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Africa Travel Health Guide

Essential Health Guide to Africa for UK Travellers

Africa offers unparalleled travel experiences—from extraordinary wildlife safaris and pristine beaches to ancient historical sites and vibrant cultures. However, proper health preparation is essential for safe travel across this diverse continent. This comprehensive guide provides UK travellers with vital information on recommended vaccinations and health precautions for travel throughout Africa, ensuring your journey remains memorable for the right reasons.

Essential Vaccinations for Africa

Routine Vaccinations

Before travelling to Africa, ensure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date:

  • MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): Ensure you’ve had two doses
  • Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis: Booster recommended if you haven’t had one in the past 10 years
  • Polio: Booster recommended for travel to countries with ongoing polio transmission
  • Influenza: Recommended, especially if travelling during local flu season

Highly Recommended Vaccinations

Yellow Fever

  • Recommendation: Required for entry to many African countries
  • Why: Yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes and can be fatal
  • Certificate requirement: The International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) becomes valid 10 days after vaccination and is now valid for life
  • Where required: Many countries require proof of vaccination for all travellers, while others require it only if coming from countries with yellow fever risk

Find out more about our Yellow Fever Vaccination.

Hepatitis A

  • Recommendation: Strongly recommended for all travellers to Africa
  • Why: Hepatitis A is transmitted through contaminated food and water
  • Timing: Ideally 2-4 weeks before travel, though it can be given up to the day of departure
  • Protection: A single dose provides protection for approximately one year; a booster at 6-12 months provides longer-term immunity

Find out more about our Hepatitis A Vaccination.

Typhoid

  • Recommendation: Recommended for most travellers to Africa
  • Why: Protects against typhoid fever, which is spread through contaminated food and water
  • Options: Available as an injection or oral capsules
  • Protection: 2-3 years, depending on the vaccine type

Find out more about our Typhoid Vaccination.

Hepatitis B

  • Recommendation: Recommended for travellers who may have close contact with locals, healthcare exposure, or sexual contact
  • Why: Transmitted through blood and body fluids
  • Timing: Requires multiple doses over 3-6 months (accelerated schedules available)
  • Protection: Long-term protection after completing the series

Find out more about our Hepatitis B Vaccination.

Additional Vaccinations to Consider

Rabies

  • Recommendation: Highly recommended for travellers spending time in rural areas, working with animals, or where access to medical care might be limited
  • Why: Rabies is endemic in domestic and wild animals throughout Africa
  • Pre-exposure vaccination: Requires 2-3 doses depending on the schedule
  • Note: Even with pre-exposure vaccination, medical treatment is needed after potential exposure

Find out more about our Rabies Vaccination.

Meningococcal Meningitis

  • Recommendation: Recommended for travellers to the ‘meningitis belt’ of sub-Saharan Africa, especially during the dry season (December to June)
  • Risk areas: Belt of countries from Senegal to Ethiopia
  • Protection: Generally 3-5 years, depending on vaccine type

Find out more about our Meningitis ACWY and Meningitis B Vaccinations.

Cholera

  • Recommendation: Consider for travellers visiting areas with recent outbreaks, or those working in refugee camps or disaster areas
  • Why: Protects against severe diarrhoeal disease caused by contaminated food and water
  • Protection: Oral vaccine provides short-term protection

Find out more about our Cholera Vaccination.

Tick-Borne Encephalitis

  • Recommendation: Consider for travellers to North Africa engaged in outdoor activities in rural areas
  • Risk areas: Limited to parts of North Africa
  • Timing: Multiple doses required for full protection

Find out more about our Tick-Borne Encephalitis Vaccination.

Yellow Fever Requirements by Region

Yellow fever vaccination is particularly important for travel to Africa. Requirements fall into three categories:

  1. Required for all travellers
  2. Required only if arriving from countries with yellow fever transmission risk
  3. Recommended but not required

North Africa

Country
Yellow Fever Certificate Requirement
Egypt Required if arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission
Morocco Required if arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission
Tunisia Required if arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission
Algeria Required if arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission

West Africa

Country
Yellow Fever Certificate Requirement
Ghana Required for all travellers age ≥9 months
Nigeria Required for all travellers age ≥9 months
Senegal Required for all travellers age ≥9 months
Côte d’Ivoire Required for all travellers age ≥9 months
The Gambia Required for all travellers age ≥9 months

East Africa

Country
Yellow Fever Certificate Requirement
Kenya Required if arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission
Tanzania Required if arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission
Uganda Required for all travellers age ≥1 year
Rwanda Required for all travellers age ≥1 year
Ethiopia Required for all travellers age ≥9 months

Southern Africa

Country
Yellow Fever Certificate Requirement
South Africa Required if arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission
Botswana Required if arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission
Namibia Required if arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission
Zambia Required if arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission
Zimbabwe Required if arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission

Important: Requirements can change. Check the most current country-specific requirements before travel. Yellow fever vaccination can only be administered at designated yellow fever vaccination centres.

