Welcome to Johns Hopkins’ Public Health in Action trip to East Africa! Below you will find some information that will be useful while planning your travels.
REGISTRATION FORM & PAYMENT DEADLINES:
Please complete the following Guest Profile form at your convenience (Click here). This allows us to easily record your vital travel information. Once we know your rooming preference we will send an electronic invoice for payment.
FLIGHTS FROM THE US:
International arrival and departure flights are booked by travelers independently. If you would like the contact information for a trusted independent travel agent we are happy to provide you with this information. Kindly forward your international flight information to Meredith (meredith@elevatedestinations.com) once you have booked your flights.
Here are our recommended arrival/departure times:
MAIN PROGRAM:
- October 20th: Arrive at Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) anytime before 4pm
- October 25th: Flight from Abeid Amani Karume to Addis Ababa
Ethiopian Air Flight 814 (ZNZ – ADD)
ZNZ (Depart 3:45 PM), JRO (Arrive 4:35 PM)
*1 stop but no change of plane indicated
JRO (Depart 5:35 PM), ADD (Arrive 8:05 PM)
*Please note that the flight between Abeid Amani Karume and Addis Ababa is not included, and should be booked with your international flights to/from Tanzania and Ethiopia. Travelers should book the flight listed above to ensure you arrive in time for the day’s programming.
- October 30th: Leave from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) anytime
PRE-TRIP SAFARI EXTENSION:
- October 16th: Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) anytime
POST-TRIP LALIBELA EXTENSION:
- November 2nd: Leave from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) in the evening
EXTENSIONS:
While the main program is from October 20th to 30th, Elevate has coordinated with Johns Hopkins to create both pre-trip and post- trip extension options. Space is limited for each of these add-ons. If you are interested in partaking in either of the options listed below please reach out to us as soon as possible so we can provide you with further information.
• Pre- trip Safari Extension (Oct 16-20): Enjoy a safari during the best animal-viewing season in Serengeti National Park. Click to learn more (PDF)
• Post- trip Lalibela Extension (Oct 30-Nov 2): A cultural and architectural tour of the infamous, monolithic rock-cut churches of this ancient Ethiopian town. Click to learn more (PDF)
TRAVEL INSURANCE:
Elevate Destinations strongly recommends that all travelers have travel insurance for any trip they wish to take with us. Please note that some insurance options require purchase within 24 hours of making payment for your trip. We encourage you to review your travel insurance options before making payment to Elevate Destinations.
Elevate Destinations is partnered with the Travel Insurance Center, a broker of travel protection products. For assistance, contact Alan Lightbody, Agent Representative, E-mail alightbody@travelinsurancecenter.com, Toll Free 1-866-979-6753 Ext. 3648, or Direct 402-343-3648.
Guests may acquire travel insurance through the Travel Insurance Center, or any other travel insurance company of their choosing. Elevate Destinations recommends that travelers evaluate the insurance options available for their needs, and inquire with providers about insurance that will provide coverage if the trip needs to be cancelled.
PASSPORT:
Please make sure your passport is current and valid for at least 6 months beyond your trip departure date. Your passport should have at least 3 blank pages for the entry and exit stamps, or more if you are visiting several countries on this trip. Please note that the last two amendment pages are not acceptable for visas and immigration stamps.
VISA/TOURIST CARD:
US Citizens will require two separate visas for Tanzania and Ethiopia. If you would like to use a visa-processing service, we recommend A1 Passport and Visa in Washington, DC, for their great customer service. For questions regarding your visa application you can reach A1 Passport directly at (202) 639 1500.
If you apply for your visas ahead of time, you may be asked to provide contact information on the visa applications– providing the name, address and phone number of the hotels should be sufficient.
For Tanzania the main program hotel is The Serena:
12 Ohio St, 11101 Kivukoni PO Box 791 DSM
Tel : +255 22 221 2500
For Ethiopia that would be The Sheraton:
Taitu St 6002, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel : +251 11 517 1717
If asked for local contacts in each country on your visa application:
Name and address for a contact person in Ethiopia:
Dawit Teferi
Phone: +251 911335722
Email: dawit@nightjartour.com
Address: Addis Ababa, Yeka, Woreda 11
And Tanzania:
Bernard Alex
Njiro Hill | Arusha | 427
Email: balex@akorndmc.com
Tel: +255 27 250 6190
Tanzania
For important information regarding applying for a visa to Tanzania, please visit the Tanzanian Embassy website. You will be applying for a ordinary/tourist visa. Please note that Tanzanian tourist visas are single entry and valid for 1 year, therefore you may apply at anytime. If you are applying for your visa on your own, please be sure to allow yourself approximately 2 months to send off your paperwork and have your visa mailed back to you.
U.S. citizens may also get their visas upon entry in Tanzania. Please note you will need your passport. A visa on arrival is $100 per person for a U.S. citizen. All bills must be crisp and newer than 2006.
Be prepared to show your passport and explain your visa status when entering or departing Zanzibar.
Ethiopia
Ethiopian tourist visas are available to U.S. citizens upon arrival only at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa. Single entry tourist visas are available upon arrival and cost $50 for one month and $70 for 3 months validity.
For those who interested in obtaining their visa before the trip, we recommend using a visa processing service as the Ethiopian embassy is currently no longer processing visas.
HEALTH CONCERNS
Please consult with a travel clinic or your personal physician regarding the recommended immunizations for travel to Africa. You will need to do this well in advance of your trip as some vaccinations require time to take effect, and you may need to allow time between a series of shots. Comprehensive information can be found on the CDC Websites for Tanzania and Ethiopia.
In addition to being up-to-date on routine vaccinations 4-6 weeks before travel, the CDC recommends that most travelers be vaccinated for Hepatitis A and Typhoid. The CDC also recommends some travelers to be vaccinated for Hepatitis B, Rabies, Meningitis (Meningococcal disease) *Yellow Fever, **Cholera and to take prescription medicine before, during, and after your trip to prevent Malaria.
*Yellow fever is a risk in certain parts of Ethiopia, so CDC recommends the yellow fever vaccine for travelers. Additionally, you may be asked to show your Yellow Fever vaccination card upon arrival in Ethiopia since you will be arriving from Tanzania.
**Cholera is also a risk in Tanzania and Ethiopia. Avoiding unsafe food and water can also prevent many cholera infections. Cholera is rare in travelers but can be severe.
Note: Zika is a risk in Tanzania. Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects. Therefore, pregnant women should not travel to Tanzania. Partners of pregnant women and couples planning pregnancy should know the possible risks to pregnancy and take preventive steps (more information).
Last but not least, please be advised that some travelers experience altitude sickness upon arrival to Addis Ababa (elevation: 7,726 feet). It is important to stay hydrated and avoid excessive alcohol consumption upon arrival. If interested, talk to your doctor about getting an acetazolamide (Diamox) prescription, which can help reduce the affects of acute mountain sickness.
If you have any additional questions please feel free to reach out to our Donor Travel Team:
Naomi Garner
naomi@elevatedestinations.com
Meredith Hauser
meredith@elevatedestinations.com
Katherine Redington
katherine@elevatedestinations.com