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Travel Vaccines and Advice for Central and Southern Africa

Central and Southern Africa is one of the most popular destinations for travellers. Safaris in South Africa, hiking at Kilimanjaro and sunbathing at amazing beaches. There plenty to experience.

Passport Health offers a variety of immunizations and medications to help you travel safely. Some are even required to enter countries. See our What Vaccines… section to learn more.

Countries in this region include:

Angola
Botswana
Burundi
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Democratic Republic
of the Congo
Djibouti
Equatorial Guinea
Ethiopia
Eritrea
Gabon
Kenya
Lesotho
Madagascar
Malawi
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mozambique
Namibia
Republic of the Congo
Réunion
Rwanda
São Tomé and Príncipe
Seychelles
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Eswatini (Swaziland)
Tanzania
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe

The PHAC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for travellers to Central and Southern Africa: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis and polio.

A variety of routine vaccinations are also recommended: measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap), influenza, chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia.

Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required for most countries, especially if you are travelling to more than one. Make sure you can travel easily with Passport Health.

See the tables below for more information:

Recommended Travel Vaccinations for Central and Southern America
VACCINE HOW DISEASE SPREADS DETAILS
Hepatitis A Contaminated Food
or Water 		Recommended for most
travellers to all regions.
Hepatitis B Contaminated Body
Fluids (Sex, needles, etc.) 		Recommended for most
travellers to all regions.
Typhoid Contaminated Food
or Water 		Recommended for most
travellers to all regions.
Cholera Contaminated Food
or Water 		May be recommended based
on your specific itinerary.
Yellow Fever Mosquito-borne May be recommended or required
for most of the region.
Rabies Infected Animals Vaccine recommended for long-term travellers
and those who may come in contact with animals.
Meningitis Airborne or
Direct Contact 		Normally, a routine vaccination.
Active transmission in some parts of the region.
Polio Contaminated Food
or Water 		Generally considered a routine vaccination.
Present in some countries in the region.

Recommended Routine Vaccinations for Central and Southern Africa
VACCINE HOW DISEASE SPREADS DETAILS
Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) Various Vectors Given to anyone unvaccinated and/or born
after 1957. One time adult booster recommended.
Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis) Wounds or
Airborne 		One adult booster of pertussis recommended
for most travellers.
Influenza Airborne Generally recommended for all travellers.
Vaccine components change annually.
Chickenpox Direct Contact
or Airborne 		Given to those unvaccinated that
did not have chickenpox.
Shingles Direct Contact Recommended for individuals 50+. Vaccine can
still be given if you have had shingles.
Pneumonia Airborne All individuals 65+ or immunocompromised
should receive this vaccine.

Sources: PHAC, WHO and ISTM

A wide range of infections call Central and Southern Africa home.

Mosquito-borne Infections

Malaria is found in many of the countries in the region. Be sure to see your destination’s advice page and consult with a Passport Health travel health specialist.

Dengue, chikungunya and even Zika can be found in some parts of Central and Southern Africa. While there are no medications or vaccines to prevent these infection, there are things you can do. Be sure to use mosquito repellent regularly and consider using mosquito netting when outside. Avoid the outdoors at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.

Other Infections

A few countries in the region have had Ebola outbreaks over the last decade. While outbreaks are rare, they are also possible. If you hear of an outbreak in an area you will be travelling to, be sure to contact a Passport Health travel health specialist.

Travellers’ diarrhea is the most common risk to travellers in Central and Southern Africa. Be sure to have a travellers’ diarrhea kit as part of your preparations. These include items that can help prevent the illness or stop symptoms as quickly as they start.

Visas are required for the majority of countries in Central and Southern Africa. Often proof of yellow fever vaccination is also a requirement. Make sure you have both before leaving for your trip.

See the below table for more information:

Do I Need a Passport or Visa for My Trip?
Passport Tourist Visa Business Visa Required
Vaccinations
Angola table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Botswana table check mark table check mark
Burundi table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Cameroon table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Central African Republic table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Chad table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Comoros table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Democratic Republic
of the Congo		 table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Djibouti table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Equatorial
Guinea		 table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Eritrea table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Ethiopia table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Gabon table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Kenya table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Lesotho table check mark table check mark table check mark
Madagascar table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Malawi table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Mauritius table check mark table check mark table check mark
Mayotte table check mark table check mark table check mark
Mozambique table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Namibia table check mark table check mark
Republic of the Congo table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Réunion table check mark table check mark
São Tomé and Príncipe table check mark table check mark table check mark
Somalia table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
South Africa table check mark table check mark
South Sudan table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Swaziland table check mark table check mark
Tanzania table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Uganda table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Zambia table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark
Zimbabwe table check mark table check mark table check mark table check mark

Embassy information for each country is available on its own destination advice page.

Travelling outside of Central and Southern America? Learn more about your destination with our full compliment of destination advice pages!

On This Page:
What Vaccines Do I Need for Central and Southern Africa?
Are There Other Health Concerns in Central and Southern Africa?
What Are the Entry Requirements in Central and Southern Africa?
Travelling to Another Destination?

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