Arriving from a low-risk country
If you fly in directly from a country with no risk of yellow fever, the UK, Europe, North America, most of Asia and Australasia, you do not need a yellow-fever certificate to enter Tanzania.
Before you travel
Yellow fever & travel
health for Tanzania
Tanzania has simple, sensible entry-health rules. Here is exactly when you need a yellow-fever certificate, plus straightforward advice on malaria, vaccines and staying well on safari.
Entry requirements
Yellow fever, explained simply
Whether you need a yellow-fever certificate depends entirely on where you are travelling from, not on Tanzania itself.
Arriving from a risk country
If you are coming from, or spent more than 12 hours in transit through, a country with a risk of yellow-fever transmission (much of sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America), you must show a valid International Certificate of Vaccination on arrival.
The vaccine itself
A single dose is given at least 10 days before travel and is now considered valid for life. Get it from an authorised yellow-fever centre and carry the yellow card with your passport.
Zanzibar tip
Even on a domestic hop from the mainland, Zanzibar sometimes asks for proof of yellow-fever vaccination if you have recently been in a risk area. Keep your certificate handy for the whole trip.
Malaria
Tanzania is a malaria area. Antimalarial tablets and good insect repellent are strongly recommended, speak to a travel doctor 4-6 weeks before you go.
Routine vaccines
Make sure routine jabs are up to date. Hepatitis A and typhoid are commonly advised; your travel clinic will tailor this to your itinerary.
Everyday wellbeing
Drink bottled or filtered water, use high-factor sun cream at altitude and on the coast, and pack a small personal first-aid kit. Our vehicles carry one too.
Entry-health rules can change. Always confirm with an official source, the WHO, your travel clinic or the Tanzanian High Commission, before you travel. This guide is for general information, not medical advice.
Planning a Tanzania trip?
Our Arusha team will help with the practical details, the right season, what to pack and how to prepare, so you can travel with total peace of mind.
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