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Travelling in East Africa

Travelling in East Africa

Welcome. KaribuBienvenue. With so much beauty to savour, wonderful people to meet, tasty cuisines to sample, travelling in East Africa is guaranteed to be fun.

Documents you need:
  • Passport
  • Visa (for non EAC citizens)
  • Alternative travel documents for East Africans
  • Other requirements for East Africans (Certificate of Identity / Inter-state Pass)

Choosing how to travel:

Air:

The East African Community is connected to the world by a network of international airports, most of which are located in or adjacent to the region’s major cities. Most major towns in different Partner States also possess smaller airports.

The Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA), an institution of the Community, works closely with national civil aviation authorities to ensure that air travel in the region is safe.

Road:

There is a host of bus services connecting all East African capitals and major cities, but with EAC-enhanced co-operation in the area of transport, East Africans can now drive private cars across borders and across the entire EAC region, free of charge, for visits no longer than seven (7) days.

The maximum period allowed for one to use a car not registered in the host Partner State is six (6) months, although you will be required to pay $20 per month as temporary road licence after the seven-day grace period has elapsed. Anyone using a private car has to fill a form, obtainable at border crossing points or local Revenue Authority office, which grants permission for free access for a week.

A valid driver’s licence is required for driving in any of the Partner States.

Ensure that your car is insured before you travel, with a valid sticker displayed on your vehicle as proof of insurance (seek advice from your insurer on the available insurance options). Also make sure you carry an original copy of your car Log Book or at the very least, a photocopy.

Ports of entry (applies to road transport only*)

  • Kenya – Uganda border: Busia and Malaba
  • Kenya – Tanzania border: Namanga and Holili
  • Tanzania – Uganda border: Mutukula
  • Tanzania – Burundi border: Kigoma
  • Tanzania – Rwanda border: Rusumo
  • Rwanda – Burundi border: Akanyaru
  • Rwanda – Uganda border: Gatuna / Katuna
  • South Sudan – Uganda border: Busia
  • South Sudan – Kenya border:
Sea:

The region’s principle seaports include; Mombasa in Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Mtwara and Tanga in Tanzania.

Best time to travel based on weather, time zones and public holidays

Weather:

Climatic conditions vary from tropical to temperate, depending on elevation.

There are two common rain seasons in the Partner States: the long rains from late March to early May, and the short rains, from late October to early December.

Time zones:

Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda belong to the East Africa Time zone, which is three hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+3).

Rwanda and Burundi belong to the Central Africa Time zone. CAT is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2).

Public holidays:

Most government institutions close on public holidays in EAC Partner States, although immigration points (airports, border entry points etc) remain open.

Similarly, most business fixtures remain closed on such days.

Below is a table showing the official public holidays in the EAC Partner States:

EAC Partner State Public holidays
Burundi 1 Jan New Year’s Day; 5 Feb Unity Day; 1 May Labour Day; 21 May Ascension; 1 Jul Independence Day; 15 Aug Assumption; 13 Oct Anniversary of Louise Rwagasore’s assassination; 21 Oct Anniversary of President M. Ndadaye’s assassination; 1 Nov All Saints’ Day; 25 Dec Christmas Day
Kenya 1 Jan New Year’s Day; 1 May Labour Day; 1 Jun Madaraka Day; 20 Oct Mashujaa Day; 12 Dec Jamuhuri (Independence) Day; 25 Dec Christmas Day; 26 Dec Boxing Day
Rwanda 1 Jan New Year’s Day; 1 Feb Heroes’ Day; 7 Apr Genocide Memorial Day; 1 May Labour Day; 1 Jul Independence Day; 4 Jul Liberation Day; 15 Aug Assumption; 1 Oct Patriotism Day; 25 Dec Christmas Day; 26 Dec Boxing Day
South Sudan 1 Jan New Year’s Day; 9 Jan Peace Agreement Day; Easter Sunday, 1 May International Labour Day; 16 May SPLA Day; 9 Jul Independence Day, Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan); 30 Jul Martyrs’ Day; Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice); 25 Dec Christmas Day; 26 Dec Boxing Day; 28 Dec Republic Day
United Republic of Tanzania 1 Jan New Year’s Day; 12 Jan Zanzibar Revolution Day; 26 Apr Union Day; 1 May Labour Day; 7 Jul Saba Saba Day; 8 Aug Nane Nane Day; 14 Oct Nyerere Day; 9 Dec Independence and Republic Day; 25 Dec Christmas Day; 26 Dec Boxing Day
Uganda 1 Jan New Year’s Day; 26 Jan Liberation Day; 8 Mar International Women’s Day; 1 May Labour Day; 3 Jun Martyrs’ Day; 9 Jun National Heroes’ Day; 9 Oct Independence Day; 25 Dec Christmas Day; 26 Dec Boxing Day

