Australian travellers often visit the game reserves in the northeast, the largest of which is Kruger National Park on the border with Mozambique. There are a variety of other game reserves scattered around the country. Capetown and surrounding wineries are other popular destinations, as well as the famous Garden Route along the south coast. Victoria Falls (on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia) is a common side trip.
The following information provides some broad and general guidelines about health risks and recommendations for travel to South Africa and Victoria Falls. 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.
Mosquito avoidance is essential, with insects transmitting diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and malaria. Medication options for malaria will be discussed during your consultation.
Travellers diarrhoea, giardia and dysentery are just some of the illnesses caused by contaminated food and water. Risk is much higher if visiting and eating in townships or poorer rural areas.
As well as being up to date for routine childhood vaccines such as tetanus, measles and Hep B, the following vaccines are often recommended for travel to this region – Hep A, typhoid, rabies and influenza. Decisions regarding which are most appropriate depend on duration and nature of travel, itinerary, age and underlying medical conditions.
Hepatitis A is recommended for travel to South Africa and Vic Falls.
Read MoreA food and water borne disease, typhoid vaccination is often recommended.
This mosquito borne parasite is present in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal Province as far south as the Tugela River, Limpopo (Northern) Province, and Mpumalanga Province. It is present in Kruger National Park and Victoria Falls. Risk is higher during the rainy season (October through to May). Mosquito bite avoidance is essential in these areas. See us to discuss whether preventive medication is appropriate. Doxycycline also reduces the risk of African tick typhus in game park areas.
Read MoreRabies occurs in dogs and other mammals throughout the country. Most travellers keep well away from larger animals in game reserves! Wash out and disinfect the wound, then see a doctor in a decent clinic ASAP as rabies shots and a tetanus booster or antibiotics may be necessary.
Read MoreSpread through mosquito bites, this viral illness can present similar to Ross River virus, is usually less severe than dengue but may cause long term aches and pains
There are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of gastro spoiling your trip, including taking a water filtration drink bottle and one of our customisable medication kits with guidelines for self-treatment.
Read MoreFound in many parts of the world travellers to South Africa and Victoria Falls may be at risk of Zika virus.
Read More18% of the population between 15-49 years old is HIV positive in South Africa. Do not put yourself at risk. Have a full STD check on return if appropriate.
Avoid putting yourself at risk of becoming a victim of street crime as robbery, muggings and carjacking are a major problem in some urban centres. Take advice from locals as to which areas to avoid. Keep an eye on the Australian government’s website – smartraveller.gov.au
Increasing in incidence in many parts of the world, dengue is a serious mosquito borne disease.
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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