Health Precautions & Vaccinations For USA travellers To Africa

Health Precautions & Vaccinations For USA travellers To Africa

We are always being asked, where should I go? and what should I see? but rarely what vaccinations do you need to go to Africa? and how long before travelling to Africa do I need vaccinations?

Well the good news for US travellers is that very few travel vaccinations or medications are required in order to be able to travel to the major tourist areas of Africa. You should really just focus on the prevention of two major illnesses - Yellow Fever & Malaria, both of which we will look at in more detail.

We recommend that you visit your doctor at least six weeks before you plan to depart as this will allow ample time for you to make sure that you are up to date with the routine vaccinations such as hepatitis, polio, tetanus & MMR – mumps, measles and rubella. Whilst some of these illnesses are now thankfully very rarely found in the US, they are more prevalent in Africa, so prevention is undoubtedly better than cure.

Malaria prevention

Malaria is one of Africa’s most prevalent diseases and is spread by disease-carrying mosquitoes.

Travellers are most at risk during the wet and humid summer in the tropics, but luckily it is easily preventable and treatable with anti-malarial prophylactics. Contact your medical professional or Africa Travel to learn whether where you are going is a malarial area or not, and grab yourself a course of anti-malarial tablets.

Some vacationers react in different ways to the different products available, but whichever one you take, please make sure that you take the full course of tablets prescribed to you – don’t just think that because you have a left a malarial area that you can stop taking your medication.

In addition to taking your medication, there are further steps which you can take to minimise your chances of contracting malaria. Keep your lodge door closed and, if there is one, use the mosquito net over your bed. Apply insect repellent to any exposed areas of skin and try to wear long sleeves and trousers, particularly in the evening. The unofficial advice, which is non-medical, is always to try to drink Gin & Tonic when on safari as the quinine in the tonic supposedly keeps the mosquitos away!

Most cases of malaria result in fatigue, muscle ache, headaches and chills, but it is vital that you contact hotel or lodge staff as soon as you start experiencing any of these symptoms.

Don’t worry if you don’t like the idea of having to take anti-malarial prophylactics though - Africa Travel have some superb vacation ideas in the malaria-free areas of South Africa.

Yellow Fever vaccination

Yellow Fever is carried and spread by mosquitos in an area which stretches across a band of Africa, but it is thankfully easy to prevent. Yellow Fever vaccination is highly effective and now lasts a lifetime, rather than just 10 years as it used to. It needs to be administered at least 10 days before your arrival into a Yellow Fever area, with all recipients issued with a Certificate of Vaccination which needs to be kept and presented when requested.

Vaccination is an entry requirement if you are going to be visiting Kenya or Uganda on your trip, or if you are going to be transitting either of these countries for more than 12 hours en-route to Botswana, Tanzania, Rwanda, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar or the Seychelles.

Just remember that entry requirements do change, often with little notice, and an African country that does not require a Yellow Fever Certificate of Vaccination one day, may do so the next. We therefore still recommend that you contact Africa Travel to check the entry requirements of every country you will be visiting on your African vacation.

Staying healthy in Africa

Unfortunately even vaccinations & medications cannot prevent travellers from falling ill whilst they are overseas, so it is also vital that you ensure that you have adequate travellers’ medical insurance for any trip you are planning to Africa, particularly if you are heading out into the remote bush on safari.

It is always worth making sure that you have enough supply of any prescription drugs that you are taking with you before you depart, and remember to bring a copy of your prescription with you.

Let Africa Travel know well in advance if you have specific medical conditions or dietary requirements so that we can ensure that you are perfectly looked after on your African vacation, and remember to bring any specific equipment or medicines which you may need – contact lenses, hearing aids, diabetes patches - as these may be difficult to source at your destination.

Perhaps also consider taking multi-vitamins or probiotics in the build up to your departure so that you are in the best of health and able to avoid catching any local colds or flu on the aircraft or once you arrive. Most importantly of all, contact hotel or lodge staff locally as soon as you start to feel unwell.

A footnote to those US vacationers hoping to track the mighty Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda & Uganda. These magnificent creatures are very susceptible to human diseases and any tourist displaying any signs of illness - even if is just a cold or cough, will not be permitted to visit them. With all gorilla tracking permits non-refundable, this is a major incentive to stay healthy on your African adventure!

Why Book your vacation with Africa Travel?

Now that you know what vaccinations you need to go to Africa, it is time to contact Africa Travel. With over 30 years’ experience in creating tailor-made and bespoke holidays to the best countries in Africa, there is no one more qualified to advise of the best safari destinations in Africa, or to organise an unforgettable safari holiday to Africa than Africa Travel.

We have a wealth of specialist resources to help you book your perfect safari, and we are trusted by more and more customers to create a memorable experience which is not just another holiday, but rather the best trip possible to Africa.

Whilst we are also able to advise on the travel health precautions in place for all of the major African tourist destinations, we always recommend that you seek the advice of your doctor or medical practitioner before you set off for Africa. They will know exactly which vaccines for Africa travel are required and will be able to talk through any health issues which you may have.

All of our staff have travelled extensively and you can trust that our personal recommendations will deliver the African holiday that you have always dreamt of. We know which vaccinations are required, the best time to travel to Africa, the African countries that are visa-free to US citizens, and we can recommend the best luxury safari lodges in Africa. We organise exclusive and private tours, and arrange for the finest guides to escort you.