As of June 17, 2020 Rwanda, famed for offering travelers the ability to trek and view rare mountain gorillas and chimpanzees,  has re-opened for international tourism.

Rwanda is one of the world’s most densely populated countries and many people have assumed that they have been hit very hard by Covid… however, like much of Africa, so far things have been going incredibly well. With a population of 12 million Rwanda has had 629 cases and 2 deaths.  Here in Washington State we have had over 1,200 deaths out of a population of 7 million.

Rwanda’s re-opening comes with many Covid caveats and stipulations – all international travelers must arrive by charter flights, travelers must be tested for Covid within 72 hours before their arrival and travelers must be tested again upon landing… we have not yet heard what will happen to travelers who test positive!

Overall things are trending in a positive direction but the hoops needed to to jump through will discourage most… what if you are departing Los Angeles on a Sunday to Rwanda. You would go for a Covid test on the Friday and hope that you miraculously receive your results by Friday evening … good luck with that. Let’s say that you do get your results and en route to Africa your flight is delayed… what if you arrive more than 72 hours after your test was done? Now you would need to have 2 tests done in Rwanda and your travel plans may be disturbed…  I personally would hate to have an international trip hang in the balance! Never mind what happens if you test positive? At least, in this instance, we are hearing from our travel insurance partners that a doctor ordered quarantine would be covered!

Tanzania’s approach of no testing / no quarantines, which to some seems reckless, is in all likelihood the model other countries will end up using…

Stay well,

Ian Proctor
Ultimate Africa President
“I first visited Africa in the late 1980s. I came face to face with a wild elephant, and fell in love with being on safari! I made it my goal to create an African travel company that was all about authentic wildlife experiences. Many years later we are one of the top African travel companies in the Americas – known for arranging custom safaris to East and Southern Africa; personal trips, no cookie cutter stuff.”