What Do You Need to Travel to Africa? Health Prep Guide

When your Africa safari is booked and confirmed, you’ll likely experience a surge of emotions. These range from the excitement of anticipating a new adventure and exploring inexpensive exotic places to travel to the thrill of fulfilling a dream and, perhaps, a tiny tingle of anxiety about possible health concerns (often fuelled by friends or family who have never travelled to Africa).

The good news is, with sound medical advice from your doctor or a travel clinic specialist, plus up-to-date vaccinations and good, old-fashioned common sense, you are very unlikely to have any serious health concerns. Ironically, the riskiest part of any journey in terms of your health is likely to be the long-haul flight itself.

Scenic landscape of the highlands in Africa with mountains in the background

Before You Leave, Visit Your Doctor

We are travel content specialists, not medical experts. We strongly recommend that you visit your doctor well in advance of your safari adventure or any trip to Africa to discuss any health concerns you might have and get personalized advice on necessary travel requirements and precautions.

Routine Vaccinations

Some diseases that have been made rare in many home countries due to routine vaccinations may be far more common in parts of the developing world. As such, it’s highly recommended that you visit your health care provider four to six weeks before you travel to ensure that you are up to date with several routine vaccinations that are important for travel to Africa. These typically include:

• Flu
• MMR – measles, mumps and rubella (German measles)
• Polio
• Hepatitis A & B
• DPT – diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus

Important Note: It is essential that you are in optimum health if you’re planning activities like trekking to see gorillas, as they are hyper vulnerable to human diseases. Even a common human cold can kill a gorilla, so you will not be allowed to join the trek if you have even the slightest symptoms of illness. Gorilla trek slots are non-refundable and non-transferrable, so look after yourself and address any small health issue promptly before your departure. Understanding vaccination needs is part of thorough travel preparation, much like planning a 2 week travel itinerary sri lanka.

Yellow Fever Vaccination

Yellow fever is a viral disease spread by a species of mosquito common in the ‘yellow fever belt’, which spans parts of Africa and South America. It is easily prevented with a simple and highly effective vaccination routinely available from certified travel clinics.

Illustration representing yellow fever vaccination or symptoms

You must receive this vaccination at least 10 days before you plan on entering a yellow fever area. This waiting period is crucial because it takes a few days for the vaccine to provide effective protection, and you may experience mild flu-like symptoms as a side effect, which can be unpleasant on a long-haul flight. Once you’ve received the shot, the travel clinic will issue you with an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (IVCP), commonly known as the ‘yellow card’, which serves as proof of your inoculation. Proper health preparation is as important as managing air france travel with pets before a journey.

Important: Only a certified travel clinic or specific authorized centres can issue an official yellow fever certificate.

The table below provides a summary of common yellow fever vaccination requirements for certain countries in Africa. While we strive to keep this information current, always consult with your doctor or health care practitioner before you travel, as they can provide the most accurate and personalized advice based on your specific travel plans and medical history.

Malaria Prevention

As it is spread by disease-carrying female mosquitoes, the risk of contracting malaria is highest when and where mosquitoes are prolific, particularly during the hot and humid summer months in tropical regions of Africa.

Mosquito landing on skin, illustrating malaria transmission risk

Malaria is one of the most common diseases in many parts of Africa, but it is generally preventable and treatable with antimalarial medication. Visit your doctor to get advice about whether you should take antimalarial prophylactics as soon as you know when and where you’ll be travelling within Africa.

It is crucial to adhere strictly to the prescribed schedule of your antimalarial prophylactics to ensure they are effective. If you experience any uncomfortable or unexpected side effects while you’re on safari, inform your guide or camp manager immediately. Seeking immediate medical attention is part of ensuring safe travel experiences, much like planning for best place to travel thanksgiving.

Important: Inform your doctor if you plan on scuba diving after you’ve visited a malaria area, as this activity could affect the type of antimalarial medication they can safely prescribe for you.

You can take additional preventative measures to avoid mosquito bites. These include applying insect repellent with DEET or picaridin to any exposed skin every time you shower or change clothes, covering your skin from neck to toe with light-coloured clothing during the evening hours, keeping your tent or room doors and windows closed, ensuring your mosquito net is properly used over your bed, and using quality citronella-based soaps or repellents.

You should seek immediate medical attention if you develop a fever and flu-like symptoms, including chills, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue, within three months of your departure from a malaria-risk area. Although malaria can be deadly, many people survive if they seek medical attention as soon as symptoms appear.

If you prefer not to travel in a malaria-risk area, there are plenty of excellent malaria-free safari destinations and options available in Africa.

Herd of elephants walking across the savanna on an African safari

General Health Tips When Travelling to Africa

Beyond vaccinations and malaria prevention, here are some general health tips to consider for your trip to Africa:

• Visit your GP well ahead of your departure date to discuss any existing health issues you may have and ensure you are fit for travel.
• Ensure that you have comprehensive travel health insurance. If your safari adventure takes you to remote parts of Africa, adequate cover is essential to ensure you can be evacuated to the nearest major hospital and potentially repatriated to your home country if necessary. Comprehensive planning is vital for smooth trips, relevant even for those providing seo services for travel agency.
• Try to stay as healthy and fit as you can in the weeks leading up to your departure. You don’t want to start your vacation fighting off a cold or flu. It might be worth considering a flu shot well in advance of your departure, especially if travelling during flu season.
• Consider taking multivitamins or immune boosters before and during your trip. Pack some in your hand luggage to take along on the plane to help avoid the dreaded ‘flight flu’ and support your immune system.
• Stock up on enough of all your prescription drugs before you leave. Be sure to bring copies of your doctors’ prescriptions and keep scheduled medication in its original packaging. Ask your doctor to supply the generic or alternative names for your medications in case you need to seek medical attention while in Africa.
• Consider bringing spare contact lenses or glasses, asthma inhalers or pumps, diabetes monitors and supplies, and any over-the-counter medication you use regularly (such as treatments for migraines, upset stomach, or allergies). It’s always comforting and often more effective to have the exact medicine you are used to taking if you need it.
• Be sure to inform your travel consultant or Africa Safari Expert as early as possible if you require special medical attention or specific dietary needs (such as a gluten-free menu for someone with coeliac disease) or special facilities (such as a wheelchair-friendly environment) at your accommodations.
• Ensure that all your and your children’s routine vaccinations, such as MMR (measles-mumps-rubella), polio, hepatitis, and DPT (diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus), are up to date according to your home country’s recommendations.
• Always heed your doctor’s advice, even if it’s disappointing or changes your plans – like not being able to scuba dive off Africa’s Indian Ocean islands when you are pregnant (you can still snorkel in the magnificently clear, warm water, so all is not lost!).
• If you are not feeling well at any stage during your safari adventure, let your guide or camp manager know immediately. They are experienced in handling traveler health issues and can help you access medical assistance if needed.

Vast open plains of the Central Serengeti landscape in Tanzania

Conclusion

Visiting Africa is undoubtedly a thrilling adventure – one you want to remember for all the right reasons, focusing on incredible wildlife encounters and stunning landscapes rather than health woes. Even if you are currently in perfect health, it is fundamentally important to chat to your health care practitioner or a travel clinic specialist well before your trip. This step ensures you get health advice that is specific to your individual health profile, medical history, and the exact regions you plan to visit in Africa. Being a well-informed and well-prepared traveller regarding health precautions will provide you with complete peace of mind, allowing you the freedom to fully immerse yourself in and enjoy every moment of your African safari or vacation.