Tanzania Travel Vaccines & Requirements
Tanzania is a country in eastern Africa, officially known as the United Republic of Tanzania. The national language is Swahili but there are over 100 different languages spoken. English is not commonly used, so travelers may want to learn some key phrases in Swahili in advance of their trip.
Tanzanian terrain varies greatly, with almost 40 percent of its land area dedicated to protected areas for the conservation of both wildlife and forest reserves. The climate is typically cool in the high mountainous regions in the north and hot and humid along the eastern shore. The hottest months are between November and February and the coldest, between May and August.
Some popular tourist attractions and destination locations include:
- Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manvara National Parks
- The Serengeti Migration of the wildebeest, which is listed among the seven natural wonders of Africa
- Mount Kilimanjaro – Africa’s highest mountain
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Gombe Stream National Park – the site of Jane Goodall’s studies of chimpanzee behavior
- Kalambo Falls – the second-highest waterfall in Africa
Recommended Vaccinations for Tanzania Travel
- Hepatitis A
- Malaria (pill form)
- Meningitis
- Rabies*
- Typhoid
- Yellow Fever
*Rabies vaccination is typically only recommended for very high risk travelers given that it is completely preventable if medical attention is received within 7 – 10 days of an animal bite.
Travelers may also be advised to ensure they have received the routine vaccinations listed below. Some adults may need to receive a booster for some of these diseases:
- Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
- Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis)
- Chickenpox
- Polio
- Influenza
Older adults or those with certain medical conditions may also want to ask about being vaccinated for shingles and/or pneumonia.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a travel medicine professional. Not all of the vaccines listed here will be necessary for every individual.
Talk to the experts at UH Roe Green Center for Travel Medicine & Global Health to determine how each member of your family can obtain maximum protection against illness, disease and injury while traveling, based on age, health, medical history and travel itinerary.