A trip to East Africa could mean a rugged adventure watching wildlife in Kenya’s Nakuru National Park, or it could mean luxury accommodation in Mauritius or an exclusive gorilla watching experience in Rwanda.
East Africa is also a destination for business travelers, containing as it does some of the world’s fastest-growing economies including Tanzania and Ethiopia.
Whatever your reason for visiting East Africa, get bespoke travel health advice ahead of your trip by making an appointment with Global Travel Clinics.
Everything you need to know about staying well in East Africa
At your travel health appointment, the adviser will talk through your itinerary and your planned activities, and ask some questions about your health and medical history.
They will use this information to make a tailored schedule of vaccines that will protect your health during your time in East Africa. They may recommend you get vaccinated against hepatitis, yellow fever and meningitis.
They will also make some recommendations about precautions you can take around food and drink and they will advise you on how to avoid bug bites and mosquito bites in East Africa. It’s important to avoid getting bitten because bugs and insects carry some dangerous diseases, not all of which are vaccine preventable.
After your travel health appointment, we recommend using the US State Department’s travel advisories to keep up to date with the latest health warnings in East Africa.
Is yellow fever present in East Africa?
Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne disease that can cause serious illness. It is a risk to travelers in some parts of East Africa. Some East African Countries require you to have a certificate of vaccination against yellow fever. When you get your yellow fever vaccine at Global Travel Clinics, we will give you this certificate that you can use while traveling to prove your vaccination status.
Malaria and your trip to East Africa
There is a risk of the dangerous feverish illness malaria in parts of East Africa. Malaria is caused by the bite of an infected mosquito. You can reduce your chances of getting sick from malaria by avoiding mosquito bites – and bug bites generally – and by taking malaria prophylaxis. Your travel health adviser can tell you which antimalarials are best for you, and they will help you work out when to stop and start taking the tablets.
If you get a fever while traveling, or soon after your return from East Africa, seek medical attention.
Health on a safari vacation
Basic accommodation, a lack of infrastructure and outdoor cooking while on safari can increase your risk of exposure to traveler’s illnesses. If you’re planning to spend some time in a national park like the Maasai Mara, let your travel health adviser know and they will include it in their risk assessment.
Take care of your health during desert travel
Arid, hot conditions like those in parts of Ethiopia can have an impact on your health while traveling in East Africa. For tips on staying well in the desert, see our travel article.
Travel health appointment for East Africa
Book your travel health appointment ahead of your trip to East Africa. We’d like you to come in six to eight weeks before you depart – but if you’re traveling last minute, we can still help. So make your appointment with Global Travel Clinics today.
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