Can I get an East African visa that covers all the countries?

The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda for $100 and 90 days. Tanzania is not part of this agreement, so you need a separate Tanzanian visa. If you're only visiting one or two countries, individual e-visas are cheaper.

What happens if my e-visa doesn't come through before my flight?

You can get a visa on arrival at the airport. Bring two passport photos and the exact visa fee in US dollars (crisp bills). The process takes 1-2 hours. Airlines may not let you board without either an e-visa approval or proof you're eligible for visa-on-arrival, so check your nationality's eligibility before your flight.

Do I really need yellow fever vaccination if I'm flying direct from the US or Europe?

Technically, you only need it if coming from a yellow fever risk country. In practice, immigration officers at East African airports sometimes ask for it regardless of origin. Get the vaccination. It's valid for life, eliminates any argument at immigration, and protects you if you're actually going on safari where mosquitoes are present.

Can I cross borders multiple times on a safari with one visa?

Not with a single-entry visa. If your safari crosses from Tanzania to Kenya and back to Tanzania, you need either a multiple-entry Tanzania visa or separate visas. The East Africa Tourist Visa solves this for Kenya/Uganda/Rwanda but doesn't include Tanzania. Tell your tour operator your visa situation so they can plan the route correctly.

How long does an East African e-visa actually take?

Kenya usually processes in 2-7 days. Uganda takes 2-5 days. Tanzania takes 5-10 days, sometimes longer. Apply at least two weeks before departure to be safe. Check your spam folder—approval emails sometimes end up there. If you haven't heard anything after 10 days, contact the relevant e-visa support email.

How to Handle Visas and Entry Requirements for Your First Trip to East Africa

Most travelers need a visa for East Africa, but the process is straightforward. Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda offer e-visas you can get online before departure, while Rwanda offers visa-on-arrival or e-visa options. Budget $50-100 per country for single-entry visas, or get the East Africa Tourist Visa for $100 if you're visiting Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda together.

Check which countries you're actually visiting. East Africa covers multiple countries with different visa rules. The most visited are Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia. Write down every country you'll enter, including brief stopovers. Transit without leaving the airport usually doesn't need a visa, but confirm this for each country.
Verify your passport meets the six-month rule. Every East African country requires your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date. Check your passport expiration date right now. If it expires within six months of your return date, renew it before applying for any visas. You'll also need at least 2-3 blank visa pages.
Decide between single-country visas and the East Africa Tourist Visa. If you're visiting only Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, or Rwanda, get individual e-visas. If you're visiting Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda (any combination of those three), get the East Africa Tourist Visa for $100 instead—it covers all three countries for 90 days. Tanzania is not part of this agreement, so you'll need a separate visa for Tanzania regardless.
Apply for e-visas 2-4 weeks before departure. Kenya: Apply at evisa.go.ke. Processing takes 2-7 days, costs $51 for most nationalities. Tanzania: Apply at eservices.immigration.go.tz. Processing takes 5-10 days, costs $50-100 depending on nationality. Uganda: Apply at visas.immigration.go.ug. Processing takes 2-5 days, costs $50. Rwanda: You can do e-visa at migration.gov.rw or just get it on arrival. East Africa Tourist Visa: Apply through Kenya, Uganda, or Rwanda's e-visa portal—whichever you're entering first.
Print everything, even if they say it's electronic. Print your visa approval letters. Print your yellow fever certificate. Print your return flight ticket. Print your accommodation confirmations. East African immigration systems sometimes go offline, and having physical copies prevents problems. Put all documents in a clear folder you can access easily during flights and at immigration.
Get your yellow fever vaccination at least 10 days before travel. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda all require proof of yellow fever vaccination if you're coming from or transiting through a yellow fever risk country. Even if you're coming from a non-risk country, many travelers get it anyway to avoid issues. The vaccination is valid for life. Keep the yellow International Certificate of Vaccination card they give you—you'll need to show it at immigration.
Understand the visa-on-arrival backup option. If your e-visa doesn't come through in time, most East African countries offer visa-on-arrival as a backup. Bring extra passport photos and the exact visa fee in US dollars (crisp bills, no older than 2013 series). The line can take 1-2 hours at major airports like Nairobi or Dar es Salaam. E-visa is always faster and less stressful.
Know the rules for extending or re-entering. Single-entry visas let you enter once. If you're doing a safari circuit that crosses borders (like Tanzania to Kenya and back), you need either a multiple-entry visa or the East Africa Tourist Visa. Extensions are possible at immigration offices in capital cities but require time and paperwork. Plan your entries correctly from the start.

Can I get an East African visa that covers all the countries?: The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda for $100 and 90 days. Tanzania is not part of this agreement, so you need a separate Tanzanian visa. If you're only visiting one or two countries, individual e-visas are cheaper.
What happens if my e-visa doesn't come through before my flight?: You can get a visa on arrival at the airport. Bring two passport photos and the exact visa fee in US dollars (crisp bills). The process takes 1-2 hours. Airlines may not let you board without either an e-visa approval or proof you're eligible for visa-on-arrival, so check your nationality's eligibility before your flight.
Do I really need yellow fever vaccination if I'm flying direct from the US or Europe?: Technically, you only need it if coming from a yellow fever risk country. In practice, immigration officers at East African airports sometimes ask for it regardless of origin. Get the vaccination. It's valid for life, eliminates any argument at immigration, and protects you if you're actually going on safari where mosquitoes are present.
Can I cross borders multiple times on a safari with one visa?: Not with a single-entry visa. If your safari crosses from Tanzania to Kenya and back to Tanzania, you need either a multiple-entry Tanzania visa or separate visas. The East Africa Tourist Visa solves this for Kenya/Uganda/Rwanda but doesn't include Tanzania. Tell your tour operator your visa situation so they can plan the route correctly.
How long does an East African e-visa actually take?: Kenya usually processes in 2-7 days. Uganda takes 2-5 days. Tanzania takes 5-10 days, sometimes longer. Apply at least two weeks before departure to be safe. Check your spam folder—approval emails sometimes end up there. If you haven't heard anything after 10 days, contact the relevant e-visa support email.