Heading to South Africa? Most UK travellers are advised to be up to date with hepatitis A, typhoid and their tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster, with malaria prevention important if you are visiting Kruger and the low-lying northeast. Crewe Travel Clinic can confirm your personal list at a consultation.
For South Africa, 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 if you are visiting Kruger and the low-lying northeast of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, but is not needed for Cape Town, the Garden Route or Johannesburg. 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.
South Africa is one of the most popular long-haul destinations for UK travellers, combining the vineyards and beaches of the Cape, the Garden Route, vibrant cities like Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, and world-class safaris in Kruger National Park and the surrounding private reserves. Many visitors arrive into Johannesburg (O. R. Tambo) or Cape Town, often pairing the trip with neighbouring Botswana, Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls), Eswatini or Mozambique. Whether you are touring the Winelands, walking Table Mountain, road-tripping the coast or tracking the Big Five, a little health preparation helps your holiday go smoothly.
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 South Africa.
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, rural travel 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 South Africa but only in the northeast of the country, and most popular destinations such as Cape Town, the Garden Route, the Winelands and Johannesburg carry no risk. Risk is highest in the low-lying areas of Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces bordering Mozambique, Eswatini and Zimbabwe, including Kruger National Park and adjoining private reserves, where transmission mainly occurs between September and May. For these higher-risk areas antimalarial tablets (atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine) are recommended alongside bite avoidance. Northeast KwaZulu-Natal and other designated parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo are lower risk, where careful bite avoidance is usually the priority. We will help you choose the right tablets for your dates, route and medical history, and advise on covering up, using repellents and sleeping under nets.
There is no risk of yellow fever in South Africa, so the vaccine is not recommended for your own health. However, South Africa 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 for more than 12 hours 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. This catches out some safari travellers combining South Africa with countries elsewhere on the continent, so always check your full route with us before you travel.
Check yellow fever certificate requirementsStick to safe food and water practices: in rural areas 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. Most areas are not at high altitude, though the Drakensberg can reach levels where you should ascend gradually. Take out comprehensive travel insurance covering any safari or adventure activities and medical evacuation, pack regular medication in your hand luggage, and protect yourself from the strong African sun.