Note: Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramdhan) and Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) festivals are determined by local sightings of various phases of the moon and are, upon confirmation, declared public holidays in four of the five EAC Partner States, namely: Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

Astounding animals in Kenya

Astounding animals in Kenya

Kenya is dream safari territory and you will encounter astounding animals in Kenya safari adventure, where you can watch leopards slink through the tall grass, lions laze in the shade of acacia trees and huge elephant herds trundle across the wide-open dusty plains. The Big Five grab the headlines here, but take a closer look and you’ll find that there’s more to Kenya’s wildlife than its majestic beasts. We’ve rounded up some of our favourite lesser-known species to spot on a Kenya holiday.

Astounding animals in Kenya
Gerenuk

The gerenuk is one of Samburu’s special five. With its long neck, large ears and unique way of feeding on its hind legs, it’s like a giraffe-gazelle hybrid – in fact its name translates to ‘giraffe-necked’. The gerenuk joins the Somali ostrich, Grevy’s zebra, beisa oryx and reticulated giraffe to make up the special five. These dry country animals can be found in the arid reserves of Samburu and Meru in the north of Kenya – try and spot them all on our Samburu & Maasai Mara fly-in safari.

Astounding animals in Kenya

Lilac-breasted roller

We think that the lilac-breasted roller is Africa’s most beautiful bird. The Kenyan government is on our wavelength; this rainbow-coloured roller is the country’s national bird. You’ll first come across this little bird as a flash of colour as it flits between trees to scan for prey; zoom in your binoculars to see its pastel plumage and long narrow tail. The lilac-breasted roller is just one of Kenya’s spectacular birds; spot large species from marabou stork and the statuesque kori bustard (Africa’s largest native flying bird) to the gloriously-named superb starling. There’s great birding in many of Kenya’s National Parks. Amboseli has more than 400 bird species and is one of our favourite places to spot the rare Taita falcon.

Astounding animals in Kenya

Pangolin

These shy anteaters are scaly from tip to tail and roll themselves up into a ball when threatened; inquisitive lions can often end up playing pangolin football. Pangolins are solitary nocturnal creatures. They’re also the world’s most illegally trafficked animal. Like rhino horns, pangolin scales are mistakenly thought to have healing properties. Also like rhino horns, the scales are made from keratin – the same substance as our hair and nails. Pangolins are heavily protected and it’s rare to spot one, but they can be found in areas of western Kenya including the Maasai Mara.

Astounding animals in Kenya

Flamingo

From the air, some of Kenya’s lakes appear to have a bright pink border. It’s not an illusion – look closely and you’ll see that thousands of greater and lesser flamingos line the shores. Watching the birds take flight en masse is a magical sight. These hot-pink- feathered birds are flighty and they migrate between the lakes that have the most algae – hope to catch them at Lake Bogoria, which you can reach from Loldia House or Lake Elmenteita.

Flamingos

Rothschild’s giraffe

You can recognise the Rothschild’s giraffe by its long white socks – it’s the only giraffe species that has no patterning below the knee. This is one of Africa’s most endangered giraffes, but thanks to initiatives like the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi – which has successfully released giraffe into nearby National Parks – numbers are on the rise. At Giraffe Manor there’s even a resident herd of Rothschild’s giraffe that pop their heads into the breakfast room to start the day with you. The Giraffe Centre isn’t Nairobi’s only place for ethical wildlife experiences – we love the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nairobi Nursery, where rescued baby elephants are hand-raised and released into Tsavo National Park.

Rothschild's giraffe

Sea turtle

Away from the rolling plains, Kenya’s waters are surprisingly marine-rich. There’s great snorkelling and diving close to Mombasa, where marine parks up and down the coast include the Mombasa Marine Park. Among the psychedelic fish, seahorses and rainbow reefs, you can spot hawksbill turtles chomping around the coral and popping above the surface for air. Some hotels, like AfroChic, even have protected areas where you can see turtles nesting on the beach and watch as tiny turtle hatchlings make their way to the ocean for the first time.