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Health & Safety
Tanzania Safari Health Guide
Vaccinations, malaria, practical safety tips, and what to pack. 48 years of keeping travellers safe in Tanzania — distilled into this guide.
Before you travel
Vaccinations for Tanzania
Consult your doctor or travel clinic at least 6–8 weeks before departure — some vaccinations require multiple doses over several weeks.
Yellow Fever
Required for entry to Tanzania if arriving from: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, and many other African countries. Also required if transiting through yellow fever endemic countries (including Ethiopia, Ethiopia, Angola). Check your route with your airline before assuming.
Hepatitis A
Spread through contaminated food and water. Tanzania is a developing country — travellers' stomachs are exposed to new bacteria. The risk is manageable with basic food hygiene, but Hepatitis A vaccination is standard for all travellers to East Africa.
Typhoid
Spread through contaminated food and water. Risk is higher for travellers eating outside major hotels and restaurants. Safaris Tanzania uses established lodges and restaurants, but some street food during travel is unavoidable.
Tetanus, Diphtheria & Polio
Routine childhood vaccination in most developed countries. Boosters are a precaution — Tanzania has had periodic polio outbreaks and the WHO recommends booster coverage for travellers.
Cholera
Risk for most safari travellers is very low. Cholera outbreaks occur periodically in Tanzania but are generally confined to specific districts. Standard food and water hygiene is the primary protection.
Meningitis
Meningococcal meningitis is present in sub-Saharan Africa. The 'meningitis belt' runs through northern Tanzania. The risk during a typical 1–2 week safari is low but the vaccine is recommended for longer trips.
Rabies
Rabies is present in Tanzania's wildlife and domestic dog population. Safari travellers have minimal risk — you will not be handling animals. However, if you plan to interact with wild animals, work in animal rescue, or take a trip where animal bites are possible, the pre-exposure vaccine is worthwhile.
Malaria
Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended for Arusha, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and Zanzibar. Discuss options (atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine) with your doctor — each has different side effects, contraindications, and dosing schedules.
Note: Safaris Tanzania provides health preparation guidance to all booked clients. This is general information — consult a healthcare professional for personal medical advice.
Malaria
Malaria in Tanzania
Malaria risk exists in all national parks in northern Tanzania — including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara. Zanzibar also has malaria transmission. The risk is highest during and immediately after the rainy seasons (March–May and November–December) but exists year-round. Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended for all safari travellers.
Atovaquone-Proguanil (Malarone)
Pros: Few side effects. Daily dose starting 1–2 days before entry, daily during stay, and 7 days after leaving.
Cons: Most expensive option. Must be taken with fatty food for absorption.
Doxycycline
Pros: Inexpensive. Effective. Also provides some protection against other infections.
Cons: Can cause sun sensitivity, yeast infections, stomach upset. Must be taken daily.
Mefloquine (Lariam)
Pros: Weekly dose — easier to maintain. Good option if you are in Tanzania for more than 2 weeks.
Cons: Can cause vivid dreams, anxiety, and in rare cases neuropsychiatric effects. Start 2–3 weeks before travel to assess tolerance.
Discuss these options with your doctor — each has contraindications and side effects that depend on your personal medical history. None is universally 'best'.
Practical safety
Safari Safety Guidelines
Tanzania's wildlife is wild. These guidelines exist to keep you safe while giving you the best possible wildlife encounters.
In the Vehicle
- Stay inside the vehicle during game drives unless your guide explicitly permits a walk — this applies to all parks
- Keep arms and heads inside the vehicle at all times — elephant trunks can reach through windows
- Never feed or attempt to attract the attention of wild animals
- Follow your guide's instructions immediately — they have training in animal behaviour
- When stopped for a wildlife sighting, create space for other vehicles but do not block your guide's planned exit route
At Accommodation
- Keep safari camp and lodge doors closed, especially after dark
- Do not walk alone after dark outside lit areas — use the camp's escort service if offered
- Listen to lodge staff about wildlife in the area — hippos and buffalo are dangerous if surprised
- If you hear animals near your tent or room, stay inside and call reception
- Store food and toiletries securely — baboons and vervet monkeys are expert thieves
Health & Hygiene
- Drink only bottled or filtered water — tap water in Arusha is not reliably safe for visitors
- Use insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin, especially at dusk and dawn
- Sleep under a mosquito net if your accommodation does not have screened rooms with fans
- Sun exposure is intense — SPF 50+ sunscreen, a wide-brim hat, and UV-protection sunglasses are essential
- Pack prescription medications in your carry-on, not checked luggage
Driving & Transfers
- Wear your seatbelt at all times in vehicles — roads between parks can be rough and unpredictable
- The road from Tarangire to Ngorongoro has sections under construction — patience is required
- Night driving is not permitted on park roads — your guide will factor this into departure times
- If you feel unwell during a game drive, tell your guide immediately — early reporting matters
Eating & Drinking
Food, Water & Stomach Health
Travellers' diarrhoea is the most common health complaint. It is usually self-limiting but can ruin a safari day. Here is how to minimise the risk.
Drink
- • Bottled water only — check the seal is intact before opening
- • Safaris Tanzania provides bottled water during all game drives
- • Avoid ice in drinks unless you are at a reputable hotel or lodge
- • Avoid tap water even in cities — your stomach needs adjustment time
- • Bottled water is available to purchase everywhere in Tanzania
Eat
- • Stick to food that is thoroughly cooked and served hot
- • Avoid raw salads and fruits you cannot peel at lodges and restaurants with good hygiene standards
- • Peel your own fruit or eat fruit you can confirm has been peeled recently
- • Street food in Arusha is part of the culture — the risk is manageable if you choose vendors with high turnover
- • Safaris Tanzania' lodge and camp restaurants follow good food hygiene practices
What to do if you get travellers' diarrhoea: Stay hydrated (oral rehydration salts are ideal — pack a few sachets), rest, and monitor. If symptoms persist beyond 48 hours, contain blood, or are accompanied by high fever, contact Kassim on WhatsApp immediately and he will arrange a clinic visit. Do not take loperamide (Imodium) unless absolutely necessary — it can prolong infection.
Pack smart
Recommended Safari First Aid Kit
Safaris Tanzania vehicles carry a basic first aid kit. For personal medications and specific medical needs, bring your own supply.
Health Questions Before Booking?
Kassim has answered health questions from thousands of travellers. Message him on WhatsApp with your specific concerns before finalising your trip.
WhatsApp Kassim+255 786 110 786 · Medical enquiries welcome
NEXT: TRAVEL INSURANCE
Health preparation works best alongside proper travel insurance. Read our Tanzania travel insurance guide to make sure you are covered for medical evacuation.