Kenya/Tanzania Trip - vaccination and Visa questions
Jul 13, 2018 14:04:50 #
hsschilly
Loc: Charlotte, NC
I will be going in September for a three week trip to Kenya and Tanzania, including Nairobi, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti and Lake Victoria, and I am now checking up on Yellow Fever vaccination requirements, and have the following questions:
a) Is it required for the places I intend to visit?
b) I read recently on UHH, that some travelers did get an exemption, does anyone know about this?How and from whom did you get the exemption? And if so, can you please share the details!
Visas:
Did you purchase your visa’s at the Nairobi Airport respectively at the Border crossing into Tanzania?
Thank you for your kind replies and directives
a) Is it required for the places I intend to visit?
b) I read recently on UHH, that some travelers did get an exemption, does anyone know about this?How and from whom did you get the exemption? And if so, can you please share the details!
Visas:
Did you purchase your visa’s at the Nairobi Airport respectively at the Border crossing into Tanzania?
Thank you for your kind replies and directives
Jul 13, 2018 14:11:32 #
Will also be heading that way in August. Just went through the vaccine stuff with "Passport Health". Had 4 in all and Yellow Fever WAS recommended.
Still trying to get the Kenya visas straight! How's it going with you?
wildman (a.k.a. Steve)
Still trying to get the Kenya visas straight! How's it going with you?
wildman (a.k.a. Steve)
Jul 13, 2018 14:15:26 #
Wouldn't your travel agent have this info? Your Dr or health dept should have the vaccinations info. Good luck, have a great trip.
Jul 13, 2018 14:21:10 #
Suggest you get required/recommended shot info from State Department. Also suggest you get your Visa prior to traveling. Wouldnt want to spend all that money only to denied a Visa by someone expecting a big "tip."
Jul 13, 2018 14:31:38 #
Check the state department recommendations on travel to Kenya and Tanzania. You will need Yellow Fever, Typhoid and prophylaxis for malaria. But make sure ALL your vaccinations, including Hepatitis A and B, are up to date. For malaria prophylaxis you will need a prescription from your doctor.
I struggled to get the Kenya Visa for our trip last Feb. It seemed that the Kenya website just closes down when it comes to accepting payments. With perseverance, I finally got it online through the Kenya government site. I just kept trying until it went through. When we got to Nairobi, the lines where people bought their visas in Kenya went faster than those who were processing those who had visas in hand. There were far more people getting the visas in Kenya, and they were in their taxis before we got through the passport line.
Great trip. Have fun.
I struggled to get the Kenya Visa for our trip last Feb. It seemed that the Kenya website just closes down when it comes to accepting payments. With perseverance, I finally got it online through the Kenya government site. I just kept trying until it went through. When we got to Nairobi, the lines where people bought their visas in Kenya went faster than those who were processing those who had visas in hand. There were far more people getting the visas in Kenya, and they were in their taxis before we got through the passport line.
Great trip. Have fun.
Jul 13, 2018 14:33:56 #
Check the state department recommendations on travel to Kenya and Tanzania. You will need Yellow Fever, Typhoid and prophylaxis for malaria. But make sure ALL your vaccinations, including Hepatitis A and B, are up to date. For malaria prophylaxis you will need a prescription from your doctor.
I struggled to get the Kenya Visa for our trip last Feb. It seemed that the Kenya website just closes down when it comes to accepting payments. With perseverance, I finally got it online through the Kenya government site. I just kept trying until it went through. When we got to Nairobi, the lines where people bought their visas in Kenya went faster than those who were processing those who had visas in hand. There were far more people getting the visas in Kenya, and they were in their taxis before we got through the passport line. Should have waited til we got to Kenya.
Great trip. Have fun.
I struggled to get the Kenya Visa for our trip last Feb. It seemed that the Kenya website just closes down when it comes to accepting payments. With perseverance, I finally got it online through the Kenya government site. I just kept trying until it went through. When we got to Nairobi, the lines where people bought their visas in Kenya went faster than those who were processing those who had visas in hand. There were far more people getting the visas in Kenya, and they were in their taxis before we got through the passport line. Should have waited til we got to Kenya.
Great trip. Have fun.
Jul 13, 2018 14:40:44 #
Whatever you do, start the malaria meds on time. Your doctor can prescribe them.
