Health & Vaccinations
Vaccinations
| Vaccination | Recommendation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Fever | Strongly recommended | Mandatory when entering from endemic areas (e.g., Ethiopia, Kenya). May be checked when entering via Zanzibar. Vaccination at least 10 days before entry. |
| Hepatitis A | Recommended | Transmission through food/water |
| Hepatitis B | For longer stays | Transmission through blood/body fluids |
| Typhoid | Recommended | Especially when traveling outside tourist areas |
| Rabies | For longer stays | Stray dogs, bats. Occasionally relevant in safari camps. |
| Standard | Refresh | Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio, Measles |
Malaria — The Greatest Health Risk
Tanzania is a malaria area. The risk is present year-round throughout the country but varies regionally:
- High risk: Coastal region (Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar), Southern parks (Nyerere, Ruaha)
- Medium risk: Serengeti, Tarangire (1,000–1,500 m altitude)
- Low risk: Ngorongoro Crater rim (2,200 m), Arusha, Kilimanjaro (from 2,000 m)
Prophylaxis: Strongly recommended! The common options:
- Malarone (Atovaquone/Proguanil): Best tolerated, from 1 day before to 7 days after the trip. Expensive (approx. 4–6€/day).
- Doxycycline: Cheaper (approx. 0.50€/day), but increases sun sensitivity — problematic in Africa! Also: no alcohol.
- Lariam (Mefloquine): Weekly intake, but frequent psychological side effects. Rarely recommended.
Mosquito protection is crucial:
- Mosquito spray with DEET 50% (e.g., Anti Brumm Forte, NoBite) on skin and clothing
- Long, light-colored clothing from dusk
- Sleep under the mosquito net (all safari camps and hotels have one)
- Use fan/air conditioning (mosquitoes dislike wind)
Additional Health Tips
- Tap water: NEVER drink! Only bottled water (also for brushing teeth in simple accommodations).
- Sun protection: SPF 50+, hat, sunglasses. UV radiation is extreme at the equator.
- Travel health insurance: MANDATORY! With return transport option. Cost for evacuation by rescue helicopter from Kilimanjaro: 5,000–10,000 USD.
- Altitude sickness (Kilimanjaro): See Kilimanjaro chapter. Discuss Diamox as prophylaxis.
Achtung
Malaria is a serious risk in Tanzania and can be fatal! Be sure to talk to a tropical medicine specialist about prophylaxis BEFORE the trip. Start the medication in time (Malarone: 1 day before, Doxycycline: 1–2 days before). And: Even WITH prophylaxis, consistently use mosquito spray and mosquito nets!
