Malaria and Health Risks in Tanzania for Safari Travelers

About Malaria in Tanzania

Malaria is present in Tanzania, and it is a serious issue. The good news is that there are several types of malaria, and their severity can vary. Sometimes, travel agents may say that although malaria exists in Tanzania, it is not present in the specific region you plan to visit. Don’t rely on that assumption, as malaria risk in Tanzania exists across the country, including safari areas.

Consult your doctor to determine the best course of action before your Tanzania safari trip.

How It Works in Practice

In practice, there are two main approaches to dealing with malaria. One approach is to take malaria tablets as a preventive measure for malaria in Tanzania. This means starting to take the tablets before you travel to a malaria-affected region, continuing to take them throughout your trip, and even for some time after you return home.

The other approach is to carry antimalarial tablets and use them if symptoms appear, following medical advice and the instructions provided with the medication.

Malaria is diagnosed through laboratory tests. There are many laboratories throughout the country. However, if you're on a safari in a remote area, access to a laboratory may require significant travel and can be complicated, especially if you're traveling with a group on a Tanzania safari.

What Locals Do for Prevention: Seven Everyday Habits

In Tanzania, there are various products and lifestyle habits people use to deal with mosquitoes and reduce malaria risk in Tanzania:

• First, people sleep under a mosquito net at night. It's believed that not all mosquitoes spread malaria, but only a specific type, and they are active only for a few hours at night. However, there's no guarantee that a malaria-carrying mosquito won't bite outside these hours.
• Second, many people sleep with a fan or air conditioner on at night, as mosquitoes dislike airflow.
• Third, mosquito repellent is commonly used. It is available in many small shops across Tanzania and usually costs a few dollars.
• Fourth, special anti-mosquito incense sticks are widely used. If sitting outside in the evening, people light a stick and place it in the ground or in a bar of soap — the smoke helps keep mosquitoes away.
• Fifth, plug-in devices with essential oils that kill mosquitoes and flies are also used. These devices typically cost around 5–6 USD.
• Sixth, a strong insect spray (dichlorvos) is commonly used locally. People spray it in the room before bedtime and leave it for some time before returning. The smell lingers, and the room is usually ventilated afterward. This is also a common practice in some accommodations.
• Seventh, geckos (small lizards) are considered a natural solution. They crawl on walls and ceilings and eat mosquitoes. However, if dichlorvos has been used in the room, geckos will stay away.

Whether to take malaria tablets for prevention or rely on local lifestyle preventive measures is something you should discuss with your doctor. The most dangerous aspect of malaria is high fever, which can be difficult for some people to handle. Malaria can also interact with other chronic illnesses. It is also worth noting that insurance coverage can vary, and some policies may not cover malaria treatment if preventive medication was not used.

About Yellow Fever in Tanzania

The World Health Organization considers Tanzania a country with a low risk of yellow fever. Therefore, if you are traveling from a country that is free from yellow fever, yellow fever vaccination is not required for travel to Tanzania.

However, you should be aware of Tanzania's entry requirements.

Yellow fever vaccination is not required for:

• Travelers coming from countries that have no yellow fever risk and who haven't transited through high-risk countries, staying there for 12 hours or more

Yellow fever vaccination is required if:

• You enter Tanzania from a country with a high risk of yellow fever
• While traveling to Tanzania, you transited through a high-risk yellow fever country and stayed there for 12 hours or more

Other Health Risks

There are no mandatory vaccines required for travel to Tanzania. Recommendations for travelers to Africa are similar to those for travelers to Asia and South America, such as getting vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B, etc.

We recommend consulting your doctor for advice on safe and healthy travel before your Tanzania safari.

As an additional resource, we suggest visiting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, specifically the section on Tanzania, including Zanzibar.

Important Tips

When it comes to food, it's important to follow two rules:

• Drink bottled water
• Eat food that has been thoroughly cooked and is served hot

Important Note

The content on this page is based on personal experience and information from the internet. It should not be considered medical advice.