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As well as being asked where to go and what to see in Africa, the team at Africa Travel are often asked - do I need a visa to travel to Africa? - which are the visa-free African countries for US citizens?
Well Americans have it very good with regards being able to travel the world without needing to obtain visas. In fact there almost 190 countries in the world which Americans can visit without a visa, with a large collection of them in Africa. This means no paperwork, visits to embassies, queuing in the rain and hefty visa fees – you can just contact Africa Travel, book your dream vacation, and head to the airport. Most of the key tourist destinations in Africa are visa-free, and even when one is required, this can now be obtained easily online, or once you arrive at your destination.
Africa Travel have put together a handy guide to those African countries that do not require visas for US citizens, and where a visa is needed, we show you how to get it. Just remember that visa and entry requirements do change, often with little notice, and an African country that is visa-free to US citizens on one day, may longer be so the next. We therefore still recommend that you contact Africa Travel to check the entry requirements of every country you will be visiting,
Please also ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from your planned date of departure from Africa and that you have enough blank pages in your passport for any of the visas which you may require. In addition to this, anyone travelling from a Yellow Fever infected country may also be required to show a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate upon arrival to be granted entry.
Do you need a visa to go to Africa? Well here is your answer;
South Africa, is one of the most beautiful and popular countries on the African continent, and the good news for US citizens is that they do not require a visa to visit the destination for a period of up to 90 days, (which is plenty of time to see all the major sights!).
Just note that there are special requirements for those travelling to South Africa with children under the age of 18, and that if you do not carry the correct documentation you will not be allowed to enter the country. Contact Africa Travel for further details.
South Africa is one of the best visa-free African countries for US citizens to visit.
Botswana is a country of incredible natural wonders and superb safari opportunities, and it also offers visa-free travel for US citizens for stays of up-to 90 days. The only issue you may have is deciding which of the many National Parks & Game Reserves you are going to visit – the Okavango Delta, Moremi Resere, Chobe National Park…..
Namibia is a land of open spaces, dramatic landscapes and otherworldly offerings, and although US citizens do now require a visa to visit, this can easily be obtained on arrival. The safari-savvy traveller just needs to contact Africa Travel though and we will tell you how you can arrange this in advance so that you can avoid having to join the queues on arrival.
Another visa-free African country for US citizens to visit is Malawi, known as the land of smiles. A fabulously-undiscovered African gem, this land-locked beauty is famed for the lake which runs almost the length of the country, as well as for some serious safari spots.
Staying in Southern Africa, Zambia, the joint home of the majestic Victoria Falls, is yet another visa-free destination for US citizens to visit. The place of walking safaris and remote adventures, the country has also been voted as one of the top 10 safest places to travel by the US Department of State, so what’s stopping you heading here for your next vacation?
Sharing the mighty Victoria Falls with Zambia is the remarkable nation of Zimbabwe. Renowned for being home to some of Africa’s finest safari guides, as well as some of the continent’s best value safaris, visas may well be required by US citizens, but these can easily be obtained upon your arrival, so no trekking to remote embassies or waiting weeks for approval of your application.
The big-hitting safari spot of Kenya disposed with the arduous idea of US citizens having to obtain a visa in advance of their arrival, replacing it instead with the simple requirement of an easy and quick online application for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Once you have obtained this you can sit back and relax, and look forward to enjoying some of the best safari experiences of your life.
Up high on the wish-list of many US travellers to Africa is Tanzania, home to such giants as the Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the mystical island of Zanzibar. A visa is required to visit this East African powerhouse, but this can be obtained on arrival at your destination airport or, if you follow the advice of Africa Travel, get it online in advance and spend your time instead watching the wildlife rather than the queue ahead of you.
Just an additional note that those heading to Zanzibar must also obtain ‘Mandatory Inbound Travel Insurance’, but this can also be done online, and takes just minutes.
US gorilla-lovers intent on visiting the magical country of Uganda will need to obtain an eVisa prior to their departure, but this is very routine and can easily be done online. Africa Travel’s top tip for those also wishing to visit neighbouring Rwanda would be to instead apply for an East African eVisa, as this covers entry to both destinations.
The same rules for Uganda apply to next door neighbour Rwanda - an eVisa needs to be obtained in advance of your travels to this unique destination, but if Uganda is also on your travel radar, opt instead for an East African eVisa which covers both countries. All you then need to worry about is securing your permits to view the gorillas, but Africa Travel will have that covered.
Picture-postcard beaches, aqua-blue waters and genuine Creole hospitality await the US visitor to the Seychelles, and although an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is required to gain entry, this can easily be obtained online in advance, meaning that the lucky US vacationer need only arrive, collect their luggage and head straight off into paradise.
Neighbouring Mauritius, also renowned for its beaches, water sports and Indian Ocean welcome, goes one step further. So if the question is ‘do I need a visa to travel to Africa?’ and your destination is Mauritius, then the answer is a very firm ‘no’. What warmer welcome could you get?
The last of the Indian Ocean beach beauties is Mozambique, where the Bazaruto Archipelago is home to some of Africa’s, if not the planet’s, most extraordinary beach hideaways. Also extraordinary is the news that US holidaymakers no longer need a visa if they are visiting the country for less than 30 days. What better incentive is there to head for some beach downtime after your safari adventure?
Now that you know which African countries are visa-free to US citizens, it is time to contact Africa Travel. With over 30 years’ experience in creating tailor-made and bespoke holidays to the best countries in Africa, there is no one more qualified to advise of the best safari destinations in Africa, or to organise an unforgettable safari holiday to Africa than Africa Travel.
We are able to advise on the best visa-free countries in Africa to visit, and we have a wealth of specialist resources to help you book your perfect safari. We are trusted by more and more customers to create a memorable experience which is not just another holiday, but rather the best trip possible to Africa.
All of our staff have travelled extensively and you can trust that our personal recommendations will deliver the safe African holiday that you have always dreamed of. We know the best time to travel to Africa, the African countries that are visa-free to US citizens, and we can recommend the best luxury safari lodges in Africa. We organise exclusive and private tours, and arrange for the finest guides to escort you.
| For more information on the very best Africa holidays, get in touch by calling 020 7843 3500 or email us at info@africatravel.co.uk |
Africa Travel's Chris Wain has once again been named one of the world's top travel specialists by Conde Nast Traveler.
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