Planning a trip to Botswana? Most UK travellers are advised to be up to date with hepatitis A, typhoid and their tetanus/diphtheria/polio booster, with malaria prevention important for the north. Crewe Travel Clinic can confirm your personal list at a consultation.
For Botswana, most UK travellers are advised to be up to date with hepatitis A, typhoid and a tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster, while hepatitis B and rabies may be recommended depending on your trip. Malaria prevention is important for the north (especially the Okavango Delta and Chobe from November to June). There is no yellow fever risk, but a certificate is required if you arrive from a yellow-fever country. Crewe Travel Clinic can review your itinerary and confirm exactly which vaccines and malaria tablets you need.
Botswana is one of Africa's great wildlife destinations, drawing UK travellers to the Okavango Delta, the Chobe River, the Kalahari and the Makgadikgadi salt pans. Most visitors arrive via Johannesburg or fly into Maun, Kasane or Gaborone, often combining a safari with neighbouring South Africa, Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls) or Namibia. Whether you are on a luxury lodge itinerary, a mobile camping safari or a self-drive trip, a little preparation goes a long way towards a healthy holiday.
We recommend booking a travel health appointment 6 to 8 weeks before you fly, as some vaccines need more than one dose or take time to become fully effective. That said, it is always worth coming in even at short notice. At Crewe Travel Clinic we review your itinerary, planned activities, medical history and vaccination record, then give you a tailored plan. The recommendations below are general guidance based on NaTHNaC (TravelHealthPro) and NHS Fit for Travel advice, and your final list is always confirmed at your consultation.
Spread through contaminated food and water, hepatitis A is recommended for most travellers to Botswana.
A combined booster is advised if your last dose was more than ten years ago or your UK course is incomplete.
Recommended where food and water hygiene may be variable, particularly for longer stays and those visiting friends or relatives.
Considered for longer trips, possible medical or dental treatment abroad, adventure activities or other exposure to blood and body fluids.
Worth discussing for stays of a month or more, remote areas with limited medical care, or activities such as cycling, running and working with animals.
Usually only for aid and relief workers or those heading to areas with poor sanitation or active outbreaks.
May be considered for unvaccinated under-16s staying over three months, or healthcare workers with likely TB exposure.
Malaria is present in Botswana, with risk concentrated in the northern half of the country. From November to June the northern districts, including the Okavango Delta and Chobe, carry a higher risk and antimalarial tablets (atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine) are recommended alongside bite avoidance. For the rest of the year in the north, and across the southern half year-round, risk is low to very low and bite avoidance is the priority. Following heavy rains in 2025 there was a notable rise in cases, so antimalarial cover for the north is especially worth discussing. We will help you choose the right tablets for your dates, route and medical history, and advise on covering up, repellents and sleeping under nets.
There is no risk of yellow fever in Botswana, so the vaccine is not recommended for your own health. However, Botswana does have a certificate requirement: proof of yellow fever vaccination is required from travellers aged 1 year and over arriving from, or who have transited through, a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Travelling directly from the UK you will not normally need a certificate, but if your itinerary includes a yellow-fever-risk country (for example certain other parts of Africa or South America) you may need one. Always check your full route with us before you travel.
Check yellow fever certificate requirementsStick to safe food and water practices: drink bottled or treated water, avoid ice of uncertain origin, and choose food that is freshly and thoroughly cooked. Insect-bite avoidance protects against malaria and other mosquito- and tick-borne illnesses such as African tick-bite fever, so use a DEET-based repellent, cover up at dawn and dusk and use a net where needed. Avoid swimming or paddling in fresh water like rivers and lakes to reduce the risk of schistosomiasis (bilharzia). Rabies is present, so do not approach dogs, cats, monkeys or bats, and seek urgent medical advice after any bite or scratch even if you have been vaccinated. Botswana is generally low-lying so altitude is not usually a concern. Take out comprehensive travel insurance covering safari activities and medical evacuation, pack any regular medication in your hand luggage, and protect yourself from the strong sun.