Vaccination Requirements To Travel To Tanzania
Before you travel to Tanzania, you will need to make an appointment at your local hospital or discuss vaccinations with your doctor. It’s a good idea to do this early to finish any side effects you might suffer before you travel to Tanzania.
COVID-19 VACCINATION
Through Ministry responsible for Health (mainland), the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania (URT), through Ministry responsible for Health ( Tanzania mainland), continues to enhance prevailing preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19, including those related to international travel. Because of this, the Government is updating the Travel Advisory No. 9 of 24th December 2021 to version No. 10, effective from 17th March 2022, to accommodate measures as follows:
- All travellers to Tanzania, including Tanzanians, returning residents and members of the crew1 /layovers, must truthfully fill in an online Traveler’s Health Surveillance Form available at https://afyamsafiri.moh.go.tz/ for Tanzania mainland.
- Travellers entering Tanzania Mailand, including Tanzanians, returning residents and those in transit through land borders who are;
- Fully vaccinated travellers will be exempted from RT PCR and Rapid Antigen Test requirements. Travellers will be required to present a valid vaccination certificate with a QR code for verification upon arrival. The only accepted vaccines are those approved by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania (URT) and the World Health Organization.
- Not fully vaccinated, unvaccinated, and those not eligible for vaccination due to their country policy will be required to present a negative COVID-19 RT- PCR or NAATs certificate with a QR code obtained within 72 hours before departure. If travellers originate from countries listed at www.moh.go.tz or Points of Entry will be tested for COVID 19 upon arrival using a Rapid Antigen Test at their own cost of $10 for Tanzania Mainland. If found positive, they will test them with RT- PCR for confirmation, allow them to self-isolate and send your results via email or any other means.
- Not fully vaccinated/unvaccinated and have no negative COVID 19 RT- PCR certificate will be dealt with as follows;
i.In the case of air transport, international marine vessels will be tested for COVID19 using RT PCR at their own cost of $100 USD for Tanzania Mainland, and results will be sent to them while self-isolated.
ii. In the case of International regional and inland vessels will be tested by Rapid Antigen Test at their own cost of $10 USD. In comparison, RT will further confirm positive- PCR at the cost of $50 USD for Tanzania Mainland.
iii. In case of the ground crossing will be tested by Rapid Antigen Test at their own cost of $10 USD and, if found positive, will be handled according to Bilateral and Joint Border agreements.
iv. Children aged 5 years and below will be exempted from both RT PCR and Rapid Antigen Tests requirements.
3. Travelers to Tanzania eligible for the Rapid Antigen Test are advised to pay online to avoid unnecessary queues upon arrival through an automatically generated control number obtained after filling the online Traveler’s Health Surveillance Form. For those to Tanzania Mainland, pay through https://afyamsafiri.moh.go.tz. The symptomatic positive Rapid Antigen travellers will be isolated for treatment at designated health facilities as per National COVID-19 Treatment Guideline.
4. Travelers in transit by air transport are exempted from both vaccination and COVID 19 testing requirements unless stated otherwise by the conveyance to be used or countries of their final destinations.
5. All departing travellers are advised to seek information before departure from their tour operator regarding the COVID-19 requirements of their country of destination or conveyance.
YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION
Yellow Fever is compulsory for any traveller entering Tanzania.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for passengers over one year of age and arriving from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission. This does not apply to passengers in transit for less than 12 hours.
A certificate of yellow fever vaccination is required for entry into Tanzania when arriving from countries where Yellow Fever is present.
Vaccination should be given 10 days before travel and at 10-year intervals if there is an ongoing risk.
Important Information about Yellow Fever
Upon entry to Tanzania, you may be asked for your Yellow Fever vaccination certificate if you arrive from a flight departing in a Yellow Fever zone. You can find a list of these countries below.
Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda.
Even if you are only transiting through one of these countries and do not intend to leave the airport, the rules state that you’ll need proof of vaccination if you’ve been there for more than 12 hours. In the case of flight delays, this can become a problem.
You need to be vaccinated 10 days before your scheduled travel date, and some travellers report side effects from the vaccine, so we’d recommend doing this as early as possible. Travellers flying into Tanzania direct from Europe or the US do not need a certificate.
