Heading to Zimbabwe? 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 for the Zambezi valley and lower-lying areas. Crewe Travel Clinic can confirm your personal list at a consultation.
For Zimbabwe, 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 Zambezi valley and lower-lying areas (including Victoria Falls, Mana Pools and Lake Kariba), while Harare and Bulawayo are very low risk. 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.
Zimbabwe is a highlight of any southern African itinerary, from the thundering Victoria Falls and the wildlife of Hwange and Mana Pools to the granite hills of Matobo and houseboat trips on Lake Kariba. UK travellers often fly into Harare, Bulawayo or Victoria Falls, frequently combining Zimbabwe with Zambia, Botswana or South Africa. Whether you are on a lodge-based safari, a Zambezi adventure or visiting friends and relatives, a little planning helps keep your trip healthy.
We recommend booking a travel health appointment around 6 to 8 weeks before you fly, as some vaccines need more than one dose or take time to become fully effective. Even so, it is always worth coming in at shorter 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 Zimbabwe.
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, which Zimbabwe has experienced in recent years.
May be considered for unvaccinated under-16s staying over three months, or healthcare workers with likely TB exposure.
Malaria is present in Zimbabwe and the risk varies by area, altitude and season. The Zambezi valley, including the Victoria Falls area, Mana Pools and Lake Kariba, carries a risk all year round, and antimalarial tablets (atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine) are recommended alongside bite avoidance. Across other areas below about 1,200m there is a higher risk from November to June, when antimalarials are also advised, dropping to low risk from July to October. In the higher-lying cities of Harare and Bulawayo the risk is very low and awareness plus bite avoidance is the priority rather than tablets. We will help you choose the right antimalarials 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 Zimbabwe, so the vaccine is not recommended for your own health. However, Zimbabwe does have a certificate requirement: proof of yellow fever vaccination is required from travellers over 9 months of age arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission, or who have transited for more than 12 hours through an airport in such a country. 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. Zimbabwe has had cholera outbreaks linked to unsafe water, so good hygiene is especially important. Insect-bite avoidance protects against malaria and other mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue, so use a DEET-based repellent, cover up at dawn and dusk and use a net where needed. Avoid swimming, paddling or wading in fresh water such as Lake Kariba, the Zambezi and other 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 safari areas are low-lying, but parts of the Eastern Highlands rise above 2,000m; if you are heading high, ascend gradually. Take out comprehensive travel insurance covering safari and adventure activities and medical evacuation, pack any regular medication in your hand luggage, and protect yourself from the strong sun.