Regional Health Risks

North Africa (Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya)

  • Malaria: Limited risk in certain areas of Algeria and Egypt
  • Schistosomiasis: Risk in freshwater bodies in Egypt
  • Leishmaniasis: Present throughout the region
  • Typhoid: Risk throughout the region, particularly in rural areas

West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, etc.)

  • Malaria: High risk throughout the region
  • Yellow Fever: Endemic in most countries
  • Lassa Fever: Present in several countries, particularly Nigeria, Sierra Leone
  • Schistosomiasis: Risk in freshwater bodies
  • Meningococcal meningitis: High risk during the dry season

East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia)

  • Malaria: Present throughout much of the region, risk varies by altitude
  • Yellow Fever: Risk in many areas
  • Schistosomiasis: Risk in freshwater bodies, including Lake Victoria
  • Leishmaniasis: Present in certain areas
  • Rift Valley Fever: Periodic outbreaks

Southern Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, etc.)

  • Malaria: Seasonal risk in northern parts of South Africa, Zimbabwe, and northern Botswana
  • Schistosomiasis: Risk in freshwater bodies in Zimbabwe and parts of South Africa
  • Tick-borne diseases: Throughout the region
  • Rabies: Present throughout the region

Malaria Prevention

Malaria is a significant health concern across much of Africa, with the continent accounting for approximately 95% of global malaria cases. Prevention is essential:

High-Risk Areas

  • Most of sub-Saharan Africa
  • Particularly high risk in West Africa and Central Africa
  • Risk varies seasonally in many areas, often higher during and after rainy seasons

Antimalarial Options

Several options are available, each with specific advantages and considerations:

Atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone)

  • Daily tablet
  • Start 1-2 days before entering a malarious area
  • Continue for 7 days after leaving
  • Generally well-tolerated
  • Suitable for short trips

Doxycycline

  • Daily tablet
  • Start 1-2 days before entering a malarious area
  • Continue for 4 weeks after leaving
  • Can cause photosensitivity and gastrointestinal effects
  • Contraindicated in pregnancy and children under 12

Mefloquine (Lariam)

  • Weekly tablet
  • Start 2-3 weeks before entering a malarious area
  • Continue for 4 weeks after leaving
  • Can cause neuropsychiatric side effects
  • Not recommended for those with psychiatric conditions

Chloroquine

  • Only effective in limited areas (mainly parts of North Africa)
  • Resistance is widespread throughout most of Africa

The appropriate antimalarial medication depends on your specific itinerary, medical history, length of stay, and current resistance patterns. Areas with chloroquine-resistant and multidrug-resistant malaria are common in Africa.

Additional Malaria Prevention Measures

  • Use insect repellent containing 20-30% DEET or 20% Picaridin
  • Sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets
  • Wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers, especially between dusk and dawn
  • Use permethrin-treated clothing for high-risk areas
  • Stay in accommodations with air conditioning or screens when possible
  • Be aware of the symptoms of malaria and seek immediate medical attention if they develop

Find out more about our Malaria Medication.

Common Travel-Related Illnesses and Prevention

Traveller’s Diarrhoea

Risk: High throughout Africa

Prevention:

  • Careful selection of food and beverages
  • Hand hygiene
  • “Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it”

Treatment:

  • Oral rehydration
  • Loperamide for symptomatic relief
  • Antibiotics (e.g., azithromycin) for moderate to severe cases (prescription required)

Schistosomiasis

Risk: Present in freshwater lakes, rivers, and ponds across much of Africa

Prevention:

  • Avoid swimming, wading, or bathing in freshwater

Symptoms:

  • Often asymptomatic initially, may cause skin rash, fever, chills, cough, muscle aches

Treatment:

  • Specific medication (praziquantel) is available from specialists

African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness)

Risk: Rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa

Prevention:

  • Daytime tsetse fly bite prevention

Symptoms:

  • Fever, headache, joint pain, progressing to neurological symptoms

Treatment:

  • Requires specialist care

Leishmaniasis

Risk: Throughout Africa, particularly in rural areas

Prevention:

  • Sandfly bite prevention

Symptoms:

  • Skin sores that can develop months after the bite

Treatment:

  • Requires specialist care

Respiratory Infections

Risk: Common in urban areas with high pollution and in rural areas with indoor smoke

Prevention:

  • Consider masks in heavily polluted areas
  • Hand hygiene
  • Avoiding crowded, enclosed spaces during outbreaks

Treatment:

  • Depends on causative agent

Vector-Borne Disease Prevention

Several serious diseases in Africa are transmitted by insect vectors:

  • Malaria: Mosquitoes (Anopheles species)
  • Yellow fever: Mosquitoes (Aedes species)
  • Dengue fever: Mosquitoes (Aedes species)
  • Chikungunya: Mosquitoes (Aedes species)
  • Zika virus: Mosquitoes (Aedes species)
  • African trypanosomiasis: Tsetse flies
  • Leishmaniasis: Sandflies
  • Rift Valley fever: Mosquitoes (multiple species)

Prevention measures:

