Tanzania vaccinations & health — what you really need to know

I have been a travel advisor for Tanzania for more than 15 years. And in all those years I have seen how people who are excellently prepared with luggage and camera equipment sometimes forget health preparation until two weeks before departure. This article is meant to prevent that.

I am not a doctor — for medical advice you always go to your GP or a travel clinic. But I can tell you what I always take myself, what our guides recommend, and what the most frequently asked questions are that we receive from travellers.

Malaria — the most frequently asked question

Tanzania is a malaria area. The Kilimanjaro region and Ngorongoro above 1,800 metres are relatively low risk due to altitude, but the Serengeti, Lake Manyara and the coast (including Zanzibar) are moderate to high risk.

What works? There are three common medications:

- **Malarone (atovaquone/proguanil)**: Start one day before departure, take daily and stop seven days after return. Few side effects, ideal for short trips. Disadvantage: relatively expensive. - **Doxycycline**: Cheaper alternative. Start two days before departure. Makes you more sensitive to the sun — always use high SPF. Some people experience stomach complaints. - **Lariam (mefloquine)**: Taken weekly, start three weeks before departure. Rarely prescribed due to possible side effects (vivid dreams, mood changes).

My advice: discuss this with your doctor and specifically ask about Malarone if you don't have a long lead time. Many of our travellers choose this for convenience.

Yellow fever — watch the rules

Tanzania requires a yellow fever vaccination if you arrive from a country where yellow fever is endemic (large parts of Africa and South America). If you fly directly from the Netherlands, Germany or Belgium, this is not legally required.

However: Zanzibar and some other Tanzanian authorities do check this at border crossings. It is safer to get vaccinated regardless of your departure country — the vaccine is valid for life and takes little effort.

Standard vaccinations — check your vaccination programme

These are the vaccinations always recommended for Tanzania:

- **Hepatitis A**: Strongly recommended. Transmission through food and water, even in good hotels. The vaccination provides protection for 25+ years. - **Typhoid**: Recommended, especially if you also visit markets or eat locally. Pill or injection. - **Tetanus and diphtheria**: Check when you last had a booster. If it was more than 10 years ago, boost. - **Hepatitis B**: Recommended for longer stays or if you might need medical care. - **Rabies**: Only relevant for longer stays (3+ months) or if you work intensively with animals. Not standard for a 2-week safari.

On safari: practical health tips

What our guides always bring and recommend:

- **DEET 50%+ insect repellent**: Essential. Evenings and early mornings are when most mosquitoes are active. Also cover your ankles. - **Sunscreen SPF 50**: The sun in Tanzania is much more intense than in Europe. On the Ngorongoro crater rim or in the open vehicle in the Serengeti you can burn very quickly. - **Travel first aid kit**: Imodium (diarrhoea), paracetamol, antihistamine, plasters, antiseptic. Simple basics. - **Drinking water**: Clean drinking water is available in all our accommodations (bottled or filtered water). Never drink tap water, even in cities. - **Altitude issues at Ngorongoro**: The crater rim is at 2,400 metres. People sensitive to altitude can get headaches. Take paracetamol and rest the first day. Serious altitude sickness is exceptional at this altitude.

When do you start preparing?

Eight to twelve weeks before departure: ideal. Some vaccines (such as rabies) require multiple doses at intervals. Yellow fever must be given at least ten days before departure.

Four weeks before departure: still fine for most vaccines and malaria prophylaxis.

Two weeks before departure: minimum — feasible for most prevention, but stressful.

My personal experience

In all my years as a travel advisor I have only encountered a handful of cases where travellers became ill on safari. In all cases it was stomach complaints from unusual food or changing climate too quickly — not serious diseases. With good preparation, Tanzania is a safe travel destination. Much safer than people think.

Get in touch if you have specific questions. I am happy to help with personal advice — including referral to a good travel vaccination clinic in your region.