Tanzania Health & Vaccinations
Malaria and Yellow Fever
Tanzania Health Information
Should medical care be required during your travels, medical facilities are available in most large towns. Malaria is a particular issue in Tanzania, but so long as you are careful, it is unlikely that you will contract it during your travels. Make sure you have the latest safety tips from the establishment where you will be staying, and take common sense precautions as you would when travelling elsewhere.
As always, when travelling to any destination, please be sure you are up to date with all routine vaccinations. Commonly recommended vaccinations for travel to Africa include the following: Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Yellow Fever, Rabies, and Meningitis. Visit your doctor several weeks before your trip to ensure that you have all the vaccines and medications you need.
Malaria Recommendations for Tanzania
There is a moderate to high risk of malaria throughout Tanzania, though less so in Dar es Salaam and high-altitude areas, and practically not at all in Zanzibar. Risk of malaria transmission in Tanzania is higher between the months of November and May. Therefore, it is recommended you consult your doctor to obtain malaria prophylaxis before entering Tanzania. The course should start 24 hours before entering Tanzania and should be taken for 6 weeks after leaving the country.
Other prevention methods such as using mosquito repellent and sleeping under a mosquito net are also recommended.
Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirements for Tanzania
Tanzania requires a valid yellow fever certificate from all foreign visitors and citizens over 1 year of age travelling from an infected area or having been in transit through infected areas (>12 hours) in the last 6 days. This rule applies to travellers from the following countries: Angola, Argentina, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Côte dʼIvoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, South Sudan, Suriname, Togo, Trinidad (NOT Tobago), Uganda, and Venezuela.
There is low risk of contracting yellow fever in Tanzania. If you are travelling directly from USA and are not transiting through a country with the risk of yellow fever, you do not need the yellow fever vaccination certificate.
Note for travellers from India: Travellers from India directly visiting Tanzania do not need to take the Yellow Fever Vaccination. See this link for more details: Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirements from India