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The East African Touring Block requires that all visitors entering East Africa be in possession of a valid international certificate against smallpox. When leaving East Africa, a similar document is also required. As a precautionary measure, malaria prophylactic medicine should be handy, just incase one passes through a malarial zone - although in recent years only few areas in East Africa Tourism Circuits as classified as malarial zone by WHO. That said, East Africa is in point of fact as healthy as anywhere in the world. The ecological gamut varies from tropical to temperate, ocean to desert, depending on your elevation.
A Touring Guide for East Africa
The better-known East Africa Community Tourism Block is comprised of three countries – Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania – which collectively cover a gross area of 1,768,768 km2 (Kenya 582,644 km2, Uganda 241,037 km2 and Tanzania 945,087 km2). East Africa lies almost in the centre of Africa and the equator runs through both Kenya and Uganda. On East Africa’s northern boundary lies the highland of Ethiopia (the most elevated plateau in Africa), the semi-deserts of Somalia, and the low-lying plains of the Sudan. On the west lies the Congo. To the south lie Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. On the east the coasts are lined by Indian Ocean. Zanzibar (Unguja) Island is the main island of Tanzania.
To put the size of East Africa Community Tourism into perspective, it’s almost seven times the size of England, Wales and Scotland; or is nearly a quarter the size of the United States. East Africa is globally famous for its eccentric wildlife displays and extremely vast topography which ranges from high plateaus, snow-capped mountains, deserts and of rolling scapes. East Africa also has some of the largest lakes in the world, notably Lake Victoria, the second largest fresh water lake and Lake Tanganyika.
Of the five mountains in Africa whose peaks rise over 14,000 feet, its only three permanently snow-capped are found in East Africa – Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Kenya (Kenya) and the Ruwenzoris (on the border between Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo). They were first climbed in that order – Kilimanjaro being first in 1888, Kenya second in 1889, and the Ruwenzoris in 1906. The East Africa Community is the leading touring destination in Sub-Saharan Africa, with steady growth as a regional destination.
Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda. Published by Chris Austria
As a Kenyan of good faith and responsible travel, you face minimal restrictions traveling within the East African Community (EAC). You only need a valid national ID, East African passport, or a temporary permit to enter countries like Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania visa-free or with free visitor passes on arrival. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is typically mandatory.
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).
The Democratic Republic of the Congo observes GMT+01:00 (West Africa Time) for Western DRC (Kinshasa, Boende, Zongo); and GMT+02:00 (Central Africa Time) for Eastern DRC (Goma, Kindu, Bukama, Lubumbashi). It is the only country in Africa that uses more than one time zone.
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 certified photocopy.
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