You might run into what we did, needing exact change in the currency of the country you're entering to buy the visas from the border agents. No credit cards, cash. Be sure you have answers from someone who knows. Are you near any consulates? This isn't the European Union, don't confuse the two. Other tips, never ever surrender your passport. Carry photocopies and surrender those, but never the original. A man I met from Johannesburg said none of the tap water on the entire continent is safe to drink. None of it, only use bottled water and be careful with your toothbrush. Remember, hippos are the most dangerous animal you'll see, other than a mosquito. About the passport, you won't have any choice but to let the border agents inspect it and stamp it. But anyone else.... Be sure you have plenty of blank visa pages in the passport. Some countries require 2 blanks facing each other.
Have fun, you will. I took a variable neutral density filter and a polarizing filter and had no use for either. I used my 18-300 lens the whole time. One other thing, if they let you feed some animals, do not offer food to the dominant male eland, he'll take the whole bucket. And your fingers if you want to argue about it.
You might run into what we did, needing exact change in the currency of the country you're entering to buy the visas from the border agents. No credit cards, cash. Be sure you have answers from someone who knows. Are you near any consulates? This isn't the European Union, don't confuse the two. Other tips, never ever surrender your passport. Carry photocopies and surrender those, but never the original. A man I met from Johannesburg said none of the tap water on the entire continent is safe to drink. None of it, only use bottled water and be careful with your toothbrush. Remember, hippos are the most dangerous animal you'll see, other than a mosquito. About the passport, you won't have any choice but to let the border agents inspect it and stamp it. But anyone else.... Be sure you have plenty of blank visa pages in the passport. Some countries require 2 blanks facing each other.
Have fun, you will. I took a variable neutral density filter and a polarizing filter and had no use for either. I used my 18-300 lens the whole time. One other thing, if they let you feed some animals, do not offer food to the dominant male eland, he'll take the whole bucket. And your fingers if you want to argue about it.
Jul 13, 2018 19:13:27 #
Dossile wrote:
Check the state department recommendations on trav... (show quote)
Hi Interesting info. I have been trying to get my visa for Kenya and am having a heck of a time getting info. Now I'm wondering if I should get it here or get it there?! hmmmmmmm!
wm
Jul 14, 2018 07:38:14 #
Canonuser
Loc: UK and South Africa
I would also recommend a rabies vaccination. Rabies is quite wide spread in these areas of travel and although the chances of actually getting bitten by a rabied animal is small, I wouldn’t and didn’t take the risk.
Staustically, the Water Buffalo is far more dangerous than the Hippo or any other wild animal.
Staustically, the Water Buffalo is far more dangerous than the Hippo or any other wild animal.
Jul 14, 2018 13:09:51 #
Yes, you need yellow fever shot for Tanzania if you enter from a country other than US/Europe. We entered from Kenya, so needed it (at least as of 2016). Did not need for entry to Kenya. Need to show valid proof of shot (the intn'l shot record). Get before you leave US. Get visas before you leave US. There are companies that do it for you. I used one in Arlington, VA (PVI? PVS?)--who go into DC directly to the embassies. Takes about 3-4 weeks.
Jul 14, 2018 13:21:39 #
In addition to shots, get your doc to prescribe some Imodium to counter "Montezuma's Revenge", or whatever it is called in Africa. Far more effective for severe cases that OTC stuff can't handle. Don't drink anything but bottled water (with a cap whose integrity can't be compromised), and brush teeth only with bottled water. Also beware of ice cubes unless verified made with bottled water.
Jul 14, 2018 15:02:50 #
You should be dealing with a reputable travel agent and not asking "photographers" who may or may not know what they are talking about.
Jul 14, 2018 15:30:55 #
johnnievegas wrote:
You should be dealing with a reputable travel agent and not asking "photographers" who may or may not know what they are talking about.
Jul 14, 2018 16:22:20 #
Got a yellow fever vaccine exemption based on age, being over fifty as there might have been complications. We were flying through South Africa Johannesburg, just passing in transit in airport to a connecting flight. The other countries of our trip Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana didn't require the yellow fever shot. A local doctor who gives vaccinations for travelers wrote the exemption.
Jul 15, 2018 19:28:59 #
Check with the Kenyan embassy on the passport. I got my visa ahead of time that way.
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