Staying healthy in Africa

Visiting Africa might be a once-in-a-lifetime family adventure and the last thing you want is for a loved one to fall ill. Thankfully, keeping healthy in Africa can be relatively easy if you take just a few basic precautions. We hope these answers to some of your most frequently asked questions will help show that visiting Africa does not have to pose any risks to your health and can be incredibly safe.

Are there lots of diseases in Africa?

There are diseases in Africa, some of which do not exist, or no longer exist in other parts of the world. However, millions of people travel to the continent every year and experience little or no health problems at all. With the help of a certified medical professional who has been informed where in Africa your family is travelling and who has their complete medical history, the risk of contracting any kind of serious illness is incredibly small.

Does my family need travel insurance for Africa?

Yes. It is important that you take out comprehensive travel health insurance before arriving in Africa and travel with a copy of your plan at all times.

What vaccinations are required for Africa?

Schedule a visit to your doctor 4-6 weeks before travelling to make sure your whole family is up to date with their routine vaccinations, such as MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella), Polio, Hepatitis and DPT (Diphtheria-Pertussis-Tetanus).

Some diseases that are rare or non-existent in the United States and Europe are more prevalent in Africa and the developing world. Requirements change from time to time but immunization against Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A & B and Rabies are also often required. When traveling between African countries, customs officials will ask to see your Yellow Fever certificate especially.

Will I get malaria in Africa?

Malaria is a widespread disease in Africa but easily preventable with antimalarial medication. Seek advice from your doctor about whether you should take prophylactics as soon as you know when and where you are travelling. When visiting a malaria-risk area, you can also take further preventative measures such as wearing lightly-coloured clothing, regularly applying insect repellent to exposed skin, and using a mosquito net when sleeping at night.

If you decide you don’t want to travel with your family to a malaria-risk area, we have some great malaria-free safaris to choose from.

What if someone in my family needs urgent medical care?

All accommodations have medical kits, and there is always a detailed evacuation plan in the case of a medical emergency.