Recommended Immunisations before your Safari Tour to Tanzania

By Africa Exotic Holidays

June 16, 2025

Planning a Safari Tour to Tanzania is exciting because you know you’ll see beautiful scenery, many animals, and have amazing experiences. But before you go out onto the savannahs, you should make sure your health is in great shape. Getting the correct Immunisations for your Safari Tour to Tanzania and following health guidelines will help you have a worry-free safari vacation.

This read has all the important health information you need for a Tanzania safari, such as the required vaccinations, the suggested ones, how to avoid malaria, the rules for yellow fever, and other important suggestions.

Entry Requirements – Are Immunisations Mandatory for Entering Tanzania?

Tanzania does not require mandatory immunisations for most travellers entering from the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada, Australia, and other similar regions. There is no general requirement that requires specific immunisation certificates upon entry.
However, there is one crucial exception – Yellow Fever Tanzania, which depends on your trip path.

• If you’re travelling from or transiting through a country with a high risk of yellow fever transmission, you are required to produce proof of vaccination. This applies to layovers longer than 12 hours.
• But if you’re arriving directly from non-risk countries, no yellow fever vaccination is required.

This rule applies to both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. The yellow fever vaccine requirement has been strictly enforced for many years and remains one of the most often reviewed certificates by immigration agents.

Yellow Fever- Tanzania’s Strict Policy Explained

Yellow Fever is transmitted by a species of mosquito that is common in the ‘yellow fever belt’, which includes parts of Africa and South America.

Although Tanzania has a minimal risk of yellow fever transmission, the government closely adheres to the World Health Organisation guidelines to prevent outbreaks.

• Vaccines must be taken at least 10 days before travel.
• Once you get the shot, your clinic will issue an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP).
• Only authorised travel clinics may issue valid certifications.

Here’s a straightforward table summarising yellow fever vaccination guidelines based on your travel history:

Before leaving for a Safari in Tanzania, always check with a licensed travel clinic to verify your health situation.

Malaria Prevention Tanzania Safari – Essential for Every Safari

Malaria is still a real threat all over Tanzania, including most safari spots like Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Tarangire, and Zanzibar. An important aspect of your safari health preparation is taking malaria precautions.

Tanzania Safari Guidelines for Preventing Malaria:

• Talk to your doctor early about antimalarial drugs.
• Start your prophylactic course before you go to Tanzania and keep taking it during and after your vacation.
• At night and in the evening, wear long trousers and sleeves.
• Use mosquito repellents with DEET on skin that is exposed.
• Sleep under mosquito nets or in places that are safe from bugs.
• Keep windows and doors closed at night.

Malaria can be prevented and treated with quick medical care, even though it is dangerous. If you get a fever, chills, or flu-like symptoms within three months after coming back from a Safari Tour in Tanzania, you should visit a doctor right away.

Dengue Fever: The Daytime Mosquito Threat

Dengue fever has also been increasingly recorded in Tanzania, especially during the rainy season. It is spread by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite during the daytime. Some of the symptoms of dengue are:

• High fever
• Severe headaches
• Muscle and joint pain
• Rashes
• Nausea

Remember, there is no vaccine or specialised treatment for dengue; thus, the only way to avoid getting it is to stay away from mosquitoes:

• Use bug spray all day long.
• Dress in light colours and long sleeves.
• Stay in safari accommodations with air conditioning or screened windows

Tsetse Fly Disease – Sleeping Sickness Risks on Safari

Though unusual for tourists, African Trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, can happen in places of Tanzania where tsetse flies are found, notably in game parks.
To lower the chance of exposure, don’t wear bright or dark colours that tsetse flies like.

• Wear clothes that are neutral and earth-toned.
• Stay in open places and stay away from thick shrubbery while driving.
• Use bug repellent on skin that is exposed.

Most people who go on safari don’t have to worry about sleeping sickness, but being aware of it is part of wise Safari Health Preparation.

Vaccines for Tanzania Safari- What’s Recommended?

While not mandatory, several vaccines are strongly recommended by health authorities to protect against diseases more common in tropical or developing regions.

Tanzania Travel Immunisations List:

• Hepatitis A: Spread through contaminated food and water.
• Hepatitis B: Transmitted through blood and bodily fluids.
• Typhoid: Spread through contaminated food and poor hygiene.
• Rabies: For those who may be exposed to animals or plan outdoor activities.
• Meningitis (Meningococcal ACWY): Especially for travellers during the dry season.

Standard Routine Immunisations: Are You Up to Date?

Diseases rarely seen in developed nations can still pose threats while travelling. It’s important to ensure you are up to date with all Routine Vaccinations before your Tanzania Safari Holiday. Some standard vaccines to confirm:

• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
• DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus)
• Polio
• Seasonal Influenza

Consult your healthcare provider at least 4–6 weeks before travel to schedule any required boosters.

If you are planning extensive travel, rural visits, or prolonged stays, these Vaccines for Tanzania Safari offer crucial protection. For the complete vaccines and disease list and clinical guidance, visit the page – https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/tanzania#vaccines-and-medicines

Additional Health Tips for Tanzania Safari Preparation

In addition to vaccinations and medications, there are several other key steps to protect your health while travelling to Africa:

• Visit your GP well in advance of departure.
• Purchase Comprehensive Travel Health Insurance that covers medical evacuation.
• Bring sufficient supplies of prescription medications, along with copies of prescriptions.
• Pack a personal First-Aid Kit with basic medical items.
• Only drink bottled or properly purified water.
• Avoid raw or undercooked meats, unwashed fruits, or street food from unhygienic vendors.
• Use high SPF sunscreen and wear hats to prevent heatstroke and sunburn.
• Avoid swimming in freshwater lakes to prevent schistosomiasis infection.

Tanzania Travel Health Advice from the Embassy and CDC

According to official guidance from the US Embassy and the CDC, travellers to Tanzania should:

• Verify all routine Immunisations for the Safari Tour to Tanzania.
• Follow Malaria Prevention Tanzania Safari protocols.
• Ensure Yellow Fever Tanzania vaccination compliance based on travel itinerary.
• Practice safe food, water, and mosquito bite precautions.
• Stay informed about any regional outbreaks or public health alerts.

Summary Table of Important Immunisations & Preventive Measures

Special Note: Rules for getting the COVID-19 vaccine in Tanzania

Like most other countries, Tanzania has changed its rules for people travelling from other countries:

• If you have been vaccinated, show a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
• If you haven’t been vaccinated, you need to show a negative PCR test result that was taken no more than 72 hours before you arrive.

COVID-19 rules may change over time, so visitors should check with the airline, the Tanzanian embassy, or health officials before they leave to be sure they know the most up-to-date entry restrictions

Come Prepared for a Safari in Tanzania!

We hope this information has made it obvious what immunisations you need for your Safari Tour to Tanzania and how to stay healthy while you’re there. You can appreciate the wildlife, scenery, and culture if you get ready in the appropriate way.

We at Africa Exotic Holidays will take care of every element of your Tanzania safari so that your trip is safe, flawless, and wonderful. Let us help you organise the perfect safari trip today.