Written by the Paramount Gorilla Expeditions team, based in Uganda, on East Africa safari vaccinations and malaria precautions.
See a travel health clinic or doctor four to six weeks before you fly. They will advise on yellow fever, routine vaccinations and malaria prevention based on your health, your age and exactly where you are going. We are not medical professionals, so this guide explains the main questions to ask, not what to take.
Yellow fever
Yellow fever rules affect both your health and your entry into some countries. Several East African countries ask for a yellow fever certificate from travellers arriving from, or passing through, countries at risk, and the rules, the lists of countries and the way they are applied have changed in recent years. Because of that, check the current requirement for each country on your route, including any stopovers, and ask your clinic whether vaccination is recommended for your trip. Our Visa & Travel Documents page links to official health and immigration pages.
Malaria
Malaria is present in most safari regions of East Africa, including parts of the Zanzibar coast, and anti-malarial medicine is commonly recommended. There are several options, and the right one depends on your medical history, so discuss it with your doctor early. Alongside any medicine, take simple precautions:
- Use insect repellent in the evening and early morning.
- Wear long sleeves and trousers at dusk.
- Sleep under a mosquito net or in a screened room.
- Seek medical help promptly if you feel unwell with a fever, including after you return home.
The Seychelles is generally described as malaria-free, but check with your clinic if it is part of your trip.
Routine vaccinations
Make sure routine vaccinations are up to date, such as tetanus and measles-mumps-rubella. Your clinic may also discuss vaccines for hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid, depending on your plans. Allow enough time, because some vaccines need more than one dose.
Other health notices
Health notices, such as disease outbreaks, can appear at short notice. Check your government's travel health pages and the official sites of the countries you are visiting shortly before you travel, and tell us if anything changes. We will always say plainly if an area needs a change of plan.
Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking
Mountain gorillas can catch human illnesses, so rangers may refuse anyone who is unwell, especially with a cold or cough. If you feel ill before a trek, tell us as early as possible. See what happens on a gorilla trek day.
A simple East Africa safari vaccinations timeline
- Four to six weeks before you fly (earlier if a vaccine needs several doses): see a travel clinic or your doctor.
- Once your route is fixed: confirm the yellow fever rules for every country and stopover, and agree malaria prevention with your doctor.
- The week before: check government travel health pages for new notices, and pack your certificate, medicines and repellent in your hand luggage.
- After you return: complete any medicine as prescribed, and see a doctor promptly if you develop a fever.
Insurance and next steps
Good travel insurance with medical cover and evacuation is worth having. Read why you should not skip it. For entry rules, see visa requirements, and for what to pack, read our safari packing list.
This guide covers the health side. For the entry paper itself, which countries ask for the card and from whom, see our yellow fever certificate guide. Uganda dropped its entry requirement on 2 October 2026, but Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania still ask arrivals from listed countries.
Plan your East Africa safari vaccinations
For health advice, check the CDC Travelers' Health pages and see a travel clinic. We confirm the current fees for your dates in every quote.
Yellow fever and malaria advice changes with age; our safari for seniors guide sets out what to ask a doctor.
Hepatitis A, typhoid and cholera relate to food and water; see our East African food guide.
For health steps before a honeymoon, see our Uganda honeymoon safari guide.
For children and malaria prevention in Uganda, see our Uganda family safari guide.