Ethiopia
Now Open
Ethiopia has now reopened the airport for international arrivals.
Passengers will need to bring a negative PCR test taken within 5 days of arrival. They are also required to self-isolate at home for 14 days. Visitors are tested again upon arrival.
Passengers that do not bring the negative PCR test will have a mandatory quarantine at government designated hotels for 7 days at their own expense. At the end of 7 days, a PCR test will be given.
Gabon
Not Open For Tourism
Gabon remains closed for tourism at this time. Any essential travelers must quarantine for 14 days.
Gambia
Not Open For Tourism
Gambia is only allowing medical, cargo and repatriation flights at this time. Land borders remain closed.
Ghana
Reopening Soon
Ghana has resumed domestic flights within the country. The current international travel ban is set to expire July 31. We are unsure at this time if the ban will be extended or removed.
Guinea
Not Open For Tourism
Guinea’s land borders are closed and commercial flights are gradually opening up based on reciprocity. However, since most other nations are not accepting travelers from Guinea, travel will continue to be very restricted.
Guinea-Bissau
Not Open For Tourism
Guinea-Bissau’s borders remain closed for tourism until further notice.
Kenya
Now Open
President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced that Kenya will be reopening for international tourism on August 1st, 2020
Entry Requirements include bringing a negative PCR test, but the details of how long the traveler has to take the test before arrival has not yet been released.
Read everything else we know about Kenya’s Reopening for Tourism
Lesotho
Not Open For Tourism
Lesotho remains closed for tourism until further notice. Borders are closed for everything but essential trade.
Liberia
Now Open
Liberia has reopened for tourism as of July 1, but many restrictions are still in place. When they first opened they had a rule that if a passenger was coming from a nation with more than 200 active cases of the virus, they would be denied entry. Now, we believe that restriction has been removed and replaced with testing requirements.
Passengers arriving into Liberia will need to bring a negative PCR test no older than 72 hours, undergo a temperature scan and health check, and could be tested again upon arrival. Anyone testing positive on arrival will be put into government quarantine for at least 14 days.
Libya
Not Open For Tourism
Libya is not open for tourism
Madagascar
Not Open For Tourism
Madagascar has suspended all international and domestic flights until further notice, as well as cruise ships.
Malawi
Not Open For Tourism
Malawi is currently closed for tourism until further notice. Flights are only available for the repatriation of Malawi nationals and essential workers.
Mali
Reopening Soon
Mali just reopened flights on July 25 and is planning on reopening land borders on July 31st. It is unclear at this time if flights are reserved for Mali nationals, or if tourists can also enter at this time.
Arrivals need to bring a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival. If they do not, a test will be performed on arrival while the passenger will remain in quarantine until results are processed.
Mauritania
Not Open For Tourism
Mauritania remains closed for tourism until further notice. Flights are only available at this time for national returning home or other essential reasons.
Mauritius
Not Open For Tourism
The tourism enforcer officer for Mauritius told us: “Note that the Government of Mauritius has not yet decided when borders will be opened. Furthermore, there will be protocols from the Ministry of Health that is going to be established.”
Morocco
Reopening Soon
The current state of emergency was extended until August 10th. The partial reopening of Morocco’s borders started July 14, first to allow Moroccan residents to return and foreign citizens to depart the country.
While general tourism has not yet resumed, the reopening date is expected to be announced soon.
Mozambique
Not Open For Tourism
Mozambique’s state of emergency has been extended until September 30. General tourism has not resumed at this point. Entry into Mozambique is limited to nationals and individuals with valid residency.
Namibia
Not Open For Tourism
Namibia is currently closed for tourism. Entry to Namibia is prohibited except for Namibian nationals and foreign nationals resident in Namibia. All commercial flights in and out of the country have been suspended. The state of emergency has been extended until September 17.
Niger
Not Open For Tourism
Niger is not yet open for tourism. Commercial flights have not yet resumed, entry is only permitted for nationals returning home, and transiting through the country is not permitted.
Nigeria
Reopening Soon
Nigeria reopened their passport offices July 1 and resumed domestic flights on July 8. Restrictions on domestic travel continue to lift.
While international flights are currently only available for nationals and residents, announcements are expected to be made soon on the resumption of tourism.
Rwanda
Now Open
Rwanda has officially reopened for tourism as of June 17, 2020
Nations that can visit = ALL
Entry Requirements = Testing is required before arrival and again upon arrival. In order to gain entry into Rwanda as a tourist, you must take a PCR test in your own country within 72 hours of departure and have the negative results as proof. The negative test must be emailed to [email protected].rw before your departure and a copy of the results brought with you to show customs upon entry into Rwanda.
