Current Covid-19 Sops for Tanzania

Like the rest of the world, the Government of Tanzania has come up with a number of COVID-19 SOPs to be observed by everyone – with all Tanzania safari travelers inclusive. Earlier under the late President John Magufuli, there were no tight restrictions in Tanzania as its borders remained open.

New measures to curb the widespread coronavirus were introduced by the current Tanzanian president – Samia Suluhu Hassan. She took the COVID-19 pandemic seriously and introduced new restrictions which later resulted in a decrease in cross-border infections.

Currently, there are coronavirus testing centers located at the borders to ensure that returning travelers safely proceed to their respective final destinations. With the resumption of tourism activities, a good number of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been introduced by the Ministry of Natural Resources and tourism. The COVID-19 SOPs in Tanzania are all intended to ensure proper management of coronavirus in the business operations of the tourism industry.

The COVID-19 SOPs in Tanzania are aimed at ensuring Tanzania safari visitors don’t bring in the virus or contract it. It helps protect not only visitors on safari in Tanzania but also service providers and the rest of the country’s population.

 COVID-19 SOPs in Tanzania

• Proof of a negative COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours pre-boarding the aircraft to Tanzania is required on arrival. Mandatory rapid tests in Tanzania are conducted at US Dollars 10 and in Zanzibar

Or a passenger can provide a vaccination certificate indicating full vaccination at least 14 days prior to arrival in Tanzania. The acceptable vaccines in Tanzania include Janssen, Covishield, Covin, AstraZeneca, Pfizer biotech, Sinovac, Sino pharm, Moderna, Covovax, etc.

• The ministry of health’s online surveillance form must be completed by all passengers within 24 hours prior to arrival in Tanzania. The surveillance collects all travel and health details of passengers. If you are proceeding to Zanzibar, a separate Traveler’s Surveillance Form should be completed and submitted prior to arrival.
• Passengers with a COVID-19 recovery certificates obtained between 10 and 180 days prior to arrival are exempt from pre-departure testing in Tanzania.
• Persons below 5 years don’t need to carry out a COVID-19 SOPs test on arrival in Tanzania.
• Travelers without valid vaccine certificates, recovery certificates, or PCR test certificates shall undergo coronavirus testing on arrival. Unvaccinated travelers or those half vaccinated will be tested on arrival.
• Passengers with negative test results don’t require to undergo quarantine on arrival in Tanzania.
• Wearing face masks is recommended for all Tanzania safari travelers while in the public areas. These are recommended for all persons above 5 years and include all passengers, workers/staff while in indoor areas of public transportation – buses, trains, airplanes, ferries, transportation hubs – seaports, stations, and airports, or any crowded areas or poorly ventilated areas like airport jetways.
• All Tanzania tourism entities must ensure that all contact surfaces are kept clean and regularly sanitized with approved disinfectants.
• Staff should make the best use of recommended protective gear when attending to visitors and servicing guest areas.
• It is mandatory to hand sanitize or regularly wash your hands – this COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedure applies to all not only travelers on Tanzania safaris.
• All tourism entities must avail the of handwashing, and sanitizing facilities like sanitizers, soap, and running water for both visitors and staff.
• Thermal screening at all entry points to Tanzania are mandatory and accommodation facilities should have an insurance mechanism for helping visitors get to the designated hospitals approved by the health ministry or enable evacuation arrangements.
• Keep a distance of 2-4 meters from one another.
• Also, a yellow fever vaccination is an essential entry requirement to Tanzania.
• Tanzania visas can now be applied for online – visit https://eservices.immigration.go.tz.