  • Use insect repellent containing 20-30% DEET or 20% Picaridin
  • Wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers, especially during peak vector activity
  • Sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets
  • Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear
  • Be particularly vigilant during dawn and dusk
  • Avoid areas with stagnant water where mosquitoes breed
  • In tsetse fly areas, wear neutral-coloured clothing (not blue or black)
  • Be aware of regional risks and take appropriate precautions

Food and Water Safety

Foodborne and waterborne illnesses are common in Africa. To reduce risks:

  • Drink only bottled water with intact seals or water that has been purified
  • Avoid ice unless made from purified water
  • Eat thoroughly cooked food served hot
  • Be cautious with street food (choose busy stalls with high turnover)
  • Avoid raw vegetables unless you can peel them yourself
  • Be particularly cautious with seafood, shellfish, and bushmeat
  • Exercise care with dairy products, which may be unpasteurised
  • Practice good hand hygiene before eating

When to Get Vaccinated

  • Plan ahead: Schedule a travel consultation 6-8 weeks before departure
  • Late planning: Even last-minute appointments are valuable
  • Consider timing: Some vaccines require multiple doses over several weeks
  • Yellow fever: Must be obtained at least 10 days before travel to be valid for entry requirements

Accessing Healthcare in Africa

Medical Facilities

  • Major cities: South Africa, particularly Johannesburg and Cape Town, has excellent private hospitals. Nairobi, Cairo, and Casablanca also have good private facilities
  • Tourist areas: Many have private clinics catering to tourists
  • Rural areas: Limited healthcare facilities, often with basic resources

Before You Travel

  • Obtain comprehensive travel insurance with adequate medical coverage and evacuation benefits
  • Consider medical evacuation insurance, particularly for travel to remote areas
  • Carry a basic medical kit appropriate for your activities
  • Bring all required prescription medications in original packaging with a doctor’s letter
  • Research the location of suitable medical facilities at your destinations
  • Register with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice service

If You Need Medical Care

  • For minor illnesses, pharmacies can be helpful in major cities
  • For significant illness or injury, seek care at private hospitals/clinics where possible
  • Keep all receipts for insurance claims
  • Contact your insurance provider’s emergency assistance line
  • Contact the nearest British Embassy or Consulate if needed

Special Considerations

Safari Travel

  • Medical evacuation: Consider that remote safari locations may be hours from medical care
  • Insect protection: Particularly important during dawn and dusk game drives
  • Sun protection: Essential due to intense sun exposure
  • Motion sickness: Consider for off-road driving
  • First aid kit: Especially important for remote locations

Pregnant Travellers

  • Several vaccines are contraindicated during pregnancy, including yellow fever
  • Risk of severe malaria complications
  • Limited obstetric care outside major cities
  • Consider postponing travel to high-risk malaria areas

Travelling with Children

  • Special consideration needed for vaccine dosing and timing
  • Some vaccines have minimum age requirements (e.g., yellow fever not recommended under 9 months)
  • Higher risk of dehydration from traveller’s diarrhoea
  • Particular attention to mosquito bite prevention
  • Consider access to paediatric care in destination

Travellers with Chronic Conditions

  • May have special vaccine considerations
  • Should carry a letter from their doctor describing their condition and medications
  • Consider the availability of needed medications and medical care
  • May need additional insurance coverage
  • Diabetics should plan carefully for medication storage and time zone changes

Current Health Advisories

Health situations can change rapidly. Before travelling to Africa:

  • Check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice
  • Review current disease outbreaks on the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website
  • Consult TravelHealthPro for country-specific updates
  • Be aware of any emerging infectious disease situations

Travel Health Kit Essentials for Africa

  • Prescription medications in original packaging with doctor’s letter
  • Antimalarial drugs (as prescribed)
  • Antibiotic for traveller’s diarrhoea (prescription required)
  • Antidiarrhoeal medication
  • Oral rehydration salts
  • Antihistamines
  • Motion sickness remedies
  • Pain relievers/fever reducers
  • Basic first aid supplies (plasters, antiseptics, tweezers, etc.)
  • Digital thermometer
  • Hand sanitiser
  • Insect repellent (20-30% DEET or 20% Picaridin)
  • Sunscreen (minimum SPF 30)
  • Water purification tablets/device
  • Insecticide-treated bed net (for rural accommodation)

Consultation and Booking

It’s essential to consult with a travel health professional before your journey to Africa. At Park Private Clinic, our travel health specialists can:

  • Assess your specific health needs based on your detailed itinerary
  • Review your medical history and current medications
  • Provide personalised vaccination recommendations
  • Prescribe appropriate antimalarials and other medications
  • Offer comprehensive pre-travel advice
  • Provide destination-specific health information

Book your pre-travel consultation at least 6-8 weeks before departure for optimal protection.

Find out more on our Nottingham Travel Clinic page.

View our price list for vaccines and medicines here.

Resources for Further Information

This information was last updated in June 2025. Please note that travel health requirements and recommendations are subject to change. Always consult with a healthcare provider for the most current advice before travelling.