What vaccinations do I need for Kilimanjaro? Recommended Vaccinations
The Center for Disease Control recommends the following immunizations for travellers to Tanzania. It is up to you and your healthcare professional to decide which, if any, are suitable for you:
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Your routine vaccinations
It’s recommended that you are up to date with all your routine vaccinations such as MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), chickenpox, Diptheria, tetanus, polio, and your yearly flu shot.
Hepatitis A & B
- We recommend you talk to your doctor about hepatitis vaccinations. Hepatitis A is transmitted through contaminated food and water (such as salads, fruits that you don’t peel and shellfish) and ice in your drinks. You can be exposed to Hepatitis A even if you are not travelling to remote areas.
- Hepatitis B is mainly transmitted through bodily fluids and needles. If you need medical treatment in a remote area, work in healthcare or are sexually active, you’ll want to consider it.
Typhoid
- It’s not uncommon to be exposed to typhoid in Africa as it’s transmitted through contaminated food and water. Ice in your drinks, eating at street-food markets, poor hygiene, eating raw food or travelling to rural areas.
Tetanus
- It’s easy to forget our 10-yearly tetanus shot. You’re most at risk of tetanus if you cut yourself, and it’s found in the soil and animal faeces. If you’re travelling, it’s worth keeping this insulation up to date.
Rabies
- Your chance of exposure to rabies is relatively low, particularly if you aren’t planning to do any travelling in Tanzania before or after your climb. Usually transmitted by a bite from an infected animal (often dogs), depending on plans, you and your doctor will decide if you need it.
Cholera
- A nasty waterborne disease spread through poor hygiene. The CDC recommends the vaccination if you are travelling to an area of active cholera transmission. Speak to your doctor.
Malaria
As with most of Africa, malaria is always a concern when travelling through Tanzania. As the mosquitos are generally not found above 6000ft, you are relatively safe whilst on the mountain. However, it would be best to consider that you will be Moshi before and after your climb when you are most at risk.Malaria is a parasite transmitted through the bite of the female anopheles mosquito. It only takes one bite to be infected, and the illness is severe, sometimes fatal.
Talk to your doctor about anti-malarial prevention, which is the most suitable for you and where you are travelling.
Malarone is a famous but expensive brand with the fewest reported side effects. See the Hospital for Tropical Diseases to learn more.
A note about Larium: this particular anti-malarial has been reported to have side effects that mimic altitude sickness symptoms.
Taking prophylaxis (antimalarials) does not guarantee that you won’t contract malaria. The only foolproof way to prevent it is to avoid getting bitten by taking precautions:
- Staying indoors between dusk and dawn (the mosquitoes are most active in the evenings)
- Wearing a strong mosquito repellent, preferably with DEET
- Always use a mosquito net over your bed when you sleep
- Spray your room with insect repellent, and treat clothes and bedding
- Wear long sleeves, trousers, and socks in the evenings
- Avoid densely populated areas, especially at night.
Intestinal Trouble & Travelers Diarrhea
The most common problem affecting travellers to remote parts of Africa is some tummy upset. Diarrhoea can be caused by parasites, viruses or bacteria and can be hard to treat.
By being meticulous about your food, water, and hygiene, you can avoid bacteria such as E.coli and salmonella parasites such as Giardia and Cryptosporidia.
- Never drink untreated water from rivers, taps, or wells. Avoid ice unless you are sure it’s made with purified water. Boil, filter and purify all water before drinking.
- Avoid eating fruit that you can’t peel.
- Be careful with uncooked vegetables and salads, be sure they are washed in purified water.
- Make sure any meat you eat is well-cooked and avoid rare meat.
- Clean hands with anti-bacterial gel before eating
On Kilimanjaro, we treat water by using water guard tablets available in Tanzania.From our experience, this water guard may affect some of the climbers, so we usually recommend our climbers have their purification tablets if our water guard may affect them.
They can use their tablets; you can also bring powdered drink mixes with electrolytes or bouillon cubes to change the flavour to keep drinking!
Medications to bring with you
Your doctor will be able to recommend the best medications for you to carry, but we suggest, in addition to any prescription medication you need:
- Antimalarials
- Ciprofloxacin or a similar antibiotic to treat bacterial diarrhoea
- Diamox, if you are taking it – read our guide to Diamox
- Ibuprofen
- Purification tablets
Before your climb, you can read our medical check-up guide and recommend you have a complete medical check-up from your doctor.