As you begin planning your trip to Tanzania, you may have health-related questions about how to protect yourself against specific diseases common in Africa. This article covers issues crucial for Tanzania: what vaccinations are mandatory and what other immunizations are recommended.

Mandatory Immunizations for Entering Tanzania and Zanzibar

Contrary to what many travelers think, no special vaccinations are required for those entering Tanzania from the USA, the UK, European Union, or most countries around the globe.

A note about yellow fever

The only exception to this is if you are from or have visited a country that is at-risk for Yellow Fever. In such a case, a vaccination for Yellow Fever is required upon entry to Tanzania. If you do not have one, you may purchase it ‘on the spot’ as you pass through immigration.

However, please note that this vaccine has been taken very seriously for many years, and continues to be the most requested vaccine upon entry to Tanzania.

If you have not traveled to a country with a risk of Yellow Fever, then you do not need to provide proof of this vaccine.

Covid vaccines

You must present a certificate of immunization against COVID-19 if you are vaccinated. But, if you are not immunized, a negative PCR test is equally appropriate. In this case, it is a prerequisite that the PCR test is performed no earlier than 72 hours before arrival in Tanzania.

Malaria Precautions

If you’re planning a long stay in locations throughout Tanzania that are known for possibly contracting malaria then it’s a good idea to take precautions against this mosquito-borne disease.

Usually, such measures are recommended for those planning long-term travel throughout Africa, not only in one country, or for those planning to live and work in Tanzania. Some travelers going on a safari, mountain climbing or enjoying a beach holiday in Tanzania consider taking malaria prevention medications, too. This is a good idea to ensure that an unfortunate mosquito bite doesn’t end up ruining your vacation.

While there are no required vaccinations in Tanzania (except in the possible case of Yellow Fever), there are several recommended vaccines.

Below is the valuable information to be considered by those considering travel to Tanzania. Many of these are standard precautions for travel to developing nations and if you are an avid traveler, you might very well have all of these vaccinations already.

Standard Immunizations

The standard list of diseases against which tourists are recommended to get vaccinated against includes: tetanus, diphtheria, and Hepatitis A and B.

Tetanus is believed to be more common in countries near the equator. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, Tanzania is among the countries with the lowest incidence of tetanus, being categorized as “rare, very few cases” by their rating scale. The combined DPT vaccine against pertussis, diphtheria, and tetanus is often used for prevention. It is recommended that adults get revaccination against the latter two diseases every ten years, so check if you’re up-to-date before traveling to Tanzania.

Hepatitis A virus most often enters the human body from eating or drinking contaminated water, while Hepatitis B might be contracted due to poor hygiene standards, or using contaminated personal tools (which might happen if you go to a nail salon or spa with poor sanitation). We strongly recommend drinking only bottled water during your trip to Tanzania. Hepatitis B virus enters with the biological fluids of the infected person. In most countries with a well-developed health care system, you can get a vaccination against both hepatitis types.

The above diseases pose danger to tourists in Tanzania to the same extent as in their home country. Theoretically, it is equally possible to injure oneself and get the wound infected during a regular walk in the park near your house as well as on an expedition in Tanzania. What poses increased risk is dirty water, which is why Uphill Treks provides all of their clients with bottled drinking water for the duration of their trip.