Health risks visiting game parks vary depending on accommodation ( anything from luxury lodges to basic tents) transport (van, truck , aircraft, balloon or on foot) and time of year. In addition travellers doing aid work or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro face their own unique health challenges.
The following information provides some broad and general guidelines about health risks and recommendations for travel to Kenya and Tanzania. This should not be taken as a substitute for a personal consultation with one of our travel health doctors, whose advice will be specific for you and your trip and may include some things not mentioned here.
Six to eight weeks out from departure is a good time to have a travel health consultation. You may need blood tests to check immunity to diseases or need a course of vaccines like rabies for example, and this gives you plenty of time to get everything completed. If you are travelling sooner however it's not too late for an appointment, simply make one as soon as you can.
Mosquitos transmit a number of viruses including Yellow Fever and malaria. While there is a vaccine for Yellow fever and medication to reduce the risk of malaria, mosquito avoidance is the only way to prevent many of these diseases.
Travellers diarrhoea, giardia and dysentery are just some of the illnesses caused by contaminated food and water. Tap water in Kenya and Tanzania is generally not safe to drink.
Everyone should be up to date for routine childhood immunisations and may need adult boosters for such diseases as tetanus, measles and hepatitis B.
As well as being a recognised Yellow Fever country, additional vaccines may also be recommended depending on your individual medical history, current itinerary and the likelihood of future travel.
This is a very serious but rare mosquito borne disease. Most travellers to Kenya or Tanzania require or are recommended the vaccination either for disease protection, prevention of international spread or for bureaucratic reasons. An internationally recognised certificate is issued as proof of vaccination and should be presented when requested at border crossings.
Read MoreObserve strict food and water safety precautions. Take a water filter drink bottle and well stocked kit with guidelines for self-treatment.
Read MoreRisk of this mosquito borne parasite depends on itinerary and season. The need for preventative medication should be discussed with one of our doctors. Any fever after travel to these countries requires a blood test to exclude malaria.
Read MoreSee us about prevention and treatment of altitude sickness, get fit and have a check-up prior.
Read MoreAfrican countries have the highest rates of HIV in the world. Do not put yourself at risk. STD checks are available on return.
See the Australian governments' website: smartraveller.gov.au
Never leave Australia without appropriate travel insurance.
Hepatitis A vaccination is usually recommended for travel to Kenya and Tanzania.
Read MoreA food and water borne disease, typhoid vaccination is often recommended.
Consider pre-travel rabies vaccination (at least three weeks before departure) for longer trips, those at risk or anyone wanting lifelong protection. Avoid animals (particularly dogs, monkeys, cats and bats). Thoroughly rinse and disinfect any animal wound and seek prompt medical care for post exposure management (whether or not pre-vaccinated).
Read MoreAn oral vaccine available for the prevention of cholera which also reduces the risk of travellers diarrhoea, is often taken by those wishing to significantly reduce their risk of gastro.
Read MoreInfluenza is one of the most common vaccine preventable illnesses in travellers. In tropical climates there is no 'flu season', risk being all year round.
Read MoreAs there is no non-essential overseas travel at this time this article will simply remain as an information resource for COVID-19. See our main COVID-19 page for more detailed information. We hope to be able to inform our travelers once again after this crisis passes. The links below remain trustworthy
Over 48,000 cases of dengue fever have been reported in Sri Lanka since 1st October 2019, a significant increase in incidence. Travellers should observe strict mosquito avoidance measures, particularly during daylight hours.
As a result of recent outbreaks of measles in various countries, the Solomon Islands' will be requiring arriving travellers from/via American Samoa, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Philippines, Samoa, or Tonga to show proof of measles vaccination, effective December 28th 2019. Vaccination needs to have been at least 15 days prior and
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