At the airport upon arrival, travelers will be tested again with the results available in around 8 hours.
Learn more details in our Rwanda Reopening for Tourism Guide
Sao Tome and Principe
Not Open For Tourism
Sao Tome and Principe is still currently closed for all tourism. A reopening date has not yet been set.
Senegal
Now Open
Senegal has now reopened for tourism, with entry requirements explained below.
Senegal reopened international flights on July 15, even though land and sea borders are still closed.
The state of emergency was lifted on June 30.
All arrivals into Senegal will require:
- A health declaration form
- A negative PCR test taken no longer than 7 days before departure
- Undergo medical screening and temperature scans upon arrival
Seychelles
Now Open
As of June 1st the Seychelles have reopened to tourists from ‘low’ and ‘medium’ risk nations, with different entry requirements for each category.
There are 17 nations being classified as ‘low risk’ and 20 nations being classified as ‘medium risk’. (see them HERE)
Visitors from the LOW RISK countries can bring a negative PCR test no older than 72 hours from date of travel, but if one is not available, a rapid test is also approved. Visitors from the MEDIUM RISK countries can only bring a negative PCR test no older than 72 hours of date of travel, with no rapid test option.
There are a few other entry requirements, which can be seen on our Seychelles Reopening For Tourism Guide
Sierra Leone
Now Open
Sierra Leone reopened for tourism on July 22, 2020. Flights are starting to be rescheduled, but land borders remain closed.
Entry Requirements:
- Obtaining a travel authorization card from the government
- A negative PCR test taken no longer than 72 hours before departure
- A health declaration card
- Pre-payment for testing on arrival
- A valid visa
Somalia
Not Open For Tourism
Somalia is currently closed to all tourism. No reopening date has been announced.
South Africa
Not Open For Tourism
South Africa is still closed for tourism. Only repatriation and humanitarian flights are operationg at this point. A reopening date has not been set, but some reports have suggested late 2020 or early 2021.
South Sudan
Not Open For Tourism
South Sudan is not open for tourism. All issuing of visas have been suspended, commercial flights are limited to repatriation flights, and government curfews are still in place.
Sudan
Reopening Soon
Sudan just lifted bans on flights from Egypt, Turkey, and the UAE, but flights from other nations are still suspended until October 10.
Tanzania
Now Open
As of June 2020, Tanzania is now accepting tourists under normal and regular ‘pre-covid’ border rules. No mandatory quarantine period is currently in place, however temperature checks, mask wearing, and social distancing is in effect.
Countries Allowed to visit: ALL
However, under normal tourism laws, your country might require a Visa to enter Tanzania. There are currently 68 countries that can enter Tanzania Visa-free, with the rest requiring a Visa or Visa on Arrival.
There is no mandatory 14-day isolation or quarantine period for travellers into Tanzania.
Update August 1:
The Tanzanian Health Ministry put out a directive stating all travelers entering Tanzania are now required to present a valid negative PCR test within 72 hours before travel.
Togo
Not Open For Tourism
Togo has not yet reopened for tourism. Land borders remain closed, and while there are a few flights that have resumed, they are mainly for returning nationals and essential trade.
Tunisia
Now Open
Tunisia is officially reopening its borders June 27, 2020 allowing tourists to enter based on a color-coded system based on risk assessment.
Tunisia has created a ‘Green’ and ‘Orange’ list for arrivals. ‘Green’ countries may enter with no testing or quarantines, while ‘Orange’ countries will need to present a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure. (See the lists here)
Read more entry requirements and see which countries can enter restriction free on our Tunisia Reopening for Tourism guide
Uganda
Not Open For Tourism
Uganda is not open for tourism at this time. No formal date for reopening has been announced.
Zambia
Reopening Soon
Zambia’s borders have reopened, with both domestic and international flights starting to resume, but tourist visa services remain suspended until further notice. Since a tourist visa is required to gain entry into Zambia, general tourism cannot resume until they restart visa services.
Anyone the currently has a valid visa may be granted entry, but will face both testing on arrival and 14-day quarantine.
Zimbabwe
Not Open For Tourism
Zimbabwe remains closed for tourism and is still under lockdown until further notice.
Read More:
All Countries that have reopened for tourism
Countries that have reopened for American tourists
Countries that have reopened for Canadian tourists
List of countries reopening in Europe, The Middle East, and Asia
Sources: UK embassy / US embassy / CA embassy / IATA / each countries ministry of tourism and ministry of health sites
Disclaimer: Africa’s reopening news is ever-changing and being updated constantly. We do our best to keep this article up to date with all the latest information, but the decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling.
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