Travelling to Tanzania requires updated vaccinations as well as medically relevant and accurate information concerning you. These vaccines protect you from getting in contact with diseases in the host country. for that reason, Kilimanjaro Trails advises all hikers to consult with your general practitioner back home before you travel.
- Here are the strongly advised vaccines before traveling to TanzaniaDiphtheria: It is spread through respiratory droplets (spit, coughs and sneezes) but rarely through exposed wounds.Tetanus: A person usually gets a tetanus infection when dirt gets into a wound / cut. The bacteria are found in soil, manure, dust and enter the body through breaks in the skin. Travellers are recommended to take a shot at least every ten (10) years
Yellow fever: It can be contracted through a bite from an infected mosquito; however it is not essential if your flight is direct to Tanzania. However if you arrive through a country that is prone to yellow fever and plan to step out of the airport, vaccination is extremely vital. But simply stopping over at the airport and wait for your connecting flight may not require the vaccine.
Hepatitis A: It is spread through contaminated food or water and contact with someone who is infected.
Typhoid: It can be contracted through contaminated food or water and occasionally through direct contact with someone who is infected. It is also a result of poor sanitation.
Other recommended Vaccinations include:
Cholera: It is contracted through consuming contaminated food and water. It is also a result of poor sanitation.
Rabies: It is a deadly virus spread to people from the saliva of infected animals. It is usually spread from an animal bite. It is fatal and very difficult to treat an unvaccinated patient in many areas in Tanzania.
Measles: It is spread through airborne respiratory droplets (cough and sneezes), saliva, and skin to skin contact as well as touching a contaminated surface such as a blanket belonging to an infected person or a door knob.
Hepatitis B: Tanzania has a high prevalence with 8% of the general population being infected. It spreads through contact with blood and bodily fluids of an infected person. It is advisable for you to get vaccinated to reduce the chances of contracting it.
Tuberculosis: It spreads by airborne respiratory droplets (coughs and sneezes)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it necessary to get certain vaccinations before hiking Kilimanjaro?
Yes, the necessary vaccinations are hepatitis A and B, yellow fever, rabies, typhoid diphtheria, polio as well as tetanus, and. A general medical check up from your general physician or a hospital to identify any issues that may affect your hiking is important. Travel insurance is also vital before hiking.
In a nutshell, the following are the necessary vaccinations before traveling to Tanzania;
- Rabies
- Diphtheria
- Yellow fever
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Tetanus
- Polio
- Typhoid