Do I need a visa to go on safari?

Most countries tend to require an entry visa or travel authorization of some kind, and Next Adventure is here to help provide instructions and documentation when the time for your safari arises.

Botswana

• A tourist visa is easily obtained on arrival at no cost.

• Important: There are very specific requirements when traveling to Botswana with a minor. If both parents are traveling with the child, an unabridged original birth certificate must be presented. If only one parent is traveling with the child, additional documentation is necessary.

Kenya

• All visitors to Kenya including infants and children are required to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) online via http://www.etakenya.go.ke prior to their arrival. The fee is US $34.00 per person to be pre-paid with Visa or Mastercard during the application.

• Visitors should apply at least one week prior to travel. The authorization will be valid for 90 days from the date it is approved, so don't apply too early. To ensure your entire trip is covered, please apply within the appropriate timeline based on your exit date from Kenya. Next Adventure will send a reminder and provide necessary documentation at the appropriate time.

• If you are a family, a couple or friends traveling together in a group of up to 6 travelers, you can save time by applying together. Select the “Group Application” option on the eTA website or mobile app and follow the instructions. On approval, each member of the group will receive their own eTA. If there are more than 6 travelers in your group, please apply as 2 or more groups. All individuals in the group application must share the same country of residence, share the same purpose of visit to Kenya and share the same flight, travel and accommodation itinerary for their entire trip and stay in Kenya.

• For children under the age of 18, the legal guardian, parent or accompanying adult is responsible for filling in the application. We highly recommend that families apply as a group.

• Most travelers navigate the process successfully. However, if you’d prefer, there are visa service agencies that can manage this at an additional fee.

• Note: An additional Electronic Travel Authorization is not required for travelers re-entering Kenya from other East African countries (Rwanda, Tanzania or Uganda). However, if travelers leave East Africa, an additional Electronic Travel Authorization is required to re-enter Kenya.

Tanzania

• Travelers are advised to apply for an e-visa prior to arrival via this website: https://visa.immigration.go.tz/. Please read and prepare the required documents in advance as the application cannot be saved ‘in progress’. The fee is $100 per person and payments must be made using a major credit card during the application process. Be primed for a detailed application process and to provide comprehensive information for the e-visa. It takes 10 days for the e-visa to be issued. Please note that only multiple-entry visas may be issued to US passports.

• If necessary, a tourist visa can be obtained upon arrival for $100 per person (US cash only, subject to change).

Rwanda

• Tourist visas can be obtained on arrival for US $50 per person (cash only, subject to change) However, travelers are advised to apply for an e-visa prior to arrival via this website: https://irembo.gov.rw/rolportal/en/web/dgie. Please read and prepare the required documents in advance as the application cannot be saved ‘in progress’. The fee is US $50 per person for a single-entry tourist visa to be pre-paid with a major credit card during the application.

Uganda

• Visitors must apply online in advance via this website: https://visas.immigration.go.ug/. The fee is US $50 per person for a single-entry tourist visa to be pre-paid with a major credit card during the application.

• The visa will be valid for 90 days from the date it is approved. To ensure your entire trip is covered, please apply within the appropriate timeline based on your exit date from Uganda.

East Africa Tourist Visa for Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda

• The East Africa Tourist Visa is US $100 per person, and it can be used in place of separate country applications for Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. The East Africa Tourist Visa must be issued by the first of these countries in your itinerary, and it must be specifically applied and paid for online via the first country's online portal outlined above.

Namibia

• As of April 1, 2025, all U.S. citizens must obtain a Visa on Arrival (VOA) to enter Namibia.

• To apply online and receive pre-approval before arrival, visit the official government website: https://eservices.mhaiss.gov.na/visaonarrival. The fee is NAD 1,600 (approximately USD 90 per person). Next Adventure will send a reminder and provide the necessary documentation at the appropriate time.

South Africa

• A tourist visa is easily obtained on arrival at no cost.

• U.S. citizens are exempt from visa requirements for stays of up to 90 days.

• Please note that entry into South Africa requires two adjacent blank pages in your passport for the visa stamp.

Zambia

• As of October 1, 2022, a tourist visa can be obtained on arrival at no cost for citizens of the following countries; USA, UK, Canada, Norway, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Gulf States and the EU (subject to change).

Zimbabwe

• A tourist visa can be obtained on arrival for $30 per person (U.S. cash only, subject to change), or in advance by applying through the official government website: https://evisa.gov.zw/. 

Zimbabwe Entry Process – New Online Immigration Form

• Zimbabwe Immigration has introduced a digital arrival form to replace the old paper version. This is not an online tourist visa, but a streamlined entry form.

• Travelers from visa-on-arrival countries, including the U.S., are encouraged to complete it before departure to bypass paperwork on arrival. Manual forms are still available at the airport if needed. Since the system is being phased in, we recommend taking a screenshot of the completed form in case of internet connectivity issues on arrival.

Click here to access the online form.

The KAZA/Uni-visa for Zambia & Zimbabwe

• The KAZA/Uni-visa for Zambia and Zimbabwe may be obtained on arrival for US $50 (cash only) and requires 2 pages per entry for visa stamps. Guests must be clear in requesting the KAZA Uni-visa so that they are directed to the dedicated counter. Without advance notice, the border can run out of KAZA stickers in which case you’ll need to get single-entry visas for each country.

Before departure, our team at Next Adventure will review your custom itinerary to ensure you are fully prepared for each country’s visa entry requirements. We help to remove the uncertainty from the travel process so you can arrive on safari ready to enjoy the wildlife